And so maintain the Right they have in you. 
If the vain Sex this privilege should boast,
Past cure of a declining Face we’re lost. 
You’ll never know the bliss of Change; this Art
Retrieves (when Beauty fades) the wandring Heart;
And though the Airy Spirits move no more,
Wit still invites, as Beauty did before. 
To day one of their Party ventures out,
Not with design to conquer, but to scout. 
Discourage but this first attempt, and then
They’ll hardly dare to sally out again. 
The Poetess too, they say, has Spies abroad,
Which have dispersed themselves in every road,
I’th’ Upper Box, Pit, Galleries; every Face
You find disguis’d in a Black Velvet Case. 
My life on’t; is her Spy on purpose sent,
To hold you in a wanton Compliment;
That so you may not censure what she ’as writ,
Which done, they face you down ’twas full of Wit. 
Thus, while some common Prize you hope to win,
You let the Tyrant Victor enter in. 
I beg to day you’d lay that humour by,
Till your Rencounter at the Nursery;
Where they, like Centinels from duty free,
May meet and wanton with the Enemy.

    Enter an Actress.

How hast thou labour’d to subvert in vain, What one poor Smile of ours calls home again?  Can any see that glorious Sight and say

    [Woman pointing to the ladies.

A Woman shall not Victor prove to day? 
Who is’t that to their Beauty would submit,
And yet refuse the Fetters of their Wit? 
He tells you tales of Stratagems and Spies;
Can they need Art that have such powerful Eyes? 
Believe me, Gallants, he’as abus’d you all;
There’s not a Vizard in our whole Cabal: 
Those are but Pickeroons that scour for prey
And catch up all they meet with in their way;
Who can no Captives take, for all they do
Is pillage ye, then gladly let you go. 
Ours scorns the petty Spoils, and do prefer
The Glory not the Interest of the War: 
But yet our Forces shall obliging prove,
Imposing nought but Constancy in Love: 
That’s all our Aim, and when we have, it too,
We’ll sacrifice it all to pleasure you.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE.

MEN.

King, Mr. Westwood. Philander, his Son, betrothed to Erminia, Mr. Smith. Alcippus, Favourite, in love with Erminia, Mr. Betterton. Orgulius, late General, Father to Erminia, Mr. Norris. Alcander, Friend to the Prince, in love with
   Aminta, Mr. Young.
Pisaro, Friend to the young General Alcippus, Mr. Cademan. Falatius, a fantastick Courtier, Mr. Angel. Labree, his Man. Cleontius, Servant to the Prince, and Brother Mr. Crosby.
   to Isillia,
Page to Pisaro.