PROLOGUE.

The stage, 'tis granted, is a moral school,
  An exhibition of the knave and fool;
Where in each attitude the muse is seen,
The sneer-taught eye, the laughter-moving mien:
Where keenest satire guides the poet's pen
With Shakespeare's humour, or the wit of Ben;
Where characters are drawn with nicest art,
Exhibiting a portrait of the heart;
Where fools are taught to laugh at one another,
Whilst each applies the likeness to his brother.

  Bold is the task, in this discerning age,
For bards to risque their pictures on the stage;
What tho' a thousand vices daily rise,
Or constant follies swim before our eyes,
Yet wou'd we give each draught its proper shade,
Or wish each tint were delicately laid,
All Congreve's wit, the polish'd scenes require,
All Farquhar's humour, and all Hoadly's fire.
Our bard, advent'ring to the comic land,
Directs his choice by Shakespeare's happier hand;
Shakespeare! who warms with more than magic art,
Enchants the ear, whilst he instructs the heart;
Yet should he fail, he hopes, the wits will own,
There's enough of Shakespeare's still, to please the town.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ. Ferdinand, King of Navarre. Biron [Berowne], Lord, attending upon the King in his retirement. Longaville, Lord attending upon the King in his retirement. Dumain, Lord, attending upon the King in his retirement. Boyet, A Lord, attending upon the Princess of France. Don Adriano de Armado, A fantastical Spaniard. Costard, A Clown belonging to the King. Moth, Page to Don Adriano de Armado. Dull, A Constable. Princess of France. Rosaline, Lady, attending on the Princess. Maria, Lady, attending on the Princess. Catherine [Katharine], Lady, attending on the Princess. Jaquenetta, Lady, attending on the Princess. Officers, and others, attendants upon the King and Princess. [Lord], [Clown], [Player] SCENE, The King of Navarre's Palace, and the Country near it.

THE STUDENTS.

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