To the Right Honorable C HARLES Lord HALLIFAX. MY LORD, F I could have the Vanity to make a Merit of Dedicating this TRAGEDY, Ifhould here take an Opportunity of telling You, that I am, in this, endeavouring to make the best, and only Return I am capable of, for all thofe Marks of exceeding Goodnefs and Humanity, which I have ftill had the Honor to meet with from Your Lordship. But fince the Matter is quite otherwife, fince it is highly to my Advantage to shelter myfelf under fo great a Name; fince I have done myself fo much Honor by. it; I am bound to own, with all the Gratitude I am capable B 2 capable of, that Your Lordship's Patronage is a new, and will be a lafting Obligation upon me. The Moft kinds of Poetry, but especially TRAGEDIES, Come into the World now, like Children born under ill Stars; a general Indifference, or rather Disinclination, attends like a bad Influence upon them; and after having buftled through ill Ufage, and a short Life, they fleep and are forgotten. Relish of Things of this Kind is certainly very much altered from what it was fome Time fince; and though I will not presume to cenfure other People's Pleasures, and prefcribe to the various Taftes of Mankind; yet I will take the Liberty to fay, that those who fcorn to be entertained like their Fore-fathers, will hardly fubftitute fo reasonable a Diversion in the Room of that which they have laid afide. I could wish there were not fo much Reason as there is to attribute this Change of Inclinations, to a Difefteem of Learning itfelf. Too many People are apt to think, that Books are not neceffary to the finishing the Character of a fine Gentleman; and are therefore |