OR

His Arraignement.

A Comicall Satyre.

Acted, in the yeere 1601. By the then
Children of Queene ELIZABETHS

CHAPPEL.

The Author B. I.

Mart.

Et mihi de nullo fama rubore placet.

LONDON,

Printed by VVILLIAM STANSBY,

for Matthew Lownes.

·M. DC. XVI.

[273]

TO

THE VERTVOVS,
AND MY VVORTHY

FRIEND

Mr. Richard Martin.

S"

IR, A thankefull man owes a courtefie euer: the

vnthankefull, but when he needes it. To make

mine owne marke appeare, and jew by which of these feales I am known, I send you this peece of what may liue of mine; for whose innocence, as for the Authors, you were once a noble and timely undertaker, to the greatest Iustice of this kingdome. Enioy now the delight of your goodnesse; which is to see that profper, you preferu'd: and posteritie to owe the reading of that, without offence, to your name; which so 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 comedians as printed on p. (354), folio 1616. W, G, N, interpolate Luscus' after 'Tucca'; G, N, add 'Aesop' and 'Equites'. TREBATIVS) om. Q

[275]

POËTASTER.

After the second

founding.

ENVIE.

L

ΙΟ

Arising in the midst of the stage.
Ight, I salute thee, but with wounded nerues :
Wishing thy golden splendor, pitchy dark-

nesse.

What's here? TH’ARRAIGNMENT? I: This,
this is it,
That our sunke eyes haue wak't for, all this while:
Here will be subiect for my snakes, and me.

5
Cling to my necke, and wrists, my louing wormes,
And cast you round, in soft, and amorous foulds,
Till I doe bid, vncurle: Then, breake your knots,
Shoot out your selues at length, as your forc't stings
Would hide themselues within his malic't fides,
To whom I shall apply you. Stay! the shine
Of this assembly here offends my sight,
I'le darken that first, and out-face their grace.
Wonder not, if I stare: these fifteene weekes
(So long as since the plot was but an embrion)

15 Haue I, with burning lights, mixt vigilant thoughts, In expectation of this hated play: To which (at last) I am arriu'd as Prologue. Nor would I, you should looke for other lookes, Gesture, or complement from me, then what