The Works of Ben Jonson/Volume 6/A Tale of a Tub

by Ben Jonson

 

A

TALE OF A TUB.

 

A Tale of a Tub.] This comedy was licensed by sir Henry Herbert for the Black Friars, May 7th, 1633, and was the last piece which Jonson brought on the stage. It was not printed till 1610, three years after his death, when it appeared in the second folio. Of its fate on the stage, there is no account; but it was coldly received at court, where it was played before the King and Queen, January 14th, 1634. Jonson probably expected little from it, for he speaks of it with sufficient humility, both in the prologue and the motto:—the latter is taken from Catullus.

———Inficeto est inficetior rure.

Contents (not listed in original)

• Prologue
• Dramatis Personæ

Act I

• Scene I
• Scene II
• Scene III
• Scene IV
• Scene V - to be deleted
• Scene VI - to be deleted
• Scene VII - to be deleted

Act II

• Scene I
• Scene II - to be deleted

Act III

• Scene I
• Scene II
• Scene III
• Scene IV
• Scene V

Act IV

• Scene I
• Scene II
• Scene III
• Scene IV
• Scene V

Act V

• Scene I
• Scene II
• Scene III
• Scene IV
• Scene V

Epilogue

• Epilogue