University of Virginia Library

The Prologue

The Prologue speaker.
Nowe forasmuche as in these latter dayes,
Throughout the whole world in euery lande
Uice doth encrease, and Uertue decayes
Iniquitie hauynge the vpper hande.
We therfore intende, good gentle Audience,
A pretie short Interlude, to playe at this present
Desyrynge your leaue and quiet scilence
To shewe the same, as is mete and expedient.
The sume wherof, matter and argument,
In two or thre verses, briefely to declare,
Synce that it is for an honest intent,
I wyll somewhat bestowe my care.
In the Citie of London, there was a ryche man
Who louynge his sonne moste tenderlye,
Moued hym earnestly now and than,
That he woulde gyue his mynde to studye.
Sayinge that by knowledge, scyence, and learnynge
Is at the last gotten a pleasaunt lyfe:
But throughe the want, and lacke of this thynge
Is purchased pouertie, sorowe, and stryfe.
His Sonne notwithstandynge, this gentle monicion
As one that was cleane deuoyde of grace,
Dyd turne to a mocke, and open derysion
Moste wickedly with an vnshamefast face.
In so muche that contrarye to his fathers wyll
Unto a yonge woman he dyd consente,
Wherby of luste he might haue his fyll,
And maryed the same incontynente.
Not longe after that, the childe began
To feele his wyffes great frowardenes,
And called hymselfe vnhappye man,
Oppressed with paynes and heauynes.
Who before that time, dyd lyue blessedly,
Whilst he was vnder his fathers wynge
But nowe beynge weddyd, mournynge and myserye
Dyd hym torment without endynge,
But nowe it is tyme for me to be goynge,
And hence to departe for a certeyne space,
For I do heare the Ryche man cōmynge
With the wanton boye into this place.
Here the Prologue speaker goeth out, and in cōmeth the Ryche man and his sonne.