Thomas Lodge - Broadview Press Publisher's Blog

780
785
Of Scylla’s pride; and then by oath he bound me
To write no more of that whence shame doth
grow,
Or tie my pen to penny-knaves’ 1 delight,
But live with fame, and so for fame to write.
L’ Envoi 2
Ladies, he left me, trust me I mis-say not;
But so he left me as he willed me tell you:
That nymphs must yield when faithful lovers
stray not,
Lest through contempt almighty Love compel you
With Scylla in the rocks to make your biding,
A cursed plague for women’s proud backsliding. 3
—1589
[from Robin the Devil]
The Famous, True, and Historical Life of Robert,
Second Duke of Normandy, Surnamed for His
Monstrous Birth and Behaviour,
Robin the Devil. 4
1 penny-knaves probably a reference to Lodge’s less than successful
career writing for the stage, whose least economically and socially
advantaged patrons were often caricatured as also those least able to
appreciate work of substantial literary merit (cf. Hamlet’s tirade
against the so-called “groundlings” [3.2.8-12; 24-28], those who paid
a penny to stand in the yard, the open space in front of the public
stage, to watch performances); there may also be a reference to those
individuals who buy the cheapest and thus least “literary” books and
pamphlets available in the print market.
2 L’Envoi French, “farewell.” In French verse, the “l’envoi” is a concluding
stanza, originally meant as a dedication to a patron, but more
often functioning as a summary of the preceding work.
3 backsliding the falling away from an adopted course, especially of
religious faith or practice; apostasy.
4 The title page continues: “Wherein is contained his dissolute life
in his youth, his devout reconcilement and virtues in his age: Interlaced
with many strange and miraculous adventures. Wherein are
both causes of profit, and many conceits of pleasure.”
T HOMAS L ODGE
5
10
15
20
6
To the Worshipful and True Maecenas 5 of
Learning, Master Thomas Smith, 6 T.L.G.
Wisheth All Abundance of Worldly Fortunes
in This Life, and the Benefits of Heavenly
Felicity in the Life to Come.
Seeing in these our days men rather seek the
increase of transitory wealth than the knowledge
of divine wisdom, preferring stuffed bags before
studious books, their pounds before precepts,
losing the true riches of the mind to level at 7 the
transitory allurements of this world, feeding fools
with figs, and philosophers with flouts; 8 I have
among the multitudes of these men made choice
of Your Worship for my patron and Maecenas,
who of a far more happy nature with Theodosius,
honour Appian, 9 and seeing learning almost suppressed
with contempt or discountenanced with
neglect have in this famous city (like a virtuous
member of the same) begun to exile ignorance, to
revive arts. [...] Which virtuous endeavour of
yours (worthy both your name and fortune) shall
in time to come more advance you than they who
tooth and nail labour to purchase lands, which
ordinarily perish through their heirs’ lavishness. It
is true fame which is gotten by virtue, and perfect
virtue to maintain learning, which is so kind to
those that seek after it that in all changes of
fortune, in all miseries of this life and casualties
5 Maecenas Gaius Maecenas (c. 70-8 BCE), influential Roman aristocrat,
statesman, and one of the emperor Augustus’ most trusted
friends; a patron of the arts, Maecenas supported the works of Virgil,
Horace, and Propertius; he introduced Virgil to Augustus.
6 Thomas Smith Probably Sir Thomas Smith (c. 1556-1609), university
orator (Oxford, 1582-94) and secretary to Robert Devereux, 2nd
earl of Essex.
7 level at aim at.
8 feeding fools with figs i.e., giving fools a delicacy that they will be
unable to appreciate (the equivalent of the proverbial expression,
“Casting pearls before swine” [Matthew 7:6; Tilley P165]); flouts
mocking speeches or actions; pieces of mockery; jeers or scoffs.
9 Theodosius…Appian Appian of Alexandria (fl. 2nd c. CE), Greek
historian of Rome, who wrote the 24 book History of Rome’s Wars;
Theodosius is perhaps Theodosius II (401-50 CE), late Roman
emperor, who founded a university at Constantinople and is responsible
for the legal compilation named after him (the Theodosian
Code).