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Show The Epiftle Dedicatory. ontherefultofwhich,thedoingornotdoin But mvLord, though I have more to fay upon this Sub ett, yet 1 mult re m e m K l s your Lord&p to w h o m I fpeak; w h o have much better commended his way by your Writing in it, than Icando by Wntrngtor it Where m y Rea-fons S n o t prevail, S u r e your Lordlhip's Example muft Your Rheonck has gain'd m y caufe; at leaft the greateft part of m y Defign has a readyfucceed-ed to m y wifh, which was to intereft fo noble a Perfon in the Quarrel, and withal to teftftie to the World how happy I efteem m y Self in the honour of being, My Lord, Your Lordfhip's moft Humble, and moft Obedient Servant. John Dry den. P R O L O G U E to the R I V A L - L A D I E S . T I S much Deftr'd, you Judges of the town Would pafs a vote to put all Prologues down ; For who cm fhow me, fmce they firft were Writ, tbeye'er Converted one hard-iearted Wit ; Tet the World's mended wet; in former Days Good Prologues were mfarce, ax nowgoodTteys. For the reforming Poets of our Age, In this firft Charge, fpend their Poetick rage: Expect no more when once the Prologue'* done ; the Wit it aided e'er Play'* begun. Tou now have Habits, Dances, Scenes, and thymes; High Language often ; I, and Senfe, fometimes: As for a clear Contrivance doubt it not; they blow out Candles to give Light to tb' Plot. And for Surprise, two Bloody-minded Men tight till thty Dye, then rife and Dance igen: Such deep Inviguesym'r welcome to this Day : But blame your Selves, not him who Writ the Ptaj ; Though hit Plot's Dull, as can be well deftr'd, Wit ftiff OK any you have e'er admir'd : He's bound to pleafe, not to Write well; and knows There it a mode in Plays as well as Cloaths: Therefore kind Judges' A Second P R O L O G U E Enters. 2 - - - - JJjOld; Wouldyou admit L " j . For Judges all yon fee within the Pit. i. whom would he then Except, or on what Score ? 2. All, who (like him) have Writ ill Plays before ; For they, like Thieves condemn'd,are Hang-men made, To execute the Members of their Trade. M that are Writing now he would difown : hen he muft Except, ev'n all the Town. ASChol'rick, lofmgGamefters, who infpight Will damn to Day, becaufe they loft laft Night: All Servants whom their Miftrefs's fcorn upbraids; All Maudlin Lovers, and all Slighted Maids: All who are out of humour, or Severe ; All, that want Wit, or hope to find it here. Perfonae Dramatis. D O N Gonfaho dePeralta A young Gentleman, o T n { ith ^ newly arnv d from the Indies. j J Don Rhodorigo de Sylva ; In love with the fameLady. Don Manuel de Torres. Brother to Julia. Julia, Elder Sifter to DonManuel; Promis'd to Rhodorigo. Honoria,y onngzv Sifter to Don Manuel difguisM in the? fc { M ^Ivo. Habit ot a Man,and going by theName oxHippolito.S J OLikewife in Love with Angellina, Sifter to D o n Rhodorigo, in Man's Habit. > Gonfalva, and going by J the N a m e of Amideo. Servants. 7 J Sea-men. Robbers. £ ^Mafquers. The Scene, Alicant. T HE RIVAL-LADIES. N ACT I. SCENE I. The S C E N E, A Wood. Enter Gonfalvo, Servant. Gonf. °y^ ~T A Y, 'twas a ftrange as well as cruel ftorm, T o take us almoft in the Port ofSevil, And drive us up as far as Barcelona; The whole Plate-Fleet was fcatter'd, fome part wrack'd; There one might fee the Sailors diligent T o caft o'er board the Matters envy'd Wealth, While he, all Pale, and Dying, ftood in doubt Whether to eafe the burthen of the Ship By drowning of his Ingots, or himfelf. Serv. Fortune is a W o m a n every where, But moft upon the Sea. Gonf. Had that been all I fhould not have complainM ; but e'er w e could Repair our fliip, to drive us back again W a s fuch a Cruelty Serv. Yet that fhort time you ftaid at BarceUona You Husbanded fo well, I think you left A Miftrefs there. Gonf. I made fome fmall Effays Of Love, what might have been I cannot tell: But to leave that, upon what part of Spain Are w e n o w caft ? Serv. Sir, I take that City to be Alicant. Gonf. Some days muft of neceflity be fpent In looking to our Ship; then back again For Sevil. Serv. There you'r fure you fhall be welcome. Gonf. I, if m y Brother Rodorick be return'd From Flanders ; but'tis now three Years fince I Have heard from him, and fince I faw him twelve. Serv. Your growth, and your long abfence in the Indies Have alter'd you fo much, he'll fearcelv know you. Gonf. I'm fure I fhould not him, and lefs m y Sifter; W h o , when I with m y Uncle went this Voyage, W a s then one of thofe little prating Girls Of w h o m fond Parents tell fuch tedious Stories Well, go you back. Serv. I go, Sir. Gonf. And take care Noneof the Sea-men flip afhore. Sarv. I fhall, Sir; . £Extt Servant Gonf. I'M walk a little while among thefe Trees, N o w the frefh ev'ning Air blows from the Hills, And breaths the fweetnefs of the Orange Flowers Upon me, from the Gardens near the City. IRoWers mthtn. l.Rob. I fay, make fure, and kill him; ^ Hip. For Heaven's dear fake have pity on m y Youth. {Wtthtn. |