The A UTHORS F RIEND TO THE R EADER .

The P RINTERS haste calls on; I must not driue
My time past Sixe , though I begin at Fiue .
One houre I haue entire, and 'tis enough:
Here are no Gipsie Iigges , no Drumming stuffe ,
Dances , or other Trumpery to delight,
Or take by common way the common sight.
The A VTHOR of this Poem , as he dares
To stand th' austerest Censure, so he cares
As little what it is. His owne Best way
Is, to be Iudge and A VTHOR of his P LAY
It is his Knowledge makes him thus secure;
Nor do's he write to please, but to endure.
And (Reader) if you haue disburs'd a shilling
To see this worthy S TORY , and are willing
To haue a large encrease, (if rul'd by me)
You may a M ARCHANT and a P OET be,
'Tis granted for your twelue-pence you did sit,
And See , and Heare , and Vnderstand not yet.
The A VTHOR (in a Christian pitty) takes
Care of your good, and Prints it for your sakes:
That such as will but venter Six-pence more,
May Know , what they but Saw and Heard before:
'Twill not be money lost, if you can reed,
(Ther's all the doubt now); but your gains exceed
If you can Vnderstand , and you are made
Free of the freest and the noblest trade.
And in the way of P OETRY , now adayes,
Of all that are call'd Workes , the best are P LAYES .