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"In the city of Juino

1

sopotnes in the a mon of Corvinus King of Hungary and Boemia, there wi law, that what man soever commited adultery should lose bad, and the woman offer or hold wear some disguised app. rel, during her life, to make her infamously noted. This severe law, by the favour of some merciful magistrate, become little regarded, until the time of Lord Promos's authority; who c victing a young catleman named Andrugio of in ontinency, condemned both him and his minion to the exce on this statu 2. Andrugio had a very virtuous and beautiful gentlewoman to hister, named Cassandra. Cassandra, to enlarge her broker's life, submitted an humbie petition to the Lord Promos. Promos rudine her good behaviour, and fantasying her great beauty, was much delighted with the sweet order of her talk; and doing good, that evil might core thereof, for a time he reprieved her brother: but wicked man, turning his liking into unlawful lust, he set down the spoil of her honoar, ransom for her brother's life: chart Cassa? horring both him and his suit, by no persuasu yield to this ransom. But in fine, won by the importunity of her brother pleading for life), unon these conditions she agreed to Promes: First, that he shontu pardo her bther, and after marry romos, as fearless in

prise, as careless in perfomance, with solemn vow sig
conditions; but we than any intel, his will satisfel,
formed neither the one nort other: for to keep h
unspotted w hfarour, and to prevent Cissen Ira's
Commanded the jailer secretly to prest Casar
other's heal. The jail onchel, with the
Grugio (abhorring Pron os's lewdness), by the prv
provided this for his safety. He presented
felon's head newly executed; who knew it n", L

er

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HAKESPEARE took the fable of this play from the Promos and Cassandra of George Whetstone, published in 1578, of which this is "The Argument."

"In the city of Julio (sometimes under the dominion of Corvinus King of Hungary and Bohemia), there was a law, that what man soever committed adultery should lose his head, and the woman offender should wear some disguised apparel, during her life, to make her infamously noted. This severe law, by the favour of some merciful magistrate, became little regarded, until the time of Lord Promos's authority; who convicting a young gentleman named Andrugio of incontinency, condemned both him and his minion to the execution of this statute. Andrugio had a very virtuous and beautiful gentlewoman to his sister, named Cassandra. Cassandra, to enlarge her brother's life, submitted an humble petition to the Lord Promos. Promos regarding her good behaviour, and fantasying her great beauty, was much delighted with the sweet order of her talk; and doing good, that evil might come thereof, for a time he reprieved her brother: but wicked man, turning his liking into unlawful lust, he set down the spoil of her honour, ransom for her brother's life: chaste Cassandra, abhorring both him and his suit, by no persuasion would yield to this ransom. But in fine, won by the importunity of her brother (pleading for life), upon these conditions she agreed to Promos: First, that he should pardon her brother, and after marry her. Promos, as fearless in promise, as careless in performance, with solemn vow signed her conditions; but worse than any infidel, his will satisfied, he performed neither the one nor the other: for to keep his authority unspotted with favour, and to prevent Cassandra's clamours, he commanded the jailer secretly to present Cassandra with her brother's head. The jailer [touched] with the outcries of Andrugio (abhorring Promos's lewdness), by the providence of God provided thus for his safety. He presented Cassandra with a felon's head newly executed; who knew it not, being mangled,

from her brother's (who was set at liberty by the jailer). [She] was so aggrieved at this treachery, that, at the point to kill herself, she spared that stroke to be avenged of Promos: and devising a way, she concluded, to make her fortunes known to the king. She, executing this resolution, was so highly favoured of the king, that forthwith he hasted to do justice on Promos: whose judgment was to marry Cassandra, to repair her crased honour; which done, for his heinous offence, he should lose his head. This marriage solemnized, Cassandra tied in the greatest bonds of affection to her husband, became an earnest suitor for his life: the king tendering the general benefit of the commonweal before her special case, although he favoured her much, would not grant her suit. Andrugio (disguised among the company), sorrowing the grief of his sister, bewrayed his safety, and craved pardon. The king to renown the virtues of Cassandra, pardoned both him and Promos. The circumstances of this rare

history, in action lively followeth."

Whetstone, however, has not afforded a very correct analysis of his play, which contains a mixture of comic scenes, between a bawd, a pimp, felons, &c. together with some serious situations which are not described. A hint, like a seed, is more or less prolific, according to the qualities of the soil on which it is thrown. This story, which in the hands of Whetstone produced little more than barren insipidity, under the culture of Shakespeare became fertile of entertainment. The curious reader may see the old play of Promos and Cassandra among Six old plays on which Shakespeare founded, &c. published by Mr. Steevens, printed for S. Leacroft, Charing Cross. The piece exhibits an almost complete embryo of Measure for Measure; yet the hints on which it is formed are so slight, that it is nearly as impossible to detect them, as it is to point out in the acorn the future ramifications of the oak. The story originally came from the Decad 8, novel 5, and is repeated

Hecatommithi of Cinthio.

in the Tragic Histories of Belleforest.

This play was most probably written in 1603, as would appear by the allusions to the war with Spain, and the sweat, i. e. the plague called the sweating-sickness. We know from the amount of the expenses of the Revels, published by Mr. Cunningham, that it was represented at court on St. Stephen's night (26 Dec.) 1604. The lines which seem evidently to allude to King James' dislike to being surrounded by crowds of the people, show that they were at least written after his accession.

"And even so

The general subjects to a well-wish'd King,
Quit their own part, and in obsequious fondness
Crowd to his presence, where their untaught love
Must needs appear offence."

We may therefore conclude with Malone that it was written about the close of the year 1603, or the commencement of 1604. It was first printed in the folio of 1623. The text in the folio is very incorrectly printed, abounding with typographical errors and corrupt readings.

Out of this play, and Much Ado about Nothing, Sir William Davenant contrived, with some ingenuity, the plot of his Law Against Lovers.

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