University of Virginia Library

THE INDVCTION; OR, CHORUS.

Two Gentlemen entring upon the Stage.
Mr. Probee and Mr. Damplay.
A Boy of the house, meets them.
Boy.

What doe you lack, Gentlemen? what is't you lack? any
fine Phansies, Figures, Humors, Characters, Idæas, Definitions of
Lords, and Ladies? Waiting-women, Parasites, Knights, Captaines,
Courtiers, Lawyers? what doe you lack?

Pro.
A pretty prompt Boy for the Poëtique Shop.

Dam.
And a bold! where's one o' your Masters,
Sirrah, the Poet?

Boy.

Which of 'hem? Sir wee have divers that drive that trade, now:
Poëts, Poet'accios, Poetasters, Poetito's—

Dam.

And all Haberdashers of small wit, I presume: wee would
speake with the Poët o' the day, Boy.

Boy.

Sir, hee is not here. But, I have the dominion of the Shop, for
this time, under him, and can shew you all the variety the Stage will
afford for the present.

Pro.

Therein you will expresse your owne good parts, Boy.

Dam.

And tye us two, to you, for the gentle office.

Pro.

Wee are a paire of publique persons (this Gentleman, and my
selfe) that are sent, thus coupled unto you upon state-busines.

Boy.

It concernes but the state of the Stage I hope!

Dam.

O, you shall know that by degrees, Boy. No man leaps into a
busines of state, without fourding first the state of the busines.

Pro.

Wee are sent unto you, indeed from the people.

Boy.

The people! which side of the people?

Dam.

The Venison side, if you know it, Boy.

Boy.

That's the left side. I had rather they had beene the right.

Pro.

So they are. Not the Paces, or grounds of your people, that sit

in the oblique caves and wedges of your house, your sinfull sixe-penny
Mechanicks—

Dam.

But the better, and braver sort of your people! Plush and Velvet-outsides!
that stick your house round like so many eminences—

Boy.

Of clothes, not understandings? They are at pawne. Well, I
take these as a part of your people though; what bring you to me from
these people?

Dam.

You have heard, Boy, the ancient Poëts had it in their purpose,
still to please this people.

Pro.

I, their chiefe aime was—

Dam.

Populo ut placerent: (if hee understands so much.)

Boy.

Quas fecissent fabulas.) I understand that, sin' I learn'd Terence, i'the
third forme at Westminster: go on Sir.

Pro.

Now, these people have imployed us to you, in all their names,
to intreat an excellent Play from you.

Dam.

For they have had very meane ones, from this shop of late, the
Stage as you call it.

Boy.

Troth, Gentlemen, I have no wares, which I dare thrust upon
the people with praise. But this, such as it is, I will venter with your
people, your gay gallant people: so as you, againe, will undertake for
them, that they shall know a good Play when they heare it; and will
have the conscience, and ingenuity beside, to confesse it.

Prob.

Wee'll passe our words for that: you shall have a brace of us
to ingage ourselves.

Boy.

You'l tender your names, Gentlemen, to our booke then?

Dam.

Yes, here's Mr. Probee; A man of most powerfull speech, and
parts to perswade.

Pro.

And Mr. Damplay, will make good all hee undertakes.

Boy.

Good Mr. Probee, and Mr. Damplay! I like your securities:
whence doe you write yourselves?

Pro.

Of London, Gentlemen: but Knights brothers, and Knights
friends, I assure you.

Dam.

And Knights fellow's too. Every Poët writes Squire now.

Boy.

You are good names! very good men, both of you! I accept
you.

Dam.

And what is the Title of your Play, here? The Magnetick Lady?

Boy.

Yes, Sir, an attractive title the Author has given it.

Pro.

A Magnete, I warrant you.

Dam.

O, no, from Magnus, Magna, Magnum.

Boy.

This Gentleman, hath found the true magnitude—

Dam.

Of his portall, or entry to the worke, according to Vitruvius.

Boy.

Sir all our worke is done without a Portall—or Vitruvius. In
Foro, as a true Comœdy should bee. And what is conceald within, is
brought out, and made present by report.

Dam.

Wee see not that alwayes observ'd, by your Authors of these
times: or scarce any other.

Boy.

Where it is not at all knowne, how should it be observ'd? The
most of those your people call Authors, never dreamt of any Decorum,
or what was proper in the Scene; but grope at it, i'the darke, and feele, or
fumble for it; I speake it, both with their leave, and the leave o' your
people.

Dam.

But, why Humors reconcil'd? I would faine know?

Boy.

I can satisfie you there, too: if you will. But, perhaps you desire
not to be satisfied.

Dam.

No? why should you conceive so, Boy?

Boy.

My conceit is not ripe, yet: Ile tell you that anon. The Author,
beginning his studies of this kind, with every man in his Humour; and
after, every man out of his Humour; and since, continuing in all his Playes,
especially those of the Comick thred, whereof the New-Inne was the
last, some recent humours still, or manners of men, that went along
with the times, finding himselfe now neare the close, or shutting up of
his Circle, hath phant'sied to himselfe, in Idæa, this Magnetick Mistris. A
Lady a brave bountifull House-keeper, and a vertuous Widow: who having
a young Neice, ripe for a man and marriageable, hee makes that his
Center attractive, to draw thither a diversity of Guests, all persons of
different humours to make up his Perimiter. And this hee hath call'd
Humors reconcil'd.

Pro.

A bold undertaking! and farre greater, then the reconciliation
of both Churches, the quarrell betweene humours having beene much
the ancienter, and, in my poore opinion, the root of all Schisme, and Faction,
both in Church and Common-wealth.

Boy.

Such is the opinion of many wise men, that meet at this shop still;
but how hee will speed in it, wee cannot tell, and hee himselfe (it seems)
lesse cares. For hee will not be intreated by us, to give it a Prologue. He
has lost too much that way already, hee sayes. Hee will not woo the
gentile ignorance so much. But carelesse of all vulgar censure, as not depending
on common approbation, hee is confident it shall super-please
judicious Spectators, and to them he leaves it to worke, with the rest by
example, or otherwise.

Dam.

Hee may be deceived in that, Boy: Few follow examples now,
especially, if they be good.

Boy.

The Play is ready to begin, Gentlemen, I tell you, lest you might
defraud the expectation of the people, for whom you are Delegates!
Please you take a couple of Seates, and plant your selves, here, as neere
my standing as you can: Fly every thing! (you see) to the marke, and
censure it; freely. So, you interrupt not the Series, or thred of the Argument,
to breake or pucker it, with unnecessary questions. For, I
must tell you, (not out of mine owne Dictamen, but the Authors,) A good
Play, is like a skeene of silke: which, if you take by the right end, you
may wind off, at pleasure, on the bottome, or card of your discourse,
in a tale, or so; how you will: But if you light on the wrong end,
you will pull all into a knot, or elfe-lock; which nothing but the sheers,
or a candle will undoe, or separate.

Dam.

Stay! who be these, I pray you?

Boy.

Because it is your first question, and (these be the prime persons)
it would in civility require an answer: but I have heard the Poët affirme,
that to be the most unlucky Scene in a Play, which needs an Interpreter;
especially, when the Auditory are awake: and such are you, hee presumes.
Ergo.