 | The Tragedy of King Saul |  |
THE PREFACE.
Tho' the Great Person that wrote this Excellent Tragedy, stands in need of no other Pen than His own, to defend Him or His Inimitable Composures, I could not think it Proper to be sent abroad, without some necessary Illustrations to set the Design, and the happy Accomplishment of it, in a True Light; that those who value nothing but what comes on Theatres may see their mistakes, and draw Conclusions for the future, quite contrary to those they have formerly been fond of.
The Design of it, is (what should be the End of all Dramatical Entertainments) the Encouragement of Virtue, and Punishment of Vice; and the Character of Saul strugling with Misfortunes at the same time as He is under a Perfect Resignation to the Will of Him that sent 'em, will be of Admirable use to Men under the like Circumstances, while that of Jonathan, will be of everlasting Remembrance, to those that would study the Practice of True Friendship, or be instructed in Lessons of Obedience to Parents, and Fidelity to those that are under Engagements with 'em.
In short, the Sacred Writ is not the least damag'd by that which must bear the Name of Prophane, since it comes not from an Inspir'd Hand, and Art may be said to have a Tryal of Skill with Nature, in order to shew which has the greatest Prevalency. How is Jonathan divided between his Duty to his Distress'd Father, and his Pity to his Persecuted Friend? What Anguish of Soul has he amidst his concern for Saul's Welfare, and his Affection for David, falsly suppos'd to be Saul's greatest Enemy, yet how does the Poet reconcile him to Himself, in the midst of the two extreams, and do him a Piece of Justice not to be exceeded in Poetry, or Parallel'd in any thing yet extant whether Ancient or Modern.
David may be truly said in this Excellent Author's Lines, as well as
His own, to speak like the Man after God's own Heart, and has more
grateful Acknowledgments payd here to His high Deserts than some Modernists
The Amalakite has the Reward of his Demerits, and is Punish'd with Death for lifting up his Hand against the Lord's Anointed, a Crime that in our time is dismiss'd without Censure, nay, is even Approv'd of, and had in Reverence by those that frequent our Calves-Head Assemblies, and keep Feasts for that Royal Blood the Nation can never do enough Penance for.
To conclude, the Noble Author, (for every one that knows a Deceas'd Man of Qualitie's way of writing, must guess at the Gentleman that Obliges the World with this,) has reach'd the Exactest Stile, and Sublimest Fancy, and kept within the Confines of Truth and Sense, at the same time as He has thought fit to soar upon the Wings of Rapture and Admiration; and tho' the Persons that have the Government of the Stage have Rejected this Heroick Poem, as being freighted with too much Vertue, and Morality, to gain 'em a full Audience, 'tis hop'd the Nobility and Gentry will neither Degenerate from their Ancestors, or themselves, by denying it their Acceptance and Encouragement.
To give an Advantage, and adapt it in some Measure to the Air of the Times, the Reader is here and there Entertain'd with Poetical Interludes of Ghosts, Furies, &c. which the Publisher has taken care should be set to Musick by the Best Hands, which may Recommend it to be Acted in Schools, and Universities, as a proper Entertainment for those that have Ingenious and Liberal Education, on Solemn Occasions.
Which may be of extream Consequence to their future Instruction, and of great Use to their Conduct of Life, since every one may make an Estimate from hence of the Vicissitude of Humane Affairs, the Ambition and Fall of Tyranny, the Rise and Triumphs of Virtue, the Miraculous Preservation of Innocence, the Success of Fortitude, the Mutual Endearments of true Friendship, the Power and Constancy of Virtuous Love, the Downfal and Disappointments of great Men, the Poisonous and Hurtful Flattery of Sycophants, and the Reward of Treachery, which may be very Instrumental to a Regulation of Manners, and tend to the Advancement of Honesty and Honour, the two Pillars that are to support us in our Passage through this Vale of Life to that of Æternity.
| The Tragedy of King Saul | |