Library of the world's best literature, ancient and modern . d more to poetry and romancesthan to logic and philosophy. ^^ After leav-ing Oxford he went up to London, to throwin his fortunes with the frequenters of theMermaid Tavern. The enchanted world ofthe drama was at that time clothed in the richness and beauty of its prime. The young hearts of Beaumontand Fletcher, of Webster and Tourneur, still throbbed with ^^ the loveof love, the hate of hate.*^ The brain of genius was still unchilledby doubt and speculation. Massinger, though contemporary with these great children of agreat age, belo
Library of the world's best literature, ancient and modern . d more to poetry and romancesthan to logic and philosophy. ^^ After leav-ing Oxford he went up to London, to throwin his fortunes with the frequenters of theMermaid Tavern. The enchanted world ofthe drama was at that time clothed in the richness and beauty of its prime. The young hearts of Beaumontand Fletcher, of Webster and Tourneur, still throbbed with ^^ the loveof love, the hate of hate.*^ The brain of genius was still unchilledby doubt and speculation. Massinger, though contemporary with these great children of agreat age, belongs by his spirit to a duller time. His dramas havethe solidity of prose without its freedom. His characters and situa-tions lack the spontaneity of nature. He is melodramatic in thesense that his men and women are personifications of virtue or broad via media, the highway on which the majority of mankindis afoot, has no place in his dramas. He is blind to the half-lightsof character,—to the subtle Mendings of shade and color in the mindsof Philip Massinger 9798 PHILIP MASSINGER Camiola and Adorni in ^ The Maid of Honour ^ are exceptions to thisrule. Camiola, who loves Bertoldo and is herself hopelessly belovedof Adorni, is ^^ a small but ravishing substance. ^^ Her impetuous affec-tion, like Juliets, goes directly to its goal without subterfuge ordeviation. When she learns from the servants that Bertoldo is inprison, abandoned by the King, the impatience of her sorrow leaps toher lips: — << Possible ! Pray you, stand I do mutter treason to myself My heart will break; and yet I will not curse him,—He is my King. The news you have deliveredMakes me weary of your company: well saluteWhen we meet next. Ill bring you to the , pray you, no more compliments.^^ Adorni is a noble and convincing figure. When commissioned byCamiola to rescue his rival, she asks of him, ^^ You will do this ? ^^ Heanswers, ^^ Faithfully, madam ;^^ then aside, ^^but
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