_My directing of this piece unto you, renders me obvious to many censures, which I would willingly prevent by declaring mine own and your right thereto. Mine was the fortune to be made the unworthy preserver of it; yours is the worthy opinion you have of the Author and his Poems; neither can it easily be determined, whether your affection to them hath made you (by observing) more able to judge of them, than your ability to judge of them hath made you to affect them, deservedly, not partially. In this presumptuous act of mine, I express my twofold zeal; to him and your noble self, who have built him a more honourable monument in that fair opinion you have of him, than any inscription subject to the wearing of time can be. You will find him in this Poem as active as in others, to many of which, the dull apprehensions of former times gave but slender allowance, from malitious custom more than reason: yet they have since by your candid self and others, been clearly vindicated. You shall oblige by your acceptance of this acknowledgment (which is the best I can render you, mine own weak la[b]ours being too unworthy your judicious perusal) him that is ambitious to be known._ _Your most humble Servant_, RICHARD BROME. THE CHANCES. A COMEDY. Persons Represented in the Play. _Duke of_ Ferrara. Petruccio, _Governour of_ Bolognia. _Don_ John, } _two Spanish Gentlemen, and Comerades_. _Don_ Frederick, } Antonio, _an old stout Gentleman, Kinsman to_ Petruccio. _Three Gentlemen, friends to the Duke._ _Two Gentlemen, friends to_ Petruccio. Francisco, _a Musician_, Antonio's _Boy_. Peter Vecchio, _a Teacher of Latine_ _and Musick, a reputed Wizard_. Peter _and_ } _two Servants to Don_ John _and_ Frederick. Anthonie, } _A Surgeon._ _WOMEN._ Constancia, _Sister to_ Petruccio, _and Mistriss to the Duke_. _Gentlewoman, Servant to_ Constancia. _Old Gentlewoman, Landlady to Don_ John _and_ Frederick. Constancia, _a Whore to old_ Antonio. _Bawd._ _The Scene_ Bolognia. _Actus Primus. Scena Prima._ _Enter 2. Serving-men_, Peter _and_ Anthony. _Peter._ I would we were remov'd from this town, _Anthony_, That we might taste some quiet; for mine own part, I'm almost melted with continual trotting After enquiries, dreams, and revelations, Of who knows whom, or where? serve wenching soldiers, That knows no other Paradise but Plackets: I'll serve a Priest in Lent first, and eat Bell-ropes. _Ant._ Thou art the froward'st fool-- _Pet._ Why, good tame _Anthonie_? Tell me but this; to what end came we hither? _Ant._ To wait upon our Masters. _Pet._ But how, _Anthony_? Answer me that; resolve me there, good _Anthony_? _Ant._ To serve their uses. _Pet._ Shew your uses, _Anthony_. _Ant._ To be imploy'd in any thing.