HOW SHAKESPEARE‘PURGED'JONSON - A Problem Solved

Sep 28, 2026

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Scholarly discussion of how Shakespeare “purged” Ben Jonson, anchored in the Cambridge production history of “The Return from Parnassus, or the Scourge of Simony.” The text traces dating, publication delay, and the topical literary context of the play’s allusions to contemporary authors. It analyzes a key exchange in the fourth act, interpreting “purge” as a decisive “confound/put to rout” tied to the Poetomachia conflict between Jonson and player-poets.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages48

Reading Time1 h 14 min

AccessFree to download

HOW SHAKESPEARE‘PURGED'JONSON

A Problem Solved

# HOW SHAKESPEARE‘PURGED'JONSON A Problem Solved ARTHUR GRAY 28.net / Chen # HOW SHAKESPEARE‘PURGED'JONSON ## HOW SHAKESPEARE‘PURGED’JONSON # A Problem Solved By ARTHUR GRAY,M.A. Master of Jesus College,Cambridge Author of“A Chapter in the Early Lifeof Shakespeare:Polesworthin Arden.” Reade him,therefore;and againe,and againe;And if then you doe not like him,surely you arein some manifest danger,not to understand him. John HemingeHenrie Condell[1623] CAMBRIDGE W.HEFFER &SONS LTDI928 First published in I928 PRINTED IN ENGLAND ## How Shakespeare‘purged'Jonson AT Christmas,I6or,or about New Year,I602,thestudents of St.John's College,Cambridge,actedthe famous play,"The Return from Parnassus,orthe Scourge of Simony.”The date,so exactly fixed,is significant in relation to what follows.The play wasnot printed until 1606.It was the last of a series ofthree plays by the same author,and acted at Cam-bridge.Its predecessors were discovered in 1886in a manuscript book which had once belonged tothe antiquary,Hearne,and is now in the BodleianLibrary.These two were edited by their discoverer,the Rev.W.D.Macray,in 1886.* All three plays are highly topical in their allusionsto persons and events at the time of their composition.The writer has shrewd judgments on contemporaryauthors and literature,and his well-known referencesto Shakespeare and the Drama indicate a particularknowledge of stage matters in the last years ofElizabeth. The third play,as it is the second part of its nextpredecessor,which was also styled “The Return fromParnassus,"may be conveniently referred to under 2 HOW SHAKESPEARE'PURGED’JONSONits alternative title,“The Scourge.”The scene islaid in London. In the fourth act of “The Scourge”two destituteCambridge scholars apply to Burbage and Kempe,the actors,for admission to their“cry”of players.There is preliminary talk between the two actors aboutthe stage qualifications of scholars,and Kemperemarks : Few of the University pen plays well;they smell too much ofthat writer,Ovid,and that writer,Metamorphosis,and talk toomuch of Proserpina and Juppiter.Why here's our fellow Shake-speare puts them all down,aye,and Ben Jonson too.O,that BenJonson is a pestilent fellow:he brought up Horace giving the Poetsa pill,but our fellow Shakespeare hath given him a purge that hathmade him beray his credit. In what manner and in what play Shakespeare “putdown”the University players need not concern ushere.Incidental and scattered references,such as"Midsummer Night’s Dream,"v.1.93,and "Hamlet,"II.ii.IO3,are not pointed enough to be quoted asShakespeare's judgment. Possibly the writer of“The Scourge”was acquainted,through the players,with Shakespeare's opinion on the matter,expressedin conversation.More likely"put down"means nomore than"confound,"or“put to rout.”Thesignificance of the “purge”administered to Jonsonis demonstrable.The date of the production of"TheScourge”and the mention of the"pill"make itcertain that the reference is to the Poetomachia,thewar between Jonson and the player-poets whichraged between the staging of“Every Man out of hisHumour"in I599 and that of“The Poetaster"and"Satiromastix"in 16oI.

FAQs

What occasion and timing are discussed for the play “The Return from Parnassus, or the Scourge of Simony”?

The discussion places the students’ acting of the play at about Christmas or the New Year of 1601/1602, emphasizing the date’s significance.

Why does the text stress that the play was not printed until 1606?

It contrasts the production date with the later printing, using the publication gap to frame what follows in the argument about context and references.

How does the text explain the meaning of “purge” directed at Jonson?

It argues that “purge” is best understood as “confound” or “put to rout,” supported by the production date and references to the Poetomachia war between Jonson and player-poets.

Sep 28, 2026

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