University of Virginia Library

A little before the Prologue comes forth, enters one of the Actors and sits downe on the Stage as a stranger, awhile after enters the Prologue and stumbles at his legs.
Gent.

How now Prologue is your mind so much on your part,
that you must run over men as you goe?

Prol.

The fault was yours sir, that would so carelesly sit in
his way, that was to doe his part by you; tho we hope to run
over some before we have ended; and yet without any Cynicall
observation, especially of the wife.

Gent.

Why for Iuvenal's sake? what has thy new tunn'd
Poetry vented? will you raile? will you be satiricall, and bite?
and rub the City with salt?

Prol.

Faith sir you must know, that the giddy loosenes of
vicious humors, does so rankle in most parts of our time's imposthum'd
gallantry, that tis a hard thing Satyram non scribere:
and therefore we are desirous to launce it a little, and give
the sore an issue, that vanity seeing the foulenesse of the matter
which made it swell to such a seeming greatnesse, may
loathe it selfe, and seeke a cure for the disease.

Gent.

Doe yoe heare Prologue! your Author is a foole: is
he desirous to buy Fame at such a rate, that he wil smart for't?
will not examples move him? can he not live private, but he
must be medling with Tigillinus? Did he never heare of the
Proverb, that it's better railing at Hercules then at a Clowne
to his face? I prethee tell him of it, and let him know, tis better
live still private and unknowne, then have our smarts to
ev'ry eare be blowne.

Prol.

Troth it is true sir, Ile put him in mind of it.

Gent.

I prithee doe, and tell him withall, that so choise an
Audience desires not to glut their eares with others infamie,
nor ever wish'd their mirth should feed upon the ranke
distemperature of other mens vices; but come to behold a
Scene merry and harmelesse, as free from sower invectives,
as fulsome bawdery: as for those whose dull palats can relish

nothing, unlesse it be sawced with the verjuice of a tarte pan,
be hostile enemies to their pishes and meawings, and scorne
to beg or buy a reconciling; their defects make them desperate,
and their envy cannot blast an unbeholding wit: to the
candor of the rest, any mirth will be more pleasing than railing:
some harmelesse and innocent humour, that may passe
with allowance of the times, will be welcomer to them, and
safer to you.

Prol.

Sir in our Authors name I thanke you: and would
you but please to speake with him your selfe—

Gent.

I will presently, and disswade his intention, and yet
I doubt not but to give sufficient contentation to his Auditors,
whose patience I feare I have wrong'd by interrupting their
Prologue.

exit.
Prol.

I should have opened the Argument of our Play,
but stumbling on this stranger, makes me doubtfull what wee
shall have—howsoever—