The Cambridge History of English and American Literature in 18 Volumes (1907–21).
Volume V. The Drama to 1642, Part One.

V. Early English Comedy.

§ 10. Lucrece.


Whether there was the same collision of tendencies in The Play of Lucrece, issued, probably, like Calisto and Melebea, from the press of John Rastell, it is not possible to say. Only a fragment, apparently, survives;  13  but, from this, it is evident that the interlude includes a romantic love-story between a Publius Cornelius and a lady Lucrece otherwise unknown to history or to the stage. The portions of two scenes which have been preserved are written in lively manner, in short lines with, as a rule, three stresses.   19

Note 13. MSS. Harl. 5919, fol. 20, No. 98. Facsimiled in Bang’s Materialien, vol. XII, and printed in The Malone Society’s Publications, part II, pp. 139–142. [ back ]