What's Inside
This volume pulls together various early English dramas, including 'Damon and Pithias', 'Cambyses', and 'The Misfortunes of Arthur'. Originally compiled in 1744 by Robert Dodsley and expanded by William Carew Hazlitt, the collection organizes these plays chronologically. The content ranges from moral allegories to historical tragedies, often featuring heavy-handed rulers, doomed families, and ghosts who comment on the action. Characters like the corrupt judge Sisamnes or the conniving Ambidexter navigate worlds where justice is fickle and violence is immediate. By placing these pieces in sequence, the text offers a view into how early playwrights used the stage to debate power, legacy, and the inevitable outcomes of moral failure.
Works & figures
- Sisamnes
A judge condemned to death by the king for corruption. (in “CAMBYSES”)
- Ambidexter
A trickster figure who manipulates and spies on others. (in “CAMBYSES”)
- Arthur
King of Britain who returns home to find his lineage failing. (in “THE MISFORTUNES OF ARTHUR”)
- Gorlois
The ghost who celebrates the destruction of his enemies. (in “THE MISFORTUNES OF ARTHUR”)
What it's really about
- Retribution
- Crimes are inevitably met with harsh, often bloody, punishments.
- Fragile Power
- Rulers frequently lose control through their own erratic violence.
Why it's memorable
- A king ordering the skin of a judge to be stretched over chair arms.
- A ghost appearing to gloat over the total extermination of a royal family.
Where to start
Start with 'Damon and Pithias' to see the earliest efforts to balance rigid morality with stage craft.
For your book club
- How do the prologues set expectations for moral behavior?
- Which characters serve as the primary conduits for chaos?