Act 1 — ACT I.

Enter Raynulph.^[356]

Ray. What Raynulph, monk of Chester, can

Raise from his Polychronicon,

That raiseth him, as works do men,

To see long-parted light agen,^[357]

That best may please this round fair ring,

With sparkling diamonds circled in,

I shall produce. If all my powers

Can win the grace of two poor hours,

Well apaid^[358] I go to rest.

Ancient stories have been best;

Fashions, that are now call’d new,

Have been worn by more than you;

Elder times have us’d the same,

Though these new ones get the name:

So in story what now told

That takes not part with days of old?

Then to approve time’s mutual glory,

Join new time’s love to old time’s story. [Exit.

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