To Henry Brett, Jun. of Cowley, Esq;
I Was ever Fond and Proud of your good opinion,
it has sometimes recommended me to Men of
the first merit; where, whithout that umbrage,
perhaps, not all the Advantages of Fortune, could
have made me tolerable. You taught me first to
know a little of my self, then shew'd me other Men;
and knowing them, taught me to value You. I know
not whether the World will allow there can be any
Gratitude in a Dedication; but I am assur'd you
are well enough acquainted with my sincerity, to
believe this comes purely from an Hearty and
Uninterested Inclination. I am loath to remind you of the
many handsom Obligations you have laid on me; for
in being thanked I have observ'd you often in a pain
great as your delight in giving : Which generous
softness in your Temper has made me many times
conclude, that were you once Passionately touch'd in
Love (as certainly no man was every so kindly formed for
it) the happy Fair One will at least have this
security, that your Natural Pleasure in obliging will
instruct her to reserve you long, and only Hers. I
can't help talking thus, because I am fond of publishing
that ev'n such Qualities are what I have had
several Happy hours of leisure to observe in you. Nay,
I freely confess, I have all the Vanity of a young Lover,
and can't really think the Fair One absolutely
mine, till I have told all the World of her favours.
I wou'd have my Lord, and all the Cheerful Table
know, that the very Gentleman they were so loath to
part with, had out staid his Appointment with Cibber
for the reading an Act or two of Richard III. I
would have my Lady know too, that ask'd the Civil
Gentleman's name in the next Box, that 'twas
not her Ladyships kind advances that kept him there,
but a certain promise made him behind the Scenes,
that a little Extraordinary pains should be taken in
the Performance of one of Richard's Soliloquies ;
And I wou'd have the Players know, that my so
often wishing the Vacation near, is, because Cowley
and your Conversation in the Summer to me,
perhaps is as Entertaining an Amusement, as a Family,
and Uncertain pay in the Winter. I once designed
to have delay'd this Dedication till I was capable
of prefixing it to some piece more worth your
Acceptance : You have often perswaded me to undertake
another Comedy ; but, I confess, your own
happy talent in that kind (you'll excuse my blabbing)
and your common Conversation, have quite
discourag'd me : A Poet ought to be vain enough to
suppose himself the best in his kind, and unless I
could believe I were able to write, as you talk,
with the same life, and happy turn of Thought, it
will be Prudence in me to let it alone till I am advis'd
to it by some body that knows you, as well as I
do : So that I rather chuse to pay this little, while
I have it, than by an idle Expectation of better success,
run the hazard of being in your debt as long as
I live: but that I am afraid I shall ever be; my
long Account will not be easily settled, while you forget
as fast as you confer, and always grant a favour,
as if you were returning one, so 'tis partly your own
Fault if I subscribe my self,
Your eternally obliged
and humble Servant,
Colley Cibber.
Lon.Feb.
1700.
