The works of Thomas Middleton, Volume 1 (of 5)

Chapter XXVII: Act V: Scene I (1)

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QUOMODO’S _Shop_.

_Enter_ SHORTYARD _with writings_.[1131]

SHO. I have not scope enough within my breast
To keep my joys contain’d: I’m Quomodo’s heir;
The lands, assurances, and all are mine:
I’ve[1132] tript his son’s heels up above the ground
His father left him: had I not encouragement?
Do not I know, what proves the father’s prey,
The son ne’er looks on’t, but it melts away?
Do not I know, the wealth that’s got by fraud,
Slaves share it, like the riches of a bawd?
Why, ’tis a curse unquenchable, ne’er cools;
Knaves still commit their consciences to fools,
And they betray who ow’d ’em. Here’s all the bonds,
All Easy’s writings: let me see. [_Reads._

_Enter_ THOMASINE _and_ EASY.[1133]

THO. Now my desires wear crowns.
EASY. My joys exceed:
Man is ne’er healthful till his follies bleed.
THO. O,
Behold the villain, who in all those shapes
Confounded your estate!
EASY. That slave! that villain!
SHO. So many acres of good meadow——
EASY. Rascal!
SHO. I hear you, sir.
EASY. Rogue, Shortyard, Blastfield, sergeant, deputy,
cozener!
SHO. Hold, hold!
EASY. I thirst the execution of his ears.
THO. Hate you that office.
EASY. I’ll strip him bare for punishment and shame.
SHO. Why, do but hear me, sir; you will not think
What I’ve[1134] done for you.
EASY. Given his son my lands!
SHO. Why, look you, ’tis not so; you’re not told true:
I’ve cozen’d him again merely for you,
Merely for you, sir; ’twas my meaning then
That you should wed her, and have all agen.[1135]
A’ my troth, it’s true, sir: look you then here, sir:
[_Giving the writings._
You shall not miss a little scroll, sir. Pray, sir,
Let not the city know me for a knave;
There be richer men would envy my preferment,
If I should be known before ’em.
EASY. Villain, my hate to more revenge is drawn:
When slaves are found, ’tis their base art to fawn.—
Within there!

_Enter Officers[1136] with_ FALSELIGHT _bound_.

SHO. How now? fresh warders!
EASY. This is the other, bind him fast.—Have I found
you,
Master Blastfield? [_Officers bind_ SHORTYARD.
SHO. This is the fruit of craft:
Like him that shoots up high, looks for the shaft,
And finds it in his forehead, so does hit
The arrow of our fate; wit destroys wit;
The head the body’s bane and his own bears.—
You ha’ corn enough, you need not reap mine ears,
Sweet master Blastfield!
EASY. I loathe his voice; away!
[_Exeunt Officers with_ SHORTYARD _and_ FALSELIGHT.
THO. What happiness was here! but are you sure you have
all?
EASY. I hope so, my sweet wife.
THO. What difference there is in husbands! not only in
one thing but in all.
EASY. Here’s good deeds and bad deeds; the writings that
keep my land[1137] to me, and the bonds that gave it
away from me.

These, my good deeds, shall to more safety turn,
And these, my bad, have their deserts and burn.
I’ll see thee again presently: read there. [_Exit._
THO. Did he want all, who would not love his care?
[_Reads the writings._

_Enter_ QUOMODO _disguised as before_.[1138]

QUO. What a wife hast thou, Ephestian Quomodo! so
loving, so mindful of her duty; not only seen to
weep, but known to swoon! I knew a widow about Saint
Antling’s[1139] so forgetful of her first husband,
that she married again within the twelvemonth; nay,
some, byrlady,[1140] within the month: there were
sights to be seen! Had they my wife’s true sorrows,
seven [months] nor seven years would draw ’em to the
stake. I would most tradesmen had such a wife as I:
they hope they have; we must all hope the best: thus
in her honour,—
A modest wife is such a jewel,
Every goldsmith cannot shew it:
He that’s honest and not cruel
Is the likeliest man to owe[1141] it—
and that’s I: I made it by myself; and coming to her as
a beadle for my reward this morning, I’ll see how she
takes my death next her heart. [_Aside._
THO. Now, beadle.
QUO. Bless your mistresship’s eyes from too many tears,
although you have lost a wise and worshipful gentleman.
THO. You come for your due, beadle, here i’ th’ house?
QUO. Most certain; the hospital money, and mine own poor
forty pence.
THO. I must crave a discharge from you, beadle.
QUO. Call your man; I’ll heartily set my hand to a
memorandum.
THO. You deal the truelier.
QUO. Good wench still. [_Aside._
THO. George!

_Enter Servant._

here is the beadle come for his money; draw a memorandum
that he has received all his due he can claim here i’
th’ house after this funeral.
QUO. [_Aside, while the Servant writes the memorandum_]
What politic directions she gives him, all to secure
herself! ’tis time, i’faith, now to pity her: I’ll
discover myself to her ere I go; but came it off with
some lively jest now, that were admirable. I have it:
after the memorandum is written and all, I’ll set my own
name to ’t, Ephestian Quomodo: she’ll start, she’ll
wonder how Ephestian Quomodo came hither,[1142] that was
buried yesterday: you’re beset,[1143] little Quomodo.
THO. [_running over the memorandum_] Nineteen,
twenty,—five pound, one, two, three [shillings], and
fourpence.
QUO. [_signing it_] So; we shall have good sport when
’tis read. [_Aside._] [_Exit Servant._

_Enter_ EASY, _as_ THOMASINE _is giving the money to_
QUOMODO.

EASY. How now, lady? paying away money so fast?
THO. The beadle’s due here, sir.
QUO. Who’s this?[1144]
’Tis Easy! what makes Easy in my house?
He is not my wife’s overseer, I hope. [_Aside._
EASY. What’s here?
QUO. He makes me sweat! [_Aside._
EASY [_reads_]. _Memorandum, that I have received of
Richard Easy all my due I can claim here i’ th’ house,
or any hereafter for me: in witness whereof I have set
to mine own hand_, EPHESTIAN QUOMODO.
QUO. What have I done! was I mad? [_Aside._
EASY. _Ephestian Quomodo?_
QUO. Ay; well, what then, sir? get you out of my house
first,
You master prodigal Had-land;[1145] away!
THO. What, is the beadle drunk or mad?
Where are my men to thrust him out a’ doors?
QUO. Not so, good Thomasine, not so.
THO. This fellow must be whipt.
QUO. Thank you, good wife.
EASY. I can no longer bear him.
THO. Nay, sweet husband.
QUO. Husband? I’m undone, beggared, cozened, confounded
for ever! married already? [_Aside._]—Will it please you
know me now, mistress Harlot and master Horner? who am I
now? [_Discovers himself._
THO. O, he’s as like my t’other husband as can be!
QUO. I’ll have judgment; I’ll bring you before a judge:
you shall feel, wife, whether my flesh be dead or no;
I’ll tickle you, i’faith, i’faith. [_Exit._
THO. The judge that he’ll solicit knows me well.
EASY. Let’s on then, and our grievances first tell.
[_Exeunt._

SCENE II.

_A Street._

_Enter_ REARAGE _and_ SUSAN.

REAR. Here they come.
SUS. O, where?

_Enter Officers[1146] with_ LETHE _and Country Wench
in custody_; SALEWOOD, HELLGILL, _and_ MOTHER
GRUEL.

LET. Heart of shame!
Upon my wedding morning so disgrac’d!
Have you so little conscience, officers,
You will not take a bribe?
COUN. W. Master Lethe, we may lie together lawfully
hereafter, for we are coupled together before people
enow, i’faith.
[_Exeunt Officers with_ LETHE _and Country Wench, &c._
REAR. There goes the strumpet!
SUS. Pardon my wilful blindness, and enjoy me;
For now the difference appears too plain
’Twixt[1147] a base slave and a true gentleman.
REAR. I do embrace thee in the best of love.—
How soon affections fail, how soon they prove!
[_Exeunt._

SCENE III.

_An Apartment in the Judge’s House._

_Enter Judge_, EASY _and_ THOMASINE _in talk with
him_: SHORTYARD _and_ FALSELIGHT _in the custody
of Officers_.

JUD. His cozenages are odious: he the plaintiff!
Not only fram’d deceitful in his life,
But so to mock his funeral!
EASY. Most just:
The Livery all assembled, mourning weeds
Throughout his house e’en down to his last servant,
The herald richly hir’d to lend him arms
Feign’d from his ancestors (which I dare swear knew
No other arms but those they labour’d with),
All preparations furnish’d, nothing wanted
Save that which was the cause of all, his death,—
If he be living!
JUD. ’Twas an impious part.
EASY. We are not certain yet it is himself,
But some false spirit that assumes his shape,
And seeks still to deceive me.

_Enter_ QUOMODO.

QUO. O, are you come?—
My lord, they’re here.—Good morrow, Thomasine.
JUD. Now, what are you?
QUO. I’m[1148] Quomodo, my lord, and this my wife;
Those my two men, that are bound wrongfully.
JUD. How are we sure you’re he?
QUO. O, you cannot miss, my lord!
JUD. I’ll try you:
Are you the man that liv’d the famous cozener?
QUO. O no, my lord!
JUD. Did you deceive this gentleman of his right,
And laid nets o’er his land?
QUO. Not I, my lord.
JUD. Then you’re not Quomodo, but a counterfeit.—
Lay hands on him, and bear him to the whip.
QUO. Stay, stay a little,
I pray.—Now I remember me, my lord,
I cozen’d him indeed; ’tis wondrous true.
JUD. Then I dare swear this is no counterfeit:
Let all doubts cease; this man is Quomodo.
QUO. Why, la, you now, you would not believe this?
I am found what I am.
JUD. But setting these thy odious shifts apart,
Why did that thought profane enter thy breast,
To mock the world with thy supposed death?
QUO. Conceive you not that, my lord? a policy.
JUD. So.
QUO. For having gotten the lands, I thirsted still
To know what fate would follow ’em——
JUD. Being ill got.
QUO. Your lordship apprehends me.
JUD. I think I shall anon.
QUO. And thereupon,
I, out of policy, possess’d my son,
Which since I have found lewd;[1149] and now intend
To disinherit him for ever.
Not only this was in my death set down,
But thereby a firm trial of my wife,
Her constant sorrows, her rememb’ring virtues;
All which are clews; the shine of a next morning
Dries ’em up all, I see’t.
JUD. Did you profess wise cozenage, and would dare
To put a woman to her two days’ choice,
When oft a minute does it?
QUO. Less, a moment,
The twinkling of an eye, a glimpse, scarce something
does it.[1150]
Your lordship yet will grant she is my wife?
THO. O heaven!
JUD. After some penance and the dues of law,
I must acknowledge that.
QUO. I scarce like
Those dues of law.
EASY. My lord,
Although the law too gently ’lot his wife,
The wealth he left behind he cannot challenge.
QUO. How?
EASY. Behold his hand against it.
[_Shewing writings._
QUO. He does devise all means to make me mad,
That I may no more lie with my wife
In perfect memory; I know’t: but yet
The lands will maintain me in my wits;
The land[s] will do so much for me.
JUD. [_reads_] _In witness whereof I have set to mine
own hand_, EPHESTIAN QUOMODO.
’Tis firm enough your own, sir.
QUO. A jest, my lord; I did I knew not what.
JUD. It should seem so: deceit is her own foe;
Craftily gets, and childishly lets go.
But yet the lands are his.
QUO. I warrant ye.
EASY. No, my good lord, the lands know the right heir;
I am their master once more.
QUO. Have you the lands?
EASY. Yes, truly, I praise heaven.
QUO. Is this good dealing?
Are there such consciences abroad? How,
Which way could he come by ’em?
SHO. My lord,
I’ll quickly resolve[1151] you that it comes to me.
This cozener, whom too long I call’d my patron,
To my thought dying, and the fool his son
Possess’d of all, which my brain partly sweat for,
I held it my best virtue, by a plot
To get from him what for him was ill got——
QUO. O beastly Shortyard!
SHO. When, no sooner mine,
But I was glad more quickly to resign.
JUD. Craft once discover’d shews her abject line.
QUO. He hits me every where; for craft once known
Does teach fools wit, leaves the deceiver none.
My deeds have cleft me, cleft me! [_Aside._

_Enter Officers with_ LETHE _and the Country Wench_;
REARAGE, SUSAN, SALEWOOD, HELLGILL, _and_ MOTHER
GRUEL.

FIRST OFF. Room there.
QUO. A little yet to raise my spirit,
Here master Lethe comes to wed my daughter:
That’s all the joy is left me.—Hah! who’s this?
JUD. What crimes have those brought forth?
SALE.[1152] The shame of lust:
Most viciously on this his wedding morning
This man was seiz’d in shame with that bold strumpet.
JUD. Why, ’tis she he means to marry.
LET. No, in truth.
JUD. In truth you do:
Who for his wife his harlot doth prefer,
Good reason ’tis that he should marry her.
COUN. W. I crave it on my knees; such was his vow at
first.
HELL. I’ll say so too, and work out mine own safety.—
[_Aside._
Such was his vow at first indeed, my lord,
Howe’er his mood has chang’d him.
LET. O vild[1153] slave!
COUN. W. He says it true, my lord.
JUD. Rest content,
He shall both marry and taste punishment.
LET. O, intolerable! I beseech your good lordship, if I
must have an outward punishment, let me not marry an
inward, whose lashes[1154] will ne’er out, but grow
worse and worse. I have a wife stays for me this morning
with seven hundred pound in her purse: let me be
speedily whipt and be gone, I beseech your lordship.
SALE.[1155] He speaks no truth, my lord: behold the
virgin,
Wife to a well-esteemed gentleman,
Loathing the sin he follows.
LET. I was betray’d; yes, faith.
REAR. His own mother,[1156] my lord,
Which he confess’d through ignorance and disdain,
His name so chang’d to abuse the world and her.
LET. Marry a harlot, why not? ’tis an honest man’s
fortune. I pray, did not one of my countrymen marry my
sister? why, well then, if none should be married but
those that are honest, where should a man seek a wife
after Christmas? I pity that gentleman that has nine
daughters to bestow, and seven of ’em seeded already;
they will be good stuff by that time.
I do beseech your lordship to remove
The punishment; I am content to marry her.
JUD. There’s no removing of your punishment—
LET. O, good my lord!
JUD. Unless one here assembled,
Whom you have most unnaturally abus’d,
Beget your pardon.
LET. Who should that be?
Or who would do’t that has been so abus’d?
A troublesome penance!—Sir——
QUO. Knave in your face! leave your mocking,
Andrew; marry your quean, and be quiet.
LET. Master Easy——
EASY. I’m sorry you take such a bad course, sir.
LET. Mistress[1157] Quomodo——
THO. Inquire my right name again[1158] next time; now go
your ways like an ass as you came.
LET. Mass, I forget my mother all this while; I’ll make
her do’t at first.—Pray, mother, your blessing for once.
MOTH. G. Call’st me mother? out, I defy[1159] thee,
slave!
LET. Call me slave as much as you will, but do not shame
me now: let the world know you are my mother.
MOTH. G. Let me not have this villain put upon me, I
beseech your lordship.
JUD. He’s justly curs’d: she loathes to know him now,
Whom he before did as much loathe to know.—
Wilt thou believe me, woman?
MOTH. G. That’s soon done.
JUD. Then know him for a villain; ’tis thy son.
MOTH. G. Art thou Andrew, my wicked son Andrew?
LET. You would not believe me, mother.
MOTH. G. How art thou changed! Is this suit fit for
thee, a tooth-drawer’s son? This country has e’en
spoiled thee since thou earnest hither: thy manners
[were] better than thy clothes, but now whole clothes
and ragged manners: it may well be said that truth goes
naked; for when thou hadst scarce a shirt, thou hadst
more truth about thee.
JUD. Thou art thine own affliction, Quomodo.
Shortyard, we banish thee; it is our pleasure.[1160]
SHO. Henceforth no woman shall complain for measure.
JUD. And that all error from our works may stand,
We banish Falselight evermore the land.
[_Exeunt omnes._

END OF VOL. I.

LONDON:
PRINTED BY LEVEY, ROBSON, AND FRANKLYN,
46 St. Martin’s Lane.

Footnotes

-----

# 1:

Or _Midleton_.

# 2:

In _Harl. MS._ 1116, fol. 115, is a note of this grant to William
Middleton; but it supplies no information about his place of
residence. The Middletons of Middleton Hall bore “Argent, a saltier
ingrailed Sable:” he does not appear, however, to have belonged to
that family; see Nicolson and Burns’s _Hist. of West. and Cumb._, vol.
i. p. 255.

I may add, that from the dedication of _The Triumphs of Truth_ to Sir
Thomas Middleton, Lord Mayor of London in 1613, we learn that our
dramatist was not related to him: “next, in that myself, though
unworthy, being of _one name_ with your lordship ... as if one fate
did prosperously cleave to _one name_,” &c., vol. v. p. 217. The
family of Sir Thomas Middleton was of Denbigh: he was brother to Sir
Hugh Middleton.

# 3:

_Dethicks Guifts_, _Vincent_ 162, fol. 215, Coll. Arms.

# 4:

Of the various persons named William Middleton whose wills are extant,
I cannot identify one with the father of the poet.

C 2. _Vis. Surrey_, 1623, p. 328, Coll. Arms.—This pedigree
(translated) is also in _Harl. MS._ 1046, fol. 209.

# 6:

“Amy” in _Harl. MS._

# 7:

Mr. Campbell observes, that some verses, which will be afterwards
cited, “allude to the poet’s white locks, so that he was probably born
as early as the middle of the 16th century.”—_Spec. of the Brit.
Poets_, vol. iii. p. 118. The verses in question I believe to be a
forgery of Chetwood.

# 8:

“Mary” in _Harl. MS._

# 9:

“Marbecke” in _Harl. MS._,—rightly perhaps. I can find no mention of
him elsewhere.

# 10:

_Harl. MS._ 1912, fol. 52.—No record of their admission is preserved
in Gray’s Inn.

# 11:

In the Library of the Edinburgh University is a unique copy of
_Epigrams and Satires: Made by Richard Middleton of Yorke Gentleman,
London_, 1608. 4to. The Epistle Dedicatory is addressed “To the
Gentleman of condigne desert William Bellasses.” The Epigrams end on
p. 19; the Satires, entitled _Times Metamorphoses_, occupy the
remainder of the work, which extends in all to 39 pages. The author is
a wretched scribbler, and sometimes uses the grossest language.

# 12:

_The Silkewormes, and their Flies: Liuely described in verse, by T.
M._, &c. _London_, 1599. 4to, is certainly not by Middleton: according
to some authorities, the writer’s name was Moffat.

In _England’s Parnassus, or The Choysest Flowers of our Moderne
Poets_, &c. 1600, 8vo, the following quotations are found:

“These two parts belong
Vnto true knowledge, words and teares haue force
To mooue compassion in the sauage mindes
Of brutish people reason-wanting kindes.
_Tho. Middleton._” (p. 281, under “Teares.”)

“There neuer shall bee any age so cleere,
But in her smoothe face shall some faults appeare.
_Th. Middl._” (p. 321, under “World.”)

But the compiler has given them to our author by mistake: both are
taken from _The Legend of Humphrey Duke of Glocester_, written by
CHRISTOPHER Middleton; see the reprint of that poem in the tenth vol.
of _The Harleian Miscellany_, p. 170 and p. 182. ed. Park.

_Corona Minervæ. Or a Masque Presented before Prince Charles his
Highnesse, The Duke of Yorke his Brother, and the Lady Mary his
Sister, the 27th of February, at the Colledge of the Mvseum Minervæ._
_London_, 1635. 4to, has been ascribed to Middleton by those who were
not aware that he was dead at that period.

Lowndes (_Bibliog. Manual_) attributes to Middleton _The pleasant
comodie of Patient Grissell_, 1607, and a short tract called _Sir
Robert Sherley sent Ambassadour, in the name of the King of Persia, to
Sigismond the Third_, &c. &c. 1609. 4to. The former piece was written
by Dekker, Chettle, and Haughton (see Malone’s _Shakespeare_, by
Boswell, vol. iii. p. 323); the latter (which is reprinted in _The
Harleian Miscellany_, vol. v.) has no author’s name, and, as far as I
can discover, contains nothing to indicate that it is by Middleton.

# 13:

In act iii. scene 1. (vol. i. p. 48), the Clerk having read from the
church-book “_Agatha, the daughter of Pollux—born in an. 1540_,” adds,
“and NOW ’TIS 99.” Similar notices have served to ascertain the
periods at which several other old dramas were first brought upon the
stage; but they are not always to be relied on as evidence to that
effect. In our author’s _No Wit, No Help like a Woman’s_, act iii.
scene 1. (vol. v. p. 87), Weatherwise says, “If I, that have proceeded
in five-and-twenty such books of astronomy, should not be able to put
down a scholar _now in one thousand six hundred thirty and eight_, the
dominical letter being G, I stood for a goose.” That Middleton wrote
this play there cannot, I think, be any doubt; but as he had been dead
about ten years before 1638, that date must have been inserted by the
actors when the piece was revived.

# 14:

Malone’s _Shakespeare_ (by Boswell), vol. iii. p. 327.

# 15:

_Id. ibid._ There can be no question that this is the piece which,
according to Mr. Collier, in a part of Henslowe’s Diary not cited by
Malone, is called _The Chester Tragedy_. _Hist. of Engl. Dram.
Poetry_, vol. iii. p. 102. When Malone (_ubi supra_) observed, that
_Randall Earl of Chester_ “was probably _The Mayor of Queenborough_,”
he must have utterly forgotten the subject of the latter play.

Weber erroneously states that Middleton “wrote in combination with
Ford.” Introd. to _Works of Beaumont and Fletcher_, p. xliv.

# 16:

_Lansdown MS. 807._—This play was entered on the Stationers’ Books
Sept. 9, 1653.

# 17:

In vol. v. p. 527 and p. 562, I followed Mr. Collier’s statement
(_Bridgewater House Catalogue_, p. 200), that Nash died during 1604,
because in _The Black Book_ he is described as alive, and in _Father
Hubburd’s Tales_ he is spoken of as dead, both these pieces having
been published in 1604. But Nash must have died earlier; for, in _The
Returne from Pernassus_, 1606, which internal evidence proves to have
been written before the decease of Elizabeth, he is mentioned as being
“in his mournefull chest,” sig. B 3; and the _Black Book_, though
perhaps not printed, must have been composed, anterior to 1604.
Whatever may have been the date of Nash’s death, Malone (see note vol.
v. p. 561) was assuredly mistaken in interpreting the expression
“humorous theft,” to mean that Rowlands had stolen _The letting of
humours blood in the head vaine_, &c. from Nash: that piece is much
too weak and spiritless to have been the production of the former.

# 18:

Continuation of Stow’s _Annales_, p. 928, ed. 1615.

# 19:

He had previously (in 1603) written a copy of verses for Dekker’s
_Entertainment to King James_, &c.: see vol. v. p. 203.

# 20:

This pageant is placed as an Appendix to vol. v.

# 21:

Heath’s _Account of the Worshipful Company of Grocers_, p. 331.
London, 1829 (privately printed). In the same document are these
entries:

“Benevolences and Rewards to Officers and others which took paines
about the sayde busynesse, with other particuler charges as followeth,

£. _s._ _d._

Payde and given in benevolence to Anthony Monday,
gentⁿ, for his paynes in drawing a project for this
busynesse which was offered to the Comyttee 5 0 0

Payde and given to Mr. Deckar for the like 4 0 0”

p. 335.

# 22:

“There are two MSS. of this Author’s [Middleton’s] in being which have
never been taken notice of in any Accoᵗ. of him. They were sold in an
Auction of Books at the Apollo Coffee House in Fleet Street abᵗ the
year 1735 by Edw Lewis but puffd up to a great price, bought back, &
coud not afterwᵈˢ be recoverd. They are entitled I. _Annales_: or a
Continuation of Chronologie; conteyninge Passages and Occurrences
proper to the Honnoᵇˡᵉ Citty of London: Beginninge in the Yeare of our
Lorde 1620. By Thomas Midleton then received by their Honnoᵇˡᵉ Senate
as Chronologer for the Cittye. There are in it, these Articles under
the year 1621.—On Good Fryday in the Morn died John (King) Lord Bp. of
London.—28 May Fra. Lᵈ Verulam committed to the Tower. (Seal taken
from him the last day of April).—27 Decʳ. Sʳ Edwᵈd Coke Committed to
the Tower.—Decʳ. The Fortune Play House, situate between White Cross
Street and Golding Lane, burnt, &c. II. _Middleton’s Farrago_: In
which there is—The Earl of Essex his Charge agᵗ Viscᵗ. Wimbleton, &
the Viscᵗˢ. Answʳ.—The Treaty and Articles of Marriage between Pr.
Cha: & Hen: Maria.—Parliamentary Matters, 1625-26.—Habeas Corpus 1627
&c.” _MS. note by Oldys_ on Langbaine’s _Account of Engl. Dram.
Poets_, p. 370. (British Museum.)

# 23:

_Hist. of Engl. Dram. Poetry_, vol. i. p. 453.

# 24:

_Apology for the Believers in the Shakspeare-Papers_, p. 497, sqq.

# 25:

The original is in the State Paper Office: for the transcript I am
indebted to Mr. J. P. Collier.

# 26:

Chalmers’s _Apology for the Believers_, &c. p. 500.

# 27:

Capell’s _Notes on Shakespeare_, vol. iii. p. 31. (_School of Sh._)

# 28:

“According to this statement,” says Malone, “they received above
166_l._ 12_s._ on each performance. The foregoing extracts [from Sir
Henry Herbert’s Office-book] show, that there is not even a semblance
of truth in this story. In the year 1685, when the London theatres
were much enlarged, and the prices of admission greatly increased,
Shadwell received by his third day on the representation of The Squire
of Alsatia, only 130_l._, which Downes the prompter says was the
greatest receipt had been ever taken at Drury-lane playhouse at single
prices. _Roscius Anglicanus_, p. 41. The use of Arabick figures has
often occasioned very gross errors to pass current in the world. I
suppose the utmost receipt from the performance of Middleton’s play
for nine days (if it was performed so often), could not amount to more
than one hundred and fifty pounds. To the sum of 150_l._ which perhaps
this old actor had seen as the profit made by this play, his fancy or
his negligence added a cipher, and thus made fifteen hundred pounds.
The play of Holland’s Leaguer [by Marmyon] was acted six days
successively at Salisbury Court, in December 1631, and yet Sir Henry
Herbert received on account of the six representations but _one pound
nineteen shillings_, in virtue of the _ninth_ share which he possessed
as one of the proprietors of that house. Supposing there were twenty-
one shares divided among the actors, the piece, though performed with
such extraordinary success, did not produce more than _six pounds ten
shillings_ each night, exclusive of the occasional nightly charges
already mentioned.” Malone’s _Shakespeare_ (by Boswell), vol. iii. p.
177.

# 29:

_Hist. of Engl. Dram. Poetry_, vol. i. p. 451.

# 30:

_Letters_, p. 123, ed. 1678. The letter is dated “Aug. 15, 1623;” and
the last Editor of Dodsley’s _Old Plays_, after citing the passage,
says, “This remark was made in the August of the year preceding the
calling of Middleton before the Privy Council, and must therefore
allude to some other play than the _Game of [at] Chess_,” vol. v. p.
279. Let us hear Oldys: “The first edition [of Howel’s _Letters_] in
Q^o 1645 is in Six Parts or Sections; but no dates to any of the
Letters: _Hence so many Errors when he did date them_.” _MS. note on_
Langbaine’s _Account of Engl. Dram. Poets_, p. 279. (British Museum.)

# 31:

Act iii. scene 1,—_Works_, by Gifford, vol. v. p. 247.

# 32:

P. xii.

# 33:

Written, we are told, by Sir William Lower, on Middleton’s _Michaelmas
Term_. They are given by Chetwood in “An Account of the Author,”
prefixed to a reprint of _Blurt Master Constable_, which forms part of
a small volume entitled _A Select Collection of Old Plays_, Dublin,
1750. Middleton, as Chetwood previously informs us, “lived to a very
great age.... We may judge of his longævity by his works; since his
first play was acted in 1601, and his last in 1665[!].... That he was
much esteem’d by his brother poets, we may judge by four lines of sir
William Lower upon his comedy call’d _A Michaelmas Term_, 1663”! Now,
_Michaelmas Term_ was certainly not produced in Middleton’s “halting
age,” having been licensed the 15th May, 1607, and printed during the
same year; see vol. i. p. 413; there is no edition of it bearing date
1663; and, moreover, _Sir William Lower died in_ 1662. The lines are
cited indeed by Oldys, in a MS. note on Langbaine’s _Account of Engl.
Dram. Poets_, p. 373 (British Museum); but he doubtless copied them
from Chetwood’s volume, of which he has transcribed the title, p. 371.

# 34:

See p. xiii.

# 35:

The following extracts from the same Records shew the various persons
who succeeded Middleton in the office of City Chronologer till it was
finally abolished.

“Martis Secundo die Septembris 1628
Annoque RRs Caroli Angliæ &c quarto.

Hamersly Mayor. Item: this daie Beniamyn Johnson[35A] Gent
Rep. No. 42. f. 271. is by this Court admitted to be the Citties,
Chronologer in place of Mr. Thomas Middleton
deceased, to have hold exercise and enioye
the same place and to have and receive for
that his service out of the Chamber of London
the some of one hundred Nobles per Annum to
contynue duringe the pleasure of this Court
and the First quarters payment to begin att
Michaelmas next.”

“Jovis decimo die Novembris 1631
Annoque Regni Regis Caroli Angliæ &c
septimo.

Whitmore Mayor. Item: it is ordered by this Court that Mr.
Rep. N. 46. f. 8. Chamberlen shall forbeare to pay any more fee
or wages unto Beniamine Johnson the Citties
Chronologer until he shall haue presented
unto this Court some fruits of his labours in
that his place.”

“Martis xxvijͦ die Augusti 1633
Annoque RRs Caroli Angliæ &c nono.

Raynton Mayor. Item: this day upon the humble peticion of
Rep. N. 47. f. 336. Edward Hewes sometimes the Citties
Chronologer this Court in consideration of
his bye and good services formerly performed
in his said place doth order that Mr
Chamberlen shall pay unto him as of the guift
of this Court the summe of xx^{ls}.”

“Jovis xviijͦ die Septembris 1634
Annoque RRs Caroli Angliæ &c decimo.

Mowlson Mayor. Item: this day Mr Recorder and Sir James
Rep. N. 48. f. 433. Hamersley Knight and Alderman declared unto
this Court His Majesty’s pleasure signified
unto them by the right honoᵇˡᵉ the Earle of
Dorsett for and in the behalfe of Beniamine
Johnson the Cittyes Chronologer, Whereupon it
is ordered by this Court that his yearely
pencion of one hundred nobles out of the
Chamber of London shalbe continued and that
Mr Chamberlen shall satisfie and pay unto him
his arrerages thereof.”

“Martis quarto die Februarii 1639
Annoque RRs Caroli Angliæ &c xvᵗᵒ.

Garway Mayor. Item: this day att the request of the right
Rep. N. 54. f. 86.^b hoᵇˡᵉ the Earle of Dorsett signified unto
this Court by his letter this Court is
pleased to retaine and admitt Francis Quarles
Gent to bee the Citties Chronologer to have
hold and enioy the same place with a fee of
one hundred Nobles per annum, for and during
the pleasure of this Court and this payment
to begin from Christmas last.”

“Martis primo die Octobri 1644
Annoque RRs Caroli Angliæ &c vicesimo.

Wollaston Mayor. Item: this day Gualter Frost Esquire
Rep. N. 57. f. 219.^b Swordbearer of this Citty is by this Court
admitted the Citties Chronologer to have hold
exercise and enioy the same place with the
fee thereunto appointed soe long as hee shall
well demeane himselfe therein and present
once a yeare yearely something of his labours
in this behalfe.”

“Jovis xxviijͦ die Februarii 1660
Annoque Caroli Secundi Angliæ &c xiiiͦ.

Browne Mayor. This day John Burroughs Esq^{re}. is by
Rep. N. 67. f. 208. this Court admitted the Citties Chronologer
(the same place being now void and having soe
beene for severall yeares past) To have hold
exercise and enjoy the same place and to have
and receive for his service to bee performed
therein out of the Chamber of London the
summe of one hundred Nobles per annum to
continue during the pleasure of this Court,
And the first quarters payment to bee made at
Lady day next.”

“Commune Consil. tent. in Camera
Guihaldi Civitatis London die Lune
vicesimo tertio die Novembris Anno
Domini 1668 Annoque RRs Caroli Secundi
vicesimo.

Turner Mayor. At this Court the Committee appointed to
Jour. No. 46. f. 251. consider the State of the Chamber did deliver
their report in writeing under their hands of
their proceedings hitherto in that affair the
Tenor whereof followeth viz.

To the Right honorable the Lord Major
and to the Right worshipfull the
Aldermen and Commons of the Citty of
London in Common Council assembled.

It is humbly represented by the Committee
appointed by order of this Honorable Court of
the xii^{th} of February last to consider the
State of the Chamber &c. inter alia,

That the yearly payment of one hundred
Nobles to one —— Bradshaw called the Citties
Chronologer be discontinued with the place
there appearing no occasion for such an
Officer.”

“Comune Consil. tent in Camera
Guihaldi Civitatis London die Jovis
vicesimo quarto die Februarii Anno
Domini 1669 Annoque Regni Regis Caroli
Secundi &c xxiiͦ.

Starling Mayor. Upon the peticion of Cornewall Bradshaw
Jour. N. 47. f. 26.^b Gent late the Citties Chronologer for some
recompence for his Sallary of thirty three
pounds six shillings and eightpence payable
out of the Chamber of London which hath been
taken from him by vote of the Court—It is
ordered that upon resigning of his said place
to the Court of Aldermen Mʳ Chamberlen shall
pay him one hundred pounds in full of all
Claimes for his said place.”

“Jovis xviiͦ die Martii 1669 Annoque
R.R’s Caroli Secundi Angliæ &c xxiiͦ.

Starling Mayor. This day Cornewall Bradshawe who in the
Rep. N. 75. f. 136^b. time of the Mayoralty of Sir Thomas Bludworth
Knight and Alderman was admitted the Citties
Chronologer during the pleasure of this Court
here present did freely surrender upp unto
this Court the said place and all his right
and interest therein, of which surrender this
Court did accept and allowe.”

Ibid. f. 139. “This day at the humble desire of ——
Bradshaw late Chronologer of this Citty this
Court doth grant unto him the nominacion and
benefitt of making one person free of this
Citty by redempcion paying to Mr. Chamberlen
the summe of five pounds.”

# 35A:

Gifford (_Memoirs of Ben Jonson_, p. clxii.) mentions that “the city,
from whom he [Jonson] had been accustomed to receive an annual sum by
way of securing his services when occasion called for them, seem to
have watched the moment of declining favour, and withdrawn their
bounty;” but does not appear to have known either that Jonson had been
officially appointed Chronologer, or that his pension (see the fourth
entry) was afterwards restored.

# 36:

P. xiii.

# 37:

_Life of Shakespeare_ (1821), p. 225. Drayton made great alterations
in new editions of his poems: the “commendation” of Middleton may
perhaps be found in the first impression of one of his numerous
pieces, which I have not seen. The _Life of Drayton_, by Robert Bell,
Esq., in a recently published volume of Lardner’s _Cyclopædia_, is a
tissue of the most absurd mistakes.

# 38:

P. 811.

# 39:

_Extracts from the Hawthornden Manuscripts_, &c., by Mr. D. Laing, p.
86—a very interesting series of papers, which originally appeared in
the _Archæologia Scotica_, vol. iv. Parts i. and ii.

In an address “To the Readers” prefixed to the 4to of _Sejanus_, 1605,
Ben Jonson says, “Lastly, I would inform you, that this book, in all
numbers, is not the same with that which was acted on the public
stage; wherein a second pen had good share: in place of which, I have
rather chosen to put weaker, and, no doubt, less pleasing, of mine
own, than to defraud so happy a genius of his right by my loathed
usurpation.” On this passage Gifford remarks, “Why might not Chapman
or Middleton be intended here? they, like Shakspeare [who, according
to the commentators, was the person alluded to], were living in habits
of kindness with the poet: they wrote in conjunction with him; they
were both men of learning; and no great violation seems offered to
language (at least no greater than courtesy would excuse) in terming
them _happy geniuses_.” Gifford, however, concludes that Fletcher was
the person actually meant. See B. Jonson’s _Works_, vol. iii. pp. 6,
7, 8.

# 40:

P. 72—_Workes_, 1630.

# 41:

P. 206.

# 42:

P. 12. reprint, 1817. There are several editions of _Wit’s
Recreations_. Octavius Gilchrist (note on Dodsley’s _Old Plays_, vol.
v. p. 281, last ed.) cites these lines from ed. 1641; but they are not
to be found in a copy of that impression which is now before me.

# 43:

This collection included _The First Part of the Honest Whore_—not then
known to be partly written by Middleton (vol. iii.), _A Mad World, my
Masters_ (vol. v.), _The Widow_ (vol. vi.), _The Mayor of
Queenborough_ (vol. xi.). In an unpublished letter from Bishop
Warburton to Dodsley is the following passage: “But why would you give
us such stuff as _Fuimus Troes_, _Grim the Collier_, and
_Microcosmus_, rather than three other good comedies (if there be so
many) of Middleton’s?” _Blurt Master Constable_ was reprinted in a
volume edited by Chetwood, and entitled _A Select Collection of Old
Plays_, Dublin, 1750. In the second edition of Dodsley’s _Old Plays_,
1780, Reed inserted _The Second Part of the Honest Whore_ (vol. iii.)
and _The Roaring Girl_ (vol. vi.).

# 44:

Pearson had purchased it from the collection of Griffin the player: it
is now among the books and MSS. which were bequeathed by Malone to the
Bodleian Library.

# 45:

See notes, vol. iii. p. 303 and p. 328. It is entitled _Macbeth, A
Tragædy. With all the Alterations, Amendments, Additions, and New
Songs. As it’s now Acted at the Dukes Theatre_, 1674. 4to. Of this
wretched piece (which probably few readers have seen) I subjoin a
specimen.

“_An Heath._

_Enter Lady Macduff, Maid, and Servant._

_La. Macd._ Art sure this is the place my Lord appointed
Us to meet him?
_Serv._ This is the entrance o’ th’ Heath; and here
He order’d me _to attend him with the Chariot_.”

Presently the Witches are heard singing a great deal of nonsense: part
of it runs thus,—

“Ill deeds are seldom slow;
Nor single: following crimes on former wait,
_The worst of creatures fastest propagate_.
Many more murders must this one ensue,
_As if in death were propagation too_.” &c. &c.

“_Macd._ I am glad you are not affraid.
_La. Macd._ I would not willingly to fear submit:
None can fear ill, but those that merit it.
_Macd._ Am I made bold by her? how strong a guard
Is innocence! if any one would be
Reputed valiant, let him learn of you;
Vertue both courage is and safety too.
[_A dance of witches._

_Enter two_ [_three_] _Witches_.

_Macd._ These seem foul spirits; I’ll speak to ’em.
If you can any thing by more than nature know,
You may in those prodigious times fore-tell
Some ill we may avoid.
_1 Witch._ Saving thy blond will cause it to be shed.
_2 Witch._ He’ll bleed by thee, by whom thou first hast bled.
_3 Witch._ Thy wife shall shunning danger, dangers find,
And fatal be to whom she most is kind.
[_Ex. witches._”
Act ii. last scene.

# 46:

Perhaps 1610 was its earliest season: see Collier’s _New Particulars
regarding the Works of Shakespeare_, p. 24.

# 47:

See _Life of Shakespeare_ (1821), p. 420 sqq.

# 48:

“The former [Middleton] was a man of considerable powers, who has
lately been the object of much discussion, on account of the liberal
use which Shakspeare is ascertained to have made of his recently
discovered tragi-comedy, _The Witch_.” Introd. to Massinger’s _Works_,
vol. i. p. liv. ed. 1813.

“Yet the spleen of Davies is more tolerable than the tedious absurdity
of the other commentators, who labour to justify our great poet’s
pronunciation of this word [Hecate] from a mass of contemporary
authorities, as if it was not a matter of the utmost indifference, and
determined, in every case, by the measure of the verse. Shakspeare
gave the word as he found it in Middleton, without caring whether it
were a dissyllable or a trisyllable,” &c. Note on B. Jonson’s _Works_,
vol. vi. p. 282.

“The production of this Masque [_The Masque of Queens_] has subjected
Jonson to a world of unmerited obloquy from the commentators. It was
written, it seems, ‘on account of the success of Shakspeare’s Witches,
which alarmed the jealousy of a man, who fancied himself his rival, or
rather his superior.’ And this is repeated through a thousand mouths.
Not to observe, that if Jonson was moved by any such passion, it must
be by Middleton’s Witches, not Shakspeare’s (for the latter is but a
copyist himself, in this case),” &c. Note on B. Jonson’s _Works_, vol.
vii. p. 115. I ought to mention, that when Gifford threw out these
remarks, Malone had not declared his ultimate opinion on the subject.

# 49:

Middleton, as I have shewn in my notes on _The Witch_, had carefully
consulted the celebrated work of Reginald Scot.

# 50:

See the excellent remarks of Lamb, cited in vol. iii. p. 329.

# 51:

_Retrospective Review_, vol. viii. p. 135.

# 52:

_Lectures on Dram. Literature_, p. 79.

# 53:

Campbell’s _Specimens of the Brit. Poets_, vol. iii. p. 118.

# 54:

Of _The Roaring Girl_ I believe that Middleton wrote by far the
greater portion; but of the two other plays which he produced in
conjunction with Dekker—_The First and Second Parts of the Honest
Whore_—I have no doubt that his share is comparatively small.

# 55:

See _Your Five Gallants_ and _The Family of Love_.

# 56:

_Retrospective Review_, vol. viii. p. 126.

# 57:

_senatus_] Old ed. “senatum.”

# 58:

_He is_] Old ed. “Hees.”

# 59:

_there is_] Old ed. “ther’s.”

# 60:

_Wants some_ two _of threescore_.] “Sim.’s impatience
of his mother’s death leads him into an error here: it
appears, p. 17, that she wanted _five_ of that
number.”—GIFFORD.

# 61:

_have_] Old ed. “hath.”

# 62:

_Dic quibus_, &c.] Virgil, _Ecl._ iii. 104.

# 63:

_nomothetæ_] Old ed. “nomotheta.”

# 64:

_chreokopia_] Old ed. “Crecopedi.”—“Χρεωκοπια
signifies the cutting off that part of the debt which
arose from the interest of the sum lent.”—M. MASON.

# 65:

_full allow’d_] i. e. fully approved.

# 66:

_seisactheia_] Old ed. “Sisaithie.”—“Σεισαχθεια, i. e.
a shaking off a burthen, metaphorically an abolition
of debt.”—GIFFORD.

# 67:

_old is_] Old ed. “old’s.”

# 68:

_He is_] Old ed. “Hees.”

# 69:

_passions_] “i. e. pathetic speeches.”—GIFFORD.

# 70:

_allow_] i. e. approve.

# 71:

_both do_] Old ed. “_both do_ both.”

# 72:

_which_] Old ed. “_which_ that.”

# 73:
CLEAN. _And so it does;
The church-book overthrows it, if you read it
well._] “Cleanthes and the lawyer are at cross
purposes. The latter observes, that the church-book
(by which he means the register of births kept there)
overthrows all demur; to which the former replies,
that it really does so, taking the holy Scriptures for
the church-book.

“To observe upon the utter confusion of all time and
place, of all customs and manners, in this drama,
would be superfluous; they must be obvious to the most
careless observer.”—GIFFORD.

# 74:

_woman_] Old ed. “women.”

# 75:

_law_] Old ed. “lawfull.”

# 76:

_likelihood_] Old ed. “livelihood.”

# 77:

_whose_] Old ed. “which.”

# 78:

_as they may be supposed tedious_] Old ed. “_as_ it
_may be supposed_ is _tedious_.”

# 79:

_for the women_] Old ed. “_for_ the which are _the
women_.”

# 80:

_past_] Old ed. “to be _past_.”

# 81:

_they_] Old ed. “to.”

# 82:

_and not for a full month_, &c.] “The reader will see
the necessity and the motive of this provision in the
act towards the conclusion of the play.”—GIFFORD.

# 83:

“Had acts of parliament, in Massinger’s days, been
somewhat like what they are in ours, we might not
unreasonably have supposed that this was wickedly
meant as a ridicule on them; for a more prolix,
tautological, confused piece of formality, human wit,
or rather human dulness, could not easily have
produced. As it stands in the old copy and in Coxeter,
it is absolutely incomprehensible.”—_Id._

# 84:

_do it_] Old ed. “doot.”

# 85:

_woman_] Old ed. “women.”

# 86:

_’tis_] Old ed. “his.”

# 87:

_now_] Old ed. “nor.”

# 88:

———— _if this hold, white heads will be cheap, And
many watchmen’s places will be vacant_;] “The authors
could not forbear, even at this serious moment, to
indulge a smile at the venerable guardians of the
night, who in their time, as well as in ours, seem to
have been very ancient and quiet.”—GIFFORD.

# 89:

_sorrow is_] Old ed. “sorrowes.”

# 90:

_horse_] Old ed. “horseback.”

# 91:

_where is_] Old ed. “wheres.”

# 92:

_In’s secure quiet_, &c.] So Gifford. The old ed. has,

“_In_ his secured _quiet by a villaines hand_
Am _basely lost in_ my _starrs ignorance_.”

# 93:

_sir_] Old ed. “sit.”

# 94:

_weeping_] “This is given by the modern editors as a
marginal note; but the old copy makes it, and rightly,
a part of the text.”—GIFFORD.

# 95:

_to prevent her_] “i. e. to anticipate the period she
had allotted to life.”—_Id._

# 96:

_she will_] Old ed. “sheel.”

# 97:

_there’s_] Old ed. “there is.”

# 98:

_her_] Old ed. “it.”

# 99:

_her_] Old ed. “it.”

# 100:

_thrown_] Old ed. “threw.”

# 101:

_she will_] Old ed. “sheel.”

# 102:

_while_] i. e. until.

# 103:

_Forgetest still_] Old ed. “_Still_ forgets.”

# 104:

_with_] Old ed. “within.”

# 105:

_doubled now_] Old ed. “_now doubled_.”

# 106:

_Cleanthes, never better_] Old ed. “_Never better,
Cleanthes._”

# 107:

_strong_] Old ed. “stronger.”

# 108:

_she is ... of’t_] Old ed. “shees ... of it.”

# 109:

_allow_] i. e. approve.

# 110:

_’s_] Old ed. “is.”

# 111:

_Buried my name in Epire_, &c.] “This is obscure.
Perhaps Leonides means, that he had so conducted
himself in his native country (i. e. so raised his
reputation there), that his memory would always live
in the recollection of the people, unless he now
quitted them for a residence elsewhere. The conclusion
of this speech I do not understand.”—GIFFORD.]

# 112:

_on us_] Old ed. “ons.”

# 113:

_with’t_] Old ed. “with it.”

# 114:

_yet_] Old ed. “yes.”

# 115:

_there is_] Old ed. “theres.”

# 116:

_one_] Old ed. “all _one_.”

# 117:

_at night_] Old ed. “_at night_, my lord.”

# 118:

_and_] i. e. if.

# 119:

Old ed. “2.”

# 120:

_act_] Old ed. “_act_, my lord.”

# 121:

_on_] Old ed. “upon.”

# 122:

_where_] i. e. whereas.

# 123:

_Wood_] i. e. mad, raging: so M. Mason reads, for
“Would” of the old ed. Gifford gives “Worried,” to
perfect, as he says, the metre: but he forgot (what he
elsewhere notices) that “aches” was formerly a
dissyllable, and pronounced _aitches_.

# 124:

_pan’d hose_] i. e. breeches (generally made full and
bombasted) having _panes_ or openings in the cloth,
where other colours were inserted in silk, and drawn
through.

# 125:

_bravery_] “i. e. ostentatious finery of
apparel.”—GIFFORD.

# 126:

_Push_] This exclamation (which Gifford alters to
_Pish_) is several times used by Middleton, as well as
by other authors of his time: so Chapman;

“And lest some Momus here might now crie _push_,
Say our pageant is not worth a rush.”
_Gentleman Usher_, 1606, sig. C 4.

# 127:

_And keep a better table than that, I trow._] “This
wretched fellow is punning upon the word _table_,
which, as applied to his father, meant a large sheet
of paper, where precepts for the due regulation of
life were set down in distinct lines; and as applied
to himself—that he would keep a better house, i. e.
live more sumptuously, than his father.”—GIFFORD.

# 128:

_cheese-trenchers_] “Before the general introduction
of books, our ancestors were careful to dole out
instruction in many ways: hangings, pictures,
_trenchers_, knives, wearing apparel, every thing, in
a word, that was capable of containing a short
sentence, was turned to account.... Saltonstall
observes of one of his characters, that ‘for talke hee
commonly uses some proverbial verses, gathered perhaps
from _cheese-trenchers_.’ _Pictures_, by W. S.”—_Id._
See also my edition of Webster’s _Works_, III. 191,
and note there.

# 129:

_Forfeit before_] So Gifford: but I am not quite
satisfied with his reading. Old ed. “_Before_ surfet.”

# 130:

_You’ve_] Old ed. “You have.”

# 131:

_and_] i. e. if.

# 132:

_seven-and-fifty_] “See p. 6.”—GIFFORD.

# 133:

_Push_] See note, p. 29.

# 134:

_I’m_] Old ed. “_I_ am.”

# 135:

_Enter_, &c.] The stage-direction in the old ed. is,
“_Enter Cleanthes and Hipolita with a hears_.”

# 136:

_this_] Old ed. “in _this_.”

# 137:

_I’ve_] Old ed. “_I_ have.”

# 138:

_condition_] “i. e. on condition.”—GIFFORD.

# 139:

_the duke in sight_] Old ed. “_the_ dim _sight_.”—“The
variation in the text is from a conjecture of Mr. M.
Mason. I suppose the manuscript had only the initial
letter of duke, and the printer not knowing what to
make of _d. in_ sight, corrected it into _dim sight_.
These abbreviations are the source of innumerable
errors.”—_Id._

# 140:

_Him._] Old ed. “He.”

# 141:

_and_] i. e. if.

# 142:

_Bailiff._] Old ed. “Bayly.”

# 143:

_and_] i. e. if.

# 144:

_and_] i. e. if.

# 145:

_doctors a’ the name._ “He alludes to Dr. W. Butler, a
very celebrated physician of Elizabeth’s days. The
oddity of his manners, the singularity of his
practice, and the extraordinary cures which he
performed, raised many strange opinions of him. ‘He
never’ (says Dr. Wittie) ‘kept any apprentices for his
business, nor any maid but a fool, and yet his
reputation thirty-five years after his death was still
so great, that many empiricks got credit among the
vulgar by claiming relation to him, as having served
him, and learned much from him.’ He died at an
advanced age in 1618.”—GIFFORD.

# 146:

_should_] Old ed. “shall.”

# 147:

_I’ve_] Old ed. “I have.”

# 148:

_to let him live still_] Old. ed. “_still to let him
live_.”

# 149:

_have_] So Gifford. Old ed. “am,” which perhaps is
right.

# 150:

_perfum’d_] So Gifford. Old ed. “perform’d,” which may
be right, in the sense of drest to perfection.

# 151:

_we know ... you young_] Old ed. “you _know_ ... your
_young_.”

# 152:

_Simonides._] Old ed. “Mr. _Simonides_.”

# 153:

_We’ve_] Old ed. “we have.”

# 154:

_I am_] Old ed. “I’me.”

# 155:

_botcher_] Old ed. “brother.”

# 156:

_wheezing_] Old ed. “wheening.”

# 157:

_oft_] Old ed. “often.”

# 158:

_quited_] i. e. requited.

# 159:

_For_] Old ed. “After.”

# 160:

_aches_] See note, p. 28.

# 161:

_know_] Old ed. “knowes.”

# 162:

_I’ve_] Old ed. “I have.”

# 163:

_despatch’t_] Old ed. “_dispatch_ him.”

# 164:

_in_] Old ed. “_in_ your.”

# 165:

_it is_] Old ed. “’tis.”

# 166:

_deduct it to days_] “A Latinism, _deducere_, bring
it down, or, reduce it to days. This absurdity of
consulting the church-book for the age, &c. may be
kept in countenance by Beaumont and Fletcher, vol.
6th, p. 248. Indeed there are several passages in
this play that resemble some in the _Queen of
Corinth_.”—GIFFORD.

# 167:

_sexton_] Old ed. “_sexton_ for that.”

# 168:

_Scirophorion_ ... _Hecatombaion_] Old ed. “Scirophon
... Hecatomcaon.”—“Scirophorion, Hecatombaion, _and,
soon after_, December; what a medley! This miserable
ostentation of Greek literature is, I believe,
from the pen of Middleton, who was ‘a piece’ of a
scholar.”—GIFFORD.

# 169:

_Gnotho_] Old ed. “Gnothos.”

# 170:

_here’s a trick_, &c.] “This alludes to those games,
in which the low cards were thrown out; _coats_ were
what we call court cards. _The end of serving-men_,
which occurs in the next speech, is the title of an
old ballad.”—GIFFORD.

# 171:

_spoke_] Old ed. “spak.”

# 172:

_Gnotho_] Old ed. “Gnothos.”

# 173:

_if you do_] “i. e. if you _fare well_.”—GIFFORD.

# 174:

_passionately_] “i. e. plaintively,
sorrowfully.”—_Id._

# 175:

_and_] i. e. if.

# 176:

_broker_] Old ed. “brother.”

# 177:

_vow’d servants_] Old ed. “_servants vowd._”

# 178:

_Nor_] Old ed. “Nay.”

# 179:

_hour_] Old ed. “_hour_ at least.”

# 180:

_beguile_] Old ed. “beguild.”

# 181:

_and_] i. e. if.

# 182:

_fault_] “i. e. misfortune.”—GIFFORD.

# 183:

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The works of Thomas Middleton, Volume 1 (of 5)Chapter XXVII: Act V: Scene I (1)

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