Page [unnumbered]
To my FRIEND Tho. Skipwith, Esq
THere is that certain Argument of Poverty in Poetry, that its Off∣spring must always be laid at somebodies Door; and indeed, the greatest Master of this Art, will scarce be able to support the Issue of his Brain, upon the narrow Income of a single Reputation.
From the very Start of my Design upon this Play, I had a Design up∣on you, like a rich Godfather, to ease the Parish of a Charge, and the Parent of a Care, in maintaining it.
You know the Original of Sir Antony, and therefore can best judge how the Copy is drawn; tho' it won't be to my Advantage to have 'em too narrowly compar'd; her Wit is indeed inimitable, not to be painted: Yet I must say, there's something in my Draught of her, that carries a Re∣semblance, and makes up a very tolerable Figure: And since I have this occasion of mentioning Mrs. Montford, I am pleased, by way of Thanks, to do her that publick Justice in Print, which some of the best Judges of these Performances, have, in her Praise, already done her, in publick places; That they never saw any part more masterly play'd: And as I made every Line for her, she has mended every Word for me; and by a Gaiety and Air, particular to her Action, turn'd every thing into the Genius of the Character.
You have here Seven hundred Lines more in the Print, than was upon the Stage, which I cut out in the apprehension and dread of a long Play.
The Abbe's Character languishes in the Fifth Act for want of the Scene between him and Sir Antony, which I plainly saw before, but was con∣tented to leave a Gap in the Action, and to lose the advantage of Mr. Lee's Playing (which, tho' his Part, that place only gvve him an occa∣sion to shew) then run the venture of offending the Women; not that there is one indecent Expression in it; but the over-fine Folk might run it into a design I never had in my head: my meaning was, to expose the Vice; and I thought it cou'd not be more contemptibly expos'd, than in the Person of a wanton Old Man, that must make ev'n the most fashiona∣ble Pleasure ridiculous.