University of Virginia Library

PROLOGUE.

Spoken by The ASS-DEALER.
Spectators, if you please, mind what is doing,
I hope we all shall be the better for it;
Yourselves and I, and this our company,
Our masters, and our managers—Now crier
Make proclamation, that all people here
Give their attention—So—come, now sit down,
Take care however, that you're paid for silence.
What's my intention, and what brought me here,
I'll now explain; that you may know the name
Of this our Comedy—For the fable of it,
'Tis short and plain enough—As to its name
I'll now inform you, that in Greek 'tis called
Onagos: That 'twas written by Demophilus—
Plautus translates it into Latin; and,
By your good leave, would call it Asinaria.
There's in this piece both pleasantry and wit.
'Twill make you laugh—With favour hear it then,
And may god Mars, as he has done before,
Go on to take you into his protection.