Yet a word of parting praise must be given to Satan: a small part as far as extent goes, but a splendid example of high comic imagination after the order of Aristophanes, admirably relieved by the low comedy of the asinine Pug and the voluble doggrel by the antiquated Vice. TEXT EDITOR’S NOTE The text here adopted is that of the original edition of 1631. No changes of reading have been made; spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and italics are reproduced. The original pagination is inserted in brackets; the book-holder’s marginal notes are inserted where 1716 and Whalley placed them. In a few instances modern type has been substituted for archaic characters. The spacing of the contracted words has been normalized. 1641 = Pamphlet folio of 1641. 1692 = The Third Folio, 1692. 1716 = Edition of 1716 (17). W = Whalley’s edition, 1756. G = Gifford’s edition, 1816. SD. = Stage directions at the beginning of a scene. SN. = Side note, or book-holder’s note. om. = omitted. ret. = retained. f. = and all later editions. G§ = a regular change. After a single citation only exceptions are noted. See Introduction, page xvi. Mere changes of spelling have not been noted in the variants. All changes of form and all suggestive changes of punctuation have been recorded. THE DIUELL IS AN ASSE: A COMEDIE ACTED IN THE YEARE, 1616. _BY HIS MAIESTIES_ SERVANTS. The Author BEN: IONSON. HOR. _de_ ART. POET. _Ficta voluptatis Cauſâ, ſint proxima veris._ [DEVICE OF A GRIFFIN’S HEAD ERASED] _LONDON_. Printed by _I. B._ for ROBERT ALLOT, and are to be ſold at the ſigne of the _Beare_, in _Pauls_ Church-yard. 1631. THE PERSONS OF THE PLAY. SATAN. _The great diuell._ [93] PVG. _The leſſe diuell._ INIQVITY. _The Vice._ FITZ-DOTTRELL. _A Squire of_ Norfolk. Miſtreſſe FRANCES. _His wife._ 5 MEERE-CRAFT. _The Proiector._ EVERILL. _His champion._ WITTIPOL. _A young Gallant._ MANLY. _His friend._ INGINE. _A Broaker._ 10 TRAINES. _The Proiectors man._ GVILT-HEAD. _A Gold-ſmith._ PLVTARCHVS. _His ſonne._ Sir POVLE EITHER-SIDE. _A Lawyer, and Iuſtice._ Lady EITHER-SIDE. _His wife._ 15 Lady TAILE-BVSH. _The Lady Proiectreſſe._ PIT-FALL. _Her woman._ AMBLER. _Her Gentlemanvſher._ SLEDGE. _A Smith, the conſtable._ SHACKLES. _Keeper of Newgate._ 20 SERIEANTS. _The Scene_, LONDON. The Prologue.