Playes written by the thrice noble, illustrious and excellent princess, the Lady Marchioness of Newcastle.

About this Item

Title: Playes written by the thrice noble, illustrious and excellent princess, the Lady Marchioness of Newcastle.
Author: Newcastle, Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of, 1624?-1674.
Publication: London :: Printed by A. Warren, for John Martyn, James Allestry, and Tho. Dicas ...,; 1662.
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Link to this Item: http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A53060.0001.001
Cite this Item: "Playes written by the thrice noble, illustrious and excellent princess, the Lady Marchioness of Newcastle." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A53060.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 17, 2024.

Pages

PROLOGUE.
THE Poetress sayes, that if the Play be bad,
She's very sorry, and could wish she had
A better plot, more wit and skill to make
A Play that might each several humour take;
But she sayes, if your humours are not fixt,
Or that they are extravagantly mixt;
Impossible a Play for to present
With such variety, and temperiment;
But some will think it tedious, or find fault,
Say the Design or Language is stark naught;
Besides, the loose unsetled brains, she fears
Seeth with squint eyes, and hears with Asses ears;
But she is confident all in this round,
Their understandings clear, and judgements sound;
And if her Play deserves not praise, she knows
They'l neither scoff in words, nor preposterous shows:
Without disturbance, you will let it dye,
And in the Grave of silence let it lye.