Tospeak for a Play, if it cannot speak for itself, is vain; and if it can, it is needless. For one of these Reasons (I cannot yet tell which, for it is now but the second Day of acting) I resolve to say nothing forEsop, though I know he would be glad of Help; for let the best happen that can, his Journey is up Hill, with a deadEnglishWeight at the Tail of him.
AtParis, indeed, he scrambled up something faster (for it was up Hill there, too) than I am afraid he will do here: TheFrenchhaving more Mercury in their Heads, and less Beef and Pudding in their Bellies. Our Solidity may set hard, what their Folly makes easy; for Fools I own they are, you know we have found them so in the Conduct of the War; I wish we may do so in the Management of the Peace; but that is neitherEsop's Business nor mine.
This Play, Gentlemen (or one not much unlike it), was writ inFrenchabout six Years since by one MonsieurBoursaut; it was play'd atParisby theFrenchComedians, and this was its Fate.
The first Day it appeared, it was routed (People seldom being fond of what they do not understand, their own sweet Persons excepted). The second (by the help of some bold Knights-Errant) it rallied; the third it advanced; the fourth it gave avigorous Attack; and the fifth put all the Feathers in Town to the scamper, pursuing them on to the fourteenth, and then they cried out Quarter.
It is not reasonable to expectEsopshould gain so great a Victory here, since it is possible, by fooling with his Sword, I may have turned the Edge on't. For I confess in the Translation I have not at all stuck to the Original; nay, I have gone farther: I have wholly added the fifth Act, and crouded a Country Gentleman into the fourth; for which I ask MonsieurBoursaut's Pardon with all my Heart, but doubt I never shall obtain it for bringing him into such Company. Though, after all, had I been so complaisant to have waited on his Play Word for Word, it is possible, even that might not have ensured the Success of it; for though it swam inFrance, it might have sunk inEngland. Their Country abounds in Cork, ours in Lead.