They are things-but yet the stage might stand as well,
If it did neither hear these things, nor tell.
Great noble wits, be good unto yourselves,
And make a difference 'twixt poetic elves,
And poets: all that dabble in the ink,
And defile quills, are not those few can think,
Conceive, express, and steer the souls of men,
As with a rudder, round thus, with their pen.
He must be one that can instruct your youth,
And keep your acme in the state of truth,
Must enterprise this work; mark but his ways,
What flight he makes, how new: and then he says,
If that not like you, that he sends to-night,

'Tis you

have left to judge, not he to write.

PROLOGUE.

(For the Court.)

WORK not smelling of the lamp, to-night,
But fitted for your Majesty's disport,
And writ to the meridian of your court,
We bring; and hope it may produce delight:
The rather being offered as a rite,

To scholars, that can judge, and fair report
The sense they hear, above the vulgar sort
Of nut-crackers, that only come for sight.

infinite humour, Morley, afterwards Bishop of Winchester, Hodgson, and others, rarely equalled in aftertimes, occasionally assisted. The Phoenix was situated somewhere near the playhouse of that name, in Drury-lane.

6 And keep your acme,] i. e. I presume, your mature age; but the expression is a strange one. The conclusion of this prologue cannot be praised for its modesty; but the audiences heard a language not much unlike it from others. Ben alludes to his long absence from the Stage, (nine years,) during which he fears not to affirm that, whatever change (for the worse) may have taken place

Wherein although our title, sir, be News,
We yet adventure here to tell you none,

But shew you common follies, and so known, That though they are not truths, the innocent Muse, Hath made so like, as phant'sy could them state, Or poetry, without scandal, imitate."

in them, he has suffered no deterioration. He is not much out in the present case; but the wolves were imperceptibly advancing upon Maris.

7 This address to the Court is not without merit. It is terse and neat, and will probably remind the reader of the style and construction of some of Milton's sonnets.

PENNYBOY, the son, the heir and suitor.
PENNYBOY, the father, the Canter.
PENNYBOY, Richer, the uncle, the usurer.
CYMBAL, master of the STAPLE, and prime jeerer.
FITTON, emissary Court, and jeerer.
ALMANAC, doctor in physic, and jeerer.
SHUNFIELD, sea-captain, and jeerer.

MADRIGAL, poetaster and jeerer.

PICKLOCK, man o' law, and emissary Westminster.
PIEDMANTLE, pursuivant at arms, and heraldet.
REGISTER, of the staple, or office.

NATHANIEL, first clerk of the office.

THOMAS, Barber, second clerk of the office.

BROKER, Secretary, and gentleman-usher to PECUNIA. LICKFINGER, master-cook, and parcel-poet.

FASHIONER, the tailor of the times.

LEATHERLEG, shoemaker.

Linener.

Haberdasher.

Spurrier.

Customers, male and female.
Porter.

BLOCK and LOLLARD, two dogs.

BUZ, AMBLER, grooms; Fiddlers, Singing-boy, Attendants, &c.

INTERMEAN or CHORUS. Gossips MIRTH, TATTLE, EXPECTATION, and CENSURE.

PECUNIA, infanta of the mines.

MORTGAGE, her nurse.

STATUTE, first woman.

BAND, second woman.

WAX, (ROSE,) chambermaid.

SCENE, London.

SCENE I. The Lodgings of PENNYBOY, jun. Enter PENNYBOY, jun. and LEATHERLEG with a new pair of boots.

P. jun. [LEATH. pulls on his boots.] RAMERCY, Leatherleg: get me the spurrier,

And thou hast fitted me.

Leath. I'll do it presently.

[Exit.

P. jun. [walks up and down in his gown, waist-coat, and trowses,

expecting his tailor.]

Look to me, wit, and look to my wit, land,
That is, look on me, and with all thine eyes,
Male, female, yea, hermaphroditic eyes,
And those bring all your helps and perspicils,'

1 In his trowses.] Trowses are the close drawers over which the hose or slops (the loose breeches) were drawn. I know not why Whalley constantly alters the word to trowsers.

2 Perspicils.] Optic glasses. We find the word in Albumazar, A. i. S. 3.

"Sir, 'tis a perspicil, the best under heaven."

WHAL.

This certainly (like many other quotations which might be pointed out) does not prove what it was brought to prove; but the word is nevertheless rightly explained.

To see me at best advantage, and augment
My form as I come forth; for I do feel
I will be one worth looking after shortly;
Now, by and by, that's shortly,-[draws forth his
watch, and sets it on the table.] It strikes!

one, two,

Three, four, five, six. Enough, enough, dear watch,
Thy pulse hath beat enough. Now sleep and rest;
Would thou couldst make the time to do so too :
I'll wind thee up no more. The hour is come
So long expected! there, there, drop my wardship,
[Throws off his gown.

My pupillage and vassalage together.-
And, Liberty, come throw thyself about me,
In a rich suit, cloke, hat, and band, for now
I'll sue out no man's livery, but mine own;
I stand on my own feet, so much a year,
Right round and sound, the lord of mine own ground.
And (to rhyme to it) threescore thousand pound!
Not come? not yet?-[Goes to the door and looks.]
Tailor, thou art a vermin,

Worse than the same thou prosecut'st and prick'st
In subtle seam-Go to, I say no more-

Thus to retard my longings, on the day

I do write man, to beat thee! One and twenty
Since the clock struck, complete! and thou wilt feel it,
Thou foolish animal!--Î could pity him,

An I were not heartily angry with him now,
For this one piece of folly he bears about him,
To dare to tempt the fury of an heir

T' above two thousand a year, yet hope his custom !
Well, master Fashioner, there's some must break-
A head, for this your breaking.-

Enter FASHIONER.

Are you come, sir?

Fash. God give your worship joy!