"The best in this kind are but shadows; and the worst are no worse, if imagination
amend them."-MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM.

Third Edition.

LONDON:

C. MITCHELL, RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET.

MDCCCXXXIX.

BOD

W. STEVENS, PRINTER, BELL YARD, TEMPLE BAR,

JUST BROUGHT TO A CONCLUSION AT HIS LAMENTED DEATH,

IS REVERENTLY INSCRIBED.

PREFACE.

THE Tragedy of Gertrude and Beatrice was written with a view to representation, and the Author once hoped (after certain curtailments) that it would have been brought out on the boards of Covent Garden Theatre.

However, his friend, Mr. Macready, being of opinion, that the situation between Rodna and Beatrice, in the fourth Act," must be fatal," it will, in all probability, not be acted. The obnoxious scene is only not strictly historical, because "the intent," which in the play is frustrated by the appearance of Bankban, was, according to all accounts,* actually consummated.

The situation after all is incidental, and might be either entirely omitted, or the objectionable matter, which of course was never intended to be delivered, expurgated" to any required degree of decorum, without in the least affecting the development of the plot.

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Upon recurring to the Drama, now that the glow of composition has subsided, the Author is inclined to think, that the style of the whole wants simplicity,

Bonfin. Dec. 11, lib. 7.- -P. de Rewa. de Mon. e. S. Cor. R. Hung. C. 111.--Jo. Dlugoff. P. 614.