# The Fair Penitent/The Dedication

TO HER
GRACE
THE
DUTCHESS
OF
ORMOND.
Madam,
The Privilege of Poetry (or it may be the Vanity of the Pretenders to it) has given 'em a kind of Right to pretend, at the same ​time, to the Favour of those, whom their high Birth and excellent Qua­lities have plac'd in a very distin­guishing manner above the rest of the World. If this be not a receiv'd Maxim, yet I am sure I am to wish it were, that I may have at least some kind of Excuse for laying this Tragedy at Your Grace's Feet. I have too much reason to fear that it may prove but an indifferent En­tertainment to Your Grace, since if I have any way succeeded in it, it has been in describing those violent Passions which have been always Strangers to so happy a Temper, and so noble and so exalted a Virtue as Your Grace is Mistress of. Yet for all this, I cannot but confess the Va­nity which I have, to hope that there may be something so moving in the Misfortunes and Distress of the Play, as may be not altogether unworthy of Your Grace's Pity. This is one of the main Designs of Tra​gedy, and to excite this generous Pity in the great­est Minds, may pass for some kind of Success in this way of Writing. I am sensible of the Presumption I am guilty of by this Hope, and how much it is that I pretend to in Your Grace's Approbation; if it be my good For­tune to meet with any little Share of it, I shall always look upon it as much more to me than the general Applause of the Theatre, or even the Praise of a good Critick. Your Grace's Name is the best Protection this Play can hope for, since the World, ill-natur'd as it is, agrees in an universal Respect and Deference for Your Grace's Person and Cha­racter. In so censorious an Age as this is, where Malice furnishes out all the Publick Conversations, where every Body pulls and is pull'd to pieces of course, and where there is hardly such a thing as being merry, but at another's Expence; yet by a publick ​and uncommon Justice to the Dutchess of Ormond, Her Name has never been mention'd, but as it ought, tho' She has Beauty enough to pro­voke Detraction from the Fairest of Her own Sex, and Virtue e­nough to make the Loose and Disso­lute of the other (a very formidable Party) Her Enemies. Instead of this they agree to say nothing of Her but what She deserves, That Her Spirit is worthy of Her Birth; Her Sweet­ness, of the Love and Respect of all the World; Her Piety, of Her Reli­gion; Her Service, of Her Royal Mi­stress; and Her Beauty and Truth, of Her Lord; that in short every part of Her Character is Just, and that She is the best Reward for one of the great­est Hero's this Age has produc'd. This, Madam, is what You must allow Peo­ple every where to say; those whom You shall leave behind You in Eng­land will have something further to add, ​the Loss we shall suffer by your Grace's Journey to Ireland; the Queen's Pleasure, and the Impatient Wishes of that Nation are about to deprive us of Two of our Publick Ornaments. But there is no arguing against Reasons so prevalent as these. Those who shall lament your Grace's Absence will yet acquiesce in the Wisdom and Justice of Her Majesty's Choice: Among all whose Royal Favours none cou'd be so agreeable, upon a thousand Ac­counts, to that People, as the Duke of Ormond. With what Joy, what Ac­clamations shall they meet a Govern­or, who beside their former Obligati­ons to His Family, has so lately ven­tur'd His Life and Fortune for their Preservation; What Duty, what Sub­mission shall they not pay to that Au­thority which the Queen has delegated to a Person so dear to 'em? And with what Honour, what Respect shall they receive Your ​Grace, when they look upon You as the Noblest and Best Pat­tern Her Majesty cou'd send 'em, of her own Royal Goodness, and Perso­nal Virtues? They shall behold Your Grace with the same Pleasure the En­glish shall take when ever it shall be their good Fortune to see You return again to Your Native Country. In Eng­land Your Grace is become a Publick Concern, and as Your going away will be attended with a general Sorrow, so Your Return shall give as general a Joy; and to none of those many, more than to,
Madam,
Your Grace's
most Obedient, and
most Humble Servant,
N. Rowe.