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your lordship of my innocence in the matter, which I would not have endeavoured, had it not been just. For I thank my stars I know myself better than (for all the threats some have been pleased to bestow upon me). to tell a lie to save my throat. Forgive me, my lord, this trouble, continue me in your lordship's favour and good opinion, and accept of the prayers and wellwishes of

Your most humble, and

Most obliged Servant,

THO. OTWAY.

PROLOGUE.

How hard a task hath that poor drudge of stage,
That strives to please in this fantastic age.
It is a thing so difficult to hit,

That he's a fool that thinks to do't by wit;
Therefore our author bid me plainly say,
You must not look for any in his play.

I' th' next place, ladies, there's no bawdy in't,
No, not so much as one well-meaning hint;
Nay more, 'twas written every word, he says,
On strictest vigils, and on fasting days,
When he his flesh to penance did enjoin,
Nay, took such care to work it chaste and fine,
He disciplin'd himself at ev'ry line.

Then, gentlemen, no libel he intends,

Tho' some have strove to wrong him with his friends;
And poets have so very few of those,

They'd need take care whose favour 'tis they lose.
Who'd be a poet? Parents all beware,

Cherish and educate your sons with care:

Breed 'em to wholesome law, or give 'em trades;
Let 'em not follow th' Muses, they are jades.
How many very hopeful rising Cits

Have we of late known spoil'd by turning wits!
Poets by critics are worse treated here
Than on the Bankside butchers do a bear.
Faith, sirs, be kind, since now his time is come,
When he must stand or fall as you shall doom:
Give him bear-garden law, that's fair play for't,
And he's content for once, to make you sport.

DRAMATIS PERSONE.

GOODVILE.

TRUMAN.

VALENTINE, in love with Camilla.

Sir NOBLE CLUMSEY, a Country Knight, aiming at politeness, MALAGENE.

FRIENDSHIP IN FASHION.

ACT I.

SCENE I.-The Mall.

TRUMAN, reading a Billet, and Servant.

Tru. In a vizor, say you?

Serv. Yes, sir, and as soon as she had delivered it, without any thing more, gave the word to the coachman, drew up the tin lattice, and away she hurried.

Tru. The meaning of a billet of this nature, without a name, is a riddle to me.

[Reads. "You know me, and see me often; I wish I may never see you more, except you know better where to place your love, or I were abler to govern mine: as you are a gentleman, burn this so soon as it comes "to your hands. Adieu."

Well, this can be no other than some stanch virtue of thirty-five, that is just now fallen under the temptation; or, what is as bad, one of those cautious dealers that never venture but in masquerade, where they are sure to be wondrous kind, though they discover no more to the lover than he has just occasion to make use of.

Enter GOODVILE and VALENTINE.

Val. Truman, good-morrow; just out of your lodging! but that I know thee better, I should swear thou hadst resolved to spend this day in humiliation and repentance for the sins of the last.

Good. I beg your pardon! some lady has taken up

your time. Thou canst no more rise in a morning without a wench, than thou canst go to bed at night without a bottle. Truman, wilt thou never leave whoring?

Tru. Peace, matrimony, peace-speak more reverently of your dearly-beloved whoring. Valentine, he is the mere spirit of hypocrisy-he had hardly been married ten days, but he left his wife to go home from the play alone in her coach, whilst he debauched me with two vizors in an hackney to supper.

Val. Truly, Goodvile, that was very civil, and may come to something- But, gentlemen, it begins to grow late. Where shall we dine?

Tru. Where you will, I am indifferent.

Good. And I.

Val. I had appointed to meet at Chatolin's, but-
Tru. With whom?

Val. Why, your cousin Malagene, Goodvile.

Good. Valentine, thou art too much with that fellow. "Tis true, indeed, he is some relation to me, but 'tis such a lying varlet, there is no enduring of him.

Val. But rogues and fools are so very plenty, 'tis hard always to escape 'em.

Tru. Besides, he dares be no more a friend than a foe: he never spoke well of any man behind his back, nor ill before his face: he is a general disperser of nauseous scandal, though it be of his own mother or sister; pr'ythee let's avoid him, if we can, to-day.

Good. Twill be almost impossible, for he is as impudent as he is troublesome: as there is no company so ill but he'll keep, so there's none so good but he'll pretend to. If he has ever seen you once, he'll be sure of you: and if he knows where you are, he's no more to be kept out of your room, than you can keep him out of your debt.

Val. He came where I was last night, roaring drunk; swore Damn him, he had been with my lord such-a-one, and had swallowed three quarts of champaigne for his share. Said he had much ado to get away, but came then particularly to drink a bottle with me: I was