A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 13Dodsley, Robert
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 13
Dodsley, Robert
English drama
Davenport, besides his plays, was the author of a considerable
collection of poems, the greater part of which were not published. In
1639, however, appeared a thin 4º volume, entitled "A Crowne for a
Conqueror; and Too late to call backe yesterday. Two Poems, the one
Divine, the other Morall. By R. D." In the Bodleian Catalogue this
little book is misdated 1623.[116] The latter piece is dedicated to
his noble friends, as he calls them, Mr Richard Robinson[117] and Mr
Michael Bowyer; and in his address to them he styles both the poems
some of the expense of his time at sea. From the address prefixed to
the play of "King John and Matilda," signed R. D., he appears to have
been alive in the year 1655, when that piece was first published.
FOOTNOTES:
[114] It was published by Andrew Pennycuicke, one of the performers,
who says that he was the last who played the character of Matilda. See
it criticised in the _Retrosp. Review_, iv. 87-100.
[115] In S. Sheppard's "Poems," 8º, 1651, is one "To Mr Davenport, on
his play called 'The Pirate.'"--_Collier._
[116] [For a notice of Davenport's unprinted poems, see Hazlitt's
"Handbook," 1867, in _v._]
[117] Both Robinson and Bowyer were players. The former is in the list
of the performers in Shakespeare's plays, and acted in the "Roman
Actor." The name of the latter is to be found amongst the performers in
"The Bondman," by Massinger, "King John and Matilda," &c.
DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.
+Duke of Verona.+
+Duke of Venice+, _brother to Abstemia_.
+Duke of Milan.+
+Antonio+, _the duke's son_.
+Lorenzo+, _husband to Abstemia_.
+Philippo+, _his friend_.
+Lodovico+, _husband to Dorothea_.
+Lords of Verona.+
+Senators of Venice.+
+Sanchio+, } _lords of Milan_.
+Sebastiano+, }
+Pandulpho.+
+Spinoso.+
+Jaspro.+
+Jovani.+
+Francisco+, _servant to Lodovico_.
+Pambo+, _a clown_.
+Morbo+, _a pander_.
_A Turk, slave to Antonio.
Two slaves to Lorenzo.
Officers and servants._
WOMEN ACTORS.[118]
+Abstemia+, _Lorenzo's wife, and sister to the Duke of Venice_.
+Dorothea+, _Lodovico's wanton lady_.
+Timpanina+, _a bawd_.
_Ladies._
FOOTNOTES:
[118] _i.e._, Actors of women's parts; though _women actors_ were
brought upon the stage about the date when this play was printed, but
not when it was first performed.
THE CITY NIGHTCAP.[119]
ACT I.[120]
_Enter +Lorenzo+ and +Philippo+._
+Lor.+ Thou shalt try her once more.
+Phil.+ Fie, fie!
+Lor.+ Thou shalt do't.
If thou be'st my friend, thou'lt do't.
+Phil.+ Try your fair wife?
You know 'tis an old point, and wondrous frequent
In most of our Italian comedies.
+Lor.+ What do I care for that? let him seek new ones,
Cannot make old ones better; and this new point
(Young sir) may produce new smooth passages,
Transcending those precedent. Pray, will ye do't?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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