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    The Wild-Goose Chase: "Drink today, and drown all sorrow; you shall perhaps not do tomorrow"
    The Wild-Goose Chase: "Drink today, and drown all sorrow; you shall perhaps not do tomorrow"
    The Wild-Goose Chase: "Drink today, and drown all sorrow; you shall perhaps not do tomorrow"
    Ebook175 pages1 hour

    The Wild-Goose Chase: "Drink today, and drown all sorrow; you shall perhaps not do tomorrow"

    By John Fletcher

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    About this ebook

    John Fletcher was born in December, 1579 in Rye, Sussex. He was baptised on December 20th. As can be imagined details of much of his life and career have not survived and, accordingly, only a very brief indication of his life and works can be given. Young Fletcher appears at the very young age of eleven to have entered Corpus Christi College at Cambridge University in 1591. There are no records that he ever took a degree but there is some small evidence that he was being prepared for a career in the church. However what is clear is that this was soon abandoned as he joined the stream of people who would leave University and decamp to the more bohemian life of commercial theatre in London. The upbringing of the now teenage Fletcher and his seven siblings now passed to his paternal uncle, the poet and minor official Giles Fletcher. Giles, who had the patronage of the Earl of Essex may have been a liability rather than an advantage to the young Fletcher. With Essex involved in the failed rebellion against Elizabeth Giles was also tainted. By 1606 John Fletcher appears to have equipped himself with the talents to become a playwright. Initially this appears to have been for the Children of the Queen's Revels, then performing at the Blackfriars Theatre. Fletcher's early career was marked by one significant failure; The Faithful Shepherdess, his adaptation of Giovanni Battista Guarini's Il Pastor Fido, which was performed by the Blackfriars Children in 1608. By 1609, however, he had found his stride. With his collaborator John Beaumont, he wrote Philaster, which became a hit for the King's Men and began a profitable association between Fletcher and that company. Philaster appears also to have begun a trend for tragicomedy. By the middle of the 1610s, Fletcher's plays had achieved a popularity that rivalled Shakespeare's and cemented the pre-eminence of the King's Men in Jacobean London. After his frequent early collaborator John Beaumont's early death in 1616, Fletcher continued working, both singly and in collaboration, until his own death in 1625. By that time, he had produced, or had been credited with, close to fifty plays.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherStage Door
    Release dateDec 10, 2017
    ISBN9781787376205
    The Wild-Goose Chase: "Drink today, and drown all sorrow; you shall perhaps not do tomorrow"

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      Book preview

      The Wild-Goose Chase - John Fletcher

      The Wild-Goose Chase by John Fletcher

      John Fletcher was born in December, 1579 in Rye, Sussex.  He was baptised on December 20th.

      As can be imagined details of much of his life and career have not survived and, accordingly, only a very brief indication of his life and works can be given.

      Young Fletcher appears at the very young age of eleven to have entered Corpus Christi College at Cambridge University in 1591.  There are no records that he ever took a degree but there is some small evidence that he was being prepared for a career in the church.

      However what is clear is that this was soon abandoned as he joined the stream of people who would leave University and decamp to the more bohemian life of commercial theatre in London.

      The upbringing of the now teenage Fletcher and his seven siblings now passed to his paternal uncle, the poet and minor official Giles Fletcher. Giles, who had the patronage of the Earl of Essex may have been a liability rather than an advantage to the young Fletcher.  With Essex involved in the failed rebellion against Elizabeth Giles was also tainted.

      By 1606 John Fletcher appears to have equipped himself with the talents to become a playwright. Initially this appears to have been for the Children of the Queen's Revels, then performing at the Blackfriars Theatre.

      Fletcher's early career was marked by one significant failure; The Faithful Shepherdess, his adaptation of Giovanni Battista Guarini's Il Pastor Fido, which was performed by the Blackfriars Children in 1608.

      By 1609, however, he had found his stride. With his collaborator John Beaumont, he wrote Philaster, which became a hit for the King's Men and began a profitable association between Fletcher and that company. Philaster appears also to have begun a trend for tragicomedy.

      By the middle of the 1610s, Fletcher's plays had achieved a popularity that rivalled Shakespeare's and cemented the pre-eminence of the King's Men in Jacobean London. After his frequent early collaborator John Beaumont's early death in 1616, Fletcher continued working, both singly and in collaboration, until his own death in 1625.  By that time, he had produced, or had been credited with, close to fifty plays.

      Index of Contents

      DRAMATIS PERSONAE

      ACTUS PRIMUS

      SCÆNA PRIMA

      SCÆNA SECUNDA

      SCÆNIA TERTIA

      ACTUS SECUNDUS

      SCÆNA PRIMA

      SCÆNA SECUNDA

      SCÆNA TERTIA

      ACTUS TERTIUS

      SCÆNA PRIMA

      ACTUS QUARTUS

      SCÆNA PRIMA

      SCÆNA SECUNDA

      SCÆNA TERTIA

      ACTUS QUINTUS

      SCÆNA PRIMA

      SCÆNA SECUNDA

      SCÆNA TERTIA

      SCÆNA QUARTA

      SCÆNA QUINTA

      SCÆNA SEXTA

      JOHN FLETCHER – A SHORT BIOGRAPHY

      JOHN FLETCHER – A CONCISE BIBLIOGRAPHY

      DRAMATIS PERSONAE

      De-Gard, A Noble stay'd' Gentleman that being newly lighted from his Travels, assists his Sister Oriana in her chase of Mirabel the Wild-Goose.

      La-Castre, the Indulgent Father to Mirabell.

      Mirabell, the Wild-Goose, a Travell'd Monsieur, and great defyer of all Ladies in the way of Marriage, otherwise their much loose servant, at last caught by the despis'd Oriana.

      Pinac, his fellow Traveller, of a lively spirit, and Servant to the no less sprightly Lillia-Bianca.

      Belleur, Companion to both, of a stout blunt humour, in love with Rosalura.

      Nantolet, Father to Rosalura and Lillia-Bianca.

      Lugier, the rough and confident Tutor to the Ladies, and chief Engine to entrap the Wild-Goose.

      Oriana, the fair betroth'd of Mirabell, and witty follower of the Chase.

      Rosalura }  the Airie Daughters of Nantolet.

      Lillia-Bianca }

      Petella, their Waiting-woman.

      Mariana, an English Courtezan.

      A young Factor.

      Page.

      Servants.

      Singing-Boy.

      Two Merchants.

      Priest.

      Four Women.

      THE SCENE: Paris.

      ACTUS PRIMUS

      SCÆNA PRIMA

      Enter MONSIEUR De GARD, and a Foot-BOY.

      De GARD

      Sirrah, you know I have rid hard; stir my Horse well

      And let him want no Litter.

      BOY

      I am sure I have run hard,

      Would some body would walk me, & see me Litter'd;

      For I think my fellow-horse, cannot in reason

      Desire more rest, nor take up his Chamber before me,

      But we are the Beasts now, and the Beasts are our Masters.

      De GARD

      When you have done, step to the Ten-Crown Ordinary.

      BOY

      With all my heart, Sir,

      For I have a Twenty Crown stomach.

      De GARD

      And there bespeak a dinner.

      BOY

      Yes Sir, presently.

      De GARD

      For whom, I beseech you, Sir?

      BOY

      For my self, I take it, Sir.

      De GARD

      In truth ye shall not take it, 'tis not meant for you,

      There's for your Provender: Bespeak a Dinner

      For Monsieur Mirabell, and his Companions,

      They'll be in Town within this hour.

      When you have done, Sirrah,

      Make ready all things at my Lodging, for me,

      And wait me there.

      BOY

      The Ten Crown Ordinary?

      De GARD

      Yes Sir, if you have not forgot it.

      BOY

      I'le forget my feet first;

      'Tis the best part of a Foot-mans faith.               

      [Exit BOY.

      De GARD

      These youths

      For all they have been in Italy, to learn thrift,

      And seem to wonder at mens lavish waies,

      Yet they cannot rub off old friends, their French itches;

      They must meet sometimes to disport their Bodies

      With good Wine, and good Women; and good store too.

      Let 'em be what they will, they are Arm'd at all points,

      And then hang saving. Let the Sea grow high,

      This Ordinary can fit 'em of all sizes,

      [Enter La-CASTRE and ORIANA.

      They must salute their Country with old customes.

      ORIANA

      Brother.

      De GARD

      My dearest Sister.

      ORIANA

      Welcome, welcome:

      Indeed ye are welcome home, most welcome.

      De GARD

      Thank ye,

      You are grown a handsome woman, Oriana,

      (Blush at your faults) I am wondrous glad to see ye.

      Monsieur La-Castre: Let not my Affection

      To my fair Sister, make me be held unmannerly:

      I am glad to see ye well, to see ye lusty,

      Good health about ye, and in fair company,

      Believe me, I am proud―

      La-CASTRE

      Fair Sir, I thank ye:

      Monsieur de Gard, you are welcome from your journey,

      Good men, have still good welcome: give me your hand, Sir.

      Once more, you are welcome home: you look still younger.

      De GARD

      Time has no leasure to look after us.

      We wander every where: Age cannot find us.

      La-CASTRE

      And how does all?

      De GARD

      All well, Sir; and all lusty.

      La-CASTRE

      I hope my Son be so, I doubt not, Sir,

      But you have often seen him in your journeys,

      And bring me some fair News.

      De GARD

      Your Son is well, Sir,

      And grown a proper Gentleman: he is well, and lusty,

      Within this eight hours, I took leave of him,

      And over-ey'd him, having some slight business

      That forc'd me out o'th' way: I can assure you

      He will be here to night.

      La-CASTRE

      Ye make me glad, Sir,

      For o' my faith, I almost long to see him,

      Me thinks he has been away―

      De GARD

      'Tis but your tenderness;

      What are three years? a love-sick wench will allow it:

      His friends that went out with him are come back too;

      Belleur, and young Pinac: he bid me say little,

      Because he means to be his own glad Messenger.

      La-CASTRE

      I thank ye for this news, Sir, he shall be welcome,

      And his friends too: indeed I thank you heartily:

      And how (for I dare say, you will not flatter him)

      Has Italy wrought on him? has he mew'd yet

      His wild fantastick Toyes? they say that Climate

      Is a great purger of those humorous Fluxes.

      How is he improved, I pray ye?

      De GARD

      No doubt, Sir, well.

      H'as born himself a full, and noble Gentleman,

      To speak him farther is beyond my Charter.

      La-CASTRE

      I am glad to hear so much good; Come, I see

      You long to enjoy your Sister: yet I must intreat ye

      Before I go, to sup with me to night

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