Such Fops are never pleas’d, unless the Play Be stuff’d with Fools, as brisk and dull as they: Such might the Half-Crown spare, and in a Glass At home behold a more accomplisht Ass, Where they may set their Cravats, Wigs and Faces, And practice all their Buffoonry Grimaces; See how this—Huff becomes—this Dammy—flare— Which they at home may act, because they dare, But—must with prudent Caution do elsewhere. Oh that our _Nokes_, or _Tony Lee_ could show A Fop but half so much to th’ Life as you. 107 POST-SCRIPT THIS Play had been sooner in Print, but for a Report about the Town (made by some either very Malitious or very Ignorant) that ’twas _Thomaso_ altered; which made the Book-sellers fear some trouble from the Proprietor of that Admirable Play, which indeed has Wit enough to stock a Poet, and is not to be piec’t or mended by any but the Excellent Author himself; That I have stol’n some hints from it may be a proof, that I valu’d it more than to pretend to alter it: had I had the Dexterity of some Poets who are not more expert in stealing than in the Art of Concealing, and who even that way out-do the _Spartan-_Boys I might have appropriated all to myself, but I, vainly proud of my Judgment hang out the Sign of Angelica (the only Stol’n Object) to give Notice where a great part of the Wit dwelt; though if the Play of the _Novella_ were as well worth remembring as _Thomaso_, they might (bating the Name) have as well said, I took it from thence: I will only say the Plot and Bus’ness (not to boast on’t) is my own: as for the Words and Characters, I leave the Reader to judge and compare ’em with _Thomaso_, to whom I recommend the great Entertainment of reading it, tho’ had this succeeded ill, I shou’d have had no need of imploring that Justice from the Critics, who are naturally so kind to any that pretend to usurp their Dominion, they wou’d doubtless have given me the whole Honour on’t. Therefore I will only say in _English_ what the famous _Virgil_ does in Latin: _I make Verses and others have the Fame_. 429 Notes on the Text. Rover I. Dramatis Personæ p. 9 _Diego, Page to Don Antonio._ Neither 4tos nor 1724 give the page’s name, but it is furnished by the stage direction Act ii. I, p. 32. I have added Hellena’s page, Belvile’s page, and Blunt’s man to the list as it appears in 4tos and 1724. p. 9 _Angelica._ 4tos give ‘Angellica’ throughout. I have retained 1724 ‘Angelica’ as more correct. Act I: Scene i p. 12, l. 5 _my things._ 1724 misprints ‘methinks’. Act I: Scene ii p. 17, l. 14 _as those which ..._ 4to 1677 prints this as a separate line of blank verse. 4to 1709 italicizes it. p. 23, l. 12 _She often passes ..._ 4to 1709 puts this stage direction before Blunt’s speech. p. 24, l. 18 _Ex. all the Women._ I have added ‘except Lucetta’ as she is individually directed to make her exit with Blunt later and not at this point. Act II: Scene i p. 32, l. 23 _Pedro. Ha!_ 1724 omits. p. 32, l. 28 _aside._ 1724 omits.