"The Translator of this Opera has no Merit, but from his Endeavour to follow the Author in all these Particulars. He therefore submits this first Attempt of the Kind to the Favour and Indulgence of the Publick, not doubting that (if they consider the Difficulty of writing under such Restrictions, the Necessity of sometimes departing from the Author, on Account of the different Idioms of our Language; and of leaving out many Beauties in the Narrative Part of the Drama, for the sake of Brevity;) they will rather peruse it with an Eye of Favour than Severity." "Artaxerxes" was played twelve nights at Covent Garden Theatre during the season 1762-63, and twelve nights in the succeeding season, 1763-64. Seven nights in 1764-65, and nine nights, 1768-69. In this latter season, Drury Lane Theatre performed it for four nights with Mrs. Arne as Mandane. In 1791, the rival theatres competed; Covent Garden with the part of Mandane by Mrs. Billington as a star, and Drury Lane with Madame Mara in that character. On the 23rd of September, 1813, it was reproduced at Covent Garden, for the début of Miss Stephens, afterwards Countess of Essex. The famous tenor, Braham, after a temporary absence from the theatre stage, generally selected "Artaxerxes" for his reappearance. "Artaxerxes" was performed at the Theatre Royal, Edinburgh, in 1769, with Mr. Rose as Artaxerxes; Mr. Phillips, Artabanes; Arbaces, Mr. Tenducci; Rimines, Mrs. Woodman; Semira, Miss Brown; and Mandane by Madame Tenducci.[18] The curious part of the performance was "the addition of three favourite Scots Airs, the words by Mr. R. Fergusson." The first of these was "By Heav'n's displeasure," to the tune "Braes of Balansene"; the second "What doubts oppress," to the tune "Roslin Castle"; the third, "O where shall I wander," to the tune "Lochaber no more." The first and last of these interpolations were sung by Signor Tenducci. On the 8th of December, 1762, "Love in a village," by Bickerstaff, with music by Dr. Arne, and Beard in the principal character, was brought out at Covent Garden Theatre. Arne was at the time not on friendly terms with Garrick, the manager of Drury Lane, to whom he addressed the following letter: