REGULATED FROM THE PROMPT-BOOKS,
By Permission of the Managers.

The Lines aistinguished 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.

Koninklijke
Bibliotheck
te's Hage.

THE

CONSCIOUS LOVERS.

THIS play is a very finished production in sentiment and language. If nothing more be needed than a sensible display of virtue to make men happy, good, and wise, we know no comedy that more merits to be at all times popular.

Yet an admirer of the old comedy rises fatigued from this piece as from a tedious lesson. It is as fine as Seneca, as profitable too, but weak humanity requires to be diverted into a sense of duty, and for risibility here is no food.

Perhaps, morally speaking, it is dangerous also to hold up for distinguished admiration the performance of mere duty. It weakens the influence of goodness, to tell mankind it is so rare among them.

PROLOGUE.

To win your bearts and to secure your praise
The comic writers strive by various ways,
By subtile stratagems they act their game,
And leave untry'd no avenue to fame :

One writes the spouse a beating from his wife,
And says each stroke was copied from the life;
Some fix all wit and humour in grimace,
And make a livelihood of Pinkey's face;
Here one gay shew and costly babit tries,
Confiding to the judgment of your eyes ;
Another smuts his scene, (a cunning shaver)
Sure of the rakes' and of the wenches' favour.
Oft' have these arts prevail'd, and one may guess,
If practis'd o'er again, would find success ;
But the bold sage, the poet of to-night,
By new and desp'rate rules resolv'd to write,
Fain would be give more just applauses rise,
And please by wit that scorns the aids of vice;
The praise he seeks from worthier motives springs,
Such praise as praise to those that give it brings.

Your aid most humbly sought then Britons lend,
And lib'ral mirth like lib'ral men defend;
No more let ribaldry, with licence writ,
Usurp the name of eloquence or wit.