Chapter XXX: Epilogue

I am sent t' inquire your censure,[1007] and to know
How you stand affected? whether we do owe
Our service to your favours, or must strike
Our sails, though full of hope, to your dislike?
Howe’er, be pleas’d to think we purpos’d well;
And from my fellows thus much I must tell,
Instruct us but in what we went astray,
And, to redeem it, we’ll take any way.

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WOMEN BEWARE WOMEN.

_Women Beware Women. A Tragedy, By Tho. Middleton, Gent. London: Printed for Humphrey Moseley, 1657_—is the second of _Two New Playes_, originally published together in 8vo: see vol. iii. p. 553.

It has been reprinted in the 5th vol. of _A Continuation of Dodsley’s Old Plays, 1816_.

“The Foundation of this Play,” says Langbaine, “is borrow’d from a Romance called _Hyppolito and Isabella_, octavo.” _Acc. of Engl. Dram. Poets_, p. 374.

UPON THE TRAGEDY OF MY FAMILIAR

ACQUAINTANCE, THO. MIDDLETON.

_Women beware Women_; ’tis a true text Never to be forgot; drabs of state vext Have plots, poisons, mischiefs that seldom miss, To murder virtue with a venom-kiss. Witness this worthy tragedy, exprest By him that well deserv’d among the best Of poets in his time: he knew the rage, Madness of women cross’d, and for the stage Fitted their humours; hell-bred malice, strife Acted in state, presented to the life. I that have seen’t can say, having just cause, Never came tragedy off with more applause. NATH. RICHARDS.[1008]

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.

_Duke of Florence._
_Lord Cardinal, brother to the duke._
FABRICIO, _father to Isabella_.
HIPPOLITO, _brother to Fabricio_.
GUARDIANO, _uncle to the Ward_.
_The Ward, a rich young heir._
LEANTIO, _a factor, husband to Bianca_.
SORDIDO, _servant to the Ward_.
_Cardinals, Knights, States of Florence, Citizens,
&c._

LIVIA, _sister to Fabricio and Hippolito_.
ISABELLA, _daughter to Fabricio_.
BIANCA,[1009] _wife to Leantio_.
_Mother to Leantio._
_Ladies._

Scene, FLORENCE.

WOMEN BEWARE WOMEN.

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