1661. [Title as in ed. 1.] For F. K.
Editions in Harleian Miscellany^2, x (1813), and by J. O. Halliwell (1849, Contributions to Early English Literature) and C. Hindley, Old Book Collector's Miscellany, ii (1872). The Second Maiden's Tragedy. 1611
[MS.] B.M., Lansdowne MS. 807, f. 29, formerly penes John Warburton. [Greg distinguishes four contemporary hands: (a) a scribe or copyist of the original text and certain additions on inserted slips; (b) a corrector, probably the author; (c) the Master of the Revels, Buck; (d) a theatre official, who added stage-directions. The contributions of (b) and (c) are not wholly distinguishable, especially where mere deletions are in question, as the author may, besides literary corrections, have made others due to the hints, or known views, of Buck as censor. The presence of a second literary corrector is just possible. On the verso of the last leaf Buck has written: 'This second Maydens tragedy (for it hath no name inscribed) may w^{th} the reformations bee acted publikely. 31 octob^r. 1611. G. Buc.' In later hands are the title 'The Second Maydens Tragedy' at the beginning, and a note following Buck's endorsed licence, which originally ran, 'The Second Maydens Tragedy October 31^{th} 1611 By Thomas Goffe A Tragedy indeed'. Here Goffe's name has been cancelled, and two successive correctors have substituted, firstly, 'George Chapman', and then 'By Will Shakspear'. Warburton's hand is not discernible, and the last correction was probably made after his time, as his list of manuscript plays (3 Library, ii. 232) includes '2^d. p^t. Maidens Trag ?]. Geo. Chapman'.]
S. R. 1653, Sept. 9. 'The Maid's Tragedie, 2^d. part.' H. Moseley (Eyre, i. 428).
Editions in 1824-5 (O. E. D. i), Chapman's Works (1875, iii), and Dodsley^4 (1875, x), and by W. W. Greg (1909, M. S. R.).—Dissertations: J. Phelan, Philip Massinger (1879, Anglia, ii. 47); A. S. W. Rosenbach, The Curious-Impertinent (1902, M. L. N. xvii. 179); W. Nicholson, The S. M. T. (1912, M. L. N. xxvii. 33).
The play may be assigned to the King's men, in view of stage-directions to ll. 1724, 1928, which show that 'M^r Goughe' played Memphonius and 'Rich Robinson' the Lady. Perhaps this also explains the ascription of authorship to Thomas Goffe, which, like those to Chapman and Shakespeare, now finds no favour. Tieck, who translated the play in his Shakespeare's Vorschule (1829, ii), argued for Massinger, whose lost Tyrant he took the play to be. No doubt the chief character is only entitled 'Tyrant' in the manuscript. But the Tyrant has a separate existence both in S. R. and in Warburton's list. Fleay, ii. 331, thought that the title was originally meant to be The Usurping Tyrant, and that the play was by the author of The Revenger's Tragedy, generally assigned to Tourneur. Rosenbach doubts Massinger, and thinks Tourneur's hand traceable. Swinburne seems to have suggested Middleton.
