But now, then, for these parts he must When to his stile to add more words, He hath besides a pretty quirk, Which puts a doubt in every one, The people too dislike the youth, Alleging reasons, for, in truth, Mothers should honour'd be; Yet others say, he loves her rather His queen*, a pretty little wench, Nor why should Lewis, being so just, And suffer his little pretty queen, 'Twere charity for to be known To love others' children as his own, Than was his father Henery, THOMAS MIDDLETON. [Born, 1570. Buried, 4th July, 1627.] THE dates of this author's birth and death are both unknown, though his living reputation, as the literary associate of Jonson, Fletcher, Massinger, Dekker, and Rowley, must have been considerable. If Oldys be correct*, he was alive after November 1627. Middleton was appointed chronologer to the city of London† in 1620, and in 1624 was cited before the privy council, as author of The Game of Chess. The verses of Sir W. Lower, quoted by Oldys, allude to the poet's white locks, so that he was probably born as early as the middle of the 16th century. His tragicomedy, The Witch, according to Mr. Malone, was written anterior to Macbeth, and suggested to Shakspeare the witchcraft scenery in the latter play. The songs beginning "Come away," &c. and "Black Spirits," &c. of which only the two first words are printed in Macbeth, are found in the Witch. Independent of having afforded a hint to Shakspeare, Middleton's reputation cannot be rated highly for the pieces to which his name is exclusively attached. His principal efforts were in comedy, where he deals profusely in grossness and buffoonery. The cheats and debaucheries of the town are his favourite sources of comic intrigue. With a singular effort at the union of the sublime and familiar, he introduces, in one of his coarse drafts of London vice, an infernal spirit prompting a country gentleman to the seduction of a citizen's wife§. LEANTIO APPROACHING HIS HOME. FROM THE TRAGEDY OF WOMEN BEWARE WOMEN." How near I am now to a happiness [t Or city poet. Jonson and Quarles filled the office after Middleton, which expired with Elkanah Settle in 1723-4.] [The verses in question I believe to be a forgery of Chetwood.-DYCE's Middleton, vol. i. p. xiii.] What a delicious breath marriage sends forth, [§ Middleton's dramatic works, since this was written, have been collected by the Rev. A. Dyce, a gentleman to whom the pristine literature of England is greatly indebted.] Now for a welcome Able to draw men's envies upon man; A kiss, now, that will hang upon my lip As sweet as morning dew upon a rose, And full as long. LEANTIO'S AGONY FOR THE DESERTION OF HIS WIFE. FROM THE SAME. Leantio, a man of humble fortune, has married a beautiful wife, who is basely seduced by the Duke of Florence. The duke, with refined cruelty, invites them both to a feast, where he lavishes his undisguised admiration on his mistress. The scene displays the feelings of Leantio, restrained by ceremony and fear, under the insulting hospitality, at the conclusion of which he is left alone with Livia, a lady of the court, who has fallen in love with him, and wishes to attach his affections. Leantio. (Without noticing Livia.) O HAST thou left me then, Bianca, utterly? O Bianca, now I miss thee! Oh! return, Of greater weight than youth was made to bear; Were fall'n upon man here, so new it is To flesh and blood; so strange, so insupportable; A torment even mistook, as if a body Whose death were drowning, must needs therefore suffer it In scalding oil. Livia. Sweet sir! Lean. (Without noticing her.) As long as mine eye saw thee, I half enjoy'd thee. Liv. Sir! Lean. (Without noticing her.) Canst thou forget That we met after this, which then new kisses Liv. I shall grow madder yet :-Sir ! Lean. Marry, and welcome, lady, It never could come better. Liv. Then first, sir, To make away all your good thoughts at once of her, Know, most assuredly, she is a strumpet. Lean. Ha! most assuredly? Speak not a thing So vile so certainly, leave it more doubtful. Liv. Then I must leave all truth, and spare my knowledge, A sin which I too lately found and wept for. Liv. Ay, with wet eyes. Lean. Oh, perjurious friendship! Liv. You miss'd your fortunes when you met with her, sir. Young gentlemen, that only love for beauty, It brings on want, and want's the key of whoredom. Lean. Oh, not any, lady. Liv. Alas, poor gentleman! what mean'st thou, sir, Quite to undo thyself with thine own kind heart? E'en sent on purpose from the whole sex general, Liv. Nay, a gentlewoman, and one able To reward good things; ay, and bears a conscience to't: Couldst thou love such a one, that (blow all fortunes) Nay more, maintain thee to thine enemy's envy, [out? Lean. Oh, my life's wealth, Bianca ! Where's my discretion now, my skill, my judgment? Lean. Is she my wife till death, yet no more mine? [for? That's a hard measure: then what's marriage good Methinks by right I should not now be living, And then 'twere all well. What a happiness Her sin, and my own shame too, and be guilty SCENE FROM "THE ROARING GIRL." Persons.-Mr. and Mrs. GALLIPOT. Mrs. Gallipot, the apothecary's wife, having received a letter from her friend Laxton that he is in want of money, thus bethinks her how to raise it. ALAS, poor gentleman! troth, I pity him. I know his 3's too well. My childbed linen, Mr. G. What letter 's that? I'll see't. [She tears the letter. Mrs. G. Oh! would thou hadst no eyes to see the downfall Of me and of thyself-I'm for ever, ever undone ! Mr. G. What ails my Prue? What paper's that thou tear'st! Mrs. G. Would I could tear My very heart in pieces! for my soul Lies on the rack of shame, that tortures me Mr. G. What means this? Mrs. G. Had you no other vengeance to throw down, But even in height of all my joys Mr. G. Dear woman! Mr. G. Heavens bless me !-Are my barns and houses, Yonder at Hockley Hole, consumed with fire ?I can build more, sweet Prue. Mrs. G. Tis worse! 'tis worse! Mr. G. My factor broke or is the Jonas sunk? Mrs. G. Would all we had were swallow'd in the waves, Rather than both should be the scorn of slaves! Mr. G. Defend me, wisdom, From falling into phrenzy! On my knees, Mrs. G. I shall sure run mad! Mr. G. I shall run mad for company then : speak to me I'm Gallipot, thy husband. Prue-why, Prue, Sweet honey-Prue-what's that Laxton ? Mr. G. Out with him. Mrs. G. Oh! he-he's born to be my undoer! I was to thee contracted, to him I swore. Mr. G. My heart will break-Shamed and undone for ever! Mrs. G. So black a day, poor wretch, went o'er thee never. Mr. G. If thou shouldst wrestle with him at the law, Thou'rt sure to fall; no odd slight, no prevention. Mrs. G. When the full sea of pleasure and delight I'll tell him th' art with child. Seem'd to flow over me Mr. G. As thou desirest To keep me out of Bedlam, tell what troubles thee.— Is not thy child at nurse fall'n sick or dead? Mrs. G. Umph. Mr. G. Or give out, that one of my men was ta'en abed with thee. Mrs. G. Worse and worse still; Mr. G. I'll buy thee of him-stop his mouth Think'st thou 'twill do? [with gold Mrs. G. Oh me! heavens grant it would! Yet now my senses are set more in tune; He writ, as I remember, in his letter, That he, in riding up and down, had spent, Ere he could find me, thirty pound.-Send that; Stand not on thirty with him. Mr.G.Forty, Prue-say thou the word,'tis done. Of an ill bargain let's save what we can; [all; Than one of the Counters does. Men pay more dear So does a prisoner; with fine honied speech, To lie in a clean chamber. But when he has no money, then does he try, To make the keepers trust him. Sir Adam. Say they do. Sir Alex. Then he's a graduate. Sir Alex. Then is he held a freshman and a sot, And never shall commence, but being still barr'd, Be expulsed from the master's side to the TwoOr else i'the Holebeg placed. [penny ward, Sir Ad. When then, I pray, proceeds a prisoner? Sir Alex. When, money being the theme, He can dispute with his hard creditors' hearts, And get out clear, he's then a master of arts. Sir Davy, send your son to Wood-street college; A gentleman can nowhere get more knowledge. Sir Dav. These gallants study hard. Sir Alex. True, to get money. Sir Dav. Lies by the heels, i'faith! thanksthanks-I ha' sent For a couple of bears shall him. paw DEVOTION TO LOVE. FROM THE PLAY OF "BLURT, MASTER-CONSTABLE." O, HAPPY persecution, I embrace thee |