The Fawn: Or, Parasitaster
By John Marston
()
About this ebook
John Marston was born to John and Maria Marston née Guarsi, and baptised on October 7th, 1576 at Wardington, Oxfordshire.
Marston entered Brasenose College, Oxford in 1592 and earned his BA in 1594. By 1595, he was in London, living in the Middle Temple. His interests were in poetry and play writing, although his father's will of 1599 hopes that he would not further pursue such vanities.
His brief career in literature began with the fashionable genres of erotic epyllion and satire; erotic plays for boy actors to be performed before educated young men and members of the inns of court.
In 1598, he published ‘The Metamorphosis of Pigmalion's Image and Certaine Satyres’, a book of poetry. He also published ‘The Scourge of Villanie’, in 1598.
‘Histriomastix’ regarded as his first play was produced 1599. It’s performance kicked off an episode in literary history known as the War of the Theatres; a literary feud between Marston, Jonson and Dekker that lasted until 1602.
However, the playwrights were later reconciled; Marston wrote a prefatory poem for Jonson's ‘Sejanus’ in 1605 and dedicated ‘The Malcontent’ to him.
Beyond this episode Marston's career continued to gather both strength, assets and followers. In 1603, he became a shareholder in the Children of Blackfriars company. He wrote and produced two plays with the company. The first was ‘The Malcontent’ in 1603, his most famous play. His second was ‘The Dutch Courtesan’, a satire on lust and hypocrisy, in 1604-5.
In 1605, he worked with George Chapman and Ben Jonson on ‘Eastward Ho’, a satire of popular taste and the vain imaginings of wealth to be found in the colony of Virginia.
Marston took the theatre world by surprise when he gave up writing plays in 1609 at the age of thirty-three. He sold his shares in the company of Blackfriars. His departure from the literary scene may have been because of further offence he gave to the king. The king suspended performances at Blackfriars and had Marston imprisoned.
On 24th September 1609 he was made a deacon and them a priest on 24th December 1609. In October 1616, Marston was assigned the living of Christchurch, Hampshire.
He died (accounts vary) on either the 24th or 25th June 1634 in London and was buried in the Middle Temple Church.
Read more from John Marston
The Malcontent: 'People don't forget. Nothing gets forgiven'' Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Dutch Courtezan: 'I just know that there are two theories when arguing with women. And neither one works'' Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAntonio & Mellida: THE FIRST PART OF THE HISTORY OF ANTONIO AND MELLIDA Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhat You Will: 'We all have problems, and we must solve them together or we die alone'' Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Insatiate Countess: 'If you win power, remember why you wanted it'' Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Poetry of John Marston: The Metamorphosis of Pigmalions Image. And Certaine Satyres Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Wonder of Women: Or, The Tragedy of Sophonisba Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAntonio’s Revenge: THE SECOND PART OF THE HISTORY OF ANTONIO AND MELLIDA Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEastward Hoe: "Good men are the stars, the planets of the ages wherein they live, and illustrate the times." Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to The Fawn
Related ebooks
The Countess of Escarbagnas: La Comtesse d'Escarbagnas Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Pretentious Young Ladies Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Marriage A La Mode: “Better shun the bait, than struggle in the snare. ” Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe School for Wives: L'École des Femmes Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Amorous Prince: "Love ceases to be a pleasure when it ceases to be a secret." Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Way of the World Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Adventures Of The Scarlet Pimpernel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5To Delia & The Complaint of Rosamund: 'Love is a sickness full of woes, all remedies refusing'' Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Rival Ladies: "Look around the inhabited world; how few know their own good, or knowing it, pursue." Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Phantom of the Opera (annotated) (Best Navigation, Active TOC) (A to Z Classics) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMuslin (Barnes & Noble Digital Library) Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Muslin Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Phantom of the Opera Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Phantom of the Opera (Golden Deer Classics) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 101, November 14, 1891 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Last Play: Fiction on Two Queer English Playwrights Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Poetry of John Marston: The Metamorphosis of Pigmalions Image. And Certaine Satyres Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDelphi Complete Works of Charles Reade (Illustrated) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsUnder Far Horizons - Selected Poetry of Willa Cather Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThere Is Nothing Like a Dane!: The Lighter Side of Hamlet Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Self-Deceived Husband Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJohn Bull, Junior; or, French as She is Traduced Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Phantom of the Opera - Gaston Leroux Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Queen of Spades and Other Stories Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Affected Young Ladies aka The Pretentious Young Ladies: Les Précieuses Ridicules Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Unfortunate Fursey Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Provok'd Husband: 'Love, like virtue, is its own reward'' Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Way of the World: "Say what you will, ’tis better to be left than never to have been loved." Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Sweet William: A User's Guide to Shakespeare Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Performing Arts For You
A Midsummer Night's Dream, with line numbers Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Yes Please Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Science of Storytelling: Why Stories Make Us Human and How to Tell Them Better Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Becoming Free Indeed: My Story of Disentangling Faith from Fear Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes: Revised and Complete Edition Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Importance of Being Earnest: A Play Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Robin Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5For colored girls who have considered suicide/When the rainbow is enuf Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Hollywood's Dark History: Silver Screen Scandals Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Macbeth (new classics) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Lucky Dog Lessons: From Renowned Expert Dog Trainer and Host of Lucky Dog: Reunions Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Our Town: A Play in Three Acts Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Hamlet Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Coreyography: A Memoir Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Unsheltered: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Diamond Eye: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Romeo and Juliet Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Wuthering Heights Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Trial Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life through the Power of Storytelling Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Dolls House Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Woman Is No Man: A Read with Jenna Pick Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Quite Nice and Fairly Accurate Good Omens Script Book: The Script Book Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Best Women's Monologues from New Plays, 2020 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Stories I Only Tell My Friends: An Autobiography Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Whale / A Bright New Boise Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Story: Style, Structure, Substance, and the Principles of Screenwriting Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Count Of Monte Cristo (Unabridged) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for The Fawn
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
The Fawn - John Marston
The Fawn by John Marston
Or, Parasitaster
As It Hath Bene Divers times presented at the blacke Friars, by the Children of the Queenes Maiesties Reuels
John Marston was born to John and Maria Marston née Guarsi, and baptised on October 7th, 1576 at Wardington, Oxfordshire.
Marston entered Brasenose College, Oxford in 1592 and earned his BA in 1594. By 1595, he was in London, living in the Middle Temple. His interests were in poetry and play writing, although his father's will of 1599 hopes that he would not further pursue such vanities.
His brief career in literature began with the fashionable genres of erotic epyllion and satire; erotic plays for boy actors to be performed before educated young men and members of the inns of court.
In 1598, he published ‘The Metamorphosis of Pigmalion's Image and Certaine Satyres’, a book of poetry. He also published ‘The Scourge of Villanie’, in 1598.
‘Histriomastix’ regarded as his first play was produced 1599. It’s performance kicked off an episode in literary history known as the War of the Theatres; a literary feud between Marston, Jonson and Dekker that lasted until 1602.
However, the playwrights were later reconciled; Marston wrote a prefatory poem for Jonson's ‘Sejanus’ in 1605 and dedicated ‘The Malcontent’ to him.
Beyond this episode Marston's career continued to gather both strength, assets and followers. In 1603, he became a shareholder in the Children of Blackfriars company. He wrote and produced two plays with the company. The first was ‘The Malcontent’ in 1603, his most famous play. His second was ‘The Dutch Courtesan’, a satire on lust and hypocrisy, in 1604-5.
In 1605, he worked with George Chapman and Ben Jonson on ‘Eastward Ho’, a satire of popular taste and the vain imaginings of wealth to be found in the colony of Virginia.
Marston took the theatre world by surprise when he gave up writing plays in 1609 at the age of thirty-three. He sold his shares in the company of Blackfriars. His departure from the literary scene may have been because of further offence he gave to the king. The king suspended performances at Blackfriars and had Marston imprisoned.
On 24th September 1609 he was made a deacon and them a priest on 24th December 1609. In October 1616, Marston was assigned the living of Christchurch, Hampshire.
He died (accounts vary) on either the 24th or 25th June 1634 in London and was buried in the Middle Temple Church.
Index of Contents
STORY OF THE PLAY
TO THE EQUAL READER
TO THE READER
DRAMATIS PERSONÆ
SCENE:—Urbin
THE FAWN
PROLOGUS
ACT I
SCENE I
SCENE II
ACT II
SCENE I
ACT III
SCENE I
ACT IV
SCENE I
ACT V
SCENE I
EPILOGUS
JOHN MARSTON – A SHORT BIOGRAPHY
JOHN MARSTON – A CONCISE BIBLIOGRAPHY
STORY OF THE PLAY
Hercules, the widowed Duke of Ferrara, is anxious that his son Tiberio should marry Dulcimel, daughter of Gonzago, Duke of Urbin; but, finding that he cannot persuade his son to marriage, he declares that he will himself marry Dulcimel. Tiberio is sent to the Court of Urbin to negotiate on his father’s behalf. Hercules follows in disguise to watch the issue, and attaches himself (under the name of Faunus) to Tiberio’s train at Urbin, where by adroit flattery he quickly gains the favour of Gonzago and the confidence of the courtiers. Dulcimel falls in love with Tiberio, and determines to make him her husband. She imposes on her father, Gonzago, a weak-minded lord with a boundless belief in his own wisdom, by a pretended discovery of Tiberio’s love to her; and Gonzago, acting throughout under the impression that he is foiling Tiberio, becomes in the hands of his witty daughter the instrument by which her project is accomplished. Taxed by Gonzago with having made love to Dulcimel, Tiberio warmly denies the charge, but at length he perceives that the lady is making amorous advances, and his blood is fired. In the courtyard of the palace grew a plane-tree by which it was possible to ascend to the window of Dulcimel’s bedchamber. Dulcimel informs her father that Tiberio intended to climb the plane-tree at night and enter her chamber, and that he had asked her to have a priest to be in readiness to conduct the marriage service. Gonzago upbraids Tiberio with his perfidy, and commands him to leave the court before the next morning. Tiberio asks for an explanation, and Gonzago then repeats what his daughter had said. Tiberio is not slow to avail himself of Dulcimel’s invitation; he mounts the plane-tree, the priest is ready, and the marriage is consummated. Gonzago’s chagrin is changed to satisfaction when Hercules, putting off his disguise, expresses his approval of the match.
Much of the play is devoted to an exposure of the faults and follies of Gonzago’s courtiers. At the close of the fifth act there is holden a court of Cupid, at which the delinquents are arraigned.
TO THE EQUAL READER
I have ever more endeavoured to know myself, than to be known of others; and rather to be unpartially beloved of all, than factiously to be admired of a few; yet so powerfully have I been enticed with the delights of poetry, and (I must ingeniously confess) above better desert so fortunate in the stage-pleasings, that (let my resolutions be never so fixed to call mine eyes into myself) I much fear that most lamentable death of him,
"Qui nimis notus omnibus,
Ignotus moritur sibi."—Seneca.
But since the over-vehement pursuit of these delights hath been the sickness of my youth, and now is grown to be the vice of my firmer age—since to satisfy others, I neglect myself—let it be the courtesy of my peruser rather to pity my self-hindering labours than to malice me; and let him be pleased to be my reader, and not my interpreter, since I would fain reserve that office in my own hands, it being my daily prayer:—Absit a jocorum nostrorum simplicitate malignus interpres.
—Martial.
If any shall wonder why I print a comedy, whose life rests much in the actor’s voice, let such know that it cannot avoid publishing; let it therefore stand with good excuse that I have been my own setter out.
If any desire to understand the scope of my comedy, know it hath the same limits which Juvenal gives to his Satires:—
"Quicquid agunt homines, votum, timor, ira, voluptas,
Gaudia, discursus, nostri farrago libelli est."—Juvenal.
As for the factious malice and studied detractions of some few that tread in the same path with me, let all know I most easily neglect them, and (carelessly slumbering to their vicious endeavours) smile heartily at their self-hurting baseness. My bosom friend, good Epictetus, makes me easily to contemn all such men’s malice: since other men’s tongues are not within my teeth, why should I hope to govern them? For mine own interest for once, let this be printed,—that of men of my own addiction I love most, pity some, hate none; for let me truly say it, I once only loved myself, for loving them, and surely I shall ever rest so constant to my first affection, that let their ungentle combinings, discourteous whisperings, never so treacherously labour to undermine my unfenced reputation, I shall (as long as I have being) love the least of their graces, and only pity the greatest of their vices.
And now, to kill envy, know you, that affect to be the only minions of Phœbus, I am not so blushlessly ambitious as to hope to gain any the least supreme eminency among you; I affect not only the ‘Euge’ tuum et ‘Belle!’
—’tis not my fashion to think no writer virtuously confident that is not swellingly impudent; nor do I labour to be held the only spirit whose poems may be thought worthy to be kept in cedar chests:—
"Heliconidasque pallidamque Pyrenen
Illis relinquo quorum imagines lambunt
Hederæ sequaces...."—Persius.
He that pursues fame shall, for me, without any rival, have breath