Mrs. BEHN was a Woman so Accomplish’d, and of so Established a Fame among the Men of Sense, that I cou’d not suppose a very severe treatment from the Town, which has been very indulgent to the Performances of others; especially when, besides the Reputation of the _Author_, the Play itself had an Intrinsic Merit; for we find it full of Humour, Wit, and Variety; the Conversation Gay and Genteel, the Love Soft and Pathetic, the incidents Natural, and Easy, and the Conduct of the Plot very Justifiable. So that I may reasonably impute its miscarriage to some Faction that was made against it, which indeed was very Evident on the First day, and more on the endeavours employed, to render the Profits of the Third, as small as could be. It suffer’d not, I’m sure, in the Action, nor in Mr. _Verbruggen’s_ reading of some of his Part, since he lost nothing of the Force of Elocution, nor Gracefulness of Action; nor indeed can I, with Justice to my self, impute it to any part that I ventur’d to add to the Original; for all the Alterations which I made were in the first Act, in removing that old bustle about _Whigg_ and _Tory_, (which was the Subject of most of the Second Scene) and placing the Character of a _Rake-hell_ in its room, which was so little, that it could not Influence a more Capricious Audience, to the Damning of the whole. There might indeed be some objections about the Plot, but not very Rational, I think; I’m sure, at least, ‘tis the first Play, for some Years, could be quarrell’d at for having too much Plot. In the Edition however I have put in a great deal, which the length of the Play oblig’d me to cut out for the Action. Here, Sir, if the Play had been my own, I should have complain’d that the Town had its favourite Fools, as well as favourite Wits, and that Comedy or Farce from any other hand wou’d no more go down with them, than their favourites will with true Judges that read, not see ‘em. I should have had indignation enough, perhaps, to’ve rail’d at the Criticks of all Degrees, and Denominations of Box and Pit, nay, Galleries too, and told ‘em that they were so conceited of their own Wit, that they cou’d take no pleasure in hearing that of another, or that Wit in a Play seeming to affront the Parts of the Audience, they suffer’d their Resentment to destroy their Satisfaction. This, and a great many other Satyrical Reflections, which are natural for a Disappointed Poet to make, I shou’d then have vented; but being satisfy’d, that the Reputation of Mrs. BEHN is not affected by the malicious Endeavours of some of my Enemies, I now present it under your Patronage, Sir, to the more competent Judges; Proud of the Opportunity of Offering you an occasion of so agreeable a Province, as the Protection of the unfortunate, and letting the World know how much I am, Sir, Your Humble Servant, _CH. GILDON._ THE YOUNGER BROTHER; or, The Amorous Jilt. PROLOGUE, By an unknown Hand. Spoke by Mr. _Powell_.