The wild gallant a comedy : as it was acted at the Theater-Royal by His Majesties servants / written by John Dryden, esq.
About this Item
- Title
- The wild gallant a comedy : as it was acted at the Theater-Royal by His Majesties servants / written by John Dryden, esq.
- Author
- Dryden, John, 1631-1700.
- Publication
- [London] In the Savoy :: Printed by Tho. Newcomb for H. Herringman ...,
- 1669.
- Rights/Permissions
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- Link to this Item
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http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A36713.0001.001
- Cite this Item
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"The wild gallant a comedy : as it was acted at the Theater-Royal by His Majesties servants / written by John Dryden, esq." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A36713.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 24, 2025.
Pages
Page [unnumbered]
Preface.
IT would be a great Impudence in me to say much of a Comedy, which has had but indifferent success in the action. I made the Town my Judges; and the greater part condemn'd it. After which I do not think it my Concernment to defend it, with the ordinary Zeal of a Poet for his decry'd Poem. Though Corneille is more resolute in his Preface before his Pertharite, which was con∣demn'd more Uuiversally than this: for he a∣vowes boldly, That in spight of Censure his Play was well, and regularly written; which is more than I dare say for mine. Yet it was receiv'd at Court; and was more than once the Divertise∣ment of His Majesty, by His own Command.
Page [unnumbered]
But I have more modesty than to ascribe that to my Merit, which was His particular Act of Grace. It was the first attempt I made in Dra∣matique Poetry; and, I find since, a very bold one, to begin with Comedy; which is the most difficult part of it. The Plot was not Origi∣nally my own: but so alter'd, by me (whe∣ther for the better or worse, I know not) that, whoever the Author was, he could not have challeng'd a Scene of it. I doubt not but you will see in it, the uncorrectness of a young Writer: which is yet but a small ex∣cuse for him, who is so little amended since. The best Apology I can make for it, and the tru∣est, is onely this; That you have since that time received with Applause, as bad, and as uncorrect Playes from other Men.