THE MOURNING BRID E. A TRAGEDY. BY WILLIAM CONGREVE, Efq. -Neque enim lex aequior ulla, Quam necis artifices arte perire fua. Ovid. de Arte Am. Zara, a captive queen, Mrs Bracegirdle. Mrs Barry. Leonora, chief attendant on the princefs, Mrs Bowman. Women, Eunuchs, and Mutes attending Zara, Guards, &c. The SCENE, GRANADA. To Her Royal Highness the PRINCESS. MADAM, you hold HAT high ftation, which by your birth TH above the people, exacts from every one, as a duty, whatever honours they are capable of paying to your Royal Highness: but that more exalted place, to which your virtues have rais'd you, above the reft of princes, makes the tribute of our admiration and praise, rather a choice more immediately preventing that duty. The public gratitude is ever founded on a public benefit; and what is univerfally blefs'd, is always an univerfal bleffing. Thus from yourself we derive the offerings which we brings and that incenfe which arifes to your name, only returns to its original, and but naturally requires the parent of its being. From hence it is, that this poem, conftituted on a moral, whofe end is to recommend and to encourage virtue, of consequence has recourse to your Royal Highnefs's patronage; afpiring to caft itself beneath your feet, and declining approbation, 'till you fhall condescend to own it, and vouchsafe to fhine upon it as upon a creature of your influence. 'Tis from the example of princes that virtue becomes a fashion in the people; for even they, who are averfe to inftruction, will yet be fond of imitation. But there are multitudes, who never can have means nor opportunities of fo near an accefs, as to partake of the benefit of fuch examples. And to thefe, Tragedy, which diftinguishes itself from the vulgar poetry by the dignity of its characters, may be of use and information. For they who are at that diftance from original greatnefs, as to be depriv'd of the happiness of contemF the perfections and real excellencies of your hnefs's perfon in your court, may yet behold fome small sketches and imagings of your mind, abftracted and reprefented on the theatre. Thus poets are inftructed, and inftruct; not alone by precepts which perfuade, but also by examples which illuftrate. This is delight interwoven with inftruction; when not only virtue is prefcribed, but also represented. But if we are delighted with the liveliness of a feign'd reprefentation of great and good perfons and their actions, how muft we be charm'd with beholding the perfons themselves? if one or two excelling qualities barely touch'd in the single action and small compass of a play, can warm an audience with a concern and regard, even for the feeming fuccefs and profperity of the actor, with what zeal must the hearts of all be fill'd for the continued and increafing happiness of those, who are the true and living inftances of elevated and perfisting virtue? even the vicious themfelves must have a fecret veneration for thofe peculiar graces and endow ments, which are daily fo eminently confpicuous in your Royal Highness; and, though repining, feel a pleafure, which, in spite of envy, they perforce approve. If in this piece, humbly offer'd to your Royal Highnefs, there fhall appear the refemblance of any of those many excellencies which you fo promifcuously poffefs, to be drawn fo as to merit your least approbation, it has the end and accomplishment of its defign. And however imperfect it may be in the whole, through the inexperience or incapacity of the author, yet, if there is fo much as to convince your Royal Highnefs, that a play may be with induftry fo difpos'd (in fpite of the licentious practice of the modern theatre) as to become fometimes an innocent, and not unprofitable entertainment, it will abundantly gratify the ambition, and recompenfe the endeavours of, YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESS's Moft obedient, and Moft humbly devoted fervant, WILLIAM CONGREVE. " |