362 THE GERMAN PASSION-PLA Y 



and respected, but Mary devoted herself and her wealth 

 to a life of wantonness. 1 This legendary view of Mary 

 is fairly in accordance with the playwright's conception. 

 In the Donaueschingen Play we are introduced to the 

 Magdalen playing chess with her lover in the garden 

 while attendants execute music a scene which will be 

 familiar to students of mediaeval manuscript miniatures. 

 Simon's servant passes the fence, and being questioned 

 as to his errand, announces that he is preparing a meal 

 for Jesus. Mary, struck with fear, sits regardless of the 

 game. At this instant Jesus himself goes by ; the game 

 is thrust aside, a new light has dawned on the Magdalen, 

 and she hastens off to the apothecary's shop. 2 It is im- 

 possible to deny either the grace or the dramatic power 

 of the incident thus treated. Unfortunately other plays 

 are more artificial. As we have noted earlier (p. 343), 

 the Magdalen is usually introduced dancing in the 

 company of devils. In the Erlauer Play we find her 

 throwing ball 3 with the Devil ; in the Alsf elder Play, 

 after a dance of devils, the demon Natyr holds up a 

 mirror to Mary ; she then dances with one of Herod's 

 soldiers, and her maid with the demon. In the Egerer 

 Play we have a more realistic touch ; Mary slinks away 

 to avoid a meeting with Christ ; the devil Belial is her 

 comrade, and as a pair of lovers they wander into the 



1 Compare inter alia, Das alte Passional, pp. 368, 369. 



2 See B, pp. 189 et seq. The Digby Mysteries deserve special notice for their 

 treatment of Mary Magdalen (pp. 56-83). The introduction of the good and bad 

 angels, of the taverner, and of Mary sitting in her arbour thinking of her ' valen- 

 tynes ' may be noted. There is a wonderfully fine engraving by Lukas van 

 Leyden (Bartsch, 122) of the Magdalen in gaudio. It represents a garden with 

 music and amorous couples ; in the background Martha and Lazarus in grief. 



3 Ball was a favourite game for women in the Middle Ages ; see Schultz, Das 

 hofische Leben zur Zeit der Minnesinger, Bd. i. p. 422. 



