I hold it, in these kind of poems with that of Horace; Sapienta prima, stultitia caruisse; to be free from those vices, which proceed from ignorance; of which I take it this play will ingeniously acquict itself. I do chiefly therefore expose it to the judicious: Locus est, et pluribus umbris, others have leave to sit down, and reas it, who come unbidden. But to these, should a man present them with the most excellent music, it would delight them no more, than Auriculas citherae collecta sorde dolentes. I will not further insist upon the approvement of it, for I am so far from praising myself, that I have not given way to divers of my friends, whose unbegg'd commendatory verses offer'd themselves to do me service in the front of this poem. A great part of the grace of this (I confess) lay in action; yet can no action ever be gracious, where the decency of thelanguage, and ingenious structure of the scene, arrive not to make up a perfect harmony. What I have fail'd of this, you that have approv'd my other works, (when you have read this) tax me of. For the rest, Non ego ventosae plebis suffragia a venor.
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