Note 43 — EPISTLE THE NINTH.
Reading edition
This is the only mention that our author makes of the "Rehearsal" in poetry: In prose he twice notices that satirical farce with some contempt. The length of time which the Duke spent upon it, or at least which elapsed between the first concoction and the representation, is mentioned by Duke in his character of Villerius:
But with play-houses, wars, immortal wars, He waged, and ten years rage produced a farce. } { As many rolling years he did employ, { And hands almost as many, to destroy { Heroic rhyme, as Greece to ruin Troy. Once more, says fame, for battle he prepares, And threatens rhymers with a second farce; But if as long for this as that we stay, He'll finish Cliveden sooner than his play.
The last line alludes to the magnificent structure at Cliveden, which Buckingham planned, but never completed. Another satirist has the same idea:
} { I come to his farce, which must needs well be done, { For Troy was no longer before it was won, { Since 'tis more than ten years since this farce was begun.