eer belief is excellent, 'twill save
you; and next love Valour, though you dare not fight your self, or fright
a foolish Officer, young _Eustace_ can do it to a hair. And, to conclude,
let _Andrew_'s farm b' encreas'd, that is your penance, you know for what,
and see you rut no more; you understand me. So embrace on all sides.

_I'le pay those Bilmen, and make large amends,
Provided we preserve you still our Friends_-- [Exeunt.

* * * * *

Prologue.

_But that it would take from our modesty
To praise the Writer, or the Comedy,
Till your fair suffrage crown it, I should say,
Y'are all most welcome to no vulgar Play;
And so far w'are confident: And if he
That made it, still lives in your memorie,
You will expect what we present to night,
Should be judged worthy of your ears and sight.
You shall hear_ Fletcher _in it, his true strain,
And neat expressions; living he did gain
Your good opinions; but now dead commends
This Orphan to the care of Noble Friends;
And may it raise in you content and mirth,
And be received for a legitimate birth.
Your grace erects new Trophies to his fame,
And shall, to after-times, preserve his name._

Epilogue.

_'Tis not the hands, or smiles, or common way
Of approbation to a well lik'd Play,
We only hope; but that you freely would
To th' Author's memory so far unfold,
And shew your loves and liking to his Wit,
Not in your praise, but often seeing it;
That being the grand assurance that can give
The Poet and the Player means to live._

APPENDIX.

_In the following references to the text the lines are numbered from the
top of the page, including titles, acts, stage directions, &c., but not,
of course, the headline. Where, as in the lists of Persons Represented,
there are double columns, the right-hand column is numbered after the
left._

It has not been thought necessary to record the correction of every turned
letter nor the substitution of marks of interrogation for marks of
exclamation and _vice versa_. Full-stops have been silently inserted at
the ends of speeches and each fresh speaker has been given the dignity of
a fresh line: in the double-columned folio the speeches are frequently run
on. Only misprints of interest in the Quartos and the First Folio are
recorded.

THE ELDER BROTHER: VARIANTS IN THE QUARTOS.

(A) The | Elder Brother, | A | Comedy. | Acted at the Black Friers, by
his | Majesties Servants. | Printed