have observed, says Montaigne, that when the body is out of order, its companion is seldom at his ease. An ill dream, or a cloudy day, has power to change this wretched creature, who is so proud of a reasonable soul, and make him think what he thought not yesterday. And Homer was of this opinion, as Cicero is pleased to translate him for us: _Tales sunt hominum mentes, quali pater ipse Jupiter auctifera lustravit lampade terras._ Or, as the same author, in his "Tusculan Questions," speaks, with more modesty than usual, of himself: _Nos in diem vivimus; quodcunque animos nostros probabilitate percussit, id dicimus._ It is not therefore impossible but that I may alter the conclusion of my play, to restore myself into the good graces of my fair critics; and your lordship, who is so well with them, may do me the office of a friend and patron, to intercede with them on my promise of amendment. The impotent lover in Petronius, though his was a very unpardonable crime, yet was received to mercy on the terms I offer. _Summa excusationis meae haec est: Placebo tibi, si culpam emendare permiseris._ But I am conscious to myself of offering at a greater boldness, in presenting to your view what my meanness can produce, than in any other error of my play; and therefore make haste to break off this tedious address, which has, I know not how, already run itself into so much of pedantry, with an excuse of Tully's, which he sent with his books "De Finibus," to his friend Brutus: _De ipsis rebus autem, saepenumero, Brute, vereor ne reprehendar, cum haec ad te scribam, qui tum in poesi,_ (I change it from _philosophia_) _tum in optimo genere poeseos tantum processeris. Quod si facerem quasi te erudiens, jure reprehenderer. Sed ab eo plurimum absum: Nec, ut ea cognoscas quae tibi notissima sunt, ad te mitto; sed quia facillime in nomine tuo acquiesco, et quia te habeo aequissimum eorum studiorum, quae mihi communia tecum sunt, aestimatorem et judicem._ Which you may please, my lord, to apply to yourself, from him, who is, Your Lordship's Most obedient, Humble servant, DRYDEN.