THIS Play was the object of ridicule to almost every writer of the times*. Phillips and Winstanly ascribe it, but erroneously, to Thomas Smith. We learn from Heywood, that it was the production of Thomas Kyd: to whom, therefore, all the absurdities contained in it are to be charged. The former edition was printed from a very incorrect copy. It is here given from that published by Mr. Hawkins, who appears to have accurately collated all the several editions, and the variations in each are put at the bottom of the page. We find, from Dekkar's Satiromastrix, that Ben Jonson originally performed the part of Jeronimo +. *Its great popularity no doubt was one cause. Prynne, in his Histriomastix fol. 556, has a curious passage which, in all probability, refers to the Spanish Tragedy: he is quoting the authority of the "English Gentlewoman," by R. Braithwaite, who, it is stated in the margin, was present at the occurrence. "To these two former precedents (says Prynne) I shall annex the parallel example of a late English Gentlewoman of good ranke; who daily bestowing the expence of her best houres upon the stage, and at last falling into a dangerous sicknesse of which she died, her friends in her extremity sent for a minister to comfort, counsell, and prepare her for her end, who coming to instruct her, and advising her to repent, and call upon God for mercy, she made him no reply at all; but cried out Hieronimo, Hieronimo: O let mee see Hieronimo acted, (calling out for a play, in stead of crying unto God for mercy,) and so closed her dying eyes." C. † See Hawkins' Origin of the English Drama, III. 117. This fact depends merely upon the evidence of Dekkar, which is denied by Mr. Gifford: at the same time it is a point of little importance, for were it true it could form no imputation against Ben Jonson. Mr. Gifford also (Jonson's Works, I. xvii.) notices the adycions made by Jonson to Jeronimo. This fact rests upon the following quotations from the lately discovered MSS. of Henslowe. "Lent unto Mr. Alleyn the 25 September 1601, to lend unto Bengemen Johnson, upon his writing of his adycions to Jeronimo, XXXXS." "Lent unto Bengemy Johnsone at the apoyntment of E. Alleyn and William Birde, the 22 of June 1602, in earnest of a booke called Richard Crook-back, and for new adycions for Jeronimo, the some of x lb." Unquestionably these additions, which will be found distinguished by italics, bear marks of a hand greatly superior to that of Kyd, though Mr. Hawkins says, they were foisted in by the players." They are mentioned on the title page of the edition of 1602 of the Spanish Tragedy. Henslowe confounds Jeronimo and the Spanish Tragedy, and it does not appear that any additions were made to the former. DRAMATIS PERSONE. The GHOST of ANDREA. King of SPAIN. Viceroy of PORTINGALE. Don CYPRIAN, Duke of Castile. BALTHAZAR, the Viceroy's Son, in Love with Belim THE SPANISH TRAGEDY: OR HIERONIMO IS MAD AGAIN. ACT. I. Enter the Ghost of ANDREA, and with him REVENGE. Ghost. WHEN this eternal substance of my soul To gracious fortunes of my tender youth: 1 wonted, 1618. 23. 33. 1618. 23. 33. 2 There in the pride and prime, 3 summer's, 1623. 33. |