EPILOGUE.

OUR play is done, and yours doth now begin:

What different fancies people now are in: How strange and odd a mingle it would make, If, ere they rise, 'twere possible to take

All votes.

But as when an authentic watch is shown,
Each man winds up and rectifies his own,
So in our very judgments. For there sits
A grave grand jury on it of town wits,
And they give up their verdict; then again
The other jury of the court comes in

(And that's of life and death); for each man sees,
That oft condemns, what th' other jury frees.
Some three days hence, the ladies of the town
Will come to have a judgment of their own.
And after them, their servants; then the city,
For that is modest, and is still last witty.
'Twill be a week at least yet, ere they have
Resolv'd to let it live, or give 't a grave.
Such difficulty there is to unite
Opinion, or bring it to be right.

EPILOGUE FOR THE COURT.

SIR,

THAT

HAT the abusing of your ear's a crime, Above th' excuse any six lines in rhyme Can make, the poet knows: I am but sent T' intreat he may not be a president,1

For he does think, that in this place there be Many have done 't as much and more than he. But here's, he says, the difference of the fates, He begs a pardon after 't, they estates.

1 [Precedent.]

AGLAURA

PRESENTED AT THE COURT.

Aglavra. Presented at the Court by His Majesties Servants.

Written by Sir John Suckling.

'FOR

Though kind last 'sizes, 'twill be now severe;

For it is thought, and by judicious men,
Aglaura 'scap'd only by dying then.

But 'twould be vain for me now to endear,
Or speak unto my Lords, the Judges here,
They hold their places by condemning still,
And cannot show at once mercy and skill;
For wit's so cruel unto wit, that they

Are thought to want, that find not want i' th' play.
But, ladies, you who never lik'd a plot,

But where the servant had his mistress got,
And whom to see a lover die it grieves,
Although 'tis in worse language that he lives,
Will like 't, we 're confident, since here will be,
That your sex ever lik'd, variety!