y you dethrone,
And a Tyrannick Commonwealth prefer,
Where each small Wit starts up and claims his share;
And all those Laurels are in pieces torn,
Which did e'er while one sacred Head adorn.
Nay, even the Women now pretend to reign;
Defend us from a Poet _Joan_ again!
That Congregation's in a hopeful way
To Heaven, where the Lay-Sisters teach and pray.
Oh the great Blessing of a little Wit!
I've seen an elevated Poet sit,
And hear the Audience laugh and clap, yet say,
Gad after all, 'tis a damn'd silly Play:
He unconcern'd, cries only--Is it so?
No matter, these unwitty things will do,
When your fine fustian useless Eloquence
Serves but to chime asleep a drousy Audience.
Who at the vast expence of Wit would treat,
That might so cheaply please the Appetite?
Such homely Fare you're like to find to night:
Our Author
Knows better how to juggle than to write:
Alas! a Poet's good for nothing now,
Unless he have the knack of conjuring too;
For 'tis beyond all natural Sense to guess
How their strange Miracles are brought to pass.
Your Presto Jack be gone, and come again,
With all the Hocus Art of Legerdemain;
Your dancing Tester, Nut-meg, and your Cups,
Out-does your Heroes and your amorous Fops.
And if this chance to please you, by that rule,
He that writes Wit is much the greater Fool.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE.

MEN.

Sir _Patient Fancy_, an old rich Alderman,
and one that fancies himself always sick, Mr. _Anthony Leigh_.
_Leander Fancy_, his Nephew,
in love with _Lucretia_, Mr. _Crosby_.
_Wittmore_, Gallant to the Lady _Fancy_,
a wild young Fellow of a small Fortune, Mr. _Betterton_.
_Lodwick Knowell_, Son to the Lady
_Knowell_, in love with _Isabella_, Mr. _Smith_.
Sir _Credulous Easy_, a foolish _Devonshire_
Knight, design'd to marry _Lucretia_, Mr. _Nokes_.
_Curry_, his Groom, Mr. _Richards_.
_Roger_, Footman to the Lady _Fancy_.
_Abel (Bartholomew)_,
Clerk to Sir _Patient Fancy_.
_Brunswick_, a friend to _Lodwick Knowell_.
Monsieur _Turboon_, a French Doctor.
A Fat Doctor.
An Amsterdam Doctor.
A Leyden Doctor.
Page to the Lady _Knowell_.

Guests, Six Servants to Sir _Patient_, Ballad-Singers
and Serenaders.

WOMEN.

The Lady _Fancy_, Young Wife
to Sir _Patient_, Mrs. _Cu