which questionless will. [He then quotes Mr. Dryden's Preface to the Spanish Friar.] Neither is it so trivial a matter to make a tragedy end happily, for it is more difficult to save than to kill. The dagger and cup of poison are always in readiness; but to bring the action to the last extremity, and then by probable means to recover all, will require the art and judgement of a writer, and cost him many a pang in the performance.' One thing more I have to apologize for, which is, that I have used less quaintness of expression, even in the newest parts of this play. I confess 'twas design in me partly to comply with my author's style, to make the scenes of a piece, and partly to give it some resemblance of the times and persons here represented. "Your obliged friend and humble servant, "N. TATE." Of course, Nahum Tate struck the Fool out of the play. The Poet Laureate knew that fools were not fit companions for kings. There have been profane persons who have said, that there have been kings who, when quite alone, had a fool to their company; but Nahum Tate was not a profane person; for, though given to drunkenness and debt, he loved kings, and wrote psalms and birthday odes. The following is the title of Nahum Tate's precious production :— THE HISTORY OF KING LEAR. ACTED AT THE QUEEN'S THEATRE. REVIV'D, WITH ALTERATIONS, BY N. TATE. LONDON: Printed by H. Hills, for Richd. Wellington, We have made our extracts from the acting copy, because, though we cannot imagine any to have read the play through, we must believe many to have sat out the performance. THE THING CALLED LEAR, PUBLISHED IN 1623. Actus Quartus, Scena Prima. Enter EDGAR. Yet better thus, and knowne to be contemn'd, * The wretch that thou hast blown unto the worst, Enter GLOUCESTER and an OLD MAN. But who comes here? My father poorly led ? But that thy strange mutations make us (hate thee, Life would not yield to age. {wait} Old Man. O my good lord, I have bene your tenant, And your father's tenant, these fourscore yeares. Glo. Away, get the away: good friend, begone; Thy comforts can do me no good at all, Thee, they may hurt. Old Man. You cannot see your way. I stumbled when I saw. Full oft 'tis seene Glo. I have no way, and therefore want no eyes : *Theobald says this sentiment is so much akin to a passage in Ovid, that it seems to be taken directly from it : Fortuna miserrima tula est Nam timor eventûs deterioris abest. Epist. ii. lib. 2, ex Ponto. 129 NAHUM TATE'S NEW VERSION. Act IV. Scene 1. Corn. I will have my revenge e'er I depart his house. Regan, see here, a plot upon our state; "Tis Gloster's character, who has betray'd His double trust, of subject and of host. [Gives her a letter. Reg. Then double be our vengeance; this confirms Th' intelligence that we but now receiv'd That he hath been this night to seek the King. But, who, sir, was the kind discoverer ? Corn. Our eagle, quick to spy, and fierce to seize, Our trusty Edmund, Reg. 'Twas a noble service; O, Cornwall, take him to thy deepest trust, Edm. Think, sir, how hard a fortune I sustain, That makes me thus repent of serving you. Oh, that this treason had not been, or I Corn. Edmund, thou shalt find A father in our love, and from this minute Reg. The grotto, sir, within the lower grove Edm. And there I may expect a comforter— Ha, madam? Reg. What may happen, sir, I know not; But 'twas a friend's advice. (Aside to him.) Corn. Bring the traitor in. [Aside to him. [Aside to her. [Exit Edmund. |