PREFACE. ΤΗ HE following Comedy is a new building upon an old foundation. It appeared first under the name of the SheGallants; and by the preface, then prefix'd to it, is said to have been but the child of a child. By taking it fince under examination fo many years after, the Author flatters himself to have made a correct Comedy of it. He found it regular to his hand : the Scene conftant to one place; the Time not exceeding the bounds prescrib'd; and the Action entire. It remained only to clear the ground; and to plant, as it were, fresh flowers in the room of those which were grown into weeds, or faded by time: to re-touch, and vary the chara&ers; enliven the painting; retrench the superfluous; and animate the action, where it appeared the young Author seem'd to aim at more than he had yet ftrength to perform: particularly, in the Scene between the two Pretty-Fellows in the fecond A&; the visiting Scene in the third; the quarrelling Scene betwixt Bellamour and Lucinda in the fourth; the reconciling Scene betwixt Bellamour and Angelica in the fifth; and all the Cha racters throughout; efpecially that of Sir Toby, which may pass for original. Shakespeare has given us a Sir Pandarus; Mr. Dryden, a father Aldo; Mr. Otway, a Sir Jolly Jumble: our Stage has abounded in meer pimps and buffoons: but Sir Toby is an obferver of decency; a man of fenfe, and good-breeding, according to the manners of that Reign, in which he is supposed to have pass'd his youth; but ftill retaining, in his old-age, that loofe fpirit of gaiety and Libertinifm, which reign'd in those days of devotion to the Fair-fex. Whether this Infant deferved a new coat; or whether, now he is provided with one, it may fet him off better, is, with all deference, fubmitted. An Author flatters himself very ridiculoufly, if he can fnppose it in his power to argue, and reason the world into judging, as he himself may perhaps do, of his Own Work. Sir Toby Tickle, An old debauchee of the last age. Sir John Airy,} Vaunter, Coxcombs, commonly call'd Pretty-fellows. Brother to Conftantia, fo refembling, as not to be known from one another. WOME N. Lady Dorimen, Lucinda, Angelica, Conftantia, Diana, Meliffa, Miranda, Dorinda, Lady Silence, Lady Prate-apace, Countess of Ket tledrum, Clever, Niece to lady Dorimen. Paffing, in man's habit, for her bro- Sifters to Frederick, courted by Con. ftantia, under the name of Courtall. Vifitants at lady Dorimen's circle. Woman, and confidant to lady Dorimen. SCENE, St. James's park, and houses adjoining. Once a Lover; and Always a Lover. A COMEDY. ACTI. SCENE I. SCENE, St. James's park and houses adjoining. ANGELICA and CONSTANTIA, in man's apparel. ISGUISE your inclinations as you can, yet every woman's business is a man. Conft. And every man's is a woman fo the world goes round. Ang. Not fo equally as you may imagine. This wicked age has introduc'd strange unnatural revolutions amongst us, even in love. Thus difguifed, how do the pretty fellows, as they are call'd, flutter about us? demme, Jack, a charming boy — beged, how I could hug the young rogue! Conft. If they have their Strephons, we have our Sappho's. Come, come, there we are even with them again. Ang. To confefs the truth, ingenuity is fo well improved on both fides, it would be hard to fay which fex has a right to throw the first stone. But to the point of all the conquefts I could make in this habit, my fingle aim is at lady Dorimen: it is, you know, to her niece Lucinda, my faithlefs Bellamour is upon the point of being married: I have but this day to prevent it, and either to recover or be revenged of the traytor. Conft. Well, let us hear: how do you propofe to go a bout it? Ang. This lady Dorimen, you must know, is a woman of quality, of tolerable sense, handsome enough, perfectly well-bred, with a little turn of affectation: in public, fhe |