Act 5 — A MAD WORLD, MY MASTERS.
Reading edition
327A Mad World, my Masters. As it hath bin lately in Action by the Children of Paules. Composed by T. M. London, Printed by H. B. for Walter Bvrre, and are to be sold in Paules Churchyard, at the signe of the Crane. 1608. 4to. A second ed. appeared 1640. 4to.
This drama has been reprinted (most carelessly) in the several editions of Dodsley’s Coll. of Old Plays, vol. v.
A Mad World, my Masters, was licensed by the deputy of Sir George Bucke, 4th Oct. 1608: see Chalmers’s Suppl. Apol., p. 199.
The City Heiress, or Sir Timothy Treatall, 1682, by Mrs. Behn, and The Country Lasses, or the Custom of the Manor, 1715, by Charles Johnson, are partly taken from the present play.
328
THE PRINTER AND STATIONER TO THE GENTLE READER.[721]
Courteous reader, let not the title or name of this comedy be any forestalling or weakening of the worthy author’s judgment, whose known abilities will survive to all posterities, though he be long since dead. I hope the reading thereof shall not prove distasteful unto any in particular, nor hurtful unto any in general; but I rather trust that the language and the plot which you shall find in each scene shall rather be commended and applauded than any way derided or scorned. In the action, which is the life of a comedy, and the glory of the author, it hath been sufficiently expressed to the liking of the spectators and commendations of the actors; who have set it forth in such lively colours, and to the meaning of the gentleman that true penned it, that I dare say few can excel them, though some may equal them. In the reading of one act you guess the consequence; for here is no bombasted or fustian stuff, but every line weighed as with balance, and every sentence placed with judgment and deliberation. All that you can find 329in the perusal I will give you notice of beforehand, to prevent a censure that may arise in thy reading of this comedy, as also for the excuse of the author; and that is this: here and there you shall find some lines that do answer in metre; which I hope will not prove so disdainful, whereby the book may be so much slighted as not to be read, or the author’s judgment undervalued as of no worth. Consider, gentle reader, it is full twenty years[722] since it was written, at which time metre was most in use, and shewed well upon the conclusion of every act and scene. My prevalent hope desires thy charitable censure, and thereby draws me to be
Thy immutable friend,
J. S.[723]
330DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.
Sir Bounteous Progress, an old rich knight.
Dick Follywit, his grandson.
Harebrain.
Penitent Brothel.
Lieutenant Mawworm, }
Ancient Hoboy, } comrades to Follywit.
Inesse, }
Possibility, } two elder brothers.
Gumwater, Sir Bounteous’s chief man.
Jasper, Penitent’s man.
Ralph, Harebrain’s man.
Semus, one of Sir Bounteous’s servants.
Constable.
Watchmen.
Two Knights.
Companions of Follywit, Servants, &c.
Mistress Harebrain.
Frank Gullman, a courtesan.
Her Mother.
A Succubus.
Scene, partly London, partly the Country.
331A MAD WORLD, MY MASTERS.