THE REVENGER'S TRAGEDY.

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William Carew Hazlitt

For a notice of the Edition, see the next page.

INTRODUCTION.

Cyril Torneur is known only as an author, none of the dramatic biographers giving any account of him. Winstanley quotes the following distich from a contemporary poet, by which it appears that he was not held in much estimation for his writings—

"His fame unto that pitch was only rais'd,
 As not to be despis'd, nor over-prais'd."

He was the author of—

[(1.) The Transformed Metamorphosis, a Poem. 8o, London, 1600.[1]]

(2.) The Revengers Tragoedie. As it hath beene sundry times Acted by the Kings Maiesties Seruants. At London. Printed by G. Eld, and are to be sold at his house in Fleete-lane at the signe of the Printers-Presse. 1607, 4o. Again (a new date only) 1608, 4o.[2]

(3.) "The Atheists Tragedie: Or The honest Mans Reuenge. As in diuers places it hath often beene Acted. Written by Cyril Tourneur. At London Printed for John Stepneth and Richard Redmer, and are to be sold at their shop, at the West end of Paules. 1611,"[3] 4o. Again, 1612, 4o.

(4.) A Traji-Comedy, called The Nobleman, never printed, and which Oldys says was destroyed by ignorance.[4]

(5.) A Funerall Poeme. Vpon the Death of the most Worthie and Trve Sovldier: Sir Francis Vere, Knight, Captaine of Portsmouth, L. Gouernour of his Maiesties Cautionarie Towne of Briell in Holland, &c., 4o, 1609.

(6.) A Griefe on the Death of Prince Henrie. Expressed in a broken Elegie, according to the nature of such a sorrow, 4o, 1613.[5]

[A MS. note in one of the former editions says: "This is a most splendid work. The character of Vendice surpasses anything else of the kind. The power with which it is conceived and conducted is appalling. The quaint way that accompanies it adds to its fearful effect. The whole is perfectly tremendous."]

FOOTNOTES:

[1] [See Hazlitt's "Handbook," 1867, art. Tourneur, in Appendix.]

[2] "The Revenger's Tragedy" was entered on the Stationers' Books, with "A Trick to Catch the Old One," on the 7th October 1607.

[3] There are some good passages in this play, but upon the whole it is considerably inferior to "The Revenger's Tragedy." The plot is unnatural, and the manner in which the catastrophe is brought about ludicrous.—Collier.

[4] It is very probable that Tourneur was concerned in other dramatic productions, which are either anonymous, or have been lost. He is mentioned in the following terms by Robert Daborne in a letter to P. Henslowe, dated 5th June 1613: "I have not only laboured my own play, which shall be ready before they (the company) come over, but given Cyrill Tourneur an act of the 'Arraignment of London' to write, yt we may have that likewise ready for them."—Collier.

[5] [This is part of a volume entitled, "Three Elegies on the most Lamented Death of Prince Henrie," 1613. The others are by John Webster and T. Heywood.] After the title comes a prose dedication, "To my noble Maister George Carie," and four lines "To the Reader." At the end of the "Griefe" are verses "On the representation of the Prince at his funeralle," and "On the succession," each in eight lines.—Gilchrist.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.[6]

  • Duke.
  • Duchess.
  • Vendice, disguised as Piato, } Brothers to Castiza.
  • Hippolito, also called Carlo, }
  • Lusurioso, the Duke's Son.
  • Spurio, a Bastard.
  • Ambitioso, The Duchess's eldest Son.
  • Supervacuo, second Son to the Duchess.
  • A third Son to the Duchess.
  • Antonio.
  • Piero.
  • Dondolo.
  • Judges.
  • Castiza.
  • Gratiana, Mother of Catiza.

The Scene, Italy.

FOOTNOTES:

[6] [Not in the old copy.]

THE REVENGER'S TRAGEDY.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

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