name is not given, but whose place in the play is taken by Flaminius. On
p. 49 he is said to have been beaten by the Moors in Africa in 1578, and
to be now (1600) a prisoner at Venice. In _Believe as You List_ the period
of twenty-two years is referred to as the interval during which Antiochus
has been travelling about the world.(561) On p. 50 Dom Sebastian arrives
at Venice with “but one poor gazete.” In the play Antiochus, after being
robbed by his servants, finds “a waste paper” lying near him, and speaks
as follows:
There is something writ more.
Why this small piece of silver? What I read may
Reveal the mystery: “Forget thou wert ever
Called King Antiochus. With this charity
I enter thee a beggar.”(562)
On p. 67 Sebastian is set free, and on p. 86 he goes to Florence, on his
way to Marseilles, with some talk of trying to establish his identity in
Holland. But the narrative closes abruptly, and we know no more of the
claimant to the Portuguese throne from _The Strangest Adventure_.
The ineffectiveness of the play may be partly due to the necessity of
altering the original modern setting to an ancient one. It is hard, for
example, to see how the monk Sampayo was metamorphosed into Berecinthius,
the fat priest of Cybele.
Mr. Croker’s reprint was the cause of a very pretty literary quarrel
between the Shakespeare Society and the Percy Society. A writer who signed
himself “A Member of both Societies” published a pamphlet animadverting on
Mr. Croker’s abilities as an editor,(563) and Mr. Croker replied in no
measured terms. The documents may be seen at the British Museum.
The anonymous writer, working on the many indications given in the
marginal notes, reconstructed the cast of _Believe as You List_.(564) “My
cast,” he says, “has been a work of difficulty, and, in the case of some
of the minor performers, a matter of considerable doubt, more especially
as a few of them doubled or even trebled their parts; and as we here see
(the only instance of the kind I am acquainted with), perhaps exchanged
characters during the progress of the play.
Antiochus J. Taylor.(565)
Flaminius J. Lowin.
Lentulus R. Robinson.
Marcellus R. Benfield.
Berecinthius T. Pollard.
Chrysalus E. Swanston.
Demetrius W. Patrick.
Amilcar — Rowland.
1 Merchant J. Honeyman.
2 Merchant W. Penn.
3 Merchant — Curt.
Calistus T. Hobbes.
Titus R. Baxter.
Queen to Prusias — Ball.
Cornelia — Nick.
Courtesan — Boy.
“With regard to the three female parts, and another of a Moorish
woman,(566) we are left much in the dark, and I have placed names against
them with considerable hesitation.
“The actors who doubled their parts were W. Penn, who was also a Jailor;
Rowland, who was also King Prusias; Patrick, who was also a Captain; and
Baxter, who was also an officer and a servant, besides, as well as we can
judge, delivering a speech or two as Demetrius. Rowland must also have
trebled his small parts. Besides these, we hear in the course of the play
of W. Mago, Gascoine, Herbert, and Harry Wilson; the last was a singer....
It need hardly be added that the ’tragedy’ was got up and acted by the
Company called the King’s Players, all the names being those of performers
in that association in 1631.”
APPENDIX VIII. COLLATION OF MS. OF “BELIEVE AS YOU LIST”
This play is accessible to the general public at present in Colonel
Cunningham’s edition of Massinger, and in Mr. Arthur Symons’s edition in
“The Mermaid Series.” An examination of the original MS., now in the
British Museum, shows that Cunningham’s text is not always correct. Though
an exhaustive collation of the MS. is not necessary, several points of
interest emerge from a study of the original document, which I have
digested here. (C. = Cunningham’s edition; MS. = Manuscript reading.
Brackets signify Cunningham’s conjectural additions, which he has not
always taken the trouble to indicate.)
Page 595. There is no list of dramatis personae in MS.
I., 1.—C.: Enter Antiochus and a Stoic. The three servants enter after
line 118.
MS.: Antiochus Stoic in philosopher’s habits; Chrysalus with a writing,
Syrus, Geta, bondmen.
I., 1, 26.—C.: Stoic.
MS.: Stoic: Hermit (cancelled).
I., 1, 56.—C.:
Old (He) sper with his fierce beams (scorch)ing in vain
Their (wives, their sisters and their tender daughters).
MS.: The line is much damaged, being the last on the page. A mention of
the old after the young (lines 52 to 55) seems to be required.
I read it thus: Olde men with sil ... in vain. There is no trace of 57,
but it is required by the sense.
I., 1, 60.—MS.: The soldiers’ greedy lusts. “Greedy” deleted.
I., 1, 85.—C.: A prey so precious and so dearly purchased.
MS.: A prey so precious and dearly purchased.
“Precious” is scanned as a trisyllable.
I., 1, 117.—C.:
The imperious waves
(Of my) calamities have already fallen.
MS.: “Of my” is not in MS. The last word of 118 is “Swollen.” The word
“Marvell” can be seen at the end of a line after 118.
Here comes a hiatus of two pages. No doubt Antiochus had a fairly long
soliloquy. It is impossible to tell how many lines are lost here, as the
characters seem to be conducting a rapid dialogue, in which it is not
necessary to suppose that a whole line was assigned to each speaker at a
time.
I., 1, 119.—C.:
Despair with sable wings
(Sail-stretch’d ab)ove my head.
MS.: Ore my head. A verb is wanted. (?) Sail-stretch’d flies o’er my head.
I., 1, 121.—MS.: ... ius furnished me. The line begins with a name to
which there is no clue, probably introduced in the part now lost.
I., 1, 122.—C.: (And) make my first appearance like myself.
MS.: Made ? Which made, etc.
I., 1, 123.—C.: (Have these) disloyal villains ravished from me. Addition
required by sense.
I., 1, 124.—C.: (Wret)ch that I was.
MS.: “ch” at end of a word which has disappeared. “Wretch” gives the
sense.
I., 1, 125.—C.: (With) such a purchase.
MS.: Such a purchase. The first word in the line has disappeared.
I., 1, 126.—C.: Without (the) gold to fee an advocate.
MS.: Without gold to fee an advocate. The first word in the line has
disappeared. (?) And.
I., 1, 127.—C.: (To) plead my royal title, nourish hope.
MS.: Plead my royal title, nourish hope. The first word in the line has
disappeared. “To” is required.
I., 1, 129.—C.: Wanting the outer gloss.
MS.: Wanting the outward gloss.
I., 1, 153.—C.:
Bids me become a beggar. But complaints are weak
And womanish. I will like a palm-tree grow
Under my (own) huge weight.
MS.: Bids me become a beggar. But complaints
Are weak and womanish. I will, like a palm-tree,
Grow under my huge weight.
I., 1, 155.—C.:
Nor shall the fear
Of death or torture that dejection bring
Make me (or) live or die less than a king!
MS. has: To make me live or die less than a king!—_i.e._, “that” in 156 is
the demonstrative, not the relative.
I., 2, 2.—C.: Keeps us at such (a) distance.
MS.: Keeps us off at such distance.
I., 2, 20.—C.: Sans doubt, he’s bent on mischief.
MS.: Sans doubt he’s bent to mischief.
I., 2, 24.—C.:
He shall find I can
Think, and aloud too.
MS.: Chant, and aloud too.
I., 2, 53.—C.: ’T had perfected thy life.
MS.: It had.
I., 2, 66.—C.: (to task). Not in MS. Traces of a word in the beginning of
a line now lost at the foot of 66.
I., 2, 67.—C.:
If arrogantly you presume to take
The Roman government, your goddess cannot
Give privilege to it, and you’ll find and feel
’Tis little less than treason, Flamen.
MS.: If arrogantly you presume to tax
The Roman government, you’ll find and feel your goddess cannot
Give privilege to it, and you’ll find and feel
’Tis little less than treason, Flamen.
“You’ll find and feel” cancelled in line 68—_i.e._, the author changed his
mind as he wrote.
I., 2, 72.—C.: These Asiatic merchants whom you look on.
MS.: These Asiatic merchants whom you look upon.
“Merchants” added afterwards above the line, and the first syllable of
“upon” deleted.
I., 2, 90.—C.: To it again.
MS.: To it again now.
I., 2, 139.—C.: Yet you repine and rather choose to pay.
MS.: Yet you repined and rather chose to pay.
I., 2, 151.—C.: And this is my last caution.
MS.: Since this is my last caution.
I., 2, 161.—C.: (On) which.
MS.: Mutilated at beginning. “On” makes sense.
I., 2, 186.—C.: His nose, his very lip.
MS.: His nose, his German lip. “German” scratched out, and underneath
appears a word beginning with “A,” Asian or Austrian?(567) “Very” is
written above “German.”
I., 2, 187.—C.:
His very hand, leg and foot!
The moles upon
His face and hands.
MS.: His own (?) hand, leg and foot, and the left side
Shorter than on the right.
The moles upon
His face and hands.
“His own” down to “the right” is cancelled in MS.
I., 2, 191.—C:
1 M. To confirm us, tell us your chirurgeon’s name
When he served you.
A. You all knew him as I
Do you, Demetrius Castor.
2 M. Strange.
3 M. But
Most infallibly true.
MS.:
1 M. To confirm us,
Tell us his name when he served you.
A. You all know him,
As I do you: Demetrius Castor.
2 M. Strange.
3 M. But most infallibly true.
In line 192 “his” has been altered to “the chirurgeon’s” to the detriment
of the metre.
I., 2, 196.—C.: We’ll pay for our distrust.
MS.: We sin in our distrust.
II., _ad initium._—Stage-manager’s note in left-hand margin, “Long.”
II., 1, 6.—C: I will exact
MS.: ’Twill exact.
II., 1, 47.—MS.:
We hold it fit you should have the first honour notice,
That you may have the honour to prevent it.
“Honour” in 47 deleted.
II., 1, 51.—MS.: In the shape of King Antiochus. Under King can be seen
“Don Sebastian.”
II., 2, 45.—C: With due invitation, and remember.
MS.: With a due invitation and remember.
II., 2, 49.—C.:
And though the Punic faith is branded by
Our enemies, our confederates and friends
And seventeen kings, our feodaries found it
As firm as fate.
MS.: And though the Punic faith is branded by
Our enemies, our confederates and friends
Found it as firm as fate, and seventeen kings
Our feodaries.
II., 2, 52.—MS.:
Our strength at sea superior upon the sea
Exceeding theirs.
“At sea superior” deleted. A clear case of the author’s alteration as he
went.
II., 2, 56.—C.:
And then for our cavallery, in the champaign
How often have they brake their piles.
MS.: And then for our cavallery, how often, in the champaign
How they brake often have they brake their piles.
“How often” in line 56. and the first “they brake” deleted. Author’s
alterations again.
II., 2, 59.—C.: If so we find it.
MS. If so, as we find it.
II., 2, 67.—MS.: By yielding up a man.
Written over something of which the first words are “in a,” the last word
“king.”
II., 2, 98.—MS.: By the conquered Asiatics this impost in their hopes.
“This impost” deleted. “This impostor” occurs just above in line 97.
II., 2, 108.—C.: By her.
MS.: By his.
II., 2, 138.—C.: He bears him like a king.
MS.: He bears himself like a king.
II., 2, 142.—MS.: Ceutha deleted before Afric.
II., 2, 165.—C.: Cannot near you.
MS.: Cannot hear you.
II., 2, 205.—C.: Filled.
MS.: Filed.
II., 2, 209.—MS.: And hath keeps a whore in Corinth.
“Hath” deleted.
II., 2, 217.—MS.: In the royal monument of Hib the Asian kings.
(?) The author started to write “Hiberian kings.”
II., 2, 240.—MS.: Rebellion delivery or restoring.
“Rebellion” deleted; it occurred in the previous line.
II., 2, 253.—C.:
With reverence to
This place, thou liest.
MS.: Setting aside, with reverence to
Thy place, the state, thou liest.
“Setting aside” and “thy place” deleted.
II., 2, 255.—C.: By being ...
MS.: By being libb’d, and my disability
To deflower thy sisters.
II., 2, 256.—C.: I (bow to) your goddess.
MS.: Thank your goddess.
“Thy” deleted under “your.”
II., 2, 285.—MS.:
Of brave and able men that might have stood
In opposition for the defence.
“That might” down to “opposition” inserted in same hand above the line.
II., 2, 289.—C.: For my confed’rates.
MS.: For my confederates.
Required by metre.
II., 2, 328.—MS.: Word deleted before Antiochus. Sebastian would scan.
II., 2, 335.—MS.: With your accustomed clemency wisdom you’ll perceive.
“Clemency” deleted.
II., 2, 346.—MS.: Such depositions as they pleased knew would make.
“Pleased” deleted.
II., 2, 368.—MS.: Word deleted under “Carthage.” (?) Venice.
III., 1, 20.—MS.: “Europe” deleted under “Afric.”
III., 1, 22.—MS.: “To the good king Hiero” deleted under “To the
pro-consul Marcellus.”
III., 1, 47.—C.: You’ll find there that they.
MS.: You shall find there that.
(A nominative is wanted; unless for “there” we read “them”)
III., 1, 62.—C.: To my (aid).
MS.: To my wish.
III., 1, 91.—MS.: There’s thy reward.
Underneath “there’s,” “take” deleted.
III., 1, 103.—C.:
Your travail’s ended, mine begins; I take my leave.
Formality of manner now is useless.
MS.: Your travail’s ended, mine begins, and therefore
Sans ceremonie I will take my leave.
“Sans ceremonie” deleted, and “formality ... useless” added at the end of
the line. The author omitted to cancel “I take my leave.”
III., 2, 31.—C.: Thou thin gut!
MS.: You thin gut!
III., 2, 35.—MS.: Cancels from “Jove! if thou art” to 38, “They come.”
III., 2, 36.—C.: Change not Jove’s purpose.
MS.: Change not you Jove’s purpose.
III., 2, 106.—MS.:
I will conjure him
If revenge hath any spells.
Cancelled in MS.
III., 3, 132.—C.: Will but—I spare comparisons.
(?) Punctuate: Will—but I spare comparisons.
III., 3, 150.—MS.: Of such such as are.
Second “such” deleted.
III., 3, 151.—MS.: Bithynia covered with our knights armies.
“Knights” deleted.
III., 3, 166.—MS.: And more than my his caution to you; but now peace or
war.
“And more than my” deleted. The previous line had begun with these words.
Was the author copying a former draft of the scene?
III., 3, 229.—C.: To cross your purpose.
MS.: To cross your purposes.
III., 3, 234.—MS.: The warrant and authority of a wife your queen.
“A wife” deleted.
III., 3, 244.—C.: These (eyes) pull’d out.
MS.: These pulled out.
“Eyes” is required by the sense, and “these” and “eyes” are much alike in
this hand.
_Ibid._—C.: Do then.
MS.: Do you then.
III., 3, 248.—C.: Born deaf.
MS.: Born dumb.