,,pap]s ,,on ,,play-,,mak+      ,i      
,! ,new ,art ( ,writ+ ,plays      ,,by  
,,lope ,,de ,,vega        ,,translat$   
,,by    ,,william ,t4 ,,brew/]          
,,) ,,an ,,introduction ,,by    ,,br&]  
,,mat!ws        ,pr9t$ = !    ,dramatic 
,museum ( ,columbia ,univ]sity    9 !   
,city ( ,new ,york    ,,mcmxiv          
,,copyright #aiad ,,by    ,,dramatic    
,,museum ,,( ,,columbia ,,univ]sity     
,,cont5ts      ,introduction by ,br&]   
,mat!ws    ,! ,new ,art ( ,writ+ ,plays 
by ,lope de ,vega    ,notes by ,b4 ,m4  
,,introduction    ,by a significant     
co9cid5ce ! m>vell\s outfl[]+ ( ! drama 
is simultane\s 9 ,spani% lit]ature & 9  
,engli%4  ,spa9 almo/  exhau/$ h] imm5se
 res\rces 9 fitt+ out ! inv9cible       
,armada2  & ,engl& /ra9$ e n]ve to      
compass ! defeat ( ! dread  fleet4      
,lope de ,vega1 ! =emo/ ( ! ,ib]ian     
playwrights1  actually sail$ z a soldi] 
on ! fatal voyage to ! ,engli%  *annel2 
& x is dimly possible t ,%aksp]e also   
saw s]vice on  blue wat]2 ! ye> ( !     

runn+ sea fight is "o ( ^? 9 8          
biography ab\t :i* we h no in=mation1 & 
8 use (  sea-t]ms has be5 decl>$ by an  
exp]t to be sci5tifically  accurate4  ,9
 ?is simultane\s developm5t ( ! drama 9 
,engl&  & 9 ,spa9 at ! mom5t :5 ! en]gy 
( ! two peoples 0  ar\s$ to ! utmo/1 we 
h a confirmation ( ,brunetire's !ory  t 
! f\ndation ( our pleasure 9 ! playh\se 
is ! ass]tion  ( ! human w4    ,%aksp]e 
came =w>d aft] ! ,engli% drama _h       
already develop$  a v>iety ( =ms2 & he  
f\nd ! road brok5 = him by ,m>l[e  &    
,kyd1 by ,lyly & ,gre5e4  ,at fir/ he   
foll[$ 9 _!  foot/eps1 h[ev] f> beyond  
!m he 0 to advance 9 ! end4  ,lope de   
,vega1 on ! o!r h&1 0 a pione]2 he x 0  
:o blaz$  ! new trails 9 :i* all !      
succe$+ playwrights ( ,spa9  gladly     
trod4  ,%aksp]e seems to h c>$ little = 
inv5tion1  borr[+ 8 plots any:]e &      
ev]y:]e1 & res]v+ 8  imag9ation = !     
int]pretation ( tales fir/ told by o!rs4
  ,lope1 on ! o!r h& aga91 ab\nd$ r 9   
inv5tion ?an 9  ! int]pret+ imag9ation2 

he 0 wond]fully fecund & prolific1      
unsurpass$ 9 productivity ev5 by ,defoe 
or ,dumas4  ,x 0 he :o  made ! patt]n t 
,cald]on & all ! re/ 7 to employ4  ,x  0
 he :o work$ out ! =mula ( ! ,spani%    
com$ia1 (t5 n  a com$y at all 9 our     
,engli% und]/&+ ( ! t]m1 b r  a play (  
intrigue1 peopl$ ) hot-blood$ h]oes :o  
wore _!  he>ts on _! sleeves & :o c>ri$ 
_! h&s on ! hilts (  _! swords4    ,:]e 
,lope de ,vega & ,%aksp]e are aga9 alike
 is t !y bo?  wrote all _! plays = !    
popul> !at]1 app>5tly compos+  ^! pieces
 solely ) a view to p]=mance & c>+ no?+ 
=  any praise :i* might be d]iv$ f      
publication4  ,m>t95*e1 9  8 /udy ( !   
',com$ia ,espagnole' 7p4 #bdc1 note7    
dwells on ,lope's  c>elessness = !      
lit]>y r5[n to be won by ! pr9t+ ( 8    
dramatic poems2 9 8 non-dramatic poems  
he took pride1 j z  ,%aksp]e seems to h 
read c>efully ! pro(s ( 8 lyrical       
n>ratives al?o he did n himself *oose to
 publi% a s+le "o (  8 plays4  ,&       
,molire1 x may be not$1 tells u frankly 

t he  0 completely satisfi$ ) ! success 
( 8 e>li] pieces on  ! /age1 & t he _h  
be5 cont5t to leave !m unpr9t$ until  8 
h& 0 =c$ by a pirate-publi%]4           
,%aksp]e is abundant 9 8 allusions to ! 
art ( act+ &  retic5t 9 8 illusions to !
 art ( playmak+4  ,9 fact1 !re  is no   
s+le record$ expression ( 8 op9ion 9    
reg>d to !  pr9ciples or ! practice (   
dramaturgy2 & "h he is 9 m>k$  contra/ )
 ,b5 ,jonson1 :o _h a body ( doctr9e    
ab\t ! drama1  :i* he set =? 9 8        
',discov]ies' & 9 8 prologs1 z well  z 9
 8 conv]sations ) ,drummond (           
,haw?ornd54  ,9 g5]al  ,lope's attitude 
t[>d dramaturgic !ory is ! same z       
,%aksp]e's2  b on "o occasion he 0      
induc$ to discuss ! pr9ciples ( !  art  
he adorn$1 & to express 8 op9ions ^u its
 me?ods4  ,?is  s+le occasion 0 :5 he 0 
p]suad$ to deliv] a poetic address  ^u !
 ',new ,art ( ,mak+ ,plays 9 ,?is ,age4'
    ,?is ',arte neuvo de haz] com$ias en
 e/e tiempo' 0 orig9ally  publi%$ 9 !   
',rimas' ( ,lope de ,vega1 ,madrid1     

#afji4  ,a facsimile  repr9t 0 issu$ by 
,mr4 ,ar*] ,m4 ,hunt+ton 9 ,new ,york 9 
#aijc4  ,a critical edition ) an        
introduction & notes by ,a4             
,morel-,fatio  appe>$ 9 ! ,bullet9      
,hispanique = ,octob]-,decemb]1         
#aijd--;&  also 9 a sep>ate pamphlet4   
,! ,fr5* editor accepts ! ye> (         
publication z probably ! ye> ( deliv]y2 
& he believes !  ,academy ( ,madrid1    
be=e :om ! poem 0 read1 to be no d\bt "o
  ( ^? lit]>y assemblies1 imitat$ f ^?  
fl\ri%+ 9  ,italy & hold+ _! meet+s at !
 h\se ( "s cultivat$  g5tleman4         
,lope's metrical address is pla9ly a    
remote imitation ( ,horace's  epi/le to 
! ,pisos1 ! model ( c\ntless critical   
codes ca/ into  v]se4  ,x is ! *ief     
,spani% example ( ?is type1 z ,boileau's
  ',art ,potique' is ! *ief ,fr5*       
example & ,pope's ',essay on            
,criticism' ! *ief ,engli% example4     
,:ile mo/ ( ^! ,horatian  imitations h =
 _! ma9 topic poetry & m especially     
dramatic poetry1 attempts 7 n lack+ to  

borr[ ! famili>  =m = non-lit]>y !mes2 &
 z a result !re are a ho/ (  poems 9 all
 ! mod]n tongues on ! ',art ( ,w>' & !  
',art (  ,pa9t+1' on ! ',art (          
,bookb9d+' & on ! ',art ( ,cook]y4'     
,ev5 s late z ! fir/ half ( ! n9ete5?   
c5tury ,samson 7(  ! ,comdie-,franaise7 
cond5s$ 8 hi/rionic advice into rim+    
c\plets on ! ',art ( ,act+4'    ,mo/ (  
^? imitations ( ,horace's didactic poem 
:i* deal )  poetry & ! drama borr[ f !  
,lat9 lyri/ n only _!  me?od b also mu* 
( _! mat]ial4  ,! sup]subtle ,italian   
!ori/s ( ! !at] 7 rely+ on ,horace ev5  
:5 !y  suppos$ t !y 7 int]pret+         
,ari/otle2 & ^! exp\nd]s  ( ,horace _h  
elaborat$ legislative enactm5ts = ! !at]
 :i*  7 readily accept$ by all :o desir$
 ! purification ( !  drama4  ,?is       
,classici/ code ( rules = playwrights 0 
ma9ly  negative2 x 0 made up l>gely (   
re/rictions ^u ! poet's  fre$om2 x ord]$
 him to d a few ?+s b x =bad him to d   
_m ?+s4  ,x prescrib$ ! total sep>ation 
( trag$y &  com$y1 admitt+ no?+ humor\s 

into ! =m] & exclud+  ev]y?+ s]i\s f !  
latt]4  ,x insi/$ sev]ely ^u !  au/]e   
dignity ( trag$y4  ,x told ! dramati/ to
 avoid all  sc5es ( viol5ce2 & x advis$ 
him to use mess5g]s to n>rate  all ev5ts
 :i* might n be exhibit$ ) propriety4   
,above all1  x laid /ress ^u ! /rict    
obs]vance ( ! ,?ree ,unities  dem&+ t ! 
playwright %\ld h b "o /ory to set on ! 
/age2 t he %\ld %[ ?is s+le action 9 "o 
place only2 &  t ?is s+le action1 %[n 9 
a s+le place1 %\ld be begun &  complet$ 
9 a s+le day4    ,lope's ',new ,art (   
,mak+ ,plays' is n a famili> epi/le l   
,horace's ',ars ,poetica'2 r is x a     
famili> disc\rse hav+ !  playful ease ( 
an aft]d9n] spee*4  ,x consi/s ( a s]ies
 (  p>agraphs ( irregul> l5g?1 v>y+ f   
f\r to =ty l9es  ea*4  ,x is writt5 9   
blank v]se1 h5decasyllabics1 except t  !
 la/ two l9es ( e p>agraph are 9 rime4  
,^! t]m9al  c\plets recall ! rim+       
exit-spee*es common 9 contempor>y       
,elizabe?an drama2 & 9 bo? cases        
app>5tly ! rimes s]ve to  height5 !     

emphasis at ! end ( ! rhetorical p]iod4 
,at !  conclusion ( 8 address1 ,lope    
drops into ,lat9 & ins]ts t5  l9es 9 t  
tongue--t5 l9es ( unid5tifi$ orig94  ,^!
 ,lat9  v]ses may be 8 own composition  
or !y may yet be trac$ to "s  ov]look$  
poem4  ,!y are br\ght into h>mony ) !   
re/ ( !  "w by ! +5i\s device ( rim+ !  
la/ ,lat9 l9e ) a  l9e 9 ,spani%1 ?us   
mak+ a c\plet half 9 ! le>n$ language  &
 half 9 ! v]nacul>4  ,^! two hybrid l9es
 are imm$iately  foll[$ by ! usual      
t]m9al c\plet1 s t !re are only ?ree    
l9es 9 ,spani% aft] ! t5 l9es ( ,lat94  
,9 ! translation  :i* foll[s ! ,lat9    
v]se has be5 r5d]$ into ,engli% rime by 
,pr(essor ,edw>d ,delavan ,p]ry4        
,pr(essor ,r5n]t 9 8 au?oritative       
biography ( ,lope 7p4 #agi7  decl>es t  
,lope's address is writt5 9 a bant]+ _s1
 & a  ve9 ( good humor p]vades ! :ole   
poem4  ,lope evid5tly did n  take !     
matt] v s]i\sly1 nor reflect deeply on  
:at he 0  ab\t to say4  ,x probably did 
n take him mu* long] to write !  ',new  

,art ( ,mak+ ,plays' ?an x took him to  
write z _m l9es (  a com$ia4  ,!        
v]sification1 /rangely en\gh1 lacks     
,lope's  habitual ease & flu5cy2 x is   
c>eless & sometimes halt+1  :ile ! s5se 
is n always cle>1--an additional sign t 
?is  treatise 0 ha/ily compos$4         
,morel-,fatio notes t ! ',arte ,nuevo' 0
 repr9t$ only ?ree  times dur+ ,lope's  
life-"t1 at ,madrid 9 #afac & #afba & at
  ,hueva 9 #afbc2 & he f9ds 9 ! poem    
itself ample explanation =  its lack (  
popul>ity4  ,lope 0 ! sup]b lead] ( an  
a/\nd+  developm5t ( ! ,spani% drama2 & 
he himself tells u t :5  he deliv]$ ?is 
address he _h already writt5 ne>ly five 
hundr$  plays4  ,yet he utt]s no paean (
 triumph2 he bl[s no bugle-bla/ (       
defiance to ! def5d]s ( o!r /&>ds ?an ^?
 "u :i*  he himself 0 fight+2 he does n 
anticipate ! ardor & !  f]vor :i* 7 to  
animate ,victor ,hugo's preface to      
',cromwell'2 he  does n /& to 8 guns &  
po9t to :at he has accompli%$ on  ! /age
 z 8 own ju/ification & z a suffici5t   

answ] to !  cavil+ ( critica/]s4  ,8    
attitude seems to be humble &           
apologetic2 he admits ! validity ( !    
,classici/ code ( rules2  & 9 8 own     
def5ce he pr(f]s only :at ! lawy]s call 
a plea  ( confession & avoidance1 decl>+
 t he w\ld h obey$ !  behe/ ( ! le>n$   
!ori/s if only he _h be5 p]mitt$ by !   
public4  ,he ackn[l$ges ! fault9ess (   
all 8 dramatic works &  ?r[s ! blame on 
! depravity ( public ta/e1 s9ce      ,we
 :o live to please1 mu/ please to live4 
,he supports 8 acceptance ( ! ,classici/
 doctr9e ) a brave  %[ ( erudition & )  
m5tion ( ,cic]o1 ,donatus1 ,robortello1 
,julius ,pollux1 ,manetti1 ,plut>*1     
,a!naeus1 ,x5ophon1 ,val]us  ,maximus1  
,pietro ,cr9ito & ,vitruvius2 &         
,morel-,fatio decl>es t  ?is p$antic    
p>ade has no solid f\ndation ( s*ol>%ip1
 be+  d]iv$ entirely f two writ]s1      
,donatus1 ! comm5tator on  ,t]5ce1 &    
,robortello1 ! comm5tator on ,ari/otle &
 on ,horace4  ,9 ?is second-h& e*o+ ( ! 
codifi]s ( critical !ory !  great       

,spani% playwright reveals no indep5d5ce
 ( int]pretation1  accept+ )\t "q :atev]
 he has f\nd 9 ! comm5t>ies  & nev] ask+
 himself :e!r ! comm5tators _h any valid
  reason = ! rules !y laid d[n s        
au?oritatively4  ,9 o!r  words1 ! ',arte
 ,nuevo' does n disclose ,lope's        
possession ( any  critical curiosity or 
( any critical acum51 or ev5 ( any real 
int]e/ 9 ! discussion ( critical !ories4
    ,we h no "r to expect t ^? z ri*ly  
end[$ ) !  creative faculty z ,lope     
indisputably 01 %\ld also h an equal    
%>e ( ! critical faculty4  ,! analysis (
 ! pr9ciples (  _! own special art by ! 
poets & pa9t]s & playwrights :o  v5ture 
into ! critical ar5a is always int]e/+ b
 x is  r>ely philosophic & x is g5]ally 
te*nical4  ,& x is to  te*nic t ,lope   
devotes ! mo/ ( 8 disc\rse4  ,he trips  
lightly d[n ! hi/ory ( ! new ,spani%    
drama2 & !n he  proce$s to be/[         
practical advice on aspir+ "y           
playwrights4  ,he tells ^! novices t !y 
mu/ give ! public :at x wants1  & he    

c\nsels !m z to ! be/ me?ods ( tickl+ ! 
ta/e (  ! uncritical playgo]4  ,he      
desc5ds to m9ute practical details2  &1 
9 %ort1 8 sugge/ions are ^? ( a vet]an (
 ! craft  supply+ lessons 9 playwrit+ = 
a correspond5ce-s*ool4    ,9 s f> z     
,lope lays d[n any critical pr9ciples at
 all1 ^! are  b ! codification ( 8 own  
in/9ctive practise4  ,8 address is  l ! 
spee* ( a c>p5t] /&+ on ! peak ( a      
build+ he  has j erect$--to borr[       
,ri*t]'s s>ca/ic phrase4  ,lope _h      
himself succe$$ z a practical           
playwright2 & 8 plays _h  c]ta9         
*>act]i/ics & 7 put toge!r 9 a c]ta9    
fa%ion4  ,z ^! plays _h pleas$ ! public1
 beg9n]s w\ld d well to  consid] ^!     
*>act]i/ics & to foll[ ?is fa%ion4  ,he 
utt]s  8 %rewd recomm5dations mo/       
unpret5ti\sly1 ) no h9t (  arrogance & )
 a fri5dly g5iality ( tone4  ,beh9d 8   
mode/  precepts /& 8 own plays 9 :i* 8  
ideal is m %>ply made  manife/4  ,lope's
 ideal is t ( all 8 contempor>ies1      
includ+  ,cald]on 7:o foll[$ 9 8        

foot/eps & (t5 borr[$ 8  plots74  ,x is 
t ! /age is int5d$ prim>ily =           
/ory-tell+1 = pres5t+ 9 action a s]ial  
tale :i* %all  excite ! con/ant int]e/ (
 curiosity4    ,he bids ! beg9n] to put 
toge!r 8 /ory ) ! utmo/ c>e1  lay+ !    
f\ndations 9 ! fir/ act1 contriv+       
unexpect$  complications = ! second &   
conceal+ ! solution ( !  action until ! 
v la/ mom5t possible1 z o!rwise !       
spectators may get up & g out1 :5 once  
!y c =esee ! end4  ,he lays all 8 /ress 
^u adroitness & +5uity (  plot-build+2 &
 su* casual rem>ks z he makes ^u        
"*-del9eation seem p]functory4  ,9 ?us  
emphasiz+ !  prim>y importance ( !      
action ,lope is only e*o+               
,ari/otle1--al?o he probably 0 n aw>e ( 
?is4  ,& !  practise ( ! ,spani%        
playwrights "u ! lead ( ,lope 0  closely
 ak9 to t ( _! contempor>ies1 ! ,engli% 
playwrights  "u ! lead ( ,kyd1 & aga9   
lat] "u ! lead ( ,beaumont &  ,flet*]4  
,l ,lope1 ,kyd 9 8 way & ,beaumont &    
,flet*] 9  !irs1 7 /ory-tell]s on !     

/age4  ,poets !y 7 all (  !m1 b z       
playwrights !y dep5d$ on plot1 on       
susp5se &  especially on surprize--(t5  
a*iev$ only by contradiction (  "*4     
,! abid+ int]e/ ( ! ',arte ,nuevo' is   
two-fold4  ,x resides  p>tly 9 !        
sugge/iv5ess ( ! elem5t>y lessons 9 !   
art (  playmak+1 :i* ,lope "h pr(f]s to 
appr5tices 9 ! art &  :i* are invaluable
 z an aid = prop] appreciat+ ! me?ods ( 
! ,spani% playwrights ( ! ,age ( ,gold4 
,x resides p>tly 9 !  curi\sly deprecat+
 attitude tak5 by ,lope t[>d 8 own      
works1  al?o he 0 approa*+ ! p9nacle ( 8
 fame :5 he p5n$ ?is  didactic poem4    
,is ! great ,spani% playwright s9c]e 9 8
  humility be=e ! code ( ! ,classici/s8 
,is 8 self-abasem5t  g5u9e--or is x     
ironic8  ,morel-,fatio foll[s ,m5ndez y 
,pelayo 9  accept+ x at its face value4 
,guillaume ,husz>1 9 8 useful book  on  
,corneille & ! ,spani% !at]1 ?9ks t :5  
,lope pret5ds  to disp>age 8 own plays  
he is n to be tak5 s]i\sly4  ,i  confess
 t ,i %\ld l to agree ) ?is latt] view2 

& !re  is "s little int]nal evid5ce 9   
support ( x4  ,b ! balance  is r 9 favor
 ( ! =m] op9ion4  ,yet h[ev] hone/ may  
be  ,lope's will+ness to d p5ance to !  
,classici/ code :i* he  admits to h     
outrag$1 8 is a pr\d humility aft] all4 
,he is  n really z abas$ & z pla9tive z 
"s ( 8 critics h  ass]t$4  ,mode/ z he  
may be1 he takes c>e to make 8 own      
position pla94  ,= all 8 easy attitude &
 8 tol]ant  g5iality1 = all 8 lightness 
( t\* on ! "o side & 8  p$antic citation
 on ! o!r1 he does n fail to insi/ on 8 
au?or%ip ( ne>ly half a ?\s& plays & to 
rem9d 8 auditors  t he has cont9u\sly   
succe$$ 9 pleas+ ! public1 ev5 ?o  he _h
 to violate ! rules 9 ord] to w9 ?is    
success4    ,lope assumes a deta*$      
attitude & 8 tone is bant]+1 z          
,pr(essor ,r5n]t has sugge/$4  ,he does 
n "h display !  int5se p]sonal int]e/ 9 
! analysis ( 8 own "w :i* gl[s  & burns 
?ru all ,corneille's ',exam5s1' 9 spite 
( ! ,fr5*  dramatic poet's occasional   
confession ( a lapse f ! /rict  lett] ( 

! law4  ,lope has none ( ! prophetic    
fire ( ,hugo's  fam\s preface 9         
anticipatory def5ce ( ! plays he 0 go+  
to  write4  ,9 fact1 x is difficult to  
d5y t ?is poem is a pretty  c>eless     
piece ( "w1 toss$ (f 9 an idle h\r1     
evok$ by a  special occasion :5 x       
behoov$ ! speak] to assume a            
self-deprecatory attitude4  ,b x is n ! 
lam5table pal9ode  t ,m5ndez y ,pelayo  
call$ x2 nor is x exactly :at ,mr4      
,ormsby  t]m$ x 79 ! ,qu>t]ly ,review = 
,janu>y1 #ahid7 virtually  ! manife/o ( 
a triumphant dictator1 a dramatic       
,napoleon :o1  :ile pr(ess+ ! pr(\nde/  
respect = ! sov]eign w (  ! public1     
sc>cely c>$ to hide 8 contempt = its    
intellig5ce  or its ta/e1 :i* =eign     
critics1 he says1 ju/ly call$  b>b>\s2  
or to disguise ! fact t he ow$ 8 p[] to 
8  k & adroit manipulation ( its        
weaknesses4  ,t s*ol>s  s well equipt = 
! consid]ation ( ,spani% lit]ature & s  
well fitt$ = ! int]pretation ( ! ,spani%
 "* z ,ormsby  & ,r5n]t1 ,morel-,fatio &

 ,m5ndez y ,pelayo c take views z       
conflict+ z ^? sev]ally express$ by     
!m1--?is is pro(  positive t ,lope has n
 tak5 ! pa9s necess>y to make 8         
position cle>4    ,:ile ,lope 0 will+ at
 lea/ to r5d] lip-s]vice to ! code (  ! 
,classici/s1 "o ( 8 foll[]s 9 ! !at]1   
,tirso de  ,mol9a1 7be/ kn[n z ! au?or (
 ! e>lie/ dramatization (  ! ,don ,juan 
leg5d7 9 8 ',cig>rales de ,tol$o1'      
publi%$ 9  #afbd1 fifte5 ye>s aft]      
,lope's address1 is bold 9 d5y+ !       
validity ( any rule limit+ ! duration ( 
"t or =bidd+ a  *ange ( sc5e1 7,see     
,breit+]'s ',units d' ,ari/ote' pp4 #bi 
seq47  ,b ,c]vantes 9 ! fir/ "p ( ',don 
,quixote1' publi%$ 9 #afje1  f\r ye>s   
be=e ! deliv]y ( ! ',arte ,nuevo1' _h   
reveal$ a  pl5tiful lack ( sympa?y = !  
s-call$ ,ari/otelian rules4  ,!re is no 
disput+ ! irony 9 8 portrait ( ! ,canon 
(  ,tol$o :o dem&$ ! appo9tm5t ( "s     
intellig5t & s5sible  p]son at ! capital
 to exam9e all plays be=e !y 7 act$1  n 
only ^? produc$ 9 ! capital itself1 b   

all t 7  int5d$ to be act$ 9 ,spa92 )\t 
^: approval1 seal &  signature1 no local
 magi/racy %\ld all[ any play to be     
act$4  7,ormsby's translation1 ii1 #chg1
 *apt] xlviii74  ,e>li] rem>ks (  !     
,canon %[ u t he 0 famili> ) :ole       
,classici/ code2  inde$1 ,ormsby 79 a   
foot-note to 8 translation ( ?is *apt]7 
calls att5tion to ! sub/antial id5tity (
 ! ,canon's op9ions  ) ^? express$ by   
,sir ,philip ,sidney 9 ! ',apology =    
,poesy4'  ,9 ano!r "w ( fiction writt5 m
 ?an two c5turies lat]1 9  ! ',ni*olas  
,nickelby' ( ,dick5s1 we are introduc$  
to a ,mr4 ,murdle  ^: k is obvi\sly     
vagu] ?an ! ,canon's b :o is q  z /r5u\s
 9 8 insi/5ce ^u ! pres]vation ( !      
unities4    ,into ! vext "q ( ! p]sonal 
relations ( ,c]vantes & (  ,lope1 x is n
 ne$ful to ent] "h4  ,x w\ld be pleasant
 to  believe t ea* really appreciat$ !  
g5ius ( ! o!r2 b  h[ev] pleasant ?is is 
n q possible4  ,c]vantes seems n to  h  
suspect$ ! greatness ( 8 own ma/]piece2 
& x is pla9  t he _h a special fondness 

= 8 plays1 :i* _h n  succe$$4  ,lope mu/
 h be5 consci\s ( 8 own position at !   
head ( all ,spani% poets2 he might      
assume a humble attitude :5 he  0 !     
au?or ( less ?an five hundr$ plays b by 
! "t t  he _h m ?an a ?\s& pieces to 8  
cr$it ! g>m5t (  humility is no long]   
becom+4  ,m>t95*e 9 8 ',com$ia          
,espagnole' 7pp4 #aac-d7 foll[s         
,morel-,fatio 9 po9t+ out ,lope's  lat] 
satisfaction ) :at he _h accompli%$1 ev5
 to ! ext5t  ( claim+ = himself !       
inv5tion ( ! new type ( play :i*  _h    
e/abli%$ itself on ! ,spani% /age4      
,:5 we consid] ! extraord9>y vogue (    
,lope z a playwright 9  ! ,gold5 ,age ( 
,spani% lit]ature & ! swift diffusion ( 
8  fame ?ru\t ,europe1 :5 we recall 8   
unp>allel$ productivity1  & :5 we       
rememb] 8 supreme importance z a        
repres5tative ( a  sup]b developm5t ( ! 
mod]n drama1 we _c fail to be  surpris$ 
to discov] t no adequate attempt has ev]
 be5 made to  pres5t him to ! ,engli%   
read+ public4  ,9 ,fr5* !re are two     

translations ( selections f 8 dramatic  
works2 & !re are  also v>i$ r5d]+s into 
,g]man4  ,b 9 ,engli% !re is little  or 
no?+4  ,"l ,holl& 9 #aghg analiz$ ! ',/>
 ( ,seville' &  turn$ ! m /rik+ episodes
 into ,engli%2 & x 0 on ?is  summ>y & on
 ^! fragm5ts t ,mrs4 ,kemble f\nd$ h]   
five act  ',/> ( ,seville' publi%$ 9    
#ahcg4  ,holcr(t _h utiliz$ ,lope's     
',padre ,engaado' 9 ! plot ( 8 ',fa!r   
,outwitt$1' publi%$ 9  #ahje4  ,a       
p]v]sion ( ,lope's play on ! ',romeo &  
,juliet' /ory  _h be5 issu$ 9 ,engli% 9 
#aggj2 & ?is mov$ ,f4 ,w4 ,cos5s to     
pr9t 7= private di/ribution7 9 #ahfi a  
c>eful translation (  ',ca/elv9es y     
,montreses'4  ,9 ! six? volume ( ',!    
,drama1'  edit$ by ,alfr$ ,bates &      
publi%$ 9 #aijc1 !re is a translation  (
 ! ,t]ro del ,hortelano1' 7! ',g>d5]'s  
,dog'7 by ,w4 ,h4 ,h4  ,*amb]s4  ,^!    
scatt]$ v]sions & p]v]sions app>5tly    
repres5t all ( ,lope's dramatic "w :i*  
has f\nd its way into  our language4  ,x
 is greatly to be desir$ t at lea/ "o   

volume  might be issu$ 9 ,engli% to     
conta9 ! ',/> ( ,seville1' !  ',g>d5]'s 
,dog1' ! ',romeo & ,juliet1' & !        
',du*ess ( ,malfi'  plays1 & also !     
',physician ( 8 own ,honor1' & !        
',alcalde (  ,zalamea1' ( :i* ,cald]on's
 reh&l+s are already accessible 9       
,fitzg]ald's free r5d]+4    ,a few      
scatt]$ passages f ! ',arte ,nuevo' 7   
turn$ into  ,engli% c\plets by ,"l      
,holl&2 & "s ( ^? 7 borr[$  7)\t cr$it7 
9 ,g4 ,h4 ,lewes's /imulat+ /udy ( !    
,spani%  ,drama1 issu$ 9 #ahdf4  ,an    
inadequate & incomplete v]sion1 d]iv$   
ma9ly f ! ,fr5* translation (           
,dumas-,h9>d1 0 includ$ 9  an essay on  
,lope publi%$ 9 ! ,ca?olic ,_w =        
,septemb]1  #ahgh4  ,!re is a c>eful    
ab/ract 9 ,pr(essor ,r5n]t's /&>d       
biography ( ,lope 7#aijd74  ,b ,pr(essor
 ,brew/]'s translation is  ! fir/       
attempt to r5d] into ,engli% ! :ole (   
,lope's advice  to ! aspir+ playwrights 
( 8 own "t & c\ntry4      ,,br&]        
,,mat!ws4    7,june #aiad47             

,,! ,,new ,,art ,,( ,,mak+ ,,plays      
,,9 ,,?is ,,age    ,address$ to !       
,academy at ,madrid4    #a4 ,y comm& me1
 noble spirits1 fl[] ( ,spa91--:o 9 ?is 
congress & r5[n$ academy w 9 %ort space 
( "t surpass n  only ! assemblies (     
,italy :i* ,cic]o1 envi\s ( ,greece1    
made  fam\s ) 8 own "n1 h>d by ! ,lake (
 ,av]nus1 b also  ,a!ns :]e 9 ! ,lyceum 
( ,plato 0 se5 high conclave (          
philosoph]s1--to write y an art ( ! play
 :i* is today  acceptable to ! ta/e ( ! 
cr[d4    #b4 ,easy seems ?is subject1 & 
easy x w\ld be = anyone ( y  :o _h      
writt5 v few com$ies1 & :o kn[s m ab\t !
 art  ( writ+ !m & ( all ^! ?+s2 = :at  
condemns me 9 ?is  task is t ,i h writt5
 !m )\t art4    #c4 ,n because ,i 0     
ignorant ( ! precepts2 ?ank ,god1 ev5   
:ile  ,i 0 a tyro 9 gramm>1 ,i w5t ?r\gh
 ! books :i* treat$ !  subject1 be=e ,i 
_h se5 ! sun run its c\rse t5 times f ! 
,ram to ! ,fi%es2    #d4 ,b because1 9  
f9e1 ,i f\nd t com$ies 7 n at t "t1  9  
,spa91 z _! fir/ devis]s 9 ! _w ?\ght t 

!y  %\ld be writt52 b r z _m rude fell[s
 manag$ !m2 :o  confirm$ ! cr[d 9 its   
own crud5ess2 & s !y 7 introduc$  9 su* 
wise t he :o n[ writes !m arti/ically   
dies )\t  fame & gu]don2 = cu/om c d m  
among ^? :o lack light  ( art ?an reason
 & =ce4    #e4 ,true x is t ,i h        
sometimes writt5 9 accordance ) !  art  
:i* few "k2 b1 no soon] d ,i see com+ f 
"s o!r  s\rce ! mon/rosities full (     
pa9t$ sc5es :]e ! cr[d  congregates & ! 
wom5 :o canonize ?is sad bus9ess1 ?an ,i
  return to t same b>b>\s habit1 & :5 ,i
 h to write a  com$y ,i lock 9 !        
precepts ) six keys1 ,i bani% ,t]5ce &  
,plautus f my /udy t !y may n cry out at
 me2 = tru?1  ev5 9 dumb books1 is wont 
to call al\d2 & ,i write 9 accordance  )
 t art :i* !y devis$ :o aspir$ to !     
applause ( !  cr[d2 =1 s9ce ! cr[d pays 
= ! com$ies1 x is fitt+ to  talk        
fooli%ly to x to satisfy its ta/e4      
#f4 ,yet true com$y has its end e/abli%$
 l e k9d ( poem or  poetic art1 & t has 
always be5 to imitate ! actions ( m5  & 

to pa9t ! cu/oms ( _! age4  ,fur!rmore1 
all poetic  imitation :atsoev] is       
compos$ ( ?ree ?+s1 :i* are  disc\rse1  
agreeable v]se1 h>mony1 t is to say     
music1 :i* s  f> 0 common also to       
trag$y2 com$y be+ diff]5t f trag$y  9 t 
x treats ( l[ly & plebeian actions1 &   
trag$y ( royal  & great ones4  ,look    
:e!r !re be 9 our com$ies few fail+s4   
#g4 ,auto 0 ! "n giv5 to !m1 = !y       
imitate ! actions  & ! do+s ( ! cr[d4   
,lope de ,ru$a 0 an example 9 ,spa9  (  
^! pr9ciples1 & today are to be se5 9   
pr9t prose com$ies  ( 8 s l[ly t he     
introduces into !m ! do+s ( me*anics  & 
! love ( ! daught] ( a smi?2 :5ce !re   
has rema9$  ! cu/om ( call+ ! old       
com$ies entremeses1 :]e ! art  p]si/s 9 
all its =ce1 !re be+ "o action & t      
betwe5  plebeian p2 = an entrmes ) a k+ 
has nev] be5 se54  ,& ?us x is %[n h[ ! 
art1 = v l[ness ( /yle1 came to  be held
 9 great disrepute1 & ! k+ 9 ! com$y to 
be  introduc$ = ! ignorant4    #h4      
,ari/otle depicts 9 8 ',poetics'1--al?o 

obscurely1--!  beg9n+ ( com$y2 ! /rife  
betwe5 ,a!ns & ,meg>a z to :i*  ( !m 0 !
 fir/ inv5tor2 !y ( ,meg>a say t x 0    
,epic>mus1 :ile ,a!ns w\ld h x t        
,magnetes 0 ! man4  ,elias ,donatus says
 x _h its orig9 9 anci5t sacrifices4    
,he names  ,!spis z ! au?or (           
trag$y1--foll[+ ,horace1 :o affirms !   
same1--z ( com$ies1 ,ari/ophanes4  ,hom]
 compos$ ! ',odyssey' 9  imitation (    
com$y1 b ! ',iliad' 0 a fam\s example ( 
trag$y1  9 imitation ( :i* ,i call$ my  
',j]usalem' an epic1 & add$ !  t]m      
tragic2 & 9 ! same mann] all p commonly 
t]m !  ',inf]no1' ! ',purgatorio1' & !  
',p>adiso' ( ! celebrat$  poet ,dante   
,alighi]i a com$y1 & ?is ,manetti       
recognizes 9 8  prolog4    #i4 ,n[      
ev]ybody kn[s t com$y1 z if "u          
suspicion1 0  sil5c$ = a c]ta9 "t1 & t  
h5ce also satire 0 born1  :i*1 be+ m    
cruel1 m quickly came to an end1 & gave 
place  to ! ,new ,com$y4  ,! *oruses 7 !
 fir/ ?+s2 !n ! fixt  numb] ( ! *>act]s 
0 introduc$2 b ,m5&]1 :om ,t]5ce        

foll[$1 held ! *oruses 9 despite1 z     
(f5sive4  ,t]5ce 0  m circumspect z to !
 pr9ciples2 s9ce he nev] elevat$ !  /yle
 ( com$y to ! greatness ( trag$y1 :i* _m
 h  condemn$ z vici\s 9 ,plautus2 = 9   
?is respect ,t]5ce 0 m  w>y4    #aj4    
,trag$y has z its argum5t hi/ory1 &     
com$y fiction2 = ?is  reason x 0 call$  
flat-foot$1 ( humble argum5t1 s9ce !    
actor  p]=m$ )\t busk9 or /age4  ,!re 7 
com$ies ) !  pallium1 mimes1 com$ies ) !
 toga1 fabulae atellanae1 &  com$ies ( !
 tav]n1 :i* 7 also1 z n[1 ( v>i\s sorts4
    #aa4 ,) ,attic elegance ! m5 ( ,a!ns
 *id$ vice & evil cu/om  9 _! com$ies1 &
 !y gave _! prizes bo? to ! writ]s (    
v]se & to ! devis]s ( action4  ,= ?is   
,tully call$ com$ies  ! mirror ( cu/om &
 a liv+ image ( ! tru?1--a v high       
tribute1 9 t com$y ran ev5 ) hi/ory4    
,look :e!r x be  wor?y ( ?is cr[n &     
glory6    #ab4 ,b n[ ,i p]ceive t y are 
say+ t ?is is m]ely  translat+ books &  
we>y+ y ) pa9t+ ?is mix$-up  affair4    
,believe me !re has be5 a reason :y y   

%\ld be  rem9d$ ( "s ( ^! ?+s2 = y see t
 y ask me to  describe ! art ( writ+    
plays 9 ,spa91 :]e :atev] is writt5  is 
9 defiance ( art2 & to tell h[ !y are n[
 writt5 contr>y  to ! anci5t rule & to  
:at is f\nd$ on reason1 is to ask me to 
draw on my exp]i5ce1 n on art1 = art    
speaks tru? :i* !  ignorant cr[d        
ga9says4    #ac4 ,if !n1 y desire art1  
,i besee* y1 m5 ( g5ius1 to read  ! v   
le>n$ ,robortello ( ,ud9e & y w see 9   
:at he says  conc]n+ ,ari/otle &        
especially 9 :at he writes ab\t com$y1  
z mu* z is scatt]$ among _m books2 =    
ev]y?+ ( today is  9 a /ate ( confusion4
    #ad4 ,if y wi% to h my op9ion ( !   
com$ies :i* n[ h !  upp] h& & to "k :y x
 is necess>y t ! cr[d ) its  laws %\ld  
ma9ta9 ! vile *im]a ( ?is comic mon/]1  
,i w  tell y :at ,i hold1 & d y p>don   
me1 s9ce ,i mu/ obey :oev]  has p[] to  
comm& me1--t1 gild+ ! error ( ! cr[d1 ,i
  desire to tell y ( :at sort ,i w\ld h 
!m2 = !re is no  rec\rse b to foll[ art 
obs]v+ a mean betwe5 ! two extremes4    

#ae4 ,let ! subject be *os5 & d n be    
amus$1--may y excuse  ^! precepts6--if x
 happ5s to deal ) k+s2 ?o1 = t  matt]1  
,i und]/& t ,philip ! ,prud5t1 ,k+ (    
,spa9 & our  "l1 0 (f5d$ at see+ a k+ 9 
!m2 ei!r because !  matt] 0 ho/ile to   
art or because ! royal au?ority ought n 
to  be repres5t$ among ! l[ly & ! vulg>4
    #af4 ,?is is m]ely turn+ back to !  
,old ,com$y1 :]e we see t  ,plautus     
introduc$ gods1 z 9 8 ',amphitryon' he  
repres5ts  ,jupit]4  ,god kn[s t ,i h   
difficulty 9 giv+ ?is my  approbation1  
s9ce ,plut>*1 speak+ ( ,m5&]1 does n    
highly  e/eem ,old ,com$y4  ,b s9ce we  
are s f> away f art & 9  ,spa9 d x a    
?\s& wrongs1 let ! le>n$ ?is once close 
_!  lips4    #ag4 ,trag$y mix$ ) com$y &
 ,t]5ce ) ,s5eca1 ?o x be l  ano!r      
m9otaur ( ,pasiphae1 w r5d] "o "p grave1
 ! o!r  ridicul\s2 = ?is v>iety causes  
mu* delight4  ,nature gives u  good     
example1 = ?r\gh su* v>iety x is        
beautiful4    #ah4 ,be> 9 m9d t ?is     
subject %\ld conta9 "o action only1     

see+ to x t ! /ory 9 no mann] be        
episodic2 ,i mean !  introduction ( o!r 
?+s :i* are beside ! ma9 purpose2 nor  t
 any memb] be omitt$ :i* might ru9 !    
:ole ( ! context4  ,!re is no use 9     
advis+ t x %\ld take place 9 ! p]iod  ( 
"o sun1 ?o ?is is ! view ( ,ari/otle2 b 
we lose our  respect = him :5 we m+le   
tragic /yle ) ! humbl5ess (  mean com$y4
  ,let x take place 9 z little "t z     
possible1 except  :5 ! poet is writ+    
hi/ory 9 :i* "s ye>s h to pass2  ^! he c
 relegate to ! space betwe5 ! acts1     
:]e91 if  necess>y1 he c h a "* g on "s 
j\rney2 a ?+ t  greatly (f5ds :oev]     
p]ceives x4  ,b let n him :o is  (f5d$ g
 to see !m4    #ai4 ,oh6 h[ lo/ 9       
admiration are _m at ?is v "t at see+  t
 ye>s are pass$ 9 an affair to :i* an   
artificial day sets a  limit2 ?o = ?is  
!y w\ld n all[ ! ma!matical day6  ,b1   
consid]+ t ! wra? ( a seat$ ,spani>d is 
immod]ate1 :5  9 two h\rs !re is n      
pres5t$ to him ev]y?+ f ,g5esis to  !   
,la/ ,judgm5t1 ,i deem x mo/ fitt+1 if x

 be = u "h to  please him1 = u to adju/ 
ev]y?+ s t x succe$s4    #bj4 ,! subject
 once *os51 write 9 prose1 & divide !   
matt]  into ?ree acts ( "t1 see+ to x1  
if possible1 t 9 ea* "o  ! space ( ! day
 be n brok54  ,capta9 ,virus1 a wor?y   
wit1  divid$ com$y into ?ree acts1 :i*  
be=e _h gone on all f\rs1  z on baby's  
feet1 = com$ies 7 !n infants4  ,i wrote 
!m  myself1 :5 elev5 or twelve ye>s (   
age1 ( f\r acts & ( f\r  %eets ( pap]1 =
 a %eet conta9$ ea* act2 & !n x 0 !     
fa%ion t = ! ?ree int]missions 7 made   
?ree little  entremeses1 b today sc>ce  
"o1 & !n a dance1 = ! danc+  is s       
important 9 com$y t ,ari/otle approves (
 x1 &  ,a!naeus1 ,plato1 & ,x5ophon     
treat ( x1 ?\gh ?is la/  disapproves (  
indecor\s danc+2 & = ?is reason he is   
vex$ at  ,callipides1 :]e9 he pret5ds to
 ape ! anci5t *orus4  ,!  matt] divid$  
into two p>ts1 see to ! connection f !  
beg9n+ until ! action runs d[n2 b d n   
p]mit ! unty+  ( ! plot until rea*+ !   
la/ sc5e2 = ! cr[d1 kn[+  :at ! end is1 

w turn its face to ! door & its %\ld] to
  :at x has await$ ?ree h\rs face to    
face2 = 9 :at appe>s  no?+ m is to be   
kn[n4    #ba4 ,v seldom %\ld ! /age     
rema9 )\t someone speak+1  because !    
cr[d becomes re/less 9 ^! int]vals & !  
/ory  sp9s itself out at great l5g?2 =1 
besides its be+ a great  defect1 !      
avoidance ( x increases grace &         
artifice4    #bb4 ,beg9 !n1 &1 ) simple 
language1 d n sp5d s5t5ti\s  ?\ghts &   
witty say+s on family trifles1 :i* is   
all t !  famili> talk ( two or ?ree p is
 repres5t+4  ,b :5 !  "* :o is introduc$
 p]suades1 c\nsels or dissuades1 !n  !re
 %\ld be gravity & wit2 = !n d\btless is
 tru?  obs]v$1 s9ce a man speaks 9 a    
diff]5t /yle f :at is common  :5 he     
gives c\nsel1 or p]suades1 or argues    
aga9/ any?+4  ,ari/ides1 ! rhetorician1 
gave u w>rant = ?is2 = he wi%es  !      
language ( com$y to be pure1 cle>1 &    
flexible1 & he adds  also t x %\ld be   
tak5 f ! usage ( ! p1 ?is be+  diff]5t f
 t ( polite society2 = 9 ! latt] case ! 

diction w be elegant1 sonor\s1 & adorn$4
  ,d n drag 9  quotations1 nor let y\r  
language (f5d because ( exquisite words2
  =1 if "o is to imitate ^? :o speak1 x 
%\ld n be by !  language ( ,pan*aia1 ( !
 ,metaurus1 ( hippogriffs1 demi-gods &  
c5taurs4    #bc4 ,if ! k+ %\ld speak1   
imitate z mu* z possible ! gravity  ( a 
k+2 if ! sage speak1 obs]ve a s5t5ti\s  
mode/y2 describe  lov]s ) ^? passions   
:i* greatly move :oev] li/5s to  !m2    
manage soliloquies 9 su* a mann] t !    
recitant is q  trans=m$1 & 9 *ang+      
himself1 *anges ! li/5]4  ,let him  ask 
que/ions & reply to himself1 & if he    
%all make pla9ts1 let  him obs]ve !     
respect due to wom54  ,let n ladies     
disreg>d _!  "*1 & if !y *ange co/umes1 
let x be 9 su* wise t  x may be excus$2 
= male disguise usually is v pleas+4    
,let  him be on 8 gu>d aga9/ impossible 
?+s1 = x is ( !  *iefe/ importance t    
only ! lik5ess ( tru? %\ld be           
repres5t$4  ,! lackey %\ld n disc\rse ( 
l(ty affairs1 nor  express ! conceits   

:i* we h se5 9 c]ta9 =eign plays2 &  9  
no wise let ! "* contradict himself 9   
:at he has said2  ,i mean to say1       
=get1--z 9 ,sophocles "o blames ,o$ipus 
= n  rememb]+ t he has kill$ ,laius ) 8 
own h&4  ,let !  sc5es end ) epigram1 ) 
wit1 & ) elegant v]se1 9 su*  wise t1 at
 8 exit1 he :o sp\ts leave n ! audi5ce  
disgu/$4  ,9 ! fir/ act set =? ! case4  
,9 ! second weave  toge!r ! ev5ts1 9 su*
 wise t until ! middle ( ! ?ird  act "o 
may h>dly guess ! outcome4  ,always     
trick expectancy2 &  h5ce x may come to 
pass t some?+ q f> f :at is  promis$ may
 be left to ! und]/&+4  ,tactfully suit 
y\r v]se  to ! subjects be+ treat$4     
,dcimas are good = compla9+s2  ! sonnet 
is good = ^? :o are wait+ 9 expectation2
 recitals  ( ev5ts ask = romances1 ?\gh 
!y %9e brilliantly 9  octavas4  ,t]cets 
are = grave affairs & r$ondillas =      
affairs ( love4  ,let rhetorical figures
 be br\ght 91 z repetition  or          
anadiplosis1 & 9 ! beg9n+ ( ^! same     
v]ses ! v>i\s  =ms ( anaphora2 & also   

irony1 que/ions1 apo/rophes1 &          
exclamations4    #bd4 ,to deceive !     
audi5ce ) ! tru? is a ?+ t has seem$    
well1 z ,miguel ,sn*ez1 wor?y ( ?is     
memorial = ! inv5tion1  0 wont to d 9   
all 8 com$ies4  ,equivoke & ! unc]ta9ty 
aris+ f ambiguity h always held a l>ge  
place among !  cr[d1 = x ?9ks t x alone 
und]/&s :at ! o!r "o is  say+4  ,bett]  
/ill are ! subjects 9 :i* honor has a   
"p1  s9ce !y deeply /ir ev]ybody2 along 
) !m g virtu\s de$s1  = virtue is       
ev]y:]e lov$2 h5ce we see1 if an actor  
*ance to  repres5t a traitor1 he is s   
hateful to ev]yone t :at he wi%es  to   
buy is n sold him1 & ! cr[d flees :5 x  
meets him2 b if  he is loyal1 !y l5d to 
him & invite him1 & ev5 ! *ief m5  honor
 him1 love him1 seek him out1 ent]ta9   
him1 & acclaim him4    #be4 ,let ea* act
 h b f\r %eets1 = twelve are well suit$ 
to  ! "t & ! pati5ce ( him :o is li/5+4 
,9 satirical  p>ts1 be n cle> or op51   
s9ce x is kn[n t = ?is v  reason com$ies
 7 =bidd5 by law 9 ,greece & ,italy2    

w\nd  )\t hate1 = if1 p]*ance1 sl&] be  
done1 expect n  applause1 nor aspire to 
fame4    #bf4 ,^! ?+s y may reg>d z     
aphorisms :i* y get n f  ! anci5t art1  
:i* ! pres5t occasion all[s no fur!r    
space  = treat+2 s9ce :atev] has to d ) 
! ?ree k9ds ( /age  prop]ties :i*       
,vitruvius speaks ( conc]ns ! impres>io2
 j z  ,val]ius ,maximus1 ,petrus        
,cr9itus1 ,horace 9 8 epi/les1 & o!rs   
describe ^! prop]ties1 ) _! drops1      
trees1 cab9s1 h\ses1  & simulat$ m>bles4
    #bg4 ,( co/ume ,julius ,pollux w\ld 
tell u if x 7 necess>y1 =  9 ,spa9 x is 
! case t ! com$y ( today is replete )   
b>b>\s ?+s3 a ,turk we>+ ! neck-ge> ( a 
,*ri/ian & a  ,roman 9 tight bree*es4   
#bh4 ,b ( all1 nobody c ,i call m b>b>\s
 ?an myself1 s9ce  9 defiance ( art ,i  
d>e to lay d[n precepts1 & ,i all[      
myself to  be borne along 9 ! vulg>     
curr5t1 :]e=e ,italy & ,france call  me 
ignorant4  ,b :at c ,i d if ,i h writt5 
f\r hundr$ &  eighty-?ree com$ies1 along
 ) "o :i* ,i h f9i%$ ?is  week8  ,= all 

( ^!1 except six1 gravely s9 aga9/ art4 
,yet1  9 f9e1 ,i def5d :at ,i h writt51 
& ,i "k t1 ?o !y  might h be5 bett] 9   
ano!r mann]1 !y w\ld n h _h !  vogue :i*
 !y h _h2 = sometimes t :i* is contr>y  
to  :at is j1 = t v reason1 pleases !   
ta/e4        ,h[ ,com$y reflects ?is    
life ( man1      ,h[ true h] portraiture
 ( "y & old2    ,h[ subtle wit1 poli%$ 9
 n>r[ span1      ,& pure/ spee*1 & m too
 y behold2    ,:at grave consid]ation   
mix$ ) smiles1      ,:at s]i\sness1     
along ) pleasant je/2    ,deceit (      
slaves2 h[ woman (t beguiles      ,h[   
full ( slyness is h] trea*]\s brea/2    
,h[ silly1 awkw>d swa9s to sadness run1 
,h[ r>e success1 ?\gh all seems well    
begun1      ,let "o he> ) att5tion1 &   
dispute n ( ! art2 = 9  com$y ev]y?+ w  
be f\nd ( su* a sort t 9 li/5+ to  x    
ev]y?+ becomes evid5t4    7,translat$ by
 ,william ,t4 ,brew/]47          ,,notes
    #a4 ,! op5+ passage ( ,lope's poem  
is ?us r5d]$ into ,engli%  v]se by ,"l  
,holl&3--      ,bright fl['rs ( ,spa91  

^: "y academy    ,ere long %all t by    
,tully nam'd outvie2    ,& mat*'d !     
,a!nian por* :]e ,plato taught1    ,^:  
sacr$ %ades su* ?rongs ( sages s\ght1-- 
,y bid me tell ! art ( writ+ plays      
,su* z ! cr[d might please1 & y might   
praise1    ,! "w seems easy--easy x     
might be    ,to y :o write n mu*1 b n to
 me4    ,= h[ %\ld ,i ! rules ( art     
expla91    ,i1 :om nor art nor rule %\ld
 e'er re/ra98    ,n b ,i /udi$ all !    
anti5t rules3    ,yes1 ,god be prais$1  
long s9ce 9 gramm> s*ools1    ,sc>ce t5 
ye>s old1 ) all ! pati5ce due1    ,!    
books t subject treat ,i wad$ ?r\gh3    
,my case 0 simple1--9 ^! latt] days1    
,! truant au?ors ( our ,spani% plays    
,s wide _h w&]'d f ! n>r[ road    ,:i* !
 /rict fa!rs ( ! drama trod1    ,i f\nd 
! /age ) b>b>\s pieces /or'd3--    ,!   
critics c5sur'd2 b ! cr[d ador'd4       
,nay m2 ^! sad corrupt]s ( ! /age    ,s 
bl5d$ ta/e1 & s debau*'d ! age1    ,:o  
writes by rule mu/ please himself alone1
    ,be damn'd )\t remorse1 & die       

unkn[n4    ,su* =ce has habit--= !      
untaught fools1    ,tru/+ _! own1       
despise ! anti5t rules1    ,yet1 true x 
is1 ,i too h writt5 plays1    ,! wis]   
few1 :o judge ) skill1 might praise3    
,b :5 ,i see h[ %ew & nons5se1 draws    
,! cr[d's1 &1 m ?an all1 ! fair's       
applause1    ,:o /ill are =w>d )        
indulg5t rage    ,to sanction e mon/] ( 
! /age4    ,i1 doom'd to write1 ! public
 ta/e to hit1    ,resume ! b>b>\s dress 
'twas va9 to quit2    ,i lock up e rule 
be=e ,i write1    ,plautus & ,t]5ce     
drive f out my sight1    ,le/ rage %\ld 
tea* ^! injur'd wits to jo91    ,& _!   
dumb books cry %ame on works l m9e4     
,to vulg> /&>ds !n ,i squ>e my play1    
,writ+ at ease2 =1 s9ce ! public pay1   
',tis j1 me?9ks1 ,i by _! compass /e]1  
,& write ! nons5se t !y love to he>4    
,! two l9es 9 :i* ,lope decl>es t he    
locks up ,plautus &  ,t]5ce ) six keys 7
 quot$ by ,victor ,hugo 9 ! proclamation
  ( 8 !ories ( dramatic art prefixt to 8
 unactable ',cromwell'  7#ahbg74  ,b    

,s\riau 9 8 annotat$ edition ( !        
',prface de  ,cromwell' ?9ks x possible 
t ,hugo may h borr[$ !  quotation       
second-h& f a pamphlet by ,scud]y1 ',la 
,preuve des  ,passages' put =? dur+ !   
qu>rel ov] ,corneille's ',cid4'  ,x is  
amus+ to note t ,m4 ,emile ,faguet1     
quot+ ^! l9es 9 8  ',drame ,anci51      
,drame ,mod]ne' 7p4 #abb7 inadv]t5tly   
cr$its !m to  ,c]vantes4    ,fitzg]ald1 
9 ! preface to 8 translations f         
,cald]on1 ass]ts  t c]ta9 ( ! defects   
discov]able 9 ^! pieces d n  repres5t   
,cald]on's own bett] self1 b concession 
to private  ha/e or public ta/e by "o :o
 s (t5 reli$ ^u "s /rik+  dramatic      
crisis = success ) a n v accurate       
audi5ce4  ,x  may be object$ t ?is plea 
is dang]\s 9 t x is bas$ on  !          
unw>rantable assumption t ,cald]on's    
private ta/e 0  diff]5t f t ( ! public  
to :i* he appeal$2 b x c be  urg$ 9     
behalf ( ,lope z pot5tly z 9 behalf (   
,cald]on4  ,lope's  own plea t he mu/   
give ! public :at x wants is m          

effectively put by ,molire1 9 ! preface 
to ! ',prcieuses  ,ridicules'2 ,i %\ld  
ne$lessly (f5d all ,p>is1 if ,i accus$ x
 (  hav+ applaud$ a piece ( /upidity2 z 
! public is ! absolute  judge ( works ( 
?is sort1 x w\ld be imp]t95t 9 me to    
contradict x2 & ev5 if ,i _h ! wor/     
possible op9ion ( my  ',prcieuses' be=e 
! p]=mance1 ,i ought n[ to believe t x  
has "s value1 s9ce s _m p]sons toge!r h 
spok5 well (  x4    #f4 ,morel-,fatio   
po9ts out t ?is p>agraph is practically 
a  lit]al translation f ,robortello's   
',p>aphrases 9 libram ,horatii  ,de     
,com$ia4'  ,x is ma9ly f ,robortello t  
,lope d]ives all 8  p>ade ( erudition4  
#h4 ,9 ?is p>agraph1 z ,morel-,fatio    
in=ms u1 ,lope is aga9  rely+ on        
,robortello & also on ,donatus4    #i4  
,at ! end ( ?is p>agraph ,lope1 foll[+  
,donatus bl9dly1  attributes to ,t]5ce !
 l(t9ess ( /yle to :i* ,plautus         
occasionally atta9$4  ,z ,damas-,h9>d   
not$ 9 8 ,fr5*  translation ( c]ta9 (   
,lope's plays1 ! ,spani% poet is "h     

s9n+ aga9/ light1 s9ce he _h a fir/-h& k
 ( !  com$ies ( bo? ! ,lat9 dramati/s4  
#ae4 ,pr(essor ,r5n]t 7p4 #ahj7 po9ts   
out t ?is di/9ction  betwe5 trag$y &    
com$y is arbitr>y & un-,ari/otelian1    
al?o x  0 ! "o t obta9$ ?ru\t !         
,r5asc5ce & d[n to ! end  ( ! p]iod (   
,classicism4  ,x 0 ! doctr9e (          
,robortello &  ( ! lat] ,italian !ori/s 
t x 0 ! rank ( !  *>act]s1 & ?is only1  
:i* di/+ui%$ a trag$y f a  com$y4  ,?is 
is ! di/9ction :i* ,sir ,philip ,sidney 
ma9ta9s  9 8 ',def5ce ( ,poesy4'    ,"h 
is ,"l ,holl&'s metrical v]sion ( !     
conclud+ l9es (  ?is passage3      ,once
 to behold a mon>* on ! /age1    ,engl&1
 'tis said1 our prud5t ,philip's rage2  
,or t he deem'd su* *>act]s unfit    ,= 
lively sallies & = comic wit2    ,or    
cr[ns debas'd1 if actors 7 all['d    ,to
 br+ ! /ate ( k+s be=e a l[-born cr[d4  
,9 8 ',hamburg ,dramaturgy1' 7p4 #cid-e 
( ! ,engli% v]sion 9  ,bohn's s]ies7    
,less+ translates a score ( ^! l9es1    
end+ )  ,lope's ass]tion t nature has   

set u ! example ( comm+l+  ! ludicr\s ) 
! s]i\s2 & !n he asks3 ,is x true t     
nature sets u an example ( ! common & ! 
sublime1 ! f>cical  & ! s]i\s1 ! m]ry & 
! sad8  ,x seems s4  ,b if ?is is  true1
 ,lope has done m ?an he int5d$2 he has 
n only gloss$  ov] ! faults ( 8 /age1 he
 has really prov$ t ^! are no  faults1 =
 no?+ c be a fault t is an imitation (  
nature4  ,b ,mezires 9 ! introduction he
 prefixt to ! ,fr5* translation  (      
,less+'s dramatic criticism quotes a    
passage f ,did]ot on !  dang] ( unit+   
trag$y & burlesque3 ,tragicom$y is nev] 
be  m ?an a bad species1 because 9 x are
 conf\nd$ two disp>ate  species1 sep>at$
 by a natural b>ri]4  ,"h ,less+1 :o _h 
d]iv$ s mu* f ,did]ot1 reveals himself z
 9 advance & on  firm] gr\nd ?an 8 ,fr5*
 contempor>y4  ,x is amus+ to note  t   
,did]ot1 s (t5 hail$ z a =]unn] ( !     
,romantici/s1 is  "h a belat$ e*o ( s   
/rict a classici/ z ,sir ,philip ,sidney
  :o ass]t$ t ! plays he saw on !       
,engli% /age 7 nei!r  "r trag$ies1 nor  

"r com$ies1 m+l+ ,k+s & ,cl[ns1 n       
because ! matt] s c>rie? x1 b ?ru/ 9    
,cl[ns by head &  %\ld]s1 to play a "p 9
 mage/ical matt]s1 ) nei!r dec5cy  nor  
discretion3 ,s z nei!r ! admiration &   
commis]ation1 nor  ! "r sportfulness is 
by _! mongrel ,tragicom$y atta9$4       
#af4 ,morel-,fatio notes t ?is passage  
also is d]iv$ directly f  ,robortello4  
#ag4 ,^! l9es ,"l ,holl& turns into     
,engli% c\plets3      ,! tragic ) !     
comic muse comb9'd1    ,grave ,s5eca )  
sprightly ,t]5ce jo9'd1    ,may seem1 ,i
 grant1 ,pasipha's mon/r\s bir?1    ,:]e
 "o half moves our sorr[1 "o our mir?4  
,b sweet v>iety mu/ /ill delight1    ,&1
 spite ( rules1 dame ,nature says we're 
"r1    ,?ru' all h] works %e ?is example
 gives1    ,& f v>iety h] *>ms d]ives4  
,) ?is /atem5t ( ,lope's may be comp>$ !
 !ory set =? by  ,victor ,hugo 9 !      
preface to ',cromwell4'    #ai4 ,"h once
 m1 z ,morel-,fatio has %[n1 ,lope is   
lean+ ^u  ,robortello4  ,?ree & a half  
l9es ( ?is passage ,"l ,holl&           

translates freely 9 ?is triplet3        
,:o seat$ once1 disda9 to g away1       
,unless 9 two %ort h\rs !y see ! play   
,br\ght d[n f ,g5esis to judgm5t day4   
,?is popul> lik+ = ! :ole /ory )\t      
selection or omission  is a survival f !
 middle ages :5 ! my/]y play began )    
,g5esis & end$1 if n ) judgm5t day1 at  
lea/ ) !  ca/+ ( ! wick$ into           
,hell-,m\?4  ,to ! ,classici/s ?is      
prolongation ( ! action 0 always mo/    
(f5sive4  ,"l ,holl&  turn$ into ,engli%
 ! f\r l9es 9 :i* ,boileau d5\nces !    
cu/om3      ,! ,spani% b>d1 :o no nice  
c5sure fe>s1    ,9 "o %ort day includes 
a lapse ( ye>s4    ,9 ^? rude acts ! h]o
 lives s fa/1    ,*ild 9 ! fir/1 he's   
greybe>d 9 ! la/4      ,& ,sir ,philip  
,sidney _h e>li] express$ 8 disgu/ = ?is
  lic5se1 blam+ ! ,engli% playwrights = 
_! lib]al all[ance  ( "t1 = ord9>y x is 
t two "y ,pr9ces fall 9 love4  ,aft] _m 
trav]ses1 %e is got ) *ild1 deliv]$ ( a 
fair boy2  he is lo/1 gr[e? up a man1   
falls 9 love1 & is ready to get  ano!r  

*ild2 & all ?is 9 two h\rs' space3 :i*  
h[ absurd x  is 9 s5se ev5 s5se may     
imag9e1 & ,art ha? taught1 & all  anci5t
 examples ju/ifi$4  ,) ?is may be comp>$
 ,corneille's  op9ions 9 8 ',disc\rse on
 ! ,?ree ,unities' & 9 8  discussion ( 8
 own ',mlite4'    ,lope's limitation ( !
 duration ( p]=mance is exactly         
equival5t to ,%aksp]e's two h\rs traffic
 ( ! /age4  ,b  ,%ack1 & aft] him       
,morel-,fatio1 adduce evid5ce t !       
cu/om>y  /ay ( ! spectators 9 ! ,spani% 
!at]s 0 two h\rs & a  half4    #bj4     
,lope's advice1 t a play %\ld fir/ be   
writt5 9 prose to be  turn$ lat] into   
v]se1 ,m55dez y ,pelayo believes to be  
borr[$  f a passage 9 ,vida's ,lat9 poem
 on ! poetic art1--a passage  ?us r5d]$ 
9 ,engli% 9 ,pitt's translation3        
,at fir/ )\t ! lea/ re/ra9t compose     
,& mold ! future poem ) prose1    ,a    
full & prop] s]ies to ma9ta9    ,& draw 
! j connection 9 a *a94    ,by /at$     
b\nds y\r progress to control1    ,to   
jo9 ! p>ts & regulate ! :ole4           

,morel-,fatio ?9ks ?is v likely1 s9ce   
,lope 0 famili> )  ,vida's "w4  ,oddly  
en\gh1 ! pr9ciple ,lope "h lays d[n 0 n 
9 accord ) 8 own practise1 s9ce ! /ate (
 ! exi/+  manuscripts seems to %[ t he  
compos$ orig9ally 9 v]se1 al?o  on      
occasion he drew up a prelim9>y sc5>io 9
 prose4  ,x may be  not$ t ! me?od "h   
recomm5d$ by ,lope 0 t actually  adopt$ 
by ,molire1 :o 79 8 ha/e to meet ! wi%es
 ( ,l\is  ,,xiv7 _h to call on          
,corneille to v]sify m ?an half ( !     
',psy*e' :i* he _h completely con/ruct$ 
9 prose & :i* he  _h n be5 able :olly to
 turn into v]se )9 ! limits ( "t  set by
 ! k+4    ,"l ,holl& ?us r5d]s c]ta9    
l9es ( ?is p>agraph into  ,engli%       
c\plets3      ,plays ( ?ree acts we owe 
to ,virues' p51    ,:i* ne'er _h crawl$ 
b on all f\rs till !n2    ,an action    
suit$ to t helpless age1    ,! infancy (
 wit1 ! *ildhood ( ! /age4    ,su* plays
 n twelve ye>s old did ,i complete1     
,f\r %eets to e play1 an act on e %eet4 
,& ,ticknor also employs ! rim$ c\plet =

 8 translation ( a  long] passage3      
,! ,capta9 ,v]ues1 a fam\s wit1    ,ca/ 
dramas 9 ?ree acts1 by happy hit2    ,=1
 till 8 "t1 ^u all f\rs !y crept1    ,l 
helpless babes t nev] yet _h /ept4      
,su* plays ,i wrote1 elev5 & twelve ye>s
 old2    ,f\r acts--ea* measur$ to a    
%eet's j fold--    ,fill$ out f\r %eets2
 :ile /ill1 betwe51    ,?ree entremeses 
%ort fill$ up ! sc5e4      ,b ,camille  
de ,s5ne & ,guillot de ,saxe 9 ! preface
 ( _!  /udy ( ! ',/> ( ,seville' 7,p>is1
 #aiac1 p4 #dd1 note7 ass]t t  !        
?ree-act =m _h e/abli%$ itself 9 !      
,spani% !at] half  a c5tury ant]ior to  
,v]ues4  ,& ,less+ 9 8 ',hamburg        
,dramaturgy' 7,dec4 #d?1 #agfg7 _h po9t$
 out ! discrepancy betwe5  ,lope's      
assign+ ! cr$it ( ?is *ange to ,v]ues & 
,cald]on's  claim1 79 ! preface to 8    
com$ies71 t he 0 ! fir/ to  make ?is    
r$uction4    ,if ,lope _h be5 famili> ) 
,ari/otle he might h ju/ifi$ !  ?ree-act
 =m z simply ! c>ry+ out ! ,greek       
critic's  pr9ciple t a play mu/ h an    

action ) a beg9n+1 a middle  & an end4  
,z ,attic trag$ies 7 act$ )\t any       
int]mission !y _h only  a s+le prolong$ 
act1--al?o a trilogy 0 a /ory %[n 9 ?ree
  acts4  ,yet ! traditional five-act =m 
( ! sev5te5? &  eighte5? c5turies is    
indirectly d]iv$ f ! ,a!nian drama1     
:]e9 ! numb] ( *oral passages came 9 "t 
to be limit$ to  f\r1 sep>at+ five      
passages 9 dialog1 :i* :5 ! lyric       
int]ludes 7 omitt$1 /ood =? z five      
sep>ate acts4  ,horace1  probably foll[+
 ! precepts ( ! ,alex&rian critics1     
prescribes five acts 7see ,weil's       
',etudes sur le ,drame ,antique1' p4    
#cbe74  ,! ,,mss4 ( ,lat9 com$y %[ no   
division into acts 7see  ,faircl\gh's   
edition ( ,t]5ce's ',&ria1' pp4 lii1    
liii174  ,x may  be not$ t z soon z !   
five-act =m 0 dise/abli%$ !  t5d5cy ( ! 
lead+ mod]n dramati/s has be5 to adopt !
  logical ?ree-act =m4  ,mo/ ( ,ibs5's  
social dramas are 9 ?ree  acts1 j z     
,lope's are4    ,comm5t+ on ,lope's     
/range prescription ( ! numb] ( pages a 

com$y %\ld h1 ,pr(essor ,r5n]t 7p4 #afc1
 note7 tells u t  ?is rule1 z to ! l5g? 
( ! com$ia1 :i* ,lope "h lays  d[n1 0   
c>efully foll[$ by all ! o!r dramati/s (
 ! "t1  & deviations f x are r>e4  ,f\r 
%eets--sixte5 leaves =  ea* act1 t is   
=ty-eight leaves to a com$ia4  ,an      
exam9ation  ( ,lope's autograph plays   
%[s h[ /rictly he adh]$ to ?is rule4    
,:]e slight v>iations are f\nd !y are   
due to ! diff]5ce 9  ! size ( !         
leaves--! com$ia always consi/+ ( ab\t  
?ree ?\s& l9es4444  ,on ! o!r h&1 !     
com$ies ( ,miguel  ,san*ez1 a pr$ecessor
 ( ,lope1 conta9 ab\t f\r ?\s& l9es4    
,lope1 l 8 fell[ dramati/s ,cald]on &   
,corneille1 ,molire1  ,voltaire &       
,goldoni1 _h be5 a pupil ( ! ,jesuits2 &
 x 0  d\btless :5 he 0 a y\?ful /ud5t ( 
! ,jesuit s*ool 9  ,madrid t he became  
acqua9t$ ) ! critical !ories ( !        
,italian comm5tators ( ,horace &        
,ari/otle4    #ba4 ,! rule =bidd+ !     
dramati/ ev] to leave ! /age empty      
,morel-,fatio traces to a passage 9     

,donatus deal+ ) ! omission  ( ! *orus f
 ! ,new ,com$y ( ! ,greeks4  ,al?o      
,corneille  does n expressly discuss ?is
 rule1 he obey$ x2 & x 0  g5]ally obey$ 
by all ! ,fr5* dramati/s :o accept$ !   
,classici/ !ory1 possibly because !     
leav+ ( ! /age empty  became !          
conv5tional signal ( ! end ( ! act4     
,ev5 today at  ! ,?tre ,franais1 !      
curta9 does n always fall on !          
t]m9ation ( an act2 ! /age is left      
unoccupi$ = a mom5t &  !n ! ?ree raps ( 
! wood5 hamm] are he>d1 :]eupon !       
*>act]s ent] :o are to beg9 ! next act4 
,on !  ,engli%-speak+ /age ?is rule has 
nev] e/abli%$ itself2 &  our dramatic   
poets h n[ & aga9 a*iev$ an effect (    
expectancy by leav+ ! /age b>e & lett+ !
 spectators  wond] :o is next to appe>4 
#bc4 ,a "p ( ?is p>agraph is turn$ into 
,engli% c\plets by ,"l  ,holl&3      ,9 
t5 l9e /aves %\ld wail+ grief be %[n2   
,! sonnet suits a man :o speaks alone2  
,let pla9 n>ration fl[ 9 ballad l9es2   
,?\gh mu* a tale 9 copi\s octaves %9es2 

,gr& weighty ?\ghts ! triplet %\ld      
conta9    ,b r$ondillas suit ! lov]'s   
/ra94      ,9 ! introduction to 8       
',select ,plays ( ,cald]on' ,norman     
,maccoll  gives a cle> explanation ( !  
v>i\s sorts ( v]se t ,lope  m5tions     
"h3--,romances are octo-syllabic        
tro*aics--!  cu/om>y measure ( ! ,spani%
 ballads4  ,z 9 ! ballads1 ^!  tro*aics 
are sometimes rim$ & sometimes assonant4
  ,r$ondillas  are arrang$ 9 /rophes (  
f\r l9es ea*4  ,/rong end+s & weak      
end+s are bo? employ$4  ,! fir/ & f\r?  
l9es rime toge!r1  & s d ! second &     
?ird4  ,?is is ! simple/ ( ! rim+       
measures 9 common use4444  ,qu9tillas   
are arrang$ 9 /rophes (  five l9es ea*4 
,! only rule obs]v$ 9 ! rim+ is t !     
same rime mu/ n occur 9 m ?an two       
successive l9es4444  ,!  ,decima is a   
comb9ation ( two qu9tillas 9 "o /rophe (
 t5  l9es4  ,! arrangem5t ( rimes is z  
foll[s3 ! fir/ five are  dispos$ 444 a1 
b1 b1 a1 a1 & ! second five are arrang$ 
c1 c1 d1  d1 c4444  ,?ree o!r =ms (     

iambic v]se are borr[$ f !  ,italians1 !
 ,t]ceto 7! t]za rima ( ! ,italians71 ! 
,octava 7or ottava rima7 & ! ,sonnet4   
,maccoll 9 8 turn  r5d]s sev]al (       
,lope's l9es into ,engli% rimes3      ,9
 dcimas f9ds voice ! m\rn]'s wail2    ,!
 sonnet's fitt$ = ! action's /ay2       
,romances s]ve to tell ! play]'s tale4  
,yet octaves well c /irr+ news convey2  
,:ile de$ ( high import 9 t]zas %9es1   
,& r$ondillas are ! lov]'s l9es4      ,!
 incessant employm5t ( ^! v>i\s lyric   
measures is evid5ce1  7 any ne$$1 ( !   
prevail+ lyrical quality ( ! dialog (  !
 ,spani% drama :5 ,lope & ,cald]on 7 its
 *iefs4  ,x may be  not$ t 9 ',prunella1
 a ,fantasy 9 ,?ree ,acts1' by ,lawr5ce 
,hausman & ,granville ,b>k]1 ! au?ors   
emphasize ! lyrical  elem5t 9 _! rococo 
/ory by scatt]+ rim+ /anzas at  irregul>
 int]vals ?ru\t ! dialog4    ,t ! sonnet
 ) its artificial & arbitr>y s*eme (    
intricately int]lac$ rimes %\ld be      
int]calat$ into dramatic  dialog may    
seem to mod]n read]s a /range sugge/ion4

  ,yet ,lope 0  "h only recomm5d+ a     
practise inh]it$ f ! m$ieval  my/]ies   
:]e9 v>i\s fixt =ms ( v]se 7 frequ5tly  
employ$4  ,_! /anzaic rigidity did n    
prev5t ! devis] ( a  ,fr5* passion-play 
f utiliz+ ! triolet1 ! ballade1 & ev5  !
 long-su/a9$ & /ately *ant-royal2 & !   
playwright  avail$ himself ( _! aid n   
only 9 passages ( lyrical emotion  b    
also 9 ! swift give & take ( ! int5s]   
dramatic mom5ts  ( ! action4  ,?is      
tradition ( ! religi\s pieces 0 tak5 ov]
  by ! f\nd]s ( ! secul> drama 9 mo/ ( !
 mod]n  languages1--9 ,engli% z well z 9
 ,fr5* & 9 ,spani%4  ,corneille's fir/  
play ',mlite' 0 compos$ especially to   
br+ 9 a  sonnet2 & ev5 z late z ! ',cid'
 ,corneille ca/ 8 lyrical  monologs into
 /anzas1 = :i* he 0 c5sur$ by ! ,abb d' 
,aubignac & by ,voltaire2 & ,brunetire  
79 8 annotat$ edition (  ,corneille's m 
important plays7 lik5s ! lyrical        
soliloquy (  ,rodrigue at ! end ( ! fir/
 act to ! bravura solo ( a t5or1  com+  
d[n to ! footlights ) 8 h& on 8 he>t 7p4

 #fi74  ,%aksp]e us$ ! loos] ,elizabe?an
 sonnet = ! prolog to ',romeo  &        
,juliet' spok5 by ,*orus2 & ,b5 ,jonson 
employs x = !  ,prolog = ! ,c\rt ( 8    
',/aple ( ,news4'  ,! incongruity ( !   
fixt =m is lea/ obvi\s :5 ! sonnet is   
?us kept outside !  play itself & :5 x  
is utiliz$ only 9 ! address to !        
audi5ce be=e ! action beg9s4  ,b        
,%aksp]e did n hesitate to  employ ?is  
fixt =m inside ! play2 9 ',love's       
,labor's ,lo/' 7act  iii1 sc5e #b7 &    
also 9 ',all's ,well t ends ,well' 7act 
iii1 sc5e  #d7 he ca/s a lett] into     
f\rte5 l9es1 ) ?ree rim+ quatra9s  & a  
t]m9al c\plet4  ,& aga9 9 ',romeo &     
,juliet' :]e h]o  & h]o9e meet & fall 9 
love at fir/ sight1 ! lyrical           
significance ( ?is meet+ is sugge/$ by !
 employm5t ( !  f\rte5]1 ,romeo speak+ !
 fir/ quatra91 ,juliet ! second1  :ile !
 ?ird quatra9 & ! f9al c\plet are %>$   
betwe5  !m1 ea* tak+ 9 turn a l9e or    
two4  ,m4 ,ro/& prefixes a  sonnet to e 
act ( 8 ',*antecl]1' utiliz+ !m = a     

poetical description ( ! successive sets
 9 :i* ! action (  8 lyrical play is    
suppos$ to take place4    ,! ballade is 
to be f\nd 9 two n9ete5? c5tury ,fr5*   
plays1  ! ',gr+oire' ( ,?odore de       
,banville1 & ! ',cyrano de ,b]g]ac'  (  
,ro/&2 b 9 bo? ^! pieces x is frankly   
pres5t$ z :at  x is1--a poem compos$ 9 !
 fixt =m by ! h]o ( ! play4  ,maccoll   
sugge/s t sonnets 7 introduc$ by !      
,spani%  playwright to please ! m       
cultivat$ "p ( ! audi5ce2 &  he rem>ks t
 f _! nature !y c\ld be employ$         
sp>+ly--n m ?an two or ?ree sonnets 7   
usually put into a  play4  ,he notes t 9
 "o ( ,cald]on's pieces1 ',gu/os y      
,disgu/os' a du5na :o is 9 d\bt z to h] 
imm$iate duty1 beg9s  h] spee* by say+ t
 %e mu/ ei!r indulge 9 a soliloquy or   
pron\nce a sonnet4  ,%e elects ! =m]1 & 
proce$s to  soliloquize 9 r$ondillas4   
#bh4 ,"l ,holl& has turn$ ^! l9es into  
,engli% c\plets3      ,none ?an myself m
 b>b>\s or m wrong1    ,:o hurri$ by !  
vulg> ta/e along1    ,d>e give my       

precepts 9 despite ( rule4    ,:5       
,france & ,italy pron\nce me fool4    ,b
 :at am ,i to d8 :o n[ ( plays1    ,) "o
 complete )9 ^! sev5 days1    ,f\r      
hundr$ eighty-?ree 9 all h writ1    ,&  
all1 save six1 aga9/ ! rules ( wit4     
,x ne$s to be record$ t ,lope's         
comm5tators h be5 sadly put  to x 9 _!  
endeavor to id5tify ! half doz5 (       
,lope's plays  :i* he "h claims to be 9 
accord ) ! !ories ( !  ,classici/s4     
,att5tion has be5 call$ also to !       
simil>ity ( attitude betwe5  ,lope "h & 
t tak5 by ,web/] 9 ! preface to 8 ',:ite
  ,devil1' publi%$ 9 #afab1 only ?ree   
ye>s aft] ! ,spani% poem  _h be5        
deliv]$3--,if x be object$ t ?is is no  
true ,dramatic  ,poem1 ,i %all easily   
confess x2 non potes 9 nugas dic]e plura
  meas ,ipse ego quam dixi2 will+ly1 & n
 ignorantly1 9 ?is k9d  h ,i fault$2 =  
%\ld a man pres5t to su* an ,auditory ! 
mo/  cont5ti\s ,trag$y t ev] 0 writt51  
obs]v+ all ! critical  laws1 z height ( 
/yle & gravity ( p]son1 enri* x ) !     

s5t5ti\s *orus1 &1 z x 71 life 'n ,dea? 
9 ! passionate  & weighty ,nuntius1 yet 
aft] all ?is div9e rapture1 ,o dura     
messorum ilia1 ! brea? t comes f !      
incapable multitude is  able to poison  
x2 & ere x be act$1 let ! au?or resolve 
to fix  to e sc5e ?is ( ,horace1        
,haec ,porcis hodie com$5da rel9ques4   
,b4 ,m4            ,,( ,,?is ,,book     
,,?ree ,,hundr$ ,,&    ,,?irty-,,?ree   
,,copies ,,7 ,,pr9t$    ,,f ,,type ,,by 
,,corlies1 ,,macy ,,&    ,,company ,,9  
,,novemb] 3 ,,mcmxiv                    
,,publications    ( !    ,dramatic      
,museum    ,,( ,,columbia ,,univ]sity   
,,9 ,,! ,,city ,,( ,,new ,,york         
,fir/ ,s]ies    ,pap]s on ,playmak+3    
,i ,,! ,,new ,,art ,,( ,,writ+ ,,plays4 
,by ,lope de ,vega4  ,translat$ by      
,william ,t4 ,brew/]4  ,) an            
,introduction & ,notes by ,br&]         
,mat!ws4    ,,ii ,,! ,,autobiography ,,(
 ,a ,,play4  ,by ,bronson ,h[>d4  ,) an 
,introduction by ,augu/us ,?omas4       
,,iii ,,! ,,law ,,( ,,! ,,drama4  ,by   

,f]d9& ,brunetire4 ,translat$ by        
,philip ,m4 ,hayd54  ,) an ,introduction
 by ,h5ry ,ar?ur ,jones4    ,,iv ,,rob]t
 ,,l\is ,,/ev5son ,,z ,a ,,dramati/4    
,by ,ar?ur ,w+ ,p9]o4  ,) an            
,introduction & ,bibliographical        
,app5dix by ,clayton ,hamilton4