"Tis ten to one, this play can never please
All that are here. Some come to take their ease,
And sleep an act or two; but those, we fear,
We have frighted with our trumpets; so, 'tis clear,
They'll say, 'tis naught: others, to hear the city
Abused extremely, and to cry,—'That's witty!'
Which we have not done neither: that, I fear,
All the expected good we are like to hear
For this play at this time, is only in
The merciful construction of good women;
For such a one we show'd them.1 If they smile,
And say, 'twill do, I know, within a while
All the best men are ours: for 'tis ill hap,
If they hold, when their ladies bid them clap.
1 In the character of Katharine.