The shepherd-swains* shall dance and sing FRAGMENT†. I walk'd along a stream, for pureness rare, No molten crystal, but a richer mine, Even Nature's rarest alchymy ran there,Diamonds resolv'd, and substance more divine, Through whose bright-gliding current might appear *The shepherd-swains, &c.] This stanza is not in P. P.-E. H. and C. A." The sheepheards swaines." + Fragment] From England's Parnassus, 1600, p. 480 (under Description of Seas, Waters, Rivers, &c.), where it is signed "Ch. Marlowe."-The Editor of Marlowe's Works, 1826, having a very short memory, could not recollect from what source the compiler of England's Parnassus had derived a passage which he ascribes to Marlowe, "The rites In which love's beauteous empress most delights," &c. It is taken from Hero and Leander: see p. 17 of this vol. A thousand naked nymphs, whose ivory shine, Upon this brim the eglantine and rose, The tamarisk, olive, and the almond tree, As kind companions, in one union grows, Folding their twining* arms, as oft we see Turtle-taught lovers either other close, Lending to dulness feeling sympathy; And as a costly valance o'er a bed, So did their garland-tops the brook o'erspread. Their leaves, that differ'd both in shape and show, Though all were green, yet difference such in Like to the checker'd bent of Iris' bow, Prided the running main, as it had been green, twining] So in the "Errata" to E. P., which in the text has "twindring." 303 DIALOGUE IN VERSE*. JACK. SEEST thou not yon farmer's son? He hath stoln my love from me, alas! What shall I do? I am undone; My heart will ne'er be as it was. Oh, but he gives her gay gold rings, And tufted gloves [for] holiday, And many other goodly things, That hath stoln my love away. * Dialogue in verse] Was first printed in The Alleyn Papers (for the Shakespeare Society), p. 8, by Mr. Collier, who prefaced it with the following remarks. "In the original MS. this dramatic dialogue in verse is written as prose, on one side of a sheet of paper, at the back of which, in a more modern hand, is the name Kitt Marlowe.' What connection, if any, he may have had with it, it is impossible to determine, but it was obviously worthy of preservation, as a curious stage-relic of an early date, and unlike any thing else of the kind that has come down to us. In consequence of haste or ignorance on the part of the writer of the manuscript, it has been necessary to supply some portions, which are printed within brackets. There are also some obvious errors in the distribution of the dialogue, which it was not easy to correct. The probability is that, when performed, it was accompanied with music." I have hazarded a conjecture that this Dialogue may be a fragment of The Maiden's Holiday, a lost comedy, which is said to have been written partly by Marlowe: see Account of Marlowe and his Writings. FRIEND. Let him give her gay gold rings Or tufted gloves, were they ne'er so [gay]; Or were her lovers lords or kings, They should not carry the wench away. JACK.* But a' dances wonders well**, And with his dances stole her love from me: Yet she wont to say I bore the bell For dancing and for courtesy. DICK.+ Fie, lusty younker, what do you here, JACK. I Good Dick, bid them all come hither, That, if he think to have the wench, Here he stands shall lie with the bride. *Jack] Not in MS. ** wonders well] i. e. wondrous well. Jack] Not in MS. DICK.* Fie, Nan, why use thy old lover so, Bonny Dick, I will not forsake PIERCE. Why, then, my hearts, let's to this gear; GENTLEMAN.§ Then, gentles, ere I speed from hence, I will be so bold to dance A turn or two without offence; For, as I was walking along by chance, I was told you did agree.|| Dick] MS. "W. Fre." (i. e., I suppose, Wench's Friend.) + Nan] Not in MS. won] i. e. win. § Gentleman] MS." Frend." That this portion of the dialogue belongs to the "Gen." is evident from what follows. agree] Something is wanting here. |