MONSIEUR THOMAS.

B = Second Folio.

The title-page of the Quarto of 1639 (= A) runs as follows:

Monsieur | Thomas. A Comedy. | Acted at the Private House in | Blacke Fryers. | The Author, | John Fletcher, | Gent. | London, | Printed by Thomas Harper, for John Waterson, and are | to be sold at his shop in Pauls Church-yard,| at the signe of the Crowne: | 1639.

This Quarto is sometimes met with under the title of Fathers own Son.

The title-page is followed in the Quarto by these verses and Richard Brome's letter (see ante, p. [174]).

In prayse of the Authour, and his following Poeme.

'Tis both the life of Action and of wit,
When Actors so the fanci'd humours hit,
As if 'twixt them and th' Authour there were strife
How each to other should give mutuall life.
The last this wanted not. Invention strayes
Here in full many pleasant turning wayes,
That like Meanders their curld circles bend,
Yet in a smooth streame runne to crowne the end.
Then 'tis authoriz'd by the Authors name;
Who never writ but with such sprightly flame,
As if the Muses jointly did inspire,
His raptures only with their sacred fire.
And yet perhaps it did participate
At first presenting but of common fate;
When ignorance was judge, and but a few
What was legitimate, what bastard, knew.
The world's growne wiser now: each man can say
If Fletcher made it 'tis an exc'lent play.
Thus Poemes like their Authors may be sed,
Never to live 'till they have first beene dead.

Rich. Brome.