_May it please your Majesty_,
The _English_ =Theatre= throws itself with this Play, at Your MAJESTY's
Feet, for Favour and Support.
As their Public Diversions are a strong Indication of the Genius of a
People; the following Scenes are an Attempt to Establish such as are
fit to entertain the Minds of a sensible Nation; and to wipe off that
Aspersion of Barbarity, which the _Virtuosi_ among our Neighbours have
sometimes thrown upon our Taste.
The _Provok'd Husband_, is, at least, an Instance, that any _English_
Comedy may, to an unusual number of Days, bring many Thousands of His
Majesty's good Subjects together, to their Emolument and Delight, with
Innocence. And however little Share of that Merit my unequal Pen may
pretend to, yet I hope the just Admirers of Sir _John Vanbrugh_ will
allow I have, at worst, been a careful Guardian of his Orphan Muse, by
leading it into Your Majesty's Royal Protection.
The Design of this Play being chiefly to expose, and reform the
licentious Irregularities that, too often, break in upon the Peace and
Happiness of the Married State; Where could so hazardous and unpopular
an undertaking be secure, but in the Protection of a =Princess=, whose
exemplary Conjugal Virtues have given such illustrious Proof of what
sublime Felicity that holy State is capable?
And though a Crown is no certain Title to Content; yet to the Honour
of that Institution be it said, the Royal Harmony of Hearts that now
inchants us from the Throne, is a Reproach to the frequent Disquiet
of those many insensible Subjects about it, who (from his Majesty's
paternal Care of his People) have more Leisure to be happy: And 'tis
our =Queen's= peculiar Glory, that we often see Her as eminently rais'd
above her Circle, in private Happiness, as in Dignity.
Yet Heaven, =Madam=, that has placed you on such Height, to be the
more conspicuous Pattern of your Sex, had still left your Happiness
imperfect, had it not given those inestimable Treasures of your Mind,
and Person, to the only Prince on Earth that could have deserved
them: A Crown received from Any, but the Happy Monarch's Hand, who
invested you with This, which You now adorn, had only seemed the Work
of _Fortune_: But _Thus_ bestow'd, the World acknowledges it the due
Reward of =Providence=, for One You once so gloriously Refused.
But as the Fame of such elevated Virtue has lifted the Plain Addresses
of a whole Nation into Eloquence, the best repeated Eulogiums on that
Theme are but Intrusions on your Majesty's greater Pleasure of secretly
deserving them. I therefore beg leave, to subscribe myself,
May it please Your =Majesty=,
_Your Majesty's most Devoted_,
_Most Obedient, and_
_Most Humble Servant_,
=Colley Cibber=.