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    The Family of Love: "Who reigns within himself, and rules Passions, desires, and fears, is more a king."
    The Family of Love: "Who reigns within himself, and rules Passions, desires, and fears, is more a king."
    The Family of Love: "Who reigns within himself, and rules Passions, desires, and fears, is more a king."
    Ebook140 pages1 hour

    The Family of Love: "Who reigns within himself, and rules Passions, desires, and fears, is more a king."

    By Thomas Middleton, Thomas Dekker and Lording Barry

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    About this ebook

    Thomas Middleton was born in London in April 1580 and baptised on 18th April. Middleton was aged only five when his father died. His mother remarried but this unfortunately fell apart into a fifteen year legal dispute regarding the inheritance due Thomas and his younger sister. By the time he left Oxford, at the turn of the Century, Middleton had and published Microcynicon: Six Snarling Satirese which was denounced by the Archbishop of Canterbury and publicly burned. In the early years of the 17th century, Middleton wrote topical pamphlets. One – Penniless Parliament of Threadbare Poets was reprinted several times and the subject of a parliamentary inquiry. These early years writing plays continued to attract controversy. His writing partnership with Thomas Dekker brought him into conflict with Ben Jonson and George Chapman in the so-called War of the Theatres. His finest work with Dekker was undoubtedly The Roaring Girl, a biography of the notorious Mary Frith. In the 1610s, Middleton began another playwriting partnership, this time with the actor William Rowley, producing another slew of plays including Wit at Several Weapons and A Fair Quarrel. The ever adaptable Middleton seemed at ease working with others or by himself. His solo writing credits include the comic masterpiece, A Chaste Maid in Cheapside, in 1613. In 1620 he was officially appointed as chronologer of the City of London, a post he held until his death. The 1620s saw the production of his and Rowley's tragedy, and continual favourite, The Changeling, and of several other tragicomedies. However in 1624, he reached a peak of notoriety when his dramatic allegory A Game at Chess was staged by the King's Men. Though Middleton's approach was strongly patriotic, the Privy Council silenced the play after only nine performances at the Globe theatre, having received a complaint from the Spanish ambassador. What happened next is a mystery. It is the last play recorded as having being written by Middleton. Thomas Middleton died at his home at Newington Butts in Southwark in the summer of 1627, and was buried on July 4th, in St Mary's churchyard which today survives as a public park in Elephant and Castle.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherStage Door
    Release dateNov 1, 2016
    ISBN9781785438844
    The Family of Love: "Who reigns within himself, and rules Passions, desires, and fears, is more a king."

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      Book preview

      The Family of Love - Thomas Middleton

      The Family of Love by Thomas Middleton 

      There has been much opinion as to whether this is actually a play by Middleton.  The opinions are varied and include certain evidence that Thomas Dekker & Lording Barry can also be attributed.

      The play was entered into the Stationers' Register on 12 Oct, 1607 and published in quarto in 1608.

      It was performed by the King's Revels Children.

      Thomas Middleton was born in London in April 1580 and baptised on 18th April.

      Middleton was aged only five when his father died. His mother remarried but this unfortunately fell apart into a fifteen year legal dispute regarding the inheritance due Thomas and his younger sister.

      By the time he left Oxford, at the turn of the Century, Middleton had and published Microcynicon: Six Snarling Satirese which was denounced by the Archbishop of Canterbury and publicly burned.

      In the early years of the 17th century, Middleton wrote topical pamphlets. One – Penniless Parliament of Threadbare Poets was reprinted several times and the subject of a parliamentary inquiry.  

      These early years writing plays continued to attract controversy.  His writing partnership with Thomas Dekker brought him into conflict with Ben Jonson and George Chapman in the so-called War of the Theatres. 

      His finest work with Dekker was undoubtedly The Roaring Girl, a biography of the notorious Mary Frith. 

      In the 1610s, Middleton began another playwriting partnership, this time with the actor William Rowley, producing another slew of plays including Wit at Several Weapons and A Fair Quarrel.

      The ever adaptable Middleton seemed at ease working with others or by himself. His solo writing credits include the comic masterpiece, A Chaste Maid in Cheapside, in 1613.

      In 1620 he was officially appointed as chronologer of the City of London, a post he held until his death.

      The 1620s saw the production of his and Rowley's tragedy, and continual favourite, The Changeling, and of several other tragicomedies.

      However in 1624, he reached a peak of notoriety when his dramatic allegory A Game at Chess was staged by the King's Men. Though Middleton's approach was strongly patriotic, the Privy Council silenced the play after only nine performances at the Globe theatre, having received a complaint from the Spanish ambassador.

      What happened next is a mystery.  It is the last play recorded as having being written by Middleton.

      Thomas Middleton died at his home at Newington Butts in Southwark in the summer of 1627, and was buried on July 4th, in St Mary's churchyard which today survives as a public park in Elephant and Castle.

      Index of Contents

      Dramatis Personae

      Preface

      Prologue

      ACT I

      Scene I - A Gallery in Glister’s House.

      Scene II - A Street Before Glister’s House.

      Scene III - A Room in Purge’s House.

      ACT II

      Scene I - A Room in Purge’s House.

      Scene II - A Street.

      Scene III - Another Street.

      Scene IV - A Room in Glister’s House.

      ACT III

      Scene I - Maria’s Room.

      Scene II - A Street Before the Meeting-House of the Family of Love.

      Scene III - Lipsalve’s Chamber, and Outside.

      Scene IV - Maria’s Room.

      ACT IV

      Scene I - A Street Before the Meeting-House of the Family of Love.

      Scene II - A Street.

      Scene III - A Room in Glister’s House.

      Scene IV - A Street.

      ACT V

      Scene I - A Room in Glister’s House.

      Scene II - A Street Before Glister’s House.

      Scene III - A Room in Dryfat’s House.

      Epilogue

      Thomas Middleton – A Short Biography

      Thomas Middleton – A Concise Bibliography

      DRAMATIS PERSONAE

      GLISTER, a doctor of physic

      Peter PURGE, a jealous pothecary

      DRYFAT, a merchant, a Brother of the Family

      GERARDINE, a lover

      Laurence LIPSALVE }

      Gregory GUDGEON  } two gallants that only pursue city lechery

      CLUB, a prentice

      VIAL, a servant to Glister

      SHRIMP  }

      PERIWINKLE  } pages to the gallants

      MISTRESS GLISTER

      MISTRESS Rebecca PURGE, an Elder in the Family

      MARIA, niece to Glister

      SERVANTS

      PREFACE

      Too soon and too late is this work is published: too soon, in that it was in the press before I had notice of it, by which means some faults may escape in the printing; too late, for that it was not published when the general voice of the people had sealed it for good, and the newness of it made it much more desired than at this time. For plays in this city are like wenches new-fallen to the trade: only desired of your neatest gallants whiles they're fresh; when they grow stale they must be rented by termers and country chapmen. I know not how this labour will please: sure I am it passed the censure of the stage with a general applause; now whether vox populi be vox Dei or no, that I leave to be tried by the acute judgment of the famous six wits of the city. Farewell.

      PROLOGUE

      If, for opinion hath not blaz'd his fame

      Nor expectation filled the general round,

      You deem his labours slight, you both confound

      Your graver judgment and his merits:

      Impartial hearing fits judicious spirits.

      Nor let the fruit of many an hour fall

      By envy's tooth or base detraction's gall,

      Both which are tokens of such abject spirits,

      Which wanting worth themselves hate other merits;

      Or else of such which, once made great by fame,

      Repine at those which seek t'attain the same.

      From both we know all truer judgments free;

      To them our muse with blushing modesty

      Patiently to her entreats their favour;

      Which done, with judgment praise, or else dislike the labour.

      ACT I

      SCENE I - A Gallery in Glister's House.

      Enter GLISTER, his WIFE, and MARIA.

      GLISTER

      Tricks and shows: protestations with men are like tears with women, forgot ere the cheek be dry. Gerardine is a gentleman; his lands be in statutes: 'a is not for thee, nor thou for him; 'a is a gallant, and young thoughts be most unconstant.

      MARIA

      Yet young vines yield most wine.

      MISTRESS GLISTER

      But old vines the best. Believe not these great-breeched gallants; they love for profit, not for affection; if 'a brings thee to a fool's paradise, 'a will forsake thee.

      GLISTER

      Which fortune God send my enemy. Love is a cold heat, a bitter sweet, a pleasure full of pain, a huge loss, and no gain. Why shouldst thou love him only?

      MARIA

      Words cannot force what destiny hath seal'd.

      Who can resist the influence of his stars,

      Or give a reason why 'a loves or hates,

      Since our affections are not rul'd by will,

      But will by our affections? 'Tis blasphemy

      'Gainst love's most sacred deity, to axe

      Why we do love, since 'tis his only power

      That sways all our affections; all things which be,

      Beasts, birds, men, gods, pay him their fealty.

      GLISTER

      Tut, love is an idle fantasy, bred by desire, nursed by delight, an humour that begins his dominion in Leo the Lion, the sign of the heart, and ends in Aries the Ram, the sign of the head; his power is to stir the blood, pricks up the flesh, fills all the body with a libidinous humour, and is indeed the overture of all ladies. Which to prevent, I have banished Gerardine, your dearly beloved, my house; and as for you, since I am your guardian by my brother's last will, I will sequester you from all other rooms in my house, save this gallery and your upper chamber, till in discretion I shall find it convenient to enlarge

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