The Noble Spanish Soldier | Page 5

University Journal - 1987.
Gasper, J. D 'The Dragon and the Dove: The Plays of Thomas Dekker' D Oxford: Clarendon D 1990.
Greetam, D.C. D 'Textual Scholarship An Introduction' D Garland D 1994.
Hoy, C. D 'Introductions, notes, and commentaries to texts in 'The dramatic works of Thomas Dekker', Volume IV - Cambridge University Press D 1980.
Meads, Chris D 'Banquets set forth : banqueting in English?Renaissance drama' - Manchester University Press D 2001.
McLuskie, Kathleen. D 'Dekker and Heywood : professional dramatists' - St. Martin's Press D 1994.
Wells, S. D 'Re-editing Shakespeare for the Modern Reader' D Oxford: Clarendon -1984.
ENDNOTES TO THE INTRODUCTION
1. Gasper, J - 'The Noble Spanish Soldier', 'The Wonder of a Kingdom' and 'The Parliament of Bees': a belated solution to this longstanding problem - Durham University Journal LXXIX number 2- 1987.
2. Bose, T D 'The Noble Spanish Soldier' and 'The Spanish Contract' in Notes and Queries v 40, number 2 D 1993.
3. Hoy, C. - Introductions, notes, and commentaries to texts in 'The dramatic works of Thomas Dekker, Volume IV, page 99 - Cambridge University Press D 1980.
4. Sidney, Sir Philip, 'The Defense of Posey' in 'The Norton Anthology of English Literature, page 944 D Norton D 2000.
5. Machiavelli, N. D 'The Prince', page 56 D Penguin D 2003.
6. See Bowers, F. D 'The Stabbing of a Portrait in Elizabethan Tragedy' D Modern language Notes, XLVII, pages 378-385 D 1932.
John Price?University College Worcester?1 June 2004
THE TEXT
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
King of Spain?Cardinal, advisor to the King?Count Malateste of Florence, confidant of the Queen?Roderigo, Don of Spain, supporter of the King?Valasco, Don of Spain, supporter of the King?Lopez, Don of Spain, supporter of the King?Duke of Medina, leader of the Faction?Marquis Daenia, member of the Faction?Alba, Don of Spain, member of the Faction?Carlo, Don of Spain, member of the Faction?Alanzo, Captain of the Guard, member of the Faction?Sebastian, illegitimate son of the King?Balthazar, a Spanish soldier?Cornego, servant to Onaelia?Cockadillio, a courtier?Signor No?A Poet
Queen of Spain, Paulina, daughter of Duke of Florence?Onaelia, niece to the Duke of Medina, mother of Sebastian?Juanna, maid to Onaelia?Ladies in waiting
Attendants, guards
THE PRINTER TO THE READER
Understanding reader, I present this to your view, which has received applause in action. The poet might conceive a complete satisfaction upon the stage's approbation; but the printer rests not there, knowing that that which was acted and approved upon the stage, might be no less acceptable in print. It is now communicated to you, whose leisure and knowledge admits of reading and reason. Your judgement now this Posthumous <1> assures himself will well attest his predecessor's endeavours to give content to men of the ablest quality, such as intelligent readers are here conceived to be. I could have troubled you with a longer epistle, but I fear to stay you from the book, which affords better words and matter than I can. So the work modestly depending in the scale of your judgement, the printer for his part craves your pardon, hoping by his promptness to do you greater service, as convenience shall enable him to give you more or better testimony of his entireness towards you.
N.V.
ACT 1 SCENE 1
Enter in magnificent state to the sound of loud music, the King and Queen, as from church, attended by the Cardinal, Count Malateste, Marquis Daenia, Roderigo, Valasco, Alba, Carlo, and ladies-in waiting. The King and Queen with courtly compliments salute and part. She [exits] with one half attending her. King, Cardinal and the other half stay, the King seeming angry and desirous to be rid of them. King, Cardinal, Daenia and others [remain].
KING?Give us what no man here is master of:?Breath. Leave us pray, my father Cardinal?Can by the physic of philosophy?Set all again in order. Leave us pray.
Exeunt [King and Cardinal remain].
CARDINAL?How is it with you, sir?
KING?As with a ship?Now beat with storms, now safe. The storms are vanished?And having you my Pilot, I not only?See shore, but harbour; I to you will open?The book of a black sin, deep printed in me.?Oh father, my disease lies in my soul.
CARDINAL?The old wound sir?
KING?Yes that, it festers inwards.?For though I have a beauty to my bed?That even creation envies at, as wanting?Stuff to make such another, yet on her pillow?I lie by her, but an adulterer,?And she as an adulteress. She is my queen?And wife, yet but my strumpet though the church?Set on the seal of marriage. Good Onaelia,?Niece to our Lord High Constable of Spain?Was precontracted mine.
CARDINAL?Yet when I stung?Your conscience with remembrance of the act?Your ears were deaf to counsel.
KING?I confess it.
CARDINAL?Now to untie the knot with your new Queen?Would shake your crown half from your head.
KING?Even Troy, though she has wept her eyes out,?Would find tears to wail my kingdom's ruins.
CARDINAL?What will you do then?
KING?She has that contract written, sealed by you,?And other churchmen witnesses unto it.?A kingdom should be given for that paper.
CARDINAL?I would not, for what