antiquary, or else worne out by times antiquitie; what it was it greatly skils not; but therein thus it happened. An olde new-made gentleman herein dwelt, of no small credite, exceeding wealth, and large conscience. Hee had gathered from many to bestow vpon one; for though hee had two sonnes, he esteemed but one, that beeing, as himselfe, brought vp to bee golds bondman, was therefore helde heyre apparent of his ill-gathered goods. The other was a scholler, and married to a proper gentlewoman, and therefore least regarded; for tis an olde sayde saw, 'To learning and law theres no greater foe then they that nothing know.' Yet was not the father altogether vnlettered, for hee had good experience in a Nouerint, and by the vniuersall tearmes therein contained had driuen many gentlemen* to seeke vnknowne countries: wise he was, for hee bare office in his parish, and sate as formally in his foxe-furde gowne as if he had beene a very vpright-dealing burges: hee was religious too, neuer without a booke at his belt, and a bolt in his mouth, ready to shoote through his sinnefull neighbour." This old usurer, called Gorinius, "after many a goutie pang that had pincht his exterior partes, many a curse of the people that mounted into heauens presence," is struck by a mortal disease. "At this instant,' says he when on his death bed, '(O griefe to part with it!) I haue in ready coyne threescore thousand pound, in plate and jewels xv thousand, in bonds and specialities as much, in land nine hundred pound by yeare; all which, Lucanio, I bequeath to thee: onely I reserue for Roberto, thy well-read brother, an old groate (being the stock I first began with), wherewith I wish him to buy a groats-worth of wit; for hee in my life hath reproued my manner of life, and therefore at my death shall not be contaminated with corrupt gaine." Gorinius dies. Lucanio " condition simple, shamefast, and flexible to any counsell; which Roberto perceiuing, and pondering how little was left to him, grew into an inward contempt of his fathers vnequall legacy, and determinate resolution to worke Lucanio all possible iniurie hereupon thus conuerting the sweetnesse of his study to the sharpe thirst of reuenge, he (as enuie is seldome idle) sought out fit companions to effect his vnbrotherly resolution. Neyther in such a case is ill company farre to seeke, for the sea hath scarce so many ieoperdies as populous cities haue deceyuing Syrens, whose eyes are adamants, whose wordes are witchcrafts, whose dores leade downe to death. With one of these female serpents Roberto consorts; and they conclude what euer they compassed, equally to share to their contents. This match made, Lucanio was by his brother brought to the bush; where hee had scarce pruned his wings but he was fast limed, and Roberto had what he expected." Lucanio is lured to the house of the fair courtesan, Lamilia, "which was in the suburbes of the citie, pleasantly seated, and made more delectable by a pleasaunt garden wherein it was scituate.” He presents her with a diamond of great value, and is cheated out of his money at "Lamilia beeing the winner, prepared a banquet, which finished, Roberto dice. gentlemen] Old ed. "gentlewomen." was of aduised his brother to depart home, and to furnish himselfe with more crownes, least hee were outcrackt with new commers. Lucanio, loath to be outcountenanst, followed his aduise, desiring [him] to attend his returne, which he before had determined vnrequested; for, as soone as his brothers backe was turned, Roberto begins to reckon with Lamilia, to be a sharer as well in the money deceitfully wonne as in the diamond so wilfully giuen. But shee, secundum mores meretricis, iested thus with the scholler. 'Why, Roberto, are you so well read, and yet shew yourselfe so shallowe-witted, to deeme women so weake of conceit that they see not into mens demerites? Suppose (to make you my stale to catch the woodcocke your brother) that, my tongue ouerrunning mine intent, I speake of liberall reward: but what I promised, there is the point; at least what I part with I wil bee well aduised. It may bee you will thus reason had not Roberto trained Lucanio unto Lamilias lure, Lucanio had not now beene Lamilias prey; therefore, sith by Roberto she possesseth her prize, Roberto merites an equall part. Monstrous absurd, if so you reason as well you may reason thus: Lamilias dogge hath kilde her a deere; therefore his mistris must make him a pastie. No more, pennilesse poet thou art beguilde in me; and yet I wonder how thou couldest, thou hast beene so often beguilde. But it fareth with licentious men as with the chased bore in the streame, who, being greatly refreshed with swimming, neuer feeleth any smart vntill he perish, recurelesly wounded with his own weapons. Reasonlesse Roberto, that hauing but a brokers place, asked a lenders reward; faithles Roberto, that hast attempted to betray thy brother, irreligiously forsaking thy wife, deseruedly beene in thy fathers eye an abiect; thinkest thou Lamilia so loose, to consort with one so lewde? No, hypocrite: the sweet gentleman thy brother I will till death loue, and thee while I liue loath. This share Lamilia giues thee, other gettest thou none.' As Roberto would haue replyed, Lucanio approched to whom Lamilia discourst the whole deceit of his brother, and neuer rested intimating malitious arguments till Lucanio vtterly refused Roberto for his brother and for euer forbad him of his house. And when he would haue yeelded reasons and formed excuse, Lucanio's impatience (vrged by her importunat malice) forbad all reasoning with them that were reasonlesse, and so, giuing him Jacke Drums entertainement, shut him out of dores: whom we will follow, and leaue Lucanio to the mercy of Lamilia. Roberto, in an extreme extasie, rent his hayre, curst his destinie, blamed his trecherie, but most of all exclaimed against Lamilia, and in her against all enticing curtizans." "With this he laid his head on his hand, and leant his elbow on the ground, sighing out sadly, 'Heu patior telis vulnera facta meis!' On the other side of the hedge sate one that heard his sorrow; who getting ouer, came towards him, and brake off his passion. When he approached, he saluted Roberto in this sort. Gentleman,' quoth he, 'for so you seeme, I haue by chaunce heard you discourse some part of your griefe, which appeareth to be more then you will discouer or I can conceit. But if you vouchsafe such simple comfort as my ability will yeeld, assure yourselfe that I will endeuour to doe the best that eyther may procure your profit or bring you pleasure; the rather, for that I suppose you. are a scholler, and pittie it is men of learning should liue in lacke.' Roberto wondring to heare such good words, for that this yron age affoordes few that esteeme of vertue, returned him thankefull gratulations, and, vrged by necessitie, vttered his present griefe, beseeching his aduise how he might be imployed. Why, easily,' quoth he, 'and greatly to your benefit; for men of my profession get by schollers their whole liuing.' What is your profession?' sayde Roberto. Truly, sir,' sayde you he, 'I am a player.' man of great liuing; for if by outward habite men should be censured, I tell you, would bee taken for a substantiall man.' 'So am I where I dwell,' quoth the player, 'reputed able at my proper cost to build a windmill. What though the world once went hard with me, when I was fayne to carry my playing fardle a foot-backe? Tempora mutantur, I know you know the meaning of it better then I, but I thus conster it, It is otherwise now; for my very share in playing apparrell will not bee solde for two hundred pounds.' 'Truely,' sayde Roberto, 'it is strange that you should so prosper in that vaine practise, for that it seemes to me your voyce is nothing gracious.' 'Nay, then,' sayd the player, 'I mislike your iudgement: why, I am as famous for Delphrygus and The King of Fairies as euer was any of my time; The Twelue Labours of Hercules haue I terribly thundered on the stage, and played three scenes of the Diuell in The Highway to Heaven.' 'Haue ye so?' said Roberto ; then I pray you pardon me.' 'Nay, more,' quoth the player, 'I can serue to make a pretty speech, for I was a country author, passing at a Morrall ;* for it was I that pend The Morrall of Mans Wit, The Dialogue of Diues, and for seuen yeeres space was absolute interpreter of the puppets. But now my almanacke is out of date: 'A player!' quoth Roberto; 'I tooke you rather for a gentle The people make no estimation Was not this prety for a plaine rime extempore? if ye will, yee shall haue more.' 'Nay, it is enough,' said Roberto; but how mean you to vse me?' 'Why, sir, in making playes,' sayde the other; 'for which you shall bee well paied, if you will take the pains.' Roberto perceiuing no remedie, thought it best to respect his present necessitie, [and], to trye his witte, went with him willinglie: who lodged him at the townes end in a house of retayle, where what happened our poet you shall hereafter heare. There, by conuersing with bad company, hee grew a malo in peius, falling from one vice to another; and so hauing found a veine to finger crownes, hee grew cranker then Lucanio, who by this time began to droope, being thus dealt withall by Lamilia. Shee hauing bewitched him with her enticing wiles, caused him to consume in lesse then two yeares that infinite treasure gathered by his father with so many a poore * Morrall i. e. Moral-play. mans curse. His lands solde, his iewels pawnde, his money wasted, hee was casseerde by Lamilia that had coosened him of all. Then walked he, like one of D[uke] Humfreyes squires, in a threed-bare cloake, his hose drawne out with his heeles, his shoes* vnseamed lest his feete should sweate with heate: now (as witlesse as he was) he remembred his fathers wordes, his kindnes to his brother, his carelesnesse of himselfe. In this sorrow hee sate downe on Pennilesse Bench; where when Opus and Vsus tolde him, by the chimes in his stomacke, it was time to fall vnto meate, he was faine with the camelion to feed vpon the ayre and make patience his repast. While he was at his feast, Lamilia came flaunting by, garnished with the iewels whereof shee beguiled him which sight serued to close his stomacke after his cold cheare. Roberto hearing of his brothers beggerie, albeit he had little remorse of his ¡ miserable state, yet did hee seeke him out, to vse him as a property; whereby Lucanio was somewhat prouided for. But being of simple nature, he serued but for a blocke to whet Robertoes wit on which the poore foole perceiuing, he forsooke all other hopes of life, and fell to be a notorious pandar, in which detested course he continued till death. But Roberto now famoused for an arch-playmaking poet, A his purse, like the sea, sometime sweld, anon like the same sea fell to a low ebbe ; yet seldome he wanted, his labours were so well esteemed. Marry, this rule hee kept, whateuer he fingered aforehand, was the certaine meanes to vnbinde a bargaine ; and being asked why he so sleightly dealt with them that did him good, 'It becomes me,' sayth he, 'to be contrarie to the world; for commonly when vulgar men receiue earnest, they doe performe; when I am payd any thing afore hand, I breake my promise.' He had shifte of lodgings, where in euery place his hostesse writte vp the wofull remembrance of him, his laundresse, and his boy; for they were euer his inhoushold, besides retayners in sundrie other places. His company were lightly the lewdest persons in the land, apt for pilferie, periurie, forgerie, or any villanie. Of these he knew the caste to cogge at cardes, coosin at dice; by these he learned the legerdemaines of nips, foysts, conicatchers, crosbyters, lifts, high lawyers, and all the rabble of that vncleane generation of vipers; and pithilie could hee paint out their whole courses of craft: so cunning he was in all crafts as nothing rested in him almost but craftinesse. How often the gentlewoman his wife laboured vainely to recall him, is lamentable to note: but as one giuen ouer to all lewdnes, he communicated her sorrowful lines among his loose sculs, that iested at her bootlesse laments. If he could any way get credit on scores, hee would then brag his creditors carried stones, comparing euery round circle to a groning O, procured by a painfull burthen. The shameful end of sundry his consorts, deseruedly punished for their amisse, wrought no compunction in his heart; of which one, brother to a brothell he kept, was trust vnder a tree, as round as a ball." Here I must interrupt the narrative, and call the reader's attention to the *shoes] Old ed. "hose." concluding part of the sentence last quoted, which has not been noticed by any of Greene's biographers. The person who "was trust under a tree, as round as a ball,” undoubtedly means an infamous character named Ball* (commonly called Cutting Ball); who, when Greene was "driven to extreme shifts," used to gather together a band of ruffianly companions, to guard him from arrests; and who eventually was hanged at Tyburn. By the "brothell he kept" we are as certainly to understand the said Ball's sister; of whom we shall afterwards have a glimpse when the poet is on his death-bed. The fruit of this amour was a son, baptized Fortunatus Greene,† who died before his father had been quite a year in the grave. nes. Roberto, the tale goes on, was "nothing bettered, but rather hardned in wickedAt last was that place iustified, God warneth men by dreames and visions in the night, and by knowne examples in the day but if he returne not, he comes vpon him with iudgement that shall be felt. For now when the number of deceites caused Roberto bee hatefull almost to all men, his immeasurable drinking had made him the perfect image of the dropsie, and the loathsom scourge of lust tyrannized in his bones; lining in extreme pouerty, and hauing nothing to pay but chalk, which now his host accepted not for currant, this miserable man lay comfortlessly languishing, hauing but one groat left (the iust proportion of his fathers legacie), which looking on, he cryed, 'O, now it is too late, too late to buy wit with thee! and therefore will I see if I can sell to carelesse youth what I negligently forgot to buy.' "Heere, gentlemen, breake I off Roberto's speech, whose life in most part agreeing with mine, found one selfe punishment as I haue done. Hereafter suppose me the said Roberto, and I will go on with that he promised: Greene will send you now his Groatsworth of Witte, that neuer shewed a mites worth in his life; and though no man now be by to doe mee good, yet, ere I die, I will by my repentance indeuor to do all men good." *“His [Greene's] imploying of Ball (surnamed Cuttinge Ball), till he was intercepted at Tiborne, to leauy a crew of his trustiest companions to guarde him in daunger of arrestes; his keping of the foresaid Balls sister, a sorry ragged queane, of whom he had his base sonne Infortunatus Greene." Gabriel Harvey's Fovre Letters, and certaine Sonnets; especially touching Robert Greene, &c. 1592, p. 10. Nash alludes to this blackguard: "And more (to plague you for your apostata conceipts), ballets shalbee made of your base deaths, euen as there was of Cutting Ball."-Haue with you to SaffronWalden, &c., 1596, Sig. 1. + "Gabriel Harvey, in his 'Four Letters and Certaine Sonnets,' 1592, names Greene's child ironically Infortunatus Greene, to which he was led by its real name, Fortunatus: when it was born we know not, but it was buried in 1593 from Holywell Street, Shoreditch, and the following is the registration of its interment at St. Leonard's : 1593. Fortunatus Greene was buryed the same day.' [i. e. 12 August.] The place from whence the body was brought, 'Halywell,' was added by the clerk in the margin." Collier's Memoirs of the Principal Actors in the Plays of Shakespeare,—Introd., p. xx., note. |