BENIAMINI JONSONIO РОЕТЕ ELEGANTISSIMO GRAVISSIMO AMICO. SVO CANDIDO ET CORDATO 1OHANNES MARSTON MVSARVM ALVMNVS ASPERAM HANC SUAM THALIAM, D. D. TO THE READER. I AM and ill orator; and, in truth, use to indite more honestly than eloquently, for it is my custom to speak as I think, and write as I speak. In plainness, therefore, understand, that in some things I have willingly erred, as in supposing a duke of Genoa, and in taking names different from that city's families for which some may wittily accuse me; but my defence shall be as honest, as many reproofs unto me have been most malicious. Since (I heartily protest) it was my care to write so far from reasonable offence, that even strangers, in whose state I laid my scene, should not from thence draw any disgrace to any, dead or living. Yet in despite of my endeavours, I understand, some have been most unadvisedly overcunning in misinterpreting ine, and with subtilty (as deep as hell) have maliciously spread ill rumours, which springing from themselves, might to themselves have heavily returned. Surley I desire to satisfy every firm spirit, who, in all his actions, proposeth to himself no more ends than God and virtue do, whose intentions are always simple: to such I protest that with my free understanding, I have not glanced at disgrace of any, but of those, whose unquiet studies labour innovation, contempt of his holy policy, reverend comely superiority, and established unity for the rest of my suppossed tartness, I fear not, but unto every worthy mind it will be approved so general and honest, as may modestly pass with the freedom of a Satire. I would fain leave the paper; only one thing afflicts me, to think that Scenes, invented merely to be spoken, should be inforcively published to be read, and that the least hurt I can receive is to do myself the wrong. But, since others otherwise would do me more, the least inconvenience is to be accepted. I have myself, therefore, set forth this Comedy; but so, that my inforced absence must much rely upon the Printer's discretion; but I shall intreat slight errors in orthography may be as slightly over-passed; and that the unhandsome shape which this trifle in reading presents, may be pardoned, for the pleasure it once afforded you, when it was presented with the soul of lively action. Sine aliqua dementia nullus Phæbus. J. M. DRAMATIS PERSONA. GIOVANNI ALTO FRONTO, disguised as MALEVOLE, ometime duke of Genoa. PIETRO JACOMO, duke of Genoa. MENDOZA, A minion to the dutchess of Pietro Jacomo. CELSO, a friend to Altofronto. BILIOSO, an old choloric marshal. PREPASSO, a gentleman-usher. FERNEZE, a young courtier, and inamoured of the dutchess. FERRARDO, a minion to duke Pietro Jacomo. AURELIA, dutchess to duke Pietro Jacomo. EMILIA, BIANCA, } two ladies attending the dutchess. MAQUERELLE, an old panderess. THE INDUCTION ΤΟ THE MALCONTENT; AND The Additions acted by the King's Majesty's Servants. 4 Enter W.SLY; a TIRE-MAN following him with a stool. Tire-man. SIR, the gentlemen will be angry if you sit here. Sly. Why, we may sit upon the stage at the private house. Thou do'st not take me for a country gentleman, do'st? do'st thou fear hissing? I'll hold my life thou took'st me for one of the players. Tire-man. No, sir. Sly. By god's-slid, if you had I would have given you but six-pence for your stool. Let them that have stale suits sit in the galleries. Hiss at me! He that William Sly] Was one of the original actors in Shakspeare's plays. His name is among those enumerated in the Folio Edition of his Works, 1623. See Malone's Shakespeare by Boswell, III. 206 and 476, for such particulars as are known regarding W. Sly. C. 5 but six-pence] From chap. VI. in Dekkar's Guls Horn-book, reprinted in the last Edition of Shakspeare, vol. I. p. 80. it appears, that it was the fashion for the gallants of the times to sit on the stage on stools. We learn from a passage in The Roaring Girl, vol. VI. that a shilling was the sum paid for them. will be laughed out of a tavern, or an ordinary, shall seldom feed well, or be drunk in good company. Where's Harry Condell, 7 Dick Burbage, and William Sly? Let me speak with some of them. 6 Tire-mun. An't please you to go in, sir, you may. Sly. I tell you no; I am one that hath seen this play often, and can give them intelligence for their action. I have most of the jests here in my table-book. Enter SINKLOW. Sinklow. Save you, cuz. Sly. O! cousin, come, you shall sit between my legs here. Sinkiow. No indeed, cousin; the audience then will take me for a viol de gambo, and think that you play upon me. Sly. Nay, rather that I work upon you, cuz. Sinklow. We staid for you at supper last night at my cousin Honey-moon's, the woollen-draper. After supper we drew cuts for a score of apricots; the longest cut still to draw an apricot: by this light, 'twas Mrs. Frank Honey-moon's fortune still to have the longest cut. I did measure for the women. What be these, cuz? Enter D. BURBAGE, H. CONDELL, and 10 J. LoWIN.* Sly. The players. God save you. Harry Condell] One of the publishers of Shakspeare's Plays in Folio, 1623. 7 Dick Burbage] See Dialogue on Plays and Players, vol. XII. 8 Sinklow] This was a player in Shakspeare's time. His name is twice printed in that Author's Works, instead of the characters he performed. See Induction to The Taming of the Shrew; and the conclusion of The Second Part of King Henry IV. 9a viol de gambo] From the name of this instrument, which is derived from the Italian, and the manner in which it appears to have been played on, I apprehend it to be the same which is now called a base viol. 19 John Lowin] Another of the original actors in Shakspeare's Plays. See Dialogue on Plays and Players, vol. XII. *As the orthography of some of these names, especially that of Burbage, has been disputed, it may be well to mention that they are thus spelt in the old copies-Burbidge, Cundale, and Lewin. Some account of them will be found in vol. III. of Malone's |