HE Time has been when Plays were not so plenty,
And a lefs Number new would well content ye,
New Plays did then like Almanacks appear ;
And one was thought fufficient for a Year :
Tho' they are more like Almanacks of late;
For in one Year, I think, they're out of Date.
Nor were they without Reafon join'd together;
For juft as one prognofticates the Weather,
How plentiful the Crop, or scarce the Grain,
What Peals of Thunder, and what Show'rs of Rain ;
So t'other can foretel, by certain Rules,
What Crops of Coxcombs, or what Floods of Fools.
In fuch like Prophecies were Poets skill'd,
Which now they find in their own Tribe fulfill'd :
The Dearth of Wit they did fo long presage,
Is fall'n on us, and almoft ftarves the Stage.
Were you not griev'd, as often as you saw
Poor Actors thref fuch empty Sheafs of Straw?
Toiling and lab'ring at their Lungs Expence,
To fart a felt, or force a little Senfe.
Hard Fate For us! ftill harder in th' Event ;
Our Authors Sin, but we alone Repent.
Still they proceed, and at our Charge, write worse;
"Twere fome Amends if they could reimburse,
But there's the Devil, tho' their Cause is loft,
There's no recov'ring Damages or Coft.
Good Wits, forgive this Liberty we take,
Since Custom gives the Lofers leave to Speak.
But if, provok'd, your dreadful Wrath remains,
Take your Revenge upon the coming Scenes:
For that damn'd Poet's fpar'd who damns a brother,
As one Thief fcapes that executes another.
Thus far alone does to the Wits relate;
But from the reft we hope a better Fate.
To please and move has been our Poet's Theme,
Art may direct, but Nature is his Aim;
And Nature mifs'd, in vain he boafts his Art,
For only Nature can affect the Heart.
Then freely judge the Scenes that shall enfue,
But as with Freedom, judge with Candour too.
He wou'd not lose thro' Prejudice his Caufe;
Nor wou'd obtain precariously Applaufe.
Impartial Cenfure he requests from all,
Prepar'd, by just Degrees to ftand or fall.
Manuel, the King of Granada.
Gonfalez, his Favourite.
Garcia, Son to Gonfalez.
Perez, Captain of the Guards.
Alonzo, an Officer, Creature to Gonfalez.
Ofmyn, a Noble Prisoner..
Heli, a Prifoner, his Friend.
Selim, an Eunuch.
Almeria, the Princefs of Granada.
Zara, a Captive Queen.
Leonora, chief Attendant on the Princefs.
Women, Eunuchs and Mutes attending Zara, Guards, &c.
The Curtain rifing flowly to foft Mufick, difcovers ALME RIA in Mourning, LEONORA waiting in Mourning.
After the Mufick, ALMERIA rifes from her Chair, and comes forward.
USICK has charms to footh a favage breast,
To foften rocks, or bend a knotted oak.
I've read, that things inanimate have mov'd, And, as with living fouls, have been inform'd By magic numbers and perfuafive found. What then am I? Am I more senseless grown Than trees, or flint? O force of conftant woe! "Tis not in harmony to calm my griefs :
Anfelmo fleeps, and is at peace; last night
The filent tomb receiv'd the good old king;
He and his forrows now are fafely lodg'd
Within its cold, but hospitable bofom.
Why am I not at peace
Leon. Dear madam, cease,
Or moderate your griefs; there is no caufe
Alm. No caufe! peace, peace; there is eternal cause. And mifery eternal will fucceed.
-thou haft indeed no caufe, Leon. Believe me, madam, I lament Anfelmo, And always did compaffionate his fortune; Have often wept, to see how cruelly Your father kept in chains his fellow-king: And oft at night, when all have been retir'd, Have ftol'n from bed, and to his prison crept ; Where, while his goaler flept, I thro' the grate Have foftly whifper'd, and enquir'd his health; Sent in my fighs and prayers for his deliv'rance; For fighs and pray'rs were all that I could offer.
Alm. Indeed thou haft a foft and gentle nature
That thus cou'dft melt to see a stranger's wrongs.
O Leonora, hadst thou known Anfelmo,
How wou'd thy heart have bled to fee his fuff'rings.
Thou hadst no caufe, but general compaffion.
Leon. Love of my royal mistress gave me caufe,
My love of you begot my grief for him;
For I had heard that when the chance of war
Had blefs'd Anfelmo's arms with victory,
And the rich spoil of all the field, and you,
The glory of the whole, were made the prey
Of his fuccefs; that then, in fpite of hate,
Revenge, and that hereditary feud
Between Valentia's and Granada's kings,
He did endear himself to your affection,
By all the worthy and indulgent ways
His most industrious goodnefs cou'd invent;
Propofing by a match between Alphonfo
His fon, the brave Valentia prince, and you,
To end the long diffention, and unite
The jarring crowns.
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