Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Tapio Riikonen and PG Distributed
Proofreaders
Originally published by Robert Dodsley in the Year 1744.
Fourth Edition,
Now first chronologically arranged, revised and enlarged with the Notesof all the Commentators, and new Notes
By
1874-76.
How a Man May Choose a Good Wife from a Bad
The Return from Parnassus
Wily Beguiled
Lingua
The Miseries of Enforced Marriage
A Pleasant conceited Comedie, Wherein is shewed how a man may chuse agood Wife from a bad. As it hath bene sundry times Acted by the Earle ofWorcesters Seruants. London Printed for Mathew Lawe, and are to be soldeat his shop in Paules Church-yard, neare unto S. Augustines gate, at thesigne of the Foxe_. 1602. 4to.
[There were editions in 1605, 1608, 1614, 1621, 1630, 1634, all in 4to.
It is not improbable that the author was Joshua Cooke, to whom, in anold hand on the title of edit. 1602 in the Museum, it is attributed.]
This play agrees perfectly with the description given of it in thetitle; it is certainly a most pleasant conceited comedy, rich in humour,and written altogether in a right merry vein. The humour is broad andstrongly marked, and at the same time of the most diverting kind; thecharacters are excellent, and admirably discriminated; the comic partsof the play are written with most exquisite drollery, and the seriouswith great truth and feeling. Of the present piece there were seveneditions, within a short period, with all of which the present reprinthas been carefully collated, and is now, for the first time, dividedinto acts and scenes.
OLD MASTER ARTHUR.
OLD MASTER LUSAM.
YOUNG MASTER ARTHUR.
YOUNG MASTER LUSAM.[2]
MASTER ANSELM.
MASTER FULLER.
SIR AMINADAB, a Schoolmaster.
JUSTICE REASON.
BRABO.
HUGH, Justice Reason's Servant.
PIPKIN, Master Arthur's Servant.
Boys, Officers, &c.
MISTRESS ARTHUR.
MISTRESS MARY.
MISTRESS SPLAY.
MAID.
Scene, London.
The Exchange.
Enter YOUNG MASTER ARTHUR and YOUNG MASTER LUSAM.
Y. ART. I tell you true, sir; but to every man
I would not be so lavish of my speech:
Only to you, my dear and private friend,
Although my wife in every eye be held
Of beauty and of grace sufficient,
Of honest birth and good behaviour,
Able to win the strongest thoughts to her,
Yet, in my mind, I hold her the most hated
And loathed object, that the world can yield.
Y. LUS. O Master Arthur, bear a better thought
Of your chaste wife, whose modesty hath won
The good