Papal tyranny In the reign of King John | ||
To the Right Honourable PHILIP, Earl of Chesterfield, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, &c. &c. &c. His Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary to the States-General, and Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter.
This Play, which throws itself at Your Lordship's Feet, without any previous Permission to approach You, begs for no farther Protection than Your impartial Judgment would afford it, though the Author had not the Honour to be known to You. The favourable Reception it has met with on the Theatre, 'tis true, demands my grateful Acknowledgments; but I must
I shall not trouble your Lordship with a critical Examen, or Comparison between this Play and the King John of Shakespear, any farther than just to mention the principal Motive that first set me to work upon it.
In all the historical Plays of Shakespear there is scarce any Fact, that might better have employed his Genius, than the flaming Contest between his insolent Holiness and King John. This is so remarkable a Passage in our Histories, that it seems surprizing our Shakespear should have taken no more Fire at it; especially when we find from how much less a Spark of Contention in his first Act of Harry the fourth, he has thrown his Hotspur into a more naturally fomented Rage, than ever ancient or modern Author has come up to, and has maintain'd that Character throughout the Play with the same inimitable Spirit. How then shall we account for his being so cold upon a
Who, in that Sale, sells Pardon from himself.
This is too sharp a Truth to be suppos'd could come from the Pen of a Roman-Catholick. If then he was under no Restraint from his Religion, it will require a nicer Criticism than I am master of to excuse his being so cold upon so warm an Occasion.
It was this Coldness than, my Lord, that first incited me to inspirit his King John with a Resentment that justly might become an English Monarch, and to paint the intoxicated Tyranny of Rome in its proper Colours. And so far, at least, my Labour has succeeded, that the additional Sentiments which King John throws out upon so flagrant a Provocation, were receiv'd with those honest cordial Applauses, which English Auditors I foresaw would be naturally warm'd to. My Success in this Point, which I had chiefly at heart, makes me almost unconcern'd for what may be judged of the farther Mechanism of the Play: I have endeavour'd to make it more like a Play than what I found it in Shakespear, and if your Lordship should find it so, my Ambition has no farther Views.
Your Taste in Poetry, my Lord, tho' naturally candid, wants not the quickest Eye to Imperfections; and tho' no Man's playful Muse has more Beauties than Your own, yet is not Your Fondness for them so strong as to be cool in Your Praises, when another makes a Flight that comes near you. A poetical Rival (if he could be found) might excite you to excel, but never enough disturb You to dispraise him. This being Your natural Disposition, from whom could I hope for equal Justice or Favour?
I now, my Lord, take my leave without the labour'd Compliments of a modern Dedicator. Your many great Qualities are too well known to the World to want a poetical Herald to proclaim them. It is to the private Man of Quality then I only make this Address: and 'tis an uncommon Pleasure to one of my advanced Age to have been thrown into a Habitude, that so frequently has permitted me to have an occasional Share in the Delight of Your unbending Hours. But since Your lately acquired Honours, which are honour'd by
My Lord,
Your Lordship's most oblig'd,
and obedient humble Servant,
Papal tyranny In the reign of King John | ||