THE DRAMATISTS OF THE ELIZA BETHAM PERIOD.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 43, 22 October 1892, Page 1055

THE DRAMATISTS OF THE ELIZA BETHAM PERIOD.

Next to Shakespeare in point of time among the greater Elizabethan dramatists, and next to him, perhaps in genius, stands Jonson, always called by himself and his contemporaries, as well as by posterity, by the abbrievated little Ben Jonson. He was born in London, near Charing Cross, in 1573. His family had, generation earlier, been in prosperous circumstances, but he was born to great poverty. He was the posthumous son of a clergyman; but his mother married for her second husband a bricklayer, and Jonson in early youth was obliged to follow the employment of his stepfather. Thiough the kindness of William Camden, however, he was enabled to become a scholar at Westminster School. He afterwards served for some time as a soldier in the Low Countries. But while still young, like many another young man of his day whose tastes and aspirations were above his fortune, he turned actor. From acting he advanced, as others did, to dramatic writing : and down to the time of his death, in 1637, bis diligence as a play writer was unceasing. Singularly unfavourable as the circumstances of his early life were for learning, Jonson’s love of knowledge triumphed over them. His reading was wide and accurate, his acquaintance with classical authors very minute. He was beyond doubt one of the most learned men of a learned age. Jonson had written several plays—some perhaps of those still in existence being among the number—but they all proved failures, when in 1596 the comedy of • Every Man in his Humour’ was brought out at the Globe Theatre, and its success was so great as at once to establish its author's position in the very front rank of the dramatists. The reputation thus established Jonson continually increased, nor was it only as a dramatist that he was distinguished. In 1619 he became Poet Laureate, a post to which his merits fully entitled him ; and in the brilliant circle of wits and men of letters which became so famous in the

Elizabethan period, Jonson’s position was supreme. Jonson’s whole career shows us that the lea-ling features of his character were strength of will, indomitable energy, and a proud self reliance ; and these high qualities were accompanied by a certain roughness and an outspoken freedom both in praise and blame. He certainly did not want the genuine kindness which secures friends, but was deficient in the geniality and tact which avoids or conciliates enemies ; ami he was constantly at war with some of his brother dramatists and poets. The very varied incidents of his career, and particularly the fact of his having at one time changed his creed and become a Roman Catholic, ami afterwards rejoined the national church, gave plenty of material for attack. His later days weie clouded by poverty and ill health, ami what, to a strong and selfreliant natuie such as his, must have bren not less painful than either of these, the consciousness of failing intellectual powers.