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THE

Dramatic Works

OF

BEN JONSON,

AND

BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER:

THE FIRST

Printed from the Text,

AND

WITH THE NOTES OF PETER WHALLEY;

THE LATTER,

From the Text, and with the Notes

OF

THE LATE GEORGE COLMAN, Esq.

EMBELLISHED WITH PORTRAITS.

IN FOUR VOLUMES.

VOL. IV.

London:

PRINTED FOR JOHN STOCKDALE, PICCADILLY,

1811.

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OR,

THE MARTIAL MAID.

A COMEDY.

This Play is by Gardiner, in his Commendatory Verses, ascribed to Fletcher singly; but the Prologue speaks of it as the production of both authors, although again the Epilogue takes notice of but one. There never were any alterations made in this Comedy, nor has it been acted for many years past.

PROLOGUE, AT THE REVIVING OF THIS PLAY.

STATUES and pictures challenge price and
fame,

If they can justly boast and prove they came
From Phidias or Appelles. None deny,
Poets and painters hold a sympathy; [grace,
Yet their works may decay, and lose their
Receiving blemish in their limbs or face;
When the mind's art has this preheminence,
She still retaineth her first excellence.
Then why should not this dear piece be
esteem'd

Child to the richest fancies that e'er teem'd?
When not their meanest offspring, that came
forth,

But bore the image of their fathers' worth.

Beaumont's, and Fletcher's, whose desert out-weighs

The best applause, and their least sprig of
bays

Is worthy Phoebus; and who comes to gather
Their fruits of wit, he shall not rob the trea-

sure.

Nor can you ever surfeit of the plenty,
Nor can you call them rare, though they be
dainty:

The more you take, the more you do them
right;

And we will thank you for your own delight,

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