ecraft, an usurer, turns a cutter, or, as we now say, a
buck. Dryden seems to allude to Ravenscroft's play of "The Citizen
turned Gentleman," a transmigration somewhat resembling that of
cutting Morecraft. This play was now acting by the Duke's company
in Dorset Gardens, which, from its situation, says Mr Malone, was
much frequented by citizens, as here insinuated.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE.

POLYDAMAS, _Usurper of Sicily._
LEONIDAS, _the rightful Prince, unknown._
ARGALEON, _favourite to_ POLYDAMAS.
HERMOGENES, _foster-father to_ LEONIDAS.
EUBULUS, _his friend and companion._
RHODOPHIL, _captain of the guards._
PALAMEDE, _a courtier._

PALMYRA, _daughter to the Usurper._
AMALTHEA, _sister to_ ARGALEON.
DORALICE, _wife to_ RHODOPHIL.
MELANTHA, _an affected lady._
PHILOTIS, _woman to_ MELANTHA.
BELIZA, _woman to_ DORALICE.
ARTEMIS, _a court lady._

SCENE,--_Sicily._

MARRIAGE A-LA-MODE.

ACT I.

SCENE I.--_Walks near the Court._

_Enter_ DORALICE _and_ BELIZA.

_Dor._ Beliza, bring the lute into this arbour; the walks are empty: I
would try the song the princess Amalthea bade me learn.
[_They go in, and sing._

I.

_Why should a foolish marriage vow,
Which long ago was made,
Oblige us to each other now,
When passion is decayed?
We loved, and we loved, as long as we could,
'Till our love was loved out in us both;
But our marriage is dead, when the pleasure is fled:
'Twas pleasure first made it an oath._

II.

_If I have pleasures for a friend,
And further love in store,
What wrong has he, whose joys did end,
And who could give no more?_
_'Tis a madness that he
Should be jealous of me,
Or that I should bar him of another:
For all we can gain,
Is to give ourselves pain,
When neither can hinder the other._

_Enter_ PALAMEDE, _in a riding-habit, and hears the Song. Re-enter_
DORALICE _and_ BELIZA.

_Bel._ Madam, a stranger.

_Dor._ I did not think to have had witnesses of my bad singing.

_Pala._ If I have erred, madam, I hope you'll pardon the curiosity of
a stranger; for I may well call myself so, after five years absence
from the court: but you have freed me from one error.

_Dor._ What's that, I beseech you?

_Pala._ I thought good voices, and ill faces, had been insepar