Читать книгу: «The Faithful Shepherdess», страница 6

Шрифт:

The wise, and many headed Bench, that sits Upon the Life, and Death of Playes, and Wits, (Composed of Gamester, Captain, Knight, Knight's man, Lady, or Pusill, that wears mask or fan, Velvet, or Taffata cap, rank'd in the dark With the shops Foreman, or some such brave spark, That may judge for his six-pence_) had, before They saw it half, damn'd thy whole Play, and more, Their motives were, since it had not to doe With vices, which they look'd for, and came to.

I, that am glad, thy Innocence was thy Guilt,
And wish that all the_ Muses blood were spilt
In such a Martyrdome, to vex their eyes,
Do crown thy murdred Poeme: which shall rise
A glorified work to Time, when Fire,
Or mothes shall eat, what all these Fools admire.

BEN. JONSON.

This Dialogue newly added, was spoken by way of Prologue to both their Majesties, at the first acting of this Pastoral at Somerset-house on Twelfth-night, 1633.

Priest.

A broiling Lamb on Pans chief Altar lies,
My Wreath, my Censor, Virge, and Incense by:
But I delayed the pretious Sacrifice,
To shew thee here, a Gentle Deity.

Nymph.

Nor was I to thy sacred Summons slow,
Hither I came as swift as th' Eagles wing,
Or threatning shaft from vext Dianaes bow,
To see this Islands God; the worlds best King.

Priest.

Bless then that Queen, that doth his eyes invite
And ears, t'obey her Scepter, half this night.

Nymph.

Let's sing such welcomes, as shall make
Her sway Seem easie to Him, though it last till day.
Welcom as Peace t'unwalled Cities, when
Famine and Sword leave them more graves than men.
As Spring to Birds, or Noon-dayes Sun to th' old
Poor mountain Muscovite congeal'd with cold.
As Shore toth' Pilot in a safe known Coast
When's Card is broken and his Rudder lost.

APPENDIX

p. 369, l. 2. C] Antiochus l. 10. C omits] have. l. 12. C _omits] Princes. B _misprints] Prnices. l. 17. C gives this line to Sel. l. 35. A] Cel. l. 40. C] I once more next [instead of beg it thus].
p. 370, l. 9. C] sound. l. 10. C] beat through. l. 16. C adds] Finis. C _omits] Prologue and Epilogue.
p. 371, l. 1. A] And those. l. 6. A omits] Spoke by the Lieutenant.

THE FAITHFUL SHEPHERDESS

(B) The same, with slight differences in the Commendatory Verses and in one or two other sheets.

The verso of the title-page bears the date March 3, 166-4/5.

Licensed,

Roger L'Estrange.

As neither the Second Folio nor the Quartos print any list of the Characters it may be as well to give one here.

Perigot. Old Shepherd.

Thenot Priest of Pan.

Daphnis. God of the River.

Alexis. Satyr.

Sullen Shepherd. Shepherds.

Clorin. Cloe.

Amoret. Shepherdesses.

Amarillis.

Scene: Thessaly.

The following Dedicatory Verses were omitted from the Second Folio.

To my lov'd friend M. John Fletcher, on his Pastorall.
Can my approovement (Sir) be worth your thankes?
Whose unkn[o]wne name and muse (in swathing clowtes)
Is not yet growne to strength, among these rankes
To have a roome and beare off the sharpe flowtes
Of this our pregnant age, that does despise
All innocent verse, that lets alone her vice.

But I must Justifie what privately,
I censurd to you: my ambition is
(Even by my hopes and love to Poesie)
To live to perfect such a worke, as this,
Clad in such elegant proprietie
Of words, including a mortallitie.

So sweete and profitable, though each man that heares,
(And learning has enough to clap and hisse)
Arives not too't, so misty it appeares;
And to their fi1med reasons, so amisse:
But let Art looke in truth, she like a mirror,
Reflects [Reflect, C, D] her comfort [consort, D—F], ignorances terror.

Sits in her owne brow, being made afraid,
Of her unnaturall complexion,
As ougly women (when they are araid
By glasses) loath their true reflection,
Then how can such opinions injure thee,
That tremble, at their owne deformitie?

Opinion, that great foole, makes fooles of all,
And (once) I feard her till I met a minde
Whose grave instructions philosophical),
Toss'd it [is, F] like dust upon a march strong winde,
He shall for ever my example be,
And his embraced doctrine grow in me.

His soule (and such commend this) that commaund [commands, D, E, F]
Such art, it should me better satisfie,
Then if the monster clapt his thousand hands,
And drownd the sceane with his confused cry;
And if doubts rise, loe their owne names to cleare 'em
Whilst I am happy but to stand so neere 'em.

N. F.

These verses are in A, B, C, D, E and F. In A and B they are signed 'N. F.,' in C-F they are signed 'Nath. Field.' The above text is that of A.

To his loving friend M. Jo. Fletcher concerning his Pastorall, being both a Poeme and a play: [concerning…play omitted in D, E, F]

There are no suerties (good friend) will be taken
For workes that vulgar-good-name hath forsaken:
A Poeme and a play too! why tis like
A scholler that's a Poet: their names strike
Their pestilence inward, when they take the aire;
And kill out right: one cannot both fates beare.
But, as a Poet thats no scholler, makes
Vulgarity his whiffler, and so takes
with ease, & state through both sides prease
Of Pageant seers: or as schollers please
That are no Poets; more then Poets learnd;
Since their art solely, is by soules discerned;
The others fals [fall, D, E, F] within the common sence
And sheds (like common light) her influence:
So, were your play no Poeme, but a thing
That every Cobler to his patch might sing:
A rout of nifles (like the multitude)
With no one limme [limbe, E, F] of any art indude:
Like would to like, and praise you: but because,
Your poeme onely hath by us applause,
Renews the golden world; and holds through all
The holy lawes of homely pastorall;
Where flowers, and founts, and Nimphs, & semi-Gods,
And all the Graces finde their old abods:
Where forrests flourish but in endlesse verse;
And meddowes, nothing fit for purchasers:
This Iron age that eates it selfe, will never
Bite at your golden world; that others, ever
Lov'd as it selfe: then like your Booke do you
Live in ould peace: and that for praise allow.

G. Chapman

These lines are in A, C, D, E and F. The text is that of A.

To that noble and true lover of learning, Sir Walter Aston Knight of the Balls.

Sir I must aske your patience, and be trew.
This play was never liked, unlesse by few
That brought their judgements with um, for of late
First the infection, then the common prate
Of common people, have such customes got
Either to silence plaies, or like them not.
Under the last of which this interlude,
Had falne for ever prest downe by the rude
That like a torrent which the moist south feedes,
Drowne's both before him the ripe corne and weedes.
Had not the saving sence of better men
Redeem'd it from corruption: (deere Sir then)
Among the better soules, be you the best
In whome, as in a Center I take rest,
And propper being: from whose equall eye
And judgement, nothing growes but puritie:
(Nor do I flatter) for by all those dead,
Great in the muses, by Apolloes head,
He that ads any thing to you; tis done
Like his that lights a candle to the sunne:
Then be as you were ever, your selfe still
Moved by your judement, not by love, or will
And when I sing againe as who can tell
My next devotion to that holy well,
Your goodnesse to the muses shall be all,
Able to make a worke Heroyicall.

Given to your service John Fletcher.

These lines are in A and B.

To the inheritour of all worthines, Sir William Scipwith. Ode.

If from servile hope or love,
                      I may prove
But so happy to be thought for
Such a one whose greatest ease
                      Is to please
(Worthy sir) I have all I sought for,

For no ich of greater name,
                      which some clame
By their verses do I show it
To the world; nor to protest
                      Tis the best
These are leane faults in a poet

Nor to make it serve to feed at my neede
Nor to gaine acquaintance by it
Nor to ravish kinde Atturnies, in their journies.
Nor to read it after diet

Farre from me are all these Ames
                      Fittest frames
To build weakenesse on and pitty
Onely to your selfe, and such
                      whose true touch
Makes all good; let me seeme witty.

The Admirer of your vertues, John Fletcher.

These verses are in A and B.

To the perfect gentleman Sir Robert Townesend.

If the greatest faults may crave
Pardon where contrition is
(Noble Sir) I needes must have
A long one; for a long amisse
If you aske me (how is this)
Upon my faith Ile tell you frankely,
You love above my meanes to thanke yee.
Yet according to my Talent
As sowre fortune loves to use me
A poore Shepheard I have sent,
In home-spun gray for to excuse me.
And may all my hopes refuse me:
But when better comes ashore,
You shall have better, newer, more.
Til when, like our desperate debters,
Or our three pild sweete protesters
I must please you in bare letters
And so pay my debts; like jesters,
Yet I oft have seene good feasters,
Onely for to please the pallet,
Leave great meat and chuse a sallet.

All yours John Fletcher:

These lines are in A and B.

To the Reader.

If you be not reasonably assurde of your knowledge in this kinde of Poeme, lay downe the booke or read this, which I would wish had bene the prologue. It is a pastorall Tragic-comedie, which the people seeing when it was plaid, having ever had a singuler guift in defining, concluded to be a play of contry hired Shepheards, in gray cloakes, with curtaild dogs in strings, sometimes laughing together, and sometimes killing one another: And misling whitsun ales, creame, wasiel & morris-dances, began to be angry. In their error I would not have you fall, least you incurre their censure. Understand therefore a pastorall to be a representation of shepheards and shephearddesses, with their actions and passions, which must be such as may agree with their natures at least not exceeding former fictions, & vulgar traditions: they are not to be adorn'd with any art, but such improper ones as nature is said to bestow, as singing and Poetry, or such as experience may teach them, as the vertues of hearbs, & fountaines: the ordinary course of the Sun, moone, and starres, and such like. But you are ever to remember Shepherds to be such, as all the ancient Poets and moderne of understanding have receaved them: that is, the owners of flockes and not hyerlings. A tragie-comedie is not so called in respect of mirth and killing, but in respect it wants deaths, which is inough to make it no tragedie, yet brings some neere it, which is inough to make it no comedie: which must be a representation of familiar people, with such kinde of trouble as no life be questiond, so that a God is as lawfull in this as in a tragedie, and meane people as in a comedie. This much I hope will serve to justifie my Poeme, and make you understand it, to teach you more for nothing, I do not know that I am in conscience bound.

John Fletcher.

This address is in A and B.

Unto his worthy friend Mr Joseph Taylor upon his presentment of the Faithfull Sheperdesse before the King and Queene, at White-hall, on Twelfth night [F stops here] last. 1633.

When this smooth Pastorall was first brought forth,
The Age twas borne in, did not know it's worth.
Since by thy cost, and industry reviv'd,
It hath a new fame, and new birth atchiv'd.
Happy in that shee found in her distresse,
A friend, as faithfull, as her Shepherdesse.
For having cur'd her from her courser rents,
And deckt her new with fresh habiliments,
Thou brought'st her to the Court, and made [mad'st, F] her be
A fitting spectacle for Majestie.
So have I seene a clowded beauty drest
In a rich vesture, shine above the rest.
Yet did it not receive more honour from
The glorious pompe, then thine owne action.
Expect no satisfaction for the same,
Poets can render no reward but Fame.
Yet this Ile prophesie, when thou shall come
Into the confines of Elysium
Amidst the Quire of Muses, and the lists
Of famous Actors, and quicke Dramatists,
So much admir'd for gesture, and for wit,
That there on Seats of living Marble sit,
The blessed Consort of that numerous Traine,
Shall rise with an applause to [and, E and F] entertaine
Thy happy welcome, causing thee sit downe,
And with a Lawrell-wreath thy temples crowne.
And mean time, while this Poeme shall be read,
Taylor, thy name shall be eternized.
For it is just, that thou, who first did'st give
Unto this booke a life, by it shouldst live.

Shack. Marmyon.

These lines are in D, E and F. The text is that of D. The variations in the dedicatory verses printed in the Second Folio will be found on p. 523.

p. 372, l. 3. A-F] Actus Primi. l. 13. A and B omit] jolly. C some copies] merry games. l. 15. A, B and D] brows be girt.

p. 373, l. 6. A and B] That I will I. l. 19. F misprints] fair heap.

P-375, l. 12. A and B] these Groves. l. 17. A and B] mires. A and B omit] to find my ruine. l. 27. A-F omit] him. l. 29. C and D] have gone this. l. 30. A-F] his rights. l. 33. 2nd Folio misprints] yours.

p. 376, l. 10. A-D] livers.

P. 377, l. 13. A and B] fall speedily. l. 14. A-D] let me goe. l. 21. A-F] seaman. l. 22. A and B] than the straightest.

p. 378, l. 19. A and B] our soules. l. 40. C] The gentle.

p. 379, l. 11. A and B] a wild. l. 18. A and B] Enter an other Shepheardesse that is in love with Perigot.

p. 381, l. 4. 2nd Folio misprints] ever. l. 11. A, B and F] their weaning. l. 18. A and B] Enter Sullen. F] Enter sullen Shepherd. l. 19. A, B and F for Shep, (character) read] Sul. l. 37. A-C omit character] Shep. D-F print] Sull.

p. 382, l. 8. A-F for Shep.] Sul. l. 25. 2nd Folio] sufficient, great to. l. 26. F] eye. l. 28. A and B] has foile enough. l. 38. A-F] dares.

p. 383, l. 5. A-D omit] likewise. C] ayre is fresh. l. 10. A-C] are grown. A-D] Woodbines. l. 26. A-D] eare of Maid. E and F] eare of maids. l. 27. C and D] I love. l. 29. A] so sure a Mold. B-F] so sure the Molde.

p. 384, l. 7. A-F] whose words. l. 13. 2nd Folio] dost,

p, 385, l. 2. A-C] hee is here.

p. 386, l. 21. A and B] grief and tine. l. 30. A-C] raine. l. 35. A-D] swains more meeter. l. 36. A and B] Than these. l. 38. A-D] Hide.

p. 387, l. 3. A-D] hath been. l. 7. F] Titans.

p. 388, l. 3. A-D] lowde falling. l. 21. A] his walkes keep. l. 32. F omits] great. l. 34. A] high birth. l. 36. A] born a most.

p. 389, l. 1. A] did lop. l. 2. A] told me. l. 6. A] teeth. l. 8. A omits] fast. l. 14. A] Formentill. l. 16. A-F] roote. A-D and F] swellings best. l. 31. A] wanton forces. l. 39. A] and with joy.

p. 390, l. 1. A] Enter Shepheard. l. 2. A] Shep. and so throughout. l. 10. A] make. l. 15. A and C] you blessed. l. 16. A] brightly. l. 19. A] That stiled is the. l. 36. A-C] into a stround.

p. 391, l. 1. C] eies. l. 14. C] Thy way. l. 16. 2nd Folio misprints] Chor. l. 24. A omits] Then. (char.). l. 30. A] flame.

p. 392, l. 4. A] Orions. l. 5. A-D] woven. l. 6. A-C] unfould. l. 7. A] The errant soul. A-D] not the true. l. 9. A] Alpen. l. 13. A] you do keep. l. 14. E] that are begotten. l. 30. A-C] for their. l. 31. A and B] To seat them.

p. 393, l. 3. A-D] Doe, and let. l. 6. A-C omit] that here. D omits] that. l. 9. A-F] mourning. A-F] Ewe. l. 18. A, B and D] For never did. l. 21. 2nd Folio misprints] then. l. 23. A-D] Shootes. l. 26. A and B] And present. l. 31. 2nd Folio misprints] maiden. l. 35. A-D] highly praise.

p. 394, l. 4. C] ne're knit that eye. l. 17. C] her shame. l. 30. A-F] As grinnes. l. 31. A] at Conies, Squirrels.

P. 395, l. 1. A-F] stronger way. l. 26. A and B] dipt over.

p. 396, l. 8. A and B insert before Enter Daphnis] Actus secundus Scena quarta. l. 14. A-D] thy Shepherds. l. 19. A and B] My flame. l. 34. 2nd Folio misprints] blesseds. l. 35. A-F insert Enter Alexis after l. 36.

p. 397, l. 10. A-D] those. l. 16. A and B] hold her. l. 20. A-C] though with.

p. 399, l. 2. A-F] These rights. l. 17. A-C] Enter the. l. 27. C] the feet.

p. 400, l. 21. A-C] She awaketh. l. 23. A-F] Magick right. l. 27. A and B] thus reformd thee. l. 31. C and D omit] that.

p. 401, l. 6. A and C] moone beams. l. 7. A-D and F] true shape. l. 13. C] your sacred. l. 24. A, D and F] she hath got. l. 37. A-F] of Lyon. A and B] or of Bear.

p. 402, l. 22. A and B] Ile followe, and for this thy care of me. C omits the line. l. 27. A-F] with a.

p. 403, l. 29. A-E] never thou shalt move.

p. 404, l. 33. A and B read] Alex. Oh! Sat. Speake againe thou mortall wight. l. 34. A and B omit] Sat.

p. 405, l. 3. A-C] beheld you shaggy. l. 17. A and B] O stray. l. 25. A-F] Who I did. l. 29. A-C] Enter the.

p. 406, l. 2. A and B] of a Amoret. l. 3. A and B] But all these. l. 29. A and B] swear, Beloved Perigot. l. 37. A-D] then that young.

p. 407, l. 4. A and B] How should. l. 11. C] take my Amoret. l. 30. A and B read] div'd art, art not. l. 36. F] still as. l. 37. C] Though others shows. l. 38. C] and rest my.

p. 408, l. 18. A and B omit] in her own shape. l. 26. A and B omit] Ama. l. 28. A and B add Amoret after path.

p. 409, l. 17. A-D] He flings her.

p. 410, l. 4. A and B] locke. l. 11. F] bank.

p. 411, l. 9. A-C] silver string.

p. 412, l. 2. E] Leave there gravel. l. 20. A-F add] Exit. l. 22. A and B add] Finis Actus Tertis. l. 23. A and B omit] Actus Quartus. Scena Prima. l. 34. A and B] Perigot to Enter. Amaryllis, running.

p. 413, l. 2. A-F] heavy Clowdes. l. 18. A-C] of his breath.

p. 414, l. 35. A-D] happy bower.

p. 415, l. 7. A-F] Will undo his. l. 10. A-F] holy rights. l. 11. A-D] the feared. l. 22. A and B] the Gwomes. l. 35. A and B] thie wound. C] thy wound.

p. 416, l. 20. A—D] Now a gapes. l. 31. A—F] to this destiny.

p. 417, l. 1. A-D] not possible. l. 2. A and B] all heates, desires. l. 3. A-F] thoughts. l. 9. A and B] Playsters.

p. 418, l. 1. A and B] To deserve the. l. 11. A-C] sought it. l. 13. A-C] or shade. l. 15. A-C] but I.

p. 419, l. 7. A and B] imagination. l. 26. 2nd Folio misprints] thy and. l. 30. A and B omit] Exit Amoret.

p. 420, l. 26. A-D] thy lazy. l. 36. A-D] looking of Perigot.

p. 421, l. 2. A and B omit] art. E, F and 2nd Folio] thou darest. l. 12. A-F] Ribandes. l. 14. A-C omit] the. l. 17. A and B] those too little. l. 28. C] a fact so. l. 30. A and B] Came flowing. C] Come flying.

p. 422, l. 10. A and B] men, most. l. 12. F] thy vows. l. 13. 2nd Folio] help. l. 17. A-F] till Crosse fate. l. 26. C] seeks. l. 30. A and B omit] Per.

p. 423, l. 14. A and B] esteeme.

p. 424, l. 11. A and B] denye. l. 18. C] sent my gloves. l. 26. A and B] bread.

p. 425, l. 1. A-C] light shutts like. l. 23. A-D] vild.

p. 426, l. 5. 2nd Folio] beings.

p. 427, l. 10. A-C omit] to. l. 19. A-C] once loose both my. l. 27. 2nd Folio misprints] be. l. 36. A and B] Inconstance.

p. 428, l. 6. A-D] shalt. l. 9. A-D] know thee light. l. 16. A-D] that gave such. l. 19. A and B add] Finis Actus quartus. l. 24. A-D] windowes.

p. 429, l. 14. A-C] coate. l. 22. A-D add] and Amarillis. l. 31. C] sexes voice and.

p. 430, l. 5. A-F] that doth thy. l. 6. A and B] but held to. l. 12. A-F] Durst a toucht. l. 22. A-C] will bide.

p. 432, l. 33. A-F] mornings.

p. 433, l. 39. A and B omit] The.

p. 434, l. 2. C-F] those. l. 3. A and B] this long night. C omits] same. l. 5. C] eares. l. 12. F omits] and. l. 19. A-C omit] thou.

p. 435, l. 7. F] I am. l. 16. A-F] thy chaste. l. 18. A-F] God. l. 25. A—D omit] To live. A-C] never after to.

p. 436, l. 3. A and C] thy smiling. l. 21. A and B] any men may. l. 29. A-C omit] a. l. 33. A and B] willd. C] will. l. 38. A-C omit] Exeunt.

p. 437, l. 1. A-F] hand. l. 2. A and B] in the mornings. l. 6. A-F] hand. l. 34. A-D] On these other.

p. 438, l. 7. A-D] Whose base end is. l. 22. A and B] Thers a hand. C] Thers at hand. l. 39. A and B] kneeleth.

p. 439, l. 7. A-C] Sticke once. l. 8. A-C] O canst thou. C] leave me. l. 9. A and C] soon could I. l. 20. A-D] Perhaps will cleanse thee once again. l. 24. A-F] are appeas'd. l. 27. 2nd Folio] Shephered.

p. 440, l. 14. A and B] their live. l. 18. A and B omit] take a pair. l. 23. 2nd Folio] offenders,;

p. 441, l. 13. 2nd Folio misprints] bouble. l. 20. A and B omit] and disgrace. l. 35. C] brings Amoret in.

p. 442, l. 23. A-C] wrong in. l. 28. 2nd Folio misprints] let let. C] wanton lusters. l. 29. A-F] rights. l. 30. A-E] Shepheards, l. 39. A-C] complement.

p. 443, l. 1. A-C omit] still. l. 4. A-C for Alex.} All. l. 7. A and B] bless you after. l. 34. C] or bancks.

p. 444, l. 14. 2nd Folio misprints] must. l. 16. C] tresses. l. 23. A and B] of the night. l. 24. C] me light. l. 26. A and B] bring the Coral. l. 33. A and B] I venter. l. 36. A-C] these Thicks.

p. 445, l. 9. 2nd Folio misprints] Cle. l. 10. A-F add] Finis. A and B add also] The Pastorall of the faithfull Shepheardesse.

p. 446, l. 6. A-D] with the. l. 14. A and C] this vaine. 2nd Folio] vain. l. 26. A-F] wants. l. 28. A-C] Some like if. A-D omit] not. l. 29. A-D] judgments. l. 32. A-C] aright to thee. D] a right to thee.

p. 447, l. 8. A and B] much will and. l. 10. A-C omit] now.

pp. 446-7. The lines by Fr. Beaumont are contained in A-F.

p. 447. The lines by Ben Jonson are contained in A and C-F.

p. 448. The Dialogue is contained in D-F.