MHUNTER in the Character of PENELOPE And see the shade of my much injured Lord starts up to blast me! TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIDNEY Lord GODOLPHIN, Lord High-Treasurer of England, and Knight of the moft Noble Order of the Garter. IF MY LORD, those cares in which the fervice of a great Queen, and the love of your country, have fo juftly engaged your Lordship, would allow any leifure to run back and remember thofe arts and studies, which were once the grace and entertainment of your Lordship's youth; I have prefumption enough to hope, that this tragedy may, fome time or other, find an hour to divert your Lordship. Poetry, which was fo venerable to former ages, as in many places to make a part of their religious worship, and every where to be had in the highest honour and esteem, has miferably languifhed and been despised, for want of that favour and protection which it found in the famous Auguftan age. Since then, it may be afferted without any partiality to the present time, it never had a fairer profpect of lifting up its head, and returning to its former reputation than now: and the best reafon can be given for it, is, that it seems to have particular hope from, and dependence upon your Lordship, and to expect all just encouragement, when thofe great men, who have the power to protect it, have fo delicate and polite a taste and understanding of its true value. The reftoring and preferving any part of learning, is fo generous an action in itself, that it naturally falls into your Lordship's A 2 pro province, fince every thing that may ferve to improve the mind, has a right to the patronage of fo great and univerfal a genius for knowledge as your Lordship's. It is indeed a piece of good fortune, upon which I cannot help congratulating the prefent age, that there is fo great a man, at a time when there is fo great an occafion for him. The divifions which your Lordship has healed, the temper which you have restored to our councils, and that indefatigable care and diligence which you have used in preferving our peace at home, are benefits fo virtuoufly and fo feafonably conferred upon your country, as fhall draw the praifes of all wife men, and the bleffings of all good men upon your Lordship's name. And when thofe unreafonable feuds and animofities, which keep faction alive, fhall be buried in filence and forgotten, that great public good fhall be univerfally acknowledged, as the happy effect of your Lordship's most equal temper and right understanding. That this glorious end may very fuddenly fucceed to your Lordship's candor and gerous endeavours after it, inuft be the wish of every good Englishman. Iam, My Lord, Your Lordship's most obedient Humble fervant, N. ROWE. PRO |