EPILOGUE.' SPOKEN BY MRS BULKLEY. As puffing quacks some caitiff wretch procure 'The author, in expectation of an Epilogue from a friend at Oxford, deferred writing one himself till the very last hour. What is here offered, owes all its success to the graceful manner of the actress who spoke it. Go ask your manager-Who, me! Your pardon; eyes, SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER; OR, THE MISTAKES OF A NIGHT. A COMEDY: AS ACTED AT THE THEATRE-ROYAL, COVENT-GARDEN. FIRST PRINTED IN THE YEAR MDCCLXXII. DEDICATION. ΤΟ SAMUEL JOHNSON, LL. D. DEAR SIR, By inscribing this slight performance to you, I do not mean so much to compliment you as myself. It may do me some honour to inform the public, that I have lived many years in intimacy with you. It may serve the interests of mankind also to inform them, that the greatest wit may be found in a character without impairing the most unaffected piety. I have, particularly, reason to thank you for your partiality to this performance. The undertaking a Comedy, not merely sentimental, was very dangerous; and Mr Colman, who saw this piece in its various stages, always thought it so. However, I ventured to trust it to the public; and, though it was necessarily delayed till late in the season, I have every reason to be grateful. I am, DEAR SIR, Your most sincere Friend and Admirer, OLIVER GOLDSMITH. |