то SAMUEL JOHNSON, L. L. D. DEAR SIR, By infcribing 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 also 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 reafon to be grateful. I am, DEAR SIR, YOUR MOST SINCERE FRIEND AND ADMIRER, OLIVER GOLDSMITH. 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 speakI'm crying now-and have been all the week. "Tis not alone this mourning fuit," good mafters; "I've that within"-for which there are no plafters! Pray, would you know the reafon why I'm crying? The comic mufe, long fick, is now a dying! And if fhe 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 fpirits up, We now and then take down a hearty cup. What What shall we do?-If Comedy forfake us! My heart thus preffing-fix'd my face and eye- Thus I begin-"All is not gold that glitters, If you will fwallow it, the maid is cur'd: If you reject the dose, and make wry faces! This truth he boafts, will boaft it while he lives, The college you, muft his pretenfions back, |