The
sentiment
is not original with Dekker.
Ben Jonson - The Devil's Association
The frequently quoted passage from Harsnet's
_Declaration_ (ch. 20, p. 134), is as follows: 'And if that the bowle
of curds and cream were not duly set out for Robin Goodfellow, the
Friar, and Sisse the dairy-maide, why then either the pottage was
burnt the next day, or the cheese would not curdle', etc. Cf. also
Scot, _Discovery_, p. 67: 'Robin could both eate and drinke, as being
a cousening idle frier, or some such roge, that wanted nothing either
belonging to lecherie or knaverie, &c'.
[32] Cf. Pug's words, 1. 3. 1 f.
[33] See Herford, p. 308.
[34] A similar passage is found in Dekker, _Whore of Babylon_,
_Wks. _ 2. 355.
The sentiment is not original with Dekker.
Cf. Middleton, _Black Book_, 1604:
. . . And were it number'd well,
There are more devils on earth than are in hell.
[35] Dekker makes a similar pun on Helicon in _News from
Hell_, _Non-dram Wks. _ 2. 95.
5. _The Novella of Belfagor and the Comedy of Grim_
The relation between Jonson's play and the novella attributed to
Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1522) has been treated in much detail by Dr.
Ernst Hollstein. Dr. Hollstein compares the play with the first known
English translation, that by the Marquis of Wharton in 1674. [36] It is
probable, however, that Jonson knew the novella in its Italian shape,
if he knew it at all. [37] The Italian text has therefore been taken as
the basis of the present discussion, while Dr.
_Declaration_ (ch. 20, p. 134), is as follows: 'And if that the bowle
of curds and cream were not duly set out for Robin Goodfellow, the
Friar, and Sisse the dairy-maide, why then either the pottage was
burnt the next day, or the cheese would not curdle', etc. Cf. also
Scot, _Discovery_, p. 67: 'Robin could both eate and drinke, as being
a cousening idle frier, or some such roge, that wanted nothing either
belonging to lecherie or knaverie, &c'.
[32] Cf. Pug's words, 1. 3. 1 f.
[33] See Herford, p. 308.
[34] A similar passage is found in Dekker, _Whore of Babylon_,
_Wks. _ 2. 355.
The sentiment is not original with Dekker.
Cf. Middleton, _Black Book_, 1604:
. . . And were it number'd well,
There are more devils on earth than are in hell.
[35] Dekker makes a similar pun on Helicon in _News from
Hell_, _Non-dram Wks. _ 2. 95.
5. _The Novella of Belfagor and the Comedy of Grim_
The relation between Jonson's play and the novella attributed to
Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1522) has been treated in much detail by Dr.
Ernst Hollstein. Dr. Hollstein compares the play with the first known
English translation, that by the Marquis of Wharton in 1674. [36] It is
probable, however, that Jonson knew the novella in its Italian shape,
if he knew it at all. [37] The Italian text has therefore been taken as
the basis of the present discussion, while Dr.
