The youth
is advised to wait until 'the quaking
prologue
hath (by rubbing) got
culor into his cheekes', and then 'to creepe from behind the Arras,'
and plant himself 'on the very Rushes where the Commedy is to daunce,
yea, and vnder the state of Cambises himselfe.
Ben Jonson - The Devil's Association
_Player._ Sir, you may look upon the title.
_Prol._ What, _Spectrum_ once again?'
Jonson often, but not invariably, announces the title of
the play in the prologue or induction. Cf. _Every Man out_,
_Cynthia's Revels_, _Poetaster_, and all plays subsequent
to _Bart. Fair_ except _Sad Shep_.
=3 Grandee's.= Jonson uses this affected form of address
again in _Timber_, ed. Schelling. 22. 27
=4 allowing vs no place.= As Gifford points out, the prologue is a
protest against the habit prevalent at the time of crowding the stage
with stools for the accommodation of the spectators.
Dekker in Chapter 6 of _The Guls Horne-booke_ gives the gallant full
instructions as to the behavior proper to the play-house.
The youth
is advised to wait until 'the quaking
prologue
hath (by rubbing) got
culor into his cheekes', and then 'to creepe from behind the Arras,'
and plant himself 'on the very Rushes where the Commedy is to daunce,
yea, and vnder the state of Cambises himselfe.
' Sir John Davies makes
a similar allusion _(Epigrams_, ed. Grosart, 2. 10). Jonson makes
frequent reference to the subject. Cf. _Induction_ to _The Staple
of News_, _Every Man out_, _Wks._ 2. 31; _Prologue_ to _Cynthia's
Revels_, _Wks._ 2. 210, etc.
=5 a subtill thing.= I. e., thin, airy, spiritual, and so not
occupying space.
