{"id":1484,"date":"2016-11-07T14:20:36","date_gmt":"2016-11-07T13:20:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.elizabethanpartsongs.nl\/wordpress\/?page_id=1484"},"modified":"2016-11-09T12:59:22","modified_gmt":"2016-11-09T11:59:22","slug":"be-seated-at-the-stroke-of-two","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.elizabethanpartsongs.nl\/wordpress\/shakespeare-1616-2016\/the-first-night-of-romeo-juliet\/be-seated-at-the-stroke-of-two\/","title":{"rendered":"Be Seated at the Stroke of Two"},"content":{"rendered":"

Next afternoon\u2019s regular show would have resulted in a slightly different witness account :<\/p>\n

\n
\u2018In the name of god Amen begininge at newing ton my lord admeralle men & my <\/span><\/em>lorde chamberlen men As ffolowethe 1594.\u2019 <\/span><\/em>
\nIf this entry in Henslowe\u2019s diary says what it literally says, from 3 June 1594 <\/span><\/em>to 18 May 1595 The Lord Chamberlain\u2019s Men performed on an almost daily <\/span><\/em>base at <\/span><\/em>The Rose<\/span> with Henslowe\u2019s The Lord Admiral\u2019s Men. In which case <\/span><\/em>Shakespeare was overruled, because on 1 August 1594 the diary reports a <\/span><\/em>performance of\u00a0<\/span><\/em> The Ranger\u2019s Comedy<\/span>. <\/span><\/em><\/h5>\n
On 15 May, however, the Lord Admiral\u2019s Men performed <\/span><\/em>The Ranger\u2019s <\/span>Comedy<\/span> on its own, and this either places The Lord Chamberlain\u2019s Men at <\/span><\/em>The <\/span>Rose<\/span> as a regular, yet incidental performing, guest company with its own <\/span><\/em>repertoire, or in a number of joint productions that did not include this particular one. In <\/span><\/em>both cases Shakespeare had his company available at <\/span><\/em>The Theatre<\/span> to perform <\/span><\/em>as intended.<\/span><\/em><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Shortly after the stroke of two, The Prologue<\/em> enters
\n….<\/span> Act One ; scene 1 ….<\/span>..<\/span>………….<\/span>\u00a0 9 a.m ….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>……………………….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>three scenes in one
\n….<\/span> Act One ; scene 2 …………….<\/span>…<\/span> afternoon\u00a0….<\/span>……………………<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span> two scenes in one
\n….<\/span> Act One ; scene 3\u00a0…………<\/span>…<\/span>….<\/span> evening\u00a0….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>………………<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span> 18 days to Lammas eve
\n….<\/span> Act One ; scene 4 ….<\/span>….<\/span>…..<\/span>..<\/span>….<\/span> after dark\u00a0….<\/span>….<\/span>…….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span> R presages his untimely death<\/p>\n

(8 p.m) Romeo and his two friends lead a detachment of torch-bearers into the central yard. They are all masked for the party and judged by the size of the poles to wich the torches are attached, the play\u2019s hero is leading a company of uniformed lancers (Montague livery) towards the Capulet high ground… visors closed.<\/p>\n

They now indeed start marching, leaving their torches all around the stage. In the process this army encircles the red-feathered Capulet servants, who have entered with napkins for the guests. Only when Romeo after a couple of rounds diverts his company off stage, they are able to move on to scene five.<\/p>\n

….<\/span> Act One ; scene 5\u00a0….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>.,,….<\/span> bed-time\u00a0….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>…<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>…..<\/span> R & J first meet<\/p>\n

Following the servants\u2019 exit, the stage get crowded with masqued guests. this makes it difficult to keep focused on Romeo, who is at the centre of action for most of the time. A most tactical position, as it keeps him close to the prompter\u2019s cabin, from which young Condell\u2019s voice now comes. What makes the focusing difficult, by the way, is that the guests all carry baskets with Lammas bread.<\/p>\n

At the end of the scene (2 ; 45 pm), they provide the audience with a free meal that takes some time to distribute, and a dumb show is on stage to provide for the entertainment until the Prologue announces the begin of Act Two (3 ; 30 pm).<\/p>\n

During the second part, time cannot proceed fast enough to keep pace with the action. From the great balcony scene until Juliet\u2019s swift (relay-)run (from home all the way towards the final scene of her wedding at noon, events follow in quick succession. And yet, too slow for lovers who keep watching the clock in eager anticipation of the happy end. Which is not long in coming, as the second part is rather short, and it comes with another round of Lammas bread. This time with Will Kempe on stage in some fooling and a number of dances to celebrate the wedding.<\/p>\n

(4 : 25 pm) The curtains come down again to hide the stage from view.<\/p>\n

Monday 29 July 1594
\n….<\/span>Act Three ; sc. 1 \u00a0 (1 ; 1a\/b) …..<\/span> one hour after wedding ….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>…<\/span>.<\/span>…<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>.<\/span> R banished
\n….<\/span> Act Three ; scene 2 (1 ; 2b) ….<\/span> two hours later\u00a0….<\/span>………………….<\/span> J arranges wedding night
\n….<\/span> Act Three ; sc. 3 (1 ; 1c\/2b) ….<\/span> evening\u00a0….<\/span>….<\/span>..<\/span>.<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>.<\/span> R to wedding night
\n….<\/span> Act Three ; scene 4 (1 ; 2a) ….<\/span> one hour past bed-time\u00a0….<\/span>….<\/span>…<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>…<\/span> J promised to Paris<\/p>\n

Romeo has between killings only a few seconds to remind us that just one hour ago the same stage had featured the happy end of a comedy. I realize that it is this comedy\u2019s opening scene that has returned to spell out tragedy in blood. Its second scene returns as well, now to settle the date of the marriage for Wednesday, and during negotiations Juliet\u2019s wedding night is in full progress. A notion that makes all the difference for our perception of Old Capulet\u2019s \u2018well wendsday is too soone, A thursday let it be, a thursday tell her She shall be married to this noble Earle:\u2019\u00a0 That is today, as I gather.<\/p>\n

Tuesday 30 July 1594
\n….<\/span> Act Three ; scene 5a (2 ; 2)\u00a0….<\/span> dawn\u00a0….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>..<\/span>.<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>…<\/span> R parts after wedding night
\n….<\/span> Act Three ; scene 5b (1 ; 3)\u00a0….<\/span> dawn\u00a0….<\/span>….<\/span>..<\/span>.<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>…..<\/span>….<\/span> J ordered to marry next Thursday<\/p>\n

The icing on the cake is St. Peter\u2019s as the wedding location of choice : it is, after all, St. Peter in Chains. and Juliet will know exactly how he feels.<\/p>\n

….<\/span> Act Four ; scene 1\u00a0….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>..<\/span> J is advized to elope by faking death
\n….<\/span> Act Four ; scene 2 …..<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….. <\/span>evening ….<\/span>.<\/span>……………….<\/span>….<\/span> marriage rescheduled for dawn
\n….<\/span> Act Four ; scene 3\u00a0….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>..<\/span> midnight\u00a0….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>………..<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span> \u2018come heavy sleep\u2019<\/p>\n

(5 : 26 pm) The marriage may have been rescheduled for Wednesday – just as the Nurse had predicted – the drug will still prevent Juliet from having her wedding night before this day is over : it will leave her out cold for two and fourty hours. Not for twenty-four. And as a result she is, like St. Peter, to spend this day locked up in a cold dungeon.<\/p>\n

Wednesday 31 July 1594 :
\n….<\/span> Act Four ; scene 4\u00a0….<\/span>….<\/span>……..<\/span>..<\/span> 3. a.m\u00a0….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>…<\/span>….<\/span> Old Capulet makes arrangements
\n….<\/span> Act Four ; scene 5\u00a0….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>..<\/span> dawn ….<\/span>….<\/span>.<\/span>..<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span> a bride in the morning<\/p>\n

Master Shakespeare now brings friar Lawrence on stage to confront him with the full impact of his clever plan. And all he can do to make amends, is to offer the mourners the worn platitudes of pious consolation :<\/p>\n

\n

Shees not well married, that liues married long,
\nBut shees best married, that dies married young.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

In the end he convinces parents and groom to bring her to church all the same. And the friar will see to it that she will be properly wedded off to the Last Lover.<\/p>\n

Act Five ; scene 1\u00a0….<\/span>….<\/span>……..<\/span>….<\/span> Enter Romeo.<\/p>\n

\n

Romeo :….<\/span>\u00a0<\/em>If I may trust the flattering truth of sleepe,
\n….<\/span>My dreames presage some ioyfull newes at hand.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

(5 ; 45 pm) The story is now rapidly closing in on real time. Romeo seems to have an early day, but the news from Verona is that of Juliet\u2019s interment. With all the bells and smells according to custom, and therefore buried after noon.<\/p>\n

\n

Witness :<\/em>….<\/span> I saw her laid lowe in her kindreds vault,
\n….<\/span> And presently tooke poste to tell it you:
\n….<\/span> O pardon me for bringing these ill newes,
\n….<\/span> Since you did leaue it for my office sir.
\nRomeo :….<\/span>\u00a0<\/em> Is it euen so? then I defie my Starres.
\n….<\/span> Goe get mee incke and paper, hyre post horse,
\n….<\/span> I will not stay in Mantua to night. ……………….. (Q1 ; 1597)<\/em><\/p>\n

Q1 suggests darkness for the ultimate scene, because Romeo leaves Mantua despite the late hour. His impulse to return at the instant makes much better psychology than the planning of Q2. The obvious contradiction with the scene\u2019s early morning opening, however, needs an \u2018I will not stay in Mantua <\/span><\/em>tonight<\/span>\u2019 to make it an expression of Romeo\u2019s determination not to leave Juliet alone in the grave for a second night. Which makes the communication of information to depend on its interpretation, and therefore unreliable. Q2 is definitely better adapted to the combination of time-lines, but at a cost. And that indicates revision rather than inaccuracy of Q1. This first edition may have been marked as a pirate edition by means of the final line of an incomplete prologue, but that does not necessarily make the \u2018newly corrected, augmented, and amended\u2019 Q2 a more accurate copy of Shakespeare\u2019s play as originally performed.<\/span><\/em><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n

A 20 miles gallop brings him to the scene of his death (5 ; 3). Which happens to be a graveyard. In traditional fiction not really a place to visit in the light of day. Not for Paris, who needs the dark to mourn undisturbed. And not for Romeo, who needs the dark to avoid arrest. Paris arrives first, and performs a lover\u2019s rite of strewing flowers on this \u2018bridal bed\u2019. When done so, Romeo enters the scene to perform a lover\u2019s rite of making the tomb a bridal bed indeed. By the time Juliet revives they are both death, and she commits suicide seconds before the Town Guard arrives :<\/p>\n

\n

… Pittifull sight, heere lies the Countie slaine,
\nAnd Iuliet bleeding, warme, and newlie dead:
\nWho heere hath laine this two daies buried.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

To reverse digits is a common mistake, but to write \u2018two daies buried\u2019 in a story that presents \u2018forty-two hours\u2019 as such a mistake, is something that just doesn\u2019t happen without intent. Writing \u2018two and forty\u2019 for \u2018eight and forty\u2019 doesn\u2019t either. If Shakespeare is capable of making mistakes like that, he can hardly be capable of writing more than his own name. So, if the author of Romeo and Juliet <\/em>decides to make it two and forty hours, two and forty hours it is. And if scene 5 ; 3 in complete disregard suggests the darkness of night, it does so to hide something from view. The fact, for instance, that Juliet has her wedding bed prepared according to a prophecy, that makes perfect sense of its contradiction in terms :<\/p>\n

—<\/span><\/p>\n

double double time of trouble<\/strong><\/p>\n

Inferior the supposedly unauthorized Q1 may be, but it at least has its spelling right in this fragment\u2019s penultimate line (Q2 spells \u2018horses). But Romeo\u2019s grammar still defines the transport he requires as plural. This betrays the boots of the messenger to have no spurs on them. And without spurs, the distance from Verona to Mantua is a pretty strong assurance for finding the gates at arrival closed for the night. Especially when the funeral, according to London custom, took place after noon. Which explains why Shakespeare is not satisfied with having the barefooted friar to be overtaken by a swifter messenger, but has to reveal with scene 5 ; 2 that he had never departed in the first place.<\/p>\n

….<\/span>\u00a0Act Five ; scene 3\u00a0….<\/span>………..<\/span> covered by darkness\u00a0….<\/span>….<\/span>……..<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span> three scenes in one
\n= .<\/span> Thursday 1 August …..<\/span>….<\/span>…<\/span> nearly evening ….<\/span>………………….<\/span>….<\/span> the hour of Juliet\u2019s revival<\/p>\n

Weird ! master Shakespeare evokes the darkness of night, but Juliet revives at the distant stroke of six : exactly forty-two hours after taking the drug at midnight. Just as friar Lawrence had told she would. And awakening on her bridal bed, she proves the Nurse is in scene 1 ; 3 amazingly precise in her foretelling of this wedding night :<\/p>\n

\n

….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>….<\/span>…on Lammas Eue at night
\nshall she be fourteene, that shall shee marrie.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Therefore the staged Thursday has to be the eve of St. Peter in Chains. And the suggested real time experience is a double time experience instead, now The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet<\/em> does not come to its deadly close at six o\u2019clock on this 1 August, but rather on Thursday 31 July 1593 : at the darkest hour of the great plague.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Next afternoon\u2019s regular show would have resulted in a slightly different witness account : \u2018In the name of god Amen begininge at newing ton my lord admeralle men & my lorde chamberlen men As ffolowethe 1594.\u2019 If this entry in … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":1369,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.elizabethanpartsongs.nl\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1484"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.elizabethanpartsongs.nl\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.elizabethanpartsongs.nl\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.elizabethanpartsongs.nl\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.elizabethanpartsongs.nl\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1484"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.elizabethanpartsongs.nl\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1484\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1510,"href":"https:\/\/www.elizabethanpartsongs.nl\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1484\/revisions\/1510"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.elizabethanpartsongs.nl\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1369"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.elizabethanpartsongs.nl\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1484"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}