EASTWARD HO E.

N 4

THE

PROLOGUE.

NOT

out of envy (for there's no effect,

Where there's no cause), nor out of imitation,

For we have evermore been imitated;

Nor out of our contention to do better,
Than that which is oppos'd to ours in title;
For that was good, and better cannot be.
And for the title, if it feem affected,
We might as well have call'd it, God
you good even!
Only that eastward, weftwards ftill exceeds;
Honour the fun's fair rifing, not his fetting.
Nor is our title utterly enforc'd,

As by the points we touch at you shall fee.
Bear with our willing pains; if dull or witty,
We only dedicate it to the city.

DRA.

DRAMATIS PERSONE."

MEN.

TOUCHSTONE, an honeft goldfmith in the city,
QUICKSILVER, a rake, his 'prentice.
GOLDING, his fober 'prentice.
Sir PETRONEL FLASH, a poor knight,
SECURITY, an old ufurer.
BRAMBLE, a lawyer.

SEAGUL, captain of a fhip.

SCRAPETHRIFT,

SPENDALL,

SLITGUT, a butcher's 'prentice.

POLDAVY, a French taylor.

HOLDFAST,
WOLF,

}

two officers belonging to the Compter.

WOMEN.

Mrs. TOUCHSTONE, the goldfmith's wife.

GIRTRED, her daughter, that affects to be a fine lady.

MILDRED, her good daughter.

WINIFRED, SECURITY's wife.

SYNDEFY, a caft-miftrefs of QUICKSILVER'S.

Mrs. FOND, Mrs. GAZER, BETTRICE, HAMLET, POTKIN,
PAGE, FOOTMAN, CONSTABLES, PRISONERS, &c.

I This enumeration of the Dramatis Perfonæ is not in the firft edition.

EAST.

EASTWARD HOE'.

ACTUS I. SCENA I.

Enter mafier Touchstone and Quickfilver at feveral doors, Quickfilver with his hat, pumps, Short fword and dagger, and a racket trufs'd up under his cloak. At the middle door, enter Golding; difcovering a goldsmith's fhop, and he walking fort turns before it.

A

Touchftone.

ND whither with you now? what loose action are you bound for? come, what comrades are you to meet withal? where's the fupper? where's the rendezvous?

Quickfilver.

Indeed, and in very good fober truth, fir

2 Eafward Hoe.] This play was the joint production of Ben Jonfon, George Chapman, and John Marfton. What part each author had in the compofition cannot be known, but the confequence of writing it had like to have been very ferious to them all. They were accufed of reflecting on the Scots, for which they were committed to prifon, and were in danger of lofing their ears and nofes. They, however, received pardons; and Jonfon, on his releasement from prifon, gave an entertainment to his friends; amongst whom were Camden and Selden. In the midst of the entertainment, his mother, more an antique Roman than a Briton, drank to him, and fhewed him a paper of poison, which fhe intended to have given him in his liquor, having first taken a portion of it herself, if the fentence for his punishment had been executed. Whatever there might be offenfive in this performance at its first appearance, every part of it feems to have been removed in the printing, as nothing now remains which could poffibly be liable to objection. In the year 1685, Mr. Tate brought it on the stage at Dorfet Gardens, with alterations under the title of Cuckolds Haven; or, An Alderman no Conjuror. It was again revived at Drury-lane about the year 1752, and a third time at the fame Theatre in the year 1777 by Mrs. Lenox, under the title of Old City Manners. From this play Mr. Hogarth is fuppofed to have taken the hint of his feries of plates, defcribing the progrefs of the induftrious and idle apprentices.

5

Touchftone.