THE PROLOGUE.

The proverb is, How many men, so many minds,
Which maketh proof how hard a thing it is,
Of sundry minds to please the sundry kinds. 
In which respect I have inferred this,
  That where men’s minds appear so different,
  No play, no part, can all alike content.

The grave Divine calls for Divinity: 
The civil student for Philosophy: 
The courtier craves some rare sound history: 
The baser sort, for knacks of pleasantry. 
  So every sort desireth specially,
  What thing may best content his fantasy.

But none of these our barren toy affords. 
To pulpits we refer Divinity: 
And matters of estate to Council boards. 
As for the quirks of sage Philosophy,
Or points of squirriliting scurrility,
  The one we shun, for childish years too rare,
  Th’other unfit for such as present are.

But this we bring is but to serve the time,
A poor device to pass the day withal: 
To loftier points of skill we dare not climb,
Lest (perking over-high) with shame we fall. 
  Such as doth best beseem such as we be,
  Such we present, and crave your courtesy.

That courtesy, that gentleness of yours,
Which wonted is to pardon faults of ours: 
Which granted, we have all that we require: 
Your only favour, only our desire.

THE END OF THE PROLOGUE.

THE SPEAKERS.

THE PROLOGUE. 
VANITY, Fortune’s chief servant. 
PRODIGALITY, suitor for Money. 
POSTILION, his servant. 
HOST.
TENACITY, suitor for Money. 
DANDALINE, the hostess. 
TOM TOSS. 
DICK DICER. 
FORTUNE. 
MASTER MONEY, her son. 
VIRTUE. 
EQUITY. 
LIBERALITY, chief steward to Virtue. 
CAPTAIN WELL-DONE. 
COURTIER. 
LAME SOLDIER. 
CONSTABLES, with Hue and Cry. 
TIPSTAVES. 
SHERIFF. 
CLERK. 
CRIER. 
JUDGE. 
EPILOGUE.

THE CONTENTION BETWEEN LIBERALITY AND PRODIGALITY.

SCENE I.

    Enter VANITY solus, all in feathers.

In words to make description of my name,
My nature or conditions, were but vain;
Sith this attire so plainly shows the same,
As showed cannot be in words more plain. 
For lo, thus roundabout in feathers dight,
Doth plainly figure mine inconstancy: 
As feathers, light of mind; of wit as light,
Subjected still to mutability,
And for to paint me forth more properly,
Behold each feather decked gorgeously
With colours strange in such variety,
As plainly pictures perfect vanity. 
And so I am, to put you out of doubt,
Even vanity wholly; within, without: 
In head, in heart:  in all parts roundabout: 
But whence I come, and why I hither come,