University of Virginia Library

Chorus.

Dam.

Troth, I am one of those that labour with the same longing,
for it is almost pucker'd, and pull'd into that knot, by your Poët, which
I cannot easily, with all the strength of my imagination, untie.

Boy.

Like enough, nor is it in your office to be troubled or perplexed
with it, but to sit still, and expect. The more your imagination busies it
selfe, the more it is intangled, especially if (as I told, in the beginning)
you happen on the wrong end.

Pro.

He hath said sufficient, Brother Damplay; our parts that are the
Spectators, or should heare a Comedy, are to await the processe, and events
of things, as the Poet presents them, not as wee would corruptly fashion
them. Wee come here to behold Playes, and censure them, as they are
made, and fitted for us; not to beslave our owne thoughts, with censorious
spitle tempering the Poets clay, as wee were to mould every Scene
anew: That were a meere Plastick, or Potters ambition, most unbecomming
the name of a Gentleman. No, let us marke, and not lose the
busines on foot, by talking. Follow the right thred, or find it.

Dam.

Why, here his Play might have ended, if hee would ha' let it;
and have spar'd us the vexation of a fift Act yet to come, which every
one here knowes the issue of already, or may in part conjecture.

Boy.

That conjecture is a kind of Figure-flinging, or throwing the
Dice, for a meaning was never in the Poets purpose perhaps. Stay, and see
his last Act, his Catastrophe, how hee will perplexe that, or spring some
fresh cheat, to entertaine the Spectators, with a convenient delight, till
some unexpected, and new encounter breake out to rectifie all, and make
good the Conclusion.

Pro.

Which, ending here, would have showne dull, flat, and unpointed;
without any shape, or sharpenesse, Brother Damplay.

Dam.

Well, let us expect then: And wit be with us, o' the Poets part.