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Holiday. The piece had been entered in the Stationers' Books on April 8th, 1654, as a
joint production of Marlowe and Day. Our knowledge of Day does not begin before
1599, and it is hardly probable that he was writing before that date. If the comedy was
written by Marlowe and Day, then we must suppose that Day completed a sketch that
had been left by Marlowe, or that he revised the play on the occasion of a revival; but
I very much doubt whether Marlowe ever wrote a comedy.
In 1657 Kirkman, the well-known bookseller, published Lusfs Dominion; or the
Lascivious Queen. A Tragedie written by Christofer Marloe, Gent. This is a play of
some power, but it was certainly not written by Marlowe. Collier showed conclusively
that there are references to historical events that happened after Marlowe's death.
I hasten to bring these remarks to a close. So much has been admirably written about
Marlowe by excellent critics, that I feel I have trespassed on the patience of the reader
by detaining him so long. Far be it from me to attempt to weigh Marlowe's genius. So
long as high tragedy continues to have interest for men, Time shall lay no hands on
the works of Christopher Marlowe. Though
“He who showed such great presumption,
Is hidden now beneath a little stone,“
his pages still pulse with ardent life. In all literature there are few figures more
attractive, and few more exalted, than this of the young poet who swept from the
English stage the tatters of barbarism, and habited Tragedy in stately robes; who was
the first to conceive largely, and exhibit souls struggling in the bonds of circumstance.
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TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT.
IN TWO PARTS.
Two editions of Tamburlaine—one in 410, the other in Svo— were published in
1590. Of the 410 we have only the title-page and the Address to the Readers, which
were found pasted in a copy of the First Part of Tamburlaine preserved in the
Bridgewater Collection. In the Bodleian Library there is a perfect copy of the 1590
Svo of both parts. The title-pages of the Svo and 410 agree verbatim, and run as
follows:—
Tamburlaine the Great. Who, from a Scythian Shephearde by his rare and
tuoonderfull Conquests, became a most puissant and mightye Monarque. And (far his
tyranny, and terrour in Warn) tvas tearmed, The Scourge of God. £euided into two
Tragical! Discourses, as they were sundrie times shewed upon Stages in the Cttie of
London. By the right honorable the lord Admyrall, his seruauntes. Ncrw first, and
newlie published. London, Printed by Richard Jhones: at the signe of the Rose and
Crowne neere Holbome Bridge. 1590.
The half-title of the Second Part in the Svo is—
The Second Part of The bloody Conquest of mighty Tamburlaine. With his
impassionate fury, for the death of his Lady and louefaire Zenocrate: hisfourmt
ofexhortacion and discipline to his three sons, and tht maner of his mm death.
In the Garrick Collection, British Museum, there is an Svo edition of both parts dated
1592; the 8vos of 1590 and 1592 are probably the same book with a different title-
page. Langbaine and Halliwell mention an edition of 1593; and Collier gives the full
title of an edition published in 1597 (Cunningham's Marlowe, p. 368). The two parts
were reissued in 1605-6 with the following titles:—
Tambwrlaine the Create. Who, from the state of a Shepheard in Scythiu, by his rare
and wonderfull Conquests became a most puissant and mighty Monarque. London
Printed for Edward White, and are to be solde at the little North doore of Saint
Paules-Church, at the signe of the Gunne, 1605. 410.
Tamburlaine the Create. With his impassionatc furie, for the death of his Lady and
Louefair Zenocrate: his forme of exhortation and discipline to his three Sonnes, and
the manner of his crwne death. The second part. London Printed by E. A. for Ed.
White, and are to be solde at his Shop neere the little North doore of Saint faults
Church at the Signe of the Gun. 1606. 410.
I have had the 1592 Svo and the 1605-6 4to constantly before me; but Dyce was so
thoroughly accurate in recording the readings of the old copies, that little or nothing in
the way of collation was needed. My friend Mr. C. H. Firth, of Balliol College,
Oxford, kindly referred to the 1590 Svo to see whether any light could be thrown on
certain corrupt passages; but in all cases the Bodleian copy agreed with the 1592 8vo.
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I have not thought it necessary to follow Dyce in recording the misprints and
unnecessary changes of reading that occur in ed. 1605-6. Where the reading of the
later copy seemed a distinct improvement, I have adopted it; but where-ever I have
departed from the Svo, I have been careful to record the original reading in a footnote.
The printer's address, from the 1592 Svo, is as follows:—
ToTheGentlemen-ReadersAndOthersThatTakePleasureInReadingHistories.
Gentlemen and courteous readers whosoever: I have here published in print, for your
sakes, the two tragical discourses of the Scythian shepherd Tamburlaine, that became
so great a conqueror and so mighty a monarch. My hope is, that they will be now no
less acceptable unto you to read after your serious affairs and studies than they have
been lately delightful for many of you to see when the same were shewed in London
upon stages. I have purposely omitted
1
and left out some fond and frivolous gestures,
digressing, and, in my poor opinion, far unmeet for the matter, which I thought might
seem more tedious unto the wise than any way else to be regarded, though haply they
have been of some vain-conceited fondlings greatly gaped at, what time they were
shewed upon the stage in their graced deformities. nevertheless now to be mixtured in
print with such matter of worth, it would prove a great disgrace to so honourable and
stately a history. Great folly were it in me to commend unto your wisdoms either the
eloquence of the author that writ them or the worthiness of the matter itself. I
therefore leave unto your learned censures both the one and the other, and myself the
poor printer of them unto your most courteous and favourable protection, which if you
vouchsafe to accept, you shall evermore bind me to employ what travail and service I
can to the advancing and pleasunng of your excellent degree.
Yours, Most Humble At Commandment,
R[ichard] J[ones], printer.
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TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT,