THE PROLOGUE TO THE STAGE. AT THE COCK-PIT. We know not how our play may pass this stage, The Malta Jew had being, and was made; 1 "Marlo." Marginal note in the old copy. 2 "Allin." Marginal note in the old copy. In the (old) Shakespeare Society's publications there is a memoir by J. P. Collier of the celebrated actor, the founder of Dulwich College, Edward Alleyn. 3 "Perkins." Marginal note in the old copy. Richard Perkins was an actor of great ability. At the end of the White Devil Webster speaks of the "wellapproved industry of my friend Master Perkins," and adds that "the worth of his action did crown both the beginning and end." He took the part of Capt. Goodlack in Heywood's Fair Maid of the West, of Sir John Belfare in Shirley's Wedding, of Hanno in Nabbes' Hannibal and Scipio, and of Fitzwater in Davenport's King John and Matilda. From Wright's Historia Histrionica we learn that he died "some years before the Restoration." EPILOGUE. IN graving, with Pygmalion to contend; 1 "A metaphor borrowed from the fencing-school, prizes being played for certain degrees in the schools where the Art of Defence was taught, degrees, it appears, of Master, Provost, and Scholar."-Dyce's Shakespeare Glossary. A friend of Alleyn's backed him for a wager to excel George Peele in acting any part that had been sustained by Knell or Bentley. See Dyce's Greene and Peele (ed. 1861, pp. 330, 331). In the Introduction to the Knight of the Burning Pestle the Citizen says that his prentice Ralph "should have played Jeronimo with a shoemaker for a wager." PERSONS REPRESENTED. FERNEZE, Governor of Malta. SELIM CALYMATH, Son of the Grand Seignior. ABIGAIL. DON MATHIAS, also in love with her. MARTIN DEL Bosco, Vice-Admiral of Spain. BARABAS, the Jew of Malta. ITHAMORE, Barabas' slave. BARNARDINE, JACOMO, } Friars. PILIA-BORSA, a Bully. Two Merchants. Three Jews. Bassoes, Knights, Officers, Reader, Messengers, Slaves, and Carpenters. KATHARINE, mother of DON MATTHIAS. ABIGAIL, the Jew's Daughter. Abbess. Two Nuns. BELLAMIRA, a Courtesan. MACHIAVEL, the Prologue. Scene-Malta. THE JEW OF MALTA. 0 Enter MACHIAVEL. Machiavel. Albeit the world thinks Machiavel is dead, Yet was his soul but flown beyond the Alps; To some perhaps my name is odious, But such as love me guard me from their tongues ; And weigh not men, and therefore not men's words. Though some speak openly against my books, Many will talk of title to a crown : 10 1 The Duc de Guise, who organised the Massacre of St. Bartholomew. He was assassinated in 1588. What right had Cæsar to the empery ?1 Might first made kings, and laws were then most sure 20 Let me be envied and not pitièd! But whither am I bound? I come not, I, To read a lecture hear in Britainy, But to present the tragedy of a Jew, Who smiles to see how full his bags are crammed, 30 [Exit. 1 This is Dyce's correction for "empire." 2 Old ed. "the Drancus." 3 As a word is required to complete the verse, I have followed Cunning ham in inserting "but." 4 All the editions give "Britain." For the sake of the metre I read "Britainy"-a form found in Edward II., ii. 2, 1. 42. |