prepared. 
   Whate’er I am, though both for wealth and wit
   Beneath Lucilius I am pleased to sit;
   Yet Envy, spite of her empoison’d breast,
   Shall say, I lived in grace here with the best;
   And seeking in weak trash to make her wound,
   Shall find me solid, and her teeth unsound: 
   ‘Less learn’d Trebatius’ censure disagree.

Treb. 
   No, Horace, I of force must yield to thee;
   Only take heed, as being advised by me,
   Lest thou incur some danger:  better pause,
   Than rue thy ignorance of the sacred laws;
   There’s justice, and great action may be sued
   ’Gainst such as wrong men’s fames with verses lewd.

Hor. 
   Ay, with lewd verses, such as libels be,
   And aim’d at persons of good quality: 
   I reverence and adore that just decree. 
   But if they shall be sharp, yet modest rhymes,
   That spare men’s persons, and but tax their crimes,
   Such shall in open court find current pass,
   Were Caesar judge, and with the maker’s grace.

Treb. 
   Nay, I’ll add more; if thou thyself, being clear,
   Shall tax in person a man fit to bear
   Shame and reproach, his suit shall quickly be
   Dissolved in laughter, and thou thence set free.

To the reader

If, by looking on what is past, thou hast deserved that name, I am willing thou should’st yet know more, by that which follows, an APOLOGETICAL dialogue; which was only once spoken upon the stage and all the answer I ever gave to sundry impotent libels then cast out (and some yet remaining) against me, and this play.  Wherein I take no pleasure to revive the times; but that posterity may make a difference between their manners that provoked me then, and mine that neglected them ever, For, in these strifes, and on such persons, were as wretched to affect a victory, as it is unhappy to be committed with them.

Non annorum canities est laudanda, sed morum.

Scene, The Author’s Lodgings. 
Enter NASUTUS and POLYPOSUS.

Nas.  I pray You let’ s go see him, how he looks
After these libels.

Pol.  O vex’d, vex’d, I warrant you.

Nas.  Do you think so?  I should be sorry for him,
If I found that.

Pol.  O, they are such bitter things,
He cannot choose.

Nas.  But, is he guilty of them?

Pol.  Fuh! that’s no matter.

Nas.  No !

Pol.  No.  Here’s his lodging. 
We’ll steal upon him:  or let’s listen; stay. 
He has a humour oft to talk t’ himself.

Nas.  They are your manners lead me, not mine own.
         [They come forward; the scene opens, and discovers the
             Author in his study.