Page:An Essay on the Opera's After the Italian Manner.pdf/34

 Ince the Printing of this Eay, I have been inform’d by very good Hands, that a young Lady of the firt Quality, equally famous for her Beauty, her Spirit, and her Virtue, did lately to the Glory of her own Sex, and the Shame of ours, give very trict Order, that the Julius Cæar of Shakepear, which was acted at her Requet, hould be done without any Performance either of Singing or Dancing. Which Order has hewn that he is as much ditinguih’d by the Beauty of her Mind, as by that of her Peron; and as every Grace has been always a contant Attendant on her, ’tis become the Duty of every Mue to wait on her, and to return her Thanks for making way by her illutrious Example, for the delivering Englih Poetry from the Oppreion of Foreign Luxury, as every Englihman is bound to extol the Heroe from whom he sprung, for leening in Englih Hearts the Apprehenion of Foreign Tyranny. I make no doubt but that her attractive Example will have much more Influence upon the World than thee few Speculations, and raie a noble Emulation in her Sex, and a jut Confuion in ours. May he be follow’d by every fair one, as Venus is by the Graces, but after they have all in imitation of her, combin’d to banih foreign Foppery from off the Englih Stage, may the Glory of the Triumph be peculiarly hers, who firt o happily hew’d the way to conquer it, as her illutrious Father will jutly hare in the Honour of every Confederate General, becaue all Victories that are to come will be influenc’d by that Immortal one, which hew’d us firt that the French are not Invincible.