For this list see Massinger, vol. ii. p. 230, where references to several of the more celebrated names will be found. [See also, for an account of several of these players, Collier's Memoirs of the Principal Actors in the Plays of Shakespeare, printed for the Shake. Sọc. D.]

PROLOGUE.

To tell ye, gentlemen, in what true sense
The writer, actors, or the audience

Should mould their judgments for a play, might draw
Truth into rules; but we have no such law.
Our writer, for himself, would have ye know
That in his following scenes he doth not owe
To others' fancies, nor hath lain in wait
For any stol'n invention, from whose height
He might commend his own, more than the right
A scholar claims,1 may warrant for delight.
It is art's scorn, that some of late have made
The noble use of poetry a trade.

For your parts, gentlemen, to quit his pains,
Yet you2 will please, that as you meet with strains
Of lighter mixture,3 but to cast your eye

Rather upon the main than on the bye,

His hopes stand firm, and we shall find it true,
The LOVER'S MELANCHOLY Cur'd by you.

1

more than the right

A scholar claims, &c.] Ford appears anxious, in this place, to anticipate the objections that might be raised against his plagiarisms. That he has borrowed largely there can be no doubt; but he has, certainly, nowhere abused the right of a scholar: had he been more familiar with the press, he would, perhaps, have scarcely thought that his freedom with his predecessors required much apology. The confession, however, was not unwise; for Burton (to whom, among others, he alludes) was in every one's hand; and Strada's charming apologue was scarcely less familiar.

2 Yet you] Gifford printed "You yet." D. 3 mixture,] The 4to has "mixtures." D.

THE LOVER'S MELANCHOLY.

ACT I.

SCENE I. A room in the palace.

Enter MENAPHON and PELIAS.

Men. Dangers! how mean you dangers? that so

courtly

You gratulate my safe return from dangers ?

Pel. From travels, noble sir.
Men.

These are delights;

If my experience hath not, truant-like,

Misspent the time, which I have strove to use
For bettering my mind with observation.

Pel. As I am modest, I protest 'tis strange.

But is it possible?

Men.

Pel.

What?

To bestride

The frothy foams of Neptune's surging waves,
When blustering Boreas tosseth up the deep
And thumps a thunder-bounce ?

Sweet sir, 'tis nothing:

Men.
Straight comes a dolphin, playing near your ship,
Heaving his crooked back up, and presents

A feather-bed, to waft ye to the shore
As easily as if you slept i' th' court.

Pel. Indeed! is't true,
Men.

I pray?

I will not stretch

Your faith upon the tenters.-Prithee, Pelias,
Where didst thou learn this language?

Pel.

I this language!

Alas, sir, we that study words and forms
Of compliment must fashion all discourse
According to the nature of the subject.
But I am silent :-now appears a sun,
Whose shadow I adore.

Enter AMETHUS, SOPHRONOS, and Attendants.

Men.

My honour'd father !

Soph. From mine eyes, son, son of my care, my

I dare not be so sudden in the pleasures

Thy presence hath brought home.

Soph.

Here thou still find'st

A friend as noble, Menaphon, as when1

Thou left'st at thy departure.

as when

Thou left'st at thy departure.] I suspect that we should read here "as whom Thou left'st." I have not ventured to change anything; though the expression would be in the author's manner.