1898.] SMYTH — PERICLES AND APOLLONIUS. 259 



lost play by Martin Slaughter, that was performed for Henslowe in 

 1597-8. We have also hints of it in Randolph's Oratio Prevari- 

 catoria, 1632, and Hey for Honesty (1636?). It is curious in 

 the last-named work to notice that Randolph slaps Shakespeare for 

 his ''greed," to use a harsh word that became agreeable to the 

 tongue of R. G. White after he had lost his early enthusiasm for 

 Shakespeare, and when he was editing the Riverside edition. 



George Lillo has a play entitled Marina, dedicated *'to the 

 Right Honourable the Countess of Hertford." The '' Prologue " 

 distinguishes between Shakespeare's part in Pericles and that of 

 an inferior hand, and thus ''strove to wake, by Shakespeare's ner- 

 vous lays, the manly genius of Eliza's days." 



Prologue. 



Hard is the task, in this discerning age, 



To find new subjects that will bear the stage ; 



And bold our bards, their low harsh strains to bring 



"Where Avon's swan has long been heard to sing ; 



Blest parent of our scene ! whose matchless wit, 



Tho' yearly reap'd, is our best harvest yet. 



Well may that genius every heart command. 



Who drew all nature with her own sti-ong hand ; 



As various, as harmonious, fair and great, 



With the same vigour and immortal heat. 



As thro' each element and form she shines : 



We view heav'ns hand-maid in her Shakespeare's lines. 



Though some mean scenes, injurious to his fame, 



Have long usurp'd the honour of his name ; 



To glean and clear from chaff his least remains. 



Is just to him, and richly worth our pains. 



We dare not charge the whole unequal play 



Of f^ericles on him ; yet let us say, 



As gold though mix'd with baser matter shines, 



So do his bright inimitable lines 



Throughout those rude wild scenes distinguish'd stand. 



And shew he touch'd them with no sparing hand. 



With humor mix'd in your fore-fathers way, 



We've to a single tale reduc'd our play. 



Charming Marhia's wrongs begin the scene; 



Pericles finding her with his lost queen. 



Concludes the pleasing task, Shou'd as the soul. 



The fire of Shakespeare animate the whole, 



Shou'd heights, which none but he cou'd reach, appear, 



To little errors do not prove severe. 



