EPILOGUE.

He Play is at an end, but where's the Plot?
That circumstance our Poet Bayes forgot,
And we can boaft, though 'tis a plotting Age,

No place is freer from it than the Stage.
The Ancients Plotted, though, and ftrove to please
With fence that might be understood with ease;
They every Scene with so much wit did store
That who brought any in, went out with more :
But this new way of wit does so surprise,
Men lofe their wits in wond'ring where it lyes.
If it be true, that Monftrous births prefage
The following mischiefs that afflicts the Age,
And fad difafters to the State proclaim;
Plays, without head or tail, may do the fame.
Wherefore, for ours, and for the Kingdoms peace,
May this prodigious way of writing cease.
Let's have, at least, once in our lives, a time
When we may hear some Reason, not all Rhyme :
We have these ten years felt its Influence;
Pray let this prove a year of Profe and Sence.

FINIS

J. & W. Rider, Printers, London.

CAREFULLY EDITED BY

EDWARD ARBER.

Associate, King's College, London, F:R.G.S., &c

Ready.

1. JOHN MILTON.

(1) A decree of Starre-Chamber, concerning Printing, made the eleucnth day of July last past. London, 1637. (2) An Order of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament for the regulating of Printing, &c. London, 14 June, 1643.

(3) AREOPAGITICA; A speech of Mr. John Milton for the liberty of Vnlicenc'd Printing, to the Parlament of England. London [24 November], 1644. Sixpence.

2. HUGH LATIMER, Bp. of Worcester.

SERMON ON THE PLOUGHERS. A notable Sermon of ye reuerende father Master Hughe Latimer, whiche he preached in ye Shrouds at paules churche in London, on the xviii daye of Januarye. The yere of oure Loorde MDXLviii. Sixpence.

3. STEPHEN GOSSON, Stud. Oxon.

(1) THE SCHOOLE OF ABUSE. Conteining a pleasaunt invective against Poots, Pipers, Plaiers, Jesters, and such like Caterpillers of a Commonwealth; Setting up the Flagge of Defiance to their mischievous exercise, and ouerthrowing their Bulwarkes, by Prophane Writers, Naturall reason, and common experience. A discourse as pleasaunt for gentlemen that fauour learning, as profitable for all that wyll follow vertue. London [August P] 1579.

(2) AN APOLOGIE OF THE SCHOOLE OF ABUSE, against Poets, Pipers, and their Excusers. London, [December P] 1579. Sixpence,

4. Sir PHILIP SIDNEY.

AN APOLOGIE FOR POETRIE.

Written by tho

right noble, vertuous, and learned Sir Phillip Sidney, Knight., London, 1595.

Sixpence.

5. E. WEBBE, Chief Master Gunner.

The rare and most vvonderful thinges which Edward Webbe an Englishman borne, hath seene and passed in his troublesome trauailes, in the Citties of Ierusalem, Dammasko, Bethelem, and Galely: and in the Landes of Iewrie, Egipt, Gtecia, Russia, and in the land of Prester Iohn. Wherein is set foorth his extreame slauerie sustained many yeres togither, in the Gallies and wars of the great Turk against the Landes of Persia, Tartaria, Spaine, and Portugall, with the manner of his releascment, and comming into Englande in May last. London, 1590. Sixpence.

6. JOHN SELDEN.

TABLE TALK: being the Discourses of John Selden Esq.; or his Sence of various Matters of Weight and High Consequence relating especially to Religion and State. London, 1689. One Shilling.

7. ROGER ASCHAM.

TOXOPHILUS. The schole of shooting conteyned in tvvo bookes. To all Gentlemen and yomen of Englande, pleasaunte for theyr pastime to rede, and profitable for theyr use to folow, both in war and peace. London, 1545. One Shilling.

8. JOSEPH ADDISON.

CRITICISM OF MILTON'S PARADISE LOST. From the Spectator: being its Saturday issues between 31 December, 1711, and 3 May, 1712.

9. JOHN LILLY.

London.
One Shilling.

(1) EUPHUES. THE ANATOMY OF WIT. Verie pleasaunt for all Gentlemen to read, and most necessarie to remember. Wherein are contained the delightes that Wit followeth in his youth by the pleasantnesse of loue, and the happinesse he reapeth in age, by the perfectnesse of Wisedome. London, 1579.

(2) EUPHUES AND HIS ENGLAND. Containing his voyage and aduentures, myxed with sundry pretie discourses of honest Loue, the Discription of the Countrey, the Court, and the manners of that Isle. Delightful to be read, and nothing hurtfull to be regarded: wher-in there is small offence by lightnesse giuen to the wise, and lesse occasion of loosenes proffered to the wanton. London, 1580. Four Shillings. [Oct. 1.

English Reprints-In Preparation.

3

10. GEORGE VILLIERS, Second Duke of Buckingham.

THE REHEARSAL. As it was Acted at the Theatre Royal. London, 1672. With the readings of subsequent editions up to the author's death, and the passages parodied. One Shilling. [Nov.1

II. GEORGE GASCOIGNE, Esquire.

(1) A Remembravnce of the wel imployed life, and godly end of George Gaskoigne, Esquire, who deceassed at Stalmford in Lincoln shire, the 7 of October 1577. The reporte of GEOR WHETSTONS, Gent an eye witnes of his Godly and charitable End in this world. London 1577.

(2) Certayne notes of Instruction concerning the making of verse or ryme in English, vvritten at the request of Master Edouardo Donati. 1575.

(3) THE STEELE GLAS. A Satyre compiled by George Gasscoigne Esquire [Written between April 1575 and April 1576]. Togither with

(4) THE COMPLAYNT OF PHYLOMENE. An Elegye compyled by George Gasscoigne Esquire [between April 1562 and 3rd April 1576.] London 1576.

One Shilling. [Nov. 15.

12. JOHN EARLE, successively Bishop of Worcester and Salisbury.

MICRO-COSMOGRAPHIE. or, a Peece of the World discovered, in Essayes and Characters. London 1628. With the additions in subsequent editions during the Author's life time. One Shilling. [Dec. 1

Copies will be sent post free by the Publishers on the receipt of

Seven stamps for Sixpenny copies;
Fourteen Stamps for Shilling copies;
Fifty-four stamps for Euphues.

Uncut copies can be had, at the same price. It will be convenient, if they are ordered in advance.

Handsome cases, in best roan and cloth, Roxburgho style, to contain six of the 'Reprints,' are now ready. One Shilling each; post free, Fourteen stamps. ALEXANDER MURRAY & SON, 30, Queen Square, London, W.C.

t

CHIEFLY IN SIXPENNY AND SHILLING VOLUMES.

THE 'English Reprints' have proved a greater success than I anticipated. More copies of the several works issued have been already sold in the open market, than have been produced, in the same time, by any Printing Club, by subscription.

I am thereby encouraged to go on with the series, and I trust to bring out, during the remainder of the year, the works announced on pages 1 to 3: so that the first year's issue will contain specimens of

16th Cent. Ascham, Bp. Latimer, Gascoigne, Gosson, Lilly, E. Webbe,

and Sir Philip Sidney.

7

17th Cent. Bp. Earle, Milton, Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, and Selden. 4

If therefore any go about ignorant of thus much of our literature, they only will be to blame: for it seems impossible to reprint these works cheaper. Strange to say, their cheapness militates at present against their universal sale: but this obstacle will doubtless melt away, as the series become more known.

As nothing can foster more the fresh and increasing general study in our language and literature, than the free circulation throughout the country, of cheap as well as accurate texts; the English Reprints' will continue to be issued separately, at the general prices originally announced.

The English Reprints' being thus current, all can now most readily avail themselves of the capabilities of English, as a gymnasium of intellect, an instrument of culture; or passing within the Treasure-house of the language, possess themselves of the stored-up precious wealth of thought and fact, the accumulation therein of century after century.

The Areopagitica is already read in King's College and other schools: other suitable texts will doubtless be similarly utilized.

I desire to call attention to Euphues. It was last published in 1636. The present impression will contain the two parts, originally issued separately in 1579 and 1580; will be printed from copies supposed to be unique; and will form a volume of between 400 and 500 pages. This work represents a fashion of expression in the Elizabethan age, and gave a word Euphuism to the English language. An acquaintance with it, is essential to an accurate knowledge of the literature of the time of Shakespeare.

In conclusion, I tender my sincere thanks to some for their zealous advocacy of the series: and can but hope it may appear to others worthy of like approval and encouragement.

23 April, 1868.

EDWARD ARBER.