ANDRONICUS. A TRAGEDY [PUBLISHED 1661]. BY Is courted to observe their sumptuous cost, Whilst that a holy horror seems to dwell Crato. But I love Churches, mount up to the skies, Song for Sleep. [Act v., Sc. 6.2] Come, Somnus, with thy potent charms, His sight, smell, hearing, touch, and taste, On working brains, at school all day, At night thou dost bestow a play, And troubled minds thou dost set free; Thou mak'st both friends and foes agree: In thee, and in thy brother Death. [Act v., Sc. 7.] A [THE COMICAL HISTORY OF] DON QUIXOTE. COMEDY, IN THREE PARTS [PUBLISHED 1694-6]. BY THOMAS D'URFEY [1653-1723] Dirge, at the hearse of Chrysostom. Sleep, poor Youth, sleep in peace, 1["I grieve more that the chapel was defaced.”] 2 [Edition of 1661.] Couch'd in the dark and silent grave, Wars, that do fatal storms disperse, With all the charms of peace possest, [Act ii., Sc. 2.2] RAM ALLEY. A COMEDY [PUBLISHED 1611]. BY LODOWICK BARRY 3 In the Prologue the Poet protests the innocence of his Play, and gives a promise of better things. Home bred mirth our Muse doth sing; But if conceit, with quick-turn'd scenes, Which from the Horse-foot fount do flow- That thoughts and wits shall stand at strife, May win your favors, and inherit 1i.e. "may thy sleep be so profound, as not even by dreams of a resurrection to be disturbed:" the language of passion, not of sincere profaneness. [Ed. of 1727, p. 25. For further extracts from D’Ùrfey see pp. 564, 561, 562 and Appendix, 579.] [See Dodsley, vol. x But calm acceptance of his merit,— To you by me he gives his word, Is all his Play does now afford. [Prologue.] THE ROYAL KING AND THE LOYAL SUBJECT. A TRAGI-COMEDY. BY T. HEYWOOD [See page 88]1 In the Prologue to this Play, Heywood descants upon the variety of topics, which had been introduced upon the English stage in that age,-the rich Shakspearian epoch. To give content to this most curious age, The Gods themselves we've brought down to the stage, Deliver up the Furies, by no spell Saving the Muses' raptures: further we Of story, we have all Invention stretcht; [See Heywood's Works, ed. 1874, vol. vi. The Prologue.] VOL. IV.-34 Dived low as to the center, and then reacht (Nor 'scaped Things Intermediate), for your love A CHALLENGE FOR BEAUTY. A TRAGI-COMEDY [See page 84]. BY T. HEYWOOD In the Prologue to this Play, Heywood commends the English Plays; not without a censure of some writers, who in his time had begun to degenerate. The Roman and Athenian Dramas far In seeking to ape others) cannot 'quit Some of our Poets, who have sinn'd in it. For where, before, great Patriots, Dukes, and Kings, 1 His own Play. 2[See also "Serious Fragments," page 573.] 3[Works, vol. v., Prologue. See also page 546.] The foundations of the English Drama were laid deep in tragedy by Marlowe, and others-Marlowe especially-while our comedy was yet in its lisping state. To this tragic preponderance (forgetting his own sweet Comedies, and Shakspeare's), Heywood seems to refer with regret; as in the "Roscian Strain" he evidently alludes to Alleyn, who was great in the "Jew of Malta," as Heywood elsewhere testifies, and in the principal tragic parts both of Marlowe and Shakspeare. HOFFMAN'S TRAGEDY; OR REVENGE FOR A FATHER [PUBLISHED 1631: ACTED 1602].1 AUTHOR UNKNOWN. [BY HENRY CHETTLE] The Sons of the Duke of Saxony run away with Lucibel, the Duke of Austria's Daughter.-The two Dukes, in separate pursuit of their children, meet at the Cell of a Hermit: in which Hermit, Saxony recognizes a banished Brother; at which surprised, all three are reconciled. Aust. That should be Saxon's tongue. Sax. Indeed I am the Duke of Saxony. Sax. Oh subtle Duke, Thy craft appears in framing the excuse. But by the charms and forcings of thy sons. Sax. O would thou would'st maintain thy words, proud Duke! Her. I hope, great princes, neither of you dare Commit a deed so sacrilegious. This holy Cell Is dedicated to the Prince 2 of Peace. The foot of man never profan'd this floor ; Nor doth wrath here with his consuming voice Are here the guardians of a grieved mind. I proclaim truce. Why dost thou sullen stand? If thou mean peace, give me thy princely hand. Sax. Thus do I plight thee truth, and promise peace. ["The Tragedy of Hoffman or A Revenge," etc. Not divided into Acts. See ed. of 1631.] "["Prince" should be "Son".] |