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THE

ALCHEMIST.

A

COMEDY,

First Acted in the YEAR 1610.

By the KING'S MAJESTY'S Servants.

WITH THE

Allowance of the Mafter of Revels.

The Author BEN. JOHNSON..

-petere inde coronam,

Unde priùs nulli velârint tempora Muse.

LUCRET.

LONDON

Printed for D. Mid-winter, J. and P. Knapton, H. Knap
lock, A. Ward, A. Bettefworth and C. Hitch,
H. Lintot, J. and R. Tonfon, W. Innys, T. Longman,
R. Robinson, T. Wotton, S. Birt, B. Motte,
C. Corbet and G. Conyers.

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The ARGUMENT.

The Sickness hot, a Mafter quit, for fear,
His Houfe in Town, and left one Servant there,
E afe him corrupted, and gave means to know.

A Cheater, and his Punk; who, now brought low,
Leaving their narrow Practice, were become
Cos'ners at large; and only wanting fome
Houfe to fet up, with him they bere contract,
E ach for a Share, and all begin to act,
Much Company they draw, and much abuse,
In cafting Figures, telling Fortunes, News,
Selling of Flies, flat Bawdry, with the Stone;
Till it, and they, and all in Fume are gone.

PROLOGUE.

Ortune, that favours Fools, thefe two foort Hours
We will away, both for your fakes and ours,

Judging Spectators; and defire in place,

To th' Author Justice, to our felves but Grace.
Our Scene is London, 'cause we would make known,
No Countries Mirth is better than our own:
No Clime breeds better Matter for your Whore,
Bawd, Squire, Impoftor, many Perfons more,
Whofe Manners, now call'd Humours, feed the Stage;
And which have ftill been Subject for the Rage
Or Spleen of Comick Writers. Tho' this Pen
Did never aim to grieve, but better Men;
Howe'er the Age he lives in doth endure

The Vices that he breeds, above their Cure.
But when the wholefome Remedies are fweet,
And in their working, Gain and Profit meet,
He hopes to find no Spirit fo much difeas'd,
But will with fuch fair Correctives be pleas'd:
For here he doth not fear who can apply.
If there be any that will fit fo nigh

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