But there is one thing at which I am more concerned than all the
false criticisms that are made upon me, and that is, some of the
ladies are offended. I am heartily sorry for it, for I declare I
would rather disoblige all the critics in the world than one of the
fair sex. They are concerned that I have represented some women
vicious and affected. How can I help it? It is the business of a
comic poet to paint the vices and follies of humankind; and there
are but two sexes, male and female, MEN and WOMEN, which have a
title to humanity, and if I leave one half of them out, the work
will be imperfect. I should be very glad of an opportunity to make
my compliment to those ladies who are offended; but they can no more
expect it in a comedy than to be tickled by a surgeon when he's
letting 'em blood. They who are virtuous or discreet should not be
offended, for such characters as these distinguish THEM, and make
their beauties more shining and observed; and they who are of the
other kind may nevertheless pass for such, by seeming not to be
displeased or touched with the satire of this COMEDY. Thus have
they also wrongfully accused me of doing them a prejudice, when I
have in reality done them a service.

You will pardon me, sir, for the freedom I take of making answers to
other people in an epistle which ought wholly to be sacred to you;
but since I intend the play to be so too, I hope I may take the more
liberty of justifying it where it is in the right.

I must now, sir, declare to the world how kind you have been to my
endeavours; for in regard of what was well meant, you have excused
what was ill performed. I beg you would continue the same method in
your acceptance of this dedication. I know no other way of making a
return to that humanity you shewed, in protecting an infant, but by