Chapter 63

p. 209 _Guzman Medicines._ Trashy, worthless medicines. In _The Emperor of The Moon_, Act iii, 2, ‘Guzman’ is used as a term of abuse to signify a rascal. The first English translation (by James Mabbe) of Aleman’s famous romance, _Vida del Picaro Guzman d’Alfarache_, is, indeed, entitled _The Rogue_, and it had as running title _The Spanish Rogue._ There is a novel by George Fidge entitled _The English Gusman; or, the History of that Unparallel’d Thief James Hind._ (1652, 4to.)

p. 209 _Copper Chains._ In allusion to the trick played by Estifania on the churlish Cacafogo in Fletcher’s _Rule a Wife and Have a Wife._ He lends her 1000 ducats upon trumpery which she is passing off as rich gems, and when later he scents the cozenage, he bawls out:—

Plague of her jewels, and her copper chains, How rank they smell!

— (Act v, 2.)

The phrase became proverbial for shams.

p. 211 _disimbogue._ This word is generally used of the waters of a river or the outlet of a lake pouring into the open sea.

p. 212 _by Play-Bill, summon’d here._ In Restoration times one method of announcing the next day’s performance to the public was by putting out bills on posts in the streets adjacent to the theatre. There are allusions to this in Pepys, 24 March, 1662 and 28 July, 1664. The whole subject has been exhaustively treated by Mr. W. J. Lawrence in ‘The Origin of the Theatre Programme’— _The Elizabethan Playhouse_ (Second Series).

Epilogue

p. 213. _greasing._ Flattery. Settle’s post as City Poet, it is well known, did not bring him in any great emoluments. He was, in fact, desperately poor, and even volunteered to join King James’ army at Hounslow Heath. In old age he was reduced to writing drolls performed in a 448 Bartholomew Fair booth kept by one Mrs. Minns and her daughter, Mrs. Leigh. He himself acted in these wretched farces, and on one occasion, in _St. George for England_, appeared as a dragon in a green leather case. Eventually he obtained admission to the Charterhouse, where he died 24 February, 1724.

215

THE DUTCH LOVER.

216

Scenes described in (parentheses) are unnumbered.

Argument.

Source.

Theatrical History. Epistle to the Reader Dramatis Personæ.