_Bar_. I dye for saving this unthanckfull Cuntry. 1 _Lord_. Play not with heaven. _Bar_. My Game's as sure as yours is, And with more care and inocence I play it. Take of my doblet; and I prethee, fellow, Strike without feare. _Exec_. I warrant ile fitt ye. I pray forgive me, Sir. _Bar_. Most hartely, And heer's my hand. I love thee, too: thy physick Will quickly purge me from the worldes abuses. When I speak lowdest, strike. _Exec_. I shall observe ye. _Bar_. Farwell, my lords: to all your Counsailes fortune, Happie succes and proffit; peace to this Cuntry; And to you all, that I have bredd like children, Not a more faithfull father but more fortunate. Doe not I stay too long? 2 _Lord_. Take your owne time, Sir. _Bar_. I have a wiffe, my lords, and wretched children, Unles it please his Grace to looke upon 'em And your good honours with your eies of favour. 'Twill be a litle happines in my death That they partake not with their fathers ruyns. 1 _Lord_. Let not that troble ye: they shall not find it. _Bar_. Commend my last breath to his Excellence; Tell him the Sun he shot at is now setting, Setting this night, that he may rise to morrow, For ever setting. Now let him raigne alone And with his rayes give life and light to all men. May he protect with honour, fight with fortune, And dye with generall love, an old and good Prince. My last petition, good Cuntrymen, forget me: Your memories wound deeper then your mallice, And I forgive ye all.--A litle stay me.-- Honour and world I fling ye thus behind me, And thus a naked poore man kneele to heaven: Be gracious to me, heare me, strengthen me. I come, I come, ô gracious heaven! now, now, Now, I present-- _Exec_. Is it well don mine Heeres? 1 _Lord_. Somewhat too much; you have strooke his fingers, too, But we forgive your haste. Draw in the body; And Captaines, we discharge your Companies. _Vand_. Make cleere the Court.--Vaine glory, thou art gon! And thus must all build on Ambition. 2 _Lord_. Farwell, great hart; full low thy strength now lyes: He that would purge ambition this way dies. _Exeunt_. INTRODUCTION TO _CAPTAIN UNDERWIT_. This anonymous Comedy is printed, for the first time, from Harl. MS. 7,650,--a small quarto of eighty-nine leaves. I have followed Halliwell (Dictionary of Old Plays) in adopting the title, Captain _Underwit_. There is no title-page to the MS. An editor with plenty of leisure on his hands would find ample opportunities in Captain _Underwit_ for discursive comment. Sometimes I have been obliged to pass over odd phrases and out-of-the-way allusions without a line of explanation; but in the index at the end of the fourth volume I hope to settle some difficulties that at present are left standing.