A Select Collection of Old English Plays, vol 2

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A Select Collection of Old English Plays, vol 2

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Vol. II, by Robert Dodsley #2 in our series by Robert Dodsley
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Title: A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Vol. II
Author: Robert Dodsley
Release Date: November, 2005 [EBook #9400] [Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on September 29, 2003]
Edition: 10
Language: English
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A SELECT COLLECTION OF OLD ENGLISH PLAYS, VOL. II
Originally published by Robert Dodsley in the Year 1744.
FOURTH EDITION, NOW FIRST CHRONOLOGICALLY ARRANGED, REVISED AND ENLARGED WITH THE NOTES OF ALL THE COMMENTATORS, AND NEW NOTES
BY
W. CAREW HAZLITT

CONTENTS:
The Interlude of Youth Lusty Juventus Jack Juggler A Pretty Interlude, called Nice Wanton The History of Jacob and Esau The Disobedient Child The Marriage of Wit and Science.

THE INTERLUDE OF YOUTH.

EDITIONS.
_See Hazlitt's "Handbook," 1867, p. 464, and Remarks_.

MR. HALLIWELL'S PREFACE[1] TO THE FORMER EDITION.
The "Interlude of Youth" is probably the most interesting early-printed moral play that has descended to our times, and it may therefore be considered somewhat singular that it has hitherto escaped the notice of the publication societies. Its great rarity may, however, account for this circumstance, only two or three copies of any edition being known to exist. Waley's edition appeared probably about the year 1554, and has a woodcut on the title-page of two figures, representing Charity and Youth, two of the characters in the interlude. Another edition was printed by Copland, and has also a woodcut on the title-page, representing Youth between Charity, and another figure which has no name over its head. The colophon is: "Imprented at London, in Lothbury, over against Sainct Margarytes church, by me, Wyllyam Copland." See Collier's "History of Dramatic Poetry," vol. ii., p. 313. "The 'Interlude of Youth,'" observes Mr Collier, "is decidedly a Roman Catholic production, and I have therefore little doubt that it made its appearance during the reign of Mary;" and he adds, p. 315, "on the whole, this piece is one of the most amusing and most humorous of the class to which it belongs." A fragment of a black-letter copy of the interlude is preserved at Lambeth Palace,[2] and is described by Mr Maitland in his "List of Early Printed Books," p. 311.

INTERLUDE OF YOUTH.
CHARITY. Jesu that his arms did spread, And on a tree was done to dead, From all perils he you defend! I desire audience till I have made an end, For I am come from God above To occupy his laws to your behove, And am named Charity; There may no man saved be Without the help of me, For he that Charity doth refuse, Other virtues though he do use, Without Charity it will not be, For it is written in the faith: Qui manet in charitate in Deo manet. I am the gate, I tell thee, Of heaven, that joyful city; There may no man thither come, But of charity he must have some, Or ye may not come, i-wis, Unto heaven, the city of bliss; Therefore Charity, who will him take, A pure soul it will him make Before the face of God: In the ABC, of books the least, It is written Deus charitas est. Lo! charity is a great thing, Of all virtues it is the king: When God in earth was here living, Of charity he found none ending. I was planted in his heart; We two might not depart.[3] Out of his heart I did spring, Through the might of the heaven-king: And all priests that be, May sing no mass without charity: And charity to them they do not take, They may not receive him, that did them make And all this world of nought.
YOUTH. Aback, fellows, and give me room, Or I shall make you to avoid soon! I am goodly of person; I am peerless,