PROLOGUE.

SLIGHT hasty labours in this easy play
Present not what you would, but what we may :
For this vouchsafe to know,—the only end
Of our now study is, not to offend.

Yet think not but, like others, rail we could
(Best art presents not what it can but should);
And if our pen in this seem over-slight,
We strive not to instruct, but to delight.
As for some few, we know of purpose here
To tax and scout, know firm art cannot fear
Vain rage; only the highest grace we pray
Is, you'll not tax until you judge our play.
Think, and then speak: 'tis rashness, and not wit,
To speak what is in passion, and not judgment fit:
Sit then with fair expectance, and survey
Nothing but passionate man in his slight play,
Who hath this only ill, to some deem'd worst-
A modest diffidence, and self-mistrust.

Fabula Argumentum.

ΙΟ

THE difference betwixt the love of a courtezan and a wife is the full scope of the play, which, intermixed with. the deceits of a witty city jester, fills up the comedy.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.

Sir LIONEL FREEVILL,

}

two old knights.

Sir HUBERT SUBBOYS,

Young FREEVILL, Sir LIONEL's son.

MALHEUREUX, Young FREEVILL's unhappy friend. TYSEFEW, a blunt gallant.

CAQUETEUR, a prattling gull.

COCLEDEMOY, a knavishly witty City Companion.

Master MULLIGRUB, a vintner.

Master BURNISH, a goldsmith.

LIONEL, his man.

HOLIFERNES REINSCURE, a barber's boy.

BEATRICE, Sir HUBERT's daughters.

CRISPINELLA,

PUTIFER, their nurse.

Mistress MULLIGRUB.

FRANCESCHINA, a Dutch Courtezan.

MARY FAUGH, an old woman.

Three Watchmen; Pages; Officers.

SCENE-LONDON.

THE DUTCH COURTEZAN.'

ACT I.

SCENE I.

A Street.

Enter three Pages, with lights. MULLIGRUB, FREEVILL, MALHEUREUX, TYSEFEW, and Caqueteur.

Free. Nay, comfort, my good host Shark; my good Mulligrub.

Mal. Advance thy snout; do not suffer thy sorrowful nose to drop on thy Spanish 2 leather jerkin, most hardly-honest Mulligrub.

Free. What, cogging Cocledemoy is run away with a neast of goblets? True, what then? they will be 3 hammered out well enough, I warrant you.

1 In the old eds., opposite the title, is written, "Turpe est difficiles habere nugas." The quotation is from Martial, ii. 86.

2 Spanish leather was held in great esteem.-See Middleton, viii. 70. 3 The word "nest was frequently written "neast." (Cotgrave has -"Nicher. To neastle, build or make a neast in;' "Nid: neast.") A "nest of goblets" was a large goblet containing several others of gradually diminishing size.

Mul. Sure, some wise man would find them out presently.

ΙΟ

Free. Yes, sure, if we could find out some wise man presently.

Mal. How was the plate lost? how did it vanish?

Free. In most sincere prose, thus: that man of much money, some wit, but less honesty, cogging Cocledemoy, comes this night late into mine hostess Mulligrub's tavern here; calls for a room; the house being full, Cocledemoy consorted with his movable chattel, his instrument of fornication, the bawd Mrs. Mary Faugh, are imparlour'd next the street; good poultry was their food, blackbird, lark, woodcock; and mine host here comes in, cries "God bless you!" and departs. A blind harper enters, craves audience, uncaseth, plays; the drawer, for female privateness' sake, is nodded out, who knowing that whosoever will hit the mark of profit must, like those that shoot in stone-bows, wink with one eye, grows blind o' the right side, and departs.

1

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Caq. He shall answer for that winking with one eye at the last day.

Mal. Let him have day 2 till then, and he will wink with both his eyes.

Free. Cocledemoy, perceiving none in the room but the blind harper (whose eyes Heaven had shut up from beholding wickedness), unclasps a casement to the

1 A cross-bow for shooting stones or bullets. ("Arbaleste à boulet." A stone-bow."-Cotgrave.)

* A debtor was said to have day (or longer day) when his creditors allowed him to defer payment.

street very patiently, pockets up three bowls unnaturally, thrusts his wench forth the window, and himself most preposterously, with his heels forward, follows: the unseeing harper plays on, bids the empty dishes and the treacherous candles much good do them. The drawer returns, but, out alas! not only the birds, but also the neast of goblets, were flown away. Laments are raised

Tys. Which did not pierce the heavens.

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Free. The drawers moan, mine host doth cry, the bowls are gone.

Mul. Hic finis Priami!

Mal. Nay, be not jaw-fall'n, my most sharking Mulligrub.

Free. 'Tis your just affliction; remember the sins of the cellar, and repent, repent!

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Mul. I am not jaw-fall'n, but I will hang the coneycatching Cocledemoy; and there's an end of't. [Exit. Caq. Is it a right stone? it shows well by candle-light. Free. So do many things that are counterfeit, but I assure you this is a right diamond.

Caq. Might I borrow it of you? it will not a little grace my finger in visitation of my mistress.

Free. Why, use it, most sweet Caqueteur, use it. Caq. Thanks, good sir; 'tis grown high night: gentles, rest to you.

[Exit.

Tys. A torch! Sound wench, soft sleep, and sanguine

dreams to you both. On, boy!

Free. Let me bid you good rest.

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Mal. Not so, trust me, I must bring my friend home: