A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Xi Part 43

BUBBLE. Green! Green's an a.s.s.

SCATTERGOOD. Wherefore do you say so?

BUBBLE. Indeed. I ha' no reason; for they say he is as like me as ever he can look."

There seems every probability that the play when originally produced had some other t.i.tle, until the excellence of Green's performance, and his mode of delivering _Tu quoque_, gave it his name. It could scarcely be brought out in the first instance under the appellation of "Green's 'Tu Quoque,'" before it was known how it would succeed, and how his acting would tell in the part of Bubble. In this respect perhaps Langbaine was mistaken.--_Collier._ [It appears likely that the t.i.tle under which the piece was originally brought on the stage was simply _The City Gallant_.]

[146] "Attempt to Ascertain the Order of Shakespeare's Plays," by Mr Malone, p. 275. [See Dyce's "Shakespeare," 1868, i. 114, 115. There seems to be some confusion between two persons of the name of Green, living at this time, one an actor and the author of a little poem printed in 1603, the other a relation to Shakespeare, and clerk to the corporation of Stratford.]

[147] "The British Theatre," p. 9.

[148] MSS. additions to Langbaine, p. 73.

[149] The following are the epitaphs mentioned by Oldys, from Braithwaite's Remains--

"_Upon an actor now of late deceased: and upon his action Tu Quoque: and first upon his travel._

Hee whom this mouldered clod of earth doth hide, New come from sea, made but one face and dide.

_Upon his creditors._

His debtors now no fault with him can finde, Sith he has paid to nature all's behinde.

_Upon his fellow actors._

What can you crave of your poore fellow more?

He does but what _Tu Quoque_ did before: Then give him dying, actions second wreath, That second'd him in action and in death."

In actorem Mimic.u.m cui vix parem cernimus superst.i.tem.

_Quaecunque orta sunt occidunt_. Sall.u.s.t.

Ver vireat quod te peperit (viridissima proles) Quaeque tegit cineres, ipsa virescat humus.

Transis ab exiguis nunquam periture theatris Ut repetas sacri pulchra theatru Jovis

--"Remains after Death," 8vo. 1618, Sig. G 5.

[150] Heywood speaks of it as "just published in print." The date of his epistle "to the Reader," however, may be older than 1614, the year of the earliest printed copy now known.--_Collier._ [Heywood merely says that he was "in the way just when this play was to be published in print."]

[151] [Mr Collier's addition.]

TO THE READER

To gratulate the love and memory of my worthy friend the author, and my entirely beloved fellow the actor, I could not choose, being in the way just when this play was to be published in print, but to prefix some token of my affection to either in the frontispiece of the book. For the gentleman that wrote it, his poem itself can better speak his praise than any oratory from me. Nor can I tell whether this work was divulged with his consent or no; but, howsoever, it hath pa.s.sed the test of the stage with so general an applause, pity it were but it should likewise have the honour of the press. As for Master Green, all that I will speak of him (and that without flattery) is this (if I were worthy to censure), there was not an actor of his nature, in his time, of better ability in performance of what he undertook, more applauded by the audience, of greater grace at the court, or of more general love in the city: and so with this brief character of his memory I commit him to his rest.

THOMAS HEYWOOD.

UPON THE DEATH OF THOMAS GREEN.

How fast bleak Autumn changeth Flora's dye!

What yesterday was Green, now's sear and dry.

W.R.[152]

[152] Probably William Rowley.

DRAMATIS PERSONae.

SIR LIONEL RASH.} { FOX.

OLD GERALDINE. } { GATHERSc.r.a.p.

GERALDINE. } { BASKETHILT.

WILL RASH. } { SPRINKLE.

SPENDALL. } { PRISONERS.

STAINES. } { DRAWERS, _&c._ BUBBLE. } { LONGFIELD. } { WOMEN.

BALANCE. } { SCATTERGOOD. } { GERTRUDE.

NINNIHAMMER. } { JOYCE.

MASTER BLANK. } { PHILLIS.

PURSENET. } { WIDOW.

LODGE. } { SWEATMAN, _a bawd_.

HOLDFAST. } { NAN TICKLEMAN, _a wh.o.r.e_.

THE CITY GALLANT.

_A mercer's shop discovered_, GERTRUDE _working in it;_ SPENDALL _walking by the shop_. MASTER BALANCE _walking over the stage.

After him_ LONGFIELD _and_ GERALDINE.

SPEND. What lack you, sir? fair stuffs or velvets?

BAL. Good morrow, Frank.

SPEND. Good morrow, Master Balance.

GERA. Save you, Master Longfield.

LONG. And you, sir. What business draws you towards this end o' th'

town?