’Tis much desired, you judges of the town
Would pass a vote to put all prologues down;
For who can show me, since they first were writ,
They e’er converted one hard-hearted wit? 
Yet the world’s mended well; in former days
Good prologues were as scarce as now good plays. 
For the reforming poets of our age,
In this first charge, spend their poetic rage: 
Expect no more when once the prologue’s done;
The wit is ended ere the play’s begun. 
You now have habits, dances, scenes, and rhymes;
High language often; ay, and sense, sometimes. 
As for a clear contrivance, doubt it not;
They blow out candles to give light to th’ plot. 
And for surprise, two bloody-minded men
Fight till they die, then rise and dance again. 
Such deep intrigues you’re welcome to this day: 
But blame yourselves, not him who writ the play;
Though his plot’s dull, as can be well desired,
Wit stiff as any you have e’er admired: 
He’s bound to please, not to write well; and knows,
There is a mode in plays as well as clothes;
Therefore, kind judges—­

Second Prologue enters.

2.—­Hold; would you admit For judges all you see within the pit?

1.  Whom would he then except, or on what score?

2.  All, who (like him) have writ ill plays before;
For they, like thieves condemned, are hangmen made,
To execute the members of their trade. 
All that are writing now he would disown,
But then he must except—­even all the town;
All cholerick, losing gamesters, who, in spite,
Will damn to day, because they lost last night;
All servants, whom their mistress’ scorn upbraids;
All maudlin lovers, and all slighted maids;
All, who are out of humour, or severe;
All, that want wit, or hope to find it here.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

DON GONSALVO DE PERALTA, a young gentleman newly arrived from the
Indies, in love with JULIA. 
DON RODORIGO DE SYLVA, in love with the same lady. 
DON MANUEL DE TORRES, brother to JULIA.

JULIA, elder sister to DON MANUEL, promised to RODORIGO.  HONORIA, younger sister to DON MANUEL, disguised in the habit of a man, and going by the name of HIPPOLITO, in love with GONSALVO.  ANGELINA, sister to DON RODORIGO, in man’s habit, likewise in love with GONSALVO, and going by the name of AMIDEO.

Servants, Robbers, Seamen, and Masquers.

SCENE—­Alicant.

THE RIVAL LADIES.

ACT I.

SCENE I—­A Wood.

Enter GONSALVO and a Servant.

Gon.  Nay, ’twas a strange as well as cruel storm,
To take us almost in the port of Sevile,
And drive us up as far as Barcelona;
The whole plate fleet was scattered, some part wrecked;
There one might see the sailors diligent
To cast o’erboard the merchant’s envied wealth,
While he, all pale and dying, stood in doubt,
Whether to ease the burden of the ship,
By drowning of his ingots, or himself.