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Editor: Dion Boucicault

TRAGEDY OF VENICE PRESERVED,

BY THOMAS OTWAY

PRODUCED AT BOOTH'S THEATRE SEPTEMBER 7TH, 1874.

REVISED BY DIO BOUCICAULT

A TRAGEDY IN FIVE ACTS

WITH THE STAGE BUSINESS, CAST OF CHARACTER, COSTUMES. RELATIVE POSITIONS. &c.

HENRY L. HINTON & CO., 744 Broadway.

COSTUMES.

DUKE-Crimson velvet dress, with purple robe, richly embroidered with gold.

PRIULI-Purple velvet dress, scarlet mantle, black trunks puffed with buck satin, black silk stockings, shoes and roses, black sword, round black hat, and black plumes.

BEDAMAR-Purple doublet and breeches, embroidered, russet boots, round black hat, and plumes.

JAFFIER-Same as Priuli--except mantle.

PIERRE-White doublet and blue Venetian fly, embroidered, white pantaloons, russet boots, black sword, round black hat, and scarlet plumes.

RENAULT-Black velvet doublet and trunks, buff pantaloons, russet boots, dark cloak, embroidered, round black hat, and plumes.

SENATORS-Black gowns trimmed with ermine, and black caps.

CONSPIRATORS-Rich Venetian dresses.

GUARDS-Grey doublets, breeches, and hats.

BELVIDERA-First dress: White satin, trimmed with silver, long purple robe, richly embroidered with gold. Second dress: White muslin.

RELATIVE POSITIONS. R., means Right; L.,Left; C, Centre; R. C, Right of Centre h. C, Left of Centre.

EDITORIAL INTRODUCTION.

--'He groans; Hark, how he groans! his screams are in my ears Already! See, they've fixed him on the wheel! And now they tear him! Murder! Perjured Senate! Murder!'

"The enthusiastic power of Garrick presented this dreadful image to the audience with such astonishing force, that they trembled at the imaginary picture. In all the softer scenes of domestic woe, conjugal tenderness, and agonizing distress, Barry, it must be owned, was Garrick's master.

Thomas Otway, the author of this and some nine other plays, of various merit, none of which, however, now keep possession of the stage, was the son of a clergyman, and born at Trotting in Sussex, England, in the year 1651. His tragedy of the "Orphan" was for many years as attractive in the representation as "Venice Preserved;" but the plot is of a character to render it distasteful to a modern audience, although it contains passages of remarkable beauty and power. Otway is said to have tried his fortune on the stage as an actor, and to have failed--not an infrequent case with dramatic authors. He appears to have earned but a precarious subsistence by his pen; although from the little we can glean of his history, the inference is, he was improvident, and easily led away by gay, dissipated companions. One of his biographers gives a melancholy account of the destitution of his latter days, and states, that he was reduced to the necessity of borrowing a shilling, to satisfy the cravings of hunger, from a gentleman, who, shocked at the distress of the author of "Venice Preserved," put a guinea into his hands; that Otway was choked with a piece of bread, which he had immediately purchased. He is said to have died the 14th April, 1685. at a public-house on Tower Hill. This story is contradicted by Dr. Warton, who says that the poet died of a distemper brought on by a severe cold.

Out of Shakspeare's unapproachable domain, we know of no tragedy in the English language to compare with this in the earnestness of its passion, the depth of its pathos, and the aptitude of its language. Although it has not been represented of late years as frequently as formerly, it will be long before it is superseded in its foremost rank in our acting drama.

VENICE PRESERVED

ACT 1.

Jaffier!

Oh, sir, welcome! You are an Englishman: when treason's hatching, One might have thought you'd not have been behind hand.

Thou hourly image of my thoughts, where art thou?

Officer. My lords, more traitors! Seized in the very act of consultation: Furnished with arms and instruments of mischief.-- Bring in the prisoners!

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