Printed by A. J. Valpy, Took's Court, Chancery Lane;

SOLD BY

ECA

LONGMAN AND CO. J. RICHARDSON, AND LACKINGTON

AND CO.

1810.

Malone Jr. 247.

20

ADVERTISEMENT.

THE four last Acts of the Third Part of KING HENRY VI. furnished the plan of this dramatic piece. That the reader may have an idea of the difficulty of forming a Tragedy, neither offensive to delicacy, nor repugnant to the principles of modern taste, from these materials, he is requested to peruse the original, before he opens the following sheets.

The history of the war of the ROSES is clouded with an uncertainty, which neither the diligence of research, nor the sagacity of judgment, have been able to remove. In these circumstances of doubt, it was found expedient to retain the principal features of the Poet, who in his Historical plays generally founds the events, which he describes, upon the Chronicles of the times. To preserve as far as possible the unity of place, the scene is confined to England, and the embassy of the Earl of Warwick to France is not, as in the original, the subject of a scene in each country. The duration of the time is likewise contracted. The play opens after the battle of Wakefield; and some events of inferior importance, which are productive of anachronisms, are

here omitted. On the same principles of unity, the temporary defection of the Duke of Clarence, however supported by respectable authorities, has been totally suppressed.

The Editor has not scrupled to take the liberty of introducing into this performance a few appropriate passages from the First and Second Parts of Henry VI. and even from RICHARD II, plays, which are not in possession of the stage. Of this liberty, however, he has made a more modest use than Cibber in his RICHARD III.

The religious and patriotic passages, which are occasionally introduced, were not merely inserted with the view of engaging the applause of audiences, whose candor gave a generous encouragement to an exercise, intended only to instruct the performers in the principles of chaste action, and correct speaking. They are, it is hoped, strictly characteristical; and the Editor seized with pleasure the opportunity of instilling in the minds of his pupils sentiments calculated to inspire them with FERVENT DEVOTION TO THEIR GOD, DISINTERESTED LOYALTY TO THEIR KING, AND ACTIVE LOVE OF THEIR COUNTRY.

***Of the excellent Institution, for the support of which this Play was represented, some account would be given, had not the Poet-Laureat, whose benevolence is equal to his genius, so admirably described the nature and object of it in the Epilogue.

PROLOGUE;

WRITTEN BY WILLIAM BENWELL, M. A

SPOKEN BY Mr. JENNER.

Yo

ou, who with ear entranc'd and silent tongue
On tales of grief impassion'd oft have hung,
With pity view what now our scenes disclose,
And drop the ready tear for England's woes!
See, rous'd by rival chiefs of kingly line,
In hostile combat kindred legions join:
Each adverse Baron, proud in martial might,
Calls forth his hardy vassals to the fight!
Forgot the ties, by Heav'n's high will assign'd,
Which man to man in holy compact bind,
'Gainst brother brother lifts the vengeful blade
And youths in arms their hoary sires invade.
The good and just, amid th' unequal strife,
Ere Nature dooms, untimely robb'd of life,
By murd'rers' weapons feel the fatal wound,
Or sink in deathful battle to the ground.
Blood marks the realm; on many a crimson plain
Are heap'd around the myriads of the slain.
Shook from its base each antique castle falls,
And tow'ring cities bow their conquer'd walls;
While rapine, rage, and hate, a wasteful band,
Reign uncontroul'd, and desolate the land,

1