The Authorship of " King Henry VI." 157 



perhaps with the similar group of turbulent barons in Edward II. 

 Three other figures of this same type, York, Queen Margaret, and 

 Richard, are yet more highly individualized. They are masterpieces 

 of that overwhelming evil ambition and mahgnant selfishness in 

 which a rather curious twist of Marlowe's genius made him see the 

 highest reach of human glor\'. These three characters are related 

 by the closest bonds to the supreme embodiments of evil power in 

 Marlowe's accepted history plays : Young Mortimer in Edward II 

 and Guise and the Old Queen in the Massacre at Paris. Verbal 

 similarities may be reserved for later discussion ; but on the evidence 

 of spirit and general style alone, it seems impossible to read in suc- 

 cession two such companion passages as those printed below without 

 complete assurance that in each the same poet's mind has been at 

 work under the impulse of the same inspiration. The first quotation 

 is from the soHloquy of Guise near the opening of the Massacre at 

 Paris (11. 91 ff.).^ The second gives the soliloquy of York at the 

 close of the first scene of the Contention. 



" Now Guise begins those deepe ingendred thoughts 



To burst abroad those neuer djdng flames, 



Which cannot be extinguisht but by bloud. 



Oft haue I leueld, and at last haue learnd, 



That perill is the cheefest way to happines, 



And resolution honors fairest aime. 



What glory is there in a common good, 



That hanges for euery peasant to atchiue ? 



That like I best that flyes beyond m3' reach. 



Set me to scale the high Peramides {i. e., pyramids), 



And thereon set the Diadem of Fraunce, 



He either rend it with my nayles to naught. 



Or mount the top with my aspiring winges. 



Although my downfall be the deepest hell. 



For this I wake when others think I sleepe. 



For this I waite, that scornes attendance else. 



The gentle King whose pleasure vncontrolde 

 Weakneth his body, and will waste his Realme, 



^ References to Marlowe in the following pages will give the line number 

 in my edition, Clarendon Press, 1910 ; references to Contention, True Tragedy, 

 and the 1619 quarto allude to page and Une in the Praetorius facsimiles 

 1886 — 1891 ; references to Shakespeare's plays: including 2 and S Henry VI 

 follow the Oxford Shakespeare. 



Trans. Coxn. Acad., Vol. XVII. 11 July, 1912. 



