Selected quad for the lemma: lord_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
A35270
|
Caligula a tragedy, as it is acted at the Theatre Royal, by His Majesty's servants / written by Mr. Crowne.
|
Crown, Mr. (John), 1640?-1712.
|
1698
(1698)
|
Wing C7376; ESTC R13012
|
43,578
|
65
|
CALIGULA A TRAGEDY As it is Acted at the Theatre Royal BY His MAJESTY's Servants Written by Mr. Crowne LONDON Printed by J. Orme for R. Wellington at the Lute in St. Paul's Church-Yard and sold by Percivil Gilborne at the Harrow at the corner of Chancery-Lane and Bernard Lintott at the Cross-Keys in St. Martins-Lane near Long-Acre 1698. ADVERTISEMENTS ☞ There is lately published the History of Polybius the Megalopolitan containing an Account of the Affairs of the whole World Translated by Sir Henry Sheers and Mr. Dryden in three Volumes the third never before Printed Love in Ruins or the Fatal Discovery Imposture Defeated or a Trick to cheat the Devil Mrs. A. Behns three Plays will suddenly be printed viz. The Round-heads City Heiress or Sir Timothy Treat-all Young King or the Mistake An Italian Voyage or a Compleat Journey through Italy In two Parts With the Characters of the People and the Description of the chief Towns Churches Monasteries Tombs Libraries Pallaces Villa's Gardens Pictures Statues and Antiquities As also of the Interest Government Riches Force c. of all the Princes With Instructions concerning Travel By Richard Lassels Gent. the Second Edition Tho. Brown's New and Easie Method to understand the Roman History by way of Dialogue for the use of the Duke of Burgundy Done out of French with very large Additions To the Right Honourable HENRY Earl of RUMNEY Master-General of the Ordnance Lord Warden of the Cinque-Ports Gentleman of His Majesty's Bed Chamber and one of the Lords of His Majesties most Honourable Privy-Council c. My Lord AN address of this kind from a Man so idle and unusefull as I am is at all times unseasonable to a Person whom the Wisdom o' the King and the good Fortune o' the Kingdom employ in so many great Affairs as take up your Lordships hours But it can never be more out of time than now when your Lordship is in sorrow for the loss of your Brother the late great Earl of Leicester who mourns not that knew him All that knew him lov'd him if they lov'd mankind for a greater Example of humanity the World I believe has seldom found All honour'd him that knew him if they valued Truth and Wisdom so much good sence sell from him in his common Conversation that none convers'd with him but were both Entertain'd and Improv'd if they were capable of it And no doubt many great Men were the greater for his Acquaintance and thus tho' in a private Life he influenc'd the publick and the whole Kingdom was the better for him Some survive themselves and their Understandings die before ' em His mind retain'd its wonderfull vigor to the last He was pleasant to all when years and pains â—ad taken all pleasures from him but what he found in doing good of his bounty I have often shar'd and so have many more And I was always extreamly proud of any marks of favour from such an impartial and discerniâ—â— Judge I cou'd dwell on so pleasing a subject as the extraordinary Qualities of this great Nobleman but since Providence has taken him from the World to number up his deserts and vertues were but to set before your Lordship your losses and the misfortunes of the Kingdom Now I am entring on another copious subject what does this Kingdom owe your Lordship you have been in several Reigns one of the greatest Ornaments of England but you have of late been one of its fortunate preservers your Lordship was an eminent Instrument in this Revolution which has been so happy to England and the greatest part of Europe Had not this change been almost all Europe had been overrun by France England for certain had lost its Rights Liberties and Religion and perhaps been no more a Kingdom but a Province to France a Vassal to Vassals and for all its Wealth had nothing but a Wafer What cou'd have stop'd that inundation of power which was rolling on and swelling as it roll'd delug'd many parts of Europe and threatned all What cou'd a formidable Fleet and Army almost innumerable have ask'd of a few divided Counsellors at White-hall which they durst have deny'd And what a glorious figure does England now make in comparison of what it did some years ago It lay one Reign becalm'd in Luxury In another Fetter'd In this Reign it has not only freed it self but humbled France and protected Germany Spain and Holland and appears one of the greatest Powers in Christendom How much then is owing to your Lordship by whose Wisdom and Courage this Revolution was contriv'd and carry'd on in a Reign when the least opposition to unlimited power was judg'd an unpardonable Crime But I may quit this subject since what your Lordship has done will make a noble part of English History In this Play I set Tyranny before the Eyes of the World and the dreadfull Consequences of lawless and boundless power But some wou'd not have the World frightned with such a Figure nor an Image of a Government profan'd which they adore 'T is well for 'em that they worship an unknown God If their Dwellings and Estates if they have any lay in the reach of a mighty Prince whose Will is Law I believe they wou'd be glad if they were secur'd from Forreign Invasions by the English Seas and from boundless power at home by English Laws I have suffer'd severely and therefore may be allow'd to speak The Favour or rather Authority which a mighty Neighbouring Kingdom had in our Court some years ago got my Inheritance which tho' it lay in the Desarts of America would have enabled me if I cou'd have kept it to have liv'd at my ease in these beautifull parts o' the World the loss of it has made England a Desart to me No wonder then if I am pleased with the Successes of our Wise and Valiant King who was born to free and do justice to opprest mankind and I hope to my self And now I doubt not but your Lordship who has been so instrumental in preserving and establishing the Liberties of all Englishmen will also permit a Poet to enjoy Poetick Liberties I mean that leave which has been long granted of addressing to such great Men as your Lordship for your Favour and Protectionâ— I need Encouragement from others because I have none from my self No Man can have a meaner opinion of me than I have of my self I am opprest by my self I will not say by my modesty for modesty is a vertue and modesty and boasting are inconsistent my fortune has long languished under an unmanly spiritless temper of mind which makes me rather choose to suffer than give trouble to any nay than to seek the favour of those who take a pleasure in obliging A Poet may very well hope for Patronage from a Nobleman who is of the blood of Sir Philip Sidney And I have found your Lordship ready to assist me your Lordship addrest to the late Queen of ever-blessed Memory in my behalf