"His salary was immediately increased by the manager; and he proved afterwards a great ornament of the stage." The delivery of a prologue by an actress--that is to say, of course, by a boy in female dress, personating the character of a woman--appears to have been an unusual proceeding upon the Elizabethan stage.

Mr.Collier has noted instances, however.

In the case of the prologue to "Every Woman in her Humour," 1609, spoken by the heroine Flavia, "Enter Flavia as a Prologue," runs the stage direction; and she begins--"Gentles of both sexes and of all sorts, I am sent to bid ye welcome.

I am but instead of a prologue, for a she prologue is as rare as a usurer's alms." And the prologue to Shirley's "Coronation," 1640, was also delivered by one of the representatives of female character.

A passage is worth quoting, for its description of ordinary prologue-speaking at this time: Since 'tis become the title of our play, A woman once in a Coronation may With pardon speak the prologue, give as free A welcome to the theatre, as he That with a little beard, a long black cloak, With a starched face and supple leg hath spoke Before the plays this twelvemonth.