On every side, whereas I glance my roving eye, Silence in all ears bent I plainly do espy: But if your eager looks do long such toys to see, As heretofore in comical wise were wont abroad to be, Your lust is lost, and all the pleasures that you sought, Is frustrate quite of toying plays. A sudden change is wrought: For lo, our author’s muse, that masked in delight, Hath forc’d his pen against his kind[12] no more such sports to write. Muse he that lust (right worshipful), for chance hath made this change, For that to some he seemed too much in young desires to range: In which, right glad to please, seeing that he did offend, Of all he humbly pardon craves: his pen that shall amend. And yet (worshipful audience) thus much I dare avouch, In comedies the greatest skill is this, rightly to touch All things to the quick; and eke to frame each person so, That by his common talk you may his nature rightly know: A roister ought not preach, that were too strange to hear, But as from virtue he doth swerve, so ought his words appear: The old man is sober, the young man rash, the lover triumphing in joys. The matron grave, the harlot wild, and full of wanton toys. Which all in one course they no wise do agree; So correspondent to their kind their speeches ought to be. Which speeches well-pronounc’d, with action lively framed, If this offend the lookers on, let Horace then be blamed, Which hath our author taught at school, from whom he doth not swerve, In all such kind of exercise decorum to observe. Thus much for his defence (he saith), as poets earst have done, Which heretofore in comedies the self-same race did run. But now for to be brief, the matter to express, Which here we shall present, is this: Damon and Pithias. A rare ensample of friendship true, it is no legend-lie, But a thing once done indeed, as histories do descry, Which done of yore in long time past, yet present shall be here. Even as it were in doing now, so lively it shall appear. Lo, here in Syracuse th’ ancient town, which once the Romans won, Here Dionysius palace, within whose court this thing most strange was done. Which matter mix’d with mirth and care, a just name to apply, As seems most fit, we have it termed a tragical comedy. Wherein talking of courtly toys, we do protest this flat, We talk of Dionysius court, we mean no court but that: And that we do so mean, who wisely calleth to mind The time, the place, the author,[13] here most plainly shall it find. Lo, this I speak[14] for our defence, lest of others we should be shent: But, worthy audience, we you pray, take things as they be meant; Whose upright judgment we do crave with heedful ear and eye To hear the cause and see th’ effect of this new tragical comedy. [_Exit._ DAMON AND PITHIAS.[15]