Other People's Windows

PREFACE. N his Prologue to the Malcontent, John Marston, in a playfil way, satirizes Shakspere by making a burlesque of the Epilogue to As You Like It. I take it that in Elizabeths time the gallants were less gallant than at present, and usurped the easy seats, which they never do now, while the ladies had to stand for Marston makes his Prologue say, Gentlemen, I could wish, for the womens sakes, that you had all soft cushions and he hopes that the gentlewomen - the good word was not then banished-were in comfort where they stood but he adds, What would they wish more but the play now And that they shall have instantly. A prologue is like a preface, and hence it is cited. Few people attend to it. To those who may do so, I would urge that this book presumes to call itself original, though some of t sketches have appeared before that it is written to amuse, and to be forgotten that, to anticipate those who like small witticisms, it will be sure to achieve one part of its aim and ... v111 PREFACE. finally, that it has been put together not without trouble, since each of the Windows has been visited and studied fairly and honestly. As I have not thrown any mud into my neighbours casements, I hope that heavy stones and brickbats will not be canted, along with the cant of criticism, through mine. And now the play is about to begin. Gentle reader, let your judgment be tempered with good nature, and the author will be happy. Mizy, 1868. To the Second Edition a few explanatory words are necessary. The author has to thank the press and the public for a most generous reception of this work, and to explain that, instead of two volumes, the work is reduced to one, but the type being smaller, the compression has only required the omission of two or three of the minor and weaker chapters, by which, as a whole, the work is improved. December, I 868. OTHER PEOPLES WINDOWS. INTRODUCTORY. A WINDOW IN THE SKY. T happened, according to the learned Dr. Lempriere, who wrote in ancient days, long before the industrious IVilliam smith had begun his neverending but excellent compilations, or the mag b nanimous Anthon had determined, with Transatlantic and auctorial boldness, to plunder all the British authors he could lay finger on, that Jupiter summoned his God-council to examine a new work of his-Man. Thus our artists at the present degenerate age-for, as we all know, all ages, when present, have been and are degenerate - summon their friends to debate, praise, criticise-but never to blame-the new picture they are about to send in to the Royal Academy Exhibition...