THE PROVOK'D HUSBAND; OR, A JOURNEY TO LONDON. A COMEDY, BY SIR JOHN VANBRUGH & C. CIBBER, Esq. ADAPTED FOR THEATRICAL REPRESENTATION, AS PERFORMED AT THE THEATRES-ROYAL, DRURY-LANE AND COVENT-GARDEN. REGULATED FROM THE PROMPT BOOKS, "The Lines distinguished by inverted Commas, are omitted in the Representation," LONDON: Printed for the Proprietors, under the Direction of JOHN BELL, British Library, STRAND, Bookseller to His Royal Highness the PRINCE of WALES. M DCC XCI. TO THE QUEEN. MAY IT PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY, THE English theatre throws itself, with this play, at your Majesty's feet, for favour and support. As their public diversions are a strong indication of the genius of a people, the following scenes are an attempt to establish such as are fit to entertain the minds of a sensible nation; and to wipe off that aspersion of barbarity, which the virtuosi among our neighbours have sometimes thrown upon our taste. The Provok'd Husband is, at least, an instance that an English comedy may, to an unusual number of days, bring many thousands of his Majesty's good subjects together, to their emolument and delight, with innocence. And however little share of that merit my unequal pen may pretend to, yet I hope the just admirers of Sir John Vanbrugh will allow I have, at worst, been a careful guardian of his orphan muse, by leading it into your Majesty's royal protection. The design of this play being chiefly to expose and reform the licentious irregularities that, too often, break in upon the peace and happiness of the married state; where could so hazardous and unpopular an undertaking be secure, but in the protection of a princess, whose exemplary conjugal virtues have given such illustrious proof of what sublime felicity that holy state is capable? And though a crown is no certain title to content; yet to the honour of that institution be it said, the royal harmony of hearts that now enchants us from the throne, is a reproach to the frequent disquiet of those many insensible subjects about it, who (from his Majesty's paternal care of his people) have more leisure to be happy and 'tis our Queen's peculiar glory, that we often see her as eminently raised above her circle, in private happiness, as in dignity. Yet Heaven, madam, that has placed you on such height, to be the more conspicuous pattern of your sex, had still left your happiness imperfect, had it not given those inestimable treasures of your mind and person to the only Prince on earth that could have deserved them. A crown, received from any but the happy Monarch's hand, who invested you with that which you now adorn, had only seemed the work of fortune; but thus bestowed, the world acknowledges it the due reward of Providence, for one you once so gloriously refused. But as the fame of such elevated virtue has lifted the plain addresses of a whole nation into eloquence, the best repeated eulogiums on that theme are but intrusions on your Majesty's greater pleasure of secretly deserving them. I therefore beg leave to subscribe myself, May it please your Majesty, Your Majesty's most devoted most humble servant, |