I should beg pardon for these instances; but perhaps they may be of use to future poets, in the conduct of their plays; at least, if I appear too positive, I am growing old, and thereby in possession of some experience, which men in years will always assume for a right of talking. Certainly if a man can ever have reason to set a value on himself, it is when his ungenerous enemies are taking the advantage of the times upon him, to ruin him in his reputation. And therefore, for once, I will make bold to take the counsel of my old master Virgil,

Tu ne cede mails, sed contrà audentior ito.

Footnotes:

  2. There was a Portuguese prophecy to this purpose, which they applied to the expected return of Sebastian:
  3. Vendra et Incubierto,
  4. Vendra cierto;
  5. Entrera en el huerto,
  6. Per el puerto,
  7. Questa mas a ca del muro;
  8. Y'lo que paresce escuro,
  9. Se vra claro e abierto.
  10. Two false Sebastians, both hermits, laid claim to the throne of Portugal. One was hanged, and the other died in the galleys. Vide Le Quien's Histoire Generale de Portugal.—There are two tracts which appear to regard the last of these impostors, and which may have furnished our author with some slight hints; namely, "The true History of the late and lamentable Adventures of Don Sebastian, King of Portugal, after his imprisonment at Naples until this present day, being now in Spain, at San Lucar de Barrameda.—1602;" and, "A continuation of the lamentable and admirable Adventures of Don Sebastian, King of Portugal, with a Declaration of all his time employed since the Battle in Africk against the Infidels, 1578, until this present year 1603. London, 1603." Both pieces are reprinted in the Harleian Miscellany, Vols IV. and V.
  12. The uncertainty of his fate is alluded to by Fletcher:
  13. Wittypate. In what service have ye been, sir?
  14. Ruinous. The first that fleshed me a soldier, sir,
    Was that great battle at Alcazar, in Barbary,
    Where the noble English Stukely fell, and where
    The royal Portugal Sebastian ended
    His untimely days.
  15. Wittypate. Are you sure Sebastian died there?
  16. Ruinous. Faith, sir, there was some other rumour hoped
    Amongst us, that he, wounded, escaped, and touched
    On his native shore again, where finding his country at home
    More distressed by the invasion of the Spaniard
    Than his loss abroad, forsook it, still supporting
    A miserable and unfortunate life,
    Which where he ended is yet uncertain.
  17. Wit at several Weapons.
  18. I have printed this quotation as I find it in the edition of 1778; though I am unable to discover what pretensions it claims to be arranged as blank verse.
  20. Toxica zelotypo dedit uxor mæcha marito,
  21. Nec satis ad mortem credidit esse datum.
  22. Micuit argenti letalia pondera vivi;
  23. Cogeret ut celerem vis geminata necem.
  24. Dividat hæc si quis, faciunt discreta venenum:
  25. Antidotum sumet, qui sociata bibet.
  26. Ergo inter sese dum noxia pocula certant,
  27. Cessit letalis noxa salutiferæ.
  28. Protinus et vacuos alvi petiere recessus
  29. Lubrica dejectis quà via nota cibis.
  30. Quàm pia cura déum! prodest crudelior uxor,
  31. Et quum fata volunt, bina venena juvant.

302

PROLOGUE

SENT TO THE AUTHOR BY AN UNKNOWN HAND, AND PROPOSED TO BE SPOKEN BY MRS MOUNTFORD, DRESSED LIKE AN OFFICER.[1]

Bright beauties, who in awful circle sit,

And you, grave synod of the dreadful pit,

And you the upper-tire of pop-gun wit,