PROLOGUE. IN early times, when plays were first in fashion, And lash'd the growing follies of mankind. Such windmill knights, such odd fantastic ladies, Her finest parts were jilts and rakish fellows; We were presented, and almost put down. How would your useless time, 'twixt five and eight, Have dragg'd its wings, without this lov'd retreat? What other nameless place would be so fit be For pit to ogle boxes, boxes pit? Soon pleas'd; but that, alas! you're squeamish too; Your light digestion must have something new, Or else you'll drive away to puppet-shew. Under these terms of grace young Bayes has writ, You're both with new and merry humour fitted. Dramatis Personae. DRURY-LANE. Men. FLIP, the Commodore, a most illiterate Mr. Moody. Wappineer-tar, MIZEN, a finical sea fop, Mr. Phillimore. ROVEWELL, a man of fortune, Sir CHARLES PLEASANT, Worthy's Mr. R. Palmer. Lieutenant, a man of quality, CRIBBIDGE, Flip's Lieutenant, EASY, a Lieutenant of Marines, INDENT, Flip's Purser, Mr. Williames. Mr. Barrymore. Mr. Burton. COCKSWAIN, HATCHWAY, BINNACLE, Mr. Wrighten. ARABELLA ZEAL, bred a churchwoman, Mrs. Wilson. DORCAS ZEAL, her sister, bred a Quaker, BELINDA, a woman of fortune, JENNY PRIVATE, THE FAIR QUAKER OF DEAL; OR, THE HUMOURS OF THE NAVY. ACT I. SCENE 1. Enter WORTHY as from on board; Cockswain and Crew following. Worthy. So, thank Heaven, I have at last reached my native land. Cockswain, take care the water be sent on board with expedition, and bid the purser hasten to Dover for fresh provisions, and let the sick men be sent on shore the next trip. There's something for the boat's crew; go and refresh yourselves. Cock. All your orders shall be punctually complied with. All Sailors. Thank your noble honour. huzza! Huzza, [Exeunt Cockswain and Crew, Enter ROVEWELL. Wor. My dear Rovewell! Rove. Welcome on shore, dear Worthy! have you fared this voyage? some of your adventures. How Pr'ythee, relate me Wor. Why, faith, Rovewell, my voyage was attended with little pleasure, being generally confined to the barbarous conversation of Flip, my commodore, a most obstinate, positive, ignorant, Wappineer-tar: in short, he has been my eternal plague. Rove. Why, was only you two the convoy? Wor. Yes, to make me completely wretched, Beau Mizen was the third man; a sea-fop, of all creatures the most ridiculous. Rove. I cann't say I am sorry for the usage you have met with; because I am in hopes the nauseous conversation of these coxcombs will make you relish my company the better. Wor. The true sense I have of your wit and judgment will always make me covet your acquaintance; therefore I needed not the wretched preparative I have met with. But how does all our Deal angels? Rove. Why, the few virtuous women are as proud and as insolent as they used to be, and the whores you left here about ten months since, are dead with rottenness, and young strums supply their rooms. This is a monstrous place for wickedness! Fornication flourishes more here than in any sea-port in Europe. You gentlemen of the navy are great encou |