THE EPISTLE TO THE READER.
I cannot
blame the World for any unkindness I receive from it, I seldom
make any court to it. And I have so much affected retirement
and sollitude, that a Writing of mine, like an Inscription on a Wall,
at Belshazzar's Feast, comes from an unseen Scribe. And the Judgment
past on Balshazzar, and my Emperor is in some measure the same:
Thou art weigh'd in the balance, and art found too light. Many
say, there is more levity in the Character of this Emperor, that suits with
the dignity of so great a Prince, and the gravity of Tragedy. But with
what does the Emperor sport himself? with the honour of Women, the fortune
and lives of Men, and the ruin of Nations. And I thought there
was so much good nature among mankind, that Spectators would have
trembled, when they saw Kings and Kingdoms, forc'd to yield up their
Rights, Religions, Laws, and Gods, to the Lusts and Frenzies of a young
fantastical Tyrant, and all the World at the disposal of a mad Man. But
to please, I shou'd have shewn a more beautifull figure. So I have in Valerius
and many other Characters in this Play. I have also beautified the
Emperor's Character, and all parts of the Play, with as much good Sense
and Poetry as are in any of my writings: For I will compare my self only with
my self. And few of my contemporaries have pleas'd the World much more
than I have done, both in Tragedy and Comedy. But many say, the Play
wants Plot; I confess, I think it does. I have put little more into the
Play, than what I found taken out of History. All the Characters and most
of the Events in the Play, I have taken out of History; and I have
made as lively Images, of what I found there, as I believe can be done by
any Man. This was unknown, it seems, to a great part of my Audience,
therefore they condemn'd the Character of Vitellius; his flattery to the Emperor
and courtship to the Empress: particularly his begging a Sandal of hers,
as a reward for his Services, and when he had it, his carrying it in his
bosome, and sometimes kissing it. This was a Complement he made to Messalina,
the belov'd Lewd Wife of the Emperor Claudius. By his flattery
and addresses in the Reigns of three or four bloody Tyrants, he kept himself
not only safe and whole; but raised his fortunes to such a heighth, that his
Son Aulus Vitellius, who had not one good quality, came to be Emperor
of Rome. I thought most Gentlemen had more skill in History, Poetry,
Courtship, and Address to Greatness than I perceive they have. But, I
will not farther displease by contending. I confess, I wrote this Play, when I
was under great disorder, not in mind. For I never lov'd much any part
of this World, but a Friend, and merit in a Friend or Enemy. I never
sought more than the bare conveniencies of life. But want of health makes
life it self an inconvenience. I have for some few years been disorder'd with
a Distemper, which seated it self in my head, threatned me with an Epilepsie,
and frequently took from me not only all sense, but almost all signs of
life, and in my intervals I wrote this Play. Therefore if it have any Wit
or Poetry in it, I wonder how they came there. But many of the first rank,
both for Quality and Understanding, have said they were pleased with it, and
therefore I value it. Now I will say one word in defence of my Morals.
I cannot but take notice of some lines I have read in the Preface to the
Poem call'd King Authur, where the World is told, that all who have written
before the Author of the Mourning-Bride, may be asham'd, since for want of a
Genius, they have depended on bawdy for their success on the Stage. I
much commend that Gentleman's design of Reforming the Stage from Obcenity,
Immorality, and Profaneness; But I wish he had taken more care
of his Pen: I mean not in his Poem. I will not quarrel with that, if it
gave me cause. In my notes on a Play call'd the Empress of Morocco (I call
'em mine because above three parts of four were written by me) I gave vent
to more ill-nature in me than I will do again. But I am sorry that the
Learned Author of King Authur, who labours so commendably for Vertue
and Morality in Plays, should set an ill Example, and injure Truth and
the Reputation of his Brethren. Many of my Plays have been very successfull,
and yet clean. Sir Courtly Nice, was as fortunate a Comedy, as has
been written in this Age; and Sir Courtly is as nice and clean in his Conversation,
as his Diet and Dress. And Surly, though he affects ill manners
in every thing else is not guility of obscene talk. I have fallen, (I confess)
in other Plays of mine, into a worse fault. I have, in my Jerusalems,
made too beautifull an Image of an Atheist; and Atheism appears too reasonable
and lovely. I am sorry there should be any thing under my hand, in defence
of such a false, pernicious, and detestable an opinion: Some endeavour
to clear me of the guilt, and wou'd perswade the World they were written by
a Noble and Excellent Wit, the late E. of R—But they were Printed long
before my Lord died; his Lordship in his Poem, call'd the Sessions of Poets,
charges me not with theft, but my Scenes with dulness and want of Wit and
Poetry, which he wou'd not have done, if they had been his own. But since
there is too much Atheism in those Plays, I am content they shou'd be
thought not mine, or not good. I had rather have no Wit, no Being, than
employ any part of it against him that gave it.
