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An ESSAY on the ART, RISE, and PROGRESS of
the STAGE, in Greece, Rome, and England.

And a GLOSSARY of the Old Words us'd in thefe Works.

The Whole Revis'd and Corrected, with a PREFACE,
By Dr. SEWELL.

LONDON;

Printed by J. DARBY, for A. BETTES WORTH, F. FAYRAM,
W. MEARS, J. PEMBERTON, J. HOOKE, C. RIVINGTON,
F. CLAY, J. BATLEY, E. SYMON. M.DCC.XXV.

:

1955-4

To the Right HONOURABLE

The Lord WALPOLE.

My LORD,

I

SHOULD not have dared to approach Your Lordship with a lefs Poet in my Hand than SHAKESPEAR; the dead Ornament of the English Nation, being the most proper Prefent to its Living Glory. He, My LORD, has shared the Fate common to every great Genius, receiving very

A 2

ill

3925

1725

ill Returns for all his Beauties and Benefits; in amends for which, my prefent Endeavour is to wipe off the Duft of Age, Error and Ignorance, and fcreen his valuable Remains under Your Lordship's Protection.

YOUR Lordship knowing his Excellencies, can happily compare them with the Antients, and have thereby a peculiar Right to this Offering. That Nurfe of Arts and Sciences, that Builder and Refi ner of Mankind, (with what Pride I Say our common Mother, ETON!) has furnished You with a true Tafte of Letters; fo that tho SHAKESPEAR might fear You, as a Judge, yet he now prides himself in courting You, as a Patron.

IN Your Travels, Your Name, the beft Harbinger, prepared for You at every Court a Reception fuitable to the Son of Mr. WALPOLE. You was then the Representative of the English Genius Abroad, dif playing that Probity, Integrity, and Openness of Soul, that diftinguishes this Nation from all others.

IN the Situation You are now in, My LORD, You have nothing to do but to imitate the Great

Pattern

Pattern before You, to the Joy of Your Friends, and the Disappointment not of Yours, fo much as of Your Country's Enemies. You have the nobleft Incentives: For it is with You as with young Afcanius,

Te pater ÆNEAS & Avunculus excitat HECTOR.

I am,

My LORD,

Your Lordship's most obedient

humble Servant,

G. SEWELL

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