433 Stress is laid more than once on Massinger’s modesty in the commendatory verses from his friends. _Cf._ Sir Thomas Jay’s verses prefixed to _A New Way_, and Prologue to _A Very Woman_, lines 5, 6; Prologue to _The Bashful Lover_, line 4. This feature may account for a lack of worldly wisdom and self-assertion, which prevented him from reaping the full fruits of the fame which he deserved as Fletcher’s collaborator in so many plays. Gerard Langbaine, in his _Account of the English Dramatic Poets_ (Oxford, 1691), pp. 353-60, deals thus with Massinger: “He was extremely beloved by the poets of that age, and there were few but what took it as an honour to club with him in a play—witness Middleton, Rowley, Field, and Dekker, all which join’d with him in several labours. Nay further, to shew his excellency, the ingenious Fletcher took him in as a partner in several plays. He was a man of much modesty and extraordinary parts.” In _The New Year’s Gift_ to his patroness, to be found in MS. in the library of Trinity College, Dublin, we have an indication that Massinger was ashamed of the profession of author; we read (lines 19-21): Nor slight it, Madam, since what some in me Esteem a blemish, is a gift as free As their best fortunes. The last lines of the poem (43-46) show the familiar combination of modesty and independence: What I give I am rich in, and can spare; Nor part for hope with aught deserves my care; He that hath little and gives nought at all To them that have, is truly liberal. 434 There are some fine friendships in Massinger—_e.g._, Charalois and Romont in _The Fatal Dowry_; Farnese and Uberti in _The Bashful Lover_; Cleremond and Montrose in _The Parliament of Love_; Antoninus and Macrinus in _The Virgin Martyr_; Pedro and Antonio in _A Very Woman_. _ 435 Cf._ the Prologues to _The Guardian_ and _The Emperor of the East_. He speaks with feeling of the ungratefulness of courtiers. (_Bashful Lover_, V., 1, 52; _Maid of Honour_, II., 2, 110.) _ 436 Cf._ _Picture_, II., 2, 255; _Bondman_, I., 3, 300; _Unnatural Combat_, I., 1, 404; _Bashful Lover_, I., 1, 34; _Great Duke of Florence_, II., 1, 138; _Sir J. V. O. Barnavelt_, I., 1 (p. 215, Bullen’s Old Plays); also the character of the Captain in _A Very Woman_. _Cf._ _Knight of Malta_, III., 2. 437 Very significant are the words of Paulo in _A Very Woman_ (IV., 1, 153): Who fights With passions, and o’ercomes them is endued With the best virtue, passive fortitude. _Cf._ _Roman Actor_, I., 1, 118; III., 1, 113; _Duke of Milan_, III., 1, 73; and _Renegado_, I., 1, 79: All that I challenge Is manly patience. _Cf._ _Sejanus_, quoted above, p. 115, n. 11. _Queen of Corinth_, III, 2: