The Fair Penitent. A Tragedy.
By Nicholas Rowe, Esq.
Adapted for
Theatrical Representation, as performed at the Theatres-Royal, Drury-Lane and Covent-Garden.
Regulated from the Prompt-Books. By Permission of the Managers.
"The Lines distinguished by inverted Commas, are omitted in the Representations."
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.
DEDICATION.
Some pages missing here —Ed.
in short, every part of her character is just, and that
she is the best reward for one of the greatest heroes
this age has produced. This, Madam, is what you
must allow people every where to say; those whom
you shall leave behind you in England will have
something further to add, the loss we shall suffer by
your Grace's journey to Ireland; the Queen's pleasure, and the impatient wishes of that nation, are about to deprive us of our public ornaments. But there is no arguing against reasons so prevalent as these. Those who shall lament your Grace's absence, will yet acquiesce in the wisdom and justice of her Majesty's choice: among all whose royal favours, none could be so agreeable, upon a thousand accounts, to that people, as the Duke of Ormond. With what joy, what acclamations shall they meet a Governor, who, beside their former obligations to his family, has so lately ventured his life and fortune for their preservation! What duty, what submission shall they not pay to that authority which the Queen has delegated, to a person so dear to them? And with what honour, what respect, shall they receive your Grace, when they look upon you as the noblest and best pattern her Majesty could send them, of her own royal goodness, and personal virtues? They shall behold your Grace with the same pleasure the English shall take, whenever it shall be their good fortune to see you return again to your native country. In England, your Grace is become a public concern; and as your going away will be attended with a general sorrow, so your return shall give as general a joy; and to none of those many, more than to,
Madam, Your Grace's most obedient, and Most humble servant.
N. ROWE.
NICHOLAS ROWE.
WAS the son of JOHN ROWE, Esq. Serjeant at
Law —A place called Little Berkford, in Bedfordshire, had the honour of the birth of this Poet, in the year 1663.—A private seminary at Highgate gave him the rudiments of learning, and, that he might be perfect as a classic, he was sent to Westminster, under Busby.
His father, designing him for his own profession, entered him at 16 years of age a Student of the Middle Temple, but he was destined to rise alone in the Temple of the Muses—He had some law there is no doubt, but he had more poetry.
Business of a graver nature, however, he at a
distant period accepted—he was Under-Secretary
to the Duke of Queensberry, when that Nobleman
was Secretary of State.
Under the reign of George I. he united two
emoluments not often combined, for he became
Poet Laureat and Land-Surveyor of the Customs—He
was, further, Clerk of the Prince's Council, &c. but death frustrated the honours of Office, Dec. 6, 1718, in the 45th year of his age.
He sought the public approbation by various
channels—He edited SHAKSPERE—he translated
LUCAN, and he composed the following PLAYS.
PROLOGUE.
Two pages (ix, x) missing here —Ed.
Let no nice taste the poet's art arraign, If some frail vicious characters be feign: Who writes, should still let nature be his care, Mix shades with lights, and not paint all things fair, But shew you men and women as they are. Witb def'rence to the fair, he bade me say, Few to perfection ever found the way: Many in many parts are known t' excel, But 'twere too hard for one to act all well; Whom justly life would through each scene commend, The maid, the wife, the mistress and the friend: This age, 'tis true, has one great instance seen, And Heav'n, in justice, made that one a queen.
DRAMATIS PERSONAE.
Scene, Sciolto's palace and garden, with some part of the street near it, in Genoa.
THE FAIR PENITENT.
ACT I. SCENE I.
A garden belonging to SCIOLTO's palace. Enter ALTAMONT and HORATIO.
ALTAMONT. Let this auspicious day be ever sacred, No mourning, no misfortunes happen on it: Let it be mark'd for triumphs and rejoicings: Let happy lovers ever make it holy, Choose it to bless their hopes, and crown their wishes, This happy day, that gives me my Calista.