Prologue.
New Titles warrant not a Play for new,
The Subject being old; and 'tis as true,
Fresh and neat matter may with ease be fram'd
Out of their Stories, that have oft been nam'd
With glory on the Stage; what borrows he
From him that wrote old Priam's Tragedy,
That writes his love to Hecuba? Sure to tell
Of Cæsars amorous heats, and how he fell
In the Capitol, can never be the same
To the Judicious; Nor will such blame
Those who pen'd this, for Barrenness when they find
Young Cleopatra here, and her great Mind
Expressed to the height, with us a Maid, and free,
And how he rated her Virginitie.
We treat not of what boldness she did dye,
Nor of her fatal Love to Antony.
What we present and offer to your view,
Upon their faiths the Stage yet never knew.
Let Reason then first to your Wills give laws,
And after judge of them and of their cause.