=3. George Chapman (1559–1634)= was born at Hitchin. Beyond this fact little is known of him. He took part in the literary life of his time, for his name appears in the squabbles of his tribe. He died in London. His first play, _The Blind Beggar of Alexandria_ (1596) was followed by many more, both comical and tragical. Among them are _Bussy d’Ambois_ (1597), _Charles, Duke of Byron_ (1608), and _The Tragedie of Chabot_ (1639). These are historical plays, dealing with events nearly contemporary with his own time. Chapman’s comedies include _All Fools_ (1605) and _Eastward Hoe!_ (1605), in the latter of which he combined with Jonson and Marston. Chapman writes agreeably and well; he has firmness, competence, and variety, and his comic and tragic powers are considerable. His translation of _Homer_ has something of the pace and music of the original. =4. John Marston (1575–1634)= was born at Coventry, was educated there and at Oxford, became a literary figure in London, and later took orders. Latterly he resigned his living in Hampshire, and died in London. Marston specialized in violent and melodramatic tragedies, which do not lack a certain impressiveness, but which are easily parodied and no less easily lead to abuse. They impressed his own generation, who rated him with Jonson. For a later age they are spoiled to a great extent by exaggeration, rant, and excessive speeches. Typical of them are _Antonio and Mellida_ (1602) and _Antonio’s Revenge_ (1602), which were ridiculed by Jonson in _The Poetaster_. =5. Thomas Dekker (1570–1641)= was born in London, where his life was passed as a literary hack and playwright. His plays, chiefly comedies, have an attraction quite unusual for the time. They have a sweetness, an arch sentimentality, and an intimate knowledge of common men and things that have led to his being called the Dickens of the Elizabethan stage. His plots are chaotic, and his blank verse, which very frequently gives place to prose, is weak and sprawling. The best of his plays are _Old Fortunatus_ (1600), _The Shoemaker’s Holiday_ (1600), and _Satiromastix_ (1602). He collaborated with other playwrights, including Ford and Rowley, with whom he wrote _The Witch of Edmonton_ (about 1633), and Massinger, in _The Virgin Martyr_ (1622). =6. Thomas Middleton (1570–1627)= was born in London, wrote much for the stage, and in 1620 was made City Chronologer.