Enter the King and others as masquers, habited like shepherds, ushered by the Lord Chamberlain. They pass directly before the Cardinal, and gracefully salute him.
A noble company! What are their pleasures? Because they speak no English, thus they pray’d To tell your grace, that, having heard by fame Of this so noble and so fair assembly.
I will not be slack To play my part in Fortune’s pageant.
I know their complot is to have my life: And if my death might make this island happy And prove the period of their tyranny, I would expend it with all willingness; But mine is made a prologue to their play. For thousands more, that yet suspect Will not conclude their plotted tragedy. III, 1, 151.
And now what rests, but that we spend the time With stately trumpets mirthful comic shows Such as befits the pleasures of the Court.
What scene of death hath Roscius now to act? V, 6, 10.
Roscius was the most celebrated comic actor of his times. He lived in the first century A.D., dying in the year 62. Throughout the ages he has been personified as the greatest actor of all times, and his name has often been applied to any actor of great eminence. In Shakespeare’s period, Richard Burbage was the Roscius of the day, and was known as “Roscius Richard.”
Why stand we like soft-hearted women here Wailing our losses, whiles the foe doth rage; And look upon, as if the tragedy Were play’d in jest by counterfeiting actors. II, 3.
This night to meet here, they could do no less, Out of the great respect they bear to beauty, But leave their flocks, and under your fair act Crave leave to view these ladies and entreat An hour of revels with them. _Act_ II, _Scene_ IV
Crave leave to view these ladies and entreat An hour of revels with ’em.
Under the name of Revels was included many kinds of merrymaking and festivities. From the fourteenth century onwards such diversions were held at the Court and at the houses of noblemen. The Revels included dancing, games, masking, mummings or disguisings and other forms of lively entertainments. In Tudor times these amusements had assumed vast proportions. In Henry VII’s reign the Master of the Revels first makes his appearance, and that official post continued to be held until the Restoration. Queen Elizabeth formed a separate company, called Children of the Revels, which took part in many important functions. These children also acted in regular plays, and caused much heart-burning and dissension amongst the adult players.