The humorists a comedy ... / written by Tho. Shadwell ...
About this Item
- Title
- The humorists a comedy ... / written by Tho. Shadwell ...
- Author
- Shadwell, Thomas, 1642?-1692.
- Publication
- London :: Printed for Henry Herringman ...,
- 1671.
- Rights/Permissions
-
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- Link to this Item
-
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A59427.0001.001
- Cite this Item
-
"The humorists a comedy ... / written by Tho. Shadwell ..." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A59427.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed April 29, 2025.
Pages
Page [unnumbered]
To the most Illustrious Princess MARGARET DUTCHESS OF NEWCASTLE.
May it please your Grace,
THe favourable Reception my Imperti∣nents found from your Excellent Lord, and my Noble Patron, and the great mercy your Grace has for all offenders of this kind, have made me presume humbly to lay this Comedy at your feet: for none can better than your Grace, protect this mangled, persecuted Play from the fury of its Enemies and Detractors, who by your admirable Endow∣ments of Nature and Art, have made all Mankind your Friends and Admirers. You have not been content onely to surmount all your own Sex in the excellent Qualities of a Lady and a Wife, but you must overcome all ours in wit and understanding. All our Sex have reason to envy you, and your own to be proud of you, which by you have obtained an absolute Victory over us. It were a vain thing in me to endeavour to commend those excellent Pieces that have fallen from your Graces Pen, since all the World does.
Page [unnumbered]
And this is not intended for a Panegyrick, but a Dedica∣tion, which I humbly desire your Grace to pardon.
The Play was intended a Satyr against Vice and Folly, and to whom is it more properly to be presented than to your Grace? who are, above all your Sex, so eminent in Wit and Vertue. I have been more obliged by my Lord Duke than by any man, and to whom can I shew my gra∣titude better than to your Grace, that are so excellent a part of him? But Madam, this 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of mine is a very unsuitable return to be made for his favours and the No∣ble Present of all your excellent Books. But I hope your Grace will forgive me, when you consider, that the Inte∣rest of all Poets is to fly for protection to Welbecke; which will never fail to be their Sanctuary, so long as there you are pleased so nobly to patronize Poesie, and so happily practise it. That will still be the onely place where they will find encouragement that do well, and pardon that do ill; and of the latter of these no man has more need than
Madam, Your Graces Most humble and obedient Servant
THO. SHADWELL.