These lines are in A, C, D, E and F. The text is that of A.
_To that noble and true lover of learning_,
Sir Walter Aston Knight
_of the Balls_.
Sir I must aske your patience, and be trew.
This play was never liked, unlesse by few
That brought their judgements with um, for of late
First the infection, then the common prate
Of common people, have such customes got
Either to silence plaies, or like them not.
Under the last of which this interlude,
Had falne for ever prest downe by the rude
That like a torrent which the moist south feedes,
Drowne's both before him the ripe corne and weedes.
Had not the saving sence of better men
Redeem'd it from corruption: (deere Sir then)
Among the better soules, be you the best
In whome, as in a Center I take rest,
And propper being: from whose equall eye
And judgement, nothing growes but puritie:
(Nor do I flatter) for by all those dead,
Great in the muses, by _Apolloes_ head,
He that ads any thing to you; tis done
Like his that lights a candle to the sunne:
Then be as you were ever, your selfe still
Moved by your judement, not by love, or will
And when I sing againe as who can tell
My next devotion to that holy well,
Your goodnesse to the muses shall be all,
Able to make a worke Heroyicall.
_Given to your service_
John Fletcher.
These lines are in A and B.
To the inheritour of all worthines,
_Sir William Scipwith.
Ode._
If from servile hope or love,
I may prove
But so happy to be thought for
Such a one whose greatest ease
Is to please
(Worthy sir) I have all I sought for,
For no ich of greater name,
which some clame
By their verses do I show it
To the world; nor to protest
Tis the best
These are leane faults in a poet
Nor to make it serve to feed
at my neede
Nor to gaine acquaintance by it
Nor to ravish kinde Atturnies,
in their journies.
Nor to read it after diet
Farre from me are all these Ames
Fittest frames
To build weakenesse on and pitty
Onely to your selfe, and such
whose true touch
Makes all good; let me seeme witty.
_The Admirer of your vertues_,
John Fletcher.
These verses are in A and B.
_To the perfect gentleman Sir_
Robert Townesend.
If the greatest faults may crave
Pardon where contrition is
(Noble Sir) I needes must have
A long one; for a long amisse
If you aske me (how is this)
Upon my faith Ile tell you frankely,
You love above my meanes to thanke yee.
Yet according to my Talent
As sowre fortune loves to use me
A poore Shepheard I have sent,
In home-spun gray for to excuse me.
And may all my hopes refuse me:
But when better comes ashore,
You shall have better, newer, more.
Til when, like our desperate debters,
Or our three pild sweete protesters
I must please you in bare letters
And so pay my debts; like jesters,
Yet I oft have seene good feasters,
Onely for to please the pallet,
Leave great meat and chuse a sallet.
_All yours_ John Fletcher:
These lines are in A and B.
To the Reader.
If you be not reasonably assurde of your knowledge in this kinde of Poeme,
lay downe the booke or read this, which I would wish had bene the
prologue. It is a pastorall Tragic-comedie, which the people seeing when
it was plaid, having ever had a singuler guift in defining, concluded to
be a play of contry hired Shepheards, in gray cloakes, with curtaild dogs
in strings, sometimes laughing together, and sometimes killing one
another: And misling whitsun ales, creame, wasiel & morris-dances, began
to be angry. In their error I would not have you fall, least you incurre
their censure. Understand therefore a pastorall to be a representation of
shepheards and shephearddesses, with their actions and passions, which
must be such as may agree with their natures at least not exceeding former
fictions, & vulgar traditions: they are not to be adorn'd with any art,
but such improper ones as nature is said to bestow, as singing and Poetry,
or such as experience may teach them, as the vertues of hearbs, &
fountaines: the ordinary course of the Sun, moone, and starres, and
such like. But you are ever to remember Shepherds to be such, as all the
ancient Poets and moderne of understanding have receaved them: that is,
the owners of flockes and not hyerlings. A tragie-comedie is not so called
in respect of mirth and killing, but in respect it wants deaths, which is
inough to make it no tragedie, yet brings some neere it, which is inough
to make it no comedie: which must be a representation of familiar people,
with such kinde of trouble as no life be questiond, so that a God is as
lawfull in this as in a tragedie, and meane people as in a comedie. This
much I hope will serve to justifie my Poeme, and make you understand it,
to teach you more for nothing, I do not know that I am in conscience
bound.
_John Fletcher_.
This address is in A and B.
Unto his worthy friend Mr _Joseph Taylor_
upon his presentment of the _Faithfull Sheperdesse
before the King and Queene, at White-hall, on
Twelfth night_ [F _stops here_] _last_. 1633.
When this smooth Pastorall was first brought forth,
The Age twas borne in, did not know it's worth.
Since by thy cost, and industry reviv'd,
It hath a new fame, and new birth atchiv'd.
Happy in that shee found in her distresse,
A friend, as faithfull, as her Shepherdesse.
For having cur'd her from her courser rents,
And deckt her new with fresh habiliments,
Thou brought'st her to the Court, and made [mad'st, F] her be
A fitting spectacle for Majestie.
So have I seene a clowded beauty drest
In a rich vesture, shine above the rest.
Yet did it not receive more honour from
The glorious pompe, then thine owne action.
Expect no satisfaction for the same,
Poets can render no reward but Fame.
Yet this Ile prophesie, when thou shall come
Into the confines of _Elysium_
Amidst the Quire of Muses, and the lists
Of famous Actors, and quicke Dramatists,
So much admir'd for gesture, and for wit,
That there on Seats of living Marble sit,
The blessed Consort of that numerous Traine,
Shall rise with an applause to [and, E and F] entertaine
Thy happy welcome, causing thee sit downe,
And with a Lawrell-wreath thy temples crowne.
And mean time, while this Poeme shall be read,
_Taylor_, thy name shall be eternized.
For it is just, that thou, who first did'st give
Unto this booke a life, by it shouldst live.
Shack. Marmyon.
These lines are in D, E and F. The text is that of D. The variations in
the dedicatory verses printed in the Second Folio will be found on p. 523.
p. 372,
l. 3. A-F] Actus Primi.
l. 13. A and B _omit_] jolly. C _some copies_] merry games.
l. 15. A, B and D] brows be girt.
p. 373,
l. 6. A and B] That I will I.
l. 19. F _misprints_] fair heap.
P-375,
l. 12. A and B] these Groves.
l. 17. A and B] mires. A and B _omit_] to find my ruine.
l. 27. A-F _omit_] him.
l. 29. C and D] have gone this.
l. 30. A-F] his rights.
l. 33. 2nd Folio _misprints_] yours.
p. 376,
l. 10. A-D] livers.
P. 377,
l. 13. A and B] fall speedily.
l. 14. A-D] let me goe.
l. 21. A-F] seaman.
l. 22. A and B] than the straightest.
p. 378,
l. 19. A and B] our soules.
l. 40. C] The gentle.
p. 379,
l. 11. A and B] a wild.
l. 18. A and B] _Enter an other Shepheardesse that is in love with
Perigot_.
p. 381,
l. 4. 2nd Folio _misprints_] ever.
l. 11. A, B and F] their weaning.
l. 18. A and B] _Enter Sullen._ F] _Enter sullen_ Shepherd.
l. 19. A, B and F _for Shep, (character) read] Sul._
l. 37. A-C _omit character] Shep_. D-F _print] Sull_.
p. 382,
l. 8. A-F _for Shep.] Sul_.
l. 25. 2nd Folio] sufficient, great to.
l. 26. F] eye.
l. 28. A and B] has foile enough.
l. 38. A-F] dares.
p. 383,
l. 5. A-D _omit_] likewise. C] ayre is fresh.
l. 10. A-C] are grown. A-D] Woodbines.
l. 26. A-D] eare of Maid. E and F] eare of maids.
l. 27. C and D] I love.
l. 29. A] so sure a Mold. B-F] so sure the Molde.
p. 384,
l. 7. A-F] whose words.
l. 13. 2nd Folio] dost,
p, 385,
l. 2. A-C] hee is here.
p. 386,
l. 21. A and B] grief and tine.
l. 30. A-C] raine.
l. 35. A-D] swains more meeter.
l. 36. A and B] Than these.
l. 38. A-D] Hide.
p. 387,
l. 3. A-D] hath been.
l. 7. F] _Titans_.
p. 388,
l. 3. A-D] lowde falling.
l. 21. A] his walkes keep.
l. 32. F _omits_] great.
l. 34. A] high birth.
l. 36. A] born a most.
p. 389,
l. 1. A] did lop.
l. 2. A] told me.
l. 6. A] teeth.
l. 8. A _omits_] fast.
l. 14. A] Formentill.
l. 16. A-F] roote. A-D and F] swellings best.
l. 31. A] wanton forces.
l. 39. A] and with joy.
p. 390,
l. 1. A] Enter Shepheard.
l. 2. A] _Shep_. and so throughout.
l. 10. A] make.
l. 15. A and C] you blessed.
l. 16. A] brightly.
l. 19. A] That stiled is the.
l. 36. A-C] into a stround.
p. 391,
l. 1. C] eies.
l. 14. C] Thy way.
l. 16. 2nd Folio _misprints_] Chor.
l. 24. A _omits_] Then. (_char_.).
l. 30. A] flame.
p. 392,
l. 4. A] _Orions_.
l. 5. A-D] woven.
l. 6. A-C] unfould.
l. 7. A] The errant soul. A-D] not the true.
l. 9. A] _Alpen_.
l. 13. A] you do keep.
l. 14. E] that are begotten.
l. 30. A-C] for their.
l. 31. A and B] To seat them.
p. 393,
l. 3. A-D] Doe, and let.
l. 6. A-C _omit_] that here. D _omits_] that.
l. 9. A-F] mourning. A-F] Ewe.
l. 18. A, B and D] For never did.
l. 21. 2nd Folio _misprints_] then.
l. 23. A-D] Shootes.
l. 26. A and B] And present.
l. 31. 2nd Folio _misprints_] maiden.
l. 35. A-D] highly praise.
p. 394,
l. 4. C] ne're knit that eye.
l. 17. C] her shame.
l. 30. A-F] As grinnes.
l. 31. A] at Conies, Squirrels.
P. 395,
l. 1. A-F] stronger way.
l. 26. A and B] dipt over.
p. 396,
l. 8. A and B _insert before Enter Daphnis_] Actus secundus Scena quarta.
l. 14. A-D] thy Shepherds.
l. 19. A and B] My flame.
l. 34. 2nd Folio _misprints_] blesseds.
l. 35. A-F _insert_ Enter Alexis _after_ l. 36.
p. 397,
l. 10. A-D] those.
l. 16. A and B] hold her.
l. 20. A-C] though with.
p. 399,
l. 2. A-F] These rights.
l. 17. A-C] Enter the.
l. 27. C] the feet.
p. 400,
l. 21. A-C] _She awaketh_.
l. 23. A-F] Magick right.
l. 27. A and B] thus reformd thee.
l. 31. C and D _omit_] that.
p. 401,
l. 6. A and C] moone beams.
l. 7. A-D and F] true shape.
l. 13. C] your sacred.
l. 24. A, D and F] she hath got.
l. 37. A-F] of Lyon. A and B] or of Bear.
p. 402,
l. 22. A and B] Ile followe, and for this thy care of me.
C _omits the line_.
l. 27. A-F] with a.
p. 403,
l. 29. A-E] never thou shalt move.
p. 404,
l. 33. A and B _read_] _Alex._ Oh!
_Sat._ Speake againe thou mortall wight.
l. 34. A and B _omit_] _Sat._
p. 405,
l. 3. A-C] beheld you shaggy.
l. 17. A and B] O stray.
l. 25. A-F] Who I did.
l. 29. A-C] _Enter the_.
p. 406,
l. 2. A and B] _of a_ Amoret.
l. 3. A and B] But all these.
l. 29. A and B] swear, Beloved _Perigot_.
l. 37. A-D] then that young.
p. 407,
l. 4. A and B] How should.
l. 11. C] take my _Amoret_.
l. 30. A and B _read_] div'd art, art not.
l. 36. F] still as.
l. 37. C] Though others shows.
l. 38. C] and rest my.
p. 408,
l. 18. A and B _omit_] _in her own shape_.
l. 26. A and B _omit_] Ama.
l. 28. A and B _add_ Amoret _after_ path.
p. 409,
l. 17. A-D] _He flings her_.
p. 410,
l. 4. A and B] locke.
l. 11. F] bank.
p. 411,
l. 9. A-C] silver string.
p. 412,
l. 2. E] Leave there gravel.
l. 20. A-F _add_] Exit.
l. 22. A and B _add_] _Finis Actus Tertis_.
l. 23. A and B _omit_] _Actus Quartus. Scena Prima._
l. 34. A and B] Perigot _to Enter_. Amaryllis, _running_.
p. 413,
l. 2. A-F] heavy Clowdes.
l. 18. A-C] of his breath.
p. 414,
l. 35. A-D] happy bower.
p. 415,
l. 7. A-F] Will undo his.
l. 10. A-F] holy rights.
l. 11. A-D] the feared.
l. 22. A and B] the Gwomes.
l. 35. A and B] thie wound. C] thy wound.
p. 416,
l. 20. A--D] Now a gapes.
l. 31. A--F] to this destiny.
p. 417,
l. 1. A-D] not possible.
l. 2. A and B] all heates, desires.
l. 3. A-F] thoughts.
l. 9. A and B] Playsters.
p. 418,
l. 1. A and B] To deserve the.
l. 11. A-C] sought it.
l. 13. A-C] or shade.
l. 15. A-C] but I.
p. 419,
l. 7. A and B] imagination.
l. 26. 2nd Folio _misprints_] thy and.
l. 30. A and B _omit_] _Exit_ Amoret.
p. 420,
l. 26. A-D] thy lazy.
l. 36. A-D] _looking of_ Perigot.
p. 421,
l. 2. A and B omit] art. E, F and 2nd Folio] thou darest.
l. 12. A-F] Ribandes.
l. 14. A-C _omit_] the.
l. 17. A and B] those too little.
l. 28. C] a fact so.
l. 30. A and B] Came flowing. C] Come flying.
p. 422,
l. 10. A and B] men, most.
l. 12. F] thy vows. l. 13. 2nd Folio] help.
l. 17. A-F] till Crosse fate.
l. 26. C] seeks.
l. 30. A and B _omit_] _Per_.
p. 423,
l. 14. A and B] esteeme.
p. 424,
l. 11. A and B] denye.
l. 18. C] sent my gloves.
l. 26. A and B] bread.
p. 425,
l. 1. A-C] light shutts like.
l. 23. A-D] vild.
p. 426,
l. 5. 2nd Folio] beings.
p. 427,
l. 10. A-C _omit_] to.
l. 19. A-C] once loose both my.
l. 27. 2nd Folio _misprints_] be.
l. 36. A and B] Inconstance.
p. 428,
l. 6. A-D] shalt.
l. 9. A-D] know thee light.
l. 16. A-D] that gave such.
l. 19. A and B _add_] _Finis Actus quartus_.
l. 24. A-D] windowes.
p. 429,
l. 14. A-C] coate.
l. 22. A-D _add_] _and Amarillis_.
l. 31. C] sexes voice and.
p. 430,
l. 5. A-F] that doth thy.
l. 6. A and B] but held to.
l. 12. A-F] Durst a toucht.
l. 22. A-C] will bide.
p. 432,
l. 33. A-F] mornings.
p. 433,
l. 39. A and B _omit_] _The_.
p. 434,
l. 2. C-F] those.
l. 3. A and B] this long night. C _omits_] same.
l. 5. C] eares.
l. 12. F _omits_] and.
l. 19. A-C _omit_] thou.
p. 435,
l. 7. F] I am.
l. 16. A-F] thy chaste.
l. 18. A-F] God.
l. 25. A--D _omit_] To live. A-C] never after to.
p. 436,
l. 3. A and C] thy smiling.
l. 21. A and B] any men may.
l. 29. A-C omit] a.
l. 33. A and B] willd. C] will.
l. 38. A-C _omit_] _Exeunt_.
p. 437,
l. 1. A-F] hand.
l. 2. A and B] in the mornings.
l. 6. A-F] hand.
l. 34. A-D] On these other.
p. 438,
l. 7. A-D] Whose base end is.
l. 22. A and B] Thers a hand. C] Thers at hand.
l. 39. A and B] kneeleth.
p. 439,
l. 7. A-C] Sticke once.
l. 8. A-C] O canst thou. C] leave me.
l. 9. A and C] soon could I.
l. 20. A-D] Perhaps will cleanse thee once again.
l. 24. A-F] are appeas'd.
l. 27. 2nd Folio] Shephered.
p. 440,
l. 14. A and B] their live.
l. 18. A and B _omit_] take a pair.
l. 23. 2nd Folio] offenders,;
p. 441,
l. 13. 2nd Folio _misprints_] bouble.
l. 20. A and B _omit_] and disgrace.
l. 35. C] _brings_ Amoret _in_.
p. 442,
l. 23. A-C] wrong in.
l. 28. 2nd Folio _misprints_] let let. C] wanton lusters.
l. 29. A-F] rights.
l. 30. A-E] Shepheards,
l. 39. A-C] complement.
p. 443,
l. 1. A-C _omit_] still.
l. 4. A-C _for Alex_.} All.
l. 7. A and B] bless you after.
l. 34. C] or bancks.
p. 444,
l. 14. 2nd Folio _misprints_] must.
l. 16. C] tresses.
l. 23. A and B] of the night.
l. 24. C] me light. l. 26. A and B] bring the Coral.
l. 33. A and B] I venter.
l. 36. A-C] these Thicks.
p. 445,
l. 9. 2nd Folio _misprints_] Cle.
l. 10. A-F _add_] Finis. A and B _add also_] _The Pastorall of the
faithfull Shepheardesse._
p. 446,
l. 6. A-D] with the.
l. 14. A and C] this vaine. 2nd Folio] vain.
l. 26. A-F] wants.
l. 28. A-C] Some like if. A-D _omit_] not.
l. 29. A-D] judgments.
l. 32. A-C] aright to thee. D] a right to thee.
p. 447,
l. 8. A and B] much will and.
l. 10. A-C _omit_] now.
pp. 446-7. The lines by Fr. Beaumont are contained in A-F.
p. 447. The lines by Ben Jonson are contained in A and C-F.
p. 448. The Dialogue is contained in D-F.