Having married my two new made lovers, the reader will possibly imagine, that the last act of the play is ended, and that I should now drop the curtain, to prepare for some fresh subject of entertainment; – but he must wait awhile, – I have not yet done with any of my characters; and besides, that there are many things which seem to require a farther explanation, I cannot think of parting with my favorite Florimel without giving her those praises which her wit and good humour may justly claim.

It is not unlikely, indeed, but that there may be some over scrupulous ladies in the world who will be so far from approving the character of this charming girl, that they will highly contemn her for assuming the air and habit of a man, tho’ for never so short a space of time; and even rail at Melanthe for consenting to put in execution the stratagem she had contrived for her deliverance from an evil so justly dreaded by her; – such as these will certainly think I have said enough, if not too much on the occasion, and perhaps throw aside the book, and cry they will read no farther: – well, – be it so, – the loss will be entirely their own, – I am pretty confident neither my reputation, nor the profits of my publisher, will suffer by their ill-nature in this point.

It is for the entertainment of the gay, the witty, and the truly virtuous, who, by the way, are never censorious, that these lucubrations are chiefly intended; and if I am so fortunate as to please them, should give myself no great pain what may be said of me by those of the abovemention'd class.

In defiance, therefore, of these fair, or rather unfair critics, I shall proceed in what I have farther to relate concerning the principal subjects of this narrative.