e it was fit to be seen in such good
company.

This refers only to the dress, for certainly the plot needs no apology;
it was taken out of Don Pedro Calderon,[37] a celebrated Spanish
author, the nation of the world who are the happiest in the force
and delicacy of their inventions, and recommended to me by his sacred
majesty as an excellent design, whose judgment is no more to be doubted
than his commands to be disobeyed. And therefore it might be a great
presumption in me to enter my sentiments with his royal suffrage; but
as secretaries of state subscribe their names to the mandates of their
prince, so at the bottom of the leaf I take the boldness to sign my
opinion, that this is incomparably the best plot that I ever met with.
And yet, if I may be allowed to do myself justice, I might acquaint the
readers that there are several alterations in the copy which do not
disgrace the original.

I confess, 'tis something new that trifles of this nature should have a
second edition; but if in truth this essay be at present more correct,
I have then found an easy way to gratify their civility who have been
pleased to indulge the errors in the former impressions.

If they who have formerly seen or read this play should not perceive
the amendments, then I have touched the point, since the chiefest art
in writing is the concealing of art; and they who discover 'em, and
are pleased with them, are indebted only to themselves for their new
satisfaction, since their former favour to our negligent Muses has
occasioned their appearing again in a more studied dress; and certainly
those labours are not ungrateful with which the writers and readers are
both pleased.

And since I am upon the subject of novelties, I take the boldness to
advertise the reader that, though it be unusual, I have in a distinct
column prefixed the several characters of the most eminent persons in
the play, that, being acquainted with them at his first setting out, he
may the better judge how they are carried on in the whole composition.
For, plays being m