Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 06 of 10

by Francis Beaumont; John Fletcher

THE KNIGHT OF THE BURNING PESTLE.

A = the quarto of 1613.
B and C = the quartos of 1635.
D = the second folio.

(A) The | Knight of | the Burning Pestle. | Quod si | Indicium subtile, videndis artibus illud | Ad libros & ad hæc Musarum dona vocares: | Bœotum in crasso iurares aëre natum. | Horat. in Epist. ad Oct. Aug. | London, | Printed for Walter Burre, and are to be sold at the signe of the Crane in Paules Church-yard. | 1613.

To his many | waies endeered | friend Maister Robert Keysar. | Sir, this unfortunate child, who in eight daies (as lately I have learned) was begot and borne, soone after, was by his parents (perhaps because hee was so unlike his brethren) exposed to the wide world, who for want of judgement, or not understanding the privy marke of Ironie about it (which shewed it was no of-spring of any vulgar braine) utterly rejected it: so that for want of acceptance it was even ready to give up the Ghost, and was in danger to have bene smothered in perpetuall oblivion, if you (out of your direct antipathy to ingratitude) had not bene moved both to relieve and cherish it: wherein I must needs commend both your judgement, understanding, and singular love to good wits; you afterwards sent it to mee, yet being an infant and somewhat ragged, I have fostred it privately in my bosome these two yeares, and now to shew my love returne it to you, clad in good lasting cloaths, which scarce memory will weare out, and able to speake for it selfe; and withall, as it telleth mee, desirous to try his fortune in the world, where if yet it be welcome, father, foster-father, nurse and child, all have their desired end. If it bee slighted or traduced, it hopes his father will beget him a yonger brother, who shall revenge his quarrell, and challenge the world either of fond and meerely literall interpretation, or illiterate misprision. Perhaps it will be thought to bee of the race of Don Quixote: we both may confidently sweare, it is his elder above a yeare; and therefore may (by vertue of his birth-right) challenge the wall of him. I doubt not but they will meet in their adventures, and I hope the breaking of one staffe will make them friends; and perhaps they will combine themselves, and travell through the world to seeke their adventures. So I commit him to his good fortune, and my selfe to your love. | Your assured friend | W. B.

The first quarto does not contain the address To the Reader or The Prologue, printed on p. 160. It omits The Actors Names and the text is headed The famous Historie | Of the Knight of the burning| PESTLE. |, a title followed in quartos B and C at the head of the text.

(B) The | Knight | Of the | Burning | Pestle. | Full of Mirth and Delight. | Written by

Francis Beaumont,
and
John Fletcher.

Gent. | As it is now Acted by Her Majesties Servants | at the Private house in Drury lane. | 1635. | Quod si | Iudicium subtile, videndis artibus illud | Ad libros & ad hæc Musarum dona vocares: | Bœotum in crasso jurares aëre natum. | Horat. in Epist. ad Oct. Aug. | London: | Printed by N. O. for I. S. 1635.

(C) The | Knight | Of the | Burning | Pestle. | Full of Mirth and Delight. | Written by

Francis Beaumont,
and
John Fletcher.

Gent. | As it is now acted by her Majesties Servants | at the Private house in Drury lane. | 1635. | Quod si | Iudicium subtile, videndis artibus illud | Ad libros & ad hæc Musarum dona vocares: | Boeotum in crasso jurares aëre natum. | Horat. in Epist. ad Oct. Aug. | London: | Printed by N. O. for I. S. 1635.

The alternative readings adopted in square brackets in the text are, mainly, from A.

Mrs Arnold Glover has kindly collated the copies of the quartos of 1635 at the British Museum and at South Kensington.

p. [160], l. 8. A and B] person.
l. 19. B] meanings.
l. 25. D] tbe.
p. [161], l. 1. B and C] The Speakers Names.
l. 11. B and C] Luce Marchants.
l. 45. A-C print practically the rest of the Prologue, except Ralph's lines on p. [164] and Prologue's conclusion p. [165] as prose; the interruptions of the Citizen and his Wife are also, usually, printed as prose in the Quartos.
l. 43. D] sweat.
p. [162], l. 34. A] warrant tee.
p. [163], l. 13. D some copies misprint] Playa, ss.
l. 21. A] couple stools.
p. [164], l. 35. D] Grocers.
p. [165]. l. 1. D] bunrning.
p. [166], l. 3. D] my my.
l. 5. A and B] his Prentice.
l. 13. D] of self.
p. [167], l. 7. A and B] it must be.
p. [169], ll. 18, 29. D] Mer.
l. 24. A] in's.
l. 33. B-D] froward to.
p. [170], l. 3. A] this place.
l. 11. D] Luec.
p. [171], l. 10. A] you, I if.
p. [172], l. 23. A-D] Tobacco? do you nothing.
l. 18. A-C] fault' faith.
l. 20. A omits] of.
l. 26. D] Grocer.
l. 36. A-C] stroake.
p. [173], l. 21. D] beautiful.
l. 27. A-C] Methridatum.
l. 29. C and D] of, in his.
l. 33. C and D] I not.
l. 38. D] Tom.
p. [174], l. 2. A] oth. B] o'th.
l. 25. A-C] Damsels.
l. 38. A] Im'e a.
p. [175], l. 5. A-C] ne'er [in various spellings].
l. 7. A and B] th' art.
l. 8. C and D] the bloud.
l. 35. C and D] I ever.
p. [176], l. 13. A and B] state.
l. 14. A] lust.
l. 23. A-C] hitherto this.
p. [177], l. 24. D] and and.
l. 19. A and B] there's.
l. 33. B-D] Enter Jasper.
l. 37. A] 'tis now matter.
p. [178], l. 3. D repeats line twice.
l. 21. A-C] a'th toe. D] Sweet: heart.
p. [179], l. 33. A-C] a'thy.
l. 35. D] fair a.
l. 38. A and B omit] thou.
l. 40. D] Cit.
p. [180], l. 29. A-C] pitch-field.
l. 15. A-C] the wilde.
p. [181], l. 8. D] indeed: law.
l. 9. A and B omit] will.
l. 10. A-C] a' my.
l. 12. B] a knot grasse.
l. 17. D] it'a.
l. 18. B-D] friends. Ralph
l. 22. A] may this.
l. 23. D] Knigthood.
p. [182], l. 17. A and B] and some Trumpets.
l. 32. C and D] to earrh.
p. [183], l. 5. D] Wife.
l. 7. A] here are.
l. 10. A and B] an he.
l. 23. D omits] Ralph.
l. 36. A and B] he hath.
p. [184], l. 1. B-D] dare.
l. 7. D] aed.
l. 16. A] warrant thee.
l. 30. D] the ill.
p. [185], l. 17. A omits] you.
l. 28. A] a hell.
l. 35. A] then ha.
p. [186], l. 29. D] shoulderr.
p. [187], l. 16. D] Ralph. Thou.
p. [188], l. 8. A and B] shrodly.
l. 18. C and D] your.
p. [189], l. 6. A] Chamberlino. B] Chamberlaino.
l. 9. A] Tastero.
l. 16. A and B] nole.
ll. 22, 23. A] Tapstero.
l. 27. A-C] Am to.
p. [190], l. 6. A] errant.
l. 15. A] shall I.
p. [191], l. 30. C and D] Never his.
l. 31. B-D] repeat she is thrice only.
p. [192], l. 4. A] taken. B and C] take.
l. 6. A] from that.
l. 38. A-C] a your.
p. [193], l. 3. C and D omit] poore.
l. 16. C and D] Your.
l. 29. C and D] my dear,
p. [194], l. 30. D] if.
p. [195], l. 31. B] Luce. Luce awake. Luce, why ...
p. [196], l. 31. A and B] that be.
p. [197], l. 9. D] is fit.
l. 12. D omits] Exit.
l. 18. A] i truth.
l. 24. D] Dwarse.
p. [198], l. 3. A] Every truery true Knight, and every damsell faire faire.
l. 19. D] Knigthood.
l. 20. A omits] your.
l. 34. A] our Casket.
p. [199], l. 1. C and D] your can.
l. 19. D] If oft.
l. 22. C and D] bounds.
l. 38. C and D] near a.
p. [200], l. 8. A] Ladies Gent:
l. 24. A] fight him.
p. [201], l. 13. D] merry-totgght.
ll. 14, 15. D] merry-thoughauhain.
l. 17. D] aone.
l. 22. A and B omit] thank.
l. 30. A] plot. B] plos.
p. [202], l. 6. A and B] Behold that.
l. 12. B and C] all the adventurous.
l. 16. A and B] speake.
l. 24. A] Ladies Gent.
p. [203], l. 6. A and B] ore.
l. 24. A and B] showdst.
l. 29. B-D] the wise. D] I hear.
l. 31. A] That that I may give condigne.
l. 34. B-D] his den.
p. [204], l. 2. A and B] till mine.
l. 18. D] way. A-C] way,
l. 30. B-D] 3. Knight.
p. [205], l. 7. D] Rafe.
l. 20. A] for these.
l. 25. A-C] stricken.
l. 27. A] Turne-bull.
l. 29. D] here.
ll. 33, 34. D] done. Another
p. [206], l. 1. C and D] half.
l. 4. C and D] tender.
l. 8. D] Gentleman.
l. 14. A and B] shall thou.
l. 19. D] Sqire.
l. 32. D] yon. A] out at the.
l. 34. D] I'll get in amoug. C] I get. A and B] 'em ... em.
l. 35. D] such Ieslon.
p. [207], l. 7. A and B] fellow and fellow.
l. 24. A and B] 'em.
p. [208], l. 38. A-C] Margret.
p. [210], l. 9. D] stand, fix.
l. 16. A and B] flirt Gill.
l. 22. D] Geerge.
l. 30. C and D] be weary.
p. [211], ll. 10, 14, 15. A and B] warrant tee.
l. 22. C and D] I'm.
p. [212], l. 25. A-C] needs must.
l. 38. C and D] shilling to. B] shilling, to.
p. [213], l. 12. A] and a Boy.
l. 18. D] as your.
l. 38. A] appointed.
p. [214], ll. 10, 11. A and B] ha has.
l. 15. B] I should.
l. 28. A-C] I heere.
l. 31. A and B] Porrage.
p. [215], l. 14. C and D] may know.
l. 19. A-C] I am.
l. 20. D] bosly.
l. 36. C and D] of father.
p. [216], l. 1. D] changes. A-C] changes,
l. 16. A and B] deserv'd.
1. 38. D] snall. A and B] borne.
p. [217], l. 5. A-C] whiles.
p. [218], l. 37. D] great.
l. 38. C and D] Dinner.
p. [219], l. 11. D] Bnt.
l. 13. C and D] is that.
l. 19. A] let am.
l. 25. A adds another now.
l. 28. C and D] not know.
p. [220], l. 6. C and D] Rafe,
l. 18. D] quickly, for I come amongst. B and C] or if I come amongst.
l. 21. A and B] Exit Boy.
l. 35. A-C] councell.
l. 39. D] flagrant.
p. [221], l. 13. A] the bellowing Bucke.
p. [222], l. 1. C and D] Jasper and his.
l. 9. B-D] on.
l. 10. A] To farre.
l. 29. A] of this.
l. 37. A-C] fount.
p. [223], l. 5. B] the Ghost,
l. 6. B-D] now I'll.
l. 15, 16. D] prethee. call
l. 26. D] Scarfe for.
l. 34. A-C repeat Rafe before double.
l. 38. D] shaer.
p. [224], l. 6. A-C] stroke.
p. [225], l. 8. A] not you should.
l. 21. A-C] double your files.
l. 26. D] Shop.
l. 33. C and D] is more.
p. [226], l. 10. A and B] has.
l. 16. B-D] boys?
l. 28. B-D] full long I.
p. [227], l. 12. D] Mist. Mer.
p. [228], l. 1. C and D] him talk.
p. [229], l. 1. A and B] forgive ham.
l. 2. A] be sad
l. 10. D] rest—
l. 15. A] care of that.
l. 37. B-D] means.
l. 38. B-D] The Lord of May.
p. [230], l. 1. D] Afrer.
l. 12. C and D] Death came [B, come] and caught.
l. 17. B-D] in Moor-fields.
l. 33. A] not depart.
p. [231], l. 15. A] I might see.
l. 17. C and D] you like.