The Spanish Tragedy (1592) by Thomas Kyd
The play begins with the ghost of Don Andrea, recently killed in a battle with Portugal, accompanied by the spirit of Revenge. He was killed in combat with the Portuguese Prince Balthazar, after having a falling in love with Bel-Imperia. Don Andrea is sent back to earth with Revenge who promises him that by the play’s ending, he shall have seen to his revenge.
They remain on stage throughout the play, making occasional commentary on impending doom.
Brave Horatio captures Balthazar of Portugal in battle and brings him to the Spanish court. His prisoner is not imprisoned, but is given freedom in the trusting care of Lorenzo. Balthazar then seeks to win the hand of Bel-Imperia, widow of the late Andrea. She, however, is loathe to marry her husband's murderer and falls in love with Horatio. This fact, plus Horatio's previous victory, incenses Balthazar, who, with the encouragement and help of Lorenzo (boo, hiss), brutally murders Horatio.
They and their accomplices kidnap Bel-Imperia in order to hide her and to let Balthazar woo her. Hieronimo, Horatio's bereaved father, desires vengeance, but is ignorant of the identity of the murderers until Bel-Imperia sends him a letter indicting her ruthless brother and the foreign prince. Hieronimo hesitates, fearing that the letter is a trick. Meanwhile, Lorenzo, fearing discovery, coolly disposes of his two trusting accomplices, but Hieronimo discovers a letter on the body of one of them, which confirms the guilt of Lorenzo and Balthazar. He then suffers lapses of madness and considers suicide. His wife, driven to madness by the delay in revenge for her son, does kill herself. Bel-Imperia chastises Hieronimo for not having avenged Horatio's death and pushes him toward the final scene. He plans a presentation of a play to the court, using his avowed enemies as players. They, along with Bel-Imperia, take parts. In full view of all, they present the play. Hieronimo stabs Lorenzo, whereupon Bel-Imperia stabs Balthazar and herself. Hieronimo drags out the body of his dead son and briefly unfolds the tale. When pressed for further details, he bites off his tongue. He then stabs Lorenzo's innocent father with a penknife and commits suicide. Andrea's ghost comments and asks to be allowed to judge the guilty and assign their penalties. This request is granted by Revenge, who takes him to the dark regions where the guilty will "begin their endless tragedy."
(Taken from http://cla.calpoly.edu)
The Revenger’s Tragedy (1607) by Thomas Middleton
Vindice has long sought his chance to avenge the death of his betrothed, Gloriana, poisoned by the lecherous but now ageing Duke when she spurned his importunate advances. Now, Vindice's brother Hippolito, in the service of the Duke's son Lussurioso, persuades his master to engage Vindice, disguised as the malcontented Piato, to pursue his own lustful designs - as it emerges, against their sister Castiza. As Piato, Vindice tests the virtue of Castiza, who remains resolute in her honour, but to his distress he is able to persuade their mother Gratiana to plead Lussurioso's cause. Meanwhile, the Duke's youngest stepson is put on trial for the rape of the courtier Antonio's virtuous wife, who has taken her own life rather than endure the dishonour. But the brazenly guilty princeling is given a stay of sentence by the Duke at the pleading of his mother. The Duchess is herself enamoured of the Duke's bastard son, Spurio, and - hoping to divert Lussurioso from visiting Castiza - Vindice as Piato tells him of this affair. However, Lussurioso surprises not the guilty couple as he expects, but his own father - who assumes that he himself is the object of his son's murderous intentions and packs him off to prison. Secretly happy at the prospect of their stepbrother's demise, the Duchess's elder sons, Supervacuo and Ambitioso, persuade the Duke to give them a signer ring as token of authority for his execution - but the Duke's guilty conscience prompts him to send a reprieve, and the ring is assumed to authorise the death of their own younger brother. As Piato, Vindice has been hired by the still-lustful Duke to procure the favours of a 'country lady', and he arranges the meeting to coincide with an assignation between the Duchess and Spurio. The Duke is deceived into kissing the poisoned lips of Gloriana's garishly-adorned skull, and dies in agony after also being forced to watch his wife's guilty embraces. Lussurioso determines to rid himself of the services of Piato, accusing him to Hippolito and Vindice (now presented in his own person) of seeking to corrupt their sister. The brothers bring Gratiana to repent her earlier laxity, and mother and daughter are reconciled. Lussurioso, as the new Duke, banishes the Duchess, but during the celebrations for his succession he is murdered by Vindice and Hippolito at the climax of a masque. Ambitioso, Supervacuo, and Spurio are also killed in the ensuing confusion, after which Vindice and Hippolito, expecting the gratitude of the newly-elevated Antonio, confess to the old Duke's murder. But Antonio, fearful of their future intentions, orders their immediate execution. |
A Chaste Maid in Cheapside (First performed 1611-1613) by Thomas Middleton
The play presents three plots centered around the marriage of Moll Yellowhammer, the titular maid, who is daughter to a wealthy Cheapside goldsmith. Moll loves Touchwood Junior, a poor gallant; her father, however, has betrothed her to Sir Walter Whorehound, a philandering knight eager for Moll's dowry. As a kind of side-bargain, Sir Walter has promised Moll's brother Tim a "landed niece" from Wales. Tim, an idiotic scholar, returns to London from Cambridge University, with his Latin tutor. This "landed niece" is in reality one of Sir Walter's mistresses, who has no land in actuality. Sir Walter is also having an affair with the wife of Allwit, a knowing cuckold, who lives on the money Sir Walter gives his wife.
Meanwhile, Touchwood Senior (the elder brother of Moll's true love) prepares to depart from his wife; prodigiously fertile, he impregnates any woman he sleeps with. He and his wife must separate to avoid another pregnancy. His salvation comes from the Kixes, an aging couple who have not been able to conceive. This is important because if they have a child before Sir Walter (a relation of theirs) begets a legitimate heir, they will inherit Sir Walter's fortune. A maid tells the Kixes that Touchwood makes a special fertility potion; Touchwood deceives his way into the bed of Lady Kix.
After an abortive attempt to elope with Touchwood Junior, Moll is guarded at home. The day before the wedding, Moll flees her parents' home. Caught while attempting to cross the Thames, she is drenched and seems to fall sick upon being brought home. Touchwood Junior and Sir Walter fight in the street, and both are wounded.
Sir Walter believes that he is near death. At Allwit's house, he repents all of his sins, condemning the Allwits for indulging him. When news is brought that Lady Kix is pregnant (thus ruining Sir Walter's prospects), the Allwits kick him out and plan to sell all Sir Walter's gifts and purchase a home in The Strand.
Moll continues very sick; when Touchwood Senior brings word that his brother has died, she faints and appears to die. Saddened, the Yellowhammers agree to Touchwood Senior's request that the young lovers receive a joint burial. At the funeral, Moll and Touchwood Junior rise from their coffins and the mourning turns to celebration. The two are wed, as Tim and the Welsh "niece" had been earlier that day; Kix promises to support the family of Touchwood Senior, who announces that Sir Walter has been imprisoned for debt. All exit, headed for a celebratory dinner.
