THE

MAID'S TRAGEDY

ALTE R'D.

CARCE fhould we have the boldness, to pretend
So long renown'd a Tragedy to mend :
Had not already fome deferv'd your praise
With like attempt. Of all our elder Plays,
This, and PHILASTERS have the loudeft fame:
Great are their faults, and glorious is their flame.
In both, our ENGLISH genius is exprefs'd;
Lofty, and bold; but, negligently drefs'd.
Above our neighbours our conceptions are:
But, faultlefs writing is th' effect of care.
Our lines reform'd, and not compos'd in hafte,
Polif'd like marble, would like marble laft.
But, as the prefent, fo the laft age writ;
In both we find like negligence, and wit.
Were we but lefs indulgent to our faults,
And patience had to cultivate our thoughts,
Our Mufe would flourish; and a nobler rage'
Would bonor this, than did the GRECIAN, Stage.
Thus fays our Author; not content to fee
That others write as carelefly as be:
Tho' he pretends not to make things complete,
Yet, to please you, he'd have the Poets fweat.

In this old Play, what's new we have expreft
In rhyming verse, distinguish'd from the reft:
That, as the RHONE its hafy way does make,
(Not mingling waters) thro' GENEVA's lake:

So,

So, having here the diffrent ftyles in view,
You may compare the former with the new.
If we lefs rudely fhall the knot unty,
Soften the rigor of the Tragedy,
And yet preferve each perfon's character;
Then, to the other, this you may prefer.
'Tis left to you: the Boxes, and the Pit,
Are foreign judges of this fort of wit.
In other things the knowing artist may
Judge better than the people: but, a Play,
(Made for delight, and for no other use)
If you approve it not, has no excufe.

THE

THE

MAID's TRAGEDY.

A CT V.

Enter EVADN E, with a Page of honor.

EVADNE.

MINTOR loft, it were as vain a thing,
As 'tis prodigious, to betray the King.
Compell'd by threats, to take that bloody
oath,

And the act ill, I am abfolv'd by both.

This island left, with pity I'll look down

On the King's love, and fierce MELANTIUS' frown.
These will to both my refolution bring:

Page! give MELANTIUS that; this, to the King.

[Exit Page with the Letters.

Under how hard a fate are women born!

Priz'd to their ruin, or expos'd to fcorn!