Love for Love | Page 3

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LOVE FOR LOVE--A COMEDY
Nudus agris, nudus nummis paternis,
Insanire parat certa ratione
modoque.
0. HOR.
TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
CHARLES, EARL OF
DORSET AND MIDDLESEX,
LORD CHAMBERLAIN OF HIS
MAJESTY'S HOUSEHOLD,
AND KNIGHT OF THE MOST
NOBLE ORDER OF THE GARTER, ETC.
My Lord,--A young poet is liable to the same vanity and indiscretion
with a young lover; and the great man who smiles upon one, and the
fine woman who looks kindly upon t'other, are both of 'em in danger of
having the favour published with the first opportunity.
But there may be a different motive, which will a little distinguish the
offenders. For though one should have a vanity in ruining another's
reputation, yet the other may only have an ambition to advance his own.
And I beg leave, my lord, that I may plead the latter, both as the cause
and excuse of this dedication.
Whoever is king is also the father of his country; and as nobody can
dispute your lordship's monarchy in poetry, so all that are concerned
ought to acknowledge your universal patronage. And it is only
presuming on the privilege of a loyal subject that I have ventured to
make this, my address of thanks, to your lordship, which at the same

time includes a prayer for your protection.
I am not ignorant of the common form of poetical dedications, which
are generally made up of panegyrics, where the authors endeavour to
distinguish their patrons, by the shining characters they give them,
above other men. But that, my lord, is not my business at this time, nor
is your lordship NOW to be distinguished. I am contented with the
honour I do myself in this epistle without the vanity of attempting to
add to or explain your Lordships character.
I confess it is not without some struggling that I behave myself in this
case as I ought: for it is very hard to be pleased with a subject, and yet
forbear it. But I choose rather to follow Pliny's precept, than his
example, when, in his panegyric to the Emperor Trajan, he says:-
Nec minus considerabo quid aures ejus pati possint, quam quid
virtutibus debeatur.
I hope I may be excused the pedantry of a quotation when it is so justly
applied. Here are some lines in the print (and which your lordship read
before this play was acted) that were omitted on the stage; and
particularly one whole scene in the third act, which not only helps the
design forward with less precipitation, but also heightens the ridiculous
character of Foresight, which indeed seems to be maimed without it.
But I found myself in great danger of a long play, and was glad to help
it where I could. Though
notwithstanding my care and the kind
reception it had from the town, I could heartily wish it yet shorter: but
the number of different characters represented in it would have been
too much crowded in less room.
This reflection on prolixity (a fault for which scarce any one beauty
will atone) warns me not to be tedious now, and detain your lordship
any longer with the trifles of, my lord, your lordship's most obedient
and most humble servant,
WILLIAM CONGREVE.
PROLOGUE. Spoken, at the opening of the new house, by Mr

Betterton.
The husbandman in vain renews his toil
To cultivate each year a
hungry soil;
And fondly hopes for rich and generous fruit,
When
what should feed the tree devours the root;
Th' unladen boughs, he
sees, bode certain dearth,
Unless transplanted to more kindly earth.

So the poor husbands of the stage, who found
Their labours lost upon
ungrateful ground,
This last and only remedy have proved,
And
hope new fruit from ancient stocks removed.
Well may they hope,
when you so kindly aid,
Well plant a soil which you so rich have
made.
As Nature gave the world to man's first age,
So from your
bounty, we receive this stage;
The freedom man was born to, you've
restored,
And to our world such plenty you afford,
It seems like
Eden, fruitful of its own accord.
But since in Paradise frail flesh gave
way,
And when but two were made, both went astray;
Forbear your
wonder, and the fault forgive,
If in our larger family we grieve
One
falling Adam and one