About: A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Vol. IX by Various

OLD ENGLISH PLAYS

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A SELECT COLLECTION OF OLD ENGLISH PLAYS, VOL. IX

Originally published by Robert Dodsley in the Year 1744.

Fourth Edition,

Now first chronologically arranged, revised and enlarged with the Notesof all the Commentators, and new Notes

By

W. CAREW HAZLITT.

1874 76.

CONTENTS:

How a Man May Choose a Good Wife from a BadThe Return from ParnassusWily BeguiledLinguaThe Miseries of Enforced Marriage

HOW A MAN MAY CHOOSE A GOOD WIFE FROM A BAD.

_EDITION

A Pleasant conceited Comedie, Wherein is shewed how a man may chuse agood Wife from a bad. As it hath bene sundry times Acted by the Earle ofWorcesters Seruants. London Printed for Mathew Lawe, and are to be soldeat his shop in Paules Church yard, neare unto S. Augustines gate, at thesigne of the Foxe_. 1602. 4to.

[There were editions in 1605, 1608, 1614, 1621, 1630, 1634, all in 4to.

It is not improbable that the author was Joshua Cooke, to whom, in anold hand on the title of edit. 1602 in the Museum, it is attributed.]

[PREFACE TO THE FORMER EDITION.[1]]

This play agrees perfectly with the description given of it in thetitle; it is certainly a most pleasant conceited comedy, rich in humour,and written altogether in a right merry vein. The humour is broad andstrongly marked, and at the same time of the most diverting kind; thecharacters are excellent, and admirably discriminated; the comic partsof the play are written with most exquisite drollery, and the seriouswith great truth and feeling. Of the present piece there were seveneditions, within a short period, with all of which the present reprinthas been carefully collated, and is now, for the first time, dividedinto acts and scenes.

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

OLD MASTER ARTHUR.OLD MASTER LUSAM.YOUNG MASTER ARTHUR.YOUNG MASTER LUSAM.[2]MASTER ANSELM.MASTER FULLER.SIR AMINADAB,_a Schoolmaster_.JUSTICE REASON.BRABO.HUGH,_Justice Reason's Servant_.PIPKIN,_Master Arthur's Servant_._Boys, Officers, &c_.MISTRESS ARTHUR.MISTRESS MARY.MISTRESS SPLAY.MAID.

_Scene, London_.

A PLEASANT CONCEITED COMEDY;WHEREIN IS SHOWED

HOW A MAN MAY CHOOSE A GOOD WIFE FROM A BAD.

ACT I., SCENE I.

_The Exchange_.

_Enter_YOUNG MASTER ARTHUR_and_YOUNG MASTER LUSAM.

Y. ART. Itell you true, sir; but to every manI would not be so lavish of my speech:Only to you, my dear and private friend,Although my wife in every eye be heldOf beauty and of grace sufficient,Of honest birth and good behaviour,Able to win the strongest thoughts to her,Yet, in my mind, I hold her the most hatedAnd loathed object, that the world can yield.

Y. LUS. O Master Arthur, bear a better thoughtOf your chaste wife, whose modesty hath wonThe good opinion and report of all:By heaven! you wrong her beauty; she is fair.

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