то SAMUEL JOHNSON, L. L. D. DEAR SIR, By inferibing this flight performance to you, I do not mean fo much to compliment you as myself. It may do me fome honour to inform the public, that I have lived many years in intimacy with you. It may ferve the interefts of mankind alfo to inform them that the greatest wit may be found in a character, without impairing the most unaffected piety. I have, particularly, reafon to thank you for your partiality to this performance. The undertaking a comedy, not merely fentimental, was very dangerous; and Mr. Colman, who faw this piece in its various stages, always thought it fo. However, I ventured to truft it to the public; and, though it was neceffarily delayed till late in the feafon, I have every reason to be grateful. I am, PROLOGUE, B Y DAVID GARRICK, ESQ. Enter Mr. WOODWARD, dreffed in Black, and holding a handkerchief to his Eyes. EXCUSE me, Sirs, I pray—I can't yet speak— I'm crying now- and have been all the week. "Tis not alone this mourning fuit," good masters: "I've that within"-for which there are no plafters! Pray, would you know the reason why I'm crying? The comic mufe, long fick, is now a dying! And if he goes, my tears will never stop; For as a play'r, I can't fqueeze out one drop; I am undone, that's all-fhall lofe my breadI'd rather, but that's nothing-lofe my head. When the sweet maid is laid upon the bier, Shuter and I fhall be chief mourners here. To her a mawkish drab of fpurious breed, Who deals in Sentimentals, will fucceed! Poor Ned and I are dead to all intents; We can as foon speak Greek as Sentiments! Both nervous grown, to keep our spirits up, We now and then take down a hearty cup. What What shall we do?-If Comedy forfake us! They'll turn us out, and no one elfe will take us. But, why can't I be moral?-Let me tryMy heart thus preffing-fix'd my face and eyeWith a fententious look, that nothing means, (Faces are blocks, in fentimental fcenes) Thus I begin "All is not gold that glitters, "Pleasures seem fweet, but prove a glafs of bitters. "When ign'rance enters, folly is at hand: Learning is better far than houfe and land. "Let not your virtue trip, who trips may ftumble, "And virtue is not virtue, if the tumble." I give it up morals won't do for me; The college you, muft his pretenfions back, |