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    The Changeling
    The Changeling
    The Changeling
    Ebook108 pages1 hour

    The Changeling

    By Thomas Middleton

    3.5/5

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    About this ebook

    Thomas Middleton (1580-1627), a bricklayer's son, rose to become one of the most eminent playwrights of the Jacobean period. Along with Ben Johnson he helped shape the dynamic course of drama in Renaissance England. His range is broad, as his work successfully covers comedy, tragedy, and history. Praised during his life as well as today, Middleton remains relevant and influential. "The Changeling" (1630) was composed with the aid of Middleton's friend William Rowley, also an established playwright. The drama tells of the destructive powers of vice and lust. Beatrice-Joanna is a young woman betrothed to Alonzo de Piracquo, yet Beatrice-Joanna is truly in love with another—the nobleman Alsemero. Beatrice-Joanna uses manipulative and violent means to rid herself of her suitor Alsemero. The ensuing drama results in a catastrophic tragedy, leaving only a few to contemplate justice and passion. The characters, style, and action of "The Changeling" effortlessly come together, making it one of the greatest tragedies of its time.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherDigireads.com Publishing
    Release dateFeb 1, 2012
    ISBN9781420918045

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    • 3/5
      Most likely this play plays better than it reads. I'm sure that actors have a lot of fun with these changing changeling characters! In the barebones Amazon edition that I read it was often difficult to figure what was going on - the characters frequently use veiled, duplicitous, or purposefully obscure language to hide their intentions or actions from others - or even from themselves!I'm looking forward to seeing "The Changeling" at Stratford (Ontario) this summer [2017].

    Book preview

    The Changeling - Thomas Middleton

    THE CHANGELING

    BY THOMAS MIDDLETON

    A Digireads.com Book

    Digireads.com Publishing

    Print ISBN 13: 978-1-4209-4542-3

    Ebook ISBN 13: 978-1-4209-1804-5

    This edition copyright © 2012

    Please visit www.digireads.com

    CONTENTS

    THE CHARACTERS OF THE PLAY

    ACT I. Scene i.

    ACT I. Scene ii.

    ACT II. Scene ii.

    ACT III. Scene ii.

    ACT III. Scene iii.

    ACT III. Scene iv.

    ACT IV. Scene i.

    ACT IV. Scene ii.

    ACT IV. Scene iii.

    ACT V. Scene i.

    ACT V. Scene ii.

    ACT V. Scene iii.

    EPILOGUE

    THE CHARACTERS OF THE PLAY

    VERMANDERO, father to Beatrice

    TOMAZO de Piracquo, a noble lord

    ALONZO de Piracquo, his brother, suitor to Beatrice

    ALSEMERO, a nobleman, afterwards married to Beatrice

    JASPERINO, his friend

    ALIBIUS, a jealous doctor

    LOLLIO, his man

    PEDRO, friend to Antonio

    ANTONIO, the changeling

    FRANCISCUS, the counterfeit madman

    DEFLORES, servant to Vermandero

    MADMEN

    [Two] SERVANTS [to Alsemero]

    [A SERVANT to Vermandero]

    BEATRICE [Joanna], daughter to Vermandero

    DIAPHANTA, her waiting woman

    ISABELLA, wife to Alibius

    The Scene: Alicante

    ACT I. Scene i.

    Scene. A street near the harbor.

    [Enter Alsemero.]

    ALSEMERO. 'Twas in the temple where I first beheld her,

    And now again the same; what omen yet

    Follows of that? None but imaginary.

    Why should my hopes or fate be timorous?

    The place is holy, so is my intent:

    I love her beauties to the holy purpose,

    And that methinks admits comparison

    With man's first creation, the place blest,

    And is his right home back, if he achieve it.

    The church hath first begun our interview

    And that's the place must join us into one,

    So there's beginning and perfection too.

    [Enter Jasperino.]

    JASPERINO. Oh sir, are you here? Come, the wind's fair with you;

    Y'are like to have a swift and pleasant passage.

    ALSEMERO. Sure y'are deceived, friend; 'tis contrary

    In my best judgment.

    JASPERINO. What, for Malta?

    If you could buy a gale amongst the witches,

    They could not serve you such a lucky pennyworth

    As comes a'God's name.

    ALSEMERO. Even now I observed

    The temple's vane to turn full in my face;

    I know 'tis against me.

    JASPERINO. Against you?

    Then you know not where you are.

    ALSEMERO. Not well indeed.

    JASPERINO. Are you not well, sir?

    ALSEMERO. Yes, Jasperino,

    Unless there be some hidden malady

    Within me that I understand not.

    JASPERINO. And that

    I begin to doubt, sir; I never knew

    Your inclinations to travels at a pause

    With any cause to hinder it till now.

    Ashore you were wont to call your servants up,

    And help to trap your horses for the speed.

    At sea I have seen you weigh the anchor with 'em,

    Hoist sails for fear to lose the foremost breath,

    Be in continual prayers for fair winds;

    And have you changed your orisons?

    ALSEMERO. No, friend,

    I keep the same church, same devotion.

    JASPERINO. Lover I'm sure y'are none, the stoic

    Was found in you long ago; your mother

    Nor best friends, who have set snares of beauty,

    Ay, and choice ones too, could never trap you that way.

    What might be the cause?

    ALSEMERO. Lord, how violent

    Thou art. I was but meditating of

    Somewhat I heard within the temple.

    JASPERINO. Is this violence? 'Tis but idleness

    Compared with your haste yesterday.

    ALSEMERO. I'm all this while a-going, man.

    [Enter two Servants.]

    JASPERINO. Backwards, I think, sir. Look, your servants.

    FIRST SERVANT. The seamen call; shall we board your trunks?

    ALSEMERO. No, not today.

    JASPERINO. 'Tis the critical day,

    It seems, and the sign in Aquarius.

    SECOND SERVANT. We must not to sea today; this smoke will bring forth fire.

    ALSEMERO. Keep all on shore; I do not know the end,

    Which needs I must do, of an affair in hand

    Ere I can go to sea.

    FIRST SERVANT. Well, your pleasure.

    SECOND SERVANT. [Aside to First Servant] Let him e'en take his leisure too; we are safer on land.

    [Exeunt Alsemero's Servants. Enter Beatrice, Diaphanta, and Servants. Alsemero bows to Beatrice and kisses her.]

    JASPERINO. [Aside] How now! The laws of the Medes are changed sure: salute a woman! He kisses too: wonderful! Where learnt he this? And does it perfectly too; in my conscience he ne'er rehearsed it before. Nay, go on, this will be stranger and better news at Valencia than if he had ransomed half Greece from the Turk!

    BEATRICE. You are a scholar, sir.

    ALSEMERO. A weak one, lady.

    BEATRICE. Which of the sciences is this love you speak of?

    ALSEMERO. From your tongue I take it to be music.

    BEATRICE. You are skillful in't, can sing at first sight.

    ALSEMERO. And I have showed you all my skill at once.

    I want more words to express me further

    And must be forced to repetition:

    I love you dearly.

    BEATRICE. Be better advised, sir:

    Our eyes are sentinels unto our judgments,

    And should give certain judgment what they see;

    But they are rash sometimes, and tell us wonders

    Of common things, which when our judgments find,

    They can then check the eyes, and call them blind.

    ALSEMERO. But I am further, lady; yesterday

    Was mine eyes' employment, and hither now

    They brought my judgment, where are both agreed.

    Both houses then consenting, 'tis agreed,

    Only there wants the confirmation

    By the hand royal; that's your part, lady.

    BEATRICE. Oh, there's one above me, sir. [Aside] For five days past

    To be recalled! Sure, mine eyes were mistaken;

    This was the man was meant me. That he should come

    So near his time, and miss it!

    JASPERINO. [Aside] We might have come by the carriers from Valencia, I see, and saved all our sea-provision: we are at farthest sure. Methinks I should do something too; I meant to be a venturer in this voyage. Yonder's another vessel: I'll board her; if she be lawful prize, down goes her topsail!

    [Enter Deflores.]

    DEFLORES. Lady, your father—

    BEATRICE. Is in health, I hope.

    DEFLORES. Your eye shall instantly instruct you, lady.

    He's coming hitherward.

    BEATRICE. What needed then

    Your duteous preface? I had rather

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