 | The Chronicle Historie of Perkin Warbeck |  |
PROLOGVE.
Studyes haue, of this Nature, been of lateSo out of fashion, so vnfollow'd; that
It is become more Iustice, to reviue
The antick follyes of the Times, then striue
To countenance wise Industrie: no want
Of Art, doth render witt, or lame, or scant,
Or slothfull, in the purchase of fresh bayes;
But want of Truth in Them, who giue the prayse
To their selfe-loue, presuming to out-doe
The Writer, or (for need) the Actor's too.
But such This Avthovr's silence best befitt's,
Who bidd's Them, be in loue, with their owne witt's:
From Him, to cleerer Iudgement's, wee can say,
Hee shew's a Historie, couch't in a Play:
A Historie of noble mention, knowne,
Famous, and true: most noble, 'cause our owne:
Not forg'd from Italie, from Fraunce, from Spaine,
But Chronicled at Home; as rich in strayne
Of braue Attempts, as ever, fertile Rage
In Action, could beget to grace the Stage
Wee cannot limitt Scenes, for the whole Land
It selfe, appeard too narrow to with-stand
Competitors for Kingdomes: nor is heere
Vnnecessary mirth forc't, to indeere
A multitude; on these two, rest's the Fate
Of worthy expectation; Ttvth and State.
| The Chronicle Historie of Perkin Warbeck | |