at Windsor, and, by his approbation of it in writing, made way for its kind reception on the theatre.  In this dedication, therefore, I may seem to imitate a custom of the ancients, who offered to their gods the firstlings of the flock, (which, I think, they called Ver sacrum) because they helped them to increase.  I am sure, if there be any thing in this play, wherein I have raised myself beyond the ordinary lowness of my comedies, I ought wholly to acknowledge it to the favour of being admitted into your lordship’s conversation.  And not only I, who pretend not to this way, but the best comic writers of our age, will join with me to acknowledge, that they have copied the gallantries of courts, the delicacy of expression, and the decencies of behaviour, from your lordship, with more success, than if they had taken their models from the court of France.  But this, my lord, will be no wonder to the world, which knows the excellency of your natural parts, and those you have acquired in a noble education.  That which, with more reason, I admire, is that being so absolute a courtier, you have not forgot either the ties of friendship, or the practice of generosity.  In my little experience of a court, (which, I confess, I desire not to improve) I have found in it much of interest, and more of detraction:  Few men there have that assurance of a friend, as not to be made ridiculous by him when they are absent.  There are a middling sort of courtiers, who become happy by their want of wit; but they supply that want by an excess of malice to those who have it.  And there is no such persecution as that of fools:  They can never be considerable enough to be talked of themselves; so that they are safe only in their obscurity, and grow mischievous to witty men, by the great diligence of their envy, and by being always present to represent and aggravate their faults.  In the mean time, they are forced, when they endeavour to be pleasant, to live on the offals of their wit whom they decry; and either to quote it, (which they do unwillingly) or to pass it upon others for their own.  These are the men who make it their business to chace wit from the knowledge of princes, lest it should disgrace their ignorance.  And this kind of malice your lordship has not so much avoided, as surmounted.  But if by the excellent temper of a royal master, always more ready to hear good than ill; if by his inclination to love you; if by your own merit and address; if by the charms of your conversation, the grace of your behaviour, your knowledge of greatness, and habitude in courts, you have been able to preserve yourself with honour in the midst of so dangerous a course; yet at least the remembrance of those hazards has inspired you with pity for other men, who, being of an inferior wit and quality to you, are yet persecuted, for being that in little, which your lordship is in great[2].  For the quarrel of those people extends itself to any thing of sense; and if I may be so vain