Come no more to make you laugh; things now
That bear a weighty and a serious brow,
Sad, high, and working, full of state and woe,
Such noble fcenes, as draw the eye to flow,
We shall prefent. Thofe that can pity, here.
May, if they think it well, let fall a tear;
The fubject will deferve it. Such as give
Their money out of hope they may believe,
May here find truth too. Those that come to fee
Only a show or two, (and so agree,
The play may pafs) if they be still and willing.
I'll undertake may fee away their fhilling
Richly in two fhort hours, Only they
That come to hear a merry, bawdy play ;
A noife of targets; or to fee a fellow
In a long motley coat, guarded with yellow;
Will be deceiv'd: for, gentle hearers, know
To rank our chofen truth with fuch a show
As fool and fight is, (befides forfeiting
Our own brains, and th' opinion that we bring
To make that only true we now intend)
Will leave us ne'er an understanding friend.
Therefore, for goodness fake, as you are known.
The first and happiest hearers of the town,
Be fad, as we would make ye.
Think ye fee
The very perfons of our noble story,
As they were living: think you fee them great,
And follow'd with the gen'ral throng, and fweat.
Of thousand friends; Then, in a moment, fee
How foon this mightiness meets misery!
And if you can be merry then, I'll fay
A man may weep upon his wedding day.
