Florentine Ladies, The

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Anon(unknown date)


Historical Records

Thomas Jordan, "A Prologue to a Play call'd The Florentine Ladies, played in the Night by Gentlemen." A Nursery of Novelties (1665) 16-17:

You're welcome to our Ladies, and I know Most courteous Gallants, Ladies will please you; Though at this hour, or midnight, else I'le swear Most of our Knights are lost with the last year: These creatures are of Florence , and not scorn To let you know they are Italians born; Your Ladies, worthy Gentlemen, 'tis thought Love things that are far fetch't and dearly bought: Why should not they who of this opinion are Let you love Ladies that are come so far; It is a question, and they may mistake Our Ladies to be Ladies of the Lake; Which in our English broadness is a Whore, Then what are we, nay they that keep the door; What are you too, my Masters? something 'tis That make your Wives thus follow you to this. A shrew'd suspicion when our wandring Knights Arrest strange Ladies, and so late at nights; But there's no hurt, for if they please but you, We doubt not they'l content your Ladies too. Pray take't as 'tis, the best we can afford, If we do please, why so. Hab nab's the word.

The Epilogue, on New-Years-Day at Night.

With the New Year these Marriages begin, Which will be broke e're the next year come in, Unless your hands do give us, all our pains In Love is lost, if you forbid the banes: But if you grant us Licence, and appear Each day to see us thorow the whole year; Come to our Wedding, to requite your loves, Shew us your hands we'l fit you all with Gloves.



Theatrical Provenance

Unknown beyond what Jordan says


Probable Genre(s)

Comedy ending in marriage


Possible Narrative and Dramatic Sources or Analogues

None known


References to the Play

None known


Critical Commentary

These poems occur in Jordan's collection of mainly occasional writings A Royal Arbor of Loyal Poesie, reissued in 1665 under the title A Nursery of Novelties. Bentley (5.1333) observes, "These titles would suggest an occasional piece by amateurs, but lines 4-8 of the epilogue seem to be more appropriate for professional players… There seems to be no reason to identify The Florentine Ladies with The Florentine Friend".


For What It's Worth

It isn't certain that this describes a pre-1642 play.

Richard Brome's lost The Florentine Friend is discussed here.


Works Cited

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