The first Day it appeared, it was routed (People seldom being fond of what they do not understand, their own sweet Persons excepted). The second (by the help of some bold Knights-Errant) it rallied; the third it advanced; the fourth it gave a vigorous Attack; and the fifth put all the Feathers in Town to the scamper, pursuing them on to the fourteenth, and then they cried out Quarter. It is not reasonable to expect _Esop_ should gain so great a Victory here, since it is possible, by fooling with his Sword, I may have turned the Edge on't. For I confess in the Translation I have not at all stuck to the Original; nay, I have gone farther: I have wholly added the fifth Act, and crouded a Country Gentleman into the fourth; for which I ask Monsieur _Boursaut_'s Pardon with all my Heart, but doubt I never shall obtain it for bringing him into such Company. Though, after all, had I been so complaisant to have waited on his Play Word for Word, it is possible, even that might not have ensured the Success of it; for though it swam in _France_, it might have sunk in _England_. Their Country abounds in Cork, ours in Lead. [Illustration] [Illustration] PROLOGUE. _Gallants, we never yet produc'd a Play With greater Fears than this we act to-day; Barren of all the Graces of the Stage, Barren of all that entertains this Age. No Hero, no Romance, no Plot, no Shew, No Rape, no Bawdy, no Intrigue, no Beau: There's nothing in't with which we use to please ye; With downright dull Instruction w'are to tease ye; The Stage turns Pulpit, and the World's so fickle, The Play-House in a Whim turns Conventicle. But Preaching here must prove a hungry Trade; The Patentees will find so, I'm afraid: For tho' with heavenly Zeal you all abound, As by your Lives and Morals may be found; Tho' every Female here o'erflows with Grace, And chaste ~Diana~'s written in her Face; Tho' Maids renounce the Sweets of Fornication, And one lewd Wife's not left in all the Nation; Tho' Men grow true, and the foul Fiend defy; Tho' Tradesmen cheat no more, nor Lawyers lye; Tho' not one Spot be found on ~Levi~'s Tribe, Nor one soft Courtier that will touch a Bribe; Yet in the midst of such religious Days, Sermons have never borne the Price of Plays._ Dramatis Personæ. MEN. _Esop_, Mr. _Cibber_. _Learchus_, Governor of _Sysicus_, Mr. _Dogget_. _Oronces_, in love with _Euphronia_, Mr. _Harland_. WOMEN. _Euphronia_, Daughter to _Learchus_, in } Mrs. _Temple_. love with _Oronces_, } _Doris_, her Nurse, Mrs. _Verbruggen_. People who come to _Esop_, upon several Occasions, independent one of another.