Chapter I: Front Matter

EDITED BY HAVELOCK ELLIS.

_THE BEST PLAYS OF THE OLD DRAMATISTS._

THOMAS OTWAY.

In Half-Crown Monthly Volumes uniform with the present Work.

THE MERMAID SERIES.

_THE BEST PLAYS OF THE OLD DRAMATISTS._
_The following Volumes are in preparation_:--

BEN JONSON (3 vols.). Edited by BRINSLEY NICHOLSON and H. C.
HERFORD.

PATIENT GRISSIL AND OTHER PLAYS. Edited by ERNEST RHYS, ETC.

THE PARSON'S WEDDING AND OTHER PLAYS. Edited by W. C. WARD and
A. W. VERITY.

DRYDEN (2 vols.). Edited by R. GARNETT.

CHAPMAN (2 vols.). Edited by BRINSLEY NICHOLSON and W. G. STONE.

SHADWELL. Edited by GEORGE SAINTSBURY.

ARDEN OF FEVERSHAM, and other Plays attributed to SHAKESPEARE.
Edited by ARTHUR SYMONS.

VANBRUGH. Edited by W. C. WARD.

FARQUHAR. Edited by A. C. EWALD.

THE SPANISH TRAGEDY AND OTHER PLAYS. Edited by W. H. DIRCKS,
ETC.

LEE. Edited by EDMUND GOSSE and A. W. VERITY.

ETHEREGE AND LACY. Edited by ARTHUR SYMONS and W. C. WARD.

_THOMAS OTWAY._
_From a Picture by Riley._

_THE BEST PLAYS OF THE OLD DRAMATISTS._

THOMAS OTWAY

_WITH AN INTRODUCTION AND NOTES_,

BY

THE HON. RODEN NOEL.

UNEXPURGATED EDITION.

LONDON:

_VIZETELLY & CO., 16, HENRIETTA STREET_,

COVENT GARDEN.
1888.

"What things have we seen
Done at the Mermaid! heard words that have been
So nimble, and so full of subtle flame,
As if that every one from whence they came
Had meant to put his whole wit in a jest,
And had resolved to live a fool the rest
Of his dull life."

_Master Francis Beaumont to Ben Jonson._

"Souls of Poets dead and gone,
What Elysium have ye known,
Happy field or mossy cavern,
Choicer than the Mermaid Tavern?"

_Keats._

CONTENTS.

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THOMAS OTWAY vii

DON CARLOS, Prince of Spain 1

THE ORPHAN 85

THE SOLDIER'S FORTUNE 173

VENICE PRESERVED 287