Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

DIDO,

QUEEN OF CARTHAGE.

333*

DIDO QUEEN OF CARTHAGE. This is a very scarce play, only three copies being known to be extant, one in the Bodleian library, one in the Marquis of Stafford's collection, and the third in the possession of Mr. Heber. Mr. Malone only knew of two in the possession of Dr. Wright and Mr. Reed. To one of these, now in the Bodleian, he has appended a note from which the following extract is copied

"Mr. Warton speaks in his Hist. of Eng. Poetry, (III. p. 435.) of an Elegy being prefixed to it [Dido] on the death of Marlowe; but no such is found in either of those copies. In answer to my enquiries on this subject, he informed me, by letter, that a copy of this play was in Osborn's Catalogue in the year 1754; that he then saw it in his shop (together with several of Mr. Oldys's books that Osborne had purchased) and that the elegy in question "On Marlowe's untimely death," was inserted immediately after the title page: that it mentioned a play of Marlowe's, entitled the "Duke of Guise," and four others, but whether particularly by name, he could not recollect. Unluckily he did not purchase this rare piece, and it is now God knows where.

[ocr errors]

Bishop Tanner likewise mentions this elegy, in so particular a manner, that he must have seen it. 'Marlovius (Christopherus) quondam in Academiâ Cantabrigiensi, Musarum Alumnus; postea actor scienicus; deinde poeta dramaticus tragicus, paucis inferior. Scripsit plurimas Tragedias, Sc. Tamerlane, Tragedie of Dido, Queen of Carthage,-Pr. Come gentle Ganymed.' Hanc perfecit et edidit Tho. Nash, Lond. 1594. 4to. Petowius in præfatione ad secun

VOL. II.

[ocr errors]

334*

dam partem Herois et Leandri multa in Marlovii Commendationem adfert; hoc etiam facit, Tho. Nash, in Carmine Elegiaco Tragedia Didonis præfixo in obitum Christoph. Marlovii, ubi quatuor ejus tragediarum mentionem facit, necnon et alterius de duce Guisio.'- Bib. Britan. 1748.

"I suspect Mr. Wharton had no other authority than this, for saying, that this play was left imperfect by Marlowe, and completed and published by Nashe. For it does not appear from the title-page that it was not written in conjunction by him and Marlowe in the life-time of the former [Marlowe]. Perhaps Nashe's Elegy might ascertain this point.'

It is much to be regretted that no copy of this elegy (if it ever existed) is to be found, as it would not only ascertain the point mentioned by Mr. Malone, but would also prove which of the plays ascribed to Marlowe are really genuine.

« ZurückWeiter »