The Reputation of Christopher Marlowe. 401 



next scene (Act IV, sc. i), lines 1303- 1349 and 1529- 1653 (reduced 

 and altered) are thrown together. Thus the poisoning of Ahigail 

 and the nuns is omitted, as well as the device by which Friar 

 Jacomo is hanged. Consec^uently, in what corresponds to 11. 

 1733 ff., Ithamore is represented as watching a pirate's execution, 

 not a friar's. 



In Penley's version of 11. 1950-2001, the poisoning is portrayed 

 in a more conventional manner than in Marlowe : 'As they take 

 the Flozvers from Barahas, he dra-u's a suiall packet from his bosom, 

 and throws the contents into the tzco ij^oblets. Between lines 1969 

 and 1970 of Marlowe, a distinctly original song is inserted: 



Barabas Plays and Sings. 

 Scarce had the purple gleam of day 



Glanc'd lightly on the glowing sea, 

 When forc'd by fortune'? shafts away, 



My native land, I quitted thee. 



There tho' the sable raven soar. 



And nightly screams her death-fraught yell, 

 Tho' rav'ning ban dogs bay the door. 

 And howling wolves o'erpace the dell. 



Tho' ice-winged tempests fret the sky, 



And chill the early flow'rets bloom, 

 Tho' still we see our rosebuds die. 



And in the snow the lillies tomb. 



And these tired feet each soil have press'd. 

 Where joy and pleasures seemi to be. 



Where all by smiling Heav'n is blest, 

 Still, native land, I sigh for thee. 



Between lines 2051 and 2052 Penley inserts two new speeches 

 (15 lines) by Katherine and the Governor. The difficulty of 

 Barabas's recovery on stage is avoided by substituting for Mar- 

 lowe's soliloquy (11. 2063-2070) an explanatory scene between 

 Calymath and Calapine. Between lines 2279 and 2280 occurs a 

 last echo of Edward II : 



Gov. But be careful. 



For now we hold on old wolf by the ears, 

 That if he slip, will seize upon us all. 

 And gripe the sorer, being gript himself. 

 (Cf. Edward II, 2149-2151.) 



