THE PLOTS OF 
 OLD ENGLISH PLAYS 
 
The Plots of 
 
 SOME OF THE MOST P^AMOUS 
 
 Old English Plays, 
 
 WITH INDEX OF THE PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS, 
 
 HENRY GREY, 
 
 AUTHOR OF 
 
 'THE CLASSICS FOR THE MILLION,' 'A KEY TO THE WAVERLEY NOVELS,' 
 
 'A BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF ENGLISH HISTORY,' 
 
 'TROWEL, CHISEL, AND BRUSH,' 'A POCKET ENCYCLOPAEDIA,' 
 
 'RESTING WITHOUT RUSTING/ ETC. 
 
 LONDON 
 GRIFFITH, FARRAN, OKEDEN & WELSH 
 
 (SUCCESSORS TO NEWBERY AND HARRIS) 
 
 WEST CORNER ST PAUL'S CHURCHYARD 
 
 AND SYDNEY, N.S.W. 
 
 1888. 
 
*'"' : * Air'tne* rtorldW stage, ' 
 And all the men and women merely players.' 
 
 As You Like It. 
 
 The Rights of Translation and Reproduction are reserved, 
 
P RE FA C E. 
 
 FROM the days of ancient Greece and Rome 
 to the present time no form of Literature has 
 so clearly portrayed the personal characteristics 
 of the people of different countries, or the 
 ideas and habits of the period in which they 
 lived, as the Drama; and it is thought that 
 the following outlines of some of the most 
 celebrated Old English Plays (not including 
 Shakespeare's, which Charles Lamb epitomised) 
 may create the desire for a fuller acquaintance 
 with their vigorous style, and their vivid pic- 
 tures of the manifold workings of the human 
 
 heart and intellect. 
 
 H. G. 
 
 LONDON, ist September 1888. 
 
 958913 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 WHEN 
 WRITTEN. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 I 
 
 1588. TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT, . (C.Marlowe.} 
 
 1588. TAMBURLAINE, PART II., . (C. Marlowe} 4 
 
 1589. DOCTOR FAUSTUS, ' . . (C. Marlowe.} 8 
 1591. THE JEW OF MALTA, . . (C.Marlowe.} 12 
 1593. EDWARD THE SECOND, . . (C. Marlowe.} 17 
 1595. EVERY MAN IN HIS HUMOUR, . (B.Jonson.} 23 
 1599. THE SHOEMAKERS' HOLIDAY, . (T. Dekker.} 29 
 1608. PHILASTER, . . (Beaumont and Fletcher.} 35 
 1633. A NEW WAY TO PAY OLD DEBTS, (P. Massinger.} 39 
 1641. THE PARLIAMENT OF BEES, . . (J. Day.} 45 
 1680. VENICE PRESERVED, . . (T. Olway.} 50 
 1697. THE MOURNING BRIDE, . . (W. Congreve.} 54 
 1700. THE PROVOKED HUSBAND, . (C. Gibber.} 59 
 1713. CATO, ( /. Addison.} 64 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 WHEN 
 WRITTEN. 
 
 1713. JANE SHORE, (N. Rowe.} 69 
 
 1772. SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER, . (0. Goldsmith.} 73 
 
 1756. DOUGLAS, (/. Home.} 79 
 
 1775. THE JEALOUS WIFE, . . (G. Colman.} 83 
 
 1775. THE RIVALS, . . . . (R. B. Sheridan.'} 88 
 
 ^ 1777. THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL, . (R. B. Shtridan.) 94 
 
 1832. THE HUNCHBACK, . . . (/. S. Knowles.) 101 
 
 1838. THE LADY OF LYONS, . (Sir E. L. Bulwer.} 107 
 
 INDEX OF THE PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS, . . .113 
 
 N.B. The several Acts of each Play are denoted by 
 separate paragraphs. 
 
THE PL O TS OF 
 
 SOME OF THE MOST FAMOUS 
 
 OLD ENGLISH PLAYS. 
 
 TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT. 
 
 (PART THE FIRST. 
 
 By CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE ; written 1588. 
 Principal Characters. 
 
 MYCETES, King of Persia. 
 COSROE, his brother. 
 
 ORTYGIUS, 
 
 i 
 
 Persian lords and 
 / 
 
 MENAPHON, 
 THERIDAMAS, 
 TAMBURLAINE, a Scythian shep- 
 
 BAJAZETH, Emperor of the Turks. 
 KING OF ARABIA. 
 KING OF FEZ. 
 
 KING OF MOROCCO. 
 KING OF ALGIERS. 
 SOL DAN OF EGYPT. 
 GOVERNOR OF DAMASCUS. 
 
 CAPOLIN, an Egyptian captain. 
 PHILEMUS, a messenger. 
 ZENOCRATE, daughter of the Sol- 
 
 dan. 
 
 ANIPPE, her maid. 
 ZABINA, wife of Bajazeth. 
 
 EBEA, her maid. 
 VIRGINS OF DAMASCUS. 
 
 Period, 1363-1402. Localities : Persia, Turkey, Egypt, and Syria. 
 
 MYCETES, who is despised by his brother and 
 courtiers, despatches Theridamas with a thousand 
 horse to bring captive to Persepolis the Scythian chief 
 Tamburlaine, who robs his merchants, and aspires to 
 be monarch of the East ; and in the following scene, 
 Cosroe is offered the crown, in the name of the Persian 
 nobles and Median captains, with the title of Emperor 
 of Asia. Meanwhile Tamburlaine has intercepted Zeno- 
 crate, on her journey from Media to Memphis, laden with 
 A 
 
. 2 , . . THE* PL QtfS 'OF OLD ENGLISH PL A YS. 
 
 presents for her J3etroth.ed, and is promising to make 
 hr *4i En>prss,I if /she .will marry him, when a soldier 
 announces the" 'arrival of Theridamas and his richly- 
 accoutred troopers. Restraining his followers' eagerness 
 to fight them, Tamburlaine parleys with their captain, 
 and persuades him to be the sharer of his ambitious 
 schemes of conquest, at the same time appropriating 
 Zenocrate and her retinue. 
 
 Cosroe, having started to join Theridamas, is urged by 
 his followers to seek the valiant Scythian's aid in usurping 
 his brother's throne, and Mycetes, supported by Meander, 
 advances with an unwilling army against them. Tambur- 
 laine encounters him on the battle-field hiding his crown, 
 and then Cosroe, whose offer to make him regent of Persia 
 he pretends to accept, but plots with Theridamas and 
 Techelles to win the kingdom for himself. A contest 
 ensues, in which Cosroe is wounded, and Tamburlaine, 
 taking the crown, puts it on, and is proclaimed by all King 
 of Persia. 
 
 The Emperor Bajazeth, hearing of Tamburlaine's ex- 
 ploits, sends a messenger to warn him against setting 
 foot in Africa, or attempting to raise the siege of Con- 
 stantinople. Tamburlaine has just surprised Agydas de- 
 claring his love for Zenocrate, and has sent him a dagger 
 with which to stab himself, when the Turkish messenger 
 is introduced. He boasts of his great commander's invin- 
 cible army, and his fifteen tributary kings ; but Tambur- 
 laine promises their crowns to his captains, and declares 
 his assurance of triumph ere he encounters his imperial 
 foe. In the next scene they meet, and, defying each 
 other, entrust their crowns to Zabina and Zenocrate, who 
 invoke success for their respective lords, and indulge 
 in mutual abuse during the battle. Bajazeth is van- 
 quished by Tamburlaine, and the Persian officers bring 
 
TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT. 3 
 
 in the kings' crowns. The Empress is forced to surren- 
 der her husband's, that Zenocrate may crown Tambur- 
 laine Emperor of Africa ; the Turk declares that he will 
 be sovereign of the earth again, while the Scythian boasts 
 that he will extend his dominion from east to west, in- 
 cluding the ocean by the British shore ; and the captive 
 emperor and his wife are bound and carried off, cursing 
 Mahomet for suffering them to be the slaves of Scythian 
 barbarians. 
 
 The Soldan now musters his forces to rescue his 
 daughter, and relieve Damascus, which Tamburlaine is 
 besieging, having caused Bajazeth to be dragged thither 
 in a cage, and using him as his footstool. The Egyptian 
 hosts arrive, united with those of the King of Arabia, 
 and at a banquet Tamburlaine is mocking his prisoners, 
 while Zenocrate pleads for a truce with her father, and 
 Theridamas, Techelles, and Usumcasane are crowned 
 Kings of Algiers, Fez, and Morocco. 
 
 The Governor of Damascus and citizens enter with 
 four virgins, whom they leave to plead with Tamburlaine 
 and his captains ; but their bodies are hoisted on the 
 city walls, and the rest of the inhabitants are put to 
 the sword, while Tamburlaine soliloquises on his love 
 for Zenocrate ; Bajazeth and Zabina are then brought 
 in, and he bids them pray for him during the battle. 
 Bemoaning their fate, however, they brain themselves 
 against the cage ; and Zenocrate is reproaching herself 
 for not having interceded for them, when the King of 
 Arabia enters wounded, and dies contented with her 
 sympathy. Tamburlaine then leads in the Soldan, whom 
 he consoles for his overthrow by making him one of 
 his tributary sovereigns, and promising to marry Zeno- 
 crate, whom he crowns Queen of Persia, and, to gratify 
 her, proclaims a truce with all the world. 
 
TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT. 
 
 (PART THE SECOND.) 
 Principal Characters. 
 
 TAMBURLAINE, King of Persia. 
 CALYPHAS, ^ 
 AMYRAS, \hissons. 
 CELEBINUS, ) 
 TECHELLES, King of Fez. 
 THERIDAMAS, King of Algiers. 
 USUMCASANE, King of Morocco. 
 ORCANES, King of Natalia (Asia 
 
 Minor). 
 
 KING OF JERUSALEM. 
 OF TREBIZOND. 
 
 URIBASSA, a captain. 
 SIGISMUND, King of Hungary. 
 j FREDERICK, \lords of Buda and 
 BALDWIN, / Bohemia. 
 CALLAPINE, son of Bujazeth. 
 ALMEDA, his keeper. 
 PERDICAS, servant to Calyphas. 
 GOVERNOR OF BABYLON. 
 MAXIMUS, a captain. 
 CAPTAIN OF BALSERA. 
 His SON. 
 
 ZENOCRATE, ivife of Tamburlaine. 
 OLYMPIA, wife of Captain, of Bal- 
 sera. 
 
 KING o. 
 
 KING OF TYRE. 
 KING OF AMASIA. 
 
 GAZELLUS, Viceroy of Byron. 
 
 Physicians, lords, citizens, soldiers, Turkish concubines, etc. 
 Period, 1402-1405. Localities', Hungary, Asia Minor, and Babylon, 
 
 ORCANES and Gazellus have reached the banks of 
 the Danube with their hosts, to parley with the 
 King of Hungary, and, although ready to shed more 
 Christian blood, they decide to make peace with him, in 
 order that they may be better able to oppose Tambur- 
 laine, who is advancing with a world of people to over- 
 throw the Turkish dominion. Sigismund enters with 
 Frederick, Baldwin, and their trains, and, after mutual 
 boastings and defiance, he and Orcanes swear to a life- 
 long truce. In the following scene, Callapine, whom 
 Tamburlaine still holds as a prisoner, bribes his keeper 
 Almeda with the promise of a crown, to aid him in 
 escaping to Turkey, and avenging his father's death. 
 Tamburlaine is with Zenocrate at Larissa, inciting their 
 
TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT. 5 
 
 three sons to martial deeds, when Theridamas, Techelles, 
 and Usumcasane arrive to narrate their exploits, and report 
 the forces they have raised in their respective territories 
 to march under his command against the Turks ; and he 
 invites them to a banquet while their troops rest before 
 the fight in which half the world shall perish. 
 
 Sigismund learns from his captains that the Turks 
 have withdrawn the bulk of their army from Hungary, 
 and, persuaded by them that he is not bound to keep 
 faith with infidels, he orders a sudden attack on those 
 who remain, that the Pagans may be discouraged from 
 again daring to war with Christians ; and a messenger 
 brings tidings of his treachery to Orcanes and his 
 followers. The Christian hosts, however, are discom- 
 forted, their king is mortally wounded, and his body is 
 carried off by the Turks, to be devoured by Natolian 
 birds of prey. The scene changes to Zenocrate on her 
 bed of state, with her husband and sons around, and 
 three physicians preparing potions. Tamburlaine fore- 
 shadows her reception in heaven, and would fain die with 
 her, but she bids him live on, and begs for music as she 
 dies. He orders her body to be embalmed in a sheet of 
 gold, that he may carry it about with him to be buried 
 in the same tomb with his, and burns the cursed town 
 which has bereaved him of his love. 
 
 Callapine is crowned Emperor of Turkey by his tribut- 
 ary kings, who place at his disposal the troops they have 
 collected to scourge the pride of Tamburlaine, and he 
 orders them to be ranged in battle array in the form of 
 the semicircled moon. Tamburlaine enters with his 
 sons, and four attendants dragging Zenocrate's hearse. 
 A pillar, banner, and picture are erected to her memory, 
 and, having checked their grief, he teaches his boys the 
 rudiments of war, and how to bear a wound, declaring 
 
6 THE PLOTS OF OLD ENGLISH PLA YS. 
 
 blood to be the god of war's rich livery. In the next 
 scene, Techelles and Theridamas are summoning the 
 Captain of Balsera to surrender, but he bids them do 
 their worst. Within the fortress, however, he is shot 
 through the heart, upon which his wife stabs their son, 
 and, having burnt the bodies, attempts to kill herself, but 
 is carried off by Theridamas, who promises that Tambur- 
 laine will mate her with a viceroy or a king. A messenger 
 brings tidings to Callapine and his followers of the 
 approach of the Persian host, but, confident of victory, 
 they hasten to the field to meet their foe. Tamburlaine 
 parleys with them, threatening that they shall be har- 
 nessed to his coach, and bidding them fight or yield. 
 
 Amyras and Celebinus rouse their elder brother to take 
 part in the battle, but he will not go, and calls his servant 
 to play cards with him. The Turkish kings are led in 
 as prisoners, and Tamburlaine stabs Calyphas for his 
 cowardice in their presence, silencing their execrations 
 with an intimation of the treatment in store for them. 
 Olympia is discovered alone bemoaning her fate, and on 
 Theridamas entering to urge his love, she offers him an 
 ointment which will make his skin invulnerable. Anoint- 
 ing her own throat, she bids him stab, and he will find 
 his weapon blunted ; but he kills her, and consoles him- 
 self by carrying off the body, that it may be tombed with 
 all the pomp the treasure of his kingdom may afford. 
 Tamburlaine enters, drawn in his chariot by two of the 
 captive kings, followed by his sons and attendants, and 
 two more kings led by soldiers. He threatens to feed 
 his prisoners with human flesh, and, boasting of further 
 conquests, gives the command, 'To Babylon, my lords, 
 to Babylon ! ' 
 
 The governor has reproached the citizens for entreat- 
 ing him to hang out a flag of truce, and spurned the 
 
TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT. 7 
 
 advice of Theridamas and Techelles to yield, when Tam- 
 burlaine appears in his king-drawn chariot, and orders 
 the soldiers to march to the assault. The governor is 
 brought in captive, and pleads for his life by indicating 
 where he has hidden more gold than Babylon is worth. 
 Tamburlaine, however, orders him to be hung in chains, 
 and shot ; and having caused the inhabitants of the city 
 to be drowned, and the Mahometan sacred books to be 
 burnt, he gives the word to depart for Persia, when he 
 is seized with a sudden distemper, but declares that sick- 
 ness or death can never conquer him. Callapine and the 
 King of Amasia enter with drums and trumpets, and 
 make their plans for conquering the tyrant of the world, 
 with an army selected from twenty several kingdoms at 
 the least. Theridamas, Techelles, and Usumcasane in- 
 voke the powers of Heaven on Tamburlaine's behalf, and 
 he is seen approaching in his chariot, attended by his 
 sons, languishing with pain, and haunted by the image 
 of death aiming at him with his murderous dart. The 
 physicians offer him a potion, but pronounce his con- 
 dition critical, when a messenger brings news of the ad- 
 vance of the Turks, and he insists on showing his face 
 to dismay them. He, however, soon returns, and calling 
 for a map, he traces his victorious progress, and bids his 
 sons complete the conquest of the world. In obedience 
 to his will, he is lifted from the chariot, and Amyras is 
 crowned as his successor. He then begs that Zenocrate's 
 hearse may be placed beside his chair, and, warning his 
 son to rule with firmness, he utters his last farewell, 'for 
 Tamburlaine, the scourge of God, must die. 5 
 
THE TRAGICAL HISTORY OF 
 DOCTOR FAUSTUS. 
 
 (IN SIXTEEN SCENES.) 
 
 By CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE; appeared 1589. 
 
 Principal Characters. 
 
 THE POPE. DUCHESS OF VANHOLT. 
 
 CARDINAL OF LORRAIN. 
 
 EMPEROR OF GERMANY. 
 DUKE OF VANHOLT. 
 FAUSTUS. 
 
 COR, } friends f Faustus. 
 
 WAGNER, servant to Faustus. 
 
 CLOWN. 
 
 ROBIN, an ostler. 
 
 RALPH, servant at an inn. 
 
 LUCIFER. 
 BELZEBUB. 
 MEPHISTOPHELES. 
 GOOD ANGEL. 
 EVIL ANGEL. 
 
 THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS. 
 DEVILS. 
 
 SPIRITS OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT 
 AND HELEN OF TROY. 
 
 Chorus, vintner, knight^ scholars, etc. 
 Period, 1506. Locality : Germany. 
 
 THE Chorus introduce Faustus, who, as a Doctor of 
 Divinity, excelled in theological disputes, but hav- 
 ing become glutted with learning, is now surfeiting in 
 cursed necromancy. He is discovered sitting in his 
 study, bidding adieu to the subjects which have hitherto 
 interested him, and declaring that the metaphysics of 
 magicians are heavenly. He sends his servant for 
 Valdez and Cornelius ; but before they arrive, the Good 
 and Evil Angels appear, the one urging him to lay aside 
 his necromantic books, and the other to go forward in 
 the art wherein all Nature's treasure is contained. His 
 friends find him ruminating how spirits shall perform 
 his will, and encourage him to be resolute, recommend- 
 
THE TRA GICAL HIS TOR Y OF DOCTOR FA USTUS. 9 
 
 ing his perusal of some works on magic, and promising 
 to instruct him in the rudiments of the art. Wagner 
 meets two scholars, who question him respecting his 
 master's companions, and hurry off to inform the rector, 
 in order that he may reclaim him. Faustus is seen in a 
 grove reciting a Latin incantation, and when Mephis- 
 topheles appears, he commands him to change his shape, 
 and return as a friar. He obeys, and is charged with a 
 message to Lucifer, the commander of all spirits, that 
 Faustus surrenders to him his soul if he will spare him four- 
 and-twenty years to live in voluptuousness, with Mephis- 
 topheles to attend on him, and always obedient to his 
 will. After an interlude between Wagner and the Clown, 
 Faustus is again visited by the Good and Evil Angels, who 
 suggest, in turn, repentance and the pursuit of honour 
 and wealth, and, at his invocation, Mephistopheles en- 
 ters with Lucifer's reply. His request is complied with, 
 but he must bequeath his soul by a deed of gift written 
 with his blood. Having executed it, devils bring him 
 crowns and rich apparel ; and on requesting a wife, 
 Mephistopheles fetches a devil dressed like a woman, 
 arid gives him a book containing directions for raising 
 spirits ready to execute whatever he desires. In the 
 following scene, Faustus is inclined to renounce magic, 
 and the Good and Evil Angels whisper encouragement 
 and discouragement. He resolves not to repent, and 
 argues with Mephistopheles respecting the solar system, 
 and how the world was created. The angels re-enter, 
 uttering the words, 'Too late,' and 'Never too late to 
 repent,' and he prays. Mephistopheles now introduces 
 Lucifer and Belzebub, and the Seven Deadly Sins 
 appear, namely, Pride, Covetousness, Wrath, Envy, 
 Gluttony, Sloth, and Lechery. Faustus questions them, 
 and is promised by Lucifer that he shall visit hell. The 
 
io THE PLOTS OF OLD ENGLISH PL A VS. 
 
 Chorus announce that Faustus is on his way to see the 
 pope, and he enters the privy chamber with Mephis- 
 topheles, discussing the places through which they have 
 passed, and the splendours of Rome. They become 
 invisible, and his holiness and the cardinal, attended 
 by friars, are seen at supper. Faustus snatches at the 
 pope's dishes and cup, and when he crosses himself 
 boxes his ear, upon which they all run away. The 
 friars return singing a dirge, and cursing the supposed 
 ghost, while Faustus and Mephistopheles fling fireworks, 
 and beat them as they retire. The Chorus relate that 
 since his return home the fame of Faustus as an astro- 
 loger has spread into every land, and that he is feasted 
 by the Emperor Charles V. Robin, who has stolen one 
 of the doctor's conjuring books, promises to perform 
 wonders for Ralph's benefit, and induces the vintner to 
 suspect him of secreting a goblet, when Mephistopheles 
 appears, and, setting squibs in their backs, transforms 
 one into an ape, and the other into a dog. The em- 
 peror, with a knight and attendants, desiring some 
 proof of the doctor's skill, calls upon him to raise the 
 forms of Alexander The Great and his beautiful para- 
 mour, and, having despatched Mephistopheles to fetch 
 them, they appear. He then causes horns to protrude 
 from the head of the knight, who had doubted his 
 powers, but removes them at the intercession of the 
 Emperor, who bids him expect a bounteous reward. On 
 his way to Wertenberg with Mephistopheles, he meets a 
 horse-dealer, whom he advises not to ride a horse he has 
 sold him into the water, but he does so, and the horse 
 vanishes away. Wagner now enters, with an invitation 
 from the Duke of Vanholt, and he astonishes the 
 duchess by producing a dish of ripe grapes at her bid- 
 ding. In the next scene he causes Helen of Greece to 
 
THE TRAGICAL HISTORY OF DOCTOR FAUSTUS. 11 
 
 appear to some scholars with whom he is conversing, 
 and an old man exhorts him to repent ; but he hesitates, 
 and begs Mephistopheles to recal Helen, that she may 
 dispel the thoughts which dissuade him from his vow. 
 In the last scene Faustus opens his heart to his scholar 
 friends, telling them of his compact with Lucifer, and 
 that the time has come when he must die eternally. 
 They leave him, and he has one bare hour to live, during 
 which he anticipates with unavailing aspirations his ter- 
 rible fate, and, as the clock strikes twelve, devils enter 
 and carry him away. The Chorus exhort the wise 
 
 1 Only to wonder at unlawful things, 
 Whose deepness doth entice such forward wits 
 To practise more than heavenly power permits.' 
 
THE JEW OF MALTA. 
 
 By CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE ; written 1591. 
 
 Principal Characters. 
 
 FERNEZE, Governor of Malta. 
 
 LODOVVICK, his son. 
 
 SELIM CALYMATH,^W of the Grand 
 
 Turk. 
 MARTIN DEL Bosco, Vice- Admiral 
 
 of Spain. 
 
 MATHIAS, a young gent lew an. 
 BARABAS, a wealthy Jew. 
 ITHAMORE, slave to Barabas. 
 
 Pi LI A BORSA, a Bully. 
 
 Two MERCHANTS. 
 
 THRFE JEWS. 
 
 KNIGHTS, OFFICERS, SLAVES, &c. 
 
 KATHERINE, mother of Mathias. 
 ABIGAIL, daughter of Barabas. 
 BELLAMIRA, a Courtesan. 
 ABBESS AND NUNS. 
 
 MACHIAVEL, speaker of Prologue. 
 Period, 1450. Locality : Malta. 
 
 MACHIAVEL, the personification of unscrupulous 
 policy, introduces the Jew as having become 
 rich by his help, but begs that he may be judged as he 
 deserves. The play opens with Barabas gloating over 
 his treasures, and expecting ships laden with more 
 wealth, when two merchants come to tell him that they 
 are safely at anchor, and he complaisantly decides that 
 he would rather be a hated Jew than pitied in Christian 
 poverty. Three brethren, however, enter to announce 
 the arrival of a fleet from Turkey, and that all the Jews 
 in Malta are summoned to the council house, whither 
 they go. Calymath with his attendants meets the 
 governor and his staff, and having demanded ten years' 
 tribute which is in arrear, grants a month for collecting 
 it, and departs. The Jews are called in and ordered to 
 contribute half their estates ; Barabas attempts to resist 
 the decree, upon which officers are sent to seize the 
 
THE JEW OF MALTA. 13 
 
 whole of his belongings, and convert his mansion into a 
 nunnery. He has, however, hidden some of his wealth 
 under the floor, and to secure it, Abigail meets the friars 
 and abbess, and entreats them to admit her as a peni- 
 tent novice, to the astonishment of Mathias, who 
 happens to see her entering the nunnery, and confides 
 the news to his friend Lodowick. 
 
 Barabas appears during the night under Abigail's 
 window, and she throws down the bags of money and 
 jewels, which he hugs and carries away. Ferneze enters 
 with Martin del Bosco and knights, and gives the 
 admiral leave to sell some captured Turkish slaves, on 
 condition that he secures aid from the King of Spain to 
 enable the Maltese to defy Calymath and keep their gold. 
 Barabas is brooding over his plans of vengeance in the 
 market-place, where he is waylaid by Lodowick, whom 
 he invites to his house to inspect a diamond without a 
 foil, meaning his daughter, and purchases Ithamore as 
 his slave. He next meets Mathias, to whom he has 
 promised Abigail, with his mother, but she turns away 
 from him as cast off from heaven. On their way home, 
 Barabas opens his heart to Ithamore, with whom he 
 fraternises as a fellow-villain, and promises him gold if 
 he proves true and secret. Lodowick now appears, and 
 is introduced to Abigail, who is instructed by her father 
 to make love to him ; and presently Mathias arrives, and 
 is allowed to see her and his rival hand in hand. Lodo- 
 wick and Abigail are then betrothed, and, as he goes 
 away, Mathias re-appears, and is assured by Barabas 
 that he is still the favoured one ; but his daughter, mis- 
 trusting him, is asked whether there are not Jews enough 
 in Malta, that she must doat upon a Christian, and Itha- 
 more is sent with a forged challenge from Lodowick to 
 Mathias. 
 
14 THE PLOTS OF OLD ENGLISH PLA YS. 
 
 Pilia Borsa shows Bellamira a bag of silver which he 
 has stolen from the Jew, but she disdains it, and Ithamore 
 falls in love with her as he passes on his way with the 
 challenge. In the next scene the rivals meet, and kill 
 each other, Barabas looking on from a balcony. Ferneze 
 and Katherine enter, mourning the loss of their sons, and 
 wondering as to the cause of their quarrel, while the at- 
 tendants take away the bodies to be interred in one tomb. 
 Ithamore returns, and tells Abigail of the death of both 
 her lovers, and how it was accomplished ; upon which she 
 sends him for Friar Jacomo, and begs to be admitted 
 once more as a nun, promising not to change her mind 
 again. Barabas receives a letter from his daughter, en- 
 treating him to repent, upon reading which he disinherits 
 her, and, having promised to make Ithamore his heir, 
 sends him with a pot of poisoned rice-porridge as an 
 alms-offering for the nuns' supper on St James's Eve. A 
 messenger arrives at the council-house from Calymath, 
 demanding instant payment of the tribute money, but he 
 receives a defiant reply from the governor, and retires, 
 threatening that his master will turn proud Malta to a 
 wilderness. In the following scene the friars are lament- 
 ing the mortal sickness of the nuns, and Abigail enters, 
 just able, before she dies, to reveal that her father was the 
 cause of her lovers' duel, and to beg her confessor to 
 convert him. 
 
 Barabas and Ithamore are rejoicing at the sound of the 
 tolling bells, when they meet the two friars, and, finding 
 that they know his secret, the Jew offers to endow a re- 
 ligious house with all his earthly goods as an atonement, 
 and sends Ithamore with one of them to his house, while 
 he pretends to confer with the other, and invites him to 
 come later. Bernardine having been got to sleep, is 
 strangled by the Jew and his slave, who stand the body 
 
THE JEW OF MALTA. 15 
 
 outside the house, leaning on a staff ; and when Jacomo, 
 who is jealous lest his companion should outwit him, and 
 secure all the money, arrives, he strikes him with the 
 staff, and the corpse falls into the street. Barabas and 
 Ithamore immediately rush out, and take Jacomo before 
 the magistrates, as the murderer of his comrade. Itha- 
 more comes from seeing the friar hung to call on Bella- 
 mira, and sends Pilia Borsa with a note to his master, de- 
 manding money that he may give it to her, and a second 
 time for more. While the three are carousing, Barabas 
 arrives, disguised as a musician, with a nosegay in his 
 hat, which they all smell, and the Jew chuckles to himself 
 that the scent has poisoned them. 
 
 Ferneze and his staff are preparing to resist the Turks' 
 attack, when Bellamira and Pilia Borsa come to tell him 
 all the Jew's misdeeds, and officers are sent to arrest him 
 and his slave. Ithamore confesses, but Barabas demands 
 to have law, and they are both taken to prison. Kather- 
 ine comes to hear the news, and an officer returns to re- 
 port that the witnesses and prisoners are all dead. The 
 others are buried, but the Jew's body is left on the floor, 
 to be thrown over the walls as a prey for vultures and wild 
 beasts. He revives, however, when alone, and is dis- 
 covered by Calymath and his attendants, whom he offers 
 to make masters of the city by admitting five hundred men 
 through a secret passage.. Ferneze and his knights are 
 now brought in as prisoners, and Barabas, who is pro- 
 claimed Governor, secretly plans with him to betray the 
 Turks, and recover Malta for the Christians. He accord- 
 ingly invites Calymath and his suite to a banquet, and 
 provides a feast for his troops in a monastery. Ferneze 
 enjoins his countrymen to be ruled by him, and wait for a 
 signal to sally forth. In the meantime Barabas is busy 
 with the carpenters arranging for the entertainment, and, 
 
16 THE PLOTS OF OLD ENGLISH PLA YS. 
 
 having accepted a bribe from Ferneze, gives him a knife, 
 with which he is to cut a cord on hearing a charge sounded. 
 Calymath and his Bassoes arrive, and are about to ascend 
 to a gallery prepared for them, when Ferneze offers them 
 greater courtesy, and, cutting the cord, the floor gives way, 
 and Barabas falls into a cauldron which he had intended 
 for his visitors. Martin del Bosco and knights enter ; the 
 Jew appeals in vain to Christians and Turks to help him, 
 and, boasting of his deeply-laid stratagems, dies writhing 
 with pain, and cursing all around him. Calymath would 
 fain depart at once, but learns from Ferneze that all his 
 soldiers have been massacred, and that he will be detained 
 a prisoner until his father makes good the damage done 
 to the city, 
 
 * . . . For Malta shall be freed, 
 Or Selim ne'er return to Ottoman.' 
 
EDWARD THE SECOND. 
 
 By CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE ; written 1593. 
 Principal Characters. 
 
 KING EDWARD II. 
 
 PRINCE EDWARD, his son, afterwards 
 
 Edward III. 
 EARL OF KENT, brother of Edward 
 
 II. 
 
 GAVESTON, a courtier. 
 WARWICK, EARL OF. 
 LANCASTER, EARL OF. 
 PEMBROKE, LORD. 
 ARUNDEL, LORD. 
 LEICESTER, LORD. 
 BERKELEY, LORD. 
 MORTIMER, the elder. 
 MORTIMER, the younger, his nephew. 
 SPENCER, the elder. 
 SPENCER, the younger ', his son. 
 ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 
 
 BISHOP OF COVENTRY. 
 
 BISHOP OF WINCHESTER. 
 
 BALDOCK, tutor to the Kings niece. 
 
 BEAUMONT, clerk of the crown. 
 
 TRUSSEL, a messenger. 
 
 SIR JOHN MALTRAVERS. 
 
 SIR JOHN GURNEY. 
 
 LIGHTBORN, an assassin. 
 
 SIR JOHN OF HAINAULT. 
 
 LEVUNE, a messenger from the King 
 
 of France. 
 
 RICE AP HOWELL, a servant. 
 QUEEN ISABELLA, wife of Edward 
 
 NIECE TO EDWARD II., daughter of 
 the Duke of Gloucester, 
 
 Abbot, monks, heralds, messengers, soldiers, and attendants. 
 Period, 1327. Localities: various parts of England. 
 
 /^AVESTON is reading a letter from Edward invit- 
 ^* ing him 'to share the kingdom with his dearest 
 friend,' and promising to entertain some poor men, 
 when the king enters with his attendant lords, who warn 
 him that if he allows his favourite to stay within the 
 realm, his throne shall float in blood. They retire, and 
 Edward, having conferred several titles upon Gaveston, 
 commits the Bishop of Coventry, at his instigation, to 
 B 
 
i8 THE PLOTS OF OLD ENGLISH PLAYS. 
 
 the Tower, for threatening that he shall be sent back to 
 France. The courtiers are indignant, and the archbishop 
 despatches a messenger to inform the pope of the violence 
 offered to the Church. The queen complains to young 
 Mortimer that Edward frowns upon her, but declares she 
 would rather endure a melancholy life than that he should 
 be oppressed with mutinies. The archbishop, however, 
 proposes that the king's counsellors insist on the banish- 
 ment of his minions, and invites the Mortimers, Lancaster, 
 and Warwick to Lambeth. Returning to Westminster, 
 they call upon Edward to subscribe the paper they have 
 signed, decreeing Gaveston's exile, and having in vain 
 offered them new dignities, or that they may share the 
 monarchy among them, so that he may frolic with his 
 friend, he yields, and they carry off the document to 
 publish it in the streets. Gaveston enters to take leave, 
 and having exchanged pictures, Edward offers to see 
 him on his way, when they encounter the queen, whom 
 they reproach with her love for Mortimer, and the king 
 banishes her from his sight until his favourite is restored 
 to him, leaving her to bewail her marriage day. Several 
 of the courtiers condole with her, and, at young Mortimer's 
 suggestion, they agree to Gaveston being recalled, on the 
 understanding that ' for the realm's behoof, and for the 
 king's,' some base slave be suborned to kill him. The 
 king returns sorrowing for his favourite, but on hearing 
 from Isabella that she has pleaded for his return, he is 
 reconciled to her and his peers, and prepares to welcome 
 Gaveston, whom he has affianced to his niece, leaving 
 the elder Mortimer to urge the younger no longer to 
 oppose the king, to which he assents, after venting his 
 contempt for the base-born upstart. 
 
 Young Spencer is predicting Gaveston's speedy return, 
 and Baldock's promotion on his pupil's marriage, when 
 
EDWARD THE SECOND. 19 
 
 she enters with a letter from her lover, and sends for her 
 coach that they may attend her to the court, where the 
 king is impatiently expecting him. On Gaveston's arrival 
 he is welcomed by Edward, but when the peers salute 
 him by his several titles, he insults them, upon which 
 Lancaster and Mortimer draw their swords, and he is 
 wounded. Edward forbids them his presence, but they 
 defy him, and are hurrying away to rouse the people, 
 when a messenger brings news that the elder Mortimer 
 is taken prisoner by the Scots. They demand his ransom 
 by the king, who offers them the broad seal to gather 
 for him throughout the realm, on which they taunt Edward 
 with having emptied his treasury on Gaveston, and being 
 no longer feared by his enemies or respected by his sub- 
 jects ; his brother also warns him that his love for his 
 favourite will ruin him. The queen enters with his niece 
 and Gaveston, to tell Edward that his nobles are in arms, 
 and to introduce Baldock and Spencer, whom he attaches 
 to his suite ; and declaring l he that he lists to favour 
 shall be great/ retires with him to arrange the marriage 
 feast. The Duke of Kent confers with the peers, and 
 they agree to ring the knell of Gaveston at Tynemouth 
 Castle. The king enters, and hurries him and his 
 attendants away by sea to Scarborough, promising to 
 follow them by land. Lancaster, young Mortimer, and 
 others enter seeking Gaveston, and learning from Isabel 
 whither he is gone, start in pursuit, leaving her with 
 Mortimer's praises on her lips, and resolved, if Edward 
 still rejects her love, that she will go with her son to 
 France and make complaint to the French king. Ga- 
 veston is overtaken, and about to be beheaded, when Lord 
 Arundel arrives with an entreaty from Edward that he 
 may see him before he dies, and the peers entrust him to 
 Arundel and Pembroke's custody. 
 
20 THE PLOTS OF OLD ENGLISH PL A YS. 
 
 The Earl of Warwick pursues them with soldiers, and 
 demanding the prisoner, he is carried off to be executed. 
 Edward is despairing of a compliance with his request, 
 and, while the younger Spencer suggests that the peers 
 should lose their heads, his father arrives with four hundred 
 armed men to defend the king's rights, and the queen 
 brings the news that the King of France has seized Nor- 
 mandy. Edward decides to send Isabel and their son to 
 parley with her brother, charging the boy to bear himself 
 bravely. Arundel returns to report that Gaveston is dead, 
 and the king vows vengeance against the traitors. A 
 herald then arrives from the barons, demanding Spencer's 
 dismissal, and is bidden begone, with the reply that 
 ' Edward with fire and sword follows at his heels.' A 
 battle ensues, the king's forces retreat, and the rebels 
 enter. Edward parleys with them, but refuses to banish 
 his new favourite, and the fight is renewed. The king 
 enters, with Kent and the barons captives. Kent justifies 
 the murder of Gaveston, and is commanded to avoid the 
 royal presence, Warwick and Lancaster are sentenced to 
 be executed, and young Mortimer is committed to the 
 Tower. Levune is then despatched to bribe the lords of 
 France to deny all aid to Isabel, and to proclaim King 
 Edward's wars and victories. 
 
 Kent is soliloquising on his brother's acts when he 
 meets young Mortimer, who has escaped from the Tower, 
 and they start together for France. In the next scene 
 Isabel is lamenting to her boy that they have no friends 
 there, and he urges their return to England. While she 
 hesitates. Sir John of Hainault arrives to offer them a 
 temporary home there, and as she is accepting the 
 invitation, they encounter Kent and young Mortimer, 
 who accompany them to Flanders. Edward is cheered 
 with news of a great execution of rebels ; but a letter 
 
EDWARD THE SECOND. 21 
 
 arrives from Levune announcing the queen's visit to 
 Hainault, and the probability of an invasion from there, 
 to prepare for which he starts with the Spencers and 
 Arundel to Bristol. The threatened landing is ac- 
 complished, and Isabel and young Mortimer proclaim 
 they are come ' to redress the wrongs that Edward hath 
 done his land and queen.' Spencer counsels a retreat 
 to Ireland, and Kent relents towards his brother, but 
 fears Mortimer, whom Isabel loves. She creates her son 
 Lord Warden of the Realm, and intimates that her 
 husband must be dealt with as may seem fit to her 
 followers. She also thanks Rice Ap Howell for bringing 
 in the elder Spencer, and he is beheaded as a traitor. 
 Meanwhile Edward, young Spencer, and Baldock have 
 sought refuge in a Welsh monastery ; but Leicester dis- 
 covers them, and carries off the king on a litter, while 
 Rice and a mower make prisoners of his companions. 
 
 Leicester endeavours to comfort Edward during his 
 confinement at Kenilworth Castle, and, having persuaded 
 him to resign his crown in favour of his son, to the 
 Bishop of Winchester, transfers the custody of him to 
 Lord Berkeley. Mortimer constitutes himself the young 
 Prince's protector, and, with Isabel's connivance, sends 
 Maltravers and Gurney to take charge of the king, 
 with instructions to treat him harshly. Kent visits the 
 usurpers with his nephew, who objects to wear his father's 
 crown, and appeals to his uncle against Mortimer's inter- 
 ference with him ; but the duke durst not offend the 
 guilty pair, and secretly resolves to attempt his brother's 
 rescue. Edward's keepers are subjecting him to cruel 
 indignities, when Kent enters, and bids them release 
 their king ; but they carry him off, and the duke is led 
 away as a prisoner. Mortimer writes a letter, so worded 
 as to be a command either to kill Edward or to spare 
 
22 THE PLOTS OF OLD ENGLISH PL A YS 
 
 his life, which he entrusts to Lightborn, enjoining him 
 to do it bravely, and be secret. Edward III. is duly 
 proclaimed, and gives the champion a purse. Soldiers 
 enter with Kent, and Mortimer orders them to strike 
 off his head, regardless of his nephew's intercession. 
 Lightborn delivers the letter, and, having murdered 
 Edward II., is stabbed by Maltravers and Gurney. 
 Mortimer is betrayed by Gurney ; the young king 
 sentences him to be hanged, drawn, and quartered ; 
 commits Isabel to the Tower ; and attends to his father's 
 obsequies. 
 
EVERY MAN IN HIS HUMOUR. 
 
 By BEN JONSON ; written 1595. 
 Principal Characters. 
 
 KNOVVELL, an old gentleman. \ CAPTAIN BOBADIL, a sharper. 
 
 EDWARD KNOWELL, his son. 
 GEORGE DOWNRIGHT, a squire. 
 WELLBRED, his half-brother. 
 MASTER STEPHEN, Knowell s 
 
 nephew. 
 
 MASTER MATTHEW, a town gulL 
 KITELY, a merchant. 
 THOMAS CASH, his clerk. 
 
 JUSTICE CLEMENT, a magistrate. 
 ROGER FORMAL, his clerk. 
 BRAINWORM, Knowelfs servant. 
 OLIVER COBB, a water-carrier. 
 
 DAME KITELY. 
 
 MISTRESS BRIDGET, her sister. 
 
 TIB, Cobb's wife. 
 
 Servants, etc. 
 Period, 1595. Locality: London. 
 
 OLD Knowell bids Brainworm rouse his young master, 
 and wishes he could wean him from a vanity he 
 affects. Stephen comes to borrow a book about hunting 
 and hawking, and is told by his uncle to learn how to 
 spend his money more wisely than on every bauble he 
 fancies. A servant brings a letter, intended for young 
 Knowell, which his father opens, and finds it contains an 
 invitation to meet some friends in the Old Jewry. He 
 tells Brainworm to re-seal and take it to his son, without 
 saying he has opened it, and resolves to win him from 
 his youthful courses by softness and example. Brain- 
 worm, however, disobeys his master, and offers Stephen 
 a horse to overtake the servant, whom he has a mind to 
 beat, but decides another time will serve. Edward comes 
 in, and having induced his cousin to accompany him to 
 the city, endeavours to excite his self-estimation, which 
 will pass for suburban humour. Matthew, about the same 
 
24 THE PLOTS OF OLD ENGLISH PLA YS. 
 
 time, finds his way to Cob's house, where Bobadil lodges, 
 and is shown by Tib to his room, Cob remarking that 
 he is only a fishmonger's son, but wriggles into acquaint- 
 ance with all the town gallants, such as his guest is, and 
 who swears, smokes, and borrows sixpences of his wife. 
 The captain lets his visitor suppose he is one of his choice 
 spirits, and praises some verses which he reads. Then 
 they talk of Wellbred's brother, who has threatened to 
 cudgel Matthew, and his friend, having given him a lesson 
 in the use of a sword, and ascertained that he has some 
 money to spend, proposes that they go in search of the 
 offender, and challenge him. 
 
 Kitely gives Cash some business directions, and, when 
 he is gone, tells Downright, who is his wife's brother, 
 that he is a jewel whom he has brought up as an orphan, 
 and complains that Wellbred, who lodges with him, has 
 taken to irregular courses, and brings wild associates to 
 hold their revels at his house. Downright asks why he 
 does not speak to him, but Kitely replies that, in his heat 
 of humour, he would probably spread some slander against 
 him. As they are talking, Matthew and Bobadil come to 
 inquire for Wellbred, and the captain calls Downright 
 a scavenger. Kitely begs him not to act rashly ; and 
 resolves that, while he has eyes and ears, neither his 
 lodger and his gallants, nor his wife and her sister, shall 
 impose on him. Dame Kitely calls him to breakfast, 
 but he suspects she has overheard him, and lingers in 
 order to shake off his jealous fever. Brain worm has 
 discovered that his old master intends following his young 
 master, and, disguising himself as a soldier, he hides in 
 Moorfields, in order to intercept and hinder him. Seeing 
 Edward and his cousin on their way, he advances, and, 
 inventing a tale of his adventures, sells Stephen his rapier 
 as a real Toledo, as the humour of necessity will have 
 
E VER Y MAN IN HIS HUMO UR. 25 
 
 it so, and follows them for the money. Old Knowell 
 enters, recalling the reverence paid to a grey head when 
 he was a youth, but now the young have fallen from their 
 fear, and age from it 3 good example. Brainworm returns, 
 and, appealing to his bounty, is told to follow him that 
 his honesty may be proved, which he does, with the 
 inward resolve that, 
 
 * With change of voice, these scars, and many an oath, 
 I'll follow son and sire, and serve them both.' 
 
 Matthew and Bobadil meet Wellbred, and the captain 
 is talking disparagingly of Downright, when Edward and 
 his cousin join them. Stephen is introduced, and pretends 
 to be given to melancholy, which Matthew tells him he 
 cures by writing sonnets. Bobadil brags of his military 
 exploits, and bends Stephen's rapier double. Brainworm 
 enters, and confesses he deceived him in calling it a 
 Toledo ; he entreats a word with Edward, and, making 
 himself known, tells him his father is at Justice Clement's 
 close by, and they all retire. Cash informs Kitely that 
 he has made an appointment for him to fetch some 
 money, but he fears Wellbred and his loose consorts will 
 visit his wife while he is away ; and, after hesitating to 
 trust his clerk with the secret, directs him to send word 
 to the Exchange, or Justice Clement's, if her brother and 
 his friends, or any stranger, should arrive ere he returns, 
 but on no account to tell his wife. As soon as he is gone, 
 Wellbred and his friends enter, marvelling at Brainworm's 
 artifice ; and, while Cash is searching for a messenger, 
 Bobadil extols the virtues of tobacco, and beats Cob for 
 abusing it, Matthew runs away, and Stephen indulges in 
 the captain's oaths. Kitely, on hearing the news which 
 Cob brings him, wonders why he married, and imagines 
 his wife and sister-in-law enjoying being kissed by the 
 
26 THE PLOTS OF OLD ENGLISH PLA VS. 
 
 visitors ; but is consoled when Cob tells him they were 
 smoking in the warehouse when he left, and hurries 
 homewards. 
 
 Dame Kitely resents Downright finding fault with 
 Wellbred's friends, and they come in with her sister and 
 Cash. Matthew reads some verses he has just composed 
 in praise of Bridget, and Downright bids them all be- 
 gone, or he will cut off their ears ; upon which they draw 
 their rapiers, and the ladies shout for the servants to 
 part them. Kitely arrives in the midst of the brawl, 
 taxing his wife and her sister with being the cause of it, 
 and the visitors retire, followed by Downright. Bridget 
 objects to her brother-in-law's violent humour, and warns 
 him he may have to pay her portion sooner than he thinks. 
 Kitely tells Cash he believes that young Knowell is hidden 
 in the house, and they go in search of him. Edward and 
 Wellbred meet Brainworm in Moorfields, and, having 
 despatched him to execute a device he has arranged with 
 them, Wellbred promises his friend that he shall marry 
 Bridget. Disguised again as a soldier, Brainworm informs 
 old Knowell, in Format's presence, that all his movements 
 are known to his son, and concurs that his servant must 
 have told him what he was charged to conceal, adding 
 that he met Edward and his friends, who locked him in a 
 room, from which he managed to escape, while they enter- 
 tained citizens' wives at a feast ; and that he will find his 
 son at Cob's house with one of the ladies. The old gentle- 
 man hurries thither, and Formal invites the soldier to 
 drink with him, and narrate his services in the wars. Ed- 
 ward and his companions discuss Downright's rudeness 
 to them, and the captain boasts of his skill against the 
 masters of defence, and how he would annihilate an enemy 
 forty thousand strong. Downright is looking for them, 
 and encountering Bobadil, who refuses to fight, beats him. 
 
E VER Y MAN IN HIS HUMOUR. 27 
 
 while Matthew escapes. The captain retires to seek a 
 surgeon, declaring he is planet struck, and Stephen, not 
 heeding his cousin's warning, appropriates Downright's 
 cloak, which he has found. Kitely fails to discover any 
 hidden visitor, and Cash endeavours to dispel his fancies ; 
 but he hears laughing, and, sending his clerk to listen, 
 learns that Formal has called to see him. Then Brain- 
 worm enters in FormaPs clothes, and brings word that 
 Justice Clement entreats Master Kitely to be with him 
 directly. While he is enjoining Cash to keep watch again, 
 his wife enters with Wellbred and Bridget to inquire the 
 meaning of his plotting, and pensive brow ; but he goes 
 away laughing at the idea of his being jealous. Dame 
 Kitely, however, follows him with Cash, and Brainworm 
 comes to tell Wellbred how he obtained Format's apparel, 
 and undertakes that Edward shall meet him and Bridget 
 at the tower, her brother-in-law intimating that he wishes 
 her to marry his friend. Kitely returns convinced there 
 is some villainy, as he was not sent for, and, on hearing 
 that his wife and Cash have gone out together, declares 
 there is nothing left for him but to hang himself. 
 
 Bobadil is telling Matthew he will be revenged by law, 
 when they meet Brainworm dressed as Formal, and bribe 
 him to obtain a warrant against Downright, and have it 
 served by a city sergeant, whom he secretly arranges to 
 personate. Old Knowell arrives at Cob's house, and when 
 Tib denies that his son is there, threatens to fetch a con- 
 stable. Just then Dame Kitely arrives with Cash, and, 
 mistaking Knowell for her husband, they retire and watch. 
 Presently the merchant appears, muffled in a cloak, and 
 Knowell, thinking he is Edward, interposes, when his wife 
 claims him, while Kitely suspects her of having come to 
 meet the old gentleman, and draws his sword to fight him ; 
 but Knowell bids him undeceive himself, and having vented 
 
28 THE PLOTS OF OLD ENGLISH PLAYS. 
 
 his rage upon them all, he takes his wife home. Brain- 
 worth enters in a sergeant's gown, and is accosted by the 
 captain and Matthew, who, seeing Stephen in Downright's 
 cloak, point him out as the party to be arrested. Down- 
 right, however, approaches, and, having been served with 
 the warrant, fees the officer to arrest Stephen for refusing 
 to give up his cloak, and they go to Justice Clement's 
 house. Knowell, Kitely and his wife, Cash, Cob, and 
 Tib are already there, and his worship is endeavouring to 
 reconcile their conflicting assertions. He intimates that 
 he smells mischief, and advises the jealous couple to re- 
 tire and think matters over coolly. A soldier being an- 
 nounced, he calls for his sword ; but when the captain 
 enters with Matthew, and states his case, he puts it by, 
 lest he should swoon. Then Brainworm brings in Down- 
 right and Stephen, and pretends he acted at Formal's 
 bidding, but is ordered to jail as a knave and a rogue, up- 
 on which he throws off his disguise, and the justice, call- 
 ing for a bowl of sack, intercedes for him with his master. 
 Knowell pardons him, and, having confessed his various 
 tricks, he is sent to enlighten Kitely and his wife, who re- 
 appear, and all discontents are laid aside, Kitely remark- 
 ing that the horns flying from their heads will doubtless 
 fall on others that think they've none at all. 
 
THE SHOEMAKERS' HOLIDAY. 
 
 By THOMAS DEKKER; written 1599. 
 Principal Characters. 
 
 KING HENRY V. | ROGER, OR HODGE, -\ %. , 
 
 THE EARL OF CORNWALL. FIRK, j journeymen. 
 
 SIR HUGH LACY, EARL OF LINCOLN. 
 ROWLAND LACY, OR^ 
 
 HANS, \hisnepheivs. 
 
 ASKEW, J 
 
 LOVELL, a courtier. 
 
 RALPH, 
 
 DODGER, servant to the Earl of 
 
 Lincoln. 
 
 A DUTCH SKIPPER. 
 A BOY. 
 
 SIR ROGER OATELEY, Lord Mayor. 
 .MASTER HAMMON, \ ..- f ~\ R SE > daughter of Sir Roger. 
 
 MASTER WARNER, > Cl Jzen f J SYBIL, her maid. 
 MASTER SCOTT, ) ! MARGERY, wife of Simon Eyre. 
 
 SIMON EYRE, a shoemaker. I JANE, -wife of Ralph. 
 
 Period, 1419. Localities: London and Old Ford. 
 
 THE Earl of Lincoln is advising the lord mayor not 
 to wed his daughter to his spendthrift nephew, 
 Rowland, who had to become a shoemaker in Germany, 
 but has just been appointed chief colonel of the com- 
 panies mustered in London to serve in the war with 
 France, when Lovell, accompanied by Lacy and Askew, 
 brings a message from the king that the troops must be 
 landed at Dieppe within four days. Sir Roger promises 
 the colonel twenty pounds in addition to his pay, which 
 the earl tells him shows his joy that he will be separated 
 from Rose, and begs him to think no more of her, to 
 which he gives an evasive reply, and persuades Askew 
 to take the companies to Normandy, in order that he 
 may attend to some serious business for three days. 
 While they talk, the shoemaker enters with his wife, 
 
30 THE PLOTS OF OLD ENGLISH PLA YS. 
 
 journeymen, and Jane, to beg the colonels to leave Ralph 
 at home ; but they decide that he must go, and are 
 summoned to Tower Hill by Dodger, against whom 
 Rowland warns Askew Ralph's parting gift to his wife 
 being a pair of shoes. 
 
 Rose is sitting in a garden at Old Ford, making a 
 garland for her lover, and bemoaning her father's un- 
 kindness in preventing them from meeting. Sybil brings 
 greetings from her relatives, but none from him, and she 
 bribes her to go to London and learn whether he has 
 started for France or no. Rowland, meanwhile, has re- 
 solved to risk the displeasure of the king and his uncle, 
 and, disguised as a Dutch shoemaker, to become one of 
 Eyre's journeymen. As Eyre is using stirring language 
 to rouse his household to their early work, Rowland 
 comes into his yard singing in Dutch, and Margery joins 
 Firk and Hodge in persuading her husband to hire him. 
 Giving his name as Hans, he treats his fellow-workmen 
 to some beer, and they all go to breakfast. Warner and 
 Hammon are hunting in a field near Old Ford ; and 
 presently Rose and Sybil enter, talking of Sir Roger's 
 men having caught the deer in a barn and killed it. 
 The hunters return, and, while they are put on a wrong 
 scent, and joke with the maidens, Sir Roger appears, and 
 invites them to partake of some refreshment, Hammon 
 remarking to his friend that for the lost venison he will 
 get a wife, and his worship inwardly planning to do the 
 best he can to match his daughter to the gentleman. 
 
 The Dutch skipper proposes to Hans and his com- 
 panions that their master shall buy, for a mere trifle, 
 a valuable cargo from Candia, the owner of the ship 
 not daring to appear. Eyre and Margery join them, 
 and, after some lively talk, Firk tells them of the bargain, 
 and a boy brings in a velvet coat and gown for the shoe- 
 
THE SHOEMAKERS HOLIDAY. 31 
 
 maker, and some rich dresses for his wife, as specimens. 
 Eyre goes with Hans and the skipper to the ship, and 
 she declares that she feels honour creeping upon her. 
 Dodger brings the Earl of Lincoln news from France of 
 a battle in which the English were victorious, but that 
 Rowland was not present, his place being supplied by 
 Askew. Vowing he shall repent his rashness, and sus- 
 pecting the cause, the earl bribes Dodger to watch for his 
 nephew at the lord mayors, feeling sure he will find him 
 there. Sir Roger has invited Master Scott to witness the 
 marriage of his daughter to Master Hammon, and intro- 
 duces them. Rose, however, challenges her suitor's sincer- 
 ity, declaring she means to live a maid, and he withdraws, 
 remarking that enforced love is worse than hate. Her 
 father sends her back in disgrace to Old Ford, and he 
 and Scott congratulate themselves on having gone partners 
 with the shoemaker in his enterprise. Eyre joins them, 
 followed by Dodger, who begs a private interview with 
 his worship. Promising to follow his friends to the Guild- 
 hall, he learns that Rowland is in London, and tells his 
 informant he will reward him handsomely if he can rid 
 him into France. Mistress Margery is gossiping with 
 her husband's workmen, and sends Firk to ascertain 
 whether he has accepted the office of sheriff. She also 
 requests Roger to make her a pair of high-heeled shoes, 
 and to recommend a fashionable milliner and wigmaker. 
 Talking of tobacco, she says, ' Those filthy pipes, men 
 look not like men that use them. 7 Then Ralph limps in, 
 and is told that his wife grew more stately than became 
 her, and left them. Hans and Firk rush back to announce 
 that Eyre is elected, and he follows, wearing a gold chain, 
 with some finery for his spouse. Telling his men that 
 they may live to be sheriffs, he assigns his shop a.nd tools 
 to them, and bids them make holiday while he and 
 
32 THE PLOTS OF OLD ENGLISH PLAYS. 
 
 Mistress Shrieve are dining with the lord mayor. After 
 merry-making and singing, his worship begs Margery to 
 counsel his daughter, and as she is recommending her 
 to prefer a grocer to a courtier, the journeymen and 
 others enter as morris-dancers. The host offers them 
 wine, and Rose contrives to hand a cup to Hans, having 
 discovered who he is ; but is induced by Sybil not to 
 speak to him, on her promise that, 
 
 ' To-morrow, if my counsel be obeyed, 
 I'll bind you prentice to the gentle trade.' 
 
 Jane is working in a seamster's shop, courted by 
 Hammon, but she persists in hoping her husband still 
 lives, until her suitor produces a letter in which Ralph's 
 name is mentioned as among the slain, when she reluct- 
 antly consents that, if ever she weds again, it shall be 
 him. The next morning, as the shoemakers, including 
 Hans and Ralph, are working, and talking of their doings 
 at Old Ford, Sybil comes to fetch Hans to fit on some 
 shoes he has made for Rose ; and then a serving-man 
 calls to order a pair for a lady about to be married, and, 
 produces one as a pattern, which Ralph recognises, and, 
 inquiring where he shall deliver them, is told at Master 
 Hammon's. He resolves to way-lay the bride, and, 
 should she prove to be Jane, to take her in despite, at 
 which Firk observes that wedding and hanging go by 
 destiny. Rose and her lover are embracing, but, warned 
 by Sybil that her father is coming, Hans pretends to be 
 trying the shoes, and, the Earl of Lincoln being announced 
 as a visitor, the lord mayor retires, and they arrange to 
 escape. The earl has called in the hope of finding his 
 nephew, but obtains no tidings, and suspects his worship's 
 good faith, when Sybil rushes in declaring that her mis- 
 tress has fled with the Dutch shoemaker. Firk also 
 
THE SHOEMAKERS' HOLIDA Y. 33 
 
 enters, and, being cross-questioned and tipped, reveals 
 the news that Hans and Rose are to be married on the 
 morrow at St Faith's Church, where my lords arrange 
 to await them and prevent the nuptials, Firk chuckling 
 on his way home at having planned some fine sport. 
 
 The lovers are the guests of Eyre, who is the lord mayor 
 elect, and he bids her ladyship accompany them, escorted 
 by servants, to the Savoy Church, leaving him to prepare 
 for a visit from the king to open a new hall, which he has 
 built as a granary. About the same hour the shoemakers 
 assemble at St Faith's, and on the arrival of Hammon 
 with Jane, she is asked whether she recognises her hus- 
 band, and at once embraces him. Hammon offers Ralph 
 twenty pounds to let her be his wife, but is told to choke 
 himself with the gold, and disappears. The Earl of Lin- 
 coln and Sir Roger Oateley now arrive, and while they 
 mistake Ralph and his wife for the runaway couple, and 
 discover how Firk has misled them, Dodger brings the 
 news that Rowland and Rose have been married at the 
 Savoy, and they hurry off to petition the king to annul 
 the match. The re-united couple go home, and the shoe- 
 makers join the city apprentices in the new hall to cele- 
 brate Shrove Tuesday, which the lord mayor elect has 
 procured they shall henceforth hold as a holiday. The 
 king and his train proceed to the hall, his majesty sending 
 a request to Eyre to entertain him with his wonted merri- 
 ment. In the meantime he is feasting his other guests, 
 and promises to intercede for the bride and bridegroom, 
 who, with her ladyship, are onlookers. A flourish of 
 trumpets announces the king's arrival, and on Rowland 
 and Rose kneeling before him, they are pardoned. The 
 Earl and Sir Roger come to denounce their nephew and 
 daughter, and his majesty at first pretends to divorce them ; 
 but joining their hands again, asks who mislikes the har- 
 C 
 
34 
 
 THE PLOTS OF OLD ENGLISH PL A YS. 
 
 mony, and silences their relentless relatives. He then 
 decrees that the new building shall be called ' Leadenhall, 
 because the lead for roofing it was found in digging the 
 foundations ; grants the shoemakers' suit that they may 
 hold a leather market there twice a week ; and accepts 
 Eyre's invitation to grace a banquet he has prepared with 
 his royal presence. 
 
PHILASTER. 
 
 By BEAUMONT and FLETCHER ; written 1608. 
 Principal Characters. 
 
 KING. | ARETHUSA, da^lghter of the King. 
 
 PHILASTER, heir to the crown of EUPHRASIA, daughter of Dion, dis- 
 
 Sicily. guisedas a page named Bellario. 
 
 PHARAMOND, Prince of Spain. \ MEGRA, a Court lady. 
 
 DION, a lord. j GALATEA, lady attending the. 
 
 CLEREMONT, ) Caurttm Princess. 
 
 THRASILINE,/ C6 OTHER COURT LADIES. 
 Citizens, woodmen, guards, attendants, etc. 
 
 Period, 1350. Localities: Messina, and neighbourhood. 
 
 THE courtiers are discussing the arrival of the Spanish 
 prince, at the king's invitation, as a suitor for 
 Arethusa, with the succession to the kingdoms of Sicily 
 and Calabria, to the exclusion of Philaster, when the 
 court ladies join them, followed by the king, his daughter, 
 and Pharamond. Addressing the prince, the king informs 
 him of his intent, and the Spaniard replies with self 
 commendations, ' taking leave to be his own free trumpet.' 
 Philaster enters, and, hearing Dion's comments, obtains 
 permission to speak his mind freely, which he does by 
 warning the intruder that he does not intend to part 
 calmly with his inheritance, or to sit still, saying ' I 
 might have been.' The king retires, threatening to tame 
 Philaster of his fancy that his father's spirit bids him be 
 a king, and the courtiers offer to conjure up the people, 
 as rods of vengeance in his behalf. He, however, turns 
 the conversation to Dion's daughter, who has undertaken 
 a pilgrimage, and a lady brings him a message from the 
 
36 THE PLOTS OF OLD ENGLISH PLAYS. 
 
 princess, entreating his company in her apartment. At 
 the interview they exchange vows of love, and are arrang- 
 ing to communicate with each other by means of a boy 
 whom he has adopted as a page, when Pharamond is 
 announced. Philaster retires, declining to brawl with 
 'nought but a valiant voice, 5 and Arethusa withdraws, 
 offended with his conversation. 
 
 Bellario reluctantly leaves Philaster, to attend the 
 princess, and the Spaniard amuses himself by making 
 love to Megra, overheard by Galatea, who informs her 
 mistress. The ladies and gentlemen promenade after 
 supper, and are joined by Pharamond, and by Arethusa 
 and her page. She rallies the prince that he is courting, 
 and he disappears, followed by Galatea and Megra. 
 The king enters with his guard?, and, bidding his 
 daughter retire, surprises Pharamond with his paramour, 
 who, to screen herself, declares that Bellario is the 
 princess's. 
 
 The courtiers pretend to believe her, in the hope that the 
 loss of his lady-love will rouse Philaster to claim his rights, 
 and Bellario vainly strives to undeceive him. He, how- 
 ever, foregoes his threat to kill the boy, and they part, 
 Bellario entreating a tear should he find him loyal. The 
 king, meanwhile, tells Arethusa his suspicions ; and her 
 lover's reproaches, and disbelief of her protestations of 
 innocence, make her exclaim, ' Where shall a woman 
 turn to find out constancy ? ' Bellario's grief is also in- 
 tensified at being spurned as a dissembler and betrayer. 
 
 Obeying her father's summons, she accompanies him 
 and the prince in a hunt, during which their attendants 
 discuss the scandal, and the woodmen their dislike of 
 the Spaniard, and the characters of the lady riders. 
 Alone in the forest, Philaster is bemoaning he had not 
 always lived there free from vexation, when Bellario 
 
PHILASTER. 37 
 
 appears, and begs his help to save him from cold and 
 hunger ; but he will not relent, and they take different 
 paths. Dion and Cleremont then meet, searching 
 for the princess, and encounter the king, who commands 
 them to find her, but he is told he can only enforce 
 obedience in things possible and honest. Pharamond 
 now comes up with Galatea and Megra, and they all 
 disperse to continue the search. In another part of the 
 forest Arethusa is found by Bellario in a fainting con- 
 dition, and as she rejects his help, Philaster approaches, 
 and offers his sword in turn to her and to the boy, begging 
 them to take his life. Then he bids the page begone, 
 and is in the act of killing the princess, with her consent, 
 when he is interrupted by a countryman, with whom he 
 fights, and disappears wounded. Pharamond and his 
 suite approach, and, having entrusted Arethusa and the 
 countryman to the care of a woodman, follow the chase. 
 Philaster discovers Bellario asleep, and, having wounded 
 him, is escaping, when loss of blood stays his flight ; but 
 the boy conceals him just as the hunters re-appear, and 
 pretends he is the would-be murderer of the princess. 
 His master, however, emerges from his hiding-place to 
 declare him innocent, and they are both carried before 
 the king, and, at Arethusa's request, entrusted to her 
 custody. 
 
 The courtiers hear that Philaster has been sentenced 
 to death ; and at an interview with Arethusa and 
 Bellario in his prison, he asks their pardon with shame 
 and sorrow. Thrasiline is sent to bid the princess bring 
 out her prisoner, and Dion meanwhile warns the king he 
 may yet be deceived, and the lives of thousands bleed in 
 his red ruin. Arethusa and Philaster enter with Bellario, 
 who presents them as noble-hearted lovers, and, in the 
 midst of his wrath at their protestations of innocence, the 
 
38 THE PLOTS OF OLD ENGLISH PLA YS. 
 
 king is summoned to the citadel, with the news that 
 Pharamond is taken prisoner by the citizens, who are 
 advancing to the rescue of the rightful heir. The courtiers 
 reproach themselves with their unworthy thoughts of the 
 princess, and the king returns, calling for Philaster, whose 
 forgiveness he craves, and entreats him to calm the people, 
 which he undertakes to do, on condition that Arethusa 
 and Bellario are set free. An old captain and citizens 
 bring in the Spaniard, threatening him with various 
 indignities, and shouting for Philaster, who, declaring 
 himself their friend and prince, quells the mutiny, and, 
 giving them drink money, returns to the palace with 
 Pharamond. In the final denouement, the king gives 
 his daughter to her lover, and the Spaniard is recom- 
 mended to return home with Megra, who persists in her 
 accusation against Arethusa, and her father commands 
 that Bellario be tortured, in order that she may be cleared 
 or buried. Philaster intercedes, but he declares that he 
 will discover all to Dion, and they talk apart, with the 
 result that the page-boy proves to be his daughter 
 Euphrasia. Asked why she had not sooner revealed 
 herself, she confesses that, having lost her heart at first 
 sight of Philaster, as her father's guest, and conscious she 
 was no match for him, she feigned a pilgrimage, and 
 vowed never to be known, while there was hope to hide 
 her sex from men's eyes. Declining the king's offer of a 
 marriage dowry, she begs only to be allowed to con- 
 tinue to serve the princess and her husband as their 
 page ; Megra is dismissed from the court ; Pharamond is 
 reminded that his own faults lost him the hand 
 Arethusa ; and the king invokes all blessings on Philast 
 and his bride. 
 
A NEW WAY 
 TO PAY OLD DEBTS. 
 
 By PHILIP MASSINGER ; written 1633. 
 Principal Characters. 
 
 LORD LOVELL. 
 
 FRANK WELLBORN, a prodigal. 
 
 SIR GILES OVERREACH, Frank's 
 
 uncle. 
 
 MARK ALL, his attorney. 
 GREEDY, a Justice of the Peace. 
 TOM ALLWORTH. page to Lord 
 
 Lovell. 
 
 ORDER, ^ 
 
 AMBLE, I Lady Allivorth s 
 
 FURNACE, j servants. 
 WATCHALL, ) 
 
 WILLDO, a parson. 
 TAPWELL, an alehouse keeper. 
 
 LADY ALLWORTH, a widow, Tom's 
 
 stepmother. 
 
 MARGARET, Sir Giles's daughter. 
 FROTH, wife of Tapwell. 
 
 CREDITORS. 
 SERVANTS, ETC. 
 
 Period, 1624. Locality : Nottinghamshire. 
 
 r I ^HE Prodigal, in tattered apparel, asks a morning 
 J- draught of Tapwell and his wife, who were his 
 father's servants, but they refuse it, and threaten to call 
 the constable, reminding him that, although the heir of 
 old Sir John, he has squandered his fortune, mortgaged 
 his lands, and become a common borrower. He is 
 beating and kicking the fellow for his insolence, when 
 Allworth intervenes, and the couple crawl away. Frank 
 taxes his friend with his love for Margaret, and warns 
 him he can never hope for happiness with the daughter 
 of such a cormorant, or that Sir Giles will consent to the 
 match. Tom bids him think of his own plight, and offers 
 him money to put him in better fashion ; but he declares 
 that, without assistance, he will either mend his state or 
 
40 THE PLOTS OF OLD ENGLISH PL A YS. 
 
 die. Lady Allworth's servants are lamenting that, 
 since her husband's death, she keeps her chamber, and 
 the tempting meals they prepare are devoured by harpies 
 when her step-son arrives, just as she is about to take her 
 morning walk, and, dismissing them, she invites him to 
 remain. They talk of Lord Lovell joining the army in 
 the Low Countries, and having elicited from Tom his 
 wish to become a soldier, she repeats to him his father's 
 words : 
 
 ' If e'er my son 
 
 Follow the war, tell him it is a school 
 Where all the principles tending to honour 
 Are taught, if truly followed,' etc., 
 
 and promises to furnish him with the needful funds. Sir 
 Giles, Greedy, and Marrall call to inquire for her lady- 
 ship, and while they are enjoying her good cheer, in lieu 
 of her company, Frank comes in, but his uncle dis- 
 owns, and the servants insult him ; Tom also treats him 
 as a stranger. Lady Allworth, however, approaches, and 
 although she at first repulses him, he tells her how he 
 once helped her husband when want, debts, and quarrels 
 lay heavy on him / and, whispering his request, which she 
 at once concedes, he also conciliates the servants, who, 
 as he leaves, exclaim, ' still merry Master Wellborn ! ' 
 
 A conversation ensues between Sir Giles and Marrall, 
 revealing their schemes for ruining his neighbours and 
 persecuting his nephew, whom he has already cheated, as 
 well as for marrying" his daughter to Lord Lovell ; and 
 then between Marrall and Frank, who, instead of follow- 
 ing the attorney's advice to hang or drown himself, offers 
 to take him to dine with Lady Allworth. Tom is being 
 feasted by the servants when the guests arrive, and, as 
 he leaves, apologises to Frank for his seeming abruptness. 
 
A NEW WAV TO PAY OLD DEBTS. 41 
 
 On entering the room, her ladyship salutes Frank, and, 
 at his bidding, offers the same compliment to Marrall, at 
 whose behaviour, during dinner, the servants are unable 
 to hide their mirth. On parting, she assures Frank that 
 he will be ever welcome as to his own house. On their 
 way home, the attorney begs him to accept the loan of 
 some money and his horse, asking in return a lease of 
 some of the noble lady's land when he marries her. Sir 
 Giles is so incredulous on hearing the news, that he 
 strikes Marrall, to drive the lying spirit out of him, and 
 then announces that he has invited Lord Lovell to be his 
 guest. 
 
 Tom has confided his attachment to his lordship, who 
 promises to keep the secret, and give him no cause for 
 jealousy. Sir Giles orders Marrall to spare no cost in 
 arranging a sumptuous entertainment, and, directing him 
 to call his daughter, entrusts Greedy with the choice of 
 the dishes. As he is scrutinising Margaret's dress, 
 Greedy interrupts them respecting the stuffing of a 
 fawn ; and as he is speaking in praise of his expected 
 visito', disturbs them again as to the cooking of some 
 wrodcocks. Sir Giles, however, proceeds to impress 
 upon her his will that she stands not on form to secure 
 the peer as her husband. Marrall ushers in the guest, 
 attended by his page, to the sound of music, and Greedy 
 is presented to him. Margaret is then introduced, and 
 the others retire, upon which his lordship pretends to 
 woo her, Sir Giles listening behind. She, however, 
 whispers in Lord LovelFs ear, and he bids her rest 
 happy, but help him to delude her father. To the 
 astonishment of the host and his toadies, Lady Allworth 
 and Frank arrive as callers, and are invited to join the 
 dinner party, to the disgust of Greedy, who has to sit 
 with the servants. Sir Giles having retired to wonder at 
 
42 THE PLOTS OF OLD ENGLISH PL A VS. 
 
 her ladyship's infatuation, she comes to ask his permission 
 to walk in the garden with Frank ; and Lord Lovell, 
 entering with Margaret, expresses his hope ere long to 
 call him father. Lady All worth returns, and, thanking 
 Sir Giles for his hospitality, offers a seat in her coach to 
 Lord Lovell, who promises Margaret she shall hear from 
 him daily by his faithful page. Uncle and nephew then 
 have a friendly talk, and Frank departs with the promise 
 of rich clothes and money, that he may go a free man 
 to the wealthy lady. 
 
 Lord Lovell has just released his page from further ser- 
 vice to him, and handed him a letter for Margaret, when 
 Sir Giles, Greedy, and Marrall enter, and his lordship hav- 
 ing mentioned Tom's errand, Sir Giles gives him his ring 
 as a passport, and bids him, after pleading for his master, 
 ride to Nottingham and get a licence. The others hav- 
 ing retired to breakfast, he offers to -settle all his posses- 
 sions on his daughter, and that Lady Allworth's lands, 
 or any others his lordship may care for, shall be his, 
 without in any way sullying his fame. At a private 
 interview Lady Allworth counsels her neighbour against 
 marrying Margaret, to which he replies that he would 
 not so adulterate his blood, and elicits her assurance that 
 she is innocent as regards Frank. The scene changes 
 to the ale-house-keeper and his spouse, who on hearing 
 that their old master's son is settling with his creditors, 
 have bribed Greedy to intercede for them ; but their 
 petition is unheeded, and their licence cancelled. Marrall, 
 to secure Frank's favour, volunteers to reveal a secret 
 respecting Sir Giles's dealings with his property. Tom 
 and Margaret are exchanging vows of constancy, and 
 settling their plans, when she observes her father listening, 
 and they pretend to be discussing Lord Lovell's letter 
 urging her to elope with him, to which she objects. 
 
A NEW WAY TO PAY OLD DEBTS. 43 
 
 Sir Giles coming forward ridicules her scruples, and 
 Tom explains that his master wishes to celebrate his 
 marriage in London. Margaret begs her father to give 
 her away, but he refuses, and, handing the page a purse 
 of gold for the night's expenses, and a letter to his 
 chaplain worded, at Tom's suggestion, ' Marry her to 
 this gentleman/ he blesses his daughter, and bids them 
 begone, flattering himself that the accomplishment of 
 his wishes is ensured. 
 
 Lady Allworth explains to Lord Lovell the motives for 
 her favours to Frank ; and his lordship, having divulged 
 that he is secretly endeavouring to help Tom, and de- 
 ceive Sir Giles, proposes to her, and is accepted. Frank 
 arrives in a rich suit, with the news of Margaret's dis- 
 appearance, and asks Lord Lovell to withdraw, but not 
 out of hearing. As he does so, Sir Giles comes in, 
 threatening Marrall, who carries a box, and inquires 
 whether her ladyship has seen his daughter and her 
 husband. Receiving a curt reply, he addresses his 
 nephew, and, hinting at a stolen marriage, demands a 
 mortgage on his wife's possessions for the money he 
 has lent him. Frank charges his uncle with owing him 
 ten times as much as he demands ; to which Sir Giles 
 replies that he holds the deed confirming his purchase 
 of the Wellborn lands ; but on opening the box, it is 
 found to contain a skin of parchment, without wax or 
 words. Turning to Marrall, he begs him to swear to 
 the deed being drawn and delivered ; but the attorney de- 
 clares that he knows of no such document, and threatens 
 to discover all his devilish practices. While Sir Giles 
 is giving vent to his rage, Greedy and Parson Willdo 
 arrive, and dispel all his sad thoughts and fears, by 
 assuring him that his daughter is married. Presently 
 music is heard, and she enters as Tom's wife. Baffled 
 
44 THE PLOTS OF OLD ENGLISH PLA YS. 
 
 and fooled, he attempts to kill Margaret, but is restrained 
 by Lord Lovell, whom he challenges ; and vowing not 
 to leave one throat uncut, he retires. Marrall tenders his 
 services to Frank, who tells him that he who dares to 
 be false to one master, will never be true to any other, 
 and he is kicked out by the servants. Sir Giles re- 
 turns raving, and is carried off, Lord Lovell under- 
 taking that Tom and Margaret shall be his guardians. 
 He also offers to act as umpire respecting the Wellborn 
 lands, and promises a company under his command to 
 Frank, who doubts not that, in his service to his king 
 and country, he shall do something that may make him 
 right again. 
 
THE PARLIAMENT OF BEES. 
 
 (IN TWELVE SCENES.) 
 
 BY JOHN DAY ; written 1641. 
 Principal Characters. 
 
 THE MASTER BEE. 
 THE HOSPITABLE BEE. 
 THE PLUSH BEE. 
 THE FIELD BEE. 
 THE POETICAL BEE. 
 THE RIVALS. 
 
 THE GATHERING BEE. 
 THE PASSIONATE BEE. 
 THE QUACKSALVING BEE. 
 THE USURING BEE. 
 OBERON IN PROGRESS. 
 THE HIGH BENCH BAR. 
 
 Other speakers, servants, fairies, etc. 
 
 * I "HE author's commission to his Bees is, 4 Be 
 J- valiantly free, but not too bold ' ; and he begs 
 that his play may be read through ere it be censured. 
 
 A parliament is held to keep the commonwealth of 
 Bees in awe, and Prorex, as Master Bee by the warrant 
 of Oberon, who has given them their pasture of flowers, 
 nominates the office-bearers, and calls upon the speaker 
 to inform them of the work of the session. He prefers 
 bills against the Humble Bee, who robs the labourers as 
 they fly home ; the Wasp, who pretends to buy, but 
 never pays ; the Hornet, who rifles their merchants' 
 packs ; and the Drone, who plays the thief at night, 
 pillaging their hives and killing the inmates. The 
 officers are instructed to deal with these outlaws, and 
 the court breaks up, each one to his toil. 
 
 The Hospitable Bee tells his guest that on Mondays 
 he bestows his alms on those whose fortunes are sunk 
 low by generous housekeeping ; on Tuesdays on such as 
 have all their life-time wrought their country's freedom ; 
 on Wednesdays, such as have dived for knowledge in 
 
46 THE PLOTS OF OLD ENGLISH PL A VS. 
 
 the Sacred Writ ; on Thursdays, such as have been un- 
 fortunate in high offices of state ; on Fridays, such as for 
 conscience' sake are kept in bonds ; on Saturdays, he 
 feasts the poor who are past labour ; and on Sundays his 
 tenants and servants. Asked why he does not take a 
 wife, he replies his sound affections might be put out 
 of frame, and that his heirs shall be the poor, whose 
 succession nought can ruin. 
 
 The Plush Bee, a vain-glorious reveller, declares he 
 will build a hive like Jove's palace, with a hanging roof, 
 that men may crown his fame for turning the world 
 upside down. He will entertain no ragged rabble, and 
 bids his servant lash them if they approach his gate. 
 His ambition is gold, and he would there were ten 
 worlds to sell for hills of silver, that at one feast he might 
 draw all that treasure dry. 
 
 The Field Bee seeks an interview with Prorex, and 
 calls his servant an illiterate daw, whom he would teach 
 to read canon law. Taxed with being a suitor, he tells 
 him he ought to know a true-born gentleman, however 
 poorly attired, and wonders that such whalebone rascals 
 should be able to tickle their employers' ears. The 
 Master Bee welcomes him, and, listening to his boast of 
 honesty and bravery, acknowledges his timely aid when 
 righting against the Wasp, and, in reward for his bold 
 chivalry, makes him commander of a colony. 
 
 The Poetical Bee visits his patron to beg a dinner, 
 and presents him with a book dedicated to the most 
 honoured dame, which he bids his servants burn. The 
 poet deprecates such martyrdom, and is told to write a 
 satire on the Master Bee. He hesitates, as a loyal sub- 
 ject ; but is taunted with being ready to whip poor bees 
 to death, and to flatter great drones' vices, instead of 
 holding his reputation too dear to temporise even with 
 
THE PARLIAMENT OF BEES. 47 
 
 kings. He retorts that poesie is but a feigning, and tells 
 how Persius taught his pupils, and his own ideas of the 
 difference between great and small poets. The patron 
 declares that verses are bought and sold, and the makers, 
 who merit gold, are fed with husks, because opinion gives 
 their reward. 
 
 Arethusa inquires of her companion Ulania news of 
 Meletus, who, she believes, dwells in her father's hive ; 
 and then it transpires that they are both in love with 
 him. Ulania boasts how other bees have sued her, 
 but that she can only love this stranger. Arethusa asks 
 how he spends his time, and is told that he labours and 
 toils, and is always ready to help any poor or disabled 
 bee. Also that, vowing her name, which he engraves 
 on every bough, he prevailed against a whole swarm of 
 wasps, and that he writes verses in her praise, causing 
 Ulania to weep and sigh. Wondering who Arethusa is, 
 she begs her companion to tell Meletus, if she knows 
 him, that he shall be her saint ; and when he grows weak 
 and faint, she will do his labour and her own, making 
 the earth fruitful with a shower of tears. Arethusa re- 
 proaches herself for having been cruel to him, and vows 
 that all amorous bees shall wonder at the change which 
 his love has wrought in her. 
 
 The Gathering Bee derides his kinsman for his pro- 
 digality and pride, who replies that he will do more than 
 wear but one man's portion, and threatens that, when 
 all his trees are felled, he will warm himself with his 
 relatives' bones. What is it to him if he spends millions ! 
 He would waste the Indies in feasting his friends ; and 
 when all his treasure is gone, he will turn pirate. Mean- 
 while the vanity of all mankind is his. He is warned, 
 however, that 
 
 4 Who spends all young, ere age comes, all shall lack,' 
 
48 THE PLOTS OF OLD ENGLISH PLAYS. 
 
 Chariolus, the Master Bee's son, soliloquises on Are- 
 thusa's perfections of form and brain, but knows her not 
 when she comes to announce that his lady-love is dead, 
 and has bequeathed him her truth. He receives the news 
 so calmly that she repents, and tells him she lives ; but 
 no, l with a sigh she died/ and he will have that sigh 
 drawn on a chariot in a gorgeous procession, with mottoes 
 of his misery, and symbols of her virtues. Arethusa sug- 
 gests he had better forget her, and entertain another. 
 ' Never ! ' he declares, 
 
 ' A sigh shall bear my soul up to my love.' 
 
 The Quacksalver sues to be household apothecary to 
 an elderly bee, who says that he is healthful both in body 
 and wits, and needs only his kitchen and his garden, add- 
 ing, 
 
 1 Man was made sound at first ; if he grows ill, 
 
 'Tis not by course of nature, but free will.' 
 
 The quack demands a fee, reminding the steward he has 
 accepted a bribe, which the master overhears, and re- 
 marks, l If this be true, he is bought and sold by his ser- 
 vant.' Next the doctor buys and bequeaths him to a 
 surgeon ; and lastly, he is dieted in a hospital, and a 
 scrivener makes his will : he, however, pays the fellow 
 handsomely, but resolves that of such artless empirics 
 he'll beware. 
 
 Suitors appeal to the Advocate bee for despatch of busi- 
 ness, and he orders them to be well treated. The usurer 
 begs for pecuniary help because his hive is burnt, and is 
 told that, although his face shows a page of close dissem- 
 bling, the money he asks is bestowed in charity ; but if he 
 is cheating, it will not benefit him. A one-legged suitor, 
 whom he has swindled, denounces him as sucking honey 
 from the bloom of sin, and using- his starved debtors' 
 
THE PARLIAMENT OF BEES. 49 
 
 bones as timber. The usurer cannot deny the charge, 
 and his victim craves he may be flogged. The advocate 
 sentences him to a hundred strokes, or to hand over the 
 gold he has obtained to his accuser, who would like to see 
 all dishonest brokers thus made to disburse. 
 
 Oberon presides in session, and his winged tenants 
 bring their tribute. Agricola, who has invented how to 
 till the earth, is made bailiff; Pastoralis is confirmed as 
 shepherd, and Vintager does homage as steward of the 
 wines. Flora, who has charge of the herbs and flowers, 
 is commended to the love of Phoebus, and all, retaining 
 their places, solemnise the holy day. 
 
 Fairies summon the Master Bee and all his swarm, and 
 Oberon sits in his star chamber. Three conspirators 
 the wasp, the drone, and the humble bee are arraigned 
 by Prorex, who is told that justice wins more honour by 
 supporting great than hanging poor ones ; but the delin- 
 quents are nevertheless condemned to perpetual banish- 
 ment 
 
 ' Underneath two hanging rocks, 
 Where babbling echo sits and mocks.' 
 
 They cry mercy, but are told 'tis too late, and fairies 
 thrust them to their fate. Oberon then warns the Master 
 Bee to make his subjects so his own as he for them may 
 answer ; and, having bestowed upon him in marriage the 
 chaste Latria, who will teach him how to be himself, re- 
 joins the fairies. 
 
VENICE PRESERVED. 
 
 By THOMAS OTWAY ; written 1680. 
 Principal Characters. 
 
 ELLIOT, ~\ 
 
 RENAULT, \Conspirators. 
 
 SPINOSA, J 
 
 BELVIDERA, daughter to Priuli. 
 
 DUKE OF VENICE. 
 PRIULI, a Senator. 
 JAFFIER, husband to Belvidera. 
 PIERRE, his friend. 
 BEDAMAR, an Ambassador, 
 
 Other conspirators, captain of the guard, officers, etc., 
 Period, 1607. Locality : Venice. 
 
 JAFFIER seeks a hearing from his father-in-law, who 
 reproaches him with having requited his friendship 
 by treacherously gaining Belvidera's love, ignoring the 
 circumstances under which he rescued her from drown- 
 ing, and invokes the curse of disobedience on both of 
 them. Her husband pleads he has spent his fortune in 
 treating her as the daughter of a senator, but is bidden 
 retire with her to a cottage, and starve. While he 
 hesitates to face his creditors, Pierre enters, denouncing 
 the tyranny of their rulers, and telling him he has just 
 seen all his possessions seized by Priuli's order, and his 
 wife led away weeping. Swearing revenge, he promises 
 to meet his friend on the Rialto at midnight, and Bel- 
 videra comes to cheer him with the assurance of h 
 constancy. 
 
 As he waits for Pierre he is filled with misgivings, b 
 accepts a purse from him, and inquiring what treasoi 
 it must buy, he is sworn to secrecy, and told he shal 
 mix with men fit to disturb the peace of all the world. 
 In an adjacent house Renault is meditating on th ( 
 
 
VENICE PRESERVED. 51 
 
 sandy foundation of ambition, and is taunted by Spinosa, 
 who joins him, with being only half resolved. Elliot 
 enters, and threatens the Frenchman for remarking on 
 his late arrival, and then Bedamar and the other con- 
 spirators appear. The ambassador adjusts the quarrel, 
 and they all welcome Pierre, who announces that ten 
 thousand armed men are at their nod. Bedamar asks 
 whether any have friends they would wish to save, and 
 Pierre introduces Jaffier, who offers his wife as a pledge 
 that they may trust him. She is called in, and he be- 
 queaths her to Renault, who leads her away entreating 
 not to be forsaken. 
 
 1 I'm sacrificed, betrayed to shame ! ' exclaims Belvi- 
 dera, as she enters a chamber, and when her husband 
 comes in, she reproaches him for concealing the labour 
 of his mind, and begs he will kill her, asking why she 
 was entrusted to a villain who has insulted her. Jaffier 
 bids her confide in him, and as she leaves Pierre comes 
 in, surprised to find his friend so employed, and advises 
 him to reserve his vengeance. He retires as Renault 
 approaches muttering, and Jaffier, taxing him with his 
 baseness, threatens to cut his throat. The other con- 
 spirators, however, arrive, and Renault instructs each as 
 to his part in executing the plot, ordering them to shed 
 blood enough, and spare neither sex nor age. He then 
 hints his suspicion that Jaffier, who has left the room, is 
 a traitor, and Spinosa suggests a search for him ; but 
 Pierre tells Renault he is a coward, and talks of betray- 
 ing them all to the senate. They appease him, and he 
 trusts the morrow will prove that he has preserved their 
 fame, and saved his friend. 
 
 Jaffier and Belvidera are crossing the Rialto at mid- 
 night, and as she is prevailing on him to save his country, 
 and the lives of the nobles, they are arrested, and taken 
 
52 THE PLOTS OF OLD ENGLISH PL A YS. 
 
 by the officers and guards to the council-chamber, where 
 the duke and senators are assembled. Priuli is telling 
 them that he has had warning of the conspiracy, when 
 Jaffier is brought in, and confesses his share in it. Daring 
 them to torture him, he stipulates for his own full pardon, 
 and the lives of the friends of whose names he gives a 
 list, handing in also a paper intimating their place of 
 meeting. He is taken away, and presently the officers 
 bring in the other conspirators in fetters. Pierre, pointing 
 to his chains, asks, are they the recompense for his past 
 services to the state, and who dares accuse them ? Jaffier 
 is recalled, and tells his friends he has proved false ; and, 
 in reply to the duke's inquiry whether they will confess 
 their vile deeds, and trust the senate's mercy, they prefer 
 death. The council breaks up, and as Pierre is led to his 
 dungeon he strikes Jaffier, calling him a whining monk 
 and a hypocrite, and rejecting his explanations and en- 
 treaties for reconciliation. As he broods over his dagger 
 Belvidera enters, in deep distress, to tell him the warrants 
 are signed for the execution of his accomplices, and he begs 
 her begone, lest a lurking serpent in his breast sting her 
 heart. ' Kill me then,' she exclaims, ' while I kiss thy lips 
 and die in joy ; ' but he throws away the dagger, and 
 sends her to intercede with her father for the pardon of 
 his friend Pierre. 
 
 Priuli is asking himself why dishonour and infamy have 
 fallen upon him, as his daughter enters to plead with him 
 for pity and forgivenes. She tells him that Jaffier has 
 vowed he will kill her if his friends are sacrificed, and 
 having evasively promised they shall be immortal, he 
 begs her to forgive him for all his past follies, and, hence- 
 forth, he will be indeed her father. In the garden she 
 meets her husband, who invokes bounteous blessings for 
 her, and, commending their child to her care, takes leave 
 
VENICE PRESERVED. 53 
 
 of her for ever. Pierre is at the scaffold expecting Jaffier, 
 for whom he has sent ; they embrace, and whisper to- 
 gether ; and, having ascended it, while the executioner 
 prepares Pierre for the wheel, his friend stabs him, and 
 then himself, the one rejoicing, as he dies, that the 
 senate is deceived, and the other uttering imprecations 
 against them, and with his last breath sending a token 
 of his love to Belvidera and their boy. In the final scene 
 Priuli is standing by his daughter's bed, listening to her 
 distracted lamentations ; and, while an officer narrates 
 what has happened, a vision of it seems from her utter- 
 ances to be passing through her brain, and she is dead. 
 
THE MOURNING BRIDE. 
 
 By WILLIAM CONGREVE ; written 1697. 
 Principal Characters. 
 
 MANUEL, King of Granada. 
 GONZALES, his favourite. 
 GARCIA, son to Gonzales. 
 
 HELI, a prisoner, friend to Osmyn; 
 
 afterwards ANTONIO. 
 SELIM, a Eunuch. 
 
 PEREZ, captain of the guard. 
 
 ALONZO, parasite to Gonzales. I ALMERIA, Princess of Granada. 
 
 OSMYN, a noble prisoner, afterwards ZARA, a captive queen. 
 
 ALPHONSO, Almeria's husband. \ LEONORA, attendant on the princess. 
 
 Mutes, guards, prisoners, attendants, and women. 
 Period, 1450. Locality : Granada. 
 
 THE princess, who wears mourning, after listening 
 to soft music, laments to her attendant that from 
 grief at the loss of Alphonso, to whom she was secretly 
 married, she has grown more senseless than trees or 
 flint, and now his father, Anselmo, who has been cruelly 
 kept in chains by her father, his fellow king, is dead. 
 Leonora sheds pitying tears, and elicits the story of her 
 mistress's sorrows. Distant shouts proclaim the king's 
 triumph, and Almeria declares she will die rather than 
 be forced to marry the son of his favourite. Gonzales 
 arrives to announce that her father is approaching the 
 palace, laden with the spoils of war. Manuel enters, 
 attended by his retinue, with prisoners and guards, and 
 as Gonzales kisses his hand, Garcia salutes the prin- 
 cess's. The king reproaches his daughter for not put- 
 ting off her weeds, when she should have revelled at his 
 enemy's death, and Gonzales makes excuses for her; 
 but she is told that to-morrow's sun shall grace her 
 
THE MOURNING BRIDE. 55 
 
 nuptials, and retires. Alonzo reports the arrival of Zara, 
 attended by Osmyn, and they are brought in. Manuel 
 declares her beauty has enslaved him, but she scorns 
 mock praise and dissembled state, pointing to their 
 bonds, on which he commands Perez to free her and 
 hers, commenting to Garcia on the sullen mien of 
 Osmyn, who replies that captivity has robbed him of a 
 dear and just revenge. Zara explains that he has lost 
 his friend Heli in battle, but the king is suspicious, and 
 bids Garcia inquire, while at her fair shrine he lays his 
 laurels down. 
 
 In the aisle of a temple, Heli hears with joy from 
 Garcia that Osmyn is alive, and has been seen there ; 
 and as they talk, Perez points to him striding away with 
 distempered haste. Heli begs leave to follow his friend 
 alone, and while the others discuss Zara's love for him, 
 they fancy some one is coming, and retire. Almeria 
 enters cautiously with her attendant, and says, 
 
 1 Nay, quickly speak to me, and let me hear 
 Thy voice my own affrights me with its echoes.' 
 
 Leonora would return, but the princess insists upon 
 being taken to Anselmo's tomb, and they go. Heli has 
 preceded them, and hearing a voice, he follows it. They 
 reach the vault where the old king rests, and as they 
 notice that the marble door is unclosed, and Almeria 
 is yearning for death, and invoking Alphonso to help 
 her, Osmyn emerges from the tomb, and recognises his 
 wife. Heli enters as they are both fainting, but they 
 revive, and when their ecstasy has subsided, he shares 
 their wonder and happiness. Leonora, however, warns 
 them she has seen two figures, who prove to be Zara 
 and Selim, marking the spot, and they separate, Heli 
 undertaking to escort Almeria, and unfold everything 
 
56 THE PLOTS OF OLD ENGLISH PL A VS. 
 
 to her ere she sees her husband again. Zara joins and 
 upbraids him, whom she redeemed from death, for 
 abandoning her, adding that to gain his love is still to 
 reign ; but he tells her she knows him not, and, taunting 
 him with fear of his rival, she vows to be revenged, when 
 the king enters, and, having overheard her words, orders 
 his guards to seize Osmyn, whose punishment shall be as 
 she pleases, and leads her away. 
 
 Osmyn is in prison, meditating on a petition in his 
 father's writing interceding for him, when Heli enters to 
 prepare him for a visit from Almeria, and to cheer him 
 with the hope of a mutiny against the king. As he 
 retires, Zara comes in veiled, still yearning for his love, 
 and promises his release. Then the princess arrives, and 
 while he gives vent to his despair and horror at the 
 thought of her marriage to Garcia, Zara enters with 
 Perez and the eunuch. Osmyn pretends to be thanking 
 her rival, as she leaves, for offering to intercede for him ; 
 but Zara discovers their secret, and, choking with sup- 
 pressed anger, mocks at his miseries, and tells him he 
 shall die, for 
 
 * Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, 
 Nor hell a fury like a woman scorned.' 
 
 In a room of the palace, Selim- informs Zara of the 
 revolt of more troops, and the escape of Heli, and that 
 the king has signed a warrant for the execution of 
 Osmyn ; on hearing which she relents, and is planning 
 how to save his life, when Manuel enters, attended by 
 Gonzales and Perez. They discuss the conspiracy, and 
 she openly warns the king that he is not safe while 
 Osmyn lives. She, however, tells him privately that his 
 guards are tainted, and suggests that her mutes shall 
 strangle him. Gonzales concurs, and Perez is instructed. 
 
THE MOURNING BRIDE. 57 
 
 Left alone with Manuel, his favourite ventures to doubt 
 Zara's sincerity, and advises him to question his daughter, 
 who is approaching. She owns having been with Osmyn, 
 and on being told by her father that he knows all, she 
 replies they both must die ; then she pleads for his life ; 
 and at last reveals that he is her husband Alphonso. 
 The king withdraws, believing she raves ; but as Leonora 
 leads her away, she repeats her secret to Gonzales, who 
 instigates Alonzo to disguise himself quickly as a mute. 
 
 Manuel is consulting with Perez and Alonzo, when he 
 notices a mute concealing something in his bosom. 
 Alonzo is ordered to seize him, and, returning with a 
 letter, reports that the fellow has killed himself, on which 
 he is told to remove the body, and appropriates the 
 clothes. On reading the letter, the king vilifies Perez as 
 Zara's accomplice, and then charges him to drench his 
 dagger in Alphonso's heart, and return with his robe, 
 that he may personate him in the prison. Watching 
 Manuel depart, Zara blames Selim for having ruined her 
 design, and he bares his breast for her to stab him ; but 
 she bids him order the other two mutes to attend her, 
 each with a bowl of poison. Gonzales enters the prison, 
 disguised as a mute, and goes into the inner chamber 
 alone ; Garcia and Alonzo arrive, and he comes out, 
 telling them Alphonso is dead. They look in, and 
 discover that he has stabbed the king. Father and son 
 are in despair ; shouts are heard without ; and, as Garcia 
 hurries away to quiet the soldiers, Alonzo comes out of 
 the chamber, informing Gonzales he has severed and con- 
 cealed the king's head, so that the guards may mistake 
 the body for that of Osmyn. Zara and the eunuch enter, 
 followed by the mutes, who are sent into the chamber to 
 warn Alphonso. They return with scared looks, and, 
 learning the cause, she laments his cruel fate. Selim 
 
58 THE PLOTS OF OLD ENGLISH PLA VS. 
 
 reports that the king is missing ; and, having stabbed 
 him, she swallows the contents of one of the bowls, and 
 dies. Almeria arrives with Leonora, and, believing her 
 husband murdered, drops the other bowl of poison, which 
 she was about to drink, just as Alphonso, Heli, and Perez 
 enter with Garcia as their prisoner, the knowledge of her 
 father's death moderating her joy, and teaching her, that 
 
 * It is not given in this frail life to be entirely blest.' 
 
THE PROVOKED HUSBAND. 
 
 By COLLEY GIBBER ; written 1700. 
 Principal Characters. 
 
 LORD TOWNLY. 
 MR MANLY, his friend. 
 SIR FRANCIS WRONGHEAD. 
 SQUIRE RICHARD, his son. 
 COUNT BASSET, an adventurer. 
 POUNDAGE, \ Lord Toivnlys 
 WILLIAMS, / servants. 
 JAMES, Mr Manly s servant. 
 JOHN MOODY, Sir Francis* servant. 
 
 LADY TOWNLY. 
 
 LADY GRACE, Lord Toivnlys sister. 
 
 LADY WRONGHEAD. 
 
 Miss JENNY, her daughter. 
 
 MRS MOTHERLY {" M /J^ m " 
 
 MYRTILLA, her niece. 
 
 TRUSTY, Lady Townly's servant. 
 
 Carter ; constable, etc. 
 Period ', 1700. Locality: London. 
 
 LORD TOWNLY wonders to himself at his wife's 
 profligate course of pleasure and card-playing ; and 
 when she enters, attired for going out, he insists on being 
 told why she married him. She replies to escape from 
 the restraints she was under as a single woman, and 
 enumerates some of the privileges of a wife. He gives 
 her money to meet any debts of honour she may have, 
 and she coolly intimates that some of it will be forthwith 
 trifled away at a quadrille party. As she leaves him, he 
 marvels at her insensibility, and resolves to consult with 
 his sister and Manly how to cure it. Lady Grace has 
 been reading, and while he is eliciting her feelings 
 towards his friend, he arrives, and plainly tells his lord- 
 ship that he has allowed his wife too much power, and 
 she has abused it. He announces that his relative Sir 
 Francis has been elected a M.P., and is coming to town 
 
60 THE PLOTS OF OLD ENGLISH PLA VS. 
 
 with his young wife to arrange his affairs. James inter- 
 rupts their conversation to say that Moody has arrived to 
 secure them lodgings, and they have a talk with him, in 
 which he quaintly describes the family arrangements for 
 the journey. Left alone, Manly admits that Lady Grac e 
 has softened his opinion of the fair sex, and that 
 
 ' Could women regulate, like her, their lives, 
 What halcyon days were in the gift of wives ; 
 Vain rovers, then, might envy what they hate, 
 And only fools would mock the marriage state.' 
 
 Count Basset is awaiting Sir Francis and his family 
 at Mrs Motherly's lodgings, and hinting to her niece 
 that perhaps the young squire may take her off his 
 hands, when they arrive in their coach with six horses. 
 Jenny retires with Myrtilla, followed by Master Richard ; 
 and Lady Wronghead invites the count to take tea with 
 her, leaving Sir Francis to look after the baggage. Manly 
 calls to warn him that a petition has been lodged against 
 his election ; but he intimates his resolve to make as 
 good a figure as his ancestors, and to get Jenny appointed 
 a maid of honour ! Her ladyship comes in to welcome her 
 cousin, accompanied by the count, whom he inwardly 
 suspects ; then the young squire is introduced to his 
 godfather, and Miss Jenny gives him a taste of her 
 nimble tongue. The count takes his leave, dropping 
 a letter as he goes ; and, after Manly has left, Mrs 
 Motherly tells them of his rumoured approaching mar- 
 riage, which decides Lady W. to throw a rub in his way. 
 Sir Francis and his son share the contents of a tankard, 
 and Moody comes to report that, as the coach was being 
 driven to the stables, it was completely smashed by a 
 clumsy carter ; but my lady complaisantly suggests they 
 can buy another second-hand, and bespeak a new one. 
 
THE PROVOKED HUSBAND. 61 
 
 Lady Grace informs her brother that his wife dines 
 abroad, and hands him an anonymous letter she has re- 
 ceived, enclosing one apparently from Myrtilla to Manly, 
 accusing him of having deserted her. Acting on his 
 lordship's advice, she shows them to her lover, who at 
 once guesses by whom, and for what purpose, they have 
 been sent, and starts off to obtain proof of his innocence. 
 Mrs Trusty has told Lady Grace that my lord and lady 
 are both out of humour ; and they come in disputing 
 angrily, she declaring that she cannot alter her ways, 
 and he that he will not bear with them any longer. Lady 
 Grace endeavours to reason with her sister-in-law, and 
 convince her how happy she might be by submitting to 
 her husband's wishes ; but she replies that her idea is 
 to enjoy life, not to endure it, and Mrs Trusty announces 
 her chair. Manly explains to Lord Townly the mystery 
 of the letters, and that he has learnt some other secrets, 
 which he hopes will enable him to prevent the ruin of 
 his cousin's family. He is assured, in return, of Lady 
 Grace's regard for him, and his lordship rejoices at the 
 prospect of their happiness in comparison with his ex- 
 perience of married life. 
 
 Manly calls to see what his relatives have been doing, 
 and learns that Sir Francis has made acquaintance with 
 a noble lord, in order to intimate his willingness to accept 
 a place at court, and has been to the House, where he 
 voted on the wrong side. The ladies and the count join 
 them, and as Miss Jenny is entertaining her relative with 
 an account of their gaieties, she is silenced by her mother, 
 and consoled by the count, whose manner convinces 
 Manly that miss and her mamma are jealous of each 
 other. He talks apart with Myrtilla, and arranges for 
 an interview with her aunt ; while Lady W. displays the 
 finery she has purchased, and sets his expectation of a 
 
62 THE PLOTS OF OLD ENGLISH PLA YS. 
 
 good appointment against her extravagance. She is 
 then invited by Mr Motherly to inspect some lace, and, 
 Sir Francis being led away by the young squire to dinner, 
 the count plans a secret marriage between him and 
 Jenny, and between the young squire and Myrtilla, 
 chuckling to himself, when alone, at the use he has made 
 of his assumed title, and that his intended wife's money 
 will enable him once more to cut a figure with men of 
 quality. 
 
 Sir Francis, with a sorrowful face, comes to Manly at 
 Lord Townly's house, to tell him that his wife has spent 
 the night at hazard among a parcel of pig-tailed puppies 
 and pale-faced women of fashion ; and he is warned that, 
 unless he at once takes his family home again, he will be 
 run by his wife into jail, his daughter will be married to 
 a sharper, and his son to a deserted mistress. They re- 
 tire within hearing as the young squire and Myrtilla 
 enter whispering, followed by the count with Jenny, all 
 in masquerade dresses, and laughing at having given 
 Lady W. the slip. Myrtilla pretends to fetch the chaplain 
 to marry them, but returns with a constable, and points 
 to the count, whom he arrests on a warrant against him 
 for forgery, Sir Francis advancing at the same time with 
 Manly, and knocking his son down with his cane. Lady 
 W. enters dressed as a shepherdess, and, hearing Sir 
 Francis enlightening their daughter, exclaims, * Slighted 
 for her ! ' She is ordered to prepare for their return 
 home as soon as their horses are ready, but declines to 
 stir. Manly, however, asks leave to speak with her apart, 
 and produces a billet doux to the count, which he pro- 
 mises her husband shall never see, and informs him she 
 will receive his commands. The count pleads for mercy, 
 and is told his only chance of escape is to marry Myrtilla 
 at once a private penance or a public one and he con- 
 
THE PROVOKED HUSBAND. 63 
 
 sents, upon which Manly hands her a bill for five hundred 
 pounds, and the constable undertakes to give the lady 
 away. Lady Townly is just waking, after sitting up all 
 night gambling, and telling Trusty she has lost her last 
 guinea, asks, what is to be done? At her suggestion, 
 the steward is summoned to refund the money in his 
 hands to pay a debt due to her ladyship's mercer ; but 
 the man has called for it, and makes such a noise at 
 being put off, that Lord Townly, on hearing the facts, 
 comes to remonstrate with his wife. She refuses to an- 
 swer his inquiries, and defies him, upon which he tells 
 her she sleeps in his house no more, and sends for 
 Lady Grace and Manly to be witnesses of their separa- 
 tion. His friend intercedes for her, she confesses her 
 errors, and they are reconciled. To complete their happi- 
 ness, his lordship places Lady Grace's hand in Manly's ; 
 and Lady Townly commits her future days to her sister- 
 in-law's guidance 
 
 ' Never the paths of pleasure more to tread, 
 But where her guarding innocence shall lead ; 
 For, in the married state, the world must own 
 Divided happiness was never known ; 
 To make it mutual, nature points the way, 
 Let husbands govern, gentle wives obey.' 
 
C AT O. 
 
 By JOSEPH ADDISON ; written 1713. 
 Principal Characters. 
 
 PORCIUS, 
 
 MA 
 
 ?CIl!S, X 
 
 .RCUS, / 
 
 Catos sons. 
 
 SEMPRONIUS, a Roman general. 
 SYPHAX, a Numidian general. 
 
 TVrus 5 ' I mu t* n 0u s Roman offic 
 MARC i A, Cato's daughter. 
 
 DECIUS, a Roman knight. 
 
 JUBA, a young Numidian prince. LUCIA, Lucius s daughter. 
 
 Senators, freedmen, mutineers, guards, lictors, etc. 
 Period, B.C. 46. Locality : Utica, capital of a Roman province in Africa. 
 
 was a strenuous opponent of Caesar's designs 
 ^ against the republic, and, after the death of Pompey, 
 had gone to Africa, and urged the Romans at Utica to 
 resist the approaching conqueror. His sons discuss the 
 situation, and Porcius reproaches Marcus for thinking of 
 Lucia, whom he also loves unknown to his brother, at 
 such a time, bidding him behold young Juba, their sister's 
 lover, whose desire of fame enables him to control his 
 passion. Sempronius joins them, and, dissembling his 
 real feelings, professes admiration for Cato, and is 
 rebuked by Porcius for talking of his yearning for the 
 hand of Marcia, while her father's life is in danger. 
 Cursing his monitor, who goes to animate the soldiers' 
 drooping courage, he plots with Syphax, and urges him 
 to secure his young prince's co-operation, while he in- 
 flames the troops under his command against Cato. 
 Juba enters, and Syphax endeavours to disparage the 
 Romans in his estimation ; but the young Numidian 
 
CATO. 65 
 
 dilates on their virtues, and, refusing to abandon Cato, 
 commands him to desist. Marcia approaches with Lucia, 
 and he hails her with a dawn of joy, but she bids him 
 think rather of the impending struggle, and of her prayers 
 and wishes for the cause of liberty. He goes, declaring 
 that in the shock of charging hosts she will be in his 
 thoughts ; and Lucia marvels how she could chide him 
 so sternly, confessing that Porcius has stolen away her 
 heart, and that she dreads his brother's vehemence. 
 
 Sempronius and Lucius are in the senate house, and 
 Cato enters with his sons. He dwells upon Caesar's 
 successes, and inquires whether they are for still holding 
 out, or for submission. Sempronius declares for war, 
 but Cato warns him against zeal beyond the bounds of 
 reason. Lucius thinks their country's cause that drew 
 their swords, now wrests them from their hands, to which 
 Cato replies, 
 
 * No, let us spin Rome's term of freedom out.' 
 
 Junius announces the arrival of Decius from Caesar's 
 camp, and re-enters with him and Titus. The old knight 
 asks the price of Cato's friendship for the conqueror, and 
 is told he must disband his legions, and stand the judg- 
 ment of a Roman senate. Decius reminds Cato he has 
 not now all the mouths of Rome to second him, but he 
 sends a defiant message as regards himself, and com- 
 mends his friends to Caesar's care. His brother senators 
 thank him, but Sempronius sneers at the lukewarm 
 patriotism of Lucius ; Cato, however, interposes, and 
 they retire, leaving him with Juba. He informs the 
 young prince of their decision to keep the sword un- 
 sheathed, and is urged by him to quit Utica, and court 
 the assistance of the neighbouring Numidian kings. 
 Juba, however, is told that valour soars above mis- 
 E 
 
66 THE PLOTS OF OLD ENGLISH PLA VS. 
 
 fortunes, which often give mankind occasion to practise 
 virtues, that lie concealed in the calm of life. He re- 
 plies that all his heart aspires to depends on Cato, and 
 that Marcia inherits all her father's virtues, but is 
 silenced with the reproof that it is no time to talk of 
 aught but liberty or death. Syphax finds him covered 
 with confusion, and, recalling the days when he hunted 
 lions and tigers, suggests that his Numidian troops shall 
 secure Marcia for him, by carrying her off. The young 
 prince scorns the idea as dishonourable, and, finding he 
 he has gone too far, Syphax pleads his devotion to sire 
 and son, and they mutually agree to forget the warmth 
 of youth and frowardness of age. The old traitor 
 is soliloquising on the affront he has suffered, when 
 Sempronius comes to tell him he has tampered with 
 Decius, and sent word to Caesar of their adhesion to him. 
 Their plans for a mutiny against Cato are also arranged, 
 Syphax undertaking to hold his Numidian troops in 
 readiness. 
 
 Marcus entreats his brother to plead his cause with 
 Lucia, and retires in great agitation as she approaches. 
 They are both unhappy at the thought that his grief at 
 their union might kill him, and Lucia vows she will never 
 marry while such a cloud hangs over them. Porcius begs 
 her to recall the words, but she persists in bidding him 
 farewell, and Marcus re-enters to learn his fate. He 
 reads it in his brothers looks, and, disdaining her pity, 
 exclaims, * What is compassion when 'tis void of love ! ' 
 Trumpets sound, and, as they hurry away, he longs to 
 fall in battle for some glorious cause. Several of the 
 mutineers assemble in the square before the palace, and 
 Sempronius, having addressed them, retires, in order 
 that he may re-enter with Cato, his sons, and the other 
 senators. Cato bares his bosom to the soldiers, but 
 
CATO. 67 
 
 remorse moves them to tears, and he orders them to give 
 up their leaders, whom Sempronius is charged to have put 
 to death. Cato then exhorts his followers to remember the 
 rights secured by their forefathers' blood, and, invoking 
 the spirit of liberty, retires with them. Sempronius re- 
 viles the mutineers as faint-hearted traitors, and orders 
 the guards, who come to take them away for execution, 
 to pluck out their tongues. Syphax enters to propose 
 that his Numidian troops shall force the gate which 
 Marcus guards, and clear their way to Caesar's camp, 
 promising to assist Sempronius in obtaining forcible 
 possession of Marcia. 
 
 She and Lucia discuss their griefs, and retire on hear- 
 ing footsteps. Sempronius enters dressed like Juba, with 
 Numidian guards, whom he instructs to seize their prey 
 on his giving them the word, when the young prince 
 appears with his guards, and, challenging the impostor? 
 kills him. Marcia re-enters with Lucia, and, mistaking 
 the muffled body for her lover, passionately bemoans 
 him. Juba comes forward to amaze and embrace her, 
 and she is led away by her friend, blushing at having 
 confessed her love, while he, almost fearing it is a dream, 
 exclaims, ' Let Caesar have the world, if Marcia's mine ! ' 
 Lucius expresses his astonishment to Cato at the false- 
 ness of Sempronius, and as he replies that he is surprised 
 at nothing, and is sick of the world, Porcius brings news 
 of the flight of Syphax, and is sent to see that his brother 
 acts a Roman's part. Cato declares the torrent bears too 
 hard upon him, and reproaches Lucius for urging him to 
 submit to Caesar and be reconciled to life. Juba comes to 
 blush for his countrymen's treachery, but is cheered by 
 Cato's commendation of his virtue. Porcius returns with 
 the dead body of Marcus, who has fallen nobly, and, ere 
 he died, pierced the false heart of Syphax. His father is 
 
68 THE PLOTS OF OLD ENGLISH PLAYS. 
 
 sustained by the reflection that he did his duty, and 
 remarks, as he bends over the bier, ' How beautiful is 
 death when earned by virtue!' He adds that Caesar 
 shall never say he conquered Cato, and begs his followers 
 to tell the usurper whatever was done against him, Cato 
 did it. Turning to Juba, he says it will be no crime at 
 Rome to have been Cato's friend. Then he advises his 
 son to withdraw betimes to their ancestral Sabine seat ; 
 and warning his friends generally that the conqueror is at 
 hand, he informs them that ships are ready to convey 
 those who dare not trust the victor's clemency, to any 
 wished-for port. 
 
 Alone in his chamber, Cato is reading Plato's book on 
 the Immortality of the Soul, and concurs with him that 
 "Tis Heaven itself that points out an hereafter.' Then, 
 taking his sword, he assures himself that death and life 
 are both before him, and contemplates the change un- 
 moved by guilt or fear. Porcius enters, and is forbidden 
 to touch the weapon ; but his father blesses him and 
 retires to sleep. On his way to see their friends embark, 
 he allays Marcia's fears, and as she and Lucia talk of 
 him, Lucius comes to tell them he seems to be dreaming 
 pleasantly. Juba brings word that their foes are within 
 an hour's march, and Porcius returns with the news that 
 Pompey's son is heading a rising against Caesar in Spain ; 
 but groans are heard, and Cato has fallen on his sword. 
 He is brought in on a chair, and, asking from Lucius the 
 hand of his daughter for Porcius, and giving Marcia to 
 Juba, he dies. 
 
JANE SHORE. 
 
 By NICHOLAS ROWE ; written 1713. 
 Principal Characters. 
 
 RICHARD, Duke of Gloucester. 
 LORD HASTINGS. 
 DUMONT, afterwards SHORE. 
 BELMOUR, his friend. 
 SIR RICHARD RATCLIFFE. 
 
 SIR WILLIAM CATESBY. 
 LORDS OF THE COUNCIL. 
 
 ALICIA, a lady of noble lirth. 
 JANE, the wift of Shore. 
 
 Servants, guards, etc. 
 Period, 1484. Locality : London. 
 
 /^LOUCESTER is in the Tower, asking Ratcliffe and 
 ^-* Catesby now that the queen and her relations are 
 quelled, and the young princes safely lodged does not 
 the sceptre seem within his reach ? Catesby replies that 
 Hastings will never respond to the cry of, ' God save 
 King Richard,' and hints that his allegiance to the fair 
 Alicia is waning. His lordship enters to intercede for 
 Shore's wife, who was Edward IV.'s paramour, but whose 
 property has now been seized, and is told she may attend 
 at the court, and shall be heard with patience. Belmour 
 takes Dumont to her house, and introduces him as a 
 reliable elderly attendant, he pretending to be a native of 
 Antwerp, and that he was present at her husband's 
 burial. Alicia is announced, and they retire ; she comes 
 with professions of sympathy, and, rallying her friend 
 with having charmed the heart of the noble-minded 
 Hastings, declares one common hazard shall attend them 
 both, which induces Jane to entrust her with a casket 
 
70 THE PLOTS OF OLD ENGLISH PLA YS. 
 
 of jewels, while she laments the hard fate of those of her 
 sex who swerve from virtue's rule. 
 
 Alicia is at Jane's house watching for Hastings, who 
 arrives at midnight, not expecting to encounter her. 
 Unable to restrain herself, she reproaches him with his 
 faithlessness, after all her sacrifices for his sake, and 
 retires, threatening that her feeble arm shall hurl him 
 from his topmost height. He begs Jane's forgiveness for 
 coming so late to tell her she is expected at the Tower 
 to-morrow, and then solicits her love in return for his 
 services ; but she bids him choose one of the court 
 beauties, and, calling for help, Dumont confronts and 
 disarms the villain, who retires ; and, telling her of a 
 peaceful refuge provided by Belmour, she consents to 
 accompany him thither. 
 
 The rivals meet at the court, and Jane tells Alicia that, 
 Hastings having caused Dumont to be carried off to 
 prison, her only hope now is in obtaining redress from the 
 duke. She hands her for perusal the paper she has 
 brought, but instead of it, Alicia gives her back another, 
 which she presents to Gloucester as he passes, and is 
 promised an interview. Calling Ratcliffe and Catesby 
 aside, Richard peruses with them the substituted paper, 
 the purport of which, to their astonishment, is that 
 Hastings is willing to acknowledge him as king, but is 
 deterred by Jane's influence. His lordship arrives, and, 
 on testing his sentiments, Gloucester discovers he is 
 disposed to support the young king, but dissembles with 
 him, and accepts his warning with expressions of con- 
 fidence, while Hastings owns to himself, 
 
 ' Beyond or love's or friendship's sacred band, 
 Beyond myself, I prize my native land.' 
 
 The duke relates the result of his interview to his other 
 
JANE SHORE. 71 
 
 counsellors, who advise him to induce Jane to use her 
 tongue in his behalf, and he talks with her alone. In- 
 stead, however, of being persuaded to favour his preten- 
 sions, she invokes every blessing upon Hastings for 
 being the champion of the young princes, and is ordered 
 to be turned into the street to perish, any one giving her 
 the smallest comfort being threatened with death, and all 
 her belongings confiscated for the profit of the state. At 
 the council which follows, Gloucester meets a proposal 
 to appoint the day for young Edward's coronation, by 
 baring his arm, and declaring it has become withered 
 through the sorcery of the late queen, in conjunction 
 with Jane Shore ; and on Hastings suggesting a doubt of 
 the fact, commands him to be arrested and executed 
 within an hour. As Ratcliffe is hurrying him to meet 
 his fate with courage, Alicia enters, distracted with grief 
 at being his murderess, and obtains his forgiveness, on 
 condition that she lets not the rancour of her hate pursue 
 her unhappy friend ; but she cannot endure his last 
 thoughts being for her rival, and prays she may share 
 all her sufferings and torments of despair. 
 
 Belmour tells Dumont, whose release he has obtained, 
 of having met Jane in the street patiently bearing her 
 fate, and that a churlish guard prevents any one from 
 helping her. He vows he will, and is asked by his friend 
 whether he feels able to resume a husband's name, and 
 let resentment sleep. He recalls how he doated on her, 
 and how she glanced at him as the royal spoiler bore her 
 away in his chariot ; and can she, who was so cherished, 
 endure the beating of a storm so rude? They arrange 
 to go different ways in search of her, while she, wander- 
 ing about bare-footed, and longing for death, comes to 
 the house of Alicia, but is refused admittance by the 
 servant. As she sits at the door ? however, her once 
 
72 THE PLOTS OF OLD ENGLISH PLA YS. 
 
 bosom friend bids her begone, and rushes off raving. 
 Presently Belmour approaches, and, asking where are 
 the companions of her joyful days, points to Dumont 
 coming to her aid. She recognises him, and, as they 
 gently lead her homewards, Catesby, with a guard, over- 
 takes and arrests them. Attempting to follow her husband, 
 she sinks to the ground ; and, breaking from the inhuman 
 villains, he responds to her piteous entreaty for forgive- 
 ness, and, with nothing left to bestow upon him but one 
 sad sigh, she dies. 
 
SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER. 
 
 By OLIVER GOLDSMITH ; written 1772. 
 Principal Characters. 
 
 SIR CHARLES MARLOW. 
 CHARLES MARLOW, his son. 
 SQUIRE HARDCASTLE. 
 TONY LUMPKIN, his step-son. 
 GEORGE HASTINGS, Miss Nevilles 
 lover. 
 
 DIGGORY, a talkative servant. 
 
 MRS HARDCASTLE. 
 
 Miss KATE HARDCASTLE. 
 
 Miss CONSTANCE NEVILLE, Mrs 
 
 Hardcastles niece. 
 PIMPLE, Miss Hardcastles maid. 
 
 Landlord, villagers, servants, etc. 
 Period, 1760. Localities .' a Country House and Village. 
 
 MRS HARDCASTLE vows to her husband that she 
 wants a trip to town, to rub off the rust of their 
 country life, which he loves ; and then talks of her son 
 Tony, who his step-father complains is full of mischief, but 
 she fears is consumptive. He passes through the room 
 on his way to the ale-house, and, refusing to be detained, 
 disappears with his mother clinging to him. Kate enters, 
 and, after laughing at her superfluous finery, her father 
 announces that he is expecting the young gentleman 
 he has chosen as her husband, whose qualifications he 
 extols, and she believes he will do. The squire retires 
 lo prepare the servants for his reception, while Kate 
 confides the news to her cousin Constance, who is de- 
 lighted to learn that the visitor, Charles Marlow, is a 
 friend of her lover. Tony is drinking punch and singing 
 with several shabby villagers at the Three Pigeons, when 
 the landlord informs him of the arrival of two travellers 
 who have lost their way, and introduces Marlow and 
 Hastings. The young squire tells them that Hardcastle 
 
74 THE PLOTS OF OLD ENGLISH PLA YS. 
 
 is a cross-grained old fellow, with an ugly daughter and 
 a pretty son ; and as his house is a long way off, they 
 had better put up for the night at the Buctfs Head, 
 which is only a mile further, and one of the best inns 
 in the county. 
 
 As the squire is drilling his servants, a coach drives 
 into the yard, Tony having sent the travellers to his 
 step-father's house, and they are shown into the dining- 
 room, the comforts of which they duly appreciate. 
 Hastings makes fun of Mario w's lack of assurance at 
 the idea of facing his intended bride, and Marlow owns 
 that he came to forward his friend's happiness rather than 
 his own. Presently Hardcastle, whom they take for the 
 landlord, enters, and begs they will use no ceremony, 
 his house being Liberty-hall. He begins telling them 
 a reminiscence of the Duke of Marlborough, in the 
 midst of which they call for punch ; and when he pro- 
 ceeds to talk of Prince Eugene, they demand the bill 
 of fare, and Marlow insists on seeing that their beds 
 are properly aired, to the host's intense astonishment. 
 Constance enters as they retire, to find her lover has 
 arrived with his friend, and undeceives him as to the 
 house being an inn, dispelling at the same time his fears 
 of her cousin's rivalry. He proposes that they shall 
 elope at once, but she says she must first secure her 
 jewels, of which her aunt has the custody, and they 
 agree in the meantime not to enlighten Marlow. He 
 returns, and, being told the young ladies have acci- 
 dentally alighted while they changed horses, is intro- 
 duced to Constance and then to Kate, who inspires him 
 with courage by assisting his efforts at conversation. 
 His timidity returns, however, when left alone with her, 
 and, as he makes an excuse for retiring, she wonders 
 whether she shall be able to cure him of his bashful- 
 
SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER. 75 
 
 ness. Constance pretends to coquet with Tony, while 
 Hastings flatters Mrs Hardcastle, and she rallies her 
 son, who declares he will have his fortune, and be fooled 
 no longer, upon which his mother and cousin retire. 
 He then tells Hastings his objections to Constance, and 
 that he will gladly assist him in whipping her off to 
 France. 
 
 The squire is wondering how Sir Charles could have 
 described his son as the modestest young man in town ; 
 and, on expressing his surprise to his daughter, who is in 
 plainer attire, she takes her suitor's part, and offers to 
 satisfy her father that he is mistaken in his impressions 
 of him. Tony, meanwhile, hands the casket containing 
 Constance's jewels, which he has abstracted from his 
 mother's bureau, to Hastings ; and advises her, when he 
 hears his cousin asking for them, to say they are lost, 
 telling Constance privately what he has done with them ; 
 and, on the old lady returning to declare her bureau has 
 been broken open, and the jewels taken away, her son 
 laughs at her distress. Pimple tells Kate that Marlow 
 has mistaken her for the barmaid ; and, resolving to keep 
 up the delusion, she encounters him alone, and leads him 
 on to make love to her, and talk about his London 
 acquaintances. The squire overhears them, and up- 
 braids his daughter with deceiving him, but she under- 
 takes to convince him to the contrary within an hour. 
 
 Marlow has told a servant, who brought him the casket 
 from Hastings to take care of, to deposit it with the land- 
 lady, who is puzzled at recovering it ; and, meeting his 
 friend, confesses his love for the barmaid, and, to tha 
 dismay of Hastings, what he has done with the jewel 
 case. The visitors' servants are all drunk, and when 
 Marlow coolly informs his host they were told to indulge 
 freely, he can contain himself no longer, and insists that 
 
76 THE PLOTS OF OLD ENGLISH PLA VS. 
 
 they shall at once leave the house. His guest distracts 
 him still more by saying he chooses to stay, and calling 
 for the bill. Marlow wonders whether he has mistaken 
 the house, and is confounded on learning from Kate, who 
 still conceals her identity, how he has been imposed on. 
 He apologises, however, for having trifled with her, and 
 regrets that their different positions render marriage im- 
 possible ; while she mentally acknowledges his merit, 
 and determines to persevere in securing him. Tony is 
 explaining matters to his cousin, when they hear the old 
 lady approaching, and pretend to fondle. She promises 
 they shall be married to-morrow, and her sweet boy shall 
 defer the rest of his education. Diggory, however, brings 
 a note, which Constance reads, and pretends is only from 
 one of Tony's alehouse companions ; but he hands it to 
 his mother, who discovers that it is from Hastings, to say 
 he is waiting for Miss Neville with a chaise and pair, and 
 asking him to provide fresh horses as promised. Venting 
 her rage on both, Mrs Hardcastle bids her niece prepare 
 to be placed in security with her old Aunt Pedigree, and 
 her son to escort them on horseback. They mutually 
 blame each other ; Hastings taxes Tony with betraying 
 him ; Marlow comes to reproach them with having made 
 him contemptible ; Constance denounces her cousin as 
 the cause of all their embarrassments ; he offers to fight 
 both his antagonists ; and, as she is hurried away to her 
 aunt, bids them all meet him at the end of the garden 
 two hours hence. 
 
 Sir Charles has arrived, and is being entertained by 
 the squire with an account of his having been mistaken 
 for an innkeeper, and the prospect of the young folks 
 liking each other, when Marlow comes to ask pardon for 
 his conduct, and denies that anything but respect and 
 reserve has passed between him and Miss Hardcastle ; 
 
SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER. 77 
 
 while Kate, who enters as he retires, declares that he has 
 professed a lasting attachment to her, and invites the old 
 gentlemen to be behind a screen in half an hour, and 
 hear him declare his passion. Tony enters the garden 
 just as Hastings is thinking what an idiot he is to be 
 expecting him, and declares that, although he has ridden 
 twenty-five miles, he has left the ladies where he found 
 them ! He explains that he led their chaise into a muddy 
 lane, where they stuck fast ; then up and down hill, and 
 over a heath ; and, after a circumbendibus, lodged them 
 in a horse-pond close by. Hastings is full of gratitude, 
 and rushes off to release Constance ; leaving Tony to 
 frighten his mother still more by hinting they are forty 
 miles from home, and that a robber is approaching, and 
 she hides behind a tree. He proves to be the squire, 
 and Tony tells him his mother and her charge are safe 
 with Aunt Pedigree ; but he insists that he hears another 
 voice, and the old lady, not recognising him, rushes 
 forward, and, falling on her knees, begs ' good Mr High- 
 wayman' to spare her poor boy. Relieved as to her 
 whereabouts, she abuses the graceless varlet to whom 
 she owes all that has happened, who retorts it is the fruit 
 of spoiling him, and her husband laughs at her discom- 
 fiture. Kate sends Sir Charles in search of the squire 
 to keep their appointment ; and Marlow comes to take 
 leave, and to assure her of the pain he feels at the 
 separation. Still personating the barmaid, she bids him 
 go, leaving her only the mockery of his addresses. The 
 listeners come forward as he declares that he cannot 
 leave her ; and, learning from them his mistake, he is 
 confused with their taunts, in which she joins ; but her 
 father prevents his despairing effort to escape, and they 
 all forgive him. Mrs Hardcastle enters with the news 
 that Constance and her lover have gone off; but as Sir 
 
78 THE PLOTS OF OLD ENGLISH PLA YS. 
 
 Charles is expressing his approval of Hastings, they 
 come in to explain that her late father consented to the 
 match ; and Tony, being told he has been of age for 
 three months, makes the first use of his liberty by refus- 
 ing to marry her. His mother turns against her undutiful 
 offspring Hastings, insists upon Kate accepting Marlow, 
 and the squire joins their hands, declaring that the 
 mistakes of the night shall be crowned with a merry 
 morning. 
 
DOUGLAS. 
 
 By JOHN HOME ; written 1756. 
 Principal Characters. 
 
 LORD RANDOLPH. DONALD, a servant. 
 
 GLENALVON, his kinsman. 
 
 OLD NORVAL. LADY RANDOLPH. 
 
 YOUNG NORVAL, afterwards DOUG- ANNA, her maid. 
 LAS, Lady RandolpJis son. 
 
 Attendants, camp-rovers, etc. 
 Period, 1130. Locality: near Carron, Scotland. 
 
 LADY RANDOLPH promenades in the castle-yard, 
 still sorrowing for the death of her first husband, 
 Douglas, and her brother Malcolm, and the loss of her 
 infant eighteen years ago. Lord Randolph enters and 
 reminds her the living claim some duty, but that were he 
 to perish, she would not shed one tear the more, adding 
 that he is off to the camp, where every warrior waits to 
 prevent the landing of the Danes. Anna comes to in- 
 terrupt her mistress's solitary thoughts, and elicits the 
 story of her misfortunes. Malcolm had saved the life 
 of Douglas, the son of their father's foe, and, a few days 
 after she had secretly married him, both were slain. She 
 entrusted her son, as soon as born, on a dark December 
 night, to a nurse, who set out with him to reach her 
 sister's house, but neither had since been heard of. 
 Glenalvon approaches, and her ladyship avoids him, but 
 he consoles himself with the thought that the deed is 
 doing which will make him the baron, and that she shall 
 be his bride, in spite of his kinsman having rescued her 
 from being seized by him. 
 
 A cry for help is heard, and Donald brings in a 
 
8o THE PLOTS OF OLD ENGLISH PLA YS. 
 
 prisoner, Lady Randolph and her maid following. She 
 is asking the meaning of the clamour, when his lordship 
 and young Norval enter with their swords drawn, and 
 her husband tells her that the youth has saved his life 
 from an attack by four armed men, Asked who he is, 
 he replies in the well-known lines commencing { My 
 name is Norval, on the Grampian Hills/ etc. Lord 
 Randolph promises he shall henceforth fight in nobler 
 lists, and Lady Randolph, who is strangely moved, that 
 he shall be her knight. The baron takes him to the 
 camp, ordering a feast to be ready when they return ; 
 and her ladyship tells Anna how the boy has kindled a 
 fondness for him in her heart, and that she will deter 
 Glenalvon, who approaches, from treating him as a rival 
 in his kinsman's love. He informs her he has taken 
 steps to secure the villains, and she warns him, at his 
 peril, to refrain from practising aught against her 
 husband's deliverer. Left to himself, he suspects that 
 she is in love with Norval, and goes to seek the servant 
 who accompanied him from his foster-parents' home. 
 
 Donald informs Anna that one of the assassins is 
 secured, with jewels in his possession bearing the 
 Douglas crest, and old Norval is brought into Lady 
 Randolph's presence. Donald proposes to force the 
 truth from him by torture, and she threatens that false- 
 hood will entail instant death. He protests his inno- 
 cence, and declares that eighteen years ago he found, 
 floating in a basket on the river Carron, an infant, whom 
 he and his wife brought up, giving him his name, and 
 bought flocks and herds with the gold they discovered in 
 his cradle. Lady Randolph exclaims, ' It is my son ! ' 
 and he recognises her as the daughter of his old master 
 Sir Malcolm. She bids him communicate with another 
 of her father's old servants, and gives directions for him 
 
DOUGLAS. 81 
 
 to be put on his way thither. Talking over the wonder- 
 ful recovery of her son with Anna, she agrees that 
 caution will be necessary not to excite the baron's 
 jealousy ; and when Glenalvon brings word that the 
 invaders have landed, she praises his valour, and bids 
 him shield her husband, to which he replies that she 
 has converted him, and that he will be her favoured 
 youth's defender also. After she retires, however, he 
 chuckles at having lulled her stormy virtue, and success- 
 fully tampered with Norval's companion. 
 
 Lord Randolph meets his wife on his return with 
 alarming news of the Danish foe, and Glenalvon and 
 Norval join them. The baron orders his kinsman to 
 lead his troops at dawn, while he travels to the royal 
 camp with his young guest, who relates how he acquired 
 his military knowledge from an old hermit who had been 
 a soldier in the first crusade. Trumpets sound, and 
 Donald announces that the valiant John of Lorn and his 
 troops hail the noble Randolph ; and Glenalvon is sent 
 to offer them hospitality. Lady Randolph, in a private 
 talk with her son, reveals his parentage, and his right 
 to the lands and castle held by her husband ; also telling 
 him she has sent him a note appointing another meeting, 
 and warns him against the wiles of the expectant heir. 
 The baron re-enters with Glenalvon, and as she hastily 
 leaves them, they express their suspicions, having inter- 
 cepted her letter to Norval, and arrange to overhear what 
 passes during their interview. In the meantime Glenalvon 
 undertakes to explore the boy's spirit, while his lord- 
 ship listens. Douglas enters, and, treating his insolent 
 questioner with high-bred scorn, they are about to fight ; 
 but the baron intervenes, and their quarrel is deferred, 
 Douglas intimating to his adversary, as they go in to 
 supper, that their strife is mortal. 
 F 
 
82 THE PLOTS OF OLD ENGLISH PLA YS. 
 
 Old Norval meets his foster-son in a wood near the 
 castle, and, entreating forgiveness for having so long 
 withheld him from his birthright, warns him that his 
 life is in danger. Douglas awaits his mother's coming, 
 meditating on his changed prospects, and yearning for 
 renown. Lady Randolph joins him, and he tells her of 
 old Norval having heard the baron and his kinsman 
 vowing revenge. She bids him fly to the camp, but he 
 proposes they shall go to the castle and trust to the 
 fidelity of the old servants. She, however, persuades 
 him to seek an interview with his uncle, Lord Douglas, 
 and they part. Lord Randolph enters with Glenalvon, 
 who secretly resolves that both lover and husband shall 
 die, while the baron pursues Douglas, who appears be- 
 hind, followed by his kinsmen. Her ladyship returns, 
 and her son enters with Glenalvon's sword, whom he has 
 killed ; but he is wounded, and, repining at his cruel 
 destiny, dies in his mother's arms. Lord Randolph comes 
 forward blaming his kinsman for having seduced him to 
 frantic jealousy, and his wife, overwhelmed with grief, 
 rushes out, followed by Anna, who returns to tell him 
 she has thrown herself from a precipice. Ordering the 
 funerals to be with cost and pomp, the baron goes straight 
 to battle, hoping he will never return. 
 
THE JEALOUS WIFE. 
 
 By GEORGE COLMAN ; written 1775. 
 Principal Characters. 
 
 LORD TRINKET. 
 
 SIR HARRY BEAGLE. 
 
 MAJOR OAKLY. 
 
 MR OAKLY, his brother. 
 
 CHARLES OAKLY, their nephew 
 
 CAPTAIN O'CUTTER. 
 
 MR RUSSET, a country squire. 
 
 PARIS, Mr Oakly s servant. 
 
 LADY FREELOVE. 
 MRS OAKLY. 
 
 HARRIOT RUSSET, Charles 's lady- 
 love. 
 TOILET, Mrs Oaklys maid. 
 
 Servants, etc. 
 Period, 1775. Locality .' London. 
 
 MRS OAKLY shows her husband a letter which she 
 has intercepted, and insists upon knowing its con- 
 tents, telling him he is a false man. On reading it, he 
 finds it is from Mr Russet to his nephew, charging him 
 with being privy to his daughter's elopement ; but she 
 declares that he is deceiving her, and, snatching the 
 letter from him, retires as the major and Charles enter. 
 Mr Oakly upbraids his nephew with having decoyed Miss 
 Harriot from her father, and Charles rushes after his 
 aunt to obtain the letter, while the major jokingly tells 
 his brother that jealousy is a sign of love, and suggests 
 he shall show his spirit by dining with him at a tavern. 
 Mr Oakly goes to fetch his hat, unperceived by his wife, 
 and Charles returns, miserable at the thought that Har- 
 riot is offended with him for his foolish rioting, and has 
 left her home to avoid being forced to accept Sir Harry. 
 His uncle adds to his distress by hinting that if she is 
 with her aunt, Lady Freelove, she will arrange a match 
 
84 THE PLOTS OF OLD ENGLISH PLA YS. 
 
 for her with Lord Trinket. Mr Oakly comes back to say 
 the coach is ready, but his wife follows him, and, attack- 
 ing the major for his interference, makes her husband say 
 he will stay at home. Charles also declines his uncle's 
 invitation, and hurries away in pursuit of his lady-love. 
 
 Sir Harry is at an inn, talking with a servant abont his 
 horses, and of having traced his intended bride to town, 
 when Mr Russet enters, and reproaches him with in- 
 difference towards his daughter. He replies that the 
 chase will cost him a thousand, and suggests a descriptive 
 advertisement of her ; the servant, however, brings word 
 that she was fetched from the inn by a fine lady in a 
 chariot, and her father starts off, hoping to find her with 
 Mrs Oakly, leaving Sir Harry to inquire at Lady Free- 
 love's. Still suspecting her husband, Mrs Oakly en- 
 deavours to draw the secret from him, by pretending to 
 believe his version of the story ; but is scandalised at his 
 proposal that they shall offer the young lady a home 
 until her father arrives in town ; and he learns from the 
 servants that she has told them to admit no visitors, and 
 has ordered her carriage. Lady Freelove reads a note, 
 and sends for her niece, who is in her own chamber 
 writing. She tells her she has acquainted her father that 
 she is safe, and that she wonders at her choice, when 
 she might marry Lord Trinket to-morrow, to which she 
 is expressing her objections when his lordship is an- 
 nounced. Lady Freelove flatters him, but Harriot does 
 not respond to his advances ; she learns from him, how- 
 ever, her father's address, and begs her aunt to see and 
 pacify him. A servant whispers to her ladyship that Sir 
 Harry is below, and, while she pretends to go to some 
 lady visitors in another room, Lord Trinket forces his 
 attentions upon her niece ; Charles, however, arrives 
 opportunely, and during a fight between them, Harriot 
 
THE JEALOUS WIFE. 85 
 
 escapes. Lady Freelove interposes, and having promised 
 Sir Harry an interview with her niece, after having denied 
 she was in the house, is disconcerted to find her gone. 
 He and Lord Trinket take their leave ; and with mock 
 civility, which he retorts, her ladyship shows Charles the 
 way out. 
 
 Lord Trinket returns to assure her that he meant no 
 harm, and she is advising him to renew his proposal to 
 Mr Russet, when Captain O'Cutter calls to thank her for 
 obtaining him an appointment as captain of a press-gang. 
 His lordship promises him a ship, and he undertakes to 
 seize two fellows who have offended him, as well as to 
 carry a challenge to Charles. Mrs Oakly is then an- 
 nounced, and Lord Trinket retires. She comes to learn 
 what has really occurred, and Lady Freelove leads her to 
 believe that Mr Oakly is the object of her niece's 
 affections, to the amusement of his lordship, who over- 
 hears their conversation. During her absence from 
 home, Harriot calls there, and telling Mr Oakly her 
 troubles, begs permission to remain at his house for a 
 few days, and his assistance in effecting a reconciliation 
 with her father. Mrs Oakly returns, and listens while 
 he explains that she would object, but that he will take 
 a lodging for her ; on hearing this she comes forward, 
 declaring she understands the whole affair, and insists 
 upon Harriot leaving. Mr Russet, however, enters to 
 demand satisfaction from Mr Oakly for encouraging 
 his daughter's elopement, and, preventing his endeavours 
 to explain matters, Mrs Oakly carries him off; then 
 Charles comes in drunk, and father and daughter retire. 
 
 The major is with his nephew next morning when 
 Captain O'Cutter arrives, but, instead of a challenge from 
 Lord Trinket, he hands Charles another letter ; the 
 meeting, however, is arranged, and he leaves. The other 
 
86 THE PLOTS OF OLD ENGLISH PLA YS. 
 
 letter is from his lordship to Lady Freelove, and contains 
 Harriot's address at the inn, whither her lover hastens, 
 leaving his uncle to visit his brother, and encourage him 
 in rebelling against his wife's domination. Harriot is 
 bewailing her distresses, when Sir Harry enters and 
 bluntly tells her she shall marry him ; she declines, and 
 he goes to her father, who comes to insist that she shall 
 have him, and adds that he is going for a licence and a 
 parson. Charles watches him and Sir Harry depart, and 
 is endeavouring to persuade Harriot to escape with him, 
 when a servant runs in to tell them that the gentlemen 
 have been seized by a press-gang, followed by Lord 
 Trinket, who demands the lady. Charles, however, pro- 
 duces a pistol, and waves his lordship aside, telling him 
 he will find them both at his house, and they retire. 
 
 Lady Freelove and Lord Trinket reproach the captain 
 for his blunder with the letters, and, at her ladyship's 
 suggestion, he is sent to release the squire and his friend, 
 and be their escort to Mr Oakly's house, where she and 
 his lordship will meet them. Mrs Oakly, meanwhile, is 
 perplexed at her husband's absence, and is ordering and 
 countermanding the servants, when she is told he has 
 returned with the major, Charles, and the young lady. 
 Toilet brings them word that she is not well, and wishes 
 to see her husband ; he vows he will not go, but retires 
 to his study to hear how she takes his refusal. Lord 
 Trinket arrives with his released prisoners, and Harriot 
 is told by her father she shall marry Sir Harry that 
 night ; he replies that he has swopped her with his lord- 
 ship for a horse ! Mr Russet is furious, but the major 
 offers to prove that his lordship contrived the seizure, 
 and Charles produces the letter, which satisfies him that 
 his daughter is innocent ; and when he consents to her 
 marrying young Oakly, Sir Harry goes off to secure his 
 
THE JEALOUS WIFE. 87 
 
 horse and be out of town in an hour. Lady Freelove 
 enters, and, learning the course of events, congratulates 
 the young couple, and offers to make peace between 
 Lord Trinket and Charles, coolly ignoring his lordship's 
 allusion to the crossing of his letters. Mr Russet, how- 
 ever, taxes her with being the cause of the insult offered 
 to him, as well as of that to which his daughter was 
 subjected in her house; but she sneers at his vulgar in- 
 sinuations, and retires, followed by Lord Trinket, who 
 wishes them all joy with affected nonchalance. Mr 
 Oakly now returns, convinced of his wife's artifices to 
 work upon his feelings, and, as the major is urging him 
 to be firm, she comes in and threatens to leave the house. 
 He replies calmly to her outbursts of temper, and, after 
 striving in vain to have her own way, she sobs and feigns 
 being in a fit. Finding this makes no impression on him, 
 she vows vengeance ; but Harriot succeeds in persuading 
 her she has misapprehended all that has happened, and, 
 assured of her husband's forgiveness, she confesses the 
 arts which her jealousy induced her to practise, and re- 
 solves for the future never to suspect at all. 
 
THE RIVALS. 
 
 By RICHARD BRINSLEY SHERIDAN ; written 1775. 
 Principal Characters. 
 
 SIR ANTHONY ABSOLUTE. 
 CAPTAIN ABSOLUTE, alias ENSIGN 
 
 BEVERLEY, his son. 
 MR FAULKLAND, in love with Julia. 
 MR BOB ACRES, a country squire, 
 
 in love "with Lydia. 
 SIR Lucius O'TRIGGER. 
 FAG, Captain Absolutes servant. 
 
 DAVID, Mr Acres servant. 
 
 MRS MALA PRO P. 
 
 LYDIA LANGUISH, her niece, in love 
 
 "with the captain. 
 JULIA MELVILLE, Sir Anthonys 
 
 ivard. 
 LUCY, Lydia's maid. 
 
 Coachman, servants, etc. 
 Period, 1775. Locality : Bath. 
 
 FAG meets Sir Anthony's coachman, from whom he 
 hears that his master and household have just 
 arrived, and tells him that the captain is passing as 
 Ensign Beverley, in order to secure his wealthy lady-love 
 Miss Languish. She is at her aunt's lodgings, and Lucy 
 has just brought her some sensational novels, when Julia 
 arrives. Lydia tells her that the old lady has intercepted 
 her correspondence with Beverley, and fallen in love 
 with an Irish baronet ; also that Acres, whom she detests, 
 is expected, and that she has quarrelled with her lover. 
 Julia replies that she is capricious, but defends Faulkland, 
 who has saved her from drowning, from a similar re- 
 proach. Their conversation is interrupted by the entry 
 of Sir Anthony with Mrs Malaprop, who makes use of 
 absurdly inappropriate words and phrases, and re- 
 proaches her niece before him for refusing to give up 
 Beverley. He declares it is the natural consequence of 
 
THE RIVALS. 89 
 
 teaching girls to read, and elicits the old lady's ideas of 
 what a young woman should know. The object of his 
 visit, however, is to propose his son as a husband for 
 Lydia, and Mrs Malaprop undertakes to give Mr Acres 
 his discharge, and prepare her niece to receive the 
 captain. As soon as Sir Anthony leaves, she retires to 
 write to Sir Lucius ; and Lucy, whom she warns against 
 being imposed upon, reads to herself a list of the presents 
 she has received for helping Miss Lydia and the ensign, 
 betraying them to the old lady, carrying letters for Mr 
 Acres, and Sir Lucius, and leading the latter to believe 
 that he is corresponding with the niece, instead of her 
 aunt. 
 
 The captain is informed by Fag of his father's aston- 
 ishment on hearing he is in Bath, the reason for which he 
 concealed by consistent lying ; and he receives a visit 
 from Faulkland, to whom he imparts his fear that, 
 although Lydia is willing to sacrifice her fortune and 
 to elope with him as Beverley, she would not agree to 
 a formal wedding, and the reversion of a fortune on his 
 side. His friend confesses the apprehensions he has 
 suffered during his absence from Julia, but professes to 
 be cheered with the news that she has arrived with her 
 guardian, and is in perfect health and spirits. Acres 
 is announced, who the captain tells Faulkland is a rival 
 of his without knowing it, and how ridiculous it is to hear 
 him abuse Beverley. His account of having met Julia in 
 Devonshire, and of her cheerfulness in society away from 
 her lover, quite upsets Faulkland ; and, when he leaves, 
 Acres describes his efforts to improve his personal ap- 
 pearance to please Lydia, and a genteel method of 
 swearing, which he learnt from a militia major. Sir 
 Anthony is his son's next visitor, and comes to announce 
 that he has resolved to fix him in a noble independence, 
 
90 THE PLOTS OP OLD ENGLISH PL A YS. 
 
 but that the fortune is saddled with a wife. He refuses 
 to give the lady's name, and, failing to obtain the captain's 
 promise to marry her, vows that he will disown and dis- 
 inherit him. Lucy meets Sir Lucius on the parade, and 
 gives him Mrs Malaprop's letter, signed Delia, intimating 
 her own doubts as to his means, to which he replies he 
 is so poor that he cannot afford to do a dirty action. She 
 then has a talk with Fag, telling him who the letter was 
 from, and of having overheard the conversation between 
 Sir Anthony and his son. 
 
 They encounter each other in the street, and the cap- 
 tain, with assumed penitence, professes that he is ready 
 to submit to his father's will, pretending, when informed 
 who the lady is, not to remember her, and to be unmoved 
 at his description of her attractions, which greatly irritates 
 the old gentleman, who declares that, if his son is not 
 mad with rapture on seeing her, he will marry the girl 
 himself. Julia has a conversation with Faulkland, who 
 upbraids her with inconstancy for having been mirthful 
 in his absence, and she leaves him in tears. The captain 
 calls on Mrs Malaprop, who shows him a letter she has 
 intercepted from the beggarly ensign, in which he speaks 
 of her as the old she-dragon; and she consents to his 
 proposal that her neice shall be allowed to plot an elope- 
 ment, when he will contrive to carry her off. The old 
 lady goes to prepare Lydia for an interview with him, 
 and she is astonished at being confronted by Beverley, in- 
 stead of his rival. Pretending he has deceived her aunt, 
 he is conjuring her to fix the time when he may rescue 
 her, and she is persuaded how charming poverty will be 
 with him, when they perceive Mrs Malaprop listening, 
 and Lydia exclaims that Beverley is her choice, upon 
 which her aunt comes forward to apologise for her rude- 
 ness, and leads her away. Acres has just completed his 
 
THE RIVALS. 91 
 
 toilet, and David agrees that dress is all in all, while he 
 complains that the new fashionable dances are as bad as 
 algebra to country gentlemen. Sir Lucius is announced, 
 and, on hearing from Acres that he has a rival, insists 
 that he must fight him, and dictates the wording of the 
 challenge, intimating that he is expecting a similar affair 
 with a gay captain, who has put a jest on him. 
 
 David endeavours to persuade his master not to fight, 
 but he replies that he cannot risk the loss of his honour, 
 or disgrace his ancestors, and that he will not be made 
 afraid. The captain, whom he has sent for, arrives, and 
 undertakes to deliver the letter to Beverley, but declines 
 acting as second. He promises, however, to tell the 
 ensign that his challenger is known as 4 Fighting Bob/ 
 which, Acres remarks, may prevent mischief, as he does 
 not want to kill him. Mrs Malaprop asks Lydia whether 
 Captain Absolute is not a handsome man ? to which she 
 replies, so is Beverley. But her aunt objects to com- 
 parisons, and is dilating on the captain's perfections in 
 her peculiar phraseology, when Sir Anthony and his son 
 are shown in. Lydia sits with her back to them, and the 
 captain pretends his modesty prevents him from speaking 
 to her. When he whispers, however, she maintains he is 
 Beverley, and Sir Anthony and her aunt agree she must 
 be mad, until her lover explains matters, upon which she 
 sullenly remarks, i then there will be no elopement/ His 
 father is propitiated, but the old lady remembers the 
 comments upon her in the letter ; he tells her, however, 
 they must forget and forgive, and leads her away. Left 
 alone with her lover, Lydia resents the trick he has played 
 her, and, when the old people return, she renounces him ; 
 but Sir Anthony tells Mrs Malaprop she must make peace 
 for his son, and they disperse. The captain is muttering 
 that he was never in a worse humour, when he meets Sir 
 
92 THE PLOTS OF OLD ENGLISH PL A YS. 
 
 Lucius, who recalls to his memory the affront he offered 
 him, and they appoint a meeting at King's Mead Fields. 
 Faulkland overtakes his friend, who opens his heart to 
 him, and, having secured his services as a second, learns 
 that he has quarrelled with Julia. A servant, however, 
 brings him a letter from her, begging for a reconciliation ; 
 but he fretfully remarks that women's pardon, like their 
 love, should not unsought be won. 
 
 He leads her to believe he has been drawn into a 
 quarrel which compels him to fly the kingdom, and she 
 offers to accompany him ; but when he confesses it is 
 merely a device, suggested by his mistrust of her love, 
 she tells him she will never be his wife, and leaves him 
 in despair. Lydia declares to Julia that she shall die with 
 disappointment at the prospect of a fashionable wedding 
 instead of a sentimental elopement ; but is entreated not 
 to inflict unhappiness on a sincere lover by her foolish 
 caprice. Mrs Malaprop and David enter with the news 
 that Acres, the captain, and Faulkland have arranged a 
 duel, and, when she learns that Sir Lucius is with them, 
 she hurries away with her niece and Julia, and David as 
 their guide, to prevent mischief. Sir Lucius is pacing 
 the distance, which Acres begs may be increased, and, 
 when asked if he has any commissions in case of an 
 accident, admits that his valour is oozing out, and wishes 
 he were safe at home. The captain arrives with Faulk- 
 land, whom Sir Lucius mistakes for Beverley, and, on 
 matters being explained, suggests that Acres shall fight 
 his real rival, which he declines, but offers to be his 
 second. Sir Lucius disdains him as a coward, and has 
 drawn his sword to fight the captain, when the ladies 
 arrive with Sir Anthony and David. Mrs Malaprop 
 calls the captain to Lydia, but Sir Lucius interposes, ad- 
 dressing her as Delia ; she, however, solicits the return 
 
THE RIVALS. 93 
 
 of her lover's affection, and Acres declares that if he 
 cannot get a wife without fighting for her, he will remain 
 a bachelor. Sir Lucius produces Mrs Malaprop's letters 
 to him, and she owns the soft impeachment, but he 
 declines the honour, and, being refused also by Acres, 
 she declares that men are all barbarians. Julia then for- 
 gives her lover, Sir Anthony telling her he will mend sur- 
 prisingly ; Acres invites them all to a dance ; Faulkland 
 and the captain agree that they have tasted the bitters 
 as well as the sweets of love ; and Julia indulges in a 
 flowery moral as they retire. 
 
THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL. 
 
 By RICHARD BRINSLEY SHERIDAN ; written 1777. 
 Principal Characters. 
 
 ROWLEY, Old Surface's stenvard. 
 MOSES, a money -lender. 
 SNAKE, a "villain. 
 
 SIR PETER TEAZLE. 
 SIR OLIVER SURFACE. 
 SIR BENJAMIN BACKBITE. 
 
 SIR HARRY BUMPER. 
 
 JOSEPH SURFACE, -\SirOlivers j LADY TEAZLE. 
 
 CHARLES SURFACE,/ nephews. \ LADY SNEERWELL, a widow. 
 
 CRABTREE, Sir Benjamin's -uncle. '< MRS CANDOUR. 
 
 CARELESS, Charles' s friend. \ MARIA, Sir Peters ward. 
 
 Trip, and other Servants. 
 Period 1775. Locality \ London. 
 
 T ADY SNEERWELL is arranging with Snake to 
 J * circulate some scandals, and confesses that, having 
 been wounded by slander in early life, she knows no 
 pleasure equal to reducing others to the level of her own 
 reputation ; she also confides to him that, in order to secure 
 Charles Surface, she is conniving with his brother against 
 the attachment between him and Maria. Joseph enters 
 to report that some of her stories have already taken effect, 
 and declares that Charles, who has had another execution 
 in his house, can only be reclaimed from his dissipation 
 by her. Snake retires to copy a letter, and Maria comes 
 in to avoid the malicious wit of Sir Benjamin and his 
 uncle, who have just called at her guardian's house. Mrs 
 Candour, whose affected benevolence she also dislikes, 
 is announced, and tells her the town is talking of her 
 affair with Charles being off, and of Sir Peter and his 
 wife not agreeing, as well as various other rumours she 
 
THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL. 95 
 
 has heard. Then she pretends to condole with Joseph 
 about his brother, and Sir Benjamin and Crabtree arrive. 
 They retail more scandals, and, asking Joseph whether 
 his uncle is coming home, talk of Charles being in the 
 hands of the Jews, which he affects to resent ; and, the 
 other visitors having left, Lady Sneerwell undertakes to 
 plot fresh mischief, while he studies sentiment. Sir Peter 
 asks himself when an old bachelor marries a young wife 
 what is he to expect ? and is miserable at her extrava- 
 gance. He tells Rowley she is always in the wrong, 
 and that Maria rebels against his disapproval of her 
 choice, expressing his belief that Joseph, whom he wishes 
 her to marry, is a model young man. The old steward 
 replies that he believes Charles will retrieve his errors, 
 and that Sir Oliver has arrived, but does not wish his 
 nephews to be told until he has made trial of their dis- 
 positions. 
 
 Lady Teazle tells her husband that if he wanted autho- 
 rity he should have adopted, instead of marrying her ; 
 and, after a long wrangle, he admits to himself that she 
 never appears to such advantage as when she is plaguing 
 him. At a card-party at Lady Sneerwell's, Sir Benjamin 
 reads an impromptu epigram, and Lady Teazle and her 
 ward arrive. Maria is placed to picquet with Joseph, 
 whom her ladyship expected would talk with her, and 
 Mrs Candour joins in the scandals, which she pretends to 
 deprecate. Sir Peter enters, and reminds them that true 
 wit is more nearly allied to good-nature than they seem to 
 be aware, adding that he would like to see an act for the 
 preservation of fame as well as game. As the company 
 pass into another room, Lady Teazle surprises Joseph 
 pleading on his knees with Maria, and, sending her away, 
 demands an explanation. He pretends that she suspects 
 them, and threatened to tell Sir Peter, at the same time 
 
96 THE PLOTS OF OLD ENGLISH PL A YS. 
 
 inviting her ladyship to come and see his library ; but 
 she declines, and reminds him that she admits him as 
 a lover no further than fashion requires. Sir Oliver is 
 amused on hearing from Rowley of his old friend's mar- 
 riage, and refuses to be prejudiced against Charles, re- 
 membering that neither his brother nor he were very 
 prudent youths. Sir Peter welcomes him, and, grieving 
 for his younger nephew, pledges his life on Joseph's 
 honour ; but Sir Oliver doubts, and says he has arranged 
 a plan with Rowley for discovering their merits. 
 
 Rowley explains that a Mr Stanley, a near relative of 
 the Surfaces on their mother's side, has applied to both 
 for pecuniary help, and that while Joseph has given him 
 nothing but evasive promises, Charles has done all his 
 own affairs allowed, and intends helping him with some 
 of the money he is endeavouring to raise. The steward 
 therefore proposes that Sir Oliver shall personate Stanley, 
 which will enable him to judge of his nephew's benevo- 
 lence. Moses, however, is waiting to assist in investigat- 
 ing Charles's affairs, and Rowley adds that he has detected 
 Snake in a matter which will remove some of Sir Peter's 
 suspicions. The Jew informs them that he meant to have 
 brought with him a Mr Premium to negotiate a loan, up- 
 on which it is arranged that Sir Oliver shall personate 
 him, and then visit his other nephew as Stanley. Maria 
 enters, and tells Sir Peter that she has obeyed him in not 
 corresponding with Charles, but that she will never give 
 her hand to his brother. As she leaves, Lady Teazle comes 
 to ask for money, and, after trying to agree, they quarrel 
 again, and he declares that he believes the reports relat 
 ing to her and Charles. Sir Oliver and Moses arrive at 
 Charles's house, and while they are waiting to see him, 
 Trip tries to borrow from the Jew on his own account. 
 Charles is entertaining Careless and Sir Harry, who sings 
 
THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL. 97 
 
 ' Here's to the maiden of bashful fifteen,' his companions 
 joining in the chorus ; the visitors are then introduced, 
 and as they refuse to drink, Charles is left alone with them. 
 He offers extravagant interest and a post-obit on his 
 uncle's life, from whom he has great expectations, as 
 security, pretending that he is breaking fast, and still, as 
 he believes, at Calcutta. Asked what he has to dispose 
 of, he replies nothing but a room full of ancestral portraits, 
 which they may have a bargain. Sir Oliver is shocked, 
 and mentally resolves he will never forgive him. 
 
 They proceed to the gallery, where Careless acts as 
 auctioneer, using the parchment pedigree as a hammer, 
 and Charles bids him knock down the pictures at various 
 prices ; excepting, however, that of his uncle (who Care- 
 less remarks has a disinheriting countenance), which he 
 persists in refusing to part with, acknowledging that Old 
 Noll has been very good to him. This mollifies Sir 
 Oliver, who, as Premium, hands him a draft for more 
 than the sum total, and says he will send for the pictures 
 in a day or two. Careless advises Charles not to squander 
 the money in paying his debts ; and Rowley, who comes 
 in, and wonders to find him in such spirits, is told to take 
 a hundred pounds at once to old Stanley. As the pur- 
 chasers depart they meet the steward, who tells them 
 his errand, which pleases Sir Oliver, and he is ready to 
 be introduced to the elder brother as Stanley. Joseph 
 is expecting a letter from Lady Teazle, when his servant 
 announces her, and, complaining of Sir Peter's jealousy, 
 she wishes he would let Maria marry Charles. Joseph 
 pretends to agree, and to condole with her at the scan- 
 dalous tales circulated against her by Lady Sneerwell, 
 intimating that she should comfort herself by deserving 
 them. She demurs, however, to his logic, and the servant 
 interrupts them to say that Sir Peter is on the stairs. 
 
98 THE PLOTS OF OLD ENGLISH PL A YS. 
 
 She goes behind a screen, and as her husband unburdens 
 his mind to his supposed friend, she hears her would- 
 be lover pretend to condole with him, and praise his 
 generous intentions towards her, in the midst of which 
 Charles is announced ! Sir Peter makes for the screen, 
 and, swearing that he saw a petticoat, is told 'tis a little 
 French milliner, and conceals himself in a closet, that 
 he may hear their conversation, and be convinced that 
 his suspicions are groundless. Joseph elicits a declara- 
 tion of innocence from his brother, accompanied by a 
 reminder of having seen her ladyship with him ; and, 
 on being told that her husband is listening, pulls him out 
 of the closet, and they shake hands. A servant informs 
 Joseph that Lady Sneerwell is below, and he goes to 
 send her away, whispering to Sir Peter not to mention 
 the milliner. He however tells Charles, who, just as 
 his brother returns, throws down the screen, and leaves 
 Sir Peter to obtain satisfaction. Joseph attempts an 
 explanation, but Lady Teazle replies that there is not 
 a syllable of truth in it, and reveals his dishonourable 
 conduct, confessing that her husband's tenderness has 
 penetrated her heart. 
 
 The convicted villain is hardly in a temper to receive 
 a poor relation when Mr Stanley is announced, and Sir 
 Oliver and Rowley are shown up. His visitor hints that 
 he imagines his uncle's bounty will enable him to be 
 charitable ; but he replies that what he has done for 
 him has been a mere nothing, and the sums he has lent 
 his brother deprive him of the pleasure of offering any 
 present assistance to his mother's relative. Just as he has 
 bowed him out, Rowley hands him a note informing him 
 of his uncle's arrival, and he sends him a message that 
 he will be delighted to see him, while he inwardly curses 
 his ill-luck. Mrs Candour seeks an interview with Lady 
 
THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL. 99 
 
 Teazle, ostensibly to condole with her, but really to 
 obtain intelligence which she may circulate. As she 
 waits, Sir Benjamin arrives, and they dispute whether 
 Joseph or Charles is the culprit. Then Lady Sneerwell 
 brings word that a duel was fought with swords, and Sir 
 Peter wounded, followed by Crabtree, who declares he 
 has a bullet in his throat, and her ladyship hurries off to 
 seek better information. Sir Oliver approaches, and is 
 mistaken for the physician, but he laughs at their different 
 versions of what has happened, and points to Sir Peter, 
 who resents their comments, and insists on their leaving 
 his house, hoping their venom may choke them. Rowley 
 enters, and Sir Oliver tells his friend he has interviewed 
 his nephews, and rallies him on his partiality for Joseph. 
 Sir Peter, rinding they know all, makes up his mind 
 never to face his acquaintances again ; but Sir Oliver ad- 
 vises a reconciliation with his wife, and Rowley promises 
 to satisfy him that the letter on which his suspicions rest 
 was forged by Snake. Lady Sneerwell arranges a further 
 plot with Joseph, who comforts himself that Sir Peter 
 will hold his tongue, and that he will soon discover his 
 uncle's weak side. Instead, however, of Sir Oliver, whom 
 he is expecting, Stanley (as he believes) re-appears, and 
 he is insisting on his leaving, when Charles arrives, and 
 asks his brother if he also has been borrowing of Pre- 
 mium ; but hearing their uncle (as they imagine) at the 
 door, they are both attempting to put the intruder out, 
 when Sir Peter and Lady Teazle, with Maria and Rowley, 
 confront them. Joseph exclaims, "Tis now complete, 
 and is denounced in turn by his uncle, Sir Peter, and 
 Lady Teazle. Charles's follies are made light of, and he 
 assures Sir Oliver of his gratitude to his liberal benefactor. 
 At Lady Teazle's suggestion, Maria is asked to express 
 her sentiments, but she resigns him to one who has a 
 
ioo THE PLOTS OF OLD ENGLISH PLA YS. 
 
 better title, adding that his own heart and Lady Sneer- 
 well know the cause. Her ladyship reproaches him with 
 perfidy, which Joseph declares that Snake will make clear; 
 but he convicts, instead of supporting her, and, taunted 
 by Lady Teazle, she retires, wishing her husband may 
 live fifty years ! Snake begs that, as he lives by the base- 
 ness of his character, his honesty may not be betrayed ; 
 and Charles declares that his wife shall also be his monitor 
 and gentle guide. 
 
THE HUNCHBACK. 
 
 By J. SHERIDAN KNOWLES ; written 1832. 
 Principal Characters. 
 
 LORD TINSEL. 
 
 SIR THOMAS CLIFFORD. 
 
 MASTER WALTER, a hunchback, 
 
 afterwards EARL OF ROCHDALE. 
 MASTER WILFORD, supposed heir to 
 
 the Earldom, 
 MASTER HEARTWELL. 
 MODUS, a collegian. 
 FATHOM, Julias servant. 
 THOMAS, Heartwell's servant. 
 
 STEPHEN, Sir Thomas Clifford's 
 servant. 
 
 WILLIAMS, Master Wilford's ser- 
 vant 
 
 GAYLOVE, ^ 
 
 HOLDWELL, \ 
 
 SIMPSON, J 
 
 friends of Wilford. 
 
 JULIA, Master Walters daughter. 
 HELEN, Heartwell's daughter. 
 
 Waiter, servants, etc 
 Period, 1750. Localities : London and Lancashire. 
 
 WILFORD is drinking with his friends at a tavern, 
 in the same room with Clifford, and has just told 
 them of his expected succession to an earldom, when 
 Walter, the agent of the estate, arrives and accosts him 
 as the Earl of Rochdale. They agree to carouse till mid- 
 night, and Walter quarrels with them for their want of re- 
 spect to the dead ; but Sir Thomas intervenes, and they 
 retire. Walter admits Clifford has done him a good turn 
 against his will, and congratulates him on the training he 
 has undergone for his present rank and wealth, telling him 
 it is time he chose a wife, and invites him to be introduced 
 to a consort fit for a king. Julia tells Helen that, at her 
 unknown father's bidding, she is wedded to a country life, 
 but her friend predicts that within a year she will be lead- 
 ing a town one, and, as they are talking of Master Walter, 
 he arrives in a carriage with a stranger. Fathom sum- 
 
102 THE PLOTS OF OLD ENGLISH PLA YS. 
 
 rrions Julia, 'arid, as she goes, Helen promises to be her 
 bridesmaid. Walter orders the carriage, that they may 
 all go to town, telling Helen her father has invited Julia 
 to stay at his house, and that her cousin Modus is in 
 London ; but sne pretends to be more interested in hear- 
 ing about the new-comer. Clifford follows Julia into a 
 room, declaring his love ; she coquets with him, but is 
 meditating on his title and fortune, when they are inter- 
 rupted by Helen and Walter, who intimates his readiness 
 to be Sir Thomas's friend, and a letter found in the dead 
 earl's desk is brought to him. He informs Julia it is her 
 father's wish she should see the world, and, entrusting her 
 and Helen to Clifford's escort, leaves them to attend to 
 business connected with his late master's will. 
 
 Thomas discusses with Fathom how Julia has changed 
 since she came to town, and her fanciful moods with her 
 dressmaker ; he also learns that she has fixed her wed- 
 ding-day. Walter returns, and, telling Heartwell that long 
 hidden wrong has come to light, is anxious to hear news 
 of Julia. Her host replies that the country maid has be- 
 come a town lady, and that Clifford is evidently pained. 
 He enters with Modus, whom he tells that he doubts her 
 love, and is advised to come to an understanding at once ; 
 but he lacks courage, and listens to her talk with Helen. 
 He overhears her say she means to wed because she has 
 promised, but that she intends to indulge in continual 
 gaiety, and a wardrobe, regardless of expense, besides 
 which she will assert her rank wherever she goes. Her 
 lover comes forward, and tells her she may outshine her 
 title in the wearing of it, but that on the day that weds 
 them he bids her farewell for ever. Stephen hands him a 
 letter addressed ' To Master Clifford, now styled Sir 
 Thomas,' on reading which he bids him wind up his house- 
 hold affairs, and have his trunks conveyed to an inn, as 
 
THE HUNCHBACK. 103 
 
 he returns home no more. Remarking" that misfortune 
 liketh company, he meets Walter, who charges him with 
 having never loved his ward, and challenges him. Clif- 
 ford replies that the grievance is on his side, and hands 
 him the letter, which announces that the cousin, on the 
 report of whose death he assumed his title, is living. 
 Walter proposes they shall seek some quieter spot, adding 
 that he heeds not fortune's slight, but a noble lady has 
 been wronged by him, and he shall own her as free from 
 flaw, and fair as ever nature's cunning hand turned out. 
 
 Lord Rochdale informs his friend Lord Tinsel that he 
 has proposed for Julia through his agent, Walter, who is 
 her guardian, and they sneer at Clifford's rivalry. Lord 
 Tinsel then gives his lordship and Williams a lesson as to 
 being at home to callers, causing him to be denied to two 
 old acquaintances, but a Newmarket jockey to be shown 
 into the drawing-room ; also a petition for subscriptions to 
 a book of poetry to be returned without answer, while he 
 secures six guineas from him for tickets for a concert 
 patronised by one of his lady friends. Walter is examin- 
 ing the earl's title-deeds, and Julia enters, giving vent to 
 her vexation that it will go abroad Clifford has cast her 
 off, and at having refused a lord. Walter tells her the 
 lord has proposed again, and that her father approves of 
 him, bidding her write that she is content. Left alone, 
 she is glad 'tis done, and resolves Clifford shall know that 
 his slight was her advancement ; but, at the thought of 
 being lost to him for ever, she is moved to tears. Helen 
 comes to tell her of Sir Thomas's reverse of fortune, but is 
 reproached for making fun of it ; and when Modus joins 
 them, and indulges in disparaging comments on him, she 
 takes his part, and extols his noble nature. To their as- 
 tonishment, Walter returns with the new marriage deeds, 
 but she deprecates such cruel fatal haste. A letter is 
 
ro4 THE PLOTS OF OLD ENGLISH PLA YS. 
 
 brought to her from Clifford, but he snatches it from her, 
 and tears it, bidding them all prepare to follow his lord- 
 ship to his castle in Lancashire, and telling Julia she will 
 play my lady countess like a queen. 
 
 Helen has been wandering through the rooms of the 
 castle, and being left alone, resolves to plague her cousin. 
 He enters reading Ovid's Art of Love, which she knocks 
 out of his hand, telling him love comes not with art, and 
 gives him a lesson ; she also taxes him with a love affair 
 at college, and, pretending that he squeezes her hand, dis- 
 arranges his ruff, and runs away. He wonders what she 
 meant, and, remembering that faint heart never won fair 
 lady, resolves to woo his cousin. Walter shows Julia the 
 banqueting room, pointing out its rich decorations, but 
 she sighs, and answers in monosyllables ; then he tells 
 her the story in the tapestry of the bridal chamber, of a 
 page who loved a princess, and was put in fetters in a 
 dungeon, but she released and married him. Julia ex- 
 claims, ' Weigh love against the world,' to which Walter 
 replies, l Who wisely wed, wed happily/ A servant an- 
 nounces my lord's secretary with a letter for her ladyship ; 
 but Julia objects to see him. Walter, however, warns her 
 that ' receding were disgrace ; ' and, left alone, she owns 
 her love for him who never can be hers. Clifford enters 
 in a secretary's attire, and presents the letter kneeling ; she 
 recognises his voice, but dares not look up. At last she 
 makes an effort, and asks, ' Know I you ? ' He replies, 
 ' What I am I have not always been,' and begs a reply for 
 his lordship. She rings for writing materials, and bids 
 him be seated. Unable to maintain his deferential tone, 
 he opens his heart to her, and, after vainly struggling 
 against her love for him, she listens to his assurance that 
 the intended nuptials can be shunned with honour. Wal- 
 ter enters, indignant at his treason ; but she promises to 
 
THE HUNCHBACK. 105 
 
 avail herself of any way of escape he may indicate, and 
 he takes his leave, telling her that no hand but his shall 
 place the wedding-ring on her finger, while Walter leads 
 her away. 
 
 Fathom tells Helen that if his mistress marries the lord 
 she will break her heart, and that he is sorry he refused 
 to convey a letter from her to Clifford, but he fears to 
 offend Walter. Bribed, however, with the promise of a 
 better place, he undertakes to help Julia to escape, and 
 arranges to lock him in the library. Walter overhears 
 the plot, and when Helen avows it, tells her she shall be 
 married to her cousin Modus, who enters. She bids him 
 hold her, pretending to faint, and invents a story which 
 leads him on to declare his love, and they retire to 
 prepare for the altar. Julia is in despair at not hearing 
 from Clifford, when two servants come to announce that 
 her wedding toilet waits, and hand her a case of jewels ; 
 but she sends them away, loathing the link to which she 
 seems condemned. Walter enters to hasten her prepara- 
 tions, and she entreats him to show her some way of 
 avoiding the marriage, foreshadowing the direst conse- 
 quences if compelled to complete her ruin, and warning 
 him to choose between her rescue and her grave. He 
 replies that he has loved her as well as if he were her 
 father, watching her growth in knowledge and goodness 
 from childhood to womanhood, securing her a suitable 
 lover, and leaving her, when summoned away, an affianced 
 bride ; but only to find, on his return, the hopes and 
 toils of years scattered as a sea-built tower by a tempest. 
 A servant reminds them that the guests are arriving, and 
 he asks her if she has forgotten that she has a father, to 
 which she answers that he has been as such to her in all 
 but the name, and begs him not to chide her. He re- 
 minds her, however, that a promise admits not of release? 
 
io6 THE PLOTS OF OLD ENGLISH PLA VS. 
 
 save by consent or forfeiture, and she consents to con- 
 front the bridegroom and trust to his honour. Heartwell 
 tells Walter that his child is bent to do her father's will, 
 and is promised he shall know shortly what took his 
 friend out of town. The wedding party assembles, and 
 Lord Tinsel inquires why the bride is not presented. 
 Walter intimates that if 'tis her will to wed, his lordship 
 is free to take her. She replies l my hand without my 
 heart,' and implores him to release her, confessing she 
 loves his secretary, against whom she rebelled in froward- 
 ness alone. Lord Tinsel remarks it is a question of 
 marrying, and not of hearts ; but Clifford claims her, and 
 Walter, reminding Julia she has a father, declares that 
 the nuptials are stopped Lord Tinsel tells his lordship 
 he should not have a hunchback for an agent, to which 
 Walter retorts ' Thought like my father, who would not 
 have a hunchback for his son,' and produces the late 
 earl's will, constituting him, in case his heir should die 
 without a son which has happened the successor to the 
 title and rent-roll ; at the same time acknowledging Julia 
 as his daughter. Fathom brings word that Helen and 
 her cousin were eloping, but are caught, and the new 
 earl intercedes for them. He also consoles the supposed 
 earl by telling him the succession will eventually fall to 
 him ; and, giving Clifford Julia's hand, tells her that she 
 shall hear anon his motives for dropping the title of her 
 father ; but the nuptials wait, the happy close of a hard 
 trial, wholesome though severe, and so 
 
 ' The world won't cheat thee now, thy heart is proved, 
 Thou know'st thy peace by finding out its bane, 
 And ne'er will act from reckless impulse more.' 
 
THE LADY OF LYONS. 
 
 By SIR EDWARD LYTTON BULWER ; written 1838. 
 Principal Characters. 
 
 MONSIEUR BEAUSEANT, a rich 
 
 gentleman of Lyons. 
 MONSIEUR GLAVIS, his friend. 
 COLONEL (afterguards GENERAL) 
 
 DAMAS, cousin to Madame 
 
 Deschappelles. 
 MONSIEUR DESCHAPPELLES, a 
 
 Lyonnese merchant. 
 CLAUDE MELNOTTE, a gardeners 
 
 son. 
 
 LANDLORD of Golden Lion. 
 CASPAR, a villager. 
 
 MADAME DESCHAPPELLES 
 
 PAULINE, her daughter. 
 
 THE WIDOW MELNOTTE, Claudes 
 
 mother. 
 
 JANET, innkeeper s daughter 
 MARIAN, Pauline's maid. 
 
 French officers, notary, servants, etc. 
 Period, 1795-98. Locality : Lyons. 
 
 MADAME is praising her daughter's beauty, and 
 telling her she is born to make a great marriage, 
 as Marian arranges her hair, and she wonders who sends 
 her such beautiful flowers, when M. Beauseant is an- 
 nounced, and her mother exclaims Pauline, this is 
 another offer ! He enters, and condescendingly begs 
 her acceptance of his hand and heart, which she de- 
 clines, and madame adds that if he were still a marquise 
 he might have been accepted. As he leaves, Damas 
 enters, and hints to Pauline that Glavis is in love with 
 her, at which her mother is indignant, and he suggests 
 that perhaps she intends her daughter to marry a prince, 
 congratulating himself, as they leave the room, that he 
 is still a bachelor. Beauseant confesses to Glavis, at 
 the village inn, that Pauline has refused him, and, elicit- 
 ing that she has also rejected an offer from his friend, 
 
io8 THE PLOTS OF OLD ENGLISH PL A VS. 
 
 they resolve to humble her. As they are ordering dinner, 
 shouts are heard of ' Long live the Prince ! ' and the 
 landlord tells them Claude has just won the shooting 
 prize ; adding that his father left him well to do, and that 
 he is learning fencing and painting, and has become 
 the pride of the village ; moreover, that he is in love 
 with Pauline ! They agree to revenge themselves by 
 enabling Claude to personate a foreign prince and pro- 
 pose to her, and send him a note. The widow meets 
 her son as he is brought home in triumph, and attempts 
 to convince him of the folly of his ambitious thoughts, 
 and that his lady-love will never think of him. He un- 
 covers a picture of her which he has painted from 
 memory, and tells his mother that she wears the flowers 
 he sends her, and that he has now sent her some verses, 
 and is hoping for a favourable answer. Caspar, his 
 messenger, brings back the verses, and complains that 
 they were returned to him with blows. Claude scatters 
 them to the winds, vowing he will insult her, when the 
 landlord arrives with Beauseant's note, promising the re- 
 alisation of his hopes, and he goes to learn more, wonder- 
 ing whether he is prompted by revenge or love. 
 
 He has been introduced as the Prince of Como to the 
 Deschappelles, who have promised him the hand of 
 Pauline, and Beauseant and Glavis are arranging that 
 the wedding must take place without delay, as Madame 
 approaches with Damas, followed by the lovers. Claude 
 admires the gardens, and is told they were planned by a 
 man named Melnotte, whose son has presumed to write 
 verses to Pauline, while Damas is reproved for hinting at 
 a likeness between the young man and the prince, who 
 presents mother and daughter with the snuff-box and 
 ring lent him by his patrons. The colonel addresses him 
 in Italian, and, being laughed at for not pronouncing it 
 
THE LAD Y OF L YONS. 109 
 
 properly, challenges him and retires, followed by Beau- 
 seant and Glavis. Madame apologises for her cousin's 
 rudeness, and leaves Pauline with the prince, who de- 
 scribes his palace at Como to her, and she assures him 
 that had he spoken of poverty instead of luxury, it would 
 have made him even more dear to her. His patrons 
 return, and she retires, upon which Claude begs to be 
 released from his oath, but is warned that unless he 
 marries her he will be sent to gaol as a swindler, and 
 they go to carry out their plot. Damas then comes back 
 with two swords, and is disarmed by Claude, who returns 
 his weapon, and intimates that he may ask a favour of 
 him some day. Madame and Beauseant re-enter with a 
 letter, and tell the prince he is suspected of designs 
 against the Republic, and must escape. Pauline comes 
 in with her father, who offers to go to the magistrate's, 
 but is told that the only thing to be done is to send for 
 a priest, that the marriage may take place at once. He 
 deprecates such haste, but is silenced by his wife, and 
 Beauseant undertakes to arrange for the ceremony and 
 order a carriage, which madame begs may have six 
 horses. Claude detains Pauline as they retire, asking 
 if she has no fear, to which her reply is that in joy or 
 sorrow she is by his side, and Damas bids him make her 
 as happy as if she were not to be a princess. 
 
 The marriage has taken place, and the carriage breaks 
 down at the Golden Lion. The landlord laughs at 
 Claude's pretended rank, and orders Janet to see to the 
 supper, while the plotters chuckle. Claude enters, and 
 bids them begone, throwing away the purse which Beau- 
 seant hands him. Pauline comes to complain of the 
 servants' rudeness, wondering how they and the land- 
 lord have learnt their rank, and Claude leads her to his 
 mother's cottage. She is expecting them, and Pauline 
 
no THE PLOTS OF OLD ENGLISH PLA VS. 
 
 cannot understand her affectionate reception, or her hus- 
 band's confusion. The widow tells her who he is, and 
 leaves them ; but she laughs incredulously, and asks how 
 she has sinned against him that he should crush her thus ? 
 He replies by pride, and tells her how he had loved 
 her since his boyhood, and sought to rise from his mean 
 estate, if not to win, to be more worthy of her, until she 
 scorned his verses, and made his soul a chaos. She 
 shudders at having loved a serf, and bids him touch her 
 not. But he assures her that his vengeance ceased at 
 the altar, that their marriage is null and void, and to- 
 morrow she shall return to her father's arms ; meanwhile, 
 he begs his mother to treat her as their honoured guest. 
 
 Claude has been listening all night to her sobs, and, 
 relieved that they have at last ceased, resolves to place 
 his consent to their divorce in her father's hands, and 
 then ask his country to accept the peasant son's services, 
 his mother telling him he has been led astray, but not 
 hardened, and he promises her he will win back a proud 
 conscience, and an honest name. She endeavours to 
 console Pauline, who exclaims, c If he were but a poor 
 gentleman, or a merchant but a gardener's son ! Oh 
 no, it is too dreadful ! ' Beauseant enters the cottage, 
 and, sending the widow away, invites Pauline to fly with 
 him. Claude, however, returns, and protects her, de- 
 nouncing the intruder as a trickster and coward, and 
 taking a final embrace as she faints in his arms. The 
 widow returns to say that her parents are coming, and 
 Pauline tries to induce Claude to ask her to remain with 
 him ; but they enter with the colonel, who taunts the 
 noble prince, and madame indulges in a volley of abusive 
 epithets against him, while he gives back his bride to her 
 father, and bids them all farewell. Pauline, however, 
 falls upon his neck, and entreats him to take her ; but he 
 
THE LADY OF LYONS. in 
 
 declares he cannot without a blush, and accepts an offer 
 from Damas to join his regiment, asking his mother's 
 blessing, and telling her whom he has betrayed that, if 
 he lives, his name shall not rest dishonoured ; and if he 
 falls, his soul will fly back to her, that love may share 
 with death his last sigh. 
 
 Two years and a half have elapsed, and three French 
 officers are talking of gallant old Damas, who is now a 
 general, as well as of the rapid promotion of a Colonel 
 Morier. The general joins them, but is reticent about the 
 colonel, and two of the officers retire. He then tells the 
 other that Morier hopes to find a miracle, or, in other words, 
 a constant woman. As he goes to the Deschappelles, he 
 meets Beauseant, who inquires for Melnotte ; but the 
 general knows nothing of him. He mentions, however, 
 that Morier has saved a handsome sum, and learns from his 
 friend that Pauline has at length consented to marry him 
 as soon as her divorce is settled. Deschappelles enters, 
 and proposes to Beauseant that they shall go to the 
 notary at once. He then welcomes his cousin, who ex- 
 presses surprise at the news he has just heard, and re- 
 marks to himself that the follies of women need the tears 
 of all the angels to blot their record out. Claude enters, 
 pale and agitated, declaring that memory and hope alike 
 are gone ; but the general offers to take him to his cousin's 
 house, to ascertain how matters really stand. Pauline 
 is bemoaning that she must either be false to love, or 
 sacrifice her father, who enters, and blesses her for saving 
 his name and credit, assuring her that without the sum 
 which Beauseant offers for her hand he will be ruined. 
 Her lover, madame, Glavis, and the notary are called 
 in, and she appeals to Beauseant to save the father, and 
 spare the child ; but he adheres to the contract. Just 
 then Damas arrives with Claude, who is introduced as 
 
1 12 THE PLOTS OF OLD ENGLISH PL A VS. 
 
 Colonel Morier, and graciously received by madame ; 
 while the general elicits from Pauline her reasons for 
 accepting Beauseant, and she begs him to advance the 
 money, which he is unable to do. He, however, leads 
 her to believe that the colonel is Claude's most intimate 
 friend, to whom she may entrust a message ; and, while 
 they talk together, he pretends to madame that she is 
 being told what a rascal Melnotte has become. Claude 
 is hearing from Pauline's lips how deeply she is still 
 attached to him; and her heart struggles between love 
 and filial duty and affection, when they are interrupted 
 by Beauseant, who is waiting for her to sign the papers. 
 Damas, however, gives Claude the schedule of Des- 
 chappelles' debts, and when the notary hands Pauline 
 the contract, he seizes and tears it, at the same time 
 offering her father a pocket-book containing twice the sum 
 he needs. She now recognises her husband's voice, and 
 is folded in his arms, listening to his boast that he has re- 
 deemed his honour. Beauseant curses them, and retires ; 
 Deschappelles bids them be happy ; and madame admits 
 that a colonel and hero are something, and that he is 
 wondrously improved. 
 
INDEX 
 
 OF THE 
 
 PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS. 
 
 
 PAGE 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Abigail, 
 
 12 
 
 Babylon, Governor of, . 4 
 
 Absolute, Captain, 
 
 88 
 
 Backbite, Sir Benjamin, 94 
 
 Absolute, Sir Anthony, 
 
 88 
 
 Bajazeth, . . I 
 
 Acres, Mr Bob, 
 
 88 
 
 Baldock, . . 17 
 
 Agydas, 
 
 i 
 
 Baldwin, of Bohemia, 4 
 
 Alexander the Great, . 
 
 8 
 
 Balsera, Captain of, 4 
 
 Algiers, King of, . 
 
 i 
 
 Barabas, . 12 
 
 Alicia, .... 
 
 69 
 
 Basset, Count, . 59 
 
 Allworth, Lady, . 
 
 39 
 
 Beagle, Sir Henry, 83 
 
 Allworth, Tom, . 
 
 39 
 
 Beaumont, . 17 
 
 Almeda, 
 
 4 
 
 Beauseant, Mons., 107 
 
 Almeria, 
 
 54 
 
 Bedamar, . . 50 
 
 Alonzo, 
 
 54 
 
 Bellamira, . 12 
 
 Alphonso, 
 
 54 
 
 Bellario, . 35 
 
 Amasia, King of, . 
 
 4 
 
 Belmour, . . 69 
 
 Amble (a servant), 
 
 39 
 
 Belvidera, . . 50 
 
 Amyras, 
 
 4 
 
 Belzebub, . . 8 
 
 Anippe (a servant), 
 
 i 
 
 Berkeley, Lord, . 17 
 
 Anna (a servant), . 
 
 79 
 
 Bernardine, . 12 
 
 Antonio, 
 
 54 
 
 Beverley, Ensign, . 88 
 
 Arabia, King of. . 
 
 i 
 
 Bobadil, Captain, . 23 
 
 Arethusa, 
 
 35 
 
 Brainworm (a servant), 23 
 
 Arundel, Lord, 
 
 17 
 
 Bridget, Mistress, . 23 
 
 Askew, , . 
 
 29 
 
 Bumper, Sir Henry, 94 
 
114 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Callapine, . 
 
 PAGE 
 
 4 
 
 Edward II., . 
 
 Calymath, Selim, . 
 
 12 
 
 Edward III., 
 
 Calyphas, 
 
 4 
 
 Egypt, Soldan of, . 
 
 Candour, Mrs, 
 
 94 
 
 Elliot, . 
 
 Canterbury, Archbishop 
 
 
 Euphrasia, 
 
 of, . 
 
 17 
 
 Eyre, Simon, 
 
 Capolin, 
 
 I 
 
 
 Careless, 
 
 94 
 
 
 Cash, Thomas, 
 
 23 
 
 Fag (a servant), . 
 
 Catesby, Sir William, . 
 
 69 
 
 Fathom (a servant), 
 
 Cato, .... 
 
 64 
 
 Faulkland, Mr, . 
 
 Celebinus, 
 
 4 
 
 Faustus, 
 
 Ceneus, .... 
 
 I 
 
 Ferneze, 
 
 Cleremont, . 
 
 35 
 
 Fez, King of, 
 
 Clifford, Sir Thomas, . 
 
 101 
 
 Firk, . 
 
 Clement, Justice, . 
 
 23 
 
 Formal, Roger, 
 
 Cobb, Oliver, 
 
 23 
 
 Frederick, of Buda, 
 
 Cornelius 
 
 8 
 
 Freelove, Lady, . 
 
 Cornwall, Earl of, 
 
 29 
 
 Froth, wife of Tap well, 
 
 Cosroe, .... 
 
 i 
 
 Furnace (a servant), 
 
 Coventry, Bishop of, 
 
 17 
 
 
 Crabtree, 
 
 94 
 
 
 
 
 Galatea, 
 
 
 
 Garcia, . 
 
 Damas, Colonel, . 
 
 107 
 
 Caspar, . 
 
 Damascus, Governor of, 
 
 i 
 
 Gaveston, 
 
 Damascus, Virgins of, . 
 
 i 
 
 Gaylove, 
 
 David (a servant), 
 
 88 
 
 Gazellus, 
 
 Decius, .... 
 
 64 
 
 Germany, Emperor of, 
 
 Del Bosco, Martin, 
 
 12 
 
 Glavis, Mons., 
 
 Deschappelles, Madame, 
 
 107 
 
 Glenalvon, . 
 
 Deschappelles, Mons., . 
 
 107 
 
 Gloucester, Duke of, 
 
 Deschappelles, Pauline, 
 
 107 
 
 Gonzales, 
 
 Diggory (a servant), 
 
 73 
 
 Grace, Lady, 
 
 Dion, . . . 
 
 35 
 
 Greedy, Justice, 
 
 Dodger, 
 
 29 
 
 Gurney, Sir John, . 
 
 Donald (a servant), 
 
 79 
 
 
 Downright, George, 
 
 23 
 
 
 Dumont, 
 
 69 
 
 Hainault, Sir John of, 
 
 
 
 Hammon, Master, 
 
 
 
 Hardcastle, Kate, . 
 
 Ebea (a servant), . 
 
 i 
 
 Hardcastle, Mrs, . 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Hardcastle, Squire, 
 
 PAGE 
 
 73 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Levune, . . .17 
 
 Hastings, George, . 
 
 73 
 
 Lightborn, . 
 
 17 
 
 Hastings, Lord, . 
 
 . 69 
 
 Lincoln, Earl of, . 
 
 29 
 
 Heartwell, Helen, 
 
 101 
 
 Lodowick, 
 
 12 
 
 Heartwell, Master, 
 
 . 101 
 
 Lovell, a courtier, . 
 
 29 
 
 Helen of Troy, . 
 
 8 
 
 Lovell, Lord, 
 
 39 
 
 Heli, . 
 
 54 
 
 Lorrain, Cardinal of, 
 
 8 
 
 Henry V., . 
 
 . 29 
 
 Lucia, .... 
 
 64 
 
 Hodge, 
 
 . 29 
 
 Lucifer, 
 
 8 
 
 Holdwell, . 
 
 . 101 
 
 Lucius, 
 
 64 
 
 
 
 Lucy (a servant), . 
 
 88 
 
 
 
 Lumpkin, Tony, . 
 
 73 
 
 Isabella, Queen, . 
 
 17 
 
 
 
 Ithamore, 
 
 12 
 
 
 
 
 
 Machiavel, . 
 
 12 
 
 
 
 Magnetes, 
 
 I 
 
 Jacomo, 
 
 12 
 
 Malaprop, Mrs, 
 
 88 
 
 Jaffier, 
 
 50 
 
 Maltravers, Sir John, 
 
 17 
 
 James (a servant), 
 
 59 
 
 Manly, Mr, . 
 
 59 
 
 Jane Shore, . 
 
 . 69 
 
 Manuel, King of Granada, 
 
 54 
 
 Jane, wife of Ralph, 
 
 . 29 
 
 Marcia, .... 
 
 64 
 
 Janet, . 
 
 . 107 
 
 Marcus, 
 
 64 
 
 Jerusalem, King of, 
 
 4 
 
 Margery, wife of Eyre, . 
 
 29 
 
 Juba, 
 
 . 64 
 
 Maria, Sir P. Teazle's 
 
 
 Julia Walter, 
 
 . 101 
 
 ward, . . . 
 
 94 
 
 Junius, . 
 
 . 64 
 
 Marian (a servant), 
 
 107 
 
 
 
 Marlow, Charles, . 
 
 73 
 
 
 
 Marlow, Sir Charles, . 
 
 73 
 
 Katherine, 
 
 12 
 
 Marrall, 
 
 39 
 
 Kent, Earl of, 
 
 17 
 
 Mathias, 
 
 12 
 
 Kitely, Dame, 
 
 23 
 
 Matthew, Master, . 
 
 23 
 
 Kitely, Master, 
 
 23 
 
 Maximus, . . . 
 
 4 
 
 Knofwell, Edward, 
 
 23 
 
 Meander, 
 
 i 
 
 Knowell, Master, . 
 
 2 3 
 
 Megra, 
 
 35 
 
 
 
 Melnotte, Claude, 
 
 107 
 
 
 
 Melnotte, Widow, 
 
 107 
 
 Lacy, Rowland, . 
 Lacy, Sir Hugh, . 
 
 . 29 
 . 29 
 
 Melville, Julia, 
 Menaphon, . 
 
 88 
 i 
 
 Lancaster, Earl of, 
 Languish, Lydia, . 
 
 17 
 
 . 88 
 
 Mephistopheles, . 
 Modus, 
 
 8 
 
 101 
 
 Leicester, Lord, . 
 
 17 
 
 Moody, John, 
 
 59 
 
 Leonora (a servant), 
 
 54 
 
 Morocco, King of, 
 
 i 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Mortimer, the elder, 
 
 PAGE 
 17 
 
 Porcius, 
 
 PAGE 
 
 64 
 
 Mortimer, the younger, 
 
 17 
 
 Poundage (a servant), . 
 
 59 
 
 Moses, .... 
 
 94 
 
 Priuli, .... 
 
 5 
 
 Motherly, Mrs, 
 
 59 
 
 Prorex, 
 
 45 
 
 Mycetes, 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 Myrtilla, 
 
 59 
 
 
 
 
 
 Ralph, .... 
 
 8,29 
 
 
 
 Randolph, Lady, . 
 
 79 
 
 Neville, Constance, 
 
 73 
 
 Randolph, Lord, . 
 
 79 
 
 Norval, Old, 
 
 79 
 
 Ratcliffe, Sir Richard, . 
 
 69 
 
 Norval, Young, . 
 
 79 
 
 Renault, 
 
 5o 
 
 
 
 Rice Ap Howell, . 
 
 !7 
 
 
 
 Richard, Squire, . 
 
 59 
 
 Oakly, Charles, . 
 
 83 
 
 Robin, an ostler, . 
 
 8 
 
 Oakly, Major, 
 
 83 
 
 Rochdale, Earl of, 
 
 101 
 
 Oakly, Mr, . 
 
 83 
 
 Roger, .... 
 
 29 
 
 Oakly, Mrs, . 
 
 83 
 
 Rose Oateley, 
 
 29 
 
 Oateley, Sir Roger, 
 
 29 
 
 Rowley, a steward, 
 
 94 
 
 Oberon, 
 
 45 
 
 Russet, Harriot, . 
 
 83 
 
 O'Cutter, Captain, 
 
 83 
 
 Russet, Squire, 
 
 83 
 
 Olympia, 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 Orcanes, 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 Order (a servant), . 
 
 39 
 
 Scott, Master, 
 
 29 
 
 Ortygius, 
 
 i 
 
 Selim, .... 
 
 54 
 
 Osmyn, 
 
 54 
 
 Sempronius, . 
 
 64 
 
 OTrigger, Sir Lucius, . 
 
 88 
 
 Shore, .... 
 
 69 
 
 Overreach, Margaret, . 
 
 39 
 
 Sigismund, King of 
 
 
 Overreach, Sir Giles, 
 
 39 
 
 Hungary, 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 Simpson, 
 
 101 
 
 
 
 Snake, .... 
 
 94 
 
 Paris (a servant), . 
 
 83 
 
 Sneerwell, Lady, . 
 
 94 
 
 Pauline Deschappelles, . 
 Pembroke, Lord, 
 
 107 
 17 
 
 Soldan of Egypt, . 
 Spencer, the Elder, 
 
 i 
 17 
 
 Perdicas, 
 
 4 
 
 Spencer, the Younger, . 
 
 17 
 
 Perez, . 
 
 54 
 
 Spinosa, 
 
 5o 
 
 Pharamond, . 
 
 35 
 
 Stephen (a servant), 
 
 101 
 
 Philaster, 
 
 35 
 
 Stephen, Master, . 
 
 23 
 
 Philemus, 
 
 i 
 
 Surface, Charles, . 
 
 94 
 
 Pierre, . 
 
 50 
 
 Surface, Joseph, . 
 
 94 
 
 Pilia Borsa, . 
 
 12 
 
 Surface, Sir Oliver, 
 
 94 
 
 Pimple (a servant) 
 
 73 
 
 Sybil (a servant), . 
 
 29 
 
 Pope, The, . 
 
 8 
 
 Syphax, 
 
 64 
 
INDEX. 
 
 ii; 
 
 Tamburlaine, 
 
 PAGE 
 
 i, 4 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Valdez, ... 8 
 
 Tapwell, 
 
 39 
 
 Vanholt, Duke of, 
 
 8 
 
 Teazle, Lady, 
 
 . 94 
 
 Venice, Duke of, . 
 
 50 
 
 Teazle, Sir Peter, . 
 
 . 94 
 
 
 
 Techelles, 
 
 . 1,4 
 
 
 
 Theridamas, . 
 
 . i, 4 
 
 Wagner (a servant), 
 
 8 
 
 Thomas (a servant), 
 
 . 101 
 
 Walter, Julia, 
 
 101 
 
 Thrasiline, 
 
 35 
 
 Walter, Master, . 
 
 101 
 
 Tib, wife of Cobb, 
 
 23 
 
 Warner, Master, . 
 
 29 
 
 Tinsel, Lord, 
 
 . 101 
 
 Warwick, Earl of, . 
 
 17 
 
 Titus, . 
 
 . 64 
 
 Watchall (a servant), 
 
 39 
 
 Toilet (a servant), . 
 
 83 
 
 Wellborn, Frank, . 
 
 39 
 
 Townly, Lady, 
 Townly, Lord, 
 
 59 
 59 
 
 Well bred, Master, . 
 Wilford, Master, . 
 
 23 
 
 101 
 
 Trebizond, King of, 
 
 4 
 
 Willdo, a parson, . 
 
 39 
 
 Trinket, Lord, 
 
 83 
 
 Williams (a servant), 59, 
 
 101 
 
 Trip (a servant), . 
 
 . 94 
 
 Winchester, Bishop of, 
 
 17 
 
 Trussel, 
 
 17 
 
 Wronghead, Jenny, 
 
 59 
 
 Trusty (a servant), 
 
 59 
 
 Wronghead, Lady, 
 
 59 
 
 Tyre, King of, 
 
 4 
 
 Wronghead, Sir Francis, 
 
 59 
 
 
 
 Zabina, .... 
 
 i 
 
 Uribassa, 
 
 4 
 
 Zara, .... 
 
 54 
 
 Usumcasane, . 
 
 . 1,4 
 
 Zenocrate, 
 
 i, 4 
 
 MM : v : 13.8.88. 
 
 COLSTON AND COMPANY, PRINTERS, EDINBURGH. 
 
14 ! USE 
 
 'HICF HOW