The dramatic works of Shackerley Marmion with prefatory memoir

Front matter

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*vyf if LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.'

Chap. -XX^lAAiJl Shelf j K

Contents

PREFATORY NOTICE.

The name of the author of the following plays, three in number, has been variously spelt and its correct pronunciation consequently rendered doubtful. On the title-page of the first play, printed in 1632, he is called "Schackerley Marmyon, Master of Arts f next year, on the second, he is entered as " Shakerley Marmyon ;" and, thirdly, in 1641, he appears as " Shackerly Mermion, Gent." Although Mr Singer, in his elegant reprint of this author's Poem of Cupid and Psyche, which emanated from the Chiswick Press in 1820, inclines to call him Shakerley Marmion, our bias, guided by the preponderance of authority, is in favour of his being designated " Shackerley Marmion."

Shakerly, however, was an ancient family name in England. Francis, fifth Earl of Shrewsbury, who died on 25th September 1560, according to Collins,* took as his second wife " Grace, daughter of Robert Shakerley of Little Longdon in Derbyshire, Esq., but had no issue by her." Lodge says she was the widow of Robert Shakerley of Holme in Cheshire.

Prologue

Gentle spectators, that, with graceful eye,

Come to behold the Muse's colony,

New planted in this soil : forsook of late

By the inhabitants, since made fortunate

By more propitious stars ; though on each hand

To overtop us two great Laurels stand :

The one, when she shall please to spread her train,

The vastness of the globe cannot contain : v

Th' other so high, the Phoenix does aspire

To build in, and takes new life from the fire

Bright poesy creates ; yet we partake

The influence they boast of, which does make

Our bayes to flourish, and the leaves to spring,

That on our branches now new poets sing :

And when with joy he shall see this resort,

Phoebus shall not disdain to styl't his Court.

HOLLAND'S LEAGUER.

Act. I. Scene I. Fidelio, Snarl

Fid. What, Snarl, my dear Democritus, how is'tl You are a Courtier grown, I hear.

Snar. No sir ; That's too deep a mystery for me to \ I spend my own revenues, only I have An itching humour to see fashions.

Fid. And what have you observ'd since you came hither 1

Snar. Why, they do hold here the same maxim still : That to dissemble is the way to live. But promotion hangs all upon one chain, And that's of gold ■ he that intends to climb Must get up by the links ; and those are tied Together with the thread of my Lord's favour.

Fid. So, sir ?

Snar. And all desire to live long and healthy : But ambition and luxury will not permit it.

Fid. I hope you do not share in their desires ?

Snar. There is other preposterous dealing too ; For nature cannot find herself amongst them, There's such effeminacy in both sexes, They cannot be distinguished asunder. And for your times and seasons of all ages ; Your best astrologer cannot discern them, Not spring from autumn ; you shall have a lady,

Whose cheek is like a screw, and every wrinkle Would look like a farrow, yet with a garnish

Is so filled up and plaister'd that it looks As fresh as a new painted tavern, only —

Fid. Hold there! you'll run yourself out of hreath else.

And now resolve me of the Lord Philautus : Is all that true that is reported of him ?

Snar. Who, he ? the most hesotted on his beauty ; He studies nothing but to court himself: No musick but the harmony of his limbs, No work of art but his own symmetry Allures his sense to admiration, And then he comes forth so bath'd in perfume.'?. Had you no sense to guide you but your nose, You'd think him a musk-cat, he smells as rank As th' extreme unction of two funerals.

Fid. My sense will ne'er be able to endure him .

Snar. Such men as smell so, I suspect their savour.

Fid. Is none his friend to tell him of his faults 1

Snar. There want not some that seek to flatter him, For great men's vices are esteem'd as virtues.

Fid. 0, they are still in fashion ! in them A wry neck is a comely precedent : Disorder, disagreement in their lives And manners is thought regular, their actions Are still authentic, if it be received ; To be illiterate is a point of state.

Snar. But the worst thing which 1 dislike in him, Which he does more by words than action : He gives out that the ladies dote upon him, And that he can command them at his pleasure, And swears there's scarce an honest woman.

,Fid. How? (.Snar. It is not well to say so, but, bj this light,

I am of his mind too.

Fid. You are deceived, There are a thousand chaste.

Snar. There was an age AVhen Juno was a maid, and Jove had no heard, When miserable Atlas was not oppressed "With such a sort of deities, and each Dined by himself : before ushers and pages Swarmed so, and banquets, and your masques

came up Biding in coaches, visiting, and titles, So many plays, and Puritan preachings, That women might be chaste : now 'tis impossible. Now should I find such a prodigious faith, I'd honour't with a sacrifice.

Fid. 'Tisill To be incredulous, when charity Exacts your belief : but let that pass ! What will you say, if I find out a means f ... To cure him of his folly 1

Snar. Then I pronounce The destruction of bedlam, and all mad folks Shall be thy patients.

Fid. Nay, I'll do it, I'll make him in love and do it !

Sna. That's a cure Worse than any disease. I can as soon Believe a fire may be extinct with oil, Or a fever cooled with drinking of sack.

Fid. Suspend your judgement, till I confirm you.

Snar. No more ! stand by, here comes the parasite. That is Narcissus and this is his echo.

Fid. What is he?

Snar. One that feeds all men's humours that feed him, Can apprehend their jests before they speak them, And with a forced laughter play the midwife

I -J HOLLAND'S LEAGUER.

To bring them forth, and carries -till in A plaudit when they break wind, or urine. He fits his master right, although he ne'er

Took measure of him, and though he has not been Far from home yet will lie like a traveller. He'll rather vex you with officiousness Than you shall pass unsaluied : his business Is only to be busy, and his tongue's still walking, Though himself be one of the worst moveables : A confus'd lump leavened with knavery. Stand by a little, and let's hear his discourse !

Act I. Scene II.

Aedelio, Jeffry, Fidelio, and Snarl.

Ard. Jeffry, come hither !

Jef. Sir, I wait upon you.

Ard. Jeffry, you know that I have ever been Indulgent to your knaveries.

Jef. I thank your worship, you have ever been my friend.

Ard. Winked at your faults.

Jef. True.

Ard, And the reason is, ''Because I still am welcome to thy wife.

Jef. Your worship may be welcome there at all times.

Ard. Honest Jeffry, thou shaltlose nothing by it, You know my authority in the house : my Lord Puts all the care into my hands, has left me The managing of his estate, because I know the way to humour him.

Jef. That is an evident token of your worship's wisdom.

Ard. And none of them have any place or being, Without my suffrance.

Jef. Sir, you are of power to disperse us like atoms.

Ard. Therefore I expect the reverence is due unto my place.

Jef. And reason good.

Ard. Well, for thy honest care, I meantc^substitute thee under me InlUl inferior matters,. for I mean To take my ease, and pamper up my genius As well as he. Only for entertainment, Of anything belongs unto the kitchen, Let me alone.

Jef. Yes, sir, your providence Has shewed itself sufficiently that way.

Ard. I'll take the air in his coach, eat of the best, And for my private drinking I will have My choice of wines, fill'd out of vessels whose age Has worn their countries name out, and their own, Like some unthankful hospital or college, That has forgot the founder.

Sna. To what purpose, I wonder, should nature create this fellow ? He is good for nothing else, but to maintain The mutiny of the paunch against the members; ^ Keep him from his whore, and his sack, and you Detain him from his centre.

Ard. By the way, I will acquaint thee with a secret, Jeffry.

Jef. What's that, sir %

Ard. I do love a pretty wench well. ■

Jef, 'Tis the only gentle humour that is extant.

Ard. I will not leave my recreation that way For a whole empire ! 'tis my summum bonum, My sole felicity, tickles my conceit. But, not a word.

Jef. Not I, by any means, sir !

U bolland's leaguer.

Ard. And for fcttia cause, I mean t' apply myself Wholly to my venery. I feel this heat Renews mj blood and makes me younger for it. And thou .-halt keep one for me at thy house.

Jef. Where ! at my house 1

Ard. Ay, there ! a heavy burden Of fleshly desires daily grows upon me And ea.se works on my nature ; once a week When I am ballasted with -wine and lust, I'll sail to my < Janaries.

Jef. And unlade there.

Ard. Wilt keep her for me and let none come near her 1

Jef. I have had such favour at your worship's hands, That should good fortune come in human shape To tempt your mistress, I'd not let her in.

Ard. I'll procure thee the lease of thy house free, And when I have done, I'll see it sha'nt stand

empty.

Hast thou any good rooms for st owage ther e ?

J'f. Spare rooms enough, sir; why do yon ask !

Ard. Because I will convey away some household stuff.

That's not amiss 1

Jef. No, sir !

Ard. Tis quite against my nature to see any vacwu/m, Besides, 'tis not an age to be honest in.

Jef. That's the highway to poverty.

Ard. I mean to make the benefit of my place therefore, And when I have done I'd fain see all your artists. Your politicians with their instruments And plummets of wit, sound the depth of me.

Jef. It lyes not in the reach of man to fathom it.

Ard. Were I set in a place of Justice now, They would admire me, how I should become it : Cough on the bench with state, sit in my nightcap, Stroke out an apophthem out of my beard, Frame a grave city__face, jeer at offenders, - Cry'ouTuponTEe vices of the times, tem.pores, morums !

Slut. How the rank rascal Is over-grown with flesh and villany !

Ard. This getting of money is a ni}\stery, Is to be learned before a man's- alphabet, No matter how, 'tis supposed he that has it Is wise and virtuous, though he be obscure, A fugitive, and perjur'd, anything, He and his cause shall neither want for friends. He is the chick of the white hen, old Fortune : "What e'er he treads upon shall be a rose, He shall be invited to his capon and custard, Ride to the Sheriffs a feasting on his foot-cloth, Possess the highest room, have the first carving, With please you eat of this or that, my noble, My right worshipful brother 1 Your rich men Shall strive to put their sons to be his pages, And their wives to be his concubines.

Jef. Shall marry young ones a purpose for him.

Sua. Very likely.

Ard. No more, be gone ! I hear my Lord a coming. I'll send thee my wench; mark me, keep her close !

Jef. Believe me, not a breath of air comes near her, But what steals in at the window.

Ard. 'Tis well said.

Jef. But stay, sir, will she not be too great a charge To keep her to yourself 1 What if you hired her By the month as your factors do beyond sea, And when she is grown old and leaky, sir,

Mend her i'th dock and fraught her o'er for Holland.

Arcl. Ay. o'er the water, 'twas well thought upon, I think nil Bhe were trimmed up, she would serve At last for such a voyage well enough. What wilt thou Bayywheii I have done with her, If I do make thee master of my bottom I

Jef. Who, me ? The devil shall be the pilot first, Ere I come near their quicksands, their base roads : They have a dangerous quay to come into,

Arcl. "What e'er the key be, still the door's kept fast.

Jef. As strict as an alderman's at dinner time. Ay, and the way to hell is grown so narrow, A man's in danger to pass o'er, for if We reel beside the bridge, straight we shall fall Into a lake that will foully dight * us, Darker and deeper than Styx or Cocytus.

Ard. Well rhymed, Jeffry ! this knave will come in time, By being often in my company, And gleaning but the refuse of my speech, T' arrive at some proportion of wit. But, to avoid suspicion, be gone ! [Exit Jeffry.

Now would I see the man that should affront me. My Lord will straight be here, I'll entertain him, And talk as superciliously, and walk As stately as the Warden of a college, Until I have made a right pupil of him.

Act I. Scene III.

Snarl, Fidelio, and Ardelio.

Sna. How now, Ardelio! what? so melancholy] Ard. Faith, all this day 1 have been so employed With setting things in order, and provisions,

* Dirty us. — "Dight," in Scotch, means to wipe down.

I can compare my pains to nothing less Than a Lord General's.

Sna. Why., what's the matter 1

Ard. Things must he ordered, and there's nothing Done unless 1 oversee it ; my industry Must marshall the dishes, put the stools in rank, See the wood set upon the carriages, Sharpen the knives : all these witness my care, The very shining of the candlesticks Acknowledge my directions.

Snar. 'Tis much !

The strange activity that some men have To dispatch business.

Ard. Why, sir, did you never Hear how Apelles pictured Homer spewing, And all the poets gaping to receive it 1

Snar. Yes, and what then 1

Ard. In the same manner do I,

Upon the hushers, the clarks, and the butlers, The cooks, and other officers, 'mongst whom I find to be a drought of understanding, Shower down the dregs of my counsel.

Snar. They are like to be well edified.

Ard. Here comes my Lord ! make room for my Lord's Grace !

Act I. Scene IV.

Philautus, Triphcena, Trimalchio, Ardelio, Snarl, Fidelio.

Ard. God save your Honour ! may your flourishing youth Enjoy an everlasting spring of beauty, And know no autumn.

Phil. Thanks, good Ardelio !

Your wishes have effect : this is the tree

Under whose shadow Flora builds her b

And on whose branches hangs such tempting fruit, Would dmw fair Atalanta from her coarse ; An altar on which Queens should sacrifice , Their scorned loves. Nature will scarce 'It is her own invention, and repines She has no way to be incestuous.

Triph. Mr Trimalchio, I am sick to hear him, I can't abide these repetitions, And tedious encomiums of himself! Let you and I walk a turn in the garden.

Trim. You are the only garden of my delight, And I your dear Adonis, honoured lady.

[Exeunt Trimalchio, Tripfoma.

Phil. Ardelio, tell me how this suit becomes me !

Ard. Exactly well, sir, without controversy, And you wear it as neatly.

Phil. Nay, I have A reasonable good tailor : I hope he has not Surveyed me so long but he knows my dimensions. I think I may venture i' th' presence with it.

Ard. I' th' presence 1 Ay, and love were th' presence, You'd thrust Ganymede out of his office.

Phil. What think you, gentlemen ?

Fid. We all do wish, Your beauty or your vanity were less, For, by this means, that which would else commend

you Proves your disgrace : you take the edge of praise off Is due to you by too much whetting it.

Phil. I should prove too injurious to myself, Should I pass over, with a slight regard, This building nature has solemnised With such magnificence, to which I owe The loves of ladies, and their daily presents, Their hourly solicitations with letters.

Their entertainments when I come, their plots They lay to view me, which, should I recount, 'Twould puzzel my arithmetic, and to answer Their unjust desires would ask the labours Of some ten stallions.

Ard. And make all jades of them 1

Fid. You are the centre of all women's love then 1

Phil, 'Tis true I have a strange attractive power Over your females ; did you never hear of Three Goddesses that strove on Ida hill, Naked before a shepherd, for a ball With an inscription " let the fairest have it 1 "

Fid. And what of those 1

Phil. Bring them all three before me ! If I surprise them not all at first dash, If they fall not together by the ears for me, Nay, if they run not mad, and follow me As if they were drunk with a love potion, Ne'er trust a prognosticator again.

Snar. But how if you should chance to meet Diana 1 Take heed of her, it is a testy girl, A profest virgin.

Phil. 'Tis my ambition To meet with her, to bath my limbs with her In the same well, shoot in her bow, dance with her, And get the foremost of her troupe with child, And turn the rape on Jupiter.

Snar. Fine, y' faith !

Fid. It seems that you are of opinion There is no text of womankind so holy, But may be corrupted, though a Deity.

Phil. Ardelio,tell me what thou dost think of them.

Ard. Who, 1 1 hang me should I be questioned Now for my faith concerning articles Of women's chastity, I should be burnt For a rank heretic. I believe none of them.

Fid. But I think otherwise ; and can justify it. What, if I bring you now unto a beauty As glorious as the sun, but in desire Cold as the middle region of the air, And free from all reflection of lust ?

Phil. But shall I speak with her, and tempt her to it?

Fid. You shall converse with her, and she shall feed Your sense with such discoursive influence, And a voice sweeter than the Lydian tunes, Jove would bow down his ear to, yet her blood Shall run as cold as julips through her veins ; The spring tide of her youth shall swell with more Delights than there be drops in April, yet she As chaste as Salmacis, amidst the streams.* Her eye shall sparkle like the diamond, And be as pure, her kisses soft and melting As the south wind, but undefil'd as Heaven : And you shall feel the elemental fire Of her unspotted love, and grieve, and swear She is so celestial and divine a creature, That's only hot in her effect, not nature.

Phil. Why such a one would I converse withall; The conquest will be greater. Shall I see her]

Fill. I'll bring you to her.

Jnl. He has a strong belief. 1 nave no such confidence. She may be Lucrece And he a foolish Colatine f to brag of her ; But most of them in playing fast and loose Will cheat an oracle. I have a creature Before these Courtiers lick their lips at her I'll trust a wanton haggard | in the wind. This lady is his sister and my mistress,

* A fountain of ('aria, near Halioarnassus, which rendered

effeminate all thoso who drank of its waters, •f Tarquin.

J A wild-hawk— metaphorically, a loose woman,

Yet both unknown to him — some few years since,

Her father jealous of my love, because

I was a gentleman of no great fortune,

Sent her away, and charged her by an oath

To marry none till seven years were expired,

Six parts of which are gone, yet she remains

Constant to what she promised, though his death

Has partly quit her. To live in her sight

And not enjoy her is a heavenly torment,

But unsufferable, I must live apart

Till the prefixed minute be expired.

In the meantime I'll work by some good means,

To win his love, and draw him from his folly.

But first by him I'll try her constancy :

I musTprepare her for his entertainment,

Because she will admit no company,

Nor will be known to any but myself.

Come sir, let's go ! by that which shall ensue,

You shall affirm what I relate is true.

Act I. Scene V.

Agurtes, Autolicus.

Agu. Tisa dull age this ! Fame casts not her eyes On men of worth : Captains andcommanclers, Victorious abroad, are vanquished at home With poverty and disgrace ; they look as bad As Brutus, when he met his evil genius : Worse than they had been frighted from the ruins Of Isis' temple ; and you, sir, for your part, That have been brought up under me at my elbow, A daily witness unto all my projects, ThaTmight have got experience enough To cozen a whole State if they had trusted you, Now to be wanting to yourself, worn out, No name or title but on posts and trenchers, And doors scored with a coal, instead of chalk.

22 HOLLAND'S LEAG1 BR

Are my hopes come to this 1 Aid. What should I do 1 I have no thriving way to lie and flatter, Nor have 1 Buch dexterity of wi t

A- \-'Hi lia\r, Blesl 1/'' heaven J to convert Black into white.

Agu. Nay, if you have no will Nor power to free yourself, you must resolve To stick in the dirt still.

Ant. Nor can I promise The death of any by the stars. I have No rich man's funeral to solemnise, That left a gilt ring for my legacy, And his old velvet jerkin to survive him. I have no secret boils within my breast, For which I am feared, no suit in law to follow, No accusation 'gainst a great man, No house to let to farm, no tender wife To prostitute, or skill to corrupt others, And sleep amidst their wanton dialogues.

Agu. I cry you mercy! you would tain be styled An honest politic fool, see all men's turns Served but your own ; so leave off to be good. For what is now accounted to be good 1 Take a good lawyer or a good attorney, A citizen that's a good chapman : In a good sense what are they 1 I would know Why a good gamester, or a good courtieT I Is't for their honest dealing I Take a good poet, And if he write not bawdy lines and raptures, I'll not give a pin for him.

Aut. Would you have me Act the plagiary and seek preferment. To be the drunken bard of some black stews And think my destiny well satisfied. When my shame feeds me, and at length expect A legacy bequeathed me from some Bawd,

In lieu of my old service, or according To the proportion of my Hernia I

Aqu. Well, I perceive that I must once more take

you

To my protection, which if I do

I'll teach you better rules. You shall no more

Commit your misery to loose papers,

Nor court my Lord with panegyrics, nor make

Strange anagrams of my Lady. You shall not need

To deal for stale commodities, nor yet

Send forth your privy bills without a seal

To free you from your lodging, where you have

Lain in most part of the vacation.

You shall no longer run in score with your hostess

For brown toasts and tobacco, but you shall leave

Your open standings at the ends of lanes,

Or your close coverts in tobacco shops,

Where you give strict attendance like a sergeant,

Until some antedated country cloak

Pass by, whom you most impudently may

Assault to borrow twelvepence ; but bear up

Stiffly and with the best.

Aid. How shall that be done 1

Agu. We will not call Tiresias* from the dead' To show us how, as he did once Ulysses. You must resolve to learn virtue from others, Fortune from me. • Aut. For that I'll make no scruple.

Agu. I have a bird i'th' wind, I'll fly thee on him ! He shall be thy adventure, thy first quarry.

Aut. What's he ?

Agu. A golden one that drops his feathers, That has received his patrimony, gives money For all acquaintance. When he first came up, His only search was for prime curtezans And those he entertained for mistresses,

* A blind soothsayer of Thebes.,

24 HOLLAND'S LEAGUES.

Only sometimes to drink a health to them.

The ladies too would use him for a cooler,

But they Buspect his silence, yet he uses

Their names and titles as familiarly,

As he had bought them. Thou shalt hook him in

And crack him like a nut.

Aut. Is he not the son To the rich usurer that died so lately ?

Agu. The same, that heaped up money by the bushel ; And now this studies how to scattei' it. His father walks to see what becomes of it, And that's his torment after death.

Aid. "When shall I see him 1

Agu. He is to meet me here within this hour, Then take you an occasion to pass by, And I will whisper to him, privately, And praise thee, beyond Pyrrhus or Hannibal. You must talk and look big, 'twill be the grace on't.

Aid. "What, shall I turn a roarer ]

Agu. Anything, Broker or pandar, cheater or lifter, And steal like a Lacaedemonian.

Observe what I do, and fill up the scene.

Enter Boy.

How now ! "What news 1

Boy. Sir, there's some five or six without to speak with you.

Agu. How ! five or six 1

Bay. Yes, sir, and they pretend Great business.

Agu. What manner of men are they ?

Boy. They look like pictures of antiquity. And their cloaks seem to have bin the coverings Of some old monuments.

Agu. They are my Gibeonitcs,

Are come to traffic with me 1 Some design Is now on foot, and this is our Exchange time. These are my old projectors, and they make me The superintendent of their business. But still they shoot two or three bows too short, For want of money and adventurers. They have as many demurrers as the Chancery, And hatch more strange imaginations Than any dreaming philosopher : one of them Will undertake the making of bay salt For a penny a bushel to serve the State. Another dreams of building water-works, Drying of fens and marshes, like the Dutchmen. Another strives to raise his fortunes from Decayed bridges, and would exact a tribute From ale-houses and sign-posts ; some there are- Would make a thorowfare for the whole kingdom, And office, where nature should give account For all she took and sent into the world. But they were born in an unlucky hour, For some unfortunate mischance or other Still come athwart them : well I must into them And feast them with new hopes, 'twill be good sport To hear how they dispute it pro and con. In the meantime, Autolicus, prepare • To meet my Courtier.

Aid. I have my cue, sir.