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Title: "The Pilgrimage to Parnassus," and "The Return from Parnassus;" two comedies.
Date: 1598-1601
Repository: Bodleian Library, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
Call number and opening: Rawl. D. 398, item 72, fols. 214v, 215r, 216v
Ing My pen is youre bounden vassall to commande but what
vayne woulde it please you to haue them in
Gullio Not in a varie veine (pretlie y faith) make mee them
in two or three diuers vaynes in Chaucers, Gowers
and Spencers, and Mr Shakspeares, Marry I thinke
I shall entertaine those verses which run like these
Even as the sunn with purple coloured face
had tane his laste leaue on the weeping morne .etc.
O sweet Mr Shakspeare, Ile haue his picture in my
study at the courte.
Ingen: Take heede my maisters hele kill you with tediousness
ere I can ridd him of the stage.
Gullio Come let vs in Ile eate a bit of phesante & drincke
a cupp of wine in my cellar, & straight to the courte
Ile goe a count els and twoo Lordes expect mee
to day at dinner they are my very honorable
Enter Leonard frendes I muste not disapointe them.
and Consiliodorus
Leonard Mr Cousiliodorus are you with in? god be here.
Consil: What Leonarde, fill vs a cupp of beare for Leonard
what good news Leonarde?
Leonarde Oh I haue had great affliction since I sawe you
laste.Tib is fallen sore sicke of the Glanders,
and dun poore iade, I thinke he hath eaten a feather
but I haue letters for youe, and as manie commen=
dacions as there are greene grass betwixt you
and them, I told them of their hauioure I
warrant youe. I tolde them howe costlie there
nutreringe was, and they might by this time
if they had bene good boyes haue learned all
there bookes I chid them ronndlie without bawking
foor blowing at Tabecca, I toulde them plainely
it was nothing but a docke leafe, stept in a cham=
ber pott . and by cocke Mr. Consiliodorus I did
such good vpon them , that I thinke by this time
they are gone into the cuntrie to teache I
warrant Mr Philomusus will proue a greate clarke
he is such a readye man of his tongue, yet I
thinke Mr. Studioso is as well booklearned as he is
Consili: I pray thee Leonarde goe in, and eate a bit of meate
Ile followe thee straighte.
Leonard God thanke youe Mr wee that are stirringe be=
times haue good stomackes, but Ile firste leade
my horses to the hay racke, they poore Iades are as
shallowe as a cloakbagg.
Consiliod: Hencforthe let none be sent by carefull syres
nor sonns no kinred to Parnassus hill
Since waywarde fortune thus rewardes our coste
with discontent, theire paines with pouertie
Mechanicke artes may smile, there followers laughe
but liberall artes Bewaile there destinie
since noe Mocenas in this niggard age
Guerdons they sonns of Muses, and of skill
My ioyless minde foretells this sad event
That learning needs muste leaue this duller clime
to be possest by rude simplicitie.
