EPILOGUE.
Strang.
Ladyes
, your suffrages I chiefly crave
For th'humble Poet. Tis in you to save
Him, from the rigorous censure of the rest.
May you give grace as y'are with Beauty blest.
True: Hee's no dandling on a Courtly lap,
Yet may obtaine a smile, if not a clap.
Ferd.
I'm at the Cavaliers. Heroick spirits,
That know both to reward, and atchieve merits,
Do, like the Sun-beames, vertuously dispense
Upon the lowest growths their influence,
As well as on the lofty: our Poet so
By your Phebean favours hopes to grow.
Cit-w.
And now you generous spirits of the City
That are no lesse is money then braine wity,
My selfe, my Bride, and pretty Bride boy too,
Out Poet for a Boun preferres to you.
Phil.
And though you tast of no such Bride-ale Cup,
He hopes y' allow the Match to be clapt up.
Boy.
And, if this Play be naught (yes so he said)
That I should gi' yee my Mother for a Mayd.
Swa.
And why you now? or you? or you? I'le speak
enough for you all, you now would tell the Audients they
should not feare to throng hither the next day: for you
wil secure their Purses cut-free, and their pockts pick-free.
Tis much for you to do tho'. And you would say that all
your projects are put down, and you'l take up no new:
but what shall be (spectators) to please you. And you
Poetick part induces you, t'appologize now for the Poet
too, as they ha' done already, you to the Ladies, you to the
Cavaliers and Gentry; you to the City friend, and all
for the Poet, Poet, Poet, when alls but begging tho. I'le
speak to 'em all, and to my Countrey folkes too if here
be any o'em: and yet not beg for the Poet tho', why
should we? has not he money for his doings? and the best
price too? because we would ha' the best: And if it be not,
why so? The Poet has shewd his wit and we our manners.
But to stand beg, beg for reputation for one that has
no countenance to carry it, and must ha' money is such a
Pastime!—If it were for one of the great and curious
Poets that give these Playes as the Prologue said, and money
too, to have 'em acted; For them, indeed, we are
bound to ply for an applause. Because they look for nothing
else, and scorn to beg for themselves. But then you'l
say those Playes are not given to you; you pay as much
for your seats at them as at these, though you sit nere the
merrier, nor rise the wiser, they are so above common
understanding; and tho' you see for your love you will
judge for your money, why so for that too, you may.
But take heed you displease not the Ladies tho' who are
their partiall judges, being brib'd by flattering verses to
commend their Playes; for whose faire cause, and by
their powerfull voyces to be cry'd up wits o' Court, the
right worshipfull Poets boast to have made those enterludes,
when for ought you know they bought 'em of Universitie
Scholars tho', and onely shew their own wits in
owning other mens; and that but as they are like neither.
As thus, do you like that Song? yes. I made it. Is that Scene
or that Jest good? Yes, Twas mine; and then if all be
good 'twas all mine. There's wit in that now. But this
small Poet vents none but his own, and his by whose care
and directions this Stage is govern'd, who has for many
yeares both in his fathers dayes, and since directed Poets
to write & Players to speak, till he traind up these youths
here to what they are now. I some of 'em from before
they were able to say a grace of two lines long to have
more parts in their pates then would fill so many Dry-fats.
And to be serious with you, if after all this, by
the venemous practise of some, who study nothing more
then his destruction, he should faile us, both Poets and
Players would be at losse in Reputation. But this is from
our Poet agen, who tels you plainly all the helps he has
or desires; And let me tell you he has made prety merry
Jigges that ha' pleas'd a many. As (le'me see) th'
Antipodes,
and (oh I shall never forget)
Tom Hoyden o'
Tanton Deane. Hee'l bring him hither very shortly in
a new Motion, and in a new paire o' slops and new
nether stocks as briske as a Body-lowse in a new
Pasture.
Meane while, if you like this, or not, why so?
You may be pleas' to clap at parting tho'.
FINIS.
