PREFACE.
That I am indebted to
Mr. Ramsay's Gentle
Shepherd, (a Scotch Pastoral
Comedy, wrote Originally
in Five Acts) for
the greatest Part of the following Piece,
was not owing to my Idleness, but a
Doubt of my Abilities to produce any
Thing entirely New of this kind, that
might plead so much pretence to Favour:
As Nature is the same in all Ages,
and Climes, I thought, the Simplicity of
Characters, Manners, Sentiments, and
Passions, which has gain'd That Poem
its Reputation, cou'd not prove unentertaining
to an English Audience; which
induced me to turn it into a
Ballad Opera:
and as the Beauties of the Original have been
thought many, I have scarce ventur'd to make
any farther Alterations than were absolutely
necessary, in bringing the Tale within
the Compass of
One Act, adding to the
Number of the Songs, and changing it into
the
English Dialect, without which, it had
not been intelligible to our Auditors; nor
indeed had I time to vary it more, my
Benefit
being fix'd before I had laid my Design,
which was plan'd and finish'd in
one
Day. When I mention my Benefit, I cannot
omit the Opportunity of returning my
grateful humble Thanks, to All whose
Favours I have been so frequently honour'd
with, and hope I am not too vain,
when I declare, it ever was, and will
be, my utmost Ambition to deserve such
Kindness, by my frequent Endeavours,
whenever I may have Power, (and as far as
my poor Capacity will allow) to add to the
Variety of publick Diversions. The
Warmth of my Heart might make me
tedious, and impertinent, shou'd I proceed;
I shall therefore only add, tho' the
Characters in this
Opera are
low,
I flatter myself, they'll not appear distasteful
to the politest Circle of our
English
Beauties.
T. C.
