EPILOGUS. And thus, in bold yet modest phrase we end. He whose Thalia with swiftest hand hath penn'd This lighter subject, and hath boldly torn Fresh bays from Daphne's arm, doth only scorn Malicious censures of some envious few, 490 Who think they lose if others have their due: But let such adders hiss; know, all the sting, All the vain foam of all those snakes that ring Minerva's glassful shield, can never taint, Poison, or pierce; firm art disdains to faint:-- But yet of you that with impartial faces, With no preparèd malice, but with graces Of sober knowledge, have survey'd the frame Of his slight scene, if you shall judge his flame Distemperately weak, as faulty much 500 In style, in plot, in spirit; lo! if such, He deigns, in self-accusing phrase, to crave Not[294] praise, but pardon, which he hopes to have; Since he protests he ever hath aspired To be belovèd rather than admired. [_Exeunt omnes._ [274] Ed. 1. "till." [275] Ed. 1. "sowers." [276] Eds. 1. and 3. "good." [277] "What could I do withal?" = how could I help it? [278] Throne, chair of state. [279] Eds. 1. and 3. "him." [280] Ed. 2. "Laughter." [281] Old eds. "Whose force writh'd." [282] Old eds. "Laughter." [283] Compare Biron's famous soliloquy in _Love's Labour Lost_, iii. 1. [284] Ed. 2. "him."--Neither reading is intelligible. [285] See Dyce's _Shakesp. Gloss._, s. OCCUPY. [286] The old form of spelling (ridiculed in _Love's Labour Lost_) from the erroneous derivation _ab homine_. [287] Eds. 1. and 3. "_Don. Amor._ Sir Judgement of the countrie." [288] Ed. 1. "'Tis in great case."--Ed. 3. "'Tis in a great case." [289] Eds. 1. and 3. "_Sir_ death," &c. [290] Eds. 1. and 3. "wild." [291] Ed. 1. "And prowde hayht."--Ed. 3. "And proud height." [292] Boasting. [293] Omitted in eds. 1. and 3. [294] Old eds. "For praise." THE WONDER OF WOMEN; OR, THE TRAGEDY OF SOPHONISBA. _The Wonder of Women Or The Tragedie of Sophonisba, as it hath beene sundry times Acted at the Blacke Friers. Written by Iohn Marston. London. Printed by Iohn Windet and are to be sold neere Ludgate._ 1606. 4to. STORY OF THE PLAY.