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d hast but show'd me； how I may resigne Possession of those thing are none of mine。
i。e。 Anne； Lady Lovelace； the poet's kinswoman； who seems to have assisted him in some emergency； unknown to us except through the present lines。
Caractacus（？）。
The mythology of Greece assigned to each wind a separate cave； in which it was supposed to await the commands of its sovereign Aeolus； or Aeolos。 It is to this myth that Lovelace alludes。
A very common form of VILE among early writers。
This reads like a parody on the fourth Eclogue of Virgil。 The early English poets were rather partial to the introduction of miniature…pictures of the Golden Age on similar occasions to the present。 Thus Carew； in his poem TO SAXHAM； says：
〃The Pheasant； Partridge； and the Lark Flew to thy house； as to the Ark。 The willing Oxe of himself came Home to the slaughter with the Lamb。 And every beast did thither bring Himself； to be an offering。〃 Carew's POEMS； 1651； p。 34。
Vice。
We should read THEMSELVES。
A LADY WITH A FALCON ON HER FIST。 TO THE HONOURABLE MY COUSIN A＇NNE＇ L＇OVELACE。＇
I。 This Queen of Prey （now prey to you）； Fast to that pirch of ivory In silver chaines and silken clue； Hath now made full thy victory：
II。 The swelling admirall of the dread Cold deepe； burnt in thy flames； oh faire！ Wast not enough； but thou must lead Bound； too； the Princesse of the aire？
III。 Unarm'd of wings and scaly oare； Unhappy crawler on the land； To what heav'n fly'st？ div'st to what shoare； That her brave eyes do not command？
IV。 Ascend the chariot of the Sun From her bright pow'r to shelter thee： Her captive （foole） outgases him； Ah； what lost wretches then are we！
V。 Now； proud usurpers on the right Of sacred beauty； heare your dombe； Recant your sex； your mastry； might； Lower you cannot be or'ecome：
VI。 Repent； ye er'e nam'd he or head； For y' are in falcon's monarchy； And in that just dominion bred； In which the nobler is the shee。
A PROLOGUE TO THE SCHOLARS。 A COMAEDY PRESENTED AT THE WHITE FRYERS。
A gentleman； to give us somewhat new； Hath brought up OXFORD with him to show you； Pray be not frightedTho the scaene and gown's The Universities； the wit's the town's； The lines each honest Englishman may speake： Yet not mistake his mother…tongue for Greeke； For stil 'twas part of his vow'd liturgie： From learned comedies deliver me！ Wishing all those that lov'd 'em here asleepe； Promising SCHOLARS； but no SCHOLARSHIP。
You'd smile to see； how he do's vex and shake； Speakes naught； but； if the PROLOGUE do's but take； Or the first act were past the pikes once； then Then hopes and joys； then frowns and fears agen； Then blushes like a virgin； now to be Rob'd of his comicall virginity In presence of you all。 In short； you'd say More hopes of mirth are in his looks then play。
These feares are for the noble and the wise； But if 'mongst you there are such fowle dead eyes； As can damne unaraign'd； cal law their pow'rs； Judging it sin enough that it is ours； And with the house shift their decreed desires； FAIRE still to th' BLACKE； BLACKE still to the WHITE…FRYERS； He do's protest he wil sit down and weep Castles and pyramids 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 No； he wil on； Proud to be rais'd by such destruction； So far from quarr'lling with himselfe and wit； That he wil thank them for the benefit； Since finding nothing worthy of their hate； They reach him that themselves must envy at：
This was the theatre in Salisbury Court。 See Collier； H。 E。 D。 P。 iii。 289； and Halliwell's DICTIONARY OF OLD PLAYS； art。 SCHOLAR。 From the terms of the epilogue it seems to have been a piece occupying two hours in the performance。 Judging； I presume； from the opening lines； Mr。 Halliwell supposes it to have been originally acted at Gloucester Hall。 Probably Mr。 Halliwell is right。
A quibble on the two adjacent theatres in Whitefriars and Blackfriars。
THE EPILOGUE。
The stubborne author of the trifle crime； That just now cheated you of two hours' time； Presumptuous it lik't him； began to grow Carelesse； whether it pleased you or no。
But we who ground th' excellence of a play On what the women at the dores wil say； Who judge it by the benches； and afford To take your money； ere his oath or word His SCHOLLARS school'd； sayd if he had been wise He should have wove in one two COMEDIES； The first for th' gallery； in which the throne To their amazement should descend alone； The rosin…lightning flash； and monster spire Squibs； and words hotter then his fire。
Th' other for the gentlemen oth' pit； Like to themselves； all spirit； fancy； wit； In which plots should be subtile as a flame； Disguises would make PROTEUS stil the same： Humours so rarely humour'd and exprest； That ev'n they should thinke 'em so； not drest； Vices acted and applauded too； times Tickled； and th' actors acted； not their crimes； So he might equally applause have gain'd Of th' hardned； sooty； and the snowy hand。
Where now one SO SO spatters； t'other： no！ Tis his first play； twere solecisme 'tshould goe； The next 't show'd pritily； but searcht within It appeares bare and bald； as is his chin； The towne…wit sentences： A SCHOLARS PLAY！ Pish！ I know not why； but th'ave not the way。
We； whose gaine is all our pleasure； ev'n these Are bound by justice and religion to please； Which he； whose pleasure's all his gaine； goes by As slightly； as they doe his comaedy。
Culls out the few； the worthy； at whose feet He sacrifices both himselfe and it； His fancies first fruits： profit he knowes none； Unles that of your approbation； Which if your thoughts at going out will pay； Hee'l not looke farther for a second day。
Perhaps TRIFLING was the word written by Lovelace。 A VENIAL OFFENCE is meant。
It would be difficult to point out a writer so unpardonably slovenly in his style or phraseology as Lovelace。 By 〃Presumptuous it lik't him；〃 we must of course understand 〃Presumptuous that he liked it himself；〃 or presumptuously self…satisfied。
i。e。 the rough and dirty occupants of the gallery and the fair spectators in the boxes。
An exclamation of approval； when an actor made a hit。 The phrase seems to be somewhat akin to the Italian 〃SI； SI；〃 a corruption of 〃SIA； SIA。〃
i。e。 they do not know how to act a play。
This prologue and epilogue were clearly not attached to the play when it was first performed by the fellow…collegians of the poet at Gloucester Hall； as an amateur attempt in the dramatic line； but were first added when 〃The Scholars〃 was reproduced in London； and the parts sustained by ordinary actors。
AGAINST THE LOVE OF GREAT ONES。
Vnhappy youth； betrayd by Fate To such a love hath sainted hate； And damned those celestiall bands Are onely knit with equal hands； The love of great ones is a love； Gods are incapable to