Chapter XVIII: Prologue: ,

By Mr. _Dryden_.

Heaven save ye, Gallants; and this hopeful Age,
Y’ are welcome to the downfal of the Stage:
The Fools have laboured long in their Vocation;
And Vice (the Manufacture of the Nation)
O’er-stocks the Town so much, and thrives so well,
That Fops and Knaves grow Drugs, and will not sell.
In vain our Wares on Theaters are shown,
When each has a Plantation of his own.
His Cruse ne’er fails; for whatsoe’er he spends,
There’s still God’s plenty for himself and Friends.
Shou’d Men be rated by Poetick Rules,
Lord, what a Poll would there be rais’d from Fools!
Mean time poor Wit prohibited must lie,
As if ‘twere made some _French_ Commodity.
Fools you will have, and rais’d at vast expence;
And yet as soon as seen, they give offence.
Time was, when none would cry that Oaf was me,
But now you strive about your Pedigree:
Bauble and Cap no sooner are thrown down,
But there’s a Muss of more than half the Town.
Each one will challenge a Child’s part at least,
A sign the Family is well increas’d.
Of Foreign Cattle there’s no longer need,
When we’re supply’d so fast with _English_ Breed,
Well! Flourish, Countrymen; drink, swear and roar,
Let every free-born Subject keep his Whore;
And wandring in the Wilderness about,
At end of Forty Years not wear her out.
But when you see these Pictures, let none dare
To own beyond a Limb or single share:
For where the Punk is common, he’s a Sot,
Who needs will father what the Parish got.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.

MEN.

_Indian King_ called _Cavernio_, Mr. _Bowman_.
_Bacon_, General of the _English_, Mr. _Williams_.
Colonel _Wellman_, Deputy Governor, Mr. _Freeman_.
Col. _Downright_, a loyal honest Colonel, Mr. _Harris_.
_Hazard_ } Two Friends known to one another Mr. _Alexander_,
_Friendly_ } many Years in _England_, Mr. _Powell_.
_Daring_ } Lieutenant Generals to _Bacon_ Mr. _Sandford_,
_Fearless_ } Mr. _Cudworth_.
_Dullman_, a Captain, Mr. _Bright_.
_Timorous Cornet_, } Mr. _Underhill_,
_Whimsey_, } Justices of the Peace, Mr. _Trefuse_,
_Whiff_, } and very great Cowards, Mr. _Bowen_,
_Boozer_, } Mr. _Barns_.
_Brag_, a Captain.
_Grubb_, One complain’d of by Capt. _Whiff_,
for calling his Wife Whore.
A Petitioner against _Brag_, Mr. _Blunt_.
Parson _Dunce_, formerly a Farrier, fled from
_England_, and Chaplain to the Governour, Mr. _Baker_.
_Jeffery_, Coachman to _Widow Ranter_.
_Cavaro_, an _Indian_, Confidant to the
_Indian King_.
_Jack_, a Sea-Boy.

Clerk; Boy; An Officer; Messenger; Seaman; 2nd Seaman;
A Highlander.

WOMEN.

_Indian Queen_, call’d _Semernia_,
belov’d by _Bacon_, Mrs. _Bracegirdle_.
Madam _Surelove_, belov’d by _Hazard_, Mrs. _Knight_.
Mrs. _Chrisante_, Daughter to Colonel
_Downright_, Mrs. _Jordan_.
_Widow Ranter_, in love with _Daring_, Mrs. _Currer_.
Mrs. _Flirt_, a Tapstress, Mrs. _Cory_.
Mrs. _Whimsey_.
Mrs. _Whiff_.
_Jenny_, Maid to _Widow Ranter_.
_Nell_, Maid at the Inn.
_Anaria_, Confidante to the _Indian Queen_.
Maid to Madam _Surelove_.

Priests, Indians, Bailiffs, Soldiers, Rabble, Negroes,
with other Attendants.

SCENE, _Virginia_: in _Bacon’s_ Camp, _James-Town_ and the
surrounding Country.