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النشر الإلكتروني

THE ALCHEMIST

BY

BEN JONSON

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

BEN JONSON was born of poor parents at Westminster in 1573. Through the influence of Camden, the antiquary, he got a good education at Westminster School; but he does not seem to have gone to a University, though later both Oxford and Cambridge gave him degrees. In his youth he practised for a time his stepfather's trade of bricklaying, and he served as a soldier in Flanders.

It was probably about 1595 that he began to write for the stage, and within a few years he was recognized as a distinguished playwright. His comedy of “Every Man in His Humour” was not only a great immediate success, but founded a school of satirical drama in England. “Sejanus" and "Catiline" were less popular, but are impressive pictures of Roman life, less interesting but more accurate than the Roman plays of Shakespeare. For the court of James I, Jonson wrote a large number of masques, which procured him substantial rewards in the form of pensions.

But it was between 1605 and 1614 that Jonson's greatest work was done. "Volpone,” “Epicone," "The Alchemist," and "Bartholomew Fair" belong to this period, and are all masterpieces.

After the accession of Charles I, Jonson fell into adversity. His plays were less successful and he had enemies at court; but he continued to hold his position of leadership among his fellow authors.

A specimen of Jonson's prose will be found in the volume of “English Essays" in the Harvard Classics, and a number of his graceful lyrics in the first volume of “English Poetry.”

Jonson died in 1637, and was celebrated in a volume of elegies to which all the chief poets of the day contributed.

"The Alchemist" is perhaps the most perfect technically of Jonson's plays, and is an admirable satire on the quacks and humbugs of the day. It contains, at the same time, so much universal human nature, and is so excellent in art, that it holds a place among the first of those Elizabethan works that have held the interest of posterity.

ARGUMENT

THE sickness hot,' a master quit, for fear,
His house in town, and left one servant there;
E ase him corrupted, and gave means to know
A Cheater and his punk; who now brought low,
Leaving their narrow practice, were become
Coz'ners at large; and only wanting some
House to set up, with him they here contract,
Each for a share, and all begin to act.
Much company they draw, and much abuse,"
In casting figures, telling fortunes, news,
Selling of flies," flat bawdry, with the stone,'
Till it, and they, and all in fumes are gone.

The plague raging. Calculating the future. • Smoke.

• Deceive. 'Philosopher's ston

* Mistress. * Swindlers.
Familiar spirits.

PROLOGUE

FORTUNE, that favours fools, these two short hours
We wish away, both for your sakes and ours,
Judging spectators; and desire, in place,

To th' author justice, to ourselves but grace.
Our scene is London, 'cause we would make known,
No country's mirth is better than our own:
No clime breeds better matter for your whore,

Bawd, squire, impostor, many persons more,
Whose manners, now call'd humours, feed the stage;
And which have still been subject for the rage
Or spleen of comic writers. Though this pen
Did never aim to grieve, but better men;
Howe'er the age he lives in doth endure

The vices that she breeds, above their cure.
But when the wholesome remedies are sweet,
And in their working gain and profit meet,
He hopes to find no spirit so much diseas'd,

But will with such fair correctives be pleas'd: For here he doth not fear who can apply.

If there be any that will sit so nigh Unto the stream, to look what it doth run,

They shall find things, they'd think or wish were done;

They are so natural follies, but so shown,

As even the doers may see, and yet not own.

[blocks in formation]

[Enter] FACE, [in a captain's uniform, with his sword drawn, and] SUBTLE [ith a vial, quarrelling, and followed by] DOL COMMON

Face

ELIEVE 't, I will.

BR

love

[blocks in formation]

DOL. Have you your wits? why, gentlemen! for

FACE. Sirrah, I'll strip you

SUB.

What to do?

FACE. Rogue, rogue!-out of all your sleights.'

DOL. Nay, look ye, sovereign, general, are you madmen? SUB. O, let the wild sheep loose. I'll gum your silks With good strong water, an you come.

DOL.
Will you have
The neighbours hear you? Will you betray all?

1 A room in Lovewit's house.

Drop your tricks.

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