Volume Ii Part 1 (1/2)

A Select Collection of Old English Plays.

Vol. II.

by Robert Dodsley.

THE INTERLUDE OF YOUTH.

EDITIONS.

_See Hazlitt's ”Handbook,” 1867, p. 464, and Remarks_.

MR. HALLIWELL'S PREFACE[1] TO THE FORMER EDITION.

The ”Interlude of Youth” is probably the most interesting early-printed moral play that has descended to our times, and it may therefore be considered somewhat singular that it has. .h.i.therto escaped the notice of the publication societies. Its great rarity may, however, account for this circ.u.mstance, only two or three copies of any edition being known to exist. Waley's edition appeared probably about the year 1554, and has a woodcut on the t.i.tle-page of two figures, representing Charity and Youth, two of the characters in the interlude. Another edition was printed by Copland, and has also a woodcut on the t.i.tle-page, representing Youth between Charity, and another figure which has no name over its head. The colophon is: ”Imprented at London, in Lothbury, over against Sainct Margarytes church, by me, Wyllyam Copland.” See Collier's ”History of Dramatic Poetry,” vol. ii., p. 313. ”The 'Interlude of Youth,'” observes Mr Collier, ”is decidedly a Roman Catholic production, and I have therefore little doubt that it made its appearance during the reign of Mary;” and he adds, p. 315, ”on the whole, this piece is one of the most amusing and most humorous of the cla.s.s to which it belongs.” A fragment of a black-letter copy of the interlude is preserved at Lambeth Palace,[2] and is described by Mr Maitland in his ”List of Early Printed Books,” p. 311.

INTERLUDE OF YOUTH.

CHARITY.

Jesu that his arms did spread, And on a tree was done to dead, From all perils he you defend!

I desire audience till I have made an end, For I am come from G.o.d above To occupy his laws to your behove, And am named Charity; There may no man saved be Without the help of me, For he that Charity doth refuse, Other virtues though he do use, Without Charity it will not be, For it is written in the faith: _Qui manet in charitate in Deo manet_.

I am the gate, I tell thee, Of heaven, that joyful city; There may no man thither come, But of charity he must have some, Or ye may not come, i-wis, Unto heaven, the city of bliss; Therefore Charity, who will him take, A pure soul it will him make Before the face of G.o.d: In the ABC, of books the least, It is written _Deus charitas est_.

Lo! charity is a great thing, Of all virtues it is the king: When G.o.d in earth was here living, Of charity he found none ending.

I was planted in his heart; We two might not depart.[3]

Out of his heart I did spring, Through the might of the heaven-king: And all priests that be, May sing no ma.s.s without charity: And charity to them they do not take, They may not receive him, that did them make And all this world of nought.

YOUTH.

Aback, fellows, and give me room, Or I shall make you to avoid soon!

I am goodly of person; I am peerless, wherever I come.

My name is Youth, I tell thee, I flourish as the vine-tree: Who may be likened unto me, In my youth and jollity?

My hair[4] is royal and bushed thick; My body pliant as a hazel-stick; Mine arms be both big[5] and strong, My fingers be both fair and long; My chest big as a tun, My legs be full light for to run, To hop and dance, and make merry.

By the ma.s.s, I reck not a cherry, Whatsoever I do!

I am the heir of all my father's land, And it is come into my hand: I care for no more.

CHARITY.

Are you so disposed to do, To follow vice, and let virtue go!

YOUTH.

Yea, sir, even so: For now-a-days he is not set by, Without he be unthrifty.

CHARITY.

You had need to ask G.o.d mercy; Why did you so praise your body?

YOUTH.

Why, knave, what is that to thee?

Wilt thou let[6] me to praise my body?

Why should I not praise it, and it be goodly?

I will not let for thee.

CHARITY.