Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 10.djvu/107

 n s. x. A, s, 1914.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

101

LONDON, SATCRDAY, AUGUST 8, 1911,,

CONTENTS. No. 241. i NOTES: A Source of Massinger's 'Parliament of Love, i 101 Sir John Gilbert, J. F. Smith, and ' The London Journal,' 102 Statutes and Memorials in the British Isles, 103 Hugh Peters: Post-Restoration Satires, 105 Printers' Phrases Reference to ' Chevy Chase 'Mur- derer reprieved by Marriage " Huckleberry "Monthly Catalogue, 1714-17, 106 Servian Terms: "Narodna Obrana" and "Samouprava," 107.

DUERIES : ' Jackdaw of Rheims' Thirteenth-Century i Dyers' Ordinance Sir William Temple on Huniades Bombay as a Surname Patazonian Theatre, Exeter Change, 107 Clapping and Hissing Byroniana Jesuit's Hiding-Place G Quinton Old Etonians Sir Richard gyl es _Story of ' Bull and Poker ' Oldboy : Artemisia Ear Burning Power Family, 108 Crimean War Banquet : Memorial Tablecloth Medal lie Legends " Bell and Horns," Brompton Dr. Allen, 1579, 109 Fenwick Wool-Gat hering Stick Biographical Information Wanted Thomas Legett Joseph Game, 110.

REPLIES: Wall-Papers, 110 Heart-Burial, 111 Lesee- line de Verdon, 112" Condamine" 52, Newgate Street : a Sculptured Stone "The Broad Arrow" Greek News- paper published in London, 114 Library Wanted Wreck of the Jane, Duchess of Gordon Penmon Priory Tit- marsh Westminster School Usher Ralph Carr Robert Clayton, 115 Gladstone as Chancellor of the

Wanted : ' Hands All Round ' " Annandale Beef-stand ' Moses Franks' The Manchester Marine,' 117.

SOTES ON BOOKS :' Survey of London: St. Giles-in- the-Fields' ' Book-Auction Records ' ' Book-Prices Current ' ' Yorkshire Archaeological Journal 'Reviews and Magazines.

Booksellers' Catalogues.

A SOURCE OF MASSINGER'S ' PARLIAMENT OF LOVE.'

THE plot of ' The Parliament of Love,' as of many of Massinger's plays, is constructed of materials derived from various sources.

Dr. Koeppel has pointed out that for its central idea, the institution of a court or Parliament of Love for hearing the complaints and redressing the grievances of lovers, the dramatist was indebted to the ' Aresta Amorum ' of Martial d'Auvergne ; and an- other conspicuous feature, common to this play and Webster and Rowley's ' A Cure for 'a Cuckold ' the story of the lover com- manded by his mistress to kill his dearest friend was doubtless borrowed from Mars- ton's ' Dutch Courtesan.'

But a further unmistakable source of the plot has been overlooked. The character of Clarindore, the " wild courtier " of Mas- singer's play, is clearly modelled upon that of Tharsalio, the " impetuous wooer " of Chapman's comedy ' The Widow's Tears.'

Tln> conduct of the courtship scenes in
 * '.vo plays is almost exactly the same,

Massinger not only reproducing incidents, but also echoing words and phrases from his pre- decessor's play. How closely the scenes con- nected with Clarindore's wooing of Bellisant in ' The Parliament of Love ' were founded upon. Tharsalio's wooing of the Countess Eudora in ' The Widow's Tears ' may be seen in the following comparison of the two plays.

The Widow's Tears. Tharsalio announces to Lysander and Cynthia, and their son Hylus, his intention of marrying the Countess Eudora, whom he had previously served as a page. In spite of the Countess's vow of perpetual widowhood, he is, he says, " as- sured of his speed " ; he will show them " with what facility he will win her." Lysander, incredulous, mockingly observes that this is "a good pleasant dream." Tharsalio leaves them, calling upon Confidence to

Command her servant deities, Love and Fortune, To second my attempts for this great Lady.

The Parliament of Love. Clarindore, Mont- rose, Perigot, and Novell discuss the " noble lady " Bellisant. The three latter agree that she is so proud and unapproachable that it is useless to attempt to gain her favour. Clarin- dore taunts them with their " fainting spirits " ; he is confident that he can win her for his mistress. Perigot asks him if he is " talking in his sleep." Clarindore then wagers that within a month he will make Bellisant yield to him, and leaves his com- panions, exclaiming :

Love, blind archer, aid me I

The Widow's Tears. Tharsalio forces him- self into the Countess's presence, notwith- standing that she is engaged in conversation with three great noblemen who have come to pay their addresses, and boldly woos her. She angrily bids him begone, or she will have him " tost in blankets," and, on his refusing to obey, bids her ushers " quit the house of him, by th' head and shoulders." If he dares to come again, they are charged to shut the doors upon him. He leaves, raging at his reception :

Hell and the Furies take this vile encounter !

The Parliament of Love. C'larindore gains access to the presence of Bellisant in spite of the fact that her woman (the supposed Cal- lista, but in reality Beaupre, Clarindore's wife) has been " charged not to admit a visitant." Immediately Bellisant approaches he makes violent love to her, and endeavours to force a kiss from her. She repels his ad- vances with contempt, and bids her servants

. . . .thrust him headlong out of doors, and see He never more pass my threshold.