elf,
and is ambitious to use thee as her glass. Beware then thou render
men's figures truly, and teach them no less to hate their
deformities, than to love their forms: for, to grace, there should
come reverence; and no man can call that lovely, which is not also
venerable. It is not powdering, perfuming, and every day smelling
of the tailor, that converteth to a beautiful object: but a mind
shining through any suit, which needs no false light, either of
riches or honours, to help it. Such shalt thou find some here,
even in the reign of Cynthia,--a Crites and an Arete. Now, under
thy Phoebus, it will be thy province to make more; except thou
desirest to have thy source mix with the spring of self-love, and
so wilt draw upon thee as welcome a discovery of thy days, as was
then made of her nights.

Thy servant, but not slave,

BEN JONSON.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE.

CYNTHIA.
ECHO.
MERCURY.
ARETE.
HESPERUS.
PHANTASTE.
CRITES.
ARGURION.
AMORPHUS.
PHILAUTIA.
ASOTUS.
MORIA.
HEDON.
COS.
ANAIDES.
GELAIA.
MORPHIDES.
PROSAITES.
MORUS.
CUPID.

MUTES.--PHRONESIS, THAUMA, TIME

SCENE,--GARGAPHIE

INDUCTION.

THE STAGE.

AFTER THE SECOND SOUNDING.

ENTER THREE OF THE CHILDREN, STRUGGLING.

1 CHILD. Pray you away; why, fellows! Gods so, what do you mean?

2 CHILD. Marry, that you shall not speak the prologue sir.

3 CHILD. Why, do you hope to speak it?

2 CHILD. Ay, and I think I have most right to it: I am sure I
studied it first.

3 CHILD. That's all one, if the author think I can speak it
better.

1 CHILD. I plead possession of the cloak: gentles, your suffrages,
I pray you.

[WITHIN.] Why children! are you not ashamed? come in there.

3 CHILD. Slid, I'll play nothing in the play: unless I speak it.

1 CHILD. Why, will you stand to most voices of the gentlemen? let
that decide it.

3 CHILD. O, no, sir gallant; you presume to have the start of us
there, and that makes you offer so prodigally.

1 CHILD. No, would I were whipped if I had any such thought; try
it by lots either.

2 CHILD. Faith, I dare tempt my fortune in a greater venture than
this.

3 CHILD. Well said, resolute Jack! I am content too; so we draw
first. Make the cuts.

1 CHILD. But will you not snatch my cloak wh