To Her Grace, the duchess of Ormond.

Don Quixote having not only been well received upon the stage, but also having cleared himself with reputation from the slander and prejudice which malicious critics had resolved upon, to bully and blast him, I could not forbear suffering him to aspire to this second honour of dedicating himself to your Grace, from whose noble and unbiased judgment, he may assure himself of an obliging reception and a generous security.

The honour your Grace and the rest of the nobility and gentry did me to see this play in its rehearsal or undress, was a happy presage of its future good fortune. The stars were all in conjunction to do me good and I think I may safely say, without offence, that when the ladies came to my third day, there never was at this time of the year, in the hemisphere of the playhouse, so dazing and numerous a constellation seen before.

It is, Madam, from your Grace’s prosperous influence that I date my good fortune and I shall be very glad if this poor offspring of my brain, has merit enough to deserve the honour of a smile from so great and so good a patroness.

Further, I dare not proceed on this subject, last I should involve myself rashly, in praise of what is even too great for praise itself and so only show my own ambition, in aspiring to write on so glorious at heme, without doing you any justice, who are always infinitely above whatever my genius can ever pretend to in that nature.

The world, that knows the noble stock from which you sprung, are sensible that it is impossible for you to derogate from such flourishing and signalized virtues. And those likewise that consider you, as the happy consort of the great Ormond, whose indefatigable zeal to serve his Majesty and his afflicted country, with his dearest blood and fortune abroad, leaves him scarce leisure to dry your tears up for the last parting, or pay his paternal blessing to his dear children at home, ought to behold your Grace with double reverence and unite their prayers and wishes, that all things in his absence may tend to your comfort, satisfaction and honour. And that the troublesome hours may run swiftly off, to give way to the transporting news of his happy return with fame and victory.

One of these general admirers of both your matchless deserts and virtues, I beseech your Grace to believe me, whose duteous wishes are constantly devoted to your service and now particularly, may the whole hierarchy of angels protect you in the expected hour of trouble. And may the rejoicing worthy part of the world be blessed with another noble, loyal and valiant Ossory great and admired as his illustrious and never to be forgotten grandfather. And that this unvalued blessing and all other that can make your Grace and that truly noble and most dearly loved hero abroad, happy in one another, may succeed as your desire, is the devotion and daily wish of,

Madam,

Your Grace’s most faithful and most humble servant,

T. d'Urfey.