AIR.-POL.

Ah, happy hours, how fleeting,
Ye danced on down away;
When, my soft vows repeating,
At Daphne's feet I lay !
But from her charms when sunder'd,
As Midas' frowns presage,

Each hour will seem an hundred,
Each day appear an age.

Peasants. A Pol! a Pol!-a Pan! a Pan!
Mid. Silence-this just decree, all, at your peril,
Obedient hear-else I shall use you very ill.

THE DECREE.

Pan shall remain,-
Pol quit the plain.

Chorus. O, tremendous, &c.

Mid. All bow with me to mighty Pan-enthrone himNo pouting-and with festal chorus crown him— [The crowd form two ranks beside the chair, and join in the Chorus, whilst MIDAS crowns him with bays. He is then carried round the stage, the dancers leading the way to the Chorus.]

Chorus. See triumphant sits the bard,

Crown'd with bays, his due reward;
Exiled Pol shall wander far;
Exiled, twang his faint guitar;
While with echoing shouts of praise,
We the bagpipe's glory raise.

Mid. 'Tis well.-What keeps you here, you ragamuffin? Go trudge-or do you wait for a good cuffing? Pol. Now all attend

[Throws off his disguise, and appears as APOLLO. The wrath of Jove, for rapine,

Corruption, lust, pride, fraud, there's no escaping. Tremble, thou wretch! thou stretch'd thy utmost tether; Thou and thy tools shall go to pot together.

Thy scurvy decree,

For Pan against me,

I reward with the ears of an ass.

[MIDAS'S wig falls off, and he appears with the ears of an ass.

"Mid. Detected, balk'd, and small,

"On our marrow-bones we fall.

"Dam. Be pitiful.

"Mid. Forgive us, mighty Sol.-Alas! alas!

"He a stinking old goat, thou an ass, an ass, &c.

[To MYSIS.

[To DAMETAS.

[TO MIDAS.

[To SILENO.

[TO DAPHNE and NYsa.

Recall'd to the sky,

Make all the gods laugh at Midas.

Be thou 'squire his estate

To thee I translate.

To you his strong chests, wicked mass;

Live happy while I,

Chorus. Jove in his chair, &c.

THE END

RULE A WIFE AND HAVE A WIFE.

A COMEDY,

En Five Acts.

BY BEAUMONT & FLETCHER.

PRINTED FROM THE ACTING COPY, WITH REMARKS, BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL.

To which are added,

A DESCRIPTION OF THE COSTUME,-CAST OF THE CHARACTERS, -EXITS AND ENTRANCES, RELATIVE POSITION OF THE PERFORMERS ON THE STAGE, AND THE WHOLE OF THE STAGE BUSINESS.

As now Performed at the

THEATRES-ROYAL, LONDON.

EMBELLISHED WITH A FINE WOOD ENGRAVING,

LONDON:

JOHN CUMBERLAND, 19, LUDGATE HILL.