 | Achilles : Or, Iphigenia in Aulis |  |
THE PREFACE.
Poets , like most Lovers, are apt to boast the Favours, or complain of the Rigour of their Mistress, the Town: For my part, I am too discreet a Lover to boast, and too young a Poet to complain; and tho' the First run of this Play was but short, yet I must own my self oblig'd to the Civility of the English Nation; for on this Occasion, as on many others, I found that the Imputation of being inhospitable and rude to Strangers, which Horace charges on the Britons, reaches no higher than the Mob.
Some of my Friends wonder'd that a Play which was acted with so much Applause, should stop so soon in its career. The Reason of it is obvious: This Tragedy came out upon the Neck of another of the same Name, which being the product of a Giant-Wit, and a Giant-Critick, like Horace's Mountain in Labour, had miserably balk'd the World's Expectation; and most People having been tir'd at Lincolns-Inn-Fields, did not care to venture their Patience at Drury-lane, upon a false Supposition that the two Iphigenia's were much alike: Whereas they differ no less than a young, airy Virgin, from a stale, antiquated Maid.
Another difficulty this Play labour'd under, was its being acted at a time when the whole Town was so much, and so justly diverted by the Trip to the Jubilee. A merry Entertainment is certainly very improper to prepare the Tastes of an Audience to relish a grave and solemn Tragedy; for we are naturally angry with those who would make us Weep, when we are in a fit of Laughing. Yet notwithstanding all these Inconveniencies, my Iphigenia has pleas'd the fairest Part of the Town, I mean the Ladies, and having gain'd this Point, I have my Wishes.
Now when I call this Play mine, let me not be thought
so arrogant as to assume the Honour of the Composition
Monsieur Racine manag'd his Subjest with a great deal of Mastery: His Expressions are free and lofty; his Sentiments noble and virtuous; his Passions moving and natural; his turns well manag'd and surprizing; the whole Piece regular. The success answer'd his extraordinary Performance; Iphigenia at her first Appearance on the French Stage, drew Tears, and commanded Admiration both from the Court and the City, for many Months successively; and set Monsieur Racine above the Level of all French Tragick Writers.
The great success of Racine's Iphigenia, and the Encouragement I receiv'd from some Persons of a just Discernment, made me venture to make her appear upon an English Theatre; now, whether she has gain'd or lost any Thing by her new Dress, I leave to the Judicious to determine. All I can say in her Favour, is, That her numbers are easy and flowing; and that she speaks English like a genteel well-bred Lady, and not like an affected, pedantick Would-be-Wit. But in this I must own my self oblig'd to my honour'd and ingenious Friend Mr. Cheek, to whom I owe some of my smoothest Lines. I wish he had a greater share in the whole Play, for then I am sure the Town would have lik'd it a great deal better.
| Achilles : Or, Iphigenia in Aulis | |