John Fletcher

thumb|Man is his own star, and that soul that can Be honest is the only perfect man. John Fletcher (baptized 20 December 1579 - died in August 1625) was a Jacobean playwright. After William Shakespeare and Ben Jonson, he was one of the most prolific and influential of the Jacobean dramatists. In succession to Shakespeare, he became the chief dramatist for the leading company of London, the King's Men. Quotes thumb|Then, everlasting Love, restrain thy will;'Tis god-like to have power, but not to kill. Then, everlasting Love, restrain thy will;'Tis god-like to have power, but not to kill. The Chances (c. 1613–25; 1647), Act II, scene 2, Song Oh, woman, perfect woman! what distractionWas meant to mankind when thou wast made a devil!What an inviting hell invented. Monsieur Thomas (c. 1610–16; pub. 1639), Act III, scene 1 Death hath so many doors to let out life. The Custom of the Country (with Philip Massinger; c. 1619–23; pub. 1647), Act II, scene 2 Compare: "I know death hath ten thousand several doors / For men to take their exits.", John Webster, Dutchess of Malfi (1623); act IV, scene ii Let's meet and either do or die. The Island Princess (c. 1620; pub. 1647), Act II, scene 2. Compare: "Let us do or die", Robert Burns, Bannockburn; same in Thomas Campbell, Gertrude of Wyoming, part iii. stanza 37 Of all the paths lead to a woman's lovePity's the straightest. The Knight of Malta (1647), Act I, sc. i 'Tis a word that's quickly spoken,Which being restrained, a heart is broken. The Spanish Curate (licensed 24 October 1622; 1647), Act II, scene 5, Song Something given that way. The Lover's Progress (licensed 6 December 1623; rev. 1634; pub. 1647), Act I, scene 1 Deeds, not words. The Lover's Progress (licensed 6 December 1623; rev. 1634; pub. 1647), Act iii. Sc. 4. Compare: "Deeds, not words", Samuel Butler, Hudibras, part i, canto i, line 867 I'll put a spoke among your wheels. The Mad Lover, (acted 5 January 1617; 1647), Act III, scene 5 Fountain heads and pathless groves,Places which pale passion loves. The Nice Valour (c. 1615–25; pub. 1647), Act iii, scene 3 Hence, all you vain delights,As short as are the nightsWherein you spend your folly!There's naught in this life sweetBut only melancholy;O sweetest melancholy! The Nice Valor (1647), Melancholy. Compare: "Naught so sweet as melancholy", Robert Burton, Anatomy of Melancholy Weep no more, nor sigh, nor groan,Sorrow calls no time that's gone;Violets plucked, the sweetest rainMakes not fresh nor grow again. The Queen of Corinth (1647), Act III, sc. ii. Compare: "Weep no more, Lady! weep no more, Thy sorrow is in vain; For violets plucked, the sweetest showers Will ne'er make grow again", Thomas Percy, Reliques of Ancient English Poetry, "The Friar of Orders Gray" I'll have a fling. Rule a Wife and Have a Wife (licensed 19 October 1624; 1640), Act III, scene 5 O great corrector of enormous times,Shaker of o'er-rank states, thou grand deciderOf dusty and old titles, that healest with bloodThe earth when it is sick, and curest the worldO' the pleurisy of people. The Two Noble Kinsmen (with William Shakespeare; c. 1613; pub. 1634), Act V, scene 1 Come, sing now, sing; for I know you sing well;I see you have a singing face. The Wild Goose Chase (c. 1621; pub. 1652), Act II. 2 Though I say't that should not say't. Wit at Several Weapons (with Thomas Middleton and William Rowley; c. 1610–20; pub. 1647), Act II, scene 2 Go far—too far you cannot, still the fartherThe more experience finds you: And go sparing;—One meal a week will serve you, and one suit,Through all your travels; for you'll find it certain,The poorer and the baser you appear,The more you look through still. The Woman's Prize, or The Tamer Tamed (c. 1611; pub. 1647), Act IV, scene 5, line 199 Valentinian (1610–14; pub. 1647) All love’s emblems, and all cry,"Ladies, if not pluck’d, we die." Act I, scene 4 We must all die! All leave ourselves, it matters not where, when, Nor how, so we die well; and can that man that does so Need lamentation for him? Act IV, scene 4 Care-charming sleep, thou easer of all woes,Brother to Death, sweetly thyself disposeOn this afflicted prince; fall like a cloudIn gentle showers; give nothing that is loudOr painful to his slumbers; easy, light,And as a purling stream, thou son of night,Pass by his troubled senses, sing his painLike hollow murmuring wind or gentle rain.Into this prince gently, oh, gently slide,And kiss him into slumbers like a bride. Act V, scene 2 God Lyaeus, ever young,Ever honour’d, ever sung,Stain’d with blood of lusty grapes,In a thousand lusty shapesDance upon the mazer’s brim,In the crimson liquor swim;From thy plenteous hand divineLet a river run with wine:God of youth, let this day hereEnter neither care nor fear. Act V, scene 8 The Tragedy of Bonduca (1611–14; pub. 1647) What mare's nest hast thou found? Act IV, scene 2 Lie lightly on my ashes, gentle earthe. Act IV, scene 3 ("Sit tibi terra levis," familiar inscription) Sing a song of sixpence. Act V, scene 2 Fortune, now see, now proudlyPluck off thy veil, and view thy triumph; look,Look what thou hast brought this land to!— Act V, scene 5 The Honest Man's Fortune, (1613; pub. 1647) thumb| Corruption is a tree, whose branches areOf an immeasurable length: they spreadEv'rywhere; and the dew that drops from thenceHath infected some chairs and stools of authority. thumb| Our acts our angels are, or good or ill, Our fatal shadows that walk by us still. From the crown of our head to the sole of our foot. Act II, scene 2. Compare Thomas Middleton, A Mad World, My Masters, Act I, scene 3. Pliny, Natural History, Book VII, Chapter XVII. William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing, Act III, scene 2. Corruption is a tree, whose branches areOf an immeasurable length: they spreadEv'rywhere; and the dew that drops from thenceHath infected some chairs and stools of authority. Act III, scene 3 As high as Heaven, as deep as Hell. Act IV, scene 1 Thy clothes are all the soul thou hast. Act V, scene 3, line 170 Man is his own star, and the soul that can Render an honest and a perfect man, Commands all light, all influence, all fate; Nothing to him falls early, or too late. Our acts our angels are, or good or ill, Our fatal shadows that walk by us still; And when the stars are labouring, we believe It is not that they govern, but they grieve For stubborn ignorance; all things that are Made for our general uses, are at war, — Even we among ourselves; and from the strife, Your first unlike opinions got a life. Epilogue. Compare: "Every man hath a good and a bad angel attending on him in particular all his life long", Robert Burton, Anatomy of Melancholy, part i. sect. 2, memb. 1, subsect. 2. Man is his own star, and that soul that can Be honest is the only perfect man. Epilogue. Compare: "An honest man's the noblest work of God", Alexander Pope, Essay on Man, epistle iv. line 248 Wit Without Money (c. 1614; pub. 1639) Charity and treating begin at home. Scene 2 Let them learn first to show pity at home. Scene 2. He 'as had a stinger. Act IV, scene 1. Vow me no vows. Act IV, scene 4. Speak boldly, and speak truly, shame the devil. Act IV, scene 4. Whistle, and she'll come to you. Act IV, scene 4. Let the world slide. Act V, scene 2. Compare William Shakespeare, The Taming of the Shrew, introduction, scene 1, line 5. Also Scene 2, line 146. ("Slip" in folio) The Loyal Subject (c. 1616–19; pub. 1647, 1679) Written c. 1616–19; licensed November 16, 1618; rev. c. 1633; pub. 1647, 1679. Look babies in your eyes, my pretty sweet one. Great things thro' greatest hazards are achiev'd,And then they shine. Act I, scene 5. I'll put that in my considering cap. Act II, scene 1. Rollo, Duke of Normandy, or The Bloody Brother (c. 1617; rev. c. 1627–30; pub. 1639) Drink today, and drown all sorrow;You shall perhaps not do't tomorrow. Act II, scene ii. And he that will to bed go soberFalls with the leaf in October. Act II, scene ii. The following well-known catch, or glee, is formed on this song: "He who goes to bed, and goes to bed sober, Falls as the leaves do, and dies in October; But he who goes to bed, and goes to bed mellow, Lives as he ought to do, and dies an honest fellow". Three merry boys, and three merry boys, And three merry boys are we,As ever did sing in a hempen string Under the gallow-tree. Act III, scene 2. Song. Three merry boys, and three merry boys,And three merry boys are we.As ever did sing in a hempen stringUnder the gallows tree. Act III, scene iii. Compare: "Three merry men be we", George Peele, Old Wives' Tale, 1595. John Webster (quoted), Westward Hoe, 1607. Hide, oh, hide those hills of snow Which thy frozen bosom bears,On whose tops the pinks that grow Are of those that April wears!But first set my poor heart free,Bound in those icy chains by thee. Act IV, scene i. Compare: "Take, O, take those lips away, That so sweetly were forsworn; And those eyes, the break of day, Lights that do mislead the morn: But my kisses bring again, bring again; Seals of love, but sealed in vain, sealed in vain", William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure. The Humorous Lieutenant (c. 1619; pub. 1647) Let no man fear to die: We love to sleep all,And death is but the sounder sleep. Act III, scene 6 The Little French Lawyer (c. 1619–23; pub. 1647) With Philip Massinger The foot in the grave. Act I, scene 1 First come, first served. Act II, scene 1 One good turn deserves another. Act III, scene 2 This is a pretty flimflam. Act III, scene 3 There is no jesting with edge tools. Act IV, scene vii The Elder Brother (c. 1625; pub. 1637) That place that does containMy books, the best companions, is to meA glorious court, where hourly I converseWith the old sages and philosophers;And sometimes, for variety, I conferWith kings and emperors, and weigh their counsels. Act I, scene 2 This is a gimcrackThat can get nothing but new fashions on you. Act III, scene 3 There's nothing that allays an angry mindSo soon as a sweet beauty. Act III, scene 5 'Twas when young Eustace wore his heart in's breeches. Act V See also Beaumont and Fletcher The Two Noble Kinsmen External links John Fletcher (playwright) Category:Playwrights from England Category:Poets from England Category:1579 births Category:1625 deaths