EARLY PLAYS FROM THE ITALIAN EDITED, WITH ESSAY, INTRODUCTIONS AND NOTES K. WARWICK BOND M.A. EDITOR OF THE OXFORD LYLY AKD OTHER WOBKS OXFORD AT THE CLARENDON PRESS M DCCCC XL HENRY FROWDE, M.A. PUBLISHER TO THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD LONDON, ZDINDURGH, NEW YORK TORONTO AND MECIIOUBME PREFACE WHAT 1 have endeavoured to do in this little book is something wider than an edition of three plays, and something closer than can we11 be done in a literary history. I started with the wish to show how ancient Greek and Roman Comedy ...
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EARLY PLAYS FROM THE ITALIAN EDITED, WITH ESSAY, INTRODUCTIONS AND NOTES K. WARWICK BOND M.A. EDITOR OF THE OXFORD LYLY AKD OTHER WOBKS OXFORD AT THE CLARENDON PRESS M DCCCC XL HENRY FROWDE, M.A. PUBLISHER TO THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD LONDON, ZDINDURGH, NEW YORK TORONTO AND MECIIOUBME PREFACE WHAT 1 have endeavoured to do in this little book is something wider than an edition of three plays, and something closer than can we11 be done in a literary history. I started with the wish to show how ancient Greek and Roman Comedy finds representation in our own, not only in subject and spirit, but in matters of form and technique and to show this not only by statement and discussion, but by giving therewith actual plays to which the reader might instantly turn for verification of indicated parallelism 01- imitation. I wished to bring under the purely English readers notice some facts about ancient comedy for its own sake, facts usually too cursorily dismissed in histories of the modern drama to leave a very distinct impression on the mind and at the same time I wished to show the great impor- tance of Italian Renaissance Comedy in handing on the classical form and substance to modern Europe, whiIe introducing considerable modifications of it. The general influence of Italy has been stated again and again. Critic after critic has raked together the allusions to Italian fashions, Italian books, Italian acting, found in English treatises of the first twenty or thirty years of Elizabeth, or in English plays of the latter half of her reign. But the illustration offered has been inade- quate to ensure the due realization of the Latin or Italian conncxion and that largely because English exemplars ofclassical dramatic form were so few and so inaccessible. Until quite recently Roister Dozstcr was the only early a 2 iv PKEFACE Latinized play that the ordinary student had a chance of making his own and the Latin Comedy relations even of that piece were inadequateIy stated, the Etinzchts being overlooked. Jack Jugglm was, and remains, buried in the fifteen volumcs of Hazlitts Dodslty Of Sqposps, so important for Latin and Italian Comedy alike, the only modern reprints were in large collections, 01- in the same editors expensive and limited edition of Gascoignes collected Works. I well remember how Iong it was before I had any opportunity of reading the actual text for myself and my case must have been that of countless others. The Buggbears and Mzsogozks, admirable examples of Italian and Latin influence, and of the way these combined with the native spirit, were never printed before 1897 and 1898, and then in Germany. And it may well be questioned whether the failure to emphasize the Latin connexions of our drama has not been due to inadequate knowledge of Latin Cqmedy itseIf. Terence has fared better than Plautus, in modern as in medizval days he has always seemed more possible as an educational subject, whether on philological or moral . grounds. With the twenty suiving plays of his more vigorous and original predecessor it is permissible to doubt the existence among us of any very full acquaintance, even in the case of professed scholars. Plautus, abounding in good things, is very seldom quoted and outside histories of Roman literature, of the existence of which the average student of English is quite uncanscious, there is but little to be found about his work and influence.Admirable service to PIautine literary study as done by the Spatere Btarbitzgcrz pEazktirzisckr L ztspieek of Dr. Karl von Reinhardstijttner Leipzig, 1886 but for the English reader there was nothing of similar PREFACE v kind before Professor M. V. Walfaces capital Introduction to his edition of Tht Birth of HerctiZtx published at Chicago, 1903, which dlscusscd his inhence on our sixteenth-century drama, whether direct, or filtcred through Germany or Italy...
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Seller's Description:
This is an ex-library book and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside. This book has hardback covers. In good all round condition. No dust jacket. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item, 650grams, ISBN:
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Seller's Description:
Fair/No Jacket. Ex-Library Reissue of the 1911 edition. Usual ex-library features, some marked through. The interior is clean and tight. Cover is slightly discolored and worn at corners. Library label and scuff on spine. 332 pages including index.