Love a la mode a comedy / written by a Person of honour.

To the READER.

THis Comedy will (I hope) afford more variety both in humor and plot, then to give just cause to any to believe it a Translation: although (I must confess) there be a French Play which bears this Title; and in Title onely they re∣semble. The French are commonly content in their Comedies with one single Humor, and Rime; but the Criticks of this Island are scarce satisfied with Reason. I expect as many Censurers as Readers; but hold my self as little bound to believe them, as to court their approbation: for I shall neither live concerned at their frownes, nor much exalted with their smiles. Yet am I not so conceited of my Work, as some of my partiall Friends, who have imposed upon me the Penance to hear my Play extolled beyond its merit: for my Muse was never so ambitious, to pretend equality with those unparallell'd Poets they prefer her before. However, their Verses express their friendship, and peculiar ap∣probation of what you may possibly condemn. But I desire to be tried by my Peers, by legitimate Judges, of which I conceive two sorts; Poet's in actu, and Poets in potentia, understanders of Poe∣try: under the last notion, I willingly comprehend the generous and accomplisht Gentry of this Nation; not every Mechanick stripling that can spell his Psalter, and censure Wit over a dish of Coffee: for a Comedy may loose halfe its worth by the ill reading, and all its wit through the dull apprehension of the peruser: yet such Readers I may easily forgive; for they suffer a kinde of pe∣nance in the Reading, by spending so much time to so little purpose, as the condemnation of what they understand not.

I onely contend with the ignorant; to the judicious my Muse submits, making onely exceptions against those, who think a Play criminall which had a Gentleman for its Composer; as if VVit and Blood were incompatible.

Although the yeare of his Majesties happy Restauration gave birth to this Poem, yet because it was not before publisht, many may wonder why we omit so modern and Modish a Custome, as the introducing of Songs and Dances in every Scoene. Truely, though I hold them decent Ornaments of the Stage, I love not to make them the matter of my Play; nor do I believe them so ab∣solutely necessary to a good Comedy, as to intrude them by head and shoulders, when they don't belong to my Plot. As neer as I could, I endeavoured to imitate Nature; for I think no impos∣sible accident is here presented. If to some (I meane Poeticall Coblers, Vampers of VVit, who undertake to mend what they can't make) the language appeare beyond the condition of the speaker: their own Reason might instruct them, that Poets have in all times assumed to themselves a liberty of bettering and exalting Nature; and that Love (of all Passions) is the greatest improvement of Wit and Elocution. Nothing remaines besides (as I conceive) to carp at, unless because it was not Acted on a publick Stage: This Play was brought forth in the Shade, and Glories in a pri∣vate reception; for she once received the Generall Votes and Ap∣plause of her Auditors: You'll finde by the perusall what she de∣serves. Farewell.

T. S.