[622] “Differentia Deorum et Hominum, apud Senecam; Sic habet nostri melior pars animum, in illis nulla pars extra animum.”—Marginal note in old ed.
THE
MOUNTEBANK’S MASQUE.
It is with some diffidence that I include this piece among Marston’s Works. Mr. J. P. Collier printed it in 1848 for the Shakespeare Society from a MS. in the possession of the Duke of Devonshire; and he stated that Marston’s name is pencilled on the cover of the MS. in a handwriting of the time. This MS. appears to have been mislaid, for I can find no mention of it in the catalogue of His Grace’s dramatic collection.
Collier was not aware that Nichols had printed this Masque in the third volume of his “Progress of Queen Elizabeth” from another MS., and that there is extant a third MS. copy in Add. MS. 5956 (Brit. Museum).
I have contented myself with printing Collier’s text without any material alterations; but I have given in a footnote the graceful song with which the Masque concludes in Nichols’ transcript. The Masque was performed at Court 16th February 1617-8 (See Nichols’ Progresses of King James I., iii. 466).
THE
MOUNTEBANK’S MASQUE.
THE FIRST ANTIMASQUE OF
MOUNTEBANKS.
MOUNTEBANK’S SPEECH.