Secret-love, or, The maiden-queen as it is acted by His Majesties servants, at the Theater-Royal / written by John Dryden.

PREFACE.

IT has been the ordinary practice of the French Poets, to dedicate their Works of this nature to their King, especially when they have had the least encouragement to it, by his approbation of them on the Stage. But I con∣fess I want the confidence to follow their exam∣ple, though perhaps I have as specious preten∣ces to it for this Piece, as any they can boast of: it having been own'd in so particular a manner by His Majesty, that he has grac'd it with the Title of His Play, and thereby rescued it from the se∣verity (that I may not say malice) of its Ene∣mies. But, though a character so high and unde∣serv'd, has not rais'd in me the presumption to offer such a trifle to his more serious view, yet I will own the vanity to say, that after this glory which it has receiv'd from a Soveraign Prince, I could not send it to seek protection from any Subject. Be this Poem then sacred to him with∣out the tedious form of a Dedication, and with∣out presuming to interrupt those hours which he is daily giving to the peace and settlement of his people.

For what else concerns this Play, I would tell the Reader that it is regular, according to the strictest of Dramatick Laws, but that it is a com∣mendation which many of our Poets now de∣spise, and a beauty which our common Audi∣ences do not easily discern. Neither indeed do I value my self upon it, because with all that sym∣metry of parts, it may want an air and spirit (which consists in the writing) to set it off. 'Tis a question variously disputed, whether an Au∣thor may be allowed as a competent judg of his own works. As to the Fabrick and contrivance of them certainly he may, for that is properly the employment of the judgment; which, as a Ma∣ster-builder may determine, and that without deception, whether the work be according to the exactness of the model; still granting him to have a perfect Idea of that pattern by which he works: and that he keeps himself always con∣stant to the discourse of his judgment, without admitting self-love, which is the false surveigher of his Fancy, to intermeddle in it. These Quali∣fications granted (being such as all sound Poets are presupposed to have within them) I think all Writers, of what kind soever, may infallibly

judg of the frame and contexture of their Works. But for the ornament of Writing, which is great∣er, more various and bizarre in Poesie then in any other kind, as it is properly the Child of Fancy, so it can receive no measure, or at least but a very imperfect one of its own excellencies or faillures from the judgment. Self-love (which enters but rarely into the offices of the judgment) here pre∣dominates. And Fancy (if I may so speak) judg∣ing of it self, can be no more certain or demonstra∣tive of its own effects, then two crooked lines can be the adaequate measure of each other. What I have said on this subject, may, perhaps, give me some credit with my Readers, in my opinion of this Play, which I have ever valued above the rest of my Follies of this kind: yet not thereby in the least dissenting from their judgment who have concluded the writing of this to be much inferior to my Indian Emperour. But the Argument of that was much more noble, not having the allay of Comedy to depress it: yet if this be more perfect, either in its kind, or in the general notion of a Play, 'tis as much as I desire to have granted for the vindication of my Opinion, and, what as near∣ly touches me, the sentence of a Royal Judg.

Many have imagin'd the Character of Philocles to be faulty; some for not discovering the Queens love, others for his joining in her restraint. But though I am not of their number, who obstinate∣ly defend what they have once said, I may with modesty take up those answers which have been made for me by my Friends; namely, that Philo∣cles, who was but a Gentleman of ordinary birth, had no reason to guess so soon at the Queens Pas∣sion, she being a person so much above him, and by the suffrages of all her people, already destin'd to Lysimantes: Besides, that he was prepossessed, (as the Queen somewhere hints it to him) with another inclination which rendred him less clear∣sighted in it, since no man, at the same time, can distinctly view two different objects. And if this, with any shew of reason, may be defended, I leave my Masters the Criticks to determine whether it be not much more conducing to the beauty of my Plot, that Philocles should be long kept ignorant of the Queens love, then that with one leap he should have entred into the knowledg of it, and thereby freed himself, to the disgust of the Audi∣ence, from that pleasing Labyrinth of errors which was prepar'd for him. As for that other

objection of his joyning in the Queens imprison∣ment, it is indisputably that which every man, if he examines himself, would have done on the like occasion. If they answer that it takes from the height of his Character to do it; I would enquire of my over-wise Censors, who told them I in∣tended him a perfect Character, or indeed what necessity was there he should be so, the variety of Images, being one great beauty of a Play? it was as much as I design'd, to show one great and ab∣solute pattern of honour in my Poem, which I did in the Person of the Queen: All the defects of the other parts being set to show, the more to recommend that one character of Vertue to the Audience. But neigher was the fault of Philocles so great, if the circumstances be consider'd, which, as moral Philosophy assures us, make the essential differences of good and bad; He himself best explaining his own intentions in his last Act, which was the restauration of his Queen; and even before that, in the honesty of his expressions when he was unavoidably led by the impulsion of his love to do it. That which with more rea∣son was objected as an indecorum, is the manage∣ment of the last Scene of the Play, where Celadon

and Florimell are treating too lightly of their marriage in the presence of the Queen, who like∣wise seems to stand idle while the great action of the Drama is still depending. This I cannot other∣wise defend, then by telling you I so design'd it on purpose to make my Play go off more smart∣ly; that Scene, being in the opinion of the best judges, the most divertising of the whole Co∣medy. But though the Artifice succeeded, I am willing to acknowledg it as a fault, since it pleas'd His Majesty, the best Judg, to think it so. I have onely to add, that the Play is founded on a story in the Cyrus, which he calls the Queen of Co∣rinth; in whose Character, as it has been affirm'd to me, he represents that of the famous Christina, Queen of Sweden. This is what I thought con∣venient to write by way of Preface, to the Mai∣den-Queen; in the reading of which, I fear you will not meet with that satisfaction which you have had in seeing it on the Stage; the chief parts of it both serious and comick, being per∣formed to that height of excellence, that nothing but a command which I could not handsomely disobey, could have given me the courage to have made it publick.