Act 5 — PROLOGUE.[176]
Reading edition
PROLOGUE.[176]
If, for opinion hath not blaz’d his fame,
Nor expectation fill’d the general round,
You deem his labours slight, you both confound
Your graver judgment and his merits:
Impartial hearing fits judicious spirits.
Nor let the fruit of many an hour fall
By envy’s tooth or base detraction’s gall:
Both which are tokens of such abject spirits,
Which, wanting worth themselves, hate other[s’] merits;
Or else of such, which once made great by fame,
Repine at those which seek t’ attain the same.
From both we know all truer judgments free:
To them our Muse, with blushing modesty,
Patiently to her entreats their favour;
Which done, with judgment praise, or else dislike the labour.
110DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.[177]
Glister, a doctor of physic.
Purge, a jealous apothecary.
Dryfat, a merchant, a brother of the Family.
Gerardine, a lover [of Maria].
Lipsalve, Gudgeon,two gallants that only pursue city lechery.
Club, an apprentice [to Purge].
Vial, a servant to Glister.
Shrimp, Periwinkle,pages to the gallants.
[Apprentice and Servants].
Mistress Glister.
Mistress Purge, an elder in the Family.
Maria, niece to Glister.
111THE FAMILY OF LOVE.