'Why not Malevole in folio with us, as Jeronimo _in decimo sexto_
with them? They taught us a name for our play: we call it: "_One
for Another_."' (That is to say, we give them 'Tit for Tat.')
_Sly_. What are your additions?
_Burbadge_. Sooth, not greatly needefull, only as your
sallet (salad) to your greate feast--to entertaine a little more
time, and to abridge the not received custome of musicke in our
theater. I must leave you, Sir. [_Exit_ Burbadge.
_Sinklow_. Doth he play _The Malcontent_?
_Condell_. Yes, Sir.
Our explanation of the Induction is this: Marston has committed
satirical trespass upon _Hamlet_. Shakspere, on his part, made
use of the chief action and the chief characters of _The Malcontent_
in his _Measure for Measure_ ('One for Another'); but he did so in
his own nobler manner. From the wildly confused material before
him he composed a magnificent drama. Once more, in the very beginning
of act i. sc. I, Shakspere makes the Duke utter words, each of which
is directed against the inactive nature of Montaigne:--
Thyself and thy belongings
Are not thine own so proper as to waste
Thyself upon thy virtues, them on thee.
...For if our virtues
Did not go forth of us, 't were all alike
As if we had them not.
Shakspere's contemporaries were not over careful as regards
style.
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