THE DOUBLE-DEALER--A COMEDY

by William Congreve




Interdum tamen et vocem Comoedia tollit.--HOR. Ar. Po.
Huic equidem consilio palmam do: hic me magnifice
effero, qui vim tantam in me et potestatem habeam
tantae astutiae, vera dicendo ut eos ambos fallam.

SYR. in TERENT. Heaut.



TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE CHARLES MONTAGUE,
ONE OF THE LORDS OF THE TREASURY.



Sir,--I heartily wish this play were as perfect as I intended it,
that it might be more worthy your acceptance, and that my dedication
of it to you might be more becoming that honour and esteem which I,
with everybody who is so fortunate as to know you, have for you. It
had your countenance when yet unknown; and now it is made public, it
wants your protection.

I would not have anybody imagine that I think this play without its
faults, for I am conscious of several. I confess I designed