Part 21 (1/2)

Hamlet's little monologue: [58] 'Tis now the very witching time of night,'

runs thus with Mendozo:--[59]

'Tis now about the immodest waste of night; The mother of moist dew with pallide light Spreads gloomie shades about the mummed earth.

Sleepe, sleepe, whilst we contrive our mischiefes birth.

Then, parodying Hamlet as he draws forth the dead Polonius from behind the arras, Mendozo says:--

This man Ile (I'll) get inhumde.

Thus, all kinds of Shaksperian incidents and locutions are brought forward, wherever they are apt to produce the most comic effect. Several times, from the beginning, the 'weasel' is mentioned with which Hamlet rallies Polonius. We also hear of the 'sponge which sucks'--a simile used by Hamlet (act iv. sc. 3) in regard to Rosencrantz. Nor is the 'true-penny' forgotten--a word used by Hamlet [60] to designate his father's ghost as a true and genuine one; nor the 'Hillo, ho, ho.'

In all these allusions, of which an attentive reader might easily find scores, there is no systematic order of thoughts. Only in the religious questions we meet with a clear system: they are all addressed to Malevole, who is represented as a kind of freethinker, similar to the one whom Marston, in his preface, wishes to be outlawed, and of whom he says that he fully merits the 'tartness' and freedom of his satire. In the very beginning of 'The Malcontent,' Pietro asks Malevole:

I wonder what religion thou art of?

_Malevole_. Of a souldiers religion. [61]

_Pietro_. And what doost thinke makes most infidells now?

_Malevole_. Sects. Sects! I have seene seeming Pietie change her roabe so oft, that sure none but some arch-divell can shape her pitticoate.

_Pietro_. O! a religious pllicie.

_Malevole_. But d.a.m.nation on a politique religion!

In act ii. sc. 5 we find the following:--

_Malevole_. I meane turne pure Rochelchurchman. [62]

I--

_Mendozo_. Thou Churchman! Why? Why?

_Malevole_. Because He live lazily, raile upon authoritie, deny Kings supremacy in things indifferent, and be a pope in mine owne parish.

_Mendozo_. Wherefore doost thou thinke churches were made?

_Malevole_. To scowre plow-shares. I have seene oxen plow uppe altares: _Et nunc seges ubi Sion fuit_.

Then there is again what appears to be an allusion to Hamlet, act i.

sc. 4, resembling that in 'Volpone':--

I have seen the stoned coffins of long-flead Christians burst up and made hogs troughs.

In act iv. sc. 4, Mendozo says to Malevole, whom he wishes to use for the murder of a hermit:--

Yea, provident. Beware an hypocrite!

A Church-man once corrupted, Oh avoide!

A fellow that makes religion his stawking horse.