Prefented at the

PRIVATE HOUSE

IN

BLACK-FRYARS,

B Y

His MAJESTY's Servants.

Printed in the YEAR 1709.

KING, in love with Aglaura.

Therfames, Prince, in Love with Aglaura.

Orbella, Queen, at firft Mistress to Ziriff, in love with Ariafpes.

Ariafpes, Brother to the King.

Ziriff, otherwife Sorannez difguifed, Captain of the Guardi in love with Orbella, Brother to Aglaura.

Iolas, A Lord of the Council, feeming Friend to the Prince, but a Traitor; in love with Semanthe.

Aglaura, In Love with the Prince, but nam'd Miftrefs to the King.

Orfames, A young Lord Antiplatonick, Friend to the

Prince.

Philan, the fame.

Semanthe, in love with Ziriff; Platonick.

Orithie, in love with Therfames.

Pafithas, a faithful Servant

Iolinas, Aglaura's Waiting-Woman.

Courtiers, Huntfmen, Prieft, Guard, &c.

SCENE PERSIA.

1

1

PRO

PROLOGUE

I'VE
'VE thought upon't; and cannot tell which way
Ought I can fay now fhou'd advance the Play:
For Plays are either good, or bad; the good,
(If they do beg) beg to be understood;

And in good Faith, that has as bold a Sound,
As if a Beggar fbou'd ask twenty Pound.
-Men have it not about them.

Then (Gentlemen) if rightly understood,
The bad do need lefs Prologue than the good:
For if it chance the Plot be lame, or blind,
Ill cloath'd, deform'd throughout, it needs must find
Compaffion, It is a Beggar without Art:
But it falls out in Penny-worths of Wit,
As in all Bargains elfe; Men ever get
All they can in; will have London Measure,
A Handful over in their very Pleafure.

And

now ye

have't; be cou'd not well deny ye, And I dare fwear he's Scarce a Saver by ye.

PROLOGUE

To the COURT.

'Hofe common Paffions, Hopes and Fears, that ftill The Poets first, and then the Prologues fill,

In this our Age, he that writ this, by me,

Protefts against as modest Foolery.

He thinks it an odd thing to be in Pain,
For nothing elfe, but to be well again.

L

Who

Who writes to Fear is fo; had he not writ,
You ne'er had been the Judges of his Wit;
And when he had, did he but then intend
To please himself, he sure might have his end
Without th' Expence of Hope, and that he had
That made this Play, although the Play be bad.
Then Gentlemen be thrifty, fave your Dooms
For the next Man, or the next Play that comes;
For Smiles are nothing, where Men do not care,
And Frowns as little, where they need not fear.

K

TO THE

N G

IN

Tall be bas faid before, be does deny.
HIS (Sir) to them; but unto Majefty,

Tet not to Majefty: that were to bring
His Fears to be, but for the Queen and King,
Nor for your felves; and that he dares not say;
You are bis Sovereigns another way;

Your Souls are Princes, and you have as good
A Title that way, as ye have by Blood
To Govern, and your Power bere is more great
And abfolute, than in the Royal Seat.
There Men difpute, and but by Law obey,
Here is no Law at all, but what ye fay.

A GLAU

AGLAURA.

Iolas.

ACTI. SCENE I

M

Enter Iolas and Iolina.

Arry'd? and in Diana's Grove!
Toli. So was th' Appointment, or my
Senfe deceiv'd me.

Iolas. Marry'd!

Now by those Pow'rs that tie those pretty Knots,

'Tis very fine, good Faith 'tis wondrous fine.

Ioli. What is, Brother?

Iolas. Why, to marry, Sifter

T'enjoy 'twixt lawful and unlawful thus
A Happiness, fteal as 'twere ones own.

Diana's Grove, fay'ft thou?

[Scratches bis Head.

Ioli. That's the Place; the hunt once up, and all
Engag'd in the Sport, they mean to leave
The Company, and steal unto thofe Thickets,

Where there's a Priest attends them.

Iolas. And will they lye together, think'ft thou?
Ioli. Is there Diftinction of Sex, think you?

Or Flesh and Blood?