often leap up with both legs at a time when he conceived anything waggish; and afterwards hug himself at the thought. Tho' he was much cried up in his time, yet he was so stupid as not to know why."

Downes in 1708 says: "Sir William D'Avenant, 40 years ago, judged Underhill the truest comedian in his company."-Underhill performed Sir Morglay Thwack, and subsequently Cutter in the Wits.

The folio edition of "The Man's the Master" is a reprint of the 4to. edition, slightly abbreviated.

PROLOG U E.

1.

No country lady ever yet did ask

Such shrewd advice before a ball or masque,
When curious dressing is the court's great task,

2.

As now young poets do, in this nice age,
To gain the froward lovers of the stage;
Whose heat of humours nothing can assuage.

3.

The Muse, disdain'd, does as fond women do;
Instead of being courted she courts you:
But women are less valu'd when they woo.

4.

And as young poets, like young ladies, fear
A concourse, great as this assembly here,
Till they seek counsel how they should appear,

5.

So all old poets, like old ladies, may
Be more afraid to venture the survey
Of many apt to censure their decay.

6.

Both know they have been out of fashion long; And, ere they come before a shining throng, Would dress themselves by patterns of the young.

7.

Well, our old poet hopes this comedie

Will somewhat in the fine new fashion be;
But, if all gay, 'twould not with age agree.

8.

A little he was fain to moralize

That he might serve your minds as well as eyes: The proverb says, "Be merry and be wise."

9.

This, gentlemen, is all he bad me say
Of his important trifle, call'd a play;
For which, he does confess, you dearly pay.

10.

But he did fear that he could hardly make
A prologue so in fashion as might take,
For he does much of too much boldness lack.

11.

He never durst, nor ever thought it fit,
To censure those who judges are of wit.
Now you expect the rhyme will end in pit.

THE PERSONS REPRESENTED.

DON FERDINAND, Father to Isabella.
DON JOHN, Suitor to Isabella.
DON LEWIS, his Rival.

SANCHO, Steward to Don Ferdinand.

JODELET, Servant to Don John.

STEPHANO, Servant to Don Lewis.

ISABELLA, Daughter to Don Ferdinand.

LUCILLA, Sister to Don John.

BETTRIS, Isabella's maid.

LAURA, Lucilla's maid.

The Scene-MADRID.

And in one House.