Mar-all, rewards, with her hand and fortune, the ingenious Warner, who has all along laboured to gain her for his master. The alternative was a little embarrassing; but the decorum of the French stage would not have permitted the union of a lady with an intriguing domestic, nor would an English audience have been less shocked with seeing her bestowed on a fool. Besides, Sir Martin Mar-all is a more contemptible character than Lelie, who is less conceited and foolish, than thoughtless and inconsequential. But although the character of a menial was not quite so low in the 17th as in the 18th century,--for pages, and the higher class of attendants in a nobleman's family, were often men of some birth,--yet there is much grossness in the conduct of the lady, who, in pure admiration of wit, marries a man, who never thought of her. "_L'Amant Indiscret_," of Quinault, another French play, has also been consulted by Dryden in furbishing forth the Duke of Newcastle's labours. In that part of the play, which occasions its second title of "The feigned Innocence," the reader will hardly find wit enough to counterbalance the want of delicacy. Sir Martin Mar-all was performed by the Duke of York's servants, probably at the desire of the Duke of Newcastle, as Dryden was engaged to write for the other house. It seems to have been acted in 1667, and was published, but without the author's name, in 1668. PROLOGUE. Fools, which each man meets in his dish each day, Are yet the great regalios of a play; In which to poets you but just appear, To prize that highest, which cost them so dear; Fops in the town more easily will pass; One story makes a statutable ass: But such in plays must be much thicker sown, Like yolks of eggs, a dozen beat to one. Observing poets all their walks invade, As men watch woodcocks gliding through a glade: And when they have enough for comedy, They stow their several bodies in a pye: The poet's but the cook to fashion it, For, gallants, you yourselves have found the wit. To bid you welcome, would your bounty wrong; None welcome those who bring their cheer along. DRAMATIS PERSONÆ. _Lord_ DARTMOUTH, _in love with Mrs_ CHRISTIAN. _Mr_ MOODY, _the Swash-buckler_[A]. _Sir_ MARTIN MAR-ALL, _a fool_. WARNER, _his man_. _Sir_ JOHN SWALLOW, _a Kentish knight_. _Lady_ DUPE, _the old lady_. _Mrs_ CHRISTIAN, _her young niece_. _Mrs_ MILLISENT, _the Swash-buckler's daughter_. ROSE, _her maid_. _Mrs_ PREPARATION, _woman to the old lady_. _Other Servants, men and women, a Carrier, Bailiffs._ SCENE--_Covent Garden_.