A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Viii Part 62

BRUCE. I will come down. But first farewell, dear mother, [_Kiss her_.

Farewell, poor little George, my pretty brother!

Now will I shut my shambles in again: Farewell, farewell! [_Closes the cas.e.m.e.nt_.

In everlasting bliss your sweet souls dwell.

Ox. But you must mend, i' faith; in faith you must[380].

LEI. My lord, once more your subjects do submit, Beseeching you to think how things have pa.s.s'd; And let some comfort shine on us, your friends, Through the bright splendour of your virtuous life.

KING. I thank you all; and, Leicester, I protest, I will be better than I yet have been.

BRUCE. Of Windsor Castle here the keys I yield.

KING. Thanks, Bruce: forgive me, and I pray thee see Thy mother and thy brother buried [BRUCE _offers to kiss_ MATILDA.

In Windsor Castle church. Do, kiss her cheek: Weep thou on that, on this side I will weep.

QUEEN. Chaste virgin, thus I crown thee with these flowers.

KING. Let us go on to Dunmow with this maid: Among the hallow'd nuns let her be laid.

Unto her tomb a monthly pilgrimage Doth King John vow, in penance for this wrong.

Go forward, maids; on with Matilda's hea.r.s.e, And on her tomb see you engrave this verse.

"Within this marble monument doth lie Matilda, martyr'd for her chast.i.ty."

[_Exeunt_.

EPILOGUS.

Thus is Matilda's story shown in act, And rough-hewn out by an uncunning hand: Being of the most material points compact, That with the certain'st state of truth do stand.

FINIS.

CONTENTION BETWEEN LIBERALITY AND PRODIGALITY.

_EDITION_

_A Pleasant Comedie, shewing the contention betweene Liberalitie and Prodigalitie. As it was playd before her Maiestie. London Printed by Simon Stafford for George Vincent, and are to be sold at the signs of the Hand in hand in Wood-street over against S. Michaels Church_.

1602. 4to.

The copy of this play in the Garrick collection appears to be the only one known, and from that source it is now for the first time reprinted.

Mr Collier (Hist Engl. Dram. Poetr., ii, 318) points out that there is internal evidence, from the allusion to the 43d year of Queen Elizabeth, that the production was performed before her Majesty in 1600; and it seems likely that it was a revival of a more ancient piece. The writer just quoted remarks that a play, called "Prodigality," was exhibited at Court in 1568 (ibid. note). Philips, author of the "Theatrum Poetarum,"

in a.s.signing it to Greene, followed either some tradition of the time or his own whim; but he is not a trustworthy authority; and his article on Greene is a.s.suredly as puerile and absurd a performance as could be imagined.

In the prologue, the writer refers to _childish years_, presumably his own, and perhaps the "Contention" was a youthful effort. Moreover, from the (not very appropriate) introduction of Latin terms here and there, it is allowable to suspect that the author was preparing to graduate in arts, if he had not done so.

THE PROLOGUE.

The proverb is, _How many men, so many minds_, Which maketh proof how hard a thing it is, Of sundry minds to please the sundry kinds.

In which respect I have inferred this, That where men's minds appear so different, No play, no part, can all alike content.

The grave Divine calls for Divinity: The civil student for Philosophy: The courtier craves some rare sound history: The baser sort, for knacks of pleasantry.

So every sort desireth specially, What thing may best content his fantasy.

But none of these our barren toy affords.

To pulpits we refer Divinity: And matters of estate to Council boards.

As for the quirks of sage Philosophy, Or points of squirriliting scurrility, The one we shun, for childish years too rare, Th'other unfit for such as present are.

But this we bring is but to serve the time, A poor device to pa.s.s the day withal: To loftier points of skill we dare not climb, Lest (perking over-high) with shame we fall.

Such as doth best beseem such as we be, Such we present, and crave your courtesy.

That courtesy, that gentleness of yours, Which wonted is to pardon faults of ours: Which granted, we have all that we require: Your only favour, only our desire.

THE END OF THE PROLOGUE.

THE SPEAKERS.

THE PROLOGUE.

VANITY, _Fortune's chief servant_.

PRODIGALITY, _suitor for Money_.

POSTILION, _his servant_.

HOST.

TENACITY, _suitor for Money_.

DANDALINE, _the hostess_.

TOM TOSS.

d.i.c.k DICER.

FORTUNE.

MASTER MONEY, _her son_.

VIRTUE.