hitherto, in me, aimed at any thrift: yet I have ever honoured virtue, as the richest ornament to the noblest titles. Endeavour of being known to your Lordship, by such means, I conceive no ambition; the extent being bounded by humility: so neither can the argument appear ungracious; nor the writer, in that, without allowance. You enjoy, my Lord, the general suffrage, for your freedom of merits: may you likewise please, by this particular presentment, amongst the number of such as faithfully honour those merits, to admit, into your noble construction,

2

JOHN FORD.

2

Amongst the number of such as faithfully honour those merits, to admit, &c.] The 4to has-" Among the number of such as I faithfully honour those merits, &c." which to me is unintelligible. There can be little doubt that the pronoun was inserted through mistake, or misapprehension of the poet's meaning; most probably the latter.

There is something pleasing in this short Dedication. It displays a spirit of independence very honourable to the poet, and yet is sufficiently respectful to his patron.

PROLOGUE.

THE FANCIES! that's our play; in it is shown
Nothing, but what our author knows his own
Without a learned theft; no servant here
To some fair mistress, borrows for his ear,
His lock, his belt, his sword, the fancied grace
Of any pretty ribbon; nor, in place
Of charitable friendship, is brought in
A thriving gamester, that doth chance to win
A lusty sum; while the good hand doth ply him,
And FANCIES this or that, to him sits by him.
His free invention runs but in conceit
Of mere imaginations; there's the height
Of what he writes; which if traduced by some,
'Tis well, he says, he's far enough from home.
For you, for him, for us, then this remains,
Fancy your own opinions,3 for our pains.

3

even

Fancy your own opinions.] The old copy reads, "Fancy your opinions." Ford appears to have been on the continent when

this piece

was first given to the stage.

DRAMATIS PERSONE.

OCTAVIO, marquis of Sienna.
TROYLO-SAVELLI, his nephew.
LIVIO, brother to CASTAMELA.

ROMANELLO, (Pragniolo,) brother to FLAVIA.
JULIO DE VARANA, lord of Camerino.

CAMILLO, }

VESPUCCI,

attendants on JULIO.

FLAVIA, wife to JULIO.

MOROSA, guardianess to the FANCIES.

THE SCENE-Sienna.