VOLPONE: OR, THE FOX. A COMEDY, First Acted in the YEAR 1605. By the KING'S MAJESTY'S Servants, WITH THE Allowance of the Master of Revels. The Author BEN. JOHNSON. Simul & jucunda, & idonea dicere vitæ. Horat. LONDON: Printed for D. Midwinter, J. and P. Knapton, H. Kпар- M DCC XXXIX. 4 The ARGUMENT. V olpone, Childless, Rich, feigns Sick, Despairs. PROLOGUE. little Wit NOW, Luck yet fend us, and a Will ferve, to make our Play hit; (According to the Palates of the Season) Here is Rhyme, not empty of Reason. This we were bid to credit, from our Poet, Whose true scope, if you would know it, In all his Poems till hath been this Measure, To mix Profit with your Pleasure; And not as fome (whose Throats ther Envy failing) Cry boarsly, All he writes is Railing : And when his Plays come forth, think they can flout them, With Saying, He was a Year about them. To these there needs no Lie, but this his Creature, Which was two Months fince no Feature; And, though he dares give them five Lives to mend it, 'Tis known, Five Weeks fully penn'd it; From his own Hand, without a Co-adjutor, Novice, Fourney-men, or Tutor. Yet thus much I can give you, as a Token Of his Plays worth, No Eggs are broken, Nor quaking Custards with fierce Teeth affrighted, Wherewith your Rout are so delighted; Nor hales he in a Gull, old Ends reciting, To ftop Gaps in his loose Writing; With such a deal of monstrous and fore'd Action, As might make Beth'lem a Faction : A 3 Nor Nor made be his Play for Jests stol'n from each Table, And so presents quick Comedy Refined, The Laws of Time, Place, Persons be obferveth, Wherewith he'll Rub your Cheeks, till (Red with Laughter) Fine Madam Would-be, the Knight's Wift. Celia, the Merchant's Wife. Commandadori, Officers. Mercatori, three Merchants. Androgyno, a Hermaphrodite. Servitore, a Servant. WOMEN. The SCENE VENICE. The Principal COMEDIANs were, RIC. BURBADGE. HEN. CONDEL. WIL. SLY. JOH. HEMINGS. JOH. LOWIN. ALEX. COOKE. VOLPONE. |