Page:The Elizabethan stage (Volume 4).pdf/49

 It is difficult to date with precision the revival for which the additions printed in the Q. of 1610 (1610/1?) were written, especially as the genuineness of the Q. of 1609, in which Collier stated that he found these additions, cannot be verified, since the accounts of the Treasurer of the Chamber do not specify the exact days on which the numerous appearances of the King's men at court during the winters of 1608-9, 1609-10, and 1610-11 took place. The conjecture of Fleay (ii. 50; Shakespeare, 303) that the additions date from 1606 was largely based on a guess that they appeared in the Q. of 1606, which he had not seen. The added or altered passages are the prologue; i. 1, 2 ; iv. 1; parts of v. 2; and the final lines of the induction. The prologue wishes James security

From blemisht Traytors, stayn'd with Periurie.

A bear is introduced in i. 2, as in W. T. iii. 3, and I venture to conjecture that both episodes were inspired by the successful bear in Jonson's Mask of Oberon on 1 Jan. 1611, to which there is also an allusion in his Love Restored of 6 Jan. 1612. If so, the revival must have been on Shrove Sunday, 3 Feb. 1611. In i. 50 Anselmo says that he was a shepherd in 'Lord Iulios Maske'. Oberon, however, had no shepherds proper, only satyrs and sylvans. The induction is altered to compliment James instead of Elizabeth, and the following dialogue between Comedie and Envie is introduced:

Envie.     Comedie, thou art a shallow Goose; Ile ouerthrow thee in thine owne intent, And make thy fall my Comick merriment.

Comedie. Thy pollicie wants grauitie; thou art Too weake. Speake, Fiend, as how?

Env.                             Why, thus: From my foule Studie will I hoyst a Wretch, A leane and hungry Meager Canniball, Whose iawes swell to his eyes with chawing Malice: And him Ile make a Poet.

Com.                          What's that to th' purpose?

Env. This scrambling Rauen, with his needie Beard, Will I whet on to write a Comedie, Wherein shall be compos'd darke sentences, Pleasing to factious braines: And euery other where place me a Iest, Whose high abuse shall more torment then blowes: Then I my selfe (quicker then Lightning) Will flie me to a puisant Magistrate, And waighting with a Trencher at his backe, In midst of iollitie, rehearse those gaules, (With some additions) So lately vented in your Theator. He, vpon this, cannot but make complaint, To your great danger, or at least restraint.

Com. Ha, ha, ha! I laugh to hear thy folly; This is a trap for Boyes, not Men, nor such, Especially desertfull in their doinges, Whose stay'd discretion rules their purposes. I and my faction do eschew those vices.