The following notes evidently refer to another piece:--"To take the play y^t Lyes in loose parts in my Scrutoire and lay it together for the Stage: To ridicule y^e whole Mechanick of Dr. Faustus, &c., and all things of that kind for y^e Theatre--make persons to play tricks, break necks, and the like.... There is no true nobility but in the practise of Vertue and right reason, where there is nothing can be little.... Make him go to his certain Ruin for want of knowledge in a Circumstance he might know if he had looked into a letter w^{ch} contains a secret Contrived against him, but he cannot pry into because it comes into his Hands unwarrantably: make this y^e great Incident of his distress.... To ridicule our Slavery to Italian Musick, to have an ode of Anacreon set in Greek performed. To observe upon y^e absurdity of making distresses and mirth for y^e Vulgar out of y^e Accidents y^t befall the body, as in the play of _The Chances_: The old Woman in her Colick pains toothless and defective through age is exposed as a Jest." _DRAMATIS PERSONÆ._ Mr. SEVERN, a barrister, lover of Miss DOLLY. Mr. HUMBER, his friend. Mr. PINCERS, an old wealthy country Attorney, guardian to DOLLY. RALPH, his Man. Mr. DOTTERELL, Mr. SPIDER, Comedians. Mr. GWILLYN, BUSKIN, TRAGEDIAN, GENERAL, Candidates for the Stage. Mrs. PINCERS. Miss DOLLY, Ward to PINCERS. Mrs. UMBRAGE, an Actress. Mrs. FENNELL. Her DAUGHTER, a Candidate for the Stage. Barber, Constable, Waiter, Servants, Rabble, &c. _THE SCHOOL OF ACTION._ ACT THE FIRST. _Enter_ MR. SEVERN _and_ MR. HUMBER. _Sev._ The world is much more easily imposed upon, than you studious and modest men imagine. _Hum._ Dear Severn, if such superficial qualifications as you talk of will accomplish gentlemen and ladies, I own to you, hard has been our fate, in having suffered pains and penalties (fit only for malefactors) in great schools, and been immured in college the best years of life, to acquire learning and attain to sciences that are all useless when we come into the world. _Sev._ Pardon me, dear Humber, I did not say useless; I only argue that you had better, to make your fortune, have ordinary qualifications, such as a good mien, common understanding, and an easy address, than great faculties and talents under the oppression of bashfulness, rusticity, or---- _Hum._ Or knowledge. _Sev._ It shall be or knowledge if you please--if you mean knowledge kept to a man's self, or in a man's keeping, that is afraid or ashamed to exert it. _Hum._ Well, be it as you propose; go on. _Sev._ I say, then, your taste for books and fine writing, your judgment in the faculties of the soul, my town education, and skill in the airs, motions, graces, and abilities of the body, will enable us to carry on this our design of supporting a new playhouse, and keeping a School of Action.