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not rank considerably higher than the author's first play. The profligate earl of Rochester, having quarrelled with Dryden, and being fond of acting the part of a tyrant in literature, selected Otway as a more respectable antagonist of the laureat, than Crowne, whose play of “ Calisto” had, through the same interested patronage, been favourably received by the court and the public. As both these authors were afterwards ridiculed and lampooned by Rochester, it is easy to assign his patronage to the proper motive. The violence of literary prejudice having therefore been the principal .source of popularity to this play, it is no wonder that it should not maintain it's former height, when deprived of that support, and left to sustain itself

upon intrinsic inerits *.

Like all the rhyming, or heroic plays of that age, this tragedy varies from historical truth, for the sake of introducing that romantic and metaphysical love, which, at that period, lorded it over the stage, and although highly applauded for it's sublimity and majesty, appears now, even in it's happiest representation, almost a burlesque upon the passion. In the following play, if we except Posa, love tyrannizes in every breast: not that love which appears in ordinary life; but a passion which rages like a tempest, and changes with a breath to deadly hate. Thus Eboli,

it's own

who, in the fourth act, reveals to Don Carlos her passion for him, meeting with a repulse, instantly converts her love to hatred, and prosecutes a diabolical system of revenge, without even a dawn of returning affection.

Otway does not appear to have chosen the incidents of his tragedy from the Spanish Chronicles, or the other histories of the time; but to have followed a novel, written by the Abbé de Saint Real, who has deviated from the truth of history for the sake of composing a pathetic and interesting tale. It was represented in the

TO

HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS

THE DUKE.

SIR,

'Tis an approved opinion, there is not so unhappy a creature in the world as the man that wants ambition : for certainly he lives to very little use that only toils in the same round, and because he kuows where he is, though in a dirty road, dares not venture on a smoother path for fear of being lost. That I am not the wretch i condemn, your Royal Highness may be sufficiently convinced, in that I durst presume to put this poem under your patronage. My motives to it were not ordinary: for besides my own propensity to take an opportunity of publishing the extreme devotion I owe your Royal Highness, the mighty encouragement I received from your approbation of it when presented on the stage, was hint enough to let me know at whose feet it ought to be laid. Yet whilst I do this, I am sensible the curious world will expect some panegyric on those lieroic virtues, which are throughout it so much admired. But as they are a theme too great for my undertaking, so only to endeavour at the truth of them, must, in the distance between my obscurity and their height, savour of a flattery, which in your Royal Highness's esteem I would not be thought guilty of: though in that part of them which relates to myself (viz. your favours showered on a thing so mean as I am) I know not how to be silent. For you were not only so indulgent as to bestow your praise on this, but even (beyond my hopes) to declare in favour of my first essay

of this nature, and add yet the encouragement of your commands to go forward, when I had

VOL. I.

the honour to kiss your Royal Highness's hand, in token of your permission to make a dedication to you of the second. "I must confess, and boast, I am very proud of it; and it were enough to make me more, were I not sensible how far I am undeserving. Yet when I consider you never give your favours precipitately, but that it is a certain sign of some desert when you vouchsafe to promote, I, who have terminated my best hopes in it, should do wrong to your goodness, should I not let the world know my mind, as well as my condition, is raised by it. I am certain none that know your Royal Highness will disapprove my aspiring to the service of so great and so good a master; one who (as is apparent to all those who have the honour to be near you and know you by thạt title) never raised without merit, or discountenanced without justice. It is that, indeed, obliging severity which has in all men created an awful love and respect towards you; since in the firmness of your resolution the brave and good man is sure of you, whilst the ill-minded and malignant fears you. This I could not pass over; and I hope your Royal Highness will pardon it, since it is unaffectedly my zeal to you, who, am in nothing so unfortunate, as that I have not a better opportunity to let you and the world know how

much I am,

Your Royal Highness's
Most hun ble, most faithful,

And most obedient Servant,

THO. OTWAY.

THE PREFACE.

READER,

'Tis not that I have any great affection to scribbling, that I pester thee with a preface; for, amongst friends, 'tis almost as poor a trade with poets, as it is with those that write backney under attornies, it will hardly keep us in ale and cheese. Honest Ariosto began to be sensible of it in his time, who makes his complaint to this purpose:

I pity those who in these latter days
Do write, when bounty hath shut up her gate :
Where day and night in vain good writers knock,

And for their labour oft have but a mock. Thus I find it according to Sir John Harrington's translation; had I understood Italian, I would have given it thee in the original, but that is not my talent; therefore to proceed : this Play was the second that ever I writ, or thought of writing. I must confess, I had often a titillation to poetry, but never durst venture on my muse, till I got her into a corner in the country; and then, like a bashful young lover, when I had her in private, I had courage to fumble, but never thought she would have produced any thing; till at last, I know not how, ere I was aware, I found myself father of a dramatic birth, which I called Alcibiades: but I might without offence to any person in the play, as well have called it Nebuchadnezzar; for my hero, to do him right, was none of that squeamish gentleman I make him, but would as little have boggled at the obliging the passion of a young and beautiful lady as I should myself, had I the same opportunities, which I have given him. This I

a