The English Dramatists JOHN MARSTON VOLUME THE FIRST THE WORKS OF JOHN MARSTON EDITED BY A. H. BULLEN, B.A. IN THREE VOLUMES VOLUME THE FIRST [Illustration: Printer's logo] LONDON JOHN C. NIMMO 14, KING WILLIAM STREET, STRAND, W.C. MDCCCLXXXVII _Two hundred copies of this Edition on Laid paper, medium 8vo, have been printed, viz., 120 for the English Market, and 80 for America. Each copy numbered as issued._ _No. 30_ TO AN OLD FRIEND AND FELLOW-STUDENT, _CHARLES H. FIRTH,_ These Volumes ARE AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED BY THE EDITOR. PREFACE. Marston's Works were edited in 1856 by Mr. Halliwell (3 vols. 8vo.) for Mr. Russell Smith's _Library of Old Authors_. I yield to none in my admiration for the best and the most accurate of living Shakespearean scholars; but I am sure that Mr. Halliwell-Phillipps, who in his _Outlines of the Life of Shakespeare_ has set so singularly high a standard of excellence, would be the first to acknowledge that his edition of Marston's Works needs revision. In the present volumes I have done my best to regulate the text, which is frequently very corrupt; but I am painfully conscious that I have left plenty of work for future editors. A valuable edition of Marston's poems was published in 1879, for private circulation, by Dr. Grosart. I have availed myself freely of the results of Dr. Grosart's biographical researches; and I am indebted to his edition for the text of the _Entertainment_ in vol. iii. Dr. Brinsley Nicholson, whose recently published edition of Reginald Scot's _Discovery of Witchcraft_ met with the enthusiastic welcome that it deserved, has helped me liberally with advice and suggestions; and I have to thank Mr. P. A. Daniel, whose scholarship is as sound as it is acute, for his kindness in reading my Introduction. In deference to friendly criticism, I have prefixed to each play a brief summary of the plot. _18th March 1887._ CONTENTS OF VOL. I. PAGE PREFACE vii INTRODUCTION xi FIRST PART OF ANTONIO AND MELLIDA 1 ANTONIO'S REVENGE: THE SECOND PART OF ANTONIO AND MELLIDA 95 THE MALCONTENT 193 INTRODUCTION.