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THE
DRAMATIC WORKS AND POEMS
OF
SHIRLEY.
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THE
DRAMATIC WORKS AND POEMS
OP
JAMES SHIRLEY,
NOW nRST COLLECTED j
WITH NOTES
BY THE LATE WILLIAM dlFl4pft?>,, Es«i:- j'
AND ,'*' . ,-^ - . -^ • • •
ADDITIONAL NOTES, AND SOME AftdtJ&t^t'OPS'H^fit
AND HIS WRITINOS,
BY THE REV. ALEXANDER DYCE.
IN SIX VOLUMES.
VOL. III.
CONTAINING
THE BALL.
THE YOUNG ADMIRAL.
THE GAMESTER.
THE EXAMPLE.
THE OPPORTUNITY.
THE CORONATION.
LONDON"
JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET.
WDCCCXXXIII.
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V,3
l<lttU
LONDON :
PRINTED BY W. NICOL, CLEVELAND-ROW^ ST. /AMES'S.
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THE BALL.
VOL. III.
B
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Tu Ball«] This Comedy, which was licensed in Novem-
ber, 1632, and first printed in 1639, is the joint production of
Chapman and Shiriej ; the largest portion of it seems to be
from the pen of the former. Jonson's Puntarvolo, in Eoery Man
imt of fns Humour, probably furnished the hint for Jack Fresh-
water, and his notable scheme of foreign travel.
The title of the old quarto is, «* The Ball, a Comedy, as it was
presented by her 'Majesties Servants,' at ^ private House in Drury
Lane. Written by George Chapman and James Shirley."
From some incidental notices which occur in our old dramas,
it should seem that there really was, about this time, a party of
ladies and gentlemen who met, in private, at stated periods
for the purpose of amusing themselves with masques, dances,
&c. Scandalous reports of improper conduct at these assem-
blies were in circulation, and evidently called forth this
comedy, the object of which is to repel them. The gilded or
golden BaU, from which the piece takes its name, was probably
womas an ornament, and mark of authority, by the presiding
beauty of the entertainment*
We have here the first rude specimen of what are now termed
Subscription Balls.
B2
/
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DRAMATIS PERSONiK.
Lord Rainbow.
Sir Ambrose Lamount.
Sir Marmaduke Travers,
Colonel Winfield.
Bostock, cousin to lord Rainbow.
Jack Freshwater, a pretended traveller.
Barker, a cynic.
Monsieur Le Frisk, a dancing master.
Gudgeon, servant to Freshwater.
Solomon, servant to Lucina.
Confectioner.
Servants.
Lady Lucina,' a young rich widow.
Lady Rosamond.
Lady Honoria. V
Scutilla, an attendant on Lucina.
Venus.
Cupid.
Jhanay ^c. characters of the Masque.
SCENE, London.
' Shirl^ takes strange liberties with this name; and
lengthens or shortens the pentdtioiate at will. The reader muit
be ^ided b^ its position in the verse.
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:nvBHSiT7l
ACT I. SCEN&I.
A Street
Enter sir Makmadukb Traybrs, and Bostock.
Bos. Whither so fast^ sir Marmaduke? aword«
Trav. My honourable blood ; would I could stay
To give thee twenty ! I am now engaged
^ To meet a noble gentleman*
Bo$. Or rather
A gentlewoman ; let her alone^ and go
With me?
Trav. Whither?
Bos. I'll shew thee a Lady of fire<
Trav. A Lady of the Lake were not so dangeroui?«
Bos. I mean o' spirit : in few words, because
I love thee, I'll be open ; I am going
To see my mistress.
2Vav. I'll dispense with my
Occasion, to see a handsome lady ;
I know you'll choose a rare one«
Bos. She is a creature
Worth admiration, such a beauty, wit,
And an estate besides ; thou canst not choose
But know her name, the lady Lucina.
Trav. Is she your mistress?
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e THE BALL. lActl
.Bob. Mine! whose but mine ¥
Am I not nobly born? does not my blood
Deserve her %
Trav. To tell you truth, I was now going thither,
Though I pretended an excuse, and with
A complement from one that is your rival.
Bob. Does she love any body else?
Ttav. I know not,
..But sha hajsrhalf a score^ upon my knowledge,
. Are Mitors JPot* her favour.
::Bo8. :Name but one,
And if lie XHinnbt shew as many coats—-
Trav. He thinks he has good cards for her, and
likes
His game well.
Bos. Be an understanding knight,
And take my meaning ; if he cannot shew
As much in neraldry —
Trav. I do not know how rich he is in fields.
But he is a gentleman.
Bos. Is he a branch of the nobility)
How many lords can he call cousin ? else
He must be taught to know he has presumed^
To stand in competition with me.
^ Trav. You will not kill him 1
' Bos. You shall pardon me,
I have that within me mast not be pvovok'd ;
There be some living now, that have been loird
For lesser matters*
Trav. Some living that have been kilFd I
Bos. I mean, some living that have been exam-
ples.
Not to confront nobility ; and I
Am sensible of my honour.
Trav. His name is
Sir Ambrose-—
Bos. Lamottnt, a knight, of yesterday !
And he shall die to morrow ; name another.
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Sc.lJ THE BALL. T
IVav. Not 80 fast, sir, yon must take some breath.
B. I care no more for killing half a dozen
Knights of the lower house:, I mean tfmt are not
Descended from nobility, than I do
To kick mV fiM>tman :^ an sir Ambrose were
Knight of the sun, king Oberon should not save him,
Nor his queen l^b.
Enter sir Ambrose LABforiiT.
JVav. Unluckily he's here, sir.
Bob. Sir Ambrose,
How does thy knighthood, ha?
Lam. My imp of honour ! well ; I joy to see
thee.
Bos. Sir Marmaduke tells me thou art suitor to
Lady Lucina.
Lam. I have ambition
To be her servant
Bo$. Hast?
Thott'rt a brave knight, and I commend thy judg*
ment
Lam. Sir Marmaduke himself leans that way too.
Bos. Whydid'stccmoealit? come, the more the
merrier ;
But I could never see you there.
Trav. I hope,
Sir, we may live %
BoSy I'll tell you, gentlemen,
Cupid has given us all one livery ;
I serve that lady too, you understand me.
But who shall carry her, the Fates determine ;
I could be knighted too.
Lam. That would be no addition to your blood.
Bos. I think it would not ; so my lord told me.
■ To lack my footman i] Old copy reads, ** any footman/'
Just below, we have <* nymph of honour*'* fcr what I h^ve ven-
tured to print ** imp of honour."
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6 THE BALL. lActt
Thou know'at my lord, not the earl, my t'other
cousin ? there's a spark ! — ^his predecessors
Have match'd into the blood ; you understand :
He put me upon this lady, I proclaim
No hopes ; pray let's together, gentlemen ; —
If she be wise, — I say no more ; she shall not
Cost me a sigh, nor shall her love engage me
To draw a sword, I have vow'd that.
TVav. You did
But jest before.
iHim. 'Twere pity that one drop
Of your heroic blodd should fall to the ground :
Who knows but all your cousin lords may die?
Bos. As I believe them not immortal, sir.
Ijam. Then you are gulf of honour, swallow all ;~
May marry some queen yourself, and get princes,
To furnish the barren parts of Christendom.
Enter Solomon.
Sol. Sir Marmaduke, in private. [ Whispers him.']
My lady would speak with you.
Lam. 'Tis her servant, what's the matter?
Bos. I hope he is not sent for.
Sol. But come alone ; I shall be troubled with
their enquiries ; but Fll answer 'em.
Lam. Solomon!
Sol. My lady would speak with you, sir.
Lam. Me?
Sol. Not too loud ; I was troubled with sir Mar-*
maduke.
Lam. This is good news.
Bos. I do not like this whispering.
SoL Forget not the time, and to come alone.
Lam. This is excellent
Bos. Solomon, dost not know me ?
Sol. My business is to you, sir ;
These kept me off; my lady Lucina
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ScA.1 THE BALL. 9
Has a ^reat mind to speak with you ;
Little do these imagine how she honours yon.
Bos. If I fail, may the surgeon^ when he opens
The next vein, let out all my honourable blood !
There's for thy pains, \jgives him money.^ — what
thou shalt be hereafter
Time shall declare ; but this must be conceal'd.
[Emt Sol.
Lam You look pleasant.
Trav. No, no ; I have no cause ; you smile, sir
Ambrose.
Lam. Who, n— The colonel.
Enter colonel Winfield.
TVav. But of our file^ another of her suitors.
Lam. Noble colonel.
Win. Mv honoured knights^ and men of lusty
kindfred.
Bos. Good morrow.
Win. Morrow to all. Gentlemen^ Fll tell you
Who is return'd.
Ijam. From whence ?
Win. A friend of our 's, that went to travel.
Trav. Who, who?
Win. I saw him within these three minutes, and
know not how I lost him again ; he's not far off: do
you keep a catalogue of your debts?
Bos. What debts?
Win. Such dulness in your memory ! there was,
About six months ago, a gentleman
That was persuadexf to sell all his land.
And [then] to put the money out most wisely,
To have [five] for one,* at his return from Venice.
The shotten herring is hard by.
* To have [five] far one^ &c.] It appears from p. ^0» that
this IS the word which was lost at the press.
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10 THE BALL. [Actl
Lam. Jack Freshwater ¥
I will not see him yet
Bos. Must we pay him?
Win. It will be for your honour ; marry, we,
Without much staio, may happily compound,
And pay him nothing. —
Enter F REsnvrATEKf antasHcaUy dressed^ monneur
Le Frisk, and Gudgeon,
Here comes the thing.
With what formality he treads, and talks,
And manageth a toothpick liko a statesman !
Lam. How he's transform'd !
^ Trav. Is not his soul Italian ?
Bos. ril not bid him welcome home.
Lam, Nor I.
Trav. What's the t'other rat that's with him?
Win. Do you not know him? 'tis the court
dancing weazel.
Trat. A dancer, and so gay?
Wm. A mere French footman, sir: does he not
look
Like a thing come off o' the salt«cellar ? '
TVav. A dancer !
I would allow him gay about the legs ;
But why his body should exceed decorum,
Is a sin o' the state.
Hresh. That's all
I can inform you of their dance in Italy ;
Marry, that very morning I left Venice,
I had intelligence of a new device.
firisk. For the dance, monsieur?
Fresh. &', signor. I know not
What countryman invented ['em], but they say
* The salt-ceUars of our ancestors were both large and high.
They were usually placed in the middle of the table* and the
bole which held the salt was supported by ornamented figures,
whose awkward and extravagant attitudes are here ridiculed.
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5fe.I.3 THE BALL. 11
Th^re be chopinos made with such rare art,
That^ worn by a lady when she means to dance,
Shall y with their very motion, sound forth music,
And by a secret sympathy, with their tread
Strike any tune that, without other instrument.
Their feet both dance and play.
FHsk. Your lodging, monsieur,
That, when I have leisure, I may dare present
An humble servitor?
Firesh. I do lie at the sign of donna Margaretta
de Pia, in the Strand.
Cfudg. At the Maggot-a-Pie in the Strand, sir.
JFVisk. At de Magdepie; ban I adieu, serviteur.
[Exit
Lam. He will not know us.
Ouda. Do you see those gentlemen ?
Firesh. Thou pantalone, be silent.
Win. rU speak to him. — ;
You are welcome home, ,sir.
Fresh. Signior. [Exit with Oudgean.
Win. He will not know me ; this is excellent :
He shall be acquainted better ere I part
With any sums.
Lam. Next time well not know him.
Bos. Would all my creditors had this blessed
ignorance !
Trav. Now, colonel. Til take my leave.
\Exeunt Lam. and Trav.
Bos. I am engag'd too;
Win. Well.
Bos. I shall meet you anon.
I am to wait upon a cousin of mine.
Win. A countess.
Bos. My lord !
Enter lord Rainbow, and Barkee.
LardR. Cousin.
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12 THE BALL. lActt
Bos. Your lordship honours me ia this ackuow-*
ledgment.
LordR. Colonel.
Bos. Do you not know roe, sir?
Bar. You are not a proclamation.
That every man is bound to take notice on you.
And I cannot tell who you are by instinct
Lord It A kinsman of mine, Frank.
Win. Good morrow to your lordship.
Lord jR. Colonel, your humble servant. — ^Hark
you, Frank.
Bos. You are acquainted with my lord, then?
Is he not a complete gentleman ? his family
Came in with the conqueror.
Win. You had not else been kin to him.
Bos. A poor slip,
A scion from that Honourable tree*
Win. He is the ladies' idol; they have not
leisure
To say their prayers for him ; a great advancer
Ofthe new Ball
Bos. Nay, he's right, right as my leg, colonel.
Win. But t' other gentleman, you do not know
his inside?
Bos. I have seen him ; he looks philosophical.
Win. Who? he's the wit, whom your nobility
Are much oblig'd to for his company ;
He has a railing genius, and they cherish it,
Flings dirt in every face when he's in the humour,
And thev must laugh, and thank him ; he is dead
else.
Bos. Will the lords suffer him ?
. Win. Or lose their mirth ; he's known in every
science.
And can abuse 'em all ; some have suppos'd
He has a worm in's brain, which at some time
O' the moon doth ravish him into perfect tnadness.
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&.L] THE BALL. IS
And then he prophesies, and will depose
The Emperor, and set up Bethlem Gabor.'
Bos. He's dead ; 1 hope he will not conjure for
him.
Win. His father shall not*soape him^ nor his
ghost,
Nor heaven, norhell; hisjestmusthavefreepassage:
He's gone^ and I lose time to talk on him ;
Farewell, your countess may expect too long.
Lard R. Farewell, colonel. [Bj^eunt.
SCENE IL
A Room in lady Honoria's House.
Enter lady Rosamond, and lady Honoria.
Ros. Why do you so commend him ?
Hon, Does he not
Deserve it? name a gentleman in the kingdom,
So affable, so moving in his language.
So pleasant, witty^ indeed every thing
A lady can desire.
Ros. Sure thou dost love him ;
lil tell his lordship, when I see him again,
How zealous you are in his commendation.
Hon. If 1 be not mistaken, I have heard
Your tongue reach higher in his praises^ madam,
However you now seem cold ; but, if you tell him
My opinion, as you shall do him no pleasure^
You can do me no injury : 1 know
His lordship has the constitution
Of other courtiers ; they can endure.
To be commended.
Ros. But| I prithee^ tell me,
* iet up Bethlem Gabor.] See vol. li. p, 427. Beth. Gahor
died about three years before this play was written.
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14 THE BALI^ [Act I
Is [it] not love wfaence this proceeds ? I have,
I must confess, discoursed of his good parts^
J)esir'd his company —
Hon. And had it?
Ros. Yes, and had it.
Hon. All night?
Ras. You are not, I hope, jealous?
If I should say all night, 1 need not blush.
It was but at a ball ; but what of this ?
Hon. E'en what ybu will.
Ros. I hope you have no patent
To dance alone with him ? if he have privilege
To kiss another lady, she may say
He does salute her, and return a curtsey.
To shew her breeding, but Til now be plainer,
Although you love this lord, it may [bej possible
He may dispose his thoughts another way.
Hon. He may so.
Ros. Who can help it? be has eyes
To look on more than one, and understand[ingl.
Perhaps, to guide, and place his love upon
The most deserving object.
Hon. Most deserving !
This language is not level with that friendship
You have profess'd ; this touches a comparison.
Ros. Why, do you think all excellence is throng*d
Within your beauty ?
Hon. You are angry, lady ;
How much does this concern you, to be thus
Officious in his cause ! if you be not
Engag'd by more than ordinary affection,
I must interpret this no kind respect
Tome.
Ros. Angry ! ha, ha !
Hon. You then transgress against civility*
Ros. Good madam, why? becaui^e^
^ In ttik, and tell you, that another lady
Mayl3«i as handsome in some man's opinion:-
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Sc.U.} THE BALL. 16
Admit I lov'd bim too, may not I hold
Proportion with you, on some entreaty.
Enter lard Rainbow behind.
Lord R. They're loud, FU not be seen yet.
Ro8. What is it that exalts you above all
Comparison ? my father was as good
A gentleman, and my mother has as great
A spirit.
Hon. Then you love him too?
Ro$. 'Thrill appear
No greater miracle in me, I take it.
Yet difference will be ; — perhaps, I may
Affect him with a bettfer consequence,
Hon. Your consequence, perhaps^ may be de*
niedtoo.
Why, there are no such wonders in your eye,
Which other compositions do not boast of;
My lord, no doubt, hath in his travels clapp'd
As modest cheeks, and kiss'd as melting lips.
Ros. And yet mine are not pale.
Hon. It may be they
Blush for the teeth behind them.
Ros. I have read
No sonnets on the sweetness of your breath.
Hon. 'Tis not perfum'd.
Rob. But I have heard your tongue exalted much,
Highly commended.
Hon. Not above your forehead.
When you have brushed awaiy the hairy penthouse,^
And made it visible.
^ The hairy penthoiue,] The old copy has pentebrush, by a
mistake of the printer in repeating the word just befcNre it.
The splenetic aUusion is to the profusion of hair with which
Rosamond contrived to conceal a part of her fbrehead. A
amal], or low forehead, it should he remembered, was at thi»
period reckoned a beauty.
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16 THE BALL. lActl.
Lord R. ril DOW interrupt 'em^
They^U fall by the ears else presently.
[ domes forward.
Hon. My lord!
Lord jR. What, in contention, ladies?
Rot. Oh, my lord, you're welcome.
Lord R. Express it in discovery of that
Made you so earnest ; I am confident
You were not practising a dialogue
To entertain me.
Hon. Yet it did concern you.
Ros. Do not you blush? fie, madam !
Lord R. Nay, an you come to bhsh once, and
fiey madam^
I'll know the secret, by this kiss I will,
And this. \Kme^ them.
Hon. You were kiss'd first, discover now,
At your discretion.
Ros. My lord, we were in jest.
Hon. It might have tum'd to earnest, if your
lordship
Had not interpos'd.
Lord R. Come, out with it.
Ros. We had a difference —
LordR. Well said.
Ros. About a man i' the world,— you were best
name him.
Hon. You have the better gift at telling secrets.
LordR Yet again! come, Pll help it out:
there is
A gentleman i' the worjd, some call a lord—*
Mos. Did your lordship overhear us ?
Lord R. Nay, nay, you must stand to't— one
whom you love.
Jt will appear no greater miracle
In you J I take it; one^ no doubty that hath
TravelVdj and clappd as modest cheeks ^ and kiss'd
As melting Ups: — ^thus far I'm right; but what
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Sell] THE BALL. 17
Name this moat happy man doth ao&wer to,
Is not within my circle.
Hon. Yet you know him.
Ros. Not to retain your lordship in the dark.
Confident you'll not accuse my modesty
For giving you a truth, you shall not travel
Beyond yourself to find his name ; but do not
Triumph, my lord.
Lara jR. Am I so fortunate ?
Then, Love, I do forgive thee, and will cherish
The flame I did suspect would ruin me.
You two divide my love, only you two ;
Be gentle in your empire, heavenly ladies.
No enemy abroad can threaten you ;
Be careful then, that you maintain at home
No civil wars.
Han. How do you mean, my lord?
Lord R, You are pleas'd to smite upon me,
gentle lady.
And I Imve took [into] my heart ^ more than
Imaginary blessings: With what pleasure
Could I behold this beauty, and consume
My understanding, to know nothing else !
My memory, to preserve no other figure !
Ros. My lord, I am not worth your flattery.
Lord R. I flatter you ! Venus herself be judge,
To whom you are so like in all that's (air,
Twere sin but to be modest^*
Ros. How, my lord i
LordR. Do not mistake me, Hwere
A sin but to be modest in your praises ;
Here's a hand ! Nature, shew me such another,
A brow, a cheek, a lip, and every thing ;
Haopy am I that Cupid's blind !
Mas. Why happy f
' And I have took [into] my heart. &c.] This speech was
absolutely unintelligible in the old copy : it is now, I trust,
reatored tu some meaning^.
VOL. III. C
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18 THE BALL. lActl.
Lord R. If he could see^ he would forsake his
mistress
To be my rival, and for your embraces
Be banish'd heaven.
JjTo/i. My lord, I'll take my leave.
Lord R. If you did know how great a part of me
Will wither in your absence, you would have
More charity ; one accent of unkind
Language from you doth wound me more than all
The malice of my Destinies. Oh, dear madam,
You say you'll take your leave of your poor servant ;
Say rather, you will dwell for ever here,
And let me stay and gaze
Upon your heavenly form.
Hon. I can be patient
To hear your lordship mock me ; these are but
A coarse reward for my good thoughts.
Lard R, This 'tis to use
Plain dealing, and betray the inside of
Our hearts to women ! did you think well of me
So late, and am I forfeited already ?
Am I a christian ?
Hon. Yes, I hope, my lord.
Lord R. Make me not miserable then^ dear,
madam,
With your suspicion, I dissemble with you ;
But you know too well what
•Command your beauty has upon me.
Hon. Give
Me leave, my lord,. to wonder you can love me,
With such a flame you have express'd, yet she
Your mistress.
Lord R. You are both mv mistresses,
Ro8. I like not this so well. [Aside.
Lord R. There is no way but one to make me
happy,
Hon. I wish, my lord, I had the art to efiect
What you desire.
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iSfc.IL] THE BALL. 19
Ros. Or I.
Lard R. It is within
Yonr powers.
Han. Speak it, my lord.
Lard R. Since it is so,
That I'm not able to determine which
My heart, so equal unto both, would choose,
My suit is to your virtues, to agree
Between yourselves, whose creature I shall be ;
You can jndge better of your worths than I.
My allegiance shall be ready if you can