University of Virginia Library

The Epilogue.

[A little boy.]

Vlisses Dwarffe, and the prolocutor for the Græcians,
gaue me leaue that am a Pigmee, to doe an Embassage
to you from the Cranes: Gentlemen (for Kings are no
better) certaine humble Animals, called our Actors,
commend them vnto you; who, what offence they haue committed,
I know not (except it be in purloyning some houres out
of times treasury, that might haue beene better imployde; but
by me (the agent for their imperfections) they humbly craue
pardon, if happily some of their termes haue trodde awrye, or
their tongues stumbled vnwittingly on any mans content. In
much Corne is some Cockle; in a heape of coyne heere and
there a peece of Copper; wit hath his dregs as well as wine;
words their waste, Inke his blots, euery speech his Parenthesis,
Poetical fury, as well Crabbes as Sweetings for his Summer
fruites. Nemo sapit omnibus horis. Their folly is deceased, their
feare is yet liuing. Nothing can kill an Asse but colde: colde
entertainement, discouraging scoffes, authorized disgraces,
may kill a whole litter of young Asses of them heere at once,
that haue traueld thus farre in impudence, onely in hope to sit
a sunning in your smiles. The Romanes dedicated a Temple
to the feuer quartane, thinking it some great God, because
it shooke them so: and another, to Ill fortune in Exquilliis
a Mountaine in Roome, that it should not plague them at
Cardes and Dice. Your Graces frownes are to them shaking
feuers, your least disfauours, the greatest ill fortune that may
betide them. They can builde no Temples, but themselues
and their best indeuours, with all prostrate reuerence, they
here dedicate and offer vp, wholy to your seruice. Sis bonus, O
fælixque tuis. To make the gods merry, the cœlestiall clowne
Vulcan tun'de his polt foote, to the measures of Apolloes
Lute, and daunst a limping Gallyard in Ioues starrie hall.

To make you merry that are the Gods of Art, and guides vnto
heauen, a number of rude Vulcans, vnweldy speakers, hammer-headed
clownes (for so it pleaseth them in modestie to
name themselues) haue set their deformities to view, as it were
in a daunce here before you. Beare with their wants, lull melancholie
asleepe with their absurdities, and expect hereafter
better fruites of their industrie. Little creatures often terrifie
great beasts: the Elephant flyeth from a Ramme, the Lyon
from a Cock and from fire; the Crocodile from all Sea-fish,
the Whale from the noyse of parched bones; light toyes chase
great cares. The great foole Toy hath marde the play: Good
night, Gentlemen; I go, let him be carryed away.

Wil Summer.

Is't true Iackanapes, doo you serue me so? As
sure as this coate is too short for me, all the Points of your hoase
for this are condemnde to my pocket, if you and I e're play at
spanne Counter more. Valete, spectatores, pay for this sport
with a Plaudite, and the next time the winde blowes from this
corner, we will make you ten times as merry.