Our author, by experience, finds it true, 'Tis much more hard to please himself than you; And out of no feigned modesty, this day Damns his laborious trifle of a play: Not that its worse than what before he writ, But he has now another taste of wit; And, to confess a truth, though out of time, Grows weary of his long-loved mistress, Rhyme. Passion's too fierce to be in fetters bound, And nature flies him like enchanted ground: What verse can do, he has performed in this, Which he presumes the most correct of his; But spite of all his pride, a secret shame Invades his breast at Shakespeare's sacred name: Awed when he hears his godlike Romans rage, He, in a just despair, would quit the stage; And to an age less polished, more unskilled, Does, with disdain, the foremost honours yield. As with the greater dead he dares not strive, He would not match his verse with those who live: Let him retire, betwixt two ages cast, The first of this, and hindmost of the last. A losing gamester, let him sneak away; He bears no ready money from the play. The fate, which governs poets, thought it fit He should not raise his fortunes by his wit. The clergy thrive, and the litigious bar; Dull heroes fatten with the spoils of war: All southern vices, heaven be praised, are here: But wit's a luxury you think too dear. When you to cultivate the plant are loth, 'Tis a shrewd sign 'twas never of your growth; And wit in northern climates will not blow, Except, like orange-trees, 'tis housed from snow. There needs no care to put a playhouse down, 'Tis the most desart place of all the town: We and our neighbours, to speak proudly, are, Like monarchs, ruined with expensive war; While, like wise English, unconcerned you sit, And see us play the tragedy of wit. DRAMATIS PERSONAE. _The Old Emperor._ AURENG-ZEBE, _his Son._ MORAT, _his younger Son._ ARIMANT, _Governor of Agra._ DIANET, } SOLYMAN, } MIR BABA, } _Indian Lords, or Omrahs, of several ABAS, } Factions._ ASAPH CHAN, } FAZEL CHAN, } NOURMAHAL, _the Empress._ INDAMORA, _a Captive Queen._ MELESINDA, _Wife to Morat._ ZAYDA, _favourite Slave to the Empress._ SCENE--_Agra,_ in the year 1660. AURENG-ZEBE. ACT I. SCENE I. _Enter_ ARIMANT, ASAPH CHAN, _and_ FAZEL CHAN. _Arim._ Heaven seems the empire of the east to lay On the success of this important day: Their arms are to the last decision bent, And fortune labours with the vast event: She now has in her hand the greatest stake, Which for contending monarchs she can make. Whate'er can urge ambitious youth to fight, She pompously displays before their sight; Laws, empire, all permitted to the sword, And fate could ne'er an ampler scene afford.