142 
urbs.” * 
turbed the play.’ 
taken. 
* Supra, 43, 140°. 
* Supra, 46, 50-51 (plat), 147. 
*Works of Ben Jonson (ed. Gif- 
ford-Cunningham, 1816), I, 146’. 
Gifford seems to have taken Dek- 
ker’s satire on conditions in any 
theatre of a later time (or of no 
time) as applicable at any time or 
all times to this particular theatre. 
ej.Ab. Collier, op. act” LIT,’ 144: 
Collier seems to be transferring to 
English territory conditions exist- 
ing half a century to a century and 
a half later on the French stage, or 
basing: conclusions upon conditions 
of 1616 and later, w. 1., 142°-437, 
: Prologue. 
Tue Devin 1s AN Ass: that is to- 
day, 
The name of what you are met for, 
a new play. 
Yet grandees, would you were not 
come to grace 
Our matter, with allowing us no 
place. 
Though you presume Satan, a sub- 
tle thing, 
And may have heard he’s worn in 
a thumb-ring ; 
Do not on these presumptions force 
us act 
In compass of a _ cheese-trencher. 
This tract 
Will ne’er admit our Vice, because 
of yours. 
CHILDREN OF THE CHAPEL AT BLACKFRIARS 
The gallants occupied the right and left wings of the 
stage itself, built and reserved especially for such use.? | 
There is no reason to suppose with Gifford that the audience 
on the Blackfriars stage of the Chapel Boys was indecent ;* nor 
with Collier that their presence there annoyed the actors and dis- 
On the contrary they seem to have been gen- 
teel and ultra-fashionable, and the stage was specially adapted, 
fitted, and reserved for their presence. 
the custom was, presumably, abused and undue liberties were 
Even in 1616 Jonson in the Prologue to The Devil is an 
Ass* indicates the fad was pushed to such popularity among the © 
grandees that at a new play at Blackfriars the actors were left 
barely elbow-room for their performance. 
Py 
But in the course of years 
Sometime prior to 
Anon, who worse than you, the 
fault endures F 
That yourselves make? when you — 
will thrust and spurn 
And knock us on the elbows; and 
bid, turn; 
As if, when we had spoke, we must _ 
be gone, 
Or, till we speak, must all run in, — 
to one, " 
Like the young adders, at the old 
ones mouth! d 
Would we could stand due north, 
or had no south, 
If that offend; or were Muscovy ~ 
glass, ; 
That you might look our scenes — 
through as they pass. 
We know not how to affect you. 
If you'll come 
To see new plays, pray you afford — 
us room, 
And shew this but the same face 
you have done 
Your dear delight, The Devil of 
Edmonston. 
Or, if for want of room it must 
miscarry, 
*Twill be but justice that your cen- 
sure tarry, 
Till you give some: and when six 
times you have seen’t 
If this play do not like, the Devil 
is in’t.” 
—The Works of Ben Jonson (with 
a Memoir by Gifford, 1838), 343. 
Se ee 
256 
