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    The Captain: "Somewhat above our Art; For all mens eyes, Ears, faiths, and judgements, are not of one size"
    The Captain: "Somewhat above our Art; For all mens eyes, Ears, faiths, and judgements, are not of one size"
    The Captain: "Somewhat above our Art; For all mens eyes, Ears, faiths, and judgements, are not of one size"
    Ebook205 pages1 hour

    The Captain: "Somewhat above our Art; For all mens eyes, Ears, faiths, and judgements, are not of one size"

    By Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher

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    About this ebook

    The English dramatists Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher, collaborated in their writing during the reign of James I of England (James VI of Scotland, 1567–1625; in England he reigned from 1603).

    Beaumont & Fletcher began to collaborate as writers soon after they met. After notable failures of their solo works their first joint effort, Philaster, was a success and tragicomedy was the genre they explored and built upon. There would be many further successes to follow.

    There is an account that at the time the two men shared everything. They lived together in a house on the Bankside in Southwark, "they also lived together in Bankside, sharing clothes and having one wench in the house between them." Or as another account puts it “sharing everything in the closest intimacy."

    Whatever the truth of this they were now recognised as perhaps the best writing team of their generation, so much so, that their joint names was applied to all the works in which either, or both, had a pen including those with Philip Massinger, James Shirley and Nathan Field.

    The first Beaumont and Fletcher folio of 1647 contained 35 plays; 53 plays were included in the second folio in 1679. Other works bring the total plays in the canon to about 55. However there appears here to have been some duplicity on the account of the publishers who seemed to attribute so many to the team. It is now thought that the work between solely by Beaumont and Fletcher amounts to approximately 15 plays, though of course further works by them were re-worked by others and the originals lost.

    After Beaumont’s early death in 1616 Fletcher continued to write and, at his height was, by many standards, the equal of Shakespeare in popularity until his own death in 1625.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherStage Door
    Release dateJan 30, 2018
    ISBN9781787377547
    The Captain: "Somewhat above our Art; For all mens eyes, Ears, faiths, and judgements, are not of one size"

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      Book preview

      The Captain - Francis Beaumont

      The Captain by Francis Beaumont & John Fletcher

      The English dramatists Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher, collaborated in their writing during the reign of James I of England (James VI of Scotland, 1567–1625; in England he reigned from 1603).

      Beaumont & Fletcher began to collaborate as writers soon after they met.  After notable failures of their solo works their first joint effort, Philaster, was a success and tragicomedy was the genre they explored and built upon.  There would be many further successes to follow.

      There is an account that at the time the two men shared everything.  They lived together in a house on the Bankside in Southwark, they also lived together in Bankside, sharing clothes and having one wench in the house between them. Or as another account puts it sharing everything in the closest intimacy.

      Whatever the truth of this they were now recognised as perhaps the best writing team of their generation, so much so, that their joint names was applied to all the works in which either, or both, had a pen including those with Philip Massinger, James Shirley and Nathan Field.

      The first Beaumont and Fletcher folio of 1647 contained 35 plays; 53 plays were included in the second folio in 1679. Other works bring the total plays in the canon to about 55. However there appears here to have been some duplicity on the account of the publishers who seemed to attribute so many to the team.  It is now thought that the work between solely by Beaumont and Fletcher amounts to approximately 15 plays, though of course further works by them were re-worked by others and the originals lost. 

      After Beaumont’s early death in 1616 Fletcher continued to write and, at his height was, by many standards, the equal of Shakespeare in popularity until his own death in 1625.

      Index of Contents

      DRAMATIS PERSONAE

      THE SCENE: Venice, Spain.

      PROLOGUE

      ACTUS PRIMUS

      SCÆNA PRIMA

      SCÆNA SECUNDA

      SCÆNA TERTIA

      ACTUS SECUNDUS

      SCÆNA PRIMA

      SCÆNA SECUNDA

      ACTUS TERTIUS

      SCÆNA PRIMA

      SCÆNA SECUNDA

      SCÆNA TERTIA

      SCÆNA QUARTA

      SCÆNA QUINTA

      SCÆNA SEXTA

      ACTUS QUARTUS

      SCÆNA PRIMA

      SCÆNA SECUNDA

      SCÆNA TERTIA

      SCÆNA QUARTA

      ACTUS QUINTUS

      SCÆNA PRIMA

      SCÆNA SECUNDA

      SCÆNA TERTIA

      SCÆNA QUARTA

      SCÆNA QUINTA

      EPILOGUE

      FRANCIS BEAUMONT – A SHORT BIOGRAPHY

      JOHN FLETCHER – A SHORT BIOGRAPHY

      FRANCIS BEAUMONT & JOHN FLETCHER – A CONCISE BIBLIOGRAPHY

      DRAMATIS PERSONAE

      MEN

      Julio, a noble Gentleman, in Love with Lelia.

      Angelo, a Gentleman, friend to Julio.

      Lodovico } two Cowardly Gulls.

      Piso  }

      Frederick, a Gentleman, Brother to Frank.

      Jacomo, an angry Captain, a Woman-hater.

      Fabritio, a merry Souldier, friend to Jacomo.

      Lelia's Father, an old poor Gentleman.

      Host.

      Vintner.

      Drawers.

      Servants.

      WOMEN

      Frank, Sister to Frederick, a Lady passionately in love with Jacomo.

      Clora, Sister to Fabritio, a witty companion to Frank.

      Lelia, a cunning wanton Widow.

      Waiting-woman.

      Maid Servants.

      THE SCENE: Venice, Spain.

      PROLOGUE

      To please you with this Play, we fear will be

      (So does the Author too) a mystery

      Somewhat above our Art; For all mens eyes,

      Ears, faiths, and judgements, are not of one size.

      For to say truth, and not to flatter ye,

      This is nor Comedy, nor Tragedy,

      Nor History, nor any thing that may

      (Yet in a week) be made a perfect Play:

      Yet those that love to laugh, and those that think

      Twelve pence goes farther this way than in drink,

      Or Damsels, if they mark the matter through,

      May stumble on a foolish toy, or two

      Will make 'em shew their teeth: pray, for my sake

      (That likely am your first man) do not take

      A distaste before you feel it: for ye may

      When this is hist to ashes, have a Play.

      And here, to out-hiss this; be patient then,

      (My honour done) y'are welcom Gentlemen.

      ACTUS PRIMUS

      SCÆNA PRIMA

      Enter LODOVICO and PISO.

      LODOVICO

      The truth is, Piso, so she be a woman

      And rich and wholsome, let her be of what

      Condition and Complexion it please,

      She shall please me I am sure; Those men are fools

      That make their eyes their choosers, not their needs.

      PISO

      Me thinks I would have her honest too, and handsom.

      LODOVICO

      Yes if I could have both, but since they are

      Wishes so near impossibilities,

      Let me have that that may be.

      PISO

      If it were so,

      I hope your conscience would not be so nice

      To start at such a blessing.

      LODOVICO

      No believe me,

      I do not think I should.

      PISO

      But thou would'st be

      I do not doubt upon the least suspicion

      Unmercifully jealous.

      LODOVICO

      No I should not,

      For I believe those mad that seek vexations.

      A Wife, though she be honest, is a trouble,

      Had I a Wife as fair as Hellen was

      That drew so many Cuckolds to her cause,

      These eyes should see another in my Saddle

      Ere I believe my beast would carry double.

      PISO

      So should not I by'our Lady, and I think

      My patience (by your leave) as good as yours,

      Report would stir me mainly, I am sure on't.

      LODOVICO

      Report? You are unwise; report is nothing;

      For if there were a truth in what men talk,

      I mean of this kind, this part of the world

      I am sure would be no more call'd Christendom.

      PISO

      What then?

      LODOVICO

      Why Cuckoldom, for we should lose

      Our old faiths clean, and hold their new opinions:

      If talk could make me sweat, before I would marry

      I'd tie a surer knot, and hang my self;

      I tell thee there was never woman yet,

      (Nor never hope there shall be) though a Saint,

      But she has been a subject to mens tongues,

      And in the worse sense: and that desperate Husband,

      That dares give up his peace, and follow humours

      (Which he shall find too busie, if he seek 'em)

      Besides the forcing of himself an Ass

      He dyes in chains, eating himself with anger.

      PISO

      Having these Antidotes against opinion

      I would marry any one; an arrant Whore.

      LODOVICO

      Thou dost not feel the nature of this Physick

      Which I prescribe not to beget diseases,

      But where they are, to stop them.

      PISO

      I conceive ye:

      What thinkest thou, thy way, of the widow Lelia?

      LODOVICO

      Faith thou hast found out one I must confess

      Would stagger my best patience: From that woman

      As I would bless my self from plagues and surfeits,

      From Men of war at Sea, from storms, and quicksands,

      From hearing Treason and concealing it,

      From daring of a Madman, or a Drunkard,

      From Heresie, ill Wine, and stumbling post Horse;

      So would I pray each morning, and each night

      (And if I said each hour, I should not lye)

      To be delivered of all these in one,

      The woman thou hast named.

      [Enter JULIO, ANGELO and FATHER.

      PISO

      Thou hast set her in a pretty Litany.

      ANGELO

      Pray take my counsel.

      JULIO

      When I am my self

      I'le hear you any way; love me though thus

      As thou art honest, which I dare not be

      Lest I despise my self. Farewel.                  

      [Exit JULIO.

      PISO

      Do you hear my friend: Sir, are you not a setter,

      For the fair widow here of famous memory?

      FATHER

      Ha? am I taken for a Bawd? Oh Heaven!

      To mine own child too? misery, I thank thee

      That keepst me from their knowledge: Sir, believe me

      I understand ye not.

      LODOVICO

      You love plain dealing.

      Are you not parcel Bawd? confess your Function,

      It may be we would use it.

      FATHER

      Were she worse,

      As I fear strangely she is ill enough,

      I would not hear this tamely.

      PISO

      Here's a shilling

      To strike good luck withal.

      FATHER

      Here's a Sword, Sir,

      To strike a Knave withal, thou lyest, and basely,

      Be what thou wilt.

      ANGELO

      Why how now Gentlemen?

      FATHER

      You are many: I shall meet you, Sir, again,

      And make you understand, y'have wrong'd a Woman

      Compar'd with whom thy Mother was a sinner. Farewel. 

      [Exit FATHER.

      PISO

      He has amazed me.

      ANGELO

      With a blow?

      By'r Lady 'twas a sound one; are ye good

      At taking knocks? I shall know you hereafter:

      You were to blame to tempt a man so far

      Before you knew him certain: h'as not hurt ye?

      PISO

      No I think.

      LODOVICO

      We were to blame indeed to go so far,

      For men may be mistaken: if he had swinged us

      H'had serv'd us right: Beshrew my heart, I think,

      We have done the Gentlewoman as much wrong too,

      For hang me if I know her

      In my particular.

      PISO

      Nor I; this 'tis to credit

      Mens idle tongues; I warrant they have said

      As much by our two Mothers.

      LODOVICO

      Like enough.

      ANGELO

      I see a beating now and then does more

      Move and stir up a mans contrition

      Than a sharp Sermon, here probatum est.

      [Enter FREDERICK and SERVANT.

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