PREFACE.


It having been objected to this tragedy, that its language is prose, and
its catastrophe too horrible, I shall entreat the reader's patience for
a minute, that I may say a word or two to these objections.

The play of the GAMESTER was intended to be a natural picture of that
kind of life, of which all men are judges; and as it struck at a vice so
universally prevailing, it was thought proper to adapt its language to
the capacities and feelings of every part of the audience: that as some
of its characters were of no higher rank than _Sharpers_, it was
imagined that (whatever good company they may find admittance to in the
world) their speaking blank verse upon the stage would be unnatural,
if not ridiculous. But though the more elevated characters also speak
prose, the judicious reader will observe, that it is a species of prose
which differs very little from verse: in many of the most animated
scenes, I can truly say, that I often found it a much greater difficulty
to avoid, than to write, _measure_. I shall only add, in answer to this
objection, that I hoped to be more interesting, by being more natural;
and the event, as far as I have been a witness of it, has more than
answered my expectations.

As to the other objection, the horror of its catastrophe, if it be
considered simply what that catastrophe is, and compared with those of
other tragedies, I should humbly presume that the working it up to any
uncommon degree of horror, is the _merit_ of the play, and not its
_reproach_. Nor should so prevailing and destructive a vice as GAMING be