A seventeenth-century playwright had many difficulties. The manager who generally paid badly, the magistrates who might any day close the theatre, the audience who might call for the Clown if they thought the piece too solemn-all made his work harder. But Shakespeare won his way in spite of them, and we read of his plays being popular. Leonard Digges wrote in 1640: When Caesar would appear And on the stage at half-sword parley were He tells us, too, of the success of Shakespeare's comedies when other writers' work did not pay the expenses of the performance : Let but Falstaff come, Hal, Poins, the rest, you scarce shall have a room, All is so pestered. These peeps into Shakespeare's playhouse are delightful. Imagine the crowd flocking in to see Julius Caesar or Henry IV, and look out gratefully for one playgoer who has had an early dinner that he may come in time; in a few minutes the trumpeter will come out on the roof, but you have time to glance round the galleries; from the best seat in the house there looks down upon you the keen and happy face of Master Leonard Digges. 17 I. CARATACH AND HENGO BY JOHN FLETCHER An episode in the wars of the early Britons with the Romans. Queen Bonduca (or Boadicea) is fighting against Suetonius Paulinus. Her bravest and ablest warrior is her brotherin-law Caratach. SCENE I. THE LESSON OF VICTORY. Enter Boadicea and her Daughters, her nephew Hengo, These the Julians, Caratach. A man would shame to talk so. Bonduca [turning angrily]. Caratach [coming forward]. So it seems; Who's that? I. Bonduca. Cousin, do you grieve my fortunes? 5 ΤΟ No, Bonduca ; If I grieve, 'tis the bearing of your fortunes; her foot impatiently.] Discretion [Bonduca stamps And hardy valour are the twins of honour, Divided, but a talker. 'Tis a truth That Rome has fled before us twice, and routed; 15 20 Bonduca. My valiant cousin, is it foul to say What liberty and honour bid us do, And what the gods allow us? Caratach. No, Bonduca ; So what we say exceed not what we do. You call the Romans 'fearful, fleeing Romans', 25 Caratach. Why are these triumphs, lady? for a May-game ? 30 35 A glow-worm's tail too full a flame. O Nennius, 40 Bonduca. By the gods, I think You dote upon these Romans, Caratach. Caratach. Witness these wounds, I do; they were fairly given : I love an enemy. I was born a soldier, And he that in the head on's troop defies me, 45 50 I make a mistress; yellow-tressèd Hymen Ten struck battles I sucked these honoured scars from, and all Roman; Ten years of bitter nights and heavy marches (When many a frozen storm sung through my cuirass, 55 And made it doubtful whether that or I Were the more stubborn metal) have I wrought through, (Which was not fear or flight), as valiant, Bonduca. Caratach. What! 60 65 Dishearted 71 Run-run, Bonduca; not the quick rack swifter! Bonduca. What scandals do I suffer! Caratach. O ye powers, Yes, Bonduca, I have seen thee run, too; and thee, Nennius; 75 80 The Roman girl', cut through your armèd carts But not so fast-your jewel had been lost then, 85 90 And then I followed. [Hengo runs to Caratach and clings to his arm.] If I say I fought Five times in bringing off this bud of Britain, 95 But that the son of virtue, Poenius, Seeing me steer through all these storms of danger, Then, if thou stand'st, thou art mine.' I took his offer, O cousin, 105 Bonduca. From what a flight of honour hast thou checked me! What wouldst thou make me, Caratach? Caratach. The noble use of others in our losses. Does this afflict ye? See, lady, Bonduca. The Romans are, for noble deeds of honour ; More than my fortunes durst, for they abused me. They shall : Caratach. To beat a dozen boys, and then to breakfast, Hengo. And what then, uncle? 120 125 Caratach. Then ye must kill, sir, the next valiant Roman That calls ye knave. Caratach. A hundred, boy, I hope. Hengo. Hengo. And must I kill but one? I hope, five hundred. |