Love and revenge a tragedy acted at the Duke's Theatre / written by Elkanah Settle ...

PROLOGUE.

PLays without Sc••ne, Machin, or Dance, to hi••, Must make up the defect of shew, with Wit. As sometimes course Girle takes in homely Gown Whose Beauty, though 'tis little, is her own, Before a gaudy Flu••terer of the Town. So 'tis with Plays; and though a Gaudy sight, Song, Dance, and shew, more briskly, move delight; And there th' advantage get o're plain drest sense; Yet Wit and Object have this difference. As poor raw Girls express in their Loves Arms, With untaught Kindness, their unpractis'd Charms, Whilst a Town-Mistriss, with a much more gay And lively aire, does th' amourous Wanton play, Yet they in this perfection get the start: Their Excellence is Nature, hers but Art. Yet still 'tis Object▪ has a pow'r most strong: Nature 'tis true delights you, but not long. 'Tis fine Plays draw an everlasting throng. So with plain Girls one Night or two you'l sleep: But a gay Mistris for whole years you'l keep. Yet though you kindness lyes another way; Our modest Authour humbly begs he may Crowd in this Entertainment: for one Night Divert, though not content your Appetite.