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The language is very mild, but receives a peculiar shade of meaning when read in connexion with the following passage by Massinger from the Virgin Martyr, I. 1, 236:
Humor is among man's highest gifts, and has done the world splendid service; but humor and humanity together make the mercy winged with brave actions, which, according to Massinger, befit "a soul moulded for heaven" and destined to be "made a star there." The new Parliament met on January 14, 1735.
He never pressed hard for his loans, but fondly compared his bonds "to infants, which battle best by sleeping;" to battle, is to be nourished a term still retained in the battle-book of the university. A view of the chamber of this usurer is preserved by Massinger, who can only be understood by the modern reader in Mr. Gifford's edition:
Boyle's conclusions unreservedly. IV. I may return to a consideration of Barnavelt, but the present volume has already swollen beyond its limits. Sir John Van Olden Barnavelt. This play, the most valuable Christmas present English scholars have for half a century received, appears indubitably to belong to the Massinger and Fletcher series.
And of the great men who were thus enthralled by Italy and Italian evil, only Shakespeare and Massinger maintain or regain their serenity and hopefulness of spirit, resist the incubus of horror: Shakespeare from the immense scope of his vision, which permitted him to pass over the base and frightful parts of human nature and see its purer and higher sides; Massinger from the very superficiality of his insight and the narrowness of his sympathies, which prevented his ever thoroughly realizing the very horrors he had himself invented.
The two passages above mentioned would seem to bring the two plays into connexion. But, it may be asked, what proof have we that it was a production of Massinger and Fletcher? As for the latter, there can be no doubt. His double endings are sufficient proof.
Containing the articles alleadged against him and the reasons of his execution," &c., 1619. "This magnificent play is mainly the production of Fletcher and Massinger: it must have been written between May, 1619, and May, 1622, for the King's company acting at Blackfriars.
Gifford's review of Ford's Weber is, perhaps, no more than can be expected of the man who had edited Massinger six years before he wrote it; and produced a Ben Jonson in 1816 and a Ford in 1827. Of these works Thomas Moore exclaimed "What a canker'd carle it is!
Massinger is fond of the use of parentheses. In the MS. Leiden has been corrected into Roterdam. The officer was personated by "R.T." In the right-hand margin we find "Mr. Rice." The Captains' parts were taken by "Mr. Rob." and "Mighel." The Dutch word knol signifies both a turnip and a blockhead. i.e. explain to me. "Fry" has here the unusual sense of "buzz, hiss."
Compare Great Duke of Florence, I. 1-4, For I must use the freedom I was born with. It also occurs in other Massinger plays. III. 6, is by Fletcher. IV. 1, is by Fletcher. IV. 2, is by Fletcher. IV. 3, is by Fletcher. Here occurs another allusion to Henry VIII., And glide away Like a spent exhalation. Compare Henry VIII., III. 2, 226: shall fall Like a bright exhalation in the evening.
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