Act 5 — ANY THING FOR A QUIET LIFE.

415Any Thing For A Quiet Life. A Comedy, Formerly Acted at Black-Fryers, by His late Majesties Servants. Never before Printed. Written by Tho. Middleton, Gent. London: Printed by Tho. Johnson for Francis Kirkman, and Henry Marsh, and are to be sold at the Princes Arms in Chancery-Lane, 1662. 4to.

In the old ed. the whole play, with the exception of a few lines here and there, is printed as prose; and there is every reason to believe that the text is greatly corrupted.

417

PROLOGUE.

Howe’er th' intents and appetites of men

Are different as their faces, how and when

T' employ their actions, yet all without strife

Meet in this point,—Any thing for a quiet life:

Nor is there one, I think, that’s hither come

For his delight, but would find peace at home

On any terms. The lawyer does not cease^[857]

To talk himself into a sweat with pain,

And so his fees buy quiet, ’tis his gain:

The poor man does endure the scorching sun

And feels no weariness, his day-labour done,

So his wife entertain him with a smile

And thank his travail, though she slept the while.

This being in men of all conditions true

Does give our play a name; and if to you

It yield content and usual delight,

For our parts we shall sleep secure to night.

418

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.

Lord Beaufort.

Sir Francis Cressingham.

George Cressingham, Edward, a child, his sons.

Franklin senior.

Franklin junior, his son.

Knavesby, a lawyer.

Saunder, steward to Sir Francis Cressingham.

Water-Camlet, a mercer.

George, Ralph his apprentices.

Sweet-ball, a barber.

Flesh-hook.

Counterbuff.

Surveyor, Barber’s Boy, &c.

Lady Cressingham, wife to Sir Francis.

Mistress George Cressingham, disguised as Selenger, a page to Lord Beaufort.

Mistress Knavesby.

Mistress Water-Camlet.

Maria, a child, daughter to Sir Francis Cressingham.

Margarita, a French bawd.

Scene, London.

419ANY THING FOR A QUIET LIFE.