THE

ROYAL CONVERT.

TRAGEDY,

As written by NICHOLAS ROWE, Efq.

DISTINGUISHING ALSO THE

VARIATIONS OF THE THEATRE,

AS PERFORMED AT THE

Theatre Royal in Covent-Garden.

Regulated from the Prompt-Book,

By PERMISSION of the MANAGERS,

By Mr. WILD, Prompter.

Laudatur & Alget.

BB

OTI

BODI

LONDON:

Printed for JoHN BELL, near Exeter-Exchange, in the Strand, and C. ETHERINGTON, at York.

MDCCLXXVI.

IF

MY LORD,

F I could have the vanity to make a merit of dedicating this Tragedy, I fhould here take an opportunity of telling you, that I am, in this, endeavouring to make the best, and only return I am capable of, for all thofe marks of exceeding goodness and humanity, which I have ftill had the honour to meet with from your Lordfhip. But fince the matter is quite otherwife, fince it is highly to my advantage to shelter myself under fo great a name; fince I have done myself fo much honour by it; I am bound to own, with all the gratitude I am capable of, that your Lordship's patronage is a new, and will be a lafting obligation upon me.

Moft kinds of poetry, but especially Tragedies, come into the world now, like children born under ill ftars; a general indifference, or rather difinclination, attends Fike a bad influence upon 'em; and after having buftled through ill usage, and a fhort life, they fleep and are forgotten. The relish of things of this kind is certainly very much altered from what it was fome time fince; and though I will not prefume to cenfure other people's pleasures, and prescribe to the various tastes of mankind; yet I will take the liberty to fay, that those who

A 2

fcorn

fcorn to be entertained like their forefathers, will hardly fubftitute fo reafonable a diverfion in the room of that which they have laid afide. I could wish there were not fo much reafon as there is to attribute this change of inclinations, to a difesteem of learning itself. Too many people are apt to think, that books are not neceffary to the finishing the character of a fine gentleman; and are therefore easily drawn to defpife what they know nothing. of. But, my Lord, among all these mortifying thoughts, it is still a pleasure to the mufes, to think there are fome men of too delicate understandings to give into the tastes of a depraved age; men that have not only the power, but the will, to protect thofe arts which they love, because they are masters of 'em.

It would be very easy for me to distinguish one among thofe few, after the most advantageous manner; but all men of common fenfe have concurred in doing it already, and there is no need of a panegyric.

I could be almoft tempted to expoftulate with the reft of the world (for I am fure there is no occafion to make an apology to your Lordship) in defence of poetry. I am far from thinking of a good poet as the Stoicks did of their wife-man, that he was fufficient for every thing, could be every thing, and excel in every thing, as he pleafed; yet fure I may be allowed to fy, that that brightnefs, quickness, that ftrength and greatnefs of thinking, which is required in any of the nobler kinds of poetry, would raife a man to an uncommon diftinction in any profeffion or business, that has a relation to good fenfe and understanding. One modern inftance can at kaft be given, where the fame genius that fhone in poetiy, was found equal to the first employments of the state; and where the fame man, who by his virtue and wisdom was highly ufeful to, and inftrumental in the fafety and happiness of his native country, had been equally, ornamental to it in his wit.

This is what I could not help faying, for the honour of an art which has been formerly the favourite of the greatest men. Not that it wants a recommendation to your Lordship, who have always been a conftant and generous protector of it. This indeed would be much more properly faid to the world, and when I have told

them

them what men have equally adorned it, and been adorned by it, I might not unfitly apply to them, what Horace faid to the Pifo's.

-Ne fortè Pudori

Sit tibi Mufa Lyra folers & Cantor Apollo.

For my own inconfiderable pretenfions to verse, I fhall, I confefs, think better even of them, than I have ever yet done, if they shall afford me the honour to be always thought,