p. =313=, l. 2. B] And it like your. ll. 2 and 5. B _divides the lines at_ Mathematicians _and_ Sir. l. 3. B] ye. l. 7. B] yee. l. 9. B] whip 'em. l. 17. B] 'em _and omits the stage direction_. l. 18. B _adds stage direction_] Exeunt Juglers. ll. 27 and 28. B _divides the lines at_ yee (= you) and mee. l. 30. B] service. l. 32. B _omits_] is. l. 33. B] W'are ... that honour. _Omits_ Sir. l. 38. B] Goe sadly. l. 39. B adds] Exeunt. l. 40. B _adds_] Florish. A and B _add_] Finis. THE WILD-GOOSE CHASE. This comedy is referred to in the Stationer's address 'to the Readers' in the First Folio (see Vol. I, present edition, p. xiii) as having 'beene long lost.' It was published separately in folio in 1652 and is often bound up with copies of the Folios. The title-page of the 1652 edition runs as follows: The | Wild-Goose Chase. | A | Comedie. | As it hath been Acted with singular | Applause at the Black-Friers: | Being the Noble, Last, and Onely Remaines | of those Incomparable Drammatists, | Francis Beaumont, and John Fletcher, Gent. | Retriv'd for the publick delight of all the Ingenious; | And private Benefit | Of John Lowin, And Joseph Taylor, Servants to His late Majestie. | By a Person of Honour. | Ite bonis avibus--| London, Printed for Humpherey Moseley, and are to be | sold at the Princes Armes in St. Paules | Church-yard. 1652. The Dedication and preliminary verses that follow are from the edition of 1652: they were omitted in the Second Folio. In the following variations =A= = 1652 and =B= = the Second Folio. _THE DEDICATION._ To the Honour'd, Few, Lovers of _Drammatick Poesie_. _Noble Spirits!_ It will seem strange to you that we should beg a Pardon from you before you know a Crime committed; But such is our _harsh Fate_, that we shall want as much of your _Mercie_ to the forgiving of this sad presumption of offering to your view these few _poor_ sheets, the _Rich Remains_ of our too-long-since lost Friend, Mʳ _FLETCHER_, as we shall your favourable _Acceptance_, and _Incouragement_ in it. The Play was of so Generall a receiv'd Acceptance, that (he _Himself_ a _Spectator_) we have known him un-concern'd, and to have wisht it had been none of His; He, as well as the _throng'd Theatre_ (in despight of his innate Modesty) Applauding this _rare issue of his Brain_. His _Complacencie_ in his own Work, may be, perhaps no Argument to you of the Goodness of the Play, any more than our _Confidence_ of it; and we do not expect our _Encomium_ can do any thing with you, when the Play it self is so near: That will _commend_ it self unto you. And now Farewell our _Glory_! Farewell your _Choice Delight_, most noble Gentlemen! Farewell th' _Grand Wheel_ that set _Us_ smaller Motions in Action! Farewell the Pride and Life o' th' Stage! Nor can we (though in our Ruin) much repine that we are so little, since _He_ that gave us being is no more.