MENU
View Image Assets
MS. Rawl. D. 398, folio 214 verso
Click image to enlarge

Institution Rights and Document Citation

Terms of use
The Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford, has graciously contributed images of materials in its collections to Shakespeare Documented under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International licence.  Images used within the scope of these terms should cite the Bodleian Libraries as the source.  For any use outside the scope of these terms, visitors should contact Bodleian Libraries Imaging Services at imaging@bodleian.ox.ac.uk.

Document-specific information
Title: "The Pilgrimage to Parnassus," and "The Return from Parnassus;" two comedies. 
Date: 1598-1601
Repository: Bodleian Library, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
Call number and opening: Rawl. D. 398, item 72, fols. 214v, 215r, 216v

Semi-diplomatic transcription

                             ragged companions I reward the poore ergoes moste boun=
                             tifullie, and send them away, I am verie latelie registred
                             in the roules of fame, in an Epigram made by a Cam=
                             bridge man our weauer fellow I parraut him, els
                             could he never haue had such a quick sight into my
                             ventures, howsoeuer I merit his praise: if I meet with him
                             I will vouchsafe to giue him condigne thankes.
                Ingen.   Great reason the Muses shoulde flutter about youre
                             immortall heade since your bodye is nothinge but a faire
                             Inne of fairer guestes that dwell therin, but you haue
                             digrest from your Mris, for whose sake you & I began
                             this parley
                Gullio.  Marrie well remembred, Ile repeat vnto you an enthu=
                             siasticall oration, wherwith my new Mistress ears were
                             verie lately made happie. the carriage of my body by
                             the reporte of my mistriss was excellent . I stood stroking
                             vp my haire, which became me very admirably, saue alow
                             cong.y at the beginninge of each period made euery
                             sentence end sweetly with an othe . It is part of an
                             Oratoure to persvade, & I know not how better , than
                             to conclude with such earnest protestations. suppose also
                             that thou wert my Mris as somtime woodde statues repre=
                             sent the goddesses, thus I woulde looke amorously, thus
                             I would pace, thus I woulde salute Her.
                Ingen.   It will be my lucke to dye noe other death, than by
                             hearinge of his follies, I feare this speach thats a comminge
                             will breede a deadly disease in my ears .
                Gullio.  Pardon faire Lady, thoughe sicke thoughted Gullio maks
                             a maine vnto thee, & like a bould faced sutore gins to woo
                             thee.
                Ingen.   we shall haue nothinge but pure Shakspeare, and shreds of
                             poetrie that he hath gathered at the theators.
                Gullio.  Pardon mee moy mittressa, as I am a gentleman the moone
                             in comparison of thy bright hue a meere slutt, Anthonies
                             Cleopatra a blacke browde milkmaide, Hellen a dowdie
                 Ingen:  Marke Romeo, and Iuliet. o monstrous theft I thinke he
                             will runn throughe a whole booke of Samuell Daniells
                 Gullio  Thrise fairer than my selfe, thus I began
                             the gods faire riches sweete aboue compare
                             staine to all Nimphes, ore louely the a man
                             More white and red than doues and roses are
                             Nature that made thee with herselfe had strife
                             faith that the worlde hath ending with thy life.
                Ingen:   Sweete Mr Shakspeare.
                Gullio   As I am a scholler these arms of mine are long and
                             strong withall.
                             Thus elms by vines are compast ere they falle.
                Ingen:   faith gentleman youre reading is wonderfull in our English
                             poettes.
                Gullio.  Sweet Mistress I vouchsafe to take some of there wordes and
                             applie them to mine owne matters by a scholasticall
                             imitation, Report thou vpon thy credit is not my vayne
                             in courtinge gallant, & honorable?
                Ingen:   Admirable sanes compare, neuer was soe mellifluous a witt
                             ioynet to so pure a phrase, such comly gesture, suche
                             gentleman like behauiour.
                Gullio   But stay ites verie true, good wittes haue badd memories
                             I had almoste forgotten the cheife pointe I cald thee out
                             for new years day approcheth, and wheras other gallantes
                             bestowe Jewells vpon there mistrisses (as I haue done
                             whilome) I now count it base. to do as the common people
                             doe, I will bestow vpon them the precious stons of my
                             witt a diamonde of invention, that shall be aboue all
                             value, & esteeme, therfore sithens I am employed in some
                             weightie affayrs of the courte I will haue thee Ingenioso
                             to make them, and when thou hast done, I will peruse
                            pollish, and correcte them /
                                                                                                           my

Item Title
"The Pilgrimage to Parnassus," and "The Return from Parnassus;" two comedies.
Item Date
1598-1601
Repository
Bodleian Library, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
Call Number
MS. Rawl. D. 398, fol. 214v