133
NOTES AND QUERIES, no* s. in. FEB. is, 1905.
NOTES ON BOOKS, &c.
The Devil's Charter. By Barnabe Barnes. Edited
from the Quarto of 1607 by R. B. McKerrow.
(Louvain, Uystpruyst ; London, Nutt.) Btn Jomoriij Dramen. In Neudruck herausgegeben
nach cler Folio 1616 von W. Bang. Erster Teil.
(Same publishers.)
THESE two works constitute vols. vi. and yii. of "Materialien zur Kunde des iilteren Englischen Dramas," edited by a society of English, American, and Continental scholars, and issued in handsome and attractive guise from the presses of Louvain and Leipzig. That some notable reprints, includ- ing Thomas Heywood's 'Pleasant Dialogues and Drammas,' had been issued under this designation we had heard, though we had not previously come across any of the publications. The reprint now before us of the first part of the 1616 folio of Ben Jonson, which is issued under the editorship of Prof. Bang, is the most important work as yet undertaken by the society. What is the value of this first folio of Ben Jonson has become gradually known to scholars and collectors, with the result that the work, once a drug in the market, is now at a premium, and worth as many pounds as it was formerly worth shillings. In recog- nizing the value of this beautiful reprint, and in acknowledging the spirit and enterprise of the publishers, to whom English scholarship is under deepest obligation, we cannot but regret that it is reserved to foreigners to accomplish what should be assumed as a national responsibility, and tojopen out a series of works such as neither of our Shakespeare Societies has attempted. Already we begin to speculate as to what we may not expect from a series that starts in such fashion. Most heartily do we, on the strength of what is before us, com- mend the work to pur readers, and urge them to support an institution that promises to do for us what has not previously been attempted. In the first part of Ben Jonson appear in facsimile ' Euery Man in his Humour,' ' Euery Man Ovt of his Humour,' 'Cynthias Revels,' and the opening por- tion of ' Poetaster or His Arraignement/ suggesting that the whole will occupy four numbers of the same size as the present. Facsimiles of the various title-pages are given, the work reproducing also Vaughan's portrait and the emblematical general title of Hole, with the date 1616 and the words
- The Workes of Ben Jonson,' which brought on the
poet the derision of his more jealous and ill-natured contemporaries. The 'Catalogue,' the 'Carmen Protrepticon ' of Selden, the commendatory verses of Chapman, Beaumont, and others, are also pre- served. Prof. Bang's task is admirably discharged, and we are disposed to regard the publication as the greatest contribution yet made to the Tudor drama from a foreign source.
Barnabe Barnes's grim and curious play l The Devil's Charter ' is now for the first time edited and reprinted from the quarto of 1607. Recent as is Mr. McKerrow's introduction, fresh light has been cast upon Barnes since its appearance. That Barnes was in little favour with his fellows, and had a reputation that might be judged irreconcilable with his origin (he was the son of a bishop), was known ; that he was a brawler, an evil liver, and a profligate was to be gathered from evidence, internal and external ; that he was a murderer, a prison-
breaker, and a fugitive from justice has but recently
been discovered. By the light of contemporary
revelations his choice and treatment of a subject
acquire new interest. Barnes had little lyrical in-
spiration, but had a certain amount of ill-regulated
ability. He appears to have been one of the most tur
bulent and disorderly worshippers and imitators
of Marlowe, and will doubtless, if he is judged im-
portant enough, find in due time his rehabilitates.
The basis of his tragedy, which deals with the life
and death of Pope Alexander VI., and was per-
formed before King James at Christmas, 1606,
is taken in the main from Guicciardini, who is
introduced at the end of each act as chorus.
Alexander, who has sold his soul, like Faustus, to
the devil, is a monster of iniquity. The devils
introduced are at times rather hilarious crea-
tures. Written in a style farced with Latin-
isms, the play is a mine for the philologist.
It is quite possible to think of Barnes gloating
over the iniquities he describes. Pantagruell is
mentioned in connexion with a character called
Pantaconger. One scene, in which Alexander woos
from a window, is unparalleled in the drama
until we reach the worst iniquities of Restoration
time and the choicest utterances of Wycherley.
There is no list of characters. There are some
useful notes, textual and others, and a valuable
introduction, dealing with bibliographical points of
great interest. An index at the close is a useful
feature. Had we space to dilate on the play we
could find much to say concerning it. As it is,
we confine ourselves to urging strongly our readers
to subscribe to a series which promises greatly to
enrich our stores of accessible literature. The
works seem to be issued under the protection of
the great University of Louvain, in which M. Bang
is Professor of English Philology. In typographical
respects and in accuracy the publications we have
seen are alike ideal.
The Rubdiydt of Omar Khayyam. Translated by Edward FitzGerald. Illustrated by Gilbert James. (Routledge & Sons.)
THIS edition of FitzGerald's Omar Khayyam con- tains seventy - five stanzas, each printed on a separate page, and is accompanied by twelve re- productions in photogravure of designs by Mr. Gilbert James. These, though slightly sentimen- talized, are Persian in character, are pleasantly suggestive, and add greatly to the attractions of the book. Especially happy is the design serving as frontispiece. It is a delightful work for either library or boudoir, and forms presumably the first issue of what is called "The Photogravure Series. What works will constitute appropriate companions to the ' Rubaiyat' we know not. We are thankful, however, for what we have, and wait patiently for what time will show us.
THE later numbers of the Intermedia!)-*, contain, among other articles relating to a wide range of subjects, papers on the second marriage ot the Duchess of Berry, certain existing descendants of Napoleon the Great, the project of marriage cut short by the death of Leon Gambetta, the armorial coats of bishoprics and abbeys, and the still-existing boundary stones marking the limits of the corree of two adjoining parishes.
THE first article in Folk-lore is the second part of Mr. Cook's account of the sky-god of Europe. Then come ' Notes from Armenia,' by J. R Harris.
