HE Comedy of The Wild-Goose Chase, produced in 1621, was probably written by Fletcher alone. It was successful from the first, and we are told by the actors Lowen and Taylor, who originally published the play, that the author himself, "in despite of his innate modesty," could not refrain from joining with the crowded audience in " applauding this rare issue of his brain." The play could not be found when the first folio was published; as the Stationer in his address to the readers remarks, that "The Wild-Goose Chase hath long been lost, and I fear irrecoverably; for a person of quality borrowed it from the actors many years since, and by the negligence of a servant, it was never returned." The play on its discovery was hailed as one of Fletcher's masterpieces. Farquhar's Inconstant is taken from The WildGoose Chase.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.

DE GARD, a noble staid Gentleman, that, being newly lighted from his Travels, assists his Sister ORIANA in her chase of MIRABEL the WILD-Goose.

LA CASTRE, the indulgent Father to MIRABEL.

MIRABEL, the WILD-GOOSE, a travelled Monsieur, and great defier of all Ladies in the way of Marriage, otherwise their much loose Servant, at last caught by the despised ORIANA.

PINAC, his Fellow-Traveller, of a lively spirit, and Servant to the no less sprightly LILLIA BIANCA.

BELLEUR, Companion to both, of a stout blum numour, in love with ROSALURA.

NANTOLET, Father to ROSALURA and LILLIA BIANCA. LUGIER, the rough and confident Tutor to the Ladies, and chief engine to entrap the WILD-Goose.

A Young Man disguised as a Factor.

Gentlemen, Foot-Boy, Singing-Boy, Two Men disguised as Merchants, Priest, Servants.

ORIANA, the fair betrothed of MIRABEL, and witty follower of the Chase.