Act I.—Scene I.

Enter Alexander.—Alexander speaks.

SILENCE, brave gentlemen; if you will give me an eye,

Alexander is my name, I’ll sing the Tragedy;

A ramble here I took, the country for to see,

Three actors here I’ve brought so far from Italy;

The first I do present, he is a noble king,

He’s just come from the wars, good tidings he doth bring;

The next that doth come in, he is a docter good,

Had it not been for him, I’d surely lost my blood:

Old Dives is the next, a miser you may see,

Who, by lending of his gold, is come to poverty.

So, gentlemen, you see four actors will go round;

Stand off a little while, more pastime shall be found.

[Exeunt.