Chapter VII: Prologue: What, 'Spectrum' once again?"

The title of "Spectrum" is afterwards removed by the sleight of hand of a juggler, and "Wily Beguil'd" substituted for it.--_Collier._

[303] _My_, 1623, '33.

[304] _On them_, 1618, '23, '33.

[305] _Our_, ditto.

[306] _Denie_, 1618.

[307] _Christian_, omitted, 1633.

[308] _Betinde_, 1618.

[309] _Then let_, 1618, '23, '33.

[310] _For_, omitted, 1618, '23, '33.

[311] _Be_, 1618, '23, '33.

[312] _Turn'd_, 1618.

[313] _The trait'rous_, 1623, '33.

[314] _To sort_ is _to choose_ or _select_. As in the "Third Part of Henry VI.," v. 6--"For I will _sort_ a pitchy day for thee;" and in Ford's "Lover's Melancholy,"--"We shall _sort_ time to take more notice of him."

[315] _Resemble_, 1618, '23.

[316] _Waile_, 1633.

[317] _Which_, 1618, '23, '33.

[318] _Preserv'd_, ditto.

[319] _Bleeding_, 1623, '33.

[320] _So_, 1623, '33.

[321] _Gentlies_, ditto.

[322] _Staidst_, 1623, '33.

[323] In the sense of the Latin _securus_, "securus admodum de bello animi securi homo." A negligent security arising from a contempt of the object offered.--Dr Warburton's note on "Troilus and Cressida," iv. 5. See also Dr Farmer's note on the above passage.

[324] [Old copies, _reveng'd_.]

[325] _Revenged_, 1618, '23, '33.

[326] Intimate. So, in the "Malcontent," iv. 3: "Come, we must be _inward_; thou and I all one;" and again, in Tourneur's "Revenger's Tragedy," ii.--

"My lord, most sure on't; for 'twas spoke by one,
That is most _inward_ with the duke's son's lust."

[327] _Thou_, omitted, 1623, '33.

[328] _Nunc mers,_[330] _cadæ manus,_ 1618.

[329] [_i.e._, In reply to the question as to his confederates.]

[330] _Mens_, 1623, '33.

[331] _Of_, 1618, '23, '33.

[332] _Of_, 1623, '33.

[333] _Nought_, 1618, '23, '33.

[334] Goblins, or terrors of the night. So, in "Arden of Feversham," 1592--

"Nay, then let us go sleepe, when _bugs_ and feares
Shall kill our courages with their fancies worke."

Again, in Churchyard's "Challenge," p. 180--

"And in their place some fearful _bugges_,
As blacke as any pitche,
With bellies big and swagging dugges,
More loathsome then a witch."

And in the same author's "Worthiness of Wales," p. 16, edit. 1776--

"A kind of sound, that makes a hurling noyse,
To feare young babes with brute of _bugges_ and toyes."

[335] _Doth_, 1623, '33.

CORNELIA.

1. _Cornelia. At London, Printed by Iames Roberts, for N.L. and John Busbie, 1594, 4to._

2. _Pompey the Great, his faire Cornelias Tragedie: Effected by her Father and Husbands downe-cast, death, and fortune. Written in French by that excellent Poet Ro. Garnier, and translated into English by Thomas Kid. At London, Printed for Nicholas Ling, 1595, 4to._

This translation from Garnier's "Cornelia" would not perhaps have been inserted in the present remodelled edition of Dodsley, if it had not happened that it completes Kyd's dramatic productions, and that it formed part of the former edition, which there has been a desire to preserve in its full integrity, except under such circumstances as have been already explained.

[PREFACE TO THE FORMER EDITION.]

THOMAS KYD, the translator of the following play, is better known as the author of the second part of "Jeronimo," a performance which was ridiculed by almost every contemporary poet, than by any other of his works. The time and place of his birth and death, the circumstances of his life and his profession, otherwise than as a writer, are all equally unknown. From the dedication of "Cornelia" to the Countess of Sussex it may be inferred that, like the generality of the devotees of poetry in his time, he was poor; and from the promise of another tragedy, called "Portia," as _his next summer's better travel_ which never appeared, it may be conjectured that he was prevented by death. Notwithstanding the ridicule thrown upon him on account of "The Spanish Tragedy," he appears to have been well esteemed by some of his contemporaries. Francis[336] Meres enumerates him among the best tragic writers of his times; and Ben[337] Jonson ranks him with Lyly and Marlowe, calling him Sporting Kyd. Another writer[338] says, "'Cornelia's Tragedy,' however not respected, was excellently well done by Thomas Kyd." Mr Hawkins[339] was of opinion that Kyd was the author of "Solyman and Perseda," a play which certainly in its manner bears a striking resemblance to "The Spanish Tragedy." Malone (ed. by Bosw., ii. 316) attributed to Kyd the old plays of "King Lear," "Hamlet," and "The Taming of a Shrew," the first and third printed in Steevens's "Six Old Plays," 1779, the "Hamlet" no longer known. The edition of "The Taming of a Shrew" used by Steevens was the third (1617). The first of 1594 has been republished in the Shakespeare Society's Series, 1844. The second was in 1596.

Robert Garnier, from whom this play is translated, was a poet in considerable estimation during the reigns of Charles IX. and Henry III. and IV. He was born in the country of Maine in 1534, studied the law, and obtained some preferment, as well as reputation, in that profession. He was the author of eight plays, and died at Paris in the year 1590, at the age of fifty-six years. See "Recherches sur les Théâtres de France," par. M. De Beauchamps, 4to. 1755, p. 39.

_To the Virtuously Noble, and Rightly-honoured Lady, the_ COUNTESS OF SUSSEX.

Having no leisure (most noble lady) but such as evermore is travailed with the afflictions of the mind, than which the world affords no greater misery, it may be wondered at by some how I durst undertake a matter of this moment, which both requireth cunning, rest, and opportunity; but chiefly, that I would attempt the dedication of so rough, unpolished a work to the survey of your so worthy self.

But being well-instructed in your noble and heroic dispositions, and perfectly assured of your honourable favours past (though neither making needless glozes of the one, nor spoiling paper with the other's Pharisaical embroidery), I have presumed upon your true conceit and entertainment of these small endeavours, that thus I proposed to make known my memory of you and them to be immortal.

A fitter present for a patroness so well-accomplished I could not find than this fair president of honour, magnanimity, and love. Wherein what grace that excellent GARNIER hath lost by my default, I shall beseech your honour to repair with the regard of those so bitter times and privy broken passions that I endured in the writing it.

And so vouchsafing but the passing of a winter's week with desolate "Cornelia," I will assure your ladyship my next summer's better travel with the tragedy of "Portia," and ever spend one hour of the day in some kind service to your honour and another of the night in wishing you all happiness. Perpetually thus devoting my poor self

Your honour's in all humbleness,

T. K.

* * * * *

INTERLOCUTORS.

M. CICERO.

PHILIP.

DECIMUS BRUTUS.

M. ANTONY.

CORNELIA.

C. CASSIUS.

JULIUS CÆSAR.

_The Messenger._

CHORUSES.

FOOTNOTES:

[336] ["Palladis Tamia,"] 1598, p. 283.

[337] Verses to the memory of Shakespeare.

[338] "Polimanteia," &c., by W.C., 4to, Cambr., 1595. In the Epistle, &c. (Oldys's MSS. Notes on Langbaine.)

[339] "Origin of the Drama," vol. ii.

THE ARGUMENT.

Cornelia, the daughter of Metellus Scipio, a young Roman lady, as much accomplish'd with the graces of the body and the virtues of the mind as ever any was, was first married to young Crassus, who died with his father in the discomfiture of the Romans against the Parthians; afterward she took to second husband Pompey the Great, who (three years after), upon the first fires of the civil wars betwixt him and Cæsar, sent her from thence to Mitilen, there to attend the uncertain success of those affairs. And when he saw that he was vanquish'd at Pharsalia, returned to find her out, and carry her with him into Egypt, where his purpose was to have re-enforced a new army, and give a second assault to Cæsar.

In this voyage he was murdered by Achillus and Septimius the Roman before her eyes, and in the presence of his young son Sextus and some other Senators his friends. After which, she retired herself to Rome. But Scipio her father (being made general of those that survived after the battle,) assembled new forces, and occupied the greater part of Afric, allying himself to Juba, king of Numidia. Against all whom Cæsar (after he had ordered the affairs of Egypt and the state of Rome) in the end of winter marched. And there (after many light encounters) was a fierce and furious battle given amongst them, near the walls of Tapsus. Where Scipio seeing himself subdued and his army scattered, he betook himself with some small troop to certain ships, which he caused to stay for him.

Thence he sailed toward Spain, where Pompey's faction commanded, and where a sudden tempest took him on the sea, that drave him back to Hippon, a town in Afric, at the devotion of Cæsar, where (lying at anchor) he was assailed, beaten and assaulted by the adverse fleet; and for he would not fall alive into the hands of his so mighty enemy, he stabb'd himself, and suddenly leapt overboard into the sea, and there died.

Cæsar (having finished these wars, and quietly reduced the towns and places thereabout to his obedience) returned to Rome in triumph for his victories; where this most fair and miserable lady, having overmourn'd the death of her dear husband, and understanding of these cross events and hapless news of Afric, together with the piteous manner of her father's end, she took (as she had cause) occasion to redouble both her tears and lamentations, wherewith she closeth the catastrophe of this their tragedy.

CORNELIA