new even to you, with regard to him, in all parts of his character for which I was so zealous, that I could not be contented with praising and adorning him as much as lay in my power, but was ever soliciting and putting my friends upon the same office. And since the Editor has adorned his heavy discourse with prose in rhime at the end of it, upon Mr. Addison's death, give me leave to atone for this long and tedious epistle, by giving you after it, what I dare say you will esteem, an excellent poem on his marriage *. I must conclude without satis

His courage and his conduct tell,
And on his various virtues dwell.
In trifling cares my humble Muse
A less ambitious track pursues.
Instead of troops in battle mix'd,
And Gauls with British spears transfix'd,
She paints the soft distress and mien
Of Dames expiring with the spleen.
From the gay noise, affected air,
And little follies of the fair,

A slender stock of fame I raise,

And draw from others faults my praise."

*This was the following poem, by Mr. Welsted, addressed to the Countess of Warwick on her Marriage, Aug. 2, 1716: "Ambition long has Woman's heart betray'd,

And tinsel grandeur caught th' unwary Maid;
The pompous styles, that strike th' admiring throng,
Have glitter'd in the eye of Beauty long:

You, Madam, first the female taste improve,
And give your fellow-charmers laws for Love;
A pomp you covet, not to Heralds known,
And sigh for virtues equal to your own;
Part in a man immortal greatly claim,
And frown on Titles, to ally with Fame :
Not Edward's star, emboss'd with silver rays,
Can vie in glory with thy Consort's bays;

His

fying as strong a desire as ever man had of saying something remarkably handsome to the person to whom I am writing; for you are so good a judge, that you will find out the endeavourer to be witty: and therefore, as I have tired you and myself, I will be contented with assuring you, which I do very honestly, I had rather have you satisfied with me on this subject than any other man living.

You will please to pardon me, that I have, thus, laid this nice affair before a person who has the acknowledged superiority to all others, not only in the most excellent talents, but possessing them with an equanimity, candour, and benevolence, which render those advantages a pleasure as great to the

His Country's pride does homage to thy charms,

And

every merit crowds into thy arms.

While others gain light conquests by their eyes,
"Tis thine with wisdom to subdue the Wise:
To their soft chains while courtly beaux subinit,
'Tis thine to lead in triumph captive Wit:
Her sighing vassals let Clarinda boast,
Of lace and languishing cockades the toast;
In Beauty's pride unenvy'd let her reign,
And share that wanton empire with the vain.
For thee the Arts of Greece and Rome combine
And all the glories Cato gain'd are thine :
Still Warwick in thy boasted rank of life,
But more illustrious than when Warwick's wife.
Come forth, reveal thyself, thou chosen Bride,
And shew great Nassau's Poet by thy side;
Thy bright example shall instruct the Fair,
And future Nymphs shall make renown their care;
Embroidery less shall charm the Virgin's eye,
And kind Coquets for plumes less frequent die;
Secure shall Beauty reign, the Muse its guard;
The Muse shall triumph, Beauty its reward."

rest

rest of the world, as they can be to the owner of them. And since fame consists in the opinion of wise and good men, you must not blame me for taking the readiest way to baffle an attempt upon my reputation, by an address to one whom every wise and good man looks upon with the greatest affection and veneration.

I am, Sir,

Your most obliged, most obedient,

and most humble servant,

RICH. STEELE

469. TO KING GEORGE THE FIRST *.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY,

[1722.]

AFTER having aspired to the highest and most laudable ambition, that of following the cause of Liberty, I should not have humbly petitioned your Majesty for a direction of the Theatre, had I not believed success in that province an happiness much to be wished by an honest man, and highly conducing to the prosperity of the commonwealth. It is in this view I lay before your Majesty a Comedy, which the audience, in justice to themselves, has supported and encouraged; and is the prelude of what, by your Majesty's influence and favour, may be attempted in future representations.

* Prefixed to "The Conscious Lovers,"

The

The imperial mantle, the royal vestment, and the shining diadem, are what strike ordinary minds. But your Majesty's native goodness, your passion for Justice, and her constant assessor, Mercy, is what continually surrounds you, in the view of intelligent spirits, and gives hope to the suppliant, who sees he has more than succeeded in giving your Majesty an opportunity of doing good. Our King is above the greatness of Royalty; and every act of his will, which makes another man happy, has ten times more charms in it than one that makes himself appear raised above the condition of others. But even this carries unhappiness with it; for calm dominion, equal grandeur, and fàmiliar greatness, do not easily affect the imagination of the vulgar, who cannot see power but in terror: and as fear moves mean spirits, and love prompts great ones to obey, the insinuations of malcontents are directed accordingly; and the unhappy people are insnared, from want of reflection, into disrespectful ideas of their gracious and amiable Sovereign; and then only begin to apprehend the greatness of their Master, when they have incurred his displeasure.

As your Majesty was invited to the Throne of a willing people for their own sakes, and has ever enjoyed it with contempt of the ostentation of it; we beseech you to protect us, who revere your title as we love your person. It is to be savage to be a rebel; and they who have fallen from you have not so much forfeited their allegiance, as lost their humanity. And therefore, if it were only to preserve myself from the imputation of being amongst the insensible and abandoned, I would beg permission,

in the most public manner possible, to profess myself, with the utmost sincerity and zeal,

Sire,

Your Majesty's

Most devoted subject and servant,

RICHARD STEELE

470. PREFACE TO "THE CONSCIOUS LOVERS."

THIS Comedy has been received with universal

acceptance, for it was in every part excellently performed; and there needs no other applause of the actors, but that they excelled according to the dignity and difficulty of the character they represented. But this great favour done to the work in acting renders the expectation still the greater from the author, to keep up the spirit in the representation of the closet, or any other circumstance of the reader, whether alone or in company: to which I can only say, that it must be remembered, a Play is to be seen, and is made to be represented with the advantage of action, nor can appear but with half the spirit without it; for the greatest effect of a Play in reading is, to excite the reader to go see it; and when he does so, it is then a Play has the effect of example and precept *.

* A few days before the first representation the following paragraph appeared in the Newspapers: "Sir Richard Steele's excellent new Comedy, called The Unfashionable Lovers, will be acted on the sixth of next month. It is thought that this Play is the best modern Play that has been produced." Oct. 2, 1722.

The