EDITED BY HAVELOCK ELLIS. [Illustration] _THE BEST PLAYS OF THE OLD DRAMATISTS._ [Illustration] THOMAS OTWAY. [Illustration] In Half-Crown Monthly Volumes uniform with the present Work. THE MERMAID SERIES. _THE BEST PLAYS OF THE OLD DRAMATISTS._ _The following Volumes are in preparation_:-- BEN JONSON (3 vols.). Edited by BRINSLEY NICHOLSON and H. C. HERFORD. PATIENT GRISSIL AND OTHER PLAYS. Edited by ERNEST RHYS, ETC. THE PARSON'S WEDDING AND OTHER PLAYS. Edited by W. C. WARD and A. W. VERITY. DRYDEN (2 vols.). Edited by R. GARNETT. CHAPMAN (2 vols.). Edited by BRINSLEY NICHOLSON and W. G. STONE. SHADWELL. Edited by GEORGE SAINTSBURY. ARDEN OF FEVERSHAM, and other Plays attributed to SHAKESPEARE. Edited by ARTHUR SYMONS. VANBRUGH. Edited by W. C. WARD. FARQUHAR. Edited by A. C. EWALD. THE SPANISH TRAGEDY AND OTHER PLAYS. Edited by W. H. DIRCKS, ETC. LEE. Edited by EDMUND GOSSE and A. W. VERITY. ETHEREGE AND LACY. Edited by ARTHUR SYMONS and W. C. WARD. _THOMAS OTWAY._ _From a Picture by Riley._ _THE BEST PLAYS OF THE OLD DRAMATISTS._ THOMAS OTWAY _WITH AN INTRODUCTION AND NOTES_, BY THE HON. RODEN NOEL. [Illustration: "I lie and dream of your full Mermaid wine."--_Beaumont._] UNEXPURGATED EDITION. LONDON: _VIZETELLY & CO., 16, HENRIETTA STREET_, COVENT GARDEN. 1888. "What things have we seen Done at the Mermaid! heard words that have been So nimble, and so full of subtle flame, As if that every one from whence they came Had meant to put his whole wit in a jest, And had resolved to live a fool the rest Of his dull life." _Master Francis Beaumont to Ben Jonson._ "Souls of Poets dead and gone, What Elysium have ye known, Happy field or mossy cavern, Choicer than the Mermaid Tavern?" _Keats._ [Illustration] CONTENTS. PAGE THOMAS OTWAY vii DON CARLOS, Prince of Spain 1 THE ORPHAN 85 THE SOLDIER'S FORTUNE 173 VENICE PRESERVED 287 APPENDIX 387 [Illustration]