with multitudes similar; for we only mention such contractions as first occur to us, by way of specimen? And if to these verbal assassinations we should (in aid of our equi-syllabic pursuit) add the introducing such arbitrary variations as to read -To Think well of Ourselves, if we deserve it, it is, Sir, a lustre in's, 'Twas rarely ta'en, "T has rid us fair of an incumberance, That he who doth intreat intrudes, 'Tis beyond faith, let's be going, There are here some gentlemen, Now I'm another metal, instead of To think well of ourselves, if we deserve it, is a lustre in us, 'T has taken rarely, It has rid us of a fair incumbrance, He that intreats intrudes, I am beyond my faith, pray let's be going, For I am of another metal now, together with interpolations, omissions, and transpositions, ad infinitum; when convicted of all these, so far from expecting applause, can they hope for pardon, or think to avoid the severest censure?--We beg to have it understood, that the freedoms which we object to, are such as the Editors have not mentioned in their notes. Noticed yariations (but those variations should ever be made with the greatest caution, and not without an apparent urgent necessity) are in some degree allowable; others, we think, highly reprehensible.- -The whole of this play was printed under the inspection of Mr. Seward, whose only object of consideration seems to have been, the establishment of metre, no matter by what means; to him, therefore, we are to ascribe the abovementioned violences. We have no doubt but the play of Wit without Money was written in verse; but it is at the same time certain, that either our Authors were more licentious in this Comedy than in all their other plays put together; or else that the players, by whom, as Mr. Seward supposes, this play was divested of its measure, in order to render the dialogue more low and farcical,' and who did not publish it till fourteen years after Fletcher's demise, were so successful in their anti-heroic endeavour, that it appears totally impossible ever to effect a thorough restoration of the metre. All we can assure the reader is, that we have carefully adhered to the old copies, where the sense did not demand variation; that we have submitted such variations as we thought ourselves obliged to make, to the judgment of the Reader; and that (induced as well by the licen tiousness of the old poetick writers, as a desire to be faithful Editors) we have preferred leaving faulty verses, to castration of language for regularity of measure. BEGGARS' BUSH. A COMEDY. The Commendatory Verses by Gardiner and Hills attribute this Play wholly to Fletcher. It was first printed in the folio of 1647. Until within a few years past, the Comedy now before us used to be frequently represented at Covent-Garden Theatre. In the year 1768, Mr. Hull made some alterations in it, and, with the addition of several songs, brought it on the stage as an opera, under the title of The Royal-Merchant. And the daughter and heir of Brabant: During which treaty, The Brabander pretends, this daughter was Stol'n from his court, by practice of our state; Though we are all confirm'd, 'twas a sought quarrel, To lay an unjust gripe upon this earldom; It being here believ'd the duke of Brabant Had no such loss. This war upon't proclaim'd, [ther Our earl, being then a child, although his faGood Gerrard liv'd, yet (in respect he was Chosen by the countess' favour for her husband, And but a gentleman, and Florez holding His right unto this country from his mother) The state thought fit, in this defensive war, Wolfort being then the only man of mark, To make him general. Mer. Which place we've heard He did discharge with honour. Her. Ay, so long, And with so bless'd successes, that the Brabander Was forc'd (his treasures wasted, and the choice Of his best men of arms tir'd or cut off) Himself, and actions, in the flattering glass And what it could effect, soon put in practice, The heart of his designs, gave him occasion To seize the whole: And in that plight you find it. Mer. Sir, I receive the knowledge of thus much, As a choice favour from you. Her. Only I must add, Bruges hold out. Mer. Whither, Sir, I am going, For there last night I had a ship put in, Her. I wish you a good journey.' [Exeunt. Enter Wolfort, Hubert, and attendants. Wol. What? Hubert stealing from me? Who disarm'd him? 'Twas more than I commanded. Take your sword, I am best guarded with it in your hand; Hub. And will turn it On my own bosom, ere it shall be drawn Wol. Would you leave me Without a farewell, Hubert? Fly a friend Unwearied in his study to advance you? What have I e'er possess'd which was not yours? Or rather did not court you to command it? Who ever yet arriv'd to any grace, Reward, or trust from me, but his approaches Were by your fair reports of him preferr'd? And what is more, I made myself your ser vant, In making you the master of those secrets Which not the rack of conscience could draw [with; from me, Nor I, when I ask'd mercy, trust my prayers Yet, after these assurances of love, [me! These ties and bonds of friendship, to forsake Forsake me as an enemy! Come, you must Give me a reason. Hub. Sir, and so I will; If I may do't in private, and you hear it. Wol. All leave the room. You have your will; sit down, [Exeunt all but Wol. and Hub. And use the liberty of our first friendship. Hub. Friendship? When you prov'd' traitor first, that vanish'd; Nor do I owe you any thought but hate. Wol. To me this is strange language. The earl of Flanders. Hub. By a proper title? Rais'd to't by cunning, circumvention, force, Blood, and proscriptions! Wol. And in all this wisdom, Had I not reason, when, by Gerrard's plots, I should have first been call'd, to a strict ac * This scene is cold and superfluous: The very next much more happily opens the plot, by dramatic action. 2 Or either did not court you, &c.] The sense requires us to read rather instead of either. Wol. You take strange licence. Hub. Yes; were not those rumours, Of being call'd unto your answer, spread By your own followers? and weak Gerrard wrought, But by your cunning practice, to believe That you were dangerous; yet not to be Punish'd by any former course of law, But first to be made sure, and have your crimes [taking, Laid open after? which your quaint train You fled unto the camp, and there crav'd humbly Protection for your innocent life, and that, Since you had 'scap'd the fury of the war, You might not fall by treason: And for proof You did not for your own ends make this danger, Some that had been before by you suborn'd, Came forth and took their oaths they had been [heard, hir'd By Gerrard to your murder. This once And easily believ'd, th' enraged soldier, Seeing no further than the outward man, Snatch'd hastily his arms, ran to the court, Kill'd all that made resistance, cut in pieces Such as were servants, or thought friends to Gerrard, Vowing the like to him. Wol. Will you yet end? Hub. Which he foreseeing, with his son, the earl, Forsook the city; and by secret ways, [it) (As you give out, and we would gladly have Escap'd their fury; tho' 'tis more than fear'd They fell among the rest. Nor stand you there, To let us only mourn the impious means So far transcend your former bloody ills, Wol. Oh, repeat them not: "Tis hell to hear them nam'd! Hub. You should have thought, That hell would be your punishment when you did them! A prince in nothing but your princely lusts, And boundless rapines! Wol. No more, I beseech you! Hub. Who was the lord of house or land, that stood Within the prospect of your covetous eye? Wol. You are in this to me a greater tyrant, Than e'er I was to any. Hub. I end thus The general grief. Now to my private wrong, The loss of Gerrard's daughter Jaculin: The hop'd-for partner of my lawful bed, Your cruelty hath frighted from mine arms; And her I now was wand'ring to recover. Think you that I had reason now to leave you, When you are grown so justly odious, That e'en my stay here, with your grace and favour, [it! 3 Makes my life irksome? Here, securely take And do me but this fruit of all your friendship, [man. That I may die by you, and not your hangWol. Oh, Hubert, these your words and reasons have [heart, As well drawn drops of blood from my griev'd As these tears from mine eyes: Despise them not! By all that's sacred, I am serious, Hubert. The first of your best actions. Hub. Oh, that heart and tongue your Did not now differ! • Here surely take it.] Mr. Seward reads, Here, Sir, freely take it. The alteration admitted into the text is proposed by Mr. Sympson; which we prefer, because there is a civility in Sir but ill adapted to the present temper of Hubert, and because it is nearer the old books. 4 What furies, &c.] Rowe seems to have intended copying this passage in his Fair Penitent: |