Nebuchadnezzar

Anon. (1596)

Historical Records

Henslowe's Diary

F.25v / Greg 1.50:
ye 19 of desemb[er] 1596		ne . .	R[d] at nabucadonizer . . . . . . . . . .	xxxs
ye 22 of desemb[er] 1596			R[d] at nabucadonizer . . . . . . . . . .	xxvjs
ye 2[8]7 of desemb[er] 1596		crismas day	R[d] at nabucadonizer . . . . . . . . . .	iijll viijs
ye 4 of Jenewary 1597			R[d] at nabucadonizer . . . . . . . . . .	xvjs
ye 12 of Janewary 1597			R[d] at nabycadnazer . . . . . . . . . .	xiijs
ye 19 of Janewary 1597			R[d] at nabucadonyzer . . . . . . . . . .	xs
F.26 / Greg 1.51:
Janewary 1597
	|26|		tt at Nabucadonizer . . . . . . . . . .		|0|09|02 00-03
Begynyng in leant
marche 1597
	|21|		tt at nabucadnazer . . . . . . . . . .		|00|05|00-00-03

Theatrical Provenance

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Probable Genre(s)

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Possible Narrative and Dramatic Sources or Analogues

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References to the Play

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Critical Commentary

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For What It's Worth

Nebuchadnezzar was also noted for his apparent transmigration into a beast's body, as William Perkins explains:

Againe some others think· that mens soules after this life doe passe from one mans bodie to another: and Herod may seeme to haue beene of this opinion: for when newes was brought him of Christ, he said, that Iohn Baptist beeing beheaded was risen againe, thinking that the soule of Iohn Baptist was put into the bodie of some other man. And for proofe herof, some alledge the example of Nebuchadnezzar, who forsaking the societie of man, liued as a beast, and did eate grasse like a beast: and they imagine that his owne soule went out of him, and that the soule of a beast entred in the roome thereof. But this indeede is a fonde conceit: for euen then he had the soule of a man when he liued as a beast, being only stricke~ by the hand of God with an exceeding madnes, whereby he was bereft of common reason; as doth appeare by that clause in the text, where it is saide, that his vnderstanding or knowledge returned to him againe... (531-32)

Henry Smith, an early modern commentator, notes the emphasis on the value of human reason contained in Nebuchadnezzar's story:

Nabuchadnezzer was banished but till he repented. Nowe the first cure of this kings restitution, was of his mind: Mine vnderstanding, sayth he, was restored vnto me, which he repeateth againe in the 33. verse: Mine vnderstanding was restored vnto mee, to shewe what an inestimable gift our vnderstanding and reason is, wherby we differ from beasts, for which wee cannot be thankfull enough. Therefore he recordes it twise, as though his heart did slowe with gladnesse, and his toong coulde not chuse but speake often of it: as a man thinketh and speaketh of that which hee loueth, Mine vnderstanding was restored vnto mee (sig.B2^v)

He emphasises the moral of the story as follows:

Thus you see why Nabuchadnezzer was made like a beast, that he may die like a man: for he could neuer learne from whom his kingdome came, or who gaue him his name, vnlesse he had beene seuen yeares a prentise vnto the crosse. When he perceiued who tooke his kingdome from him, then he gaue his kingdome vnto him, and learned his thankfulnesse in the wilderdernesse. (sig.[C4]^v)

Works Cited

Perkins, William. An exposition of the Symbole or Creed of the Apostles according to the tenour of the Scriptures, and the consent of orthodoxe Fathers of the Church. 1595.

Smith, Henry. The restitution of King Nabuchadnezzer Dan. 4. Verses. 31. 32. 33. 34. 1591.

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