I entirely agree in opinion with Dr. Johnson, that Ben Jonfon wrote the prologue and epilogue to this play. Shakespeare had a little before aflifted him in his Sejanus; and Ben was too proud to receive affiftance without returning it. It is probable, that he drew up the directions for the parade at the chriftening, &c. which his employment at court would teach him, and Shakespeare must be ignorant of: I think, I now and then perceive his hand in the dialogue. It appears from Stowe, that Robert Green wrote fomewhat on this fubject. FARMER. In fupport of Dr. Johnson's opinion, it may not be amifs to quote the following lines from old Ben's prologue to his Every Man in his Humour : “To make a child now fwaddled, to proceed "Man, and then shoot up, in one beard and weed, 66 THE hiftorical dramas are row concluded, of which the two parts of Henry the Fourth, and Henry the Fifth, are among the happiest of our author's compofitions; and King John, Richard the Third, and Henry the Eighth, defervedly ftand in the fecond clafs. Those whofe curiofity would refer the historical scenes to their original, may confult Holinfhed, and fometimes Hall: from Holinfhed Shakespeare has often inferted whole speeches with no more alteration than was neceffary to the numbers of his verse. To transcribe them into the margin was unneceffary, because the original is eafily examined, and they are seldom less perspicuous in the poet than in the hiftorian. To play hiftories, or to exhibit a fucceffion of events by action and dialogue, was a common entertainment among our rude ancestors upon great feftivities. The parish clerks once performed at Clerkenwell a play which lafted three days, containing The Hiftory of the World. JOHNSON. It appears from more than one MS. in the British Museum, that the tradefmen of Chester were three days employed in the representation of their twenty-four Whitfun plays or myfteries. The like performances at Coventry must have taken up a longer time, as they are no less than forty in number. The exhibition of them began on Corpus Chrifti day, which was, (according to Dugdale) one of their ancient fairs. See the Harleian MSS. No. 2013, 2124, 2125, and MS. Cott. Vefp. D. VIII. and Dugdale's Warwickshire, p. 116. STEEVENS. Caius Marcius Coriolanus, a noble Roman. Titus Lartius, Cominius, Sicinius Velutus, Junius Brutus, Menenius Agrippa, friend to Coriolanus. Generals against the Volscians. Tribunes of the People. Tullus Aufidius, General of the Volfcians. Lieutenant to Aufidius. Young Marcius, Son to Coriolanus. Confpirators with Aufidius. Volumnia, Mother to Coriolanus. Virgilia, Wife to Coriolanus. Valeria, Friend to Virgilia. Roman and Volfcian Senators, Ediles, Lictors, Soldiers, Common People, Servants to Aufidius, and other Attendants. The SCENE is partly in Rome; and partly in the Territories of the Volfcians and Antiates. The whole hiftory is exactly followed, and many of the principal fpeeches exactly copied from the Life of Coriolanus in Plutarch. POPE. Of this play there is no edition before that of the players, in folio, in 1623. JOHNSON. ACT I. SCENE I. A Street in Rome. Enter a company of mutinous Citizens, with ftaves, clubs, and other weapons. 1 Cit. Before we proceed any further, hear me fpeak. All. Speak, fpeak. 1 Cit. You are refolv'd rather to die, than to famish? All. Refolv'd, refolv'd. 1 Cit. First, you know, Caius Marcius is chief enemy to the people. All. We know't, we know't. 1 Cit. Let us kill him, and we'll have corn at our own price. Is't a verdict? All. No more talking on't; let it be done: away, away. 2 Cit. One word, good citizens'. 1 Cit. We are accounted poor citizens; the patricians, good: What authority surfeits on, would re One word, good citizens. 1 Cit. We are accounted poor citizens; the patricians, good.] Good is here used in the mercantile fenfe. So, Touchftone in Eaftward Hoe: 66 -known good men, well monied." FARMER. Again, in the Merchant of Venice: "Antonio's a good man." MALONE. |