STAGEKEEPER. No more of this: I heard the spectators ask for a blank verse. What we show is but a Christmas jest; Conceive of this, and guess of all the rest: Full like a scholar's hapless fortune's penn'd, Whose former griefs seldom have happy end. Frame as well we might with easy strain, With far more praise and with as little pain, Stories of love, where forne[29] the wond'ring bench The lisping gallant might enjoy his wench; Or make some sire acknowledge his lost son: Found, when the weary act is almost done.[30] Nor unto this, nor unto that our scene is bent; We only show a scholar's discontent. In scholars' fortunes, twice forlorn and dead, Twice hath our weary pen erst laboured; Making them pilgrims in Parnassus' Hill, Then penning their return with ruder quill. Now we present unto each pitying eye The scholars' progress in their misery: Refined wits, your patience is our bliss; Too weak our scene, too great your judgment is: To you we seek to show a scholar's state, His scorned fortunes, his unpity'd fate; To you: for if you did not scholars bless, Their case, poor case, were too-too pitiless. You shade the muses under fostering, And made[31] them leave to sigh, and learn to sing. THE NAMES OF THE ACTORS. INGENIOSO. JUDICIO. DANTER. PHILOMUSUS. STUDIOSO. FUROR POETICUS. PHANTASMA. _Patient_. RICARDETTO. THEODORE, _a Physician_. BURGESS, _a Patient_. JAQUES, _a Studioso_. ACADEMICO. AMORETTO. _Page_. SIGNIOR IMMERITO. STERCUTIO, _his Father_. SIR RADERIC. _Recorder_. _Page_. PRODIGO. BURBAGE. KEMP. _Fiddlers_. _Patient's man_. THE RETURN FROM PARNASSUS. ACTUS I, SCAENA 1. INGENIOSO, _with Juvenal in his hand_.