IV.

M a ffinger. Philip Mafinger, geb. zu Salisbury 1584, geft. zu London 1639, oder nach anderii, minder wahrscheinlichen, Angaben erst 1669, gehört zu den bessern frühern Lustspiels Dichtern der Engländer, und verdiente es gar sehr, daß mar vor zwolf Jahren eine neue Zusgabe seiner Werte verans ftaltete, ob sich gleich seine Schauspiele auf der Bühne nicht erhalten haben. Bei ihrer ersten Erscheinung fander fle großen Beifall; und noch jekt verdienen fie alle Achtung fps wohl wegen der Reinigteit ihrer Sdreibart, als wegen der Innreichen Erfindung und wrisen Dekonomie ihres Inhalts. Ueberad verrathen fie genaue Herzenstunde und tief eindrins genden Beobachtungsgeist; und bei so schåpbasen Talenten gereicht diesem Dichter die große Bescheidenheit, die ihm eigen war, zu nicht geringem Ruhme.' Sie erwarb ihm die Zus neigung und Freundschaft der beften Dichter reines Zeitals ters, die auch bei einigen Schauspielen feine Sehülfen pas ren, oder sich reines Beistandet bedienten. Die Titel seiner Luftspiele find: The Picture - The Maid of Honour A New Way to pay old Debts - The Great Duke of Florence Thę Bashful Lover The Guardian Old Law City Madam The Noble Choice The Wandering Lover - The Italian Night - Piece The Judge The Spanish Viceroy, or, the Honour of Woman Antonio and Vallią Fast and Welcome.

Unter diesen Stúden, wovon die ietern zum Cheil umgedruckt find, zeichnet sich das, A New Way to pay olt Debts, am meisten aus, und ist eins der besten altern Lustspiele der Englånder; quch wurde es var einigen Jahren von neuem gespielt. Um glücklichsten ist der arglis stige und hassenswerthe Charatter des hartherzigen Erpress fera, Sir Giles Øverreach geschildert, und in folgender

Scene

Scene mit der edeln Dentungsart des ford Levell sehr gut tontrastirt:

Overreach. To my wish, we're private, I come not to make offer with my daughter A certain portion; that were poor and trivial, In one word I pronounce all that is mine In lands, of leases, ready coin, or goods, With her, Mylord, comes to you: nor shall you have One motive to induce you to believe, Į live too long, since ev'ry year I'll add Something unto the heap, which shall be yours tog.

Lovell. You are a right kind father,

Over. You shall have reason
To think me luch. How do you like this feat?
It is well - wooded, and well - water'd; the acres
Fertile and rich; would it not serve for change
To entertain your friends in a summer's progresș ?
What thinks my noble Lord ?

шу
Lov. Tis a wholesome air,
And well- built; and she that is mistress of it,
Worthy the large revenue.

Over. She the mistress ?
It may be fo for a time: but let my Lord
Say only, that he but like it, and would have it,
Į say e'er long 'tis his.

Lov. Impossible!
Over. You do conclude too fast; not know

ing me, Nor the engines I work by, Tis not alone The lady Allworth's lands; for those once Wellborn's, (As by her doatage on hin I know they will be,) Shall soon be mine. But point out any man's In all the shire, and say they lie convenient

And

And useful for your Lordship; and once more
I say aloud, they are yours.

Lov. I dare not own
What's by unjust and cruel means extorted:
My fame and credit are more dear to me,
Than so to exposeem to be censur'd by
The publick voice.

Over. You run, my Lord, no hazard;
Your reputation shall stand as fair.
In all good men's opinions as now:
Nor can my actions, tho'condemn'd for ill,
Cast any foul afperfion upon yours.
For tho' I do contemn report myself,
As a mere found; I still will be so tender
Of what concerns you in all points of honour,
That the immaculate whiteness of your fame,
Nor your unquestion'd integrity,
Shall e'er be sullied with one taint or spot,
That may take from your innocence and candour.
All my ambition is to have my daughter
Right honourable, which my Lord can make her.
And might I live to dance upon my knee
A young Lord Lovell, born by her unto you,
Į write nil ultra to my proudest hopes.
As for possessions and annual rentş,
Equivalent to maintain you in the port
Your noble birth and present state require,
I do remove that burthen from your shoulders,
And take it on nine own: for tho' I ruin
The country to supply your riotous waste,
The scourge of prodigals, want, shall never find you.

Lov. Are you not frighted with the imprecations And curses of whole families, made wretched By your finister practices ?

Ovet, Yes, as rocks are When foamy billows split themselves against Their finty ribs; or as the moon is mov’d, When wolves with hunger pin’d howl at her bright

ness.
I am of a solid temper, and like these
Steer on an constant course: with mine own fword,
If call'd into the field, I can make that right,
Which fearful enemies murmur'd at as wrong.
Now for those other piddeling complaints,
Breath'd out in bitterness, as when they call me
Extortioner, Tyrant, Corinorant; or Intruder,
On my poor neighbour's right, or grand Incloser
Of what was common, to my private use;
Nay, when my ears are pierc'd with widows cries,
And undone orphans wash with tears my threshold,
I only think what 'tis to have my daughter
Right honourable; and 'tis a powerful charm
Makes me insensible of remorse, or pity,
Or the least sting of conscience.

Lov. I admire
The toughness of your nature.

Över. Tis for you,
My Lord, and for my daughter, I am marble.
Nay more, if you will have my character
In little, I enjoy more true delight
In my arrival to my wealth, these dark
And crooked ways, than you shall e'er take pleasure
In spending what my induftry hath compals'd.
My haste commands me hence; in one word tlieres

fore, Is it a match? Lov. I hope, that is past doubt now:

Over. Then rest secure. Not the hate of all

mankind here,
Nor fear of what can fall on me hereafter,
Shall make me ftudy aught but your advancement
One story higher. An Earl! if gold can do it,
Dispute not my religion, nor my faith,
Though I am born thus headlong by my will;
You may make choice of what belief you please,
To me they are all equal; so, niy Lord, good morrow.'

(Exic.)
Lov. He's gone. I wonder how the earth can

bear
Such a portent! I that have liv'd a soldier,
And stood the enemy's violent charge undaunted,
To hear this blafphemous beast, I'm bath'd all over
In a cold sweat; yet like a mountain hė,
Confirm'd in atheistical asertions,
Is no more shaken, than Olympus is,
When angry Boreas loads his double head
With sudden drifts of snow

V.
Beaumont und Fletcher. *)

Man nennt diese beiden Ochauspieldichter fast immet en Berbindung mit einander, weil sie ihre Schauspiele ges

meins

*) Umstäntlicher febe man über diese beiden Dichter die biogras

phulden und Britischen Abhandlungen von Sympron, Ses wars und Langbaine, welche Hr, v. Gerstenberg seinet deberlegung der Braut, (The Maids Tragedy) Stoppenb. und feipzig, 1765. 8. beigefügt bat; und des jüngern Hrn. Suber vorläufige Anmerkungen zu seiner liebersetzung des Studs A King and 16 King, unter dem Titel: Ethelwolf, oder, der König kein König, Deffaa und Leipzig, 1785. 8.