[273] ΤΟ THE VERTVOVS, AND MY VVORTHY FRIEND, Mr. Richard Martin. IR, A thankefull man owes a courtefie euer: the vnthankefull, but when he needes it. To make mine owne marke appeare, and fhew by which of thefe feales I am known, I fend you this peece of what may liue of mine; for whofe innocence, as for the Authors, you were once a noble and timely vndertaker, to the greatest Iuftice of this kingdome. Enioy now the delight of your goodneffe; which is to fee that profper, you preferu'd: and pofteritie to owe the reading of that, without offence, to your name; which fo much ignorance, and malice of the times, then confpir'd to haue supprest. Your true louer, BEN. IONSON. THE PERSONS THAT ACT Q Dramatis Personæ 1716+ Q bears on this page an address 'Ad Lectorem' (Martial, 7. 12. 9-12.), and omits THE SCENE. ROME. 1640 subjoins the list of come dians as printed on p. (354), folio 1616. W, G, N, interpolate 'Luscus' after 'Tucca'; G, N, add 'Aesop' and 'Equites'. TREBATIVS] om. Q [275] L POËTASTER. After the fecond founding. ENVIE. Arifing in the midst of the ftage. Ight, I falute thee, but with wounded nerues: What's here? TH'ARRAIGNMENT? I: This, this is it, That our funke eyes haue wak't for, all this while: To which (at laft) I am arriu'd as Prologue. After... founding.] om. Q om. Q ENVIE.] LIVOR. Q N (uniformly) 20 compliment W+ than 1640+ 5 ΙΟ 15 20 S. D.] 3 I] ay G, Th'infected bulke of ENVIE can afford: [276] Spie-like fuggestions, priuie whisperings, Drop into earth; let me be euer blind. I am preuented; all my hopes are crost, Checkt, and abated; fie, a freezing sweate 25 30 Flowes forth at all my pores, my entrailes burne: What should I doe? ROME? ROME? O my vext foule How might I force this to the present state? Are there no players here? no poet-apes, 35 That come with bafiliskes eyes, whose forked tongues Are steept in venome, as their hearts in gall? Eyther of these would helpe me; they could wrest, Peruert, and poyfon all they heare, or fee, With fenfeleffe gloffes, and allufions. 40 Now if you be good deuils, flye me not. You know what deare, and ample faculties I haue indow'd you with: Ile lend you more. Here, take my snakes among you, come, and eate, And while the fqueez'd juice flowes in your blacke jawes, 45 Helpe me to damne the Authour. Spit it foorth Vpon his lines, and fhew your rustie teeth At euerie word, or accent: or else choose Out of my longest vipers, to sticke downe In your deep throats; and let the heads come forth 50 Traduce, corrupt, apply, enforme, suggest: O, these are gifts wherein your foules are blest. 55 Nay, then I doe despaire: downe, finke againe. 60 This trauaile is all loft with my dead hopes. If in fuch bofomes, spight haue left to dwell, Enuie is not on earth, nor scarse in hell. ST The third founding. PROLOGVE. Tay, Monster, ere thou finke, thus on thy head An armed Prologue; know, 't is a dangerous age: Can fright their pride, and laugh their folly hence. 54 enforce 1640, 1692, 1716, W 5 ΙΟ 15 61 Descends slowly. G, N PROLOGVE.] PROLOGVS Q As she disappears, enter Prologue hastily, in armour. G Enter PROLOGUE hastily. N |