 | The Loves of Mars & Venus |  |
PREFACE.
This Musical Play or Masque was written to be inserted into a very short Farce written by Mr. Ravenscroft, called The Anatomist, or the Sham Doctor; without any other Expectation than that of being serviceable to my Friend. For I am too well acquainted with that way of Writing, and my own Incapacity, to aim at Reputation by it. The Rhimer here must sacrifice that to the Musician, or rather to the Audience's Ear, if there be any Reputation to be challeng'd from Trifles of this Nature. I chose a subject never manag'd in a Dramatic way before; tho gallantly handled by Ovid, from whom I borrow'd it, as I have a couple of Songs from my self, formerly inserted elsewhere. I was prevailed with to bring in a Song and Dance of Cyclopes, tho I knew there is one in Psyche, borrowed almost verbatim from Moliere's, as he borrow'd his from an old Italian Opera called Le Nozze de gli Dei; but mine is wholly different, which was more difficult than to have invented another. Whatever the Critics may think of the Lines, if any will honor them so far as to find fault with 'em, I dare assure, from the little judgment I have, and much more from the general approbation of the best Judges, there has not been more agreeable, nor more masterly Music perform'd upon our Stage. The two great Composers having, as it were, nobly strove to outdo one another, and thus excell'd even themselves.
By reason of the Symphonies and Repetitions some Lines are left out in the Singing, which may easily be known by the Marks prefix'd, and past over, when the Music is performing.
| The Loves of Mars & Venus | |