For one man.
- Meretrix
- Shame,
- Otian,
- Mother,
- Lady,
- Queen.
For one man.
- Young Child,
- Cupid.
[Col.] Imprinted at London by John Allde. 4o. Black letter.
A Lamentable Tragedie, &c. [Col.] Imprinted at London by Edward Allde. 4o. Black letter.
HAWKINS’S PREFACE.
This is the play that Shakespeare is supposed to allude to, when he introduces Falstaff speaking in King Cambyses’ vein, in the “FirstPart of King Henry the Fourth.”[228] It was written early in the reign of Elizabeth (according to some in 1561), by Thomas Preston, M.A., Fellow of King’s College, and afterwards L.D. and Master of Trinity Hall, in Cambridge. He performed so admirably well in the tragedy of Dido, before Queen Elizabeth, when she was entertained in that university in 1564; and did so genteelly and gracefully dispute before her, that she gave him £20 per annum for so doing. See Thomas Hatcher, or his continuator, in the catalogue of provosts, fellows, and scholars of King’s College—MS. under the year 1560 (Oldys’ MSS. Notes on Langbaine).
The play is here given from a black-letter copy in Mr Garrick’s collection, printed by John Allde. [There
is a second edition from the press of his son and successor Edward Allde; both are undated.[229]] The prologue and great part of “Cambyses” was written by the author in long Alexandrines, which the narrowness of the page rendered it necessary here to subdivide.