To like such trash, presume to praise what's good! And may those drudges of the stage, whose fate Is damned dull farce more dully to translate, Fall under that excise the state thinks fit To set on all French wares, whose worst is wit. French farce, worn out at home, is sent abroad; And, patched up here, is made our English mode. Henceforth, let poets, ere allowed to write, Be searched, like duelists before they fight, For wheel-broad hats, dull honour, all that chaff, Which makes you mourn, and makes the vulgar laugh: For these, in plays, are as unlawful arms, As, in a combat, coats of mail, and charms. Footnote: 1. There is a vague tradition, that, in this grotesque dress, (for the brims of the hat were as broad as a cart-wheel,) Nell Gwyn had the good fortune first to attract the attention of her royal lover. Where the jest lay, is difficult to discover: it seems to have originated with the duke of York's players. DRAMATIS PERSONAE MAHOMET BOABDELIN, _the last king of Granada._ _Prince_ ABDALLA, _his brother._ ABDELMELECH, _chief of the Abencerrages._ ZULEMA, _chief of the Zegrys._ ABENAMAR, _an old Abencerrago._ SELIN, _an old Zegry._ OZMYN, _a brave young Abencerrago, son to Abenamar._ HAMET, _brother to Zulema, a Zegry._ GOMEL, _a Zegry._ ALMANZOR. FERDINAND, _king of Spain._ _Duke of_ ARCOS, _his General._ _Don_ ALONZO D'AGUILAR, _a Spanish Captain._ ALMAHIDE, _Queen of Granada._ LYNDARAXA, _Sister of_ ZULEMA, _a Zegry Lady._ BENZAYDA, _Daughter to_ SELIN. ESPERANZA, _Slave to the Queen._ HALYMA, _Slave to_ LYNDARAXA. ISABELLA, _Queen of Spain._ _Messengers, Guards, Attendants, Men, and Women._ SCENE.--_Granada, and the Christian Camp besieging it._ ALMANZOR AND ALMAHIDE, OR, THE CONQUEST OF GRANADA. THE FIRST PART. ACT I. SCENE I. _Enter_ BOABDELIN, ABENAMAR, ABDELMELECH, _and Guards._ _Boab._ Thus, in the triumphs of soft peace, I reign; And, from my walls, defy the powers of Spain; With pomp and sports my love I celebrate, While they keep distance, and attend my state.-- Parent to her, whose eyes my soul enthral, [_To_ ABEN. Whom I, in hope, already father call, Abenamar, thy youth these sports has known, Of which thy age is now spectator grown; Judge-like thou sit'st, to praise, or to arraign The flying skirmish of the darted cane: But, when fierce bulls run loose upon the place, And our bold Moors their loves with danger grace, Then heat new-bends thy slacken'd nerves again, And a short youth runs warm through every vein. _Aben._ I must confess the encounters of this day Warmed me indeed, but quite another way,-- Not with the fire of youth; but generous rage, To see the glories of my youthful age So far out-done.