The Changeling: "And with necessity, The tyrant's plea, excused his devilish deeds."
By Thomas Middleton and William Rowley
()
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.
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The Changeling - Thomas Middleton
The Changeling by Thomas Middleton
Written with William Rowley
The Changeling was licensed for performance by the Lady Elizabeth's Servants at the Phoenix; it was granted by the Master of the Revels, Sir Henry Herbert, on May 7, 1622.
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
Scene
ACT I
Scene I - A Street Near the Harbor
Scene II - A Room in Alibius's House
ACT II
Scene I - A Chamber in the Castle
Scene II - Another Chamber
ACT III
Scene I - A Narrow Passage
Scene II - A Vault
Scene III - A Room in Alibius's House
Scene IV - A Chamber in the Castle
DUMB SHOW
ACT IV
Scene I - Alsemero's Chamber
Scene II - A Chamber in the Castle
Scene III - A Room in Alibius's House
ACT V
Scene I - A Gallery in the Castle
Scene II - A Chamber
Scene III - Alsemero's Chamber
EPILOGUE
Thomas Middleton – A Short Biography
Thomas Middleton – A Concise Bibliography
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
VERMANDERO, father to Beatrice
TOMAZO de Piracquo, a noble lord
ALONZO de Piracquo, his brother, suitor to Beatrice
ALSEMERO, a nobleman, afterwards married to Beatrice
JASPERINO, his friend
ALIBIUS, a jealous doctor
LOLLIO, his man
PEDRO, friend to Antonio
ANTONIO, the changeling
FRANCISCUS, the counterfeit madman
DEFLORES, servant to Vermandero
MADMEN
Two SERVANTS to Alsemero
A SERVANT to Vermandero
BEATRICE Joanna, daughter to Vermandero
DIAPHANTA, her waiting woman
ISABELLA, wife to Alibius
THE SCENE - Alicant
ACT I
SCENE I - A Street Near the Harbor
Enter ALSEMERO.
ALSEMERO
'Twas in the temple where I first beheld her,
And now again the same; what omen yet
Follows of that? None but imaginary.
Why should my hopes or fate be timorous?
The place is holy, so is my intent:
I love her beauties to the holy purpose,
And that methinks admits comparison
With man's first creation, the place blest,
And is his right home back, if he achieve it.
The church hath first begun our interview
And that's the place must join us into one,
So there's beginning and perfection too.
[Enter JASPERINO.
JASPERINO
O sir, are you here? Come, the wind's fair with you;
Y'are like to have a swift and pleasant passage.
ALSEMERO
Sure y'are deceived, friend; 'tis contrary
In my best judgment.
JASPERINO
What, for Malta?
If you could buy a gale amongst the witches,
They could not serve you such a lucky pennyworth
As comes a' God's name.
ALSEMERO
Even now I observ'd
The temple's vane to turn full in my face;
I know 'tis against me.
JASPERINO
Against you?
Then you know not where you are.
ALSEMERO
Not well indeed.
JASPERINO
Are you not well, sir?
ALSEMERO
Yes, Jasperino,
Unless there be some hidden malady
Within me that I understand not.
JASPERINO
And that
I begin to doubt, sir; I never knew
Your inclinations to travels at a pause
With any cause to hinder it till now.
Ashore you were wont to call your servants up,
And help to trap your horses for the speed.
At sea I have seen you weigh the anchor with 'em,
Hoist sails for fear to lose the foremost breath,
Be in continual prayers for fair winds;
And have you chang'd your orisons?
ALSEMERO
No, friend,
I keep the same church, same devotion.
JASPERINO
Lover I'm sure y'are none: the stoic
Was found in you long ago; your mother
Nor best friends, who have set snares of beauty,
Ay, and choice ones too, could never trap you that way.
What might be the cause?
ALSEMERO
Lord, how violent
Thou art: I was but meditating of
Somewhat I heard within the temple.
JASPERINO
Is this violence? 'Tis but idleness
Compar'd with your haste yesterday.
ALSEMERO
I'm all this while a-going, man.
[Enter Two SERVANTS to Alsemero.
JASPERINO
Backwards, I think, sir. Look, your servants.
FIRST SERVANT
The seamen call; shall we board your trunks?
ALSEMERO
No, not today.
JASPERINO
'Tis the critical day,
It seems, and the sign in Aquarius.
SECOND SERVANT
We must not to sea today; this smoke will bring forth fire.
ALSEMERO
Keep all on shore; I do not know the end,
Which needs I must do, of an affair in hand
Ere I can go to sea.
FIRST SERVANT
Well, your pleasure.
SECOND SERVANT [Aside to FIRST SERVANT]
Let him e'en take his leisure too; we are safer on land.
[Exeunt Alsemero's SERVANTS. Enter BEATRICE, DIAPHANTA, and SERVANTS. ALSEMERO bows to BEATRICE and kisses her.]
JASPERINO [Aside]
How now! The laws of the Medes are chang'd sure: salute a woman! He kisses too: wonderful! Where learnt he this? And does it perfectly too; in my conscience he ne'er rehears'd it