ANDRONICUS. A TRAGEDY [PUBLISHED 1661]. Is courted to observe their sumptuous cost, I find my heart lost in my eyes; Whilst that a holy horror seems to dwell Crato. But I love Churches, mount up to the skies, Song for Sleep. BY [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, ["I grieve more that the chapel was defaced."] [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 BARRY3 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, 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'Urfey 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 [See Heywood's Works, ed. 1874, vol. vi. The Prologue.] Dived low as to the center, and then reacht (Nor 'scaped Things Intermediate), for your love : Censure of which some live, and some are cast. Tho' nothing please, yet nothing can offend.2 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 4 In seeking to ape others) cannot 'quit 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. Nor blame I their quick fancies, who can fit Which you to count'nance might the Stage make proud, THE FAWN. A COMEDY [PUBLISHED 1606]. BY JOHN MARSTON In the Preface to this Play, the Poet glances at some of the Playwrights of his time; with a handsome acknowledgment, notwithstanding, of their excellencies. "for my own interest let this once be printed, that, of men of my own addition, I love most, pity some, hate none: for let me truly say it, I once only loved myself for loving them; and surely I shall ever rest so constant to my first affection, that, let their ungentle combinings, discurteous whisperings, never so treacherously labour to undermine my unfenced reputation, I shall (as long as I have being) love the least of their graces, and only pity the greatest of their vices.2 Ipse semi-paganus Ad sacra vatum carmen affero nostrum." 3 COMMENDATORY VERSES BEFORE THREE PLAYS [1665 EDITION] OF SIR WILLIAM KILLIGREW [1606-1695]. BY T. L. [AUTHOR UNKNOWN] I. THAT thy wise and modest Muse Not bawdry Wit does falsely name, And to move laughter puts off shame : [Should be "addiction ".] 2[Half a page omitted.] 3 [For other extracts from Marston see pages 60-72 and 429.] [Translation from the Latin ed., 1674.] |