No More Learning

The plea of love, a comedy in verse, by Osborn Rennie Lamb; founded upon and suggested by the life of Catullus, the great Latin poet, whose best lyrics grace this work and add a luster to it.
Lamb, Osborn Rennie.
New York, The Ames & Rollinson Press [c1907]
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? Class ^rS3_5:^:2L
Book kAZSl-^-
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COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT.
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? THE PLEA OF LOVE
A COMEDY IN VERSE
BY (t
OSBORN RENNIE LAMB
FOUNDED UPON AND SUGGESTED BY THE LIFE OF
CATULLUS, THE GREAT LATIN POET, WHOSE BEST
LYRICS GRACE THIS WORK AND ADD A LUSTER TO IT
PUBLISHED BY
THE AMES & ROLLINSON PRESS
203 BROADWAY, NEW YORK
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? iwti Uouies Kecfllved ,
OCT 12 isor
^ Copyright Entry
CL^S9 X. AC? No.
COPY a.
COPYRIGHT, 190r
BY OSBORN RENNIE LAMB
DRAMATIC RIGHTS AND
RIGHT OF TRANSLATION
RESERVED.
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? INTRODUCTION.
ITTLE is known of Caius Valerius Catullus the
Latin poet who is the central figure of this play,
except that he was born of a respectable family
in the year 87 B. C, and lived in or near Verona,
from which city he removed at an early age to Rome,
where his genius and accomplishments quickly won him
recognition. There he lived on terms of intimacy with
some of the most distinguished literary and political
characters of the day. We are assured that he was known
to Cicero and Julius Caesar, and that he was the personal
friend of Caius Memmius, then Praetor of the Province
of Bithynia. The Lesbia of his poems is supposed to
have been the daughter or wife of a well-knov/n Romatn;
whether she was Clodia or another is immaterial, the
world is grateful to her for having inspired such beauti-
ful lyrics as were dedicated to her by her lover.
The poems of Catullus justly rank with the best lyrical
poetry of the period, and it is doubtful if certain of his
lyrics have ever been surpassed. Be that as it may, the
sincerity, grace and beauty of these poems, have tempted
us to write around the vague life of the author a play in-
troducing the best of his lyrics, and "The Plea of Love,"
a comedy, in one act is the result. The scene of this play
is laid in the summer villa of Catullus, known to have
been located upon a peninsular called Sirmio -- a> promon-
tory that projects into the Benacus, now known as Lago
de Garda, Italy. Here vestiges of the villa may yet be
seen, and here it was that Napoleon I, who never failed to
recognize the genius of a true artist, drank this toast --
"To the most elegant of Latin poets. "
Catullus lived amid the turmoil and dissipation of Rome
and it is therefore not surprising to learn that he became
dissipated and died at an early age about the year 48 B. C.
5
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? That he ever descended to the depravity of the
"viveurs" of his day is seriously to be doubted, for all
art is but a form of expression, and poetry above all
other arts is the most subjective, "we give of ourselves
when we sing our lay. " It is therefore natural to con-
clude that the poet who wrote Sweet Sirmio, Lesbias Spar-
row or the famous Hymenael dedicated to Julia & Man-
lius, could not have been a depraved man. He may have
been weak, but that is a fault we can excuse though not
admire. We have therefore pictured Catullus in this play
as we see him through his poems, rather than from the
vague history by which he is known to the world.
The play, although of one act, is unique in form, and
falls into the logical subdivisions that make a complete
action, viz. : a beginning, a middle, and an end. The cur-
tains for these subdivisions have been indicated, but it
could be given with equal success if presented with-
out a curtain, as the ancient classical dramas were per-
formed. The plot of "The Plea of Love," is very simple
and is devoid of those theatrical tricks that are the sure
sign of the common place. The action is well . sus-
tained and self-progressive, the climax of the play being
carried well toward the end where the resolution of the
plot is concluded amid a scene of rare beauty. This play
is an eairnest attempt, to produce not a musical comedy,
but a drama with music logically introduced. Recourse
has therefore been made to verse in the dialogue, to vocal
and incidental music throughout the action, and such
scenic display as v/ill enrich the whole and produce that
magical appeal, that awakens the imagination and exalts
the soul: The appeal of Beauty.
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? THE CHARACTERS
MEN.
CATULLUS, A poet and friend of all true lovers.
CAIUS MEMMIUS, Praetor of the Province of Bithynia.
LUCRETIUS, A friend of Catullus, and a Romsn.
JULIAN, Son of Caius Memmius.
PHILTO, Slave of Caius Memmius.
GRIPUS, Slave of Lucretius.
MINSTRAL, An old protege of Catullus.
DAVUS, 1
ALCAEUS, I Chorus of Youths.
PALAESTRA, [ Slaves of Catullus.
MYRSON, J
EROS, or Cupid, the god of love.
WOMEN.
EUNOMIA, Wife of Lucretius and Mother of Hermia.
HERMIA, Daughter of Lucretius.
PHAEDRIA, 1
THESSALA, [ Chorus of Maidens.
QUINTIA, I Slaves of Catullus.
CELIA, J
EUPHROSYNE, 1
AGLAIA, [ The Three Graces.
THALIA, J
Chorus of Husbandmen, Servants, etc.
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? THE SCENE.
The scene of this play is laid in the summer villa of
Catullus, located upon a promentory called Sirmio in the
Benacus, now known as the Lago de Garda Italy.
A magnificent Grecian peristyle crosses the entire
width of the stage, three steps lead up to this portico be-
yond which may be seen the lake and the Alps in the
distance. The fore stage is the main hall of the palace
and has a ceiling effect showing it as such.
A couch occupies the center stage. On the right and
left are bronze tripods or altars. See plan.
CATULLUS
o
oooooo o
PSRISTiTX
O O O OOP
FO0THGHT5
? ? Generated for anonymous on 2015-01-02 09:06 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/loc. ark:/13960/t7xk8x10m Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust.
ITTLE is known of Caius Valerius Catullus the
Latin poet who is the central figure of this play,
except that he was born of a respectable family
in the year 87 B. C, and lived in or near Verona,
from which city he removed at an early age to Rome,
where his genius and accomplishments quickly won him
recognition. There he lived on terms of intimacy with
some of the most distinguished literary and political
characters of the day. We are assured that he was known
to Cicero and Julius Caesar, and that he was the personal
friend of Caius Memmius, then Praetor of the Province
of Bithynia. The Lesbia of his poems is supposed to
have been the daughter or wife of a well-knov/n Romatn;
whether she was Clodia or another is immaterial, the
world is grateful to her for having inspired such beauti-
ful lyrics as were dedicated to her by her lover.
The poems of Catullus justly rank with the best lyrical
poetry of the period, and it is doubtful if certain of his
lyrics have ever been surpassed. Be that as it may, the
sincerity, grace and beauty of these poems, have tempted
us to write around the vague life of the author a play in-
troducing the best of his lyrics, and "The Plea of Love,"
a comedy, in one act is the result. The scene of this play
is laid in the summer villa of Catullus, known to have
been located upon a peninsular called Sirmio -- a> promon-
tory that projects into the Benacus, now known as Lago
de Garda, Italy. Here vestiges of the villa may yet be
seen, and here it was that Napoleon I, who never failed to
recognize the genius of a true artist, drank this toast --
"To the most elegant of Latin poets. "
Catullus lived amid the turmoil and dissipation of Rome
and it is therefore not surprising to learn that he became
dissipated and died at an early age about the year 48 B. C.
5
? ? Generated for anonymous on 2015-01-02 09:06 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/loc. ark:/13960/t7xk8x10m Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? That he ever descended to the depravity of the
"viveurs" of his day is seriously to be doubted, for all
art is but a form of expression, and poetry above all
other arts is the most subjective, "we give of ourselves
when we sing our lay. " It is therefore natural to con-
clude that the poet who wrote Sweet Sirmio, Lesbias Spar-
row or the famous Hymenael dedicated to Julia & Man-
lius, could not have been a depraved man. He may have
been weak, but that is a fault we can excuse though not
admire. We have therefore pictured Catullus in this play
as we see him through his poems, rather than from the
vague history by which he is known to the world.
The play, although of one act, is unique in form, and
falls into the logical subdivisions that make a complete
action, viz. : a beginning, a middle, and an end. The cur-
tains for these subdivisions have been indicated, but it
could be given with equal success if presented with-
out a curtain, as the ancient classical dramas were per-
formed. The plot of "The Plea of Love," is very simple
and is devoid of those theatrical tricks that are the sure
sign of the common place. The action is well . sus-
tained and self-progressive, the climax of the play being
carried well toward the end where the resolution of the
plot is concluded amid a scene of rare beauty. This play
is an eairnest attempt, to produce not a musical comedy,
but a drama with music logically introduced. Recourse
has therefore been made to verse in the dialogue, to vocal
and incidental music throughout the action, and such
scenic display as v/ill enrich the whole and produce that
magical appeal, that awakens the imagination and exalts
the soul: The appeal of Beauty.
? ? Generated for anonymous on 2015-01-02 09:06 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/loc. ark:/13960/t7xk8x10m Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? THE CHARACTERS
MEN.
CATULLUS, A poet and friend of all true lovers.
CAIUS MEMMIUS, Praetor of the Province of Bithynia.
LUCRETIUS, A friend of Catullus, and a Romsn.
JULIAN, Son of Caius Memmius.
PHILTO, Slave of Caius Memmius.
GRIPUS, Slave of Lucretius.
MINSTRAL, An old protege of Catullus.
DAVUS, 1
ALCAEUS, I Chorus of Youths.
PALAESTRA, [ Slaves of Catullus.
MYRSON, J
EROS, or Cupid, the god of love.
WOMEN.
EUNOMIA, Wife of Lucretius and Mother of Hermia.
HERMIA, Daughter of Lucretius.
PHAEDRIA, 1
THESSALA, [ Chorus of Maidens.
QUINTIA, I Slaves of Catullus.
CELIA, J
EUPHROSYNE, 1
AGLAIA, [ The Three Graces.
THALIA, J
Chorus of Husbandmen, Servants, etc.
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? THE SCENE.
The scene of this play is laid in the summer villa of
Catullus, located upon a promentory called Sirmio in the
Benacus, now known as the Lago de Garda Italy.
A magnificent Grecian peristyle crosses the entire
width of the stage, three steps lead up to this portico be-
yond which may be seen the lake and the Alps in the
distance. The fore stage is the main hall of the palace
and has a ceiling effect showing it as such.
A couch occupies the center stage. On the right and
left are bronze tripods or altars. See plan.
CATULLUS
o
oooooo o
PSRISTiTX
O O O OOP
FO0THGHT5
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? THE TIME.
It is early morn of the Spring of the year of 57 B. C.
As the curtain ascends, the faint glimmer of the morning
star is seen on the horizon.
DISCOVERED.
Catullus is discovered reclining upon a couch placed
in center stage; back of him is the peristyle, and beyond
the blue vraters of the Benacus. In the distance may be
seen the snow-capped peaks of the Alps. Catullus is a
handsome man six feet or more in height, but his gray
hair and wejry eyes denote one given to dissipation.
About hkn seated upon the floor in graceful attitudes,
are four yo\jng maids, his slaves, Phaedria, Thessaia,
Quintia and Celia; they have their lutes and lyres, and
wear chaplets of laurel and roses upon their heads. As
the curtain ascends, they sing to Catullus and accompany
themselves upcw their lutes.
PRELUDE.
By tm orchestra precedes curtain.
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? "THE PLEA OF LOVE. "
The Lyrics.
No. I. Prelude preceeding curtain by Orchestra.
2. "Now spring renews her gentle charms" -- Catul-
lus. Translation o? W. Peter, sung by Chorus of
Maidens.
3. "No nymph among the much loved few" -- Catul-
lus. Translation of Hon. G. Lamb. Solo by Quin-
tia.
4. Chorus of Husbandmen (off scene) -- O. R. Lamb.
5. "Sweet Sirmio, Sweet Sirmio. " -- Catullus. Trans-
lation of Thomas Moore, solo by Minstral.
6. "Mourn all ye Loves and Graces Mourn -- Catul-
lus. Translation of Hon, G. Lamb, solo by Min-
stral.
7. Hermia's plea to Catullus adapted from -- Agathias.
Translation of J. H. Mirivale, solo by Hermia.
8. Hymn to Love, Duo Hermia and Julian -- O. R.
Lamb.
9. The Plea of Love, Duo Hermia anl Julian -- O. R.
Lamb.
10. The Rondelay of the Graces, Trd -- O. R. Lamb.
11. "The Spring hath come," adaptei from the Greek
-- O. R. Lamb.
12. The Epithalamium -- Catullus. -- Translation of Sir
C. A. Elton, sung by full Cho'us.
13. The Wedding March, by Orchestra.
14. The Chorus of Husbandnvn (off scene) -- O. R.
Lamb.
15. Concluding Chorus, The ''lea of Love (off scene)
--- O. R. Lamb,
10
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? SCENE I.
MUSICAL No. 2.
"SPRING SONG. "
Sung by the Chorus of Maidens, at the conclusion of
the Prelude -- as the curtain ascends.
I.
Now Spring renews her gentle charms,
And lulled in zephyr's balmy arms.
Soft grows the angry sk3r;
Haste then, and leaving Phrygia's plains.
Essaying Nicae's rich domains,
To Asia's Cities fly.
II.
My soul all trembling, pants to stay.
My bounding feet the call obey;
Friends of my youth farewell.
Loved friends, with whom I left my home,
Now doomed through various ways to roam,
In different lands to dwell.
IIL
The Spring renews her gentle charms,
And lulled in zephyr's balmy arms.
Soft grows the angry sky.
My soul all trembling pants to stray.
My bounding feet the call obey.
To Asia's cities fly.
CATULLUS.
(Distractedly. ) The measure is too sad, sweet maids,
essay a merrier air Sing ye of love.
QUINTIA.
My lord, you die of love already; why add unto your
sorrow?
11
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