The unhappy kindness, or, A fruitless revenge a tragedy, as it is acted at the Theatre Royal / wrirten [sic] by Mr. Scot.
About this Item
- Title
- The unhappy kindness, or, A fruitless revenge a tragedy, as it is acted at the Theatre Royal / wrirten [sic] by Mr. Scot.
- Author
- Scott, Mr. (Thomas), fl. 1696-1697.
- Publication
- London :: Printed for H. Rhodes ... S. Briscoe ... and R. Parker ...,
- 1697.
- Rights/Permissions
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- Link to this Item
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http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A58829.0001.001
- Cite this Item
-
"The unhappy kindness, or, A fruitless revenge a tragedy, as it is acted at the Theatre Royal / wrirten [sic] by Mr. Scot." In the digital collection Early English Books Online 2. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A58829.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 14, 2024.
Pages
Page [unnumbered]
THE PREFACE.
AMongst a number of New Plays that of late have crowded the Stage, I thought an old Subject, tho for no other account than the Respect we are for the most part apt to pay Antiquity, might meet with some Civility; this was lookt on by some, well vers'd in the Rules and Beauties of Poetry, as a Piece that wou'd not be altogether unacceptable, pro∣vided it appeared with a new Air more agreeable to the Humour of the present Age. 'Tis true, I found my self deceived in the working it up, and perceiv'd it requir'd more labour than I at first design'd it; for what with making some Characters entirely new, and reforming others, I found by that time I had done, I had little or none remaining but the Design: As it is, it may bear up in the Winter, notwithstanding the little Encouragement it met with at its first appearance from a thin Town, and the Scarcity of Money. I must own the Town has been very favourable to Me, and they who found nothing to commend, thought not fit to condemn what was writ purely for their Diversion. 'Tis true, every thing is not to be judg'd
Page [unnumbered]
according to the Success it meets with on the Stage; 'tis an easier Task to divert than please, forasmuch as the first. like a sudden flash, strikes only on the Fan∣cy; whil'st the other is exposed to the Severity of Judgment and Reason. Alphonso's Character in the last Act looks as if I had been resolv'd, whatever Ab∣surdities I committed, to make the Part for the Lines, and not the Lines for the Part, and therefore kill'd him in Opposition to a known Rule in Poetry: I am almost ready to confess it, tho, how far I have trans∣grest therein let the Critick judge; if he is offended at his last Scene, let the rest, which are all new, plead in my Behalf; I'm sure it improv'd his Character, and, through the Excellence of the Action, appear'd very beautiful on the Stage. The last Scene in the Third Act had the Misfortune to offend some, who are of∣ten more curious than becomes either their Modesty or good Manners; but that Man is in good hands, who has Pride and Affectation for his Judges.
T. Scot.