d you have heard of; and whose Story is
so well known to your self, and many Hundreds more: Part of which I had
from the Mouth of this unhappy great Man, and was an Eye-Witness to the
rest.

'Tis true, Sir, I present you with a Prince unfortunate, but still the
more noble Object for your Goodness and Pity; who never valu'd a brave
Man the less for being unhappy. And whither shou'd the Afflicted flee
for Refuge but to the Generous? Amongst all the Race, he cannot find a
better Man, or more certain Friend: Nor amongst all his Ancestors, match
your greater Soul, and Magnificence of Mind. He will behold in one
_English_ Subject, a Spirit as illustrious, a Heart as fearless, a Wit
and Eloquence as excellent, as _Rome_ it self cou'd produce. Its Senate
scarce boasted of a better States-man, nor Augustus of a more faithful
Subject; as your Imprisonment and Sufferings, through all the Course of
our late National Distractions, have sufficiently manifested; But
nothing cou'd press or deject your great Heart; you were the same Man
still, unmov'd in all Turns, easie and innocent; no Persecution being
able to abate your constant good Humour, or wonted Gallantry.

If, Sir, you find here a Prince of less Fortitude and Vertue than your
self, charge his Miscarriages on Love: a Weakness of that Nature you
will easily excuse, (being so great a Friend to the Fair;) though
possibly, he gave a Proof of it too Fatal to his Honour. Had I been to
have form'd his Character, perhaps I had made him something more worthy
of the Honour of your Protection: But I was oblig'd to pursue the Matter
of Fact, and give a just Relation of that part of his Life which,
possibly, was the only reproachful part of it. If he be so happy, as to
entertain a Man of Wit and Business, I shall not fear his Welcome to the
rest of the World: And 'tis only with your Passport he can hope to
be so.

The particular Obligations I have to your Bounty and Goodness, O Noble
Friend, and Patron of the _Muses_! I do not so much as pretend to
acknowledge in this little Present; those being above the Poet's Pay,
which is a sort of Coin, not currant in this Age: though perhaps may be
esteem'd as Medals in the Cabinets of Men of Wit. If this be so happy to
be of that Number, I desire no more lasting a Fame, that it may bear
this Inscription, that I am,

SIR,
Your most Obliged, and
Most Humble Servant,
_A. BEHN_.

THE _FAIR JILT_: or, The Amours of Princ