M

Y bookfeller informs me, that the bulk of his readers, regarding in a work of this kind the quantity more than the quality, will not be contented without an additional half sheet ; and he apprehends that a short dedication will answer the purpose.

But as I have no obligations to any great man or woman in this country, and as I will take care that no production of mine fhall want their patronage, I don't know any perfon whofe good offices I fo much stood in need of as my bookfeller's: therefore, Mr. VAILLANT, I think myfelf obliged to you for the correctness of the prefs, the beauty of the type, and the goodness of the paper, with which you have decorated this work of

PALL-MALL, April 21, 1753.

Your humble fervant,

SAM. FOOTE.

B 2

PRO

PROLOGUE,

Between Mr. MACKLIN and his WIFE.

SHE. TO

O contradict me!-Blockhead! ideot! fool! fot!

HE. But amidft thefe hard names, our difpute is forgot.

To contradict you I know is high-treafon ;
For the will of a wife is always her reason.
SHE. No, fir. for once, I'll give up my pretenfion,
And fubmit to the pit our caufe of diffenfion.
HE. 1 agree; for the pit is our natural lord.
LADIES,

Hey! How come you to claim the

firft word!

GENTLEMEN, my husband and I have had a difpute,

Where the difference lies 'twixt a man and a brute; Which we beg, whilft the folks for the farce are pre

paring,

You would please to decide, and give us the hearing. -Hem! Hem!

After Plutarch of Rome! and Virgil of Greece!
And Iliads, and Eneads, and authors like thefe ;
I boldly affirm, deny it who can,

That in laughter confifts the true effence of man.
Whilft my
husband

HE.- -Nay, pray let me ftate my own cafe,
And I'll make it as clear as the nose in your face,
That hiffing in man preferves the first place.
To begin then with critics ;-'Tis their capital bliss:
Than to laugh-don't you find it more pleafing to his?
In this all agree!-Jews! Infidels! Turks!

SHE. I grant it, sweet fir, if you meant at your

works.

Yet

Yet even 'gainst that I've a potent objection;
For every rule ftill has its exception :

Tho' they hifs'd at your farces, your Pafquin and stuff,
At your tragedy fure they laugh'd hearty enough.
And again, Mr. Wifeman, regard the world round,
'Tis in mankind alone that laughter is found;
Whilft your favourite hifling, fage fir, if you pleafe,
You enjoy but in common with ferpents and geefe.
SHE. And ar'nt you afhani'd('tis no time to dif-
femble,)

O critics! thefe creatures in this to refemble?

HE. Not a jot; in this place 'tis of fingular use, Of bad poets and players to reform the abuse. In the practice, kind firs! were I fit to advise, The hiffing like geefe I would have you defpife, And copy the ferpent,-be fubtle and wife, But free from his venom-Well, firs! what d'ye fay ? Is your judgment

SHE.

Let us wait 'till the end of the play: In the progrefs of that we fhall eafily find,

Whether laughing or hiffing is most to their mind.

HE. I'm fure they will hifs.,
SHE. And I hope they'll be kind.