PREF А СЕ. I Was always apprehenfive that the Subject of the following Piece was too abstracted and fingular for the Comprehenfion of a mix'd Affembly. Juno, Lucina, Jupiter, Tonans, Phidias, Praxiteles, with the other Gentlemen and Ladies of Antiquity, were, I dare fay, utterly unknown to my very good Friends of the Gallery; nor, to speak the Truth, do I believe they had many Acquaintances in the other Parts of the Houfe. But tho' I defpair of gratifying the Populum Tributim of the THEATRE, yet I flatter myself the Primores Populi will find me no difagreeable Companion in the Clofet, et fatis magnum Theatrum mihi eftis. I was neither prompted by a lucrative, nor an ambitious Motive to this Undertaking. My Defign was to ferve a Man, who had ever great Merit with his Friends, and to whom, on the Score of fome late Tranfactions, I think the Public vaftly indebted. That my good Intentions for Mr. WORSDALE have proved fucceffful, is entirely owing to the Generofity and Humanity of the Managers of Drury-Lane THEATRE; they have given him a Benefit, and and are jointly entitled to my Thanks; but as to Mr. GARRICK, I have more perfonal Obligations. I take this Opportunity of affuring bim, that I fhall ever retain the most grateful Remembrance of his Afiftance, Affiduity, and kind Concerns, at the Birth, Pogrefs, and untimely End of this my last and favourite offSpring. The Objects of my Satire were fuch as I thought, whether they were confidered in a moral, a political, or a ridiculous Light, deferved the Notice of the Comic Mufe. I was determined to brand thofe Goths in Science, who had prostituted the useful Study of Antiquity to triAling fuperficial Purpofes; who had blasted the Progress of the elegant Arts amongst us, by unpardonable Frauds and abfurd Prejudices; and who had corrupted the Minds and Morals of our Youth, by perfuading them, that what only ferves to illuftrate Literature was true Learning, and active Idleness real Bufinefs. How far this End has been obtained, is now, in the following Sheets, more generally fubmitted so the Public. PROLOGUE. Written by Mr. GARRICK, And fpoken by him in the Character of an Auctioneer. BEFORE this Court, IPETER PUFF appear, A Briton born, and bred an Auctioneer; Before you buy, be fure to understand. The fmallest Hair their loofer Thoughts might hold, Just Just warm when fingle, and when married cold: my Should it be known that English are employ'd, B z Dramatis |