The Works of Christopher Marlowe, Vol. 2 (of 3)

The English Dramatists


                  CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE


                   VOLUME THE SECOND

                                    ~Hadymelei
  thama men phormingi pamphônoisi t' en entesin aulôn.~
                                 PINDAR, _Olymp._ vii.




                       THE WORKS

                          OF

                  CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE



                      EDITED BY
                   A. H. BULLEN, B.A.


                   IN THREE VOLUMES

                   VOLUME THE SECOND


                     [Illustration]


                         LONDON
                      JOHN C. NIMMO
          14, KING WILLIAM STREET, STRAND, W.C.
                       MDCCCLXXXV


    _One hundred and twenty copies of this Edition on Laid
  paper, medium 8vo, have been printed, and are numbered
  consecutively as issued._

  _No._ 47




                    CONTENTS OF VOL. II.


                                                                    PAGE
  THE JEW OF MALTA                                                     1

  EDWARD THE SECOND                                                  115

  THE MASSACRE AT PARIS                                              235

  THE TRAGEDY OF DIDO, QUEEN OF CARTHAGE                             299




                         THE JEW OF MALTA.


  Of the _Jew of Malta_ there is no earlier edition than the 4to. of
  1633, which was published under the auspices of the well-known
  dramatist Thomas Heywood. The title is:--_The Famous Tragedy of
  The Rich Iew of Malta. As it was playd before the King and Queene,
  in His Majesties Theatre at White-Hall, by her Majesties Servants
  at the Cock-pit. Written by Christopher Marlo. London: Printed
  by I. B. for Nicholas Vavasour, and are to be sold at his Shop in the
  Inner-Temple, neere the Church._ 1633. No later 4to. appeared.




                      TO
               MY WORTHY FRIEND,
             MASTER THOMAS HAMMON,
               OF GRAY'S INN, &c.


This play, composed by so worthy an author as Mr. Marlowe, and the part
of the Jew presented by so unimitable an actor as Mr. Alleyn, being in
this later age commended to the stage; as I ushered it unto the Court,
and presented it to the Cock-pit, with these prologues and epilogues
here inserted, so now being newly brought to the press, I was loth it
should be published without the ornament of an Epistle; making choice
of you unto whom to devote it; than whom (of all those gentlemen and
acquaintance, within the compass of my long knowledge) there is none
more able to tax ignorance, or attribute right to merit. Sir, you
have been pleased to grace some of mine own works with your courteous
patronage;[1] I hope this will not be the worse accepted, because
commended by me; over whom, none can claim more power or privilege than
yourself. I had no better a new-year's gift to present you with; receive
it therefore as a continuance of that inviolable obligement, by which,
he rests still engaged; who as he ever hath, shall always remain,

                                   Tuissimus:
                                             THO. HEYWOOD.




  THE JEW OF MALTA.


  THE PROLOGUE SPOKEN AT COURT.

    Gracious and Great, that we so boldly dare,
    ('Mongst other plays that now in fashion are)
    To present this, writ many years agone,
    And in that age thought second unto none,
    We humbly crave your pardon: We pursue
    The story of a rich and famous Jew
    Who lived in Malta: you shall find him still,
    In all his projects, a sound Machiavill;
    And that's his character. He that hath past
    So many censures, is now come at last
    To have your princely ears: grace you him; then
    You crown the action, and renown the pen.


  EPILOGUE.

    It is our fear (dread sovereign) we have bin
    Too tedious; neither can't be less than sin
    To wrong your princely patience: If we have,
    (Thus low dejected) we your pardon crave:
    And if aught here offend your ear or sight,
    We only act and speak what others write.




  THE PROLOGUE TO THE STAGE.


  AT THE COCK-PIT.

    We know not how our play may pass this stage,
    But by the best of poets[2] in that age
    The Malta Jew had being, and was made;
    And he, then by the best of actors[3] played;
    In Hero and Leander, one did gain
    A lasting memory: in Tamburlaine,
    This Jew, with others many, th' other wan
    The attribute of peerless, being a man
    Whom we may rank with (doing no one wrong)
    Proteus for shapes, and Roscius for a tongue,
    So could he speak, so vary; nor is't hate
    To merit, in him[4] who doth personate
    Our Jew this day; nor is it his ambition
    To exceed or equal, being of condition
    More modest: this is all that he intends,
    (And that too, at the urgence of some friends)