A. H. BULLEN, B.A.
Reading edition
IN THREE VOLUMES
VOLUME THE THIRD
LONDON JOHN C. NIMMO 14, KING WILLIAM STREET, STRAND, W.C. MDCCCLXXXVII
Two hundred copies of this Edition on Laid paper, medium 8vo, have been printed, viz., 120 for the English Market, and 80 for America. Each copy numbered as issued.
No. 30
CONTENTS OF VOL. III.
PAGE
EASTWARD HO Act I Act II Act III Act IV Act V 1
THE INSATIATE COUNTESS Act I Act II Act III Act IV Act V 125
THE METAMORPHOSIS OF PYGMALION’S IMAGE, AND CERTAIN SATIRES 245
THE SCOURGE OF VILLAINY 295
ENTERTAINMENT OF ALICE, DOWAGER-COUNTESS OF DERBY 383
CITY PAGEANT 405
VERSES FROM CHESTER’S LOVE’S MARTYR 413
THE MOUNTEBANK’S MASQUE 417
COMMENDATORY VERSES PREFIXED TO BEN JONSON’S SEJANUS 444
INDEX 445
EASTWARD HO.
Eastward Hoe. As It was playd in the Black-friers. By The Children of her Maiesties Reuels. Made by Geo: Chapman. Ben: Jonson. Ioh: Marston. At London Printed for William Aspley. 1605. 4to.
STORY OF THE PLAY.
Master Touchstone, an honest goldsmith, has two daughters and two apprentices. The elder daughter, Gertrude, is proud, extravagant, and wanton; the younger, Mildred, is simple, thrifty, and modest. So with the apprentices: Quicksilver is a graceless unthrift, but Golding is a model of industry and sobriety. A needy knight, Sir Petronel Flash, who represents himself to be the owner of a castle, marries Gertrude; and Golding, released from his apprenticeship, marries Mildred. Sir Petronel’s aim is to acquire some land of which Gertrude is possessed, turn it into ready money, and take ship with some adventurous spirits for Virginia, leaving his wife to find her way to the imaginary castle. Quicksilver, who has been dismissed from Touchstone’s service for riotous living, introduces Sir Petronel to an old usurer, Security; and Gertrude signs a deed, by which her estate is conveyed into Security’s hands. The knight is in love with Security’s wife, Winifred, and is anxious to have her society on the voyage. He tells Security that he intends to run away with the wife of one Bramble, a lawyer, and Security enters heartily into the scheme. It is contrived by Sir Petronel and Quicksilver that on the eve of the voyage Security brings Winifred in disguise (imagining her to be Bramble’s wife) to a river-side tavern, where are gathered Sir Petronel, Quicksilver, Seagull (the captain of the ship which is to sail for Virginia), Bramble, and the knight’s fellow-passengers, Scapethrift and Spendall. After drinking heavily at the tavern, the company rises to take boat for Blackwall, where Sir Petronel’s ship lies. As there is a stormy wind blowing and the tide is against them, the watermen urge that it would be unsafe to venture; but the company insists in starting, and the result is that the boats—one driven one way, another another—are capsized, and the drunken occupants are soused in the Thames. Security swims ashore at Cuckold’s Haven; Winifred is rescued at St. Katherine’s; Quicksilver finds himself by the gallows at Wapping; Sir Petronel and Seagull are cast-up on the Isle of Dogs, which the cupshot knight takes to be a spot on the French coast. Quicksilver falls in with Sir Petronel and the two repair to London, where they are arrested at the suit of Touchstone and, after being examined before Golding (who has been appointed deputy to the alderman of his ward), are committed to the Counter. Here, having leisure to review their conduct, they become deeply penitent, and set a wholesome example to the rest of the prisoners. By Golding’s kind offices they are released from the Counter and are taken into the good graces of Touchstone, who has had convincing proof of their reformation. Gertrude, though she has been slower to express contrition, finally humbles her pride and is received back into favour. Quicksilver marries his cast mistress, Sindefy, and lives cleanly; Security takes back Winifred.
PROLOGUS.
Not out of envy, for there’s no effect Where there’s no cause; nor out of imitation, For we have evermore been imitated;[1] Nor out of our contention to do better Than that[2] which is opposed to ours in title, For that was good; and better cannot be: And for the title, if it seem affected, We might as well have call’d it, “God[3] you good even:” Only that eastward westwards still exceeds, Honour the sun’s fair rising, not his setting. 10 Nor is our title utterly enforced, As by the points we touch at you shall see. Bear with our willing pains, if dull or witty, We only dedicate it to the City.
DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.[4]
Touchstone, a goldsmith. Quicksilver, and Golding, apprentices to Touchstone. Sir Petronel Flash, a shifty knight. Security, an old usurer. Bramble, a lawyer. Seagull, a sea-captain. Scapethrift, and Spendall, adventurers bound for Virginia. Slitgut, a butcher’s apprentice. Poldavy, a tailor. Holdfast, and Wolf, officers of the Counter. Hamlet, a footman. Potkin, a tankard-bearer. Drawer.
Mistress Touchstone. Gertrude, and Mildred, her daughters. Winifred, wife to Security. Sindefy, mistress to Quicksilver. Bettrice, a waiting-woman. Mrs. Ford, Mrs. Gazer, Coachman, Page, Constables, Prisoners, &c.
Scene—London and Thames-side.