Chapter VII: Prologue: 176

If, for opinion hath not blaz’d his fame,
Nor expectation fill’d the general round,
You deem his labours slight, you both
confound
Your graver judgment and his merits:
Impartial hearing fits judicious spirits.
Nor let the fruit of many an hour fall
By envy’s tooth or base detraction’s gall:
Both which are tokens of such abject
spirits,
Which, wanting worth themselves, hate
other[s’] merits;
Or else of such, which once made great by
fame,
Repine at those which seek t’ attain the
same.
From both we know all truer judgments free:
To them our Muse, with blushing modesty,
Patiently to her entreats their favour;
Which done, with judgment praise, or else
dislike the labour.

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DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.[177]

GLISTER, _a doctor of physic_.
PURGE, _a jealous apothecary_.
DRYFAT, _a merchant, a brother of the Family_.
GERARDINE, _a lover_ [_of_ MARIA].
LIPSALVE, } _two gallants that only_
GUDGEON, } _pursue city lechery_.
CLUB, _an apprentice_ [_to_ PURGE].
VIAL, _a servant to_ GLISTER.
SHRIMP _and_ }
PERIWINKLE, } _pages to the gallants_.
[_Apprentice and Servants_].

MISTRESS GLISTER.
MISTRESS PURGE, _an elder in the Family_.
MARIA, _niece to_ GLISTER.

THE FAMILY OF LOVE.

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