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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
leaue, but litell learninge behinde mee vpon the eathe
well those verses haue purchast my implacable anger lett
mee heare youre other vayns.
Ingen: Sir the worde as Chaucer vseth it, hark noe vnhonest
meaninge in it, for it signifieth a ieste.
Gullio Hush Chaucer is a foole, and you are another for defendinge
of him.
Ingen: Then you shall heare Specers veyne.
A gentle pen rides prickinge on the plaine
this paper plaine to resalute my loue
Gullio Stay man, why thou haste a very lecherous witt, what
wordes are these ? though thou comes somwhat neare
witt to sett it downe soe plainlye, youe schollers
are simple felowes, men that never came where Ladies
growe, I that haue spente my life amonge them
knowes best what becometh my pen, and their Ladi=
shipps ears, let mee heare Mr Shakspears veyne .
Ingen: Faire Venus queene of beutie, and of loue
thy red doth stayne the blushinge of the morne
thy snowie neck shameth the milke white doue
thy presence doth this naked worlde adorne
Gazinge on thee all other nymphes I scorne
when ere thou dyest slowe shine that satterday
Beutie and grace muste sleepe with thee for aye.
Gullio Noe more I am one that can iudge accordinge to the proverbe
bonem ex vnguibus, ey marry Sir these haue some
life in them, let this dunissied world esteeme of Spencer
and Chaucer, Ile worshipp sweet Mr Shakspeare, and to
honoure him will lay his Venus, and Adonis vnder my
pillowe as wee reade of one (I do not well remember his
name) but I am sure he was a kinge, slept with Homer
vnder his beds heade well Ile bestowe a frenche
crowne in the fair writinge of them out and then
Ile instructe thee about the deliuery of them, meane
while, Ile haue thee make an elegant description of
my Mistress, liken the worste part of her to Cynthhia
make also a familiar Dialogue betwixt her, and my
selfe, Ile now in, and correct these verses.
Ingen: Why who coulde endure this post put into a sattin sute
this haberdasher of lyes, this Bracchidochio, this Ladye
munger, this meere rapier, and dagger, this cringer,
this foretopp, but a man there ordaynd to miserie
well madame pecunia, onc more for thy sake will
I waite on this truncke, and with soothinge him vpp
in time will leaue him a greater foole than I
founde him. exit
Enter warden
Mass maisters the case is alterd with mee since I
was here laste, they call mee noe more plaine Will
nor William, nor goodman Percevall, but Mr war=
den at euerye worde, well if yee please mee well
you may happ make the bells speake somtime for
Enter Philo: this. but stay I seeke our Sexton, and yonder he
is. Now good Sexton, I am as tirde as anye of my
pluge iades with enquiringe you. you shoulde haue
pearde for Mr Maior his maistershipp, for wott
you what. the parish haue put vp a subligation
against you, & say you are the moste vnnegligent
Sexton that euer came these 40 years, and vpwardes
for
