University of Virginia Library

Prologue.

Most noble, fair and curteous, to ye all
Welcome and thanks we give, that you would call
And visit your poor servants, that haue been
So long and pitiless unheard, unseen.
Welcome, you'l say your money that does do,
(Dissembling is a fault) we say so too.
And your long absence was no fault of your,
But our sad fate to be so long obscure.
Jove and the Muses grant, and all good Men,
We feel not that extremity again:
The thought of which yet chills us with a fear
That we have bought our liberty too dear:
For should we fall into a new restraint,
Our hearts must break that did before but faint.
You noble, great and good ones, that vouchsafe
To see a Comedy, and sometimes laugh
Or smile at wit and harmeless mirth, As thus
ye have begun to grace and succour us;
Be further pleas'd (to hold us still upright,
For our relief, and for your own delight)
To move for us to those high powers whom we
submit unto in all humility,
For our proceeding, and we'le make it good
To utter nothing may be understood
Offensive to the state, manners or time,
We will its well look to our necks as climb.
You hear our sute, obtain it if you may;
Then find us money and we'le find you play.