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Show 5 \6 --'-' " ! , < -k« .» thr FODS we banifh : For Blafphemy and in their Books. The W « they ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ U bvtty csmmo^ unworn Atheifm, ifthey were neither Sin nor »» M a m i e j J « J>uge y ^ foThredbare, chat People who have_ ^ * » * * £ , Ior fi J ^ a none. It calls the good Name of their Wi: m n J " d ™ J ? ftcad of Wares: We conclude when his Shop is fill d with 1 , y g £ * ^ ^ ' ^ io ufe Blafphemy, is a kind of them Bankrupt to all W of Undu«f^g ^An a$ ^ as Jnd to applying Pigeons to the Soles o the £ « j . "< £^"particular, if any of thefe Judges had be in a defpe, ate Condition. I am fure lor your o n p , £ ^ once the HappUie ^.converfe wnh m * ° ^ * ™ f o ," a pjnjon yonr felf J how unapt esss*2;::^Sfi;.H - many w •*• *•* e ffi d tha^n" other Man is able to excel!, or perhaps to reach by Study, they woud frftead^ of befog your Accuftis, become your Profehtes ; reverence fo much good £ r f a n d fo much good Nature in the lame Perfon: And come, like the Satyr . warm themfelves at That Fire, of which they were ignorant!, afraid, when they ftood at a diftance from it. But, you have too great a Reputation to be wholly free from Cen-fore. 'Tis a Fine which Fortune fets upon all extraordinary Perfons and from which you fhould not wifh to be delivered till you are dead. 1 have been us'd by my Critiques much more feverely, and have more reafon to complain, becaufe 1 am deeper tax d for a lefs Eftate. I am ridiculously enough accus'd to be a Contemner ot Univerlities, that is, mother Words, an Enemy of Learning: Without the Foundation of which, I am fure no M a n can pretend to be a Poet And if this be not enough, I am made a Detractor from my Predecellors, w h o m I confefs to have been my Mailers in the Art. But this latter was the Accufation of the beft Judge, and almoft the beft Poet in the Latin Tongue. You find Horace complaining, that for taxing fome Veiles in Lucilius, he himfelf was blam'dby others, though his Defign was no other than mine now, to improve the Knowledge of Poetry: And it was no defence to him amongft his Enemies, anymore than it is forme, that he prais'd Lneilim where he deferv'd it; Pagind laudatur tadem. 'Tis for this Reafon I will be no more miftaken for m y good Meaning: I know I honour Ben Johnfon more than my little Critiques, becaufe without Vanity I may own, 1 underftand him better. As for the Errors they pretend to find in me, I could eafily fhow A.L- -* »Ua n»o<-i»£»ft riiri- n f f K o m i r* R A I U M P C • Ann Inr tVif* rplr I rrw\\A r p p r i m i n i w n n nk j - - t vr.u^ . aU.....v .~. 5.v»iv. ~ ~ v - ~ ~ m ~ -". • ..».». .iw..ww Concernment enough upon me to write any thing in m y own Defence, neither will I gratifie the Ambition of two wretched Scriblers, who defire nothing more than to be anfwer'd. I have not wanted Friends, even amongft Strangers, who have defended me more ftrongly, than m y contemptible Pedant cou'd attack me. For the other, he is only like Fungofo in the Play, who follows the Fafhion at a diftance, and adores the Fafttdius Brisk of Oxford. You can bear m e Witnefs, that I have not Confideration enough for either of them, to be angry: Let Mavius and Bavius admire each other; I wifh to be hated by them and their Fellows, by the fame Reafon for which 1 defire to be lov'd by you. And I leave it to the World, whether their Judgment of m y Poe-ought to be preferr'd to yours; though they are as much prejudic'dby their Malice, as I ire ycu fhould be led by your Kindnefs, to be partial to, try defi SIR, Tour Moft Humble Jnd Moft Faithful Servant, JOHN D&IDIN, PROLOGUE. 5.17 P R O L O G U E . P R o l o g n e s , like Bells to Churche$,Toulyou in Wit!. Chiming Verfe till the dull Plays begin With this fad difference though of Pit andPue, Tou Damn tbe Poet, but the Prieft Damns you. Bur Prieffs can Treat you at ycUr own Expenct And, Gravely, call you Fools, -without Offence. Poets, poor Devils, have ne'er your Folly flwwn But, to their coft,you prov'd it was their own. For, when a Fop's prefented oH tbe Stage, Straight all the Coxcombs in the Town engage: For bis Deliverance, and Revenge they join: And grunt like Hogs about theit Captive Swine. Tour Poets daily fplit upon this fluff: Tou mufl have Fools, yet none will have himfelf Or, if in kindnefs, you that leave would give, No Man could write you at that rate you live : Far fome of yum grow Fops with fo mmcb hafte, Riot in Nonfence, and commit fuch wafte, 'Twould ruine Poets, fhould they fpend fofaft. He who made this, obferv'd what Farces hit And durft not difobligeyon now with Wit. But, Gentlemen, you over, do the Mode: Tou muft have Fools cut of the common Road: I Th unnatural/train d Buffoon is only taking Mo Fop can pleafe yon now of Gods own makintr Pardon our Poet if he fpeaks his Mind, ' Tou come to Plays uith your own Follies lin'd. Small Foolsfall on you, like fmall ft, ower s, in vain Tour own otPd Coats keep out all common Ram. Tou muft have Mamamouchi, fuch a Fop As would appear a Monfter in a Shop : He'll fill your Pit, and Boxes, to the brim Where ram1 J in Crowds,you fee your (elves inhim. i>urethere s fome Spell our Poet never knew In Hullibabilah de, < W C h u , chu, chu.' But Marabarah fahem moft did touch you That u: Oh how we love the Mamamouchi.' Grimace and Habit fent you pleas'd away ; Tou Damn'd the Poet, and cry'd up the Play. This Thought had made our Author more uneafie. But that he hopes Pm Fool enough to pleafe ye But here's my Grief; tho' Nature join'd with Art, Have cut me out to AU a Fooling Part; Tet, to your Praife, the few Wits'here will fay, Twas imitating you taught Haynes to Play. * E P I L O G U E This they did Hope; the other fide did Fear : And both, you fee, alike are Couzen'd here. Some thought the Title of our Play too blame; They lik'd the Thing,but yet abhorPd the Name: Like modeft Punks, who all you ask afford, But, for the World,they would not name that word. Tet, if you'll credit what I heard him fay, Our Poet meant no Scandal in his Play • Ur that topleaje the Malice of the Town, I His Nuns are good which on the Stage are (hown Our Poet Ihould tn fome clofe C ell have fhown > And, Jure, behind our Scenes you'll Ink for none Some Sifter, playing at Content alone. J \ J SOme have expelled front our Bills to day, To find a Satyr in our Poet's Play. The Zealous Rout from Coleman-ftreet did run, To fee the Story of the Fryer and N u n. Or Tales, yet more ridiculous to hear, Vouch'd by their Vicar of Ten Pounds a Tear; Of Nuns, who did againft Temptation Pray, And Difcipline laid on the Pleafant way: Or that to pleafe the Malice of the Town, Terfons Reprefented. M E K. Duke of Mantoua - Prince Frederick\} his S o n - h Aurelian, a Roman Gentleman- Camillo. his Friend >- Mario, Governor of Rome Afcanio, Page of Honour to the Prince - Benito, Servant to Aurelian Valeria, Confident to the Duke Fabio, Servant to Mario > •• - By Major Mohun. Mr. Kynafion. Mr. Hart. Mr. Burt. Mr. Cartrvrighf. Mrs. Reeve. Mr. Haynes. Saphronia, Abbefs of the Tordi Specchi +~ Mrs. James. Lucretia, a. Lady defign'd to be a N u n - Mrs. Marjball. Hippolito, a N u n - • • Laura 7 and >Sifters, Neeces to IMarie- - Violetta, 3 Mrs. Knep. Mrs. Bowtel and Mrs. Cox- S C E N E ROME, |