I may receive disadvantage by this address design'd for excuses; for it will too hastily put you in mind that errors are not far off when excuses are at hand; this refers to our representetion: and some my be willing to be led to find the blemishes of it; but would be left to their own conduct to discover the beauties, if there be any. yet I may forewarn you that the defects which I intend to excuse are chiefly such as you cannot reform but onely with your purse; that is, by building us a larger room; a design which we began and shall not be left for you to finish, because we have observ'd that many who are liberal of their understanding when they would issue it out towards discovery of imperfections, have not always money to expend in things necessary towards the making up of perfection.

It has been often wisht taht our scenes (we having oblig'd our selves to the variety of five changes, according to the ancient drammatick distinctions made for time) had not been confin'd to eleven foot in height, and about fifteen in depth, including the places of passage reserv'd for the musick. This is so narrow an allowance for the fleet of Solyman the Magnificent, his army, the island of Rhodes, and the varieties attending the siege of the city, that I fear you will think we invite you to such a contracted trifle as that of the Cæsars carved upon a nut.

As these limits have hinter'd the splendor of our scene, so we are like to give no great satisfaction in the quantity of our argument, which is in story very copious; but shrinks to a small narration here, because we could not convey it by more than seven persons; being constrain'd to prevent the length of recitative musick, as well as to conserve, without incumbrance, the narrowness of the place. Therefore you cannot expect the chief ornaments belonging to a history drammatically digested into turns and counterturns, to double walks, and interweavings of design.

This is exprest to forbid your excess of expectation; but we must take care not to deterr you from the hope of some satisfaction; for that were, not only to hang out no bush, but likewise to shut up our doors. Therefore, as you have heard what kind of excellencies you should not expect: so I will in brief (I hope without vanity) give you encouragement, by tlling you, there are some things at least excusable which you may resolve to meet.

We conceive, it will not be unacceptable to you if we recompence the narrowness of the room, by containing in it so much as could be conveniently accomplisht by art and industry: which will not be doubted in the scenes by those who can judge that kind of illustration and know the excellency of Mr. John Webb, who design'd and order'd it. The musick was compos'd, and both the vocal and instrumental is execis'd by the most transcendent of England in that art, and perhaps non unequal to the best masters abroad; but being recitative, and therefore unpractis'd here, though of great reputation amongst other nations, the very attempt of it is an obligation to our own. The story represented (which will not require much apology because it expects but little praise) is heroical, and notwithstanding the continual hurry and busie agitations of a hot siege, is (I hope) intelligibly convey'd to advance the characters of vertue in the shapes of valour and coniugal love. And though the main argument hath but a single walk, yet perhaps the movings of it will not seem unpleasant. You may inqire, being a reader, why in an heroick argument my numbers are so often diversify'd and fall into short fractions; considering that a continuation of the usual length of English verse would appear more heroical in reading. But when you are an auditor you will find that in this, I rather deserve approbation then need excuse; for frequent alterations of measure (which cannot be so unpleasant to him that reads as troublesome to him that writes) are necessary to recitative musick for variation of ayres. If what I have said be taken for excuses, I have my intent; because excuses are not always signs of error, but are often modest explanations of things that might otherwise be mistaken. But I have said so much to vindicate my self from having occasion to be excus'd for the poem, that it brings me at last to ask pardon for the length of the epistole.