cap. 3. all persons were
appointed to be buried in woollen after 1st August, 1678. The play
must therefore have been represented early in the season 1678-9. It
was not printed until 1679.

Footnotes:
1. Nero is said to have represented the character of OEdipus, amongst
others of the same horrible cast.--_Suetonius,_ Lib. VI. Cap. 21.

2. Thus Seneca is justly ridiculed by Dacier, for sending Laius forth
with a numerous party of guards, to avoid the indecorum of a king
going abroad too slenderly attended. The guards lose their way
within a league of their master's capital; and, by this awkward
contrivance, their absence is accounted for, when he is met by
OEdipus.

3. Voltaire, however, held a different opinion. He thought a powerful
effect might be produced by the exhibition of the blind king,
indistinctly seen in the back ground, amid the shrieks of Jocasta,
and the exclamations of the Thebans; provided the actor was capable
of powerful gesture, and of expressing much passion, with little
declamation.

4. _Quoi! la necessite des vertus et des vices
D'un astre imperieux doit suivre les caprices?
Et Delphes malgre nous conduit nos actions
Au plus bizarre effet de ses predictions?
L'ame est donc toute esclave; une loi soveraine
Vers le bien ou le mal incessamment l'entraine;
Et nous recevons ni crainte ni desir,
De cette liberte qui n'a rien a choisir;
Attaches sans relache a cet ordre sublime,
Vertueux sans merite, et vicieux sans crime;
Qu'on massare les rois, qu'on brise les autels,
C'est la faute des dieux, et non pas des mortels;
De toute la vertu sur la terre epandue
Tout le prix ces dieux, toute la gloire est due;
Ils agissent en nous, quand nous pensons agir,
Alons qu'on delibere, on ne fait qu'obeir;
Et notre volonte n'aime, hait, cherche, evite,
Que suivant que d'en haut leur bras la precipite!
D'un tel aveuglement daignez me dispenser
Le ciel juste a punir, juste a recompenser,
Pour rendre aux actions leur peine ou leur salaire,
Doit nous offrir son aide et puis nous laisser faire._

PREFACE.

Though it be dangerous to raise too great an expectation, especially
in works of this nature, where we are to please an insatiable
audience, yet it is reasonable to prepossess them in favour of an
author; and therefore, both th