The Birth of Merlin.

Has anyone read this? Any thoughts on Oxford....Juvinalia?

text of the play is here:
http://www.republicofheaven.org.uk/merlin.txt

Synopsis here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Birth_of_Merlin

Most critics dismiss attaching it to the Cannon, and go so far as to say there is not one trace of Shakespeare in the Play.

The reason I ask is that I am considering producing it with our High School Drama group.

thanks

e

The Birth of Merlin was licensed as a new play in 1622 by Sir Henry Herbert, Master of the Revels, under its subtitle "The Childe hath founde his Father", to be acted by Prince Charles's players at the Curtain playhouse. See isbn 0198122462, page 136. William Rowley, whose style is apparent throughout the play and who is one of the authors named on the title page of the first edition, was the leader and chief playwright of Prince Charles's players. The co-attribution that concerns you was first made in a late (1661) booksellers catalog which is not known for its accuracy. Since the play was new in 1622 we can safely say that neither Shakespig nor Oxenfraud had anything to do with it. But it's an amusing play so by all means produce it...

C_W-

Lovely information, although i believe, the title page names shakespeare along with rowley. and then there is a drama entitled Uter Pendragon, entered in Henslowe’s diary under date 29 April, 1597;

It does seem like a funny play, and there does not seem to be too many research articles or books on it.

regards and happy cryptoplay

e

...and wasn't that the same HEnry HErbert II, who's son married Oxenfrauds daughter?

hmmm

e

Shakespeare's name on the t.p. is what I meant by "The co-attribution that concerns you". That t.p. is even later than the 1661 booksellers catalog, and probably derives from it. Henry Herbert the Mr of the Revels was the younger brother of the poets George Herbert and Lord Herbert of Cherbury; they were but cousins of the Earls of Pembroke, such as Henry Herbert, 2nd Earl, whose son married DeVere’s daughter Susan. Are you seriously suggesting that this Herbert cousin faked the licensing designation of Birth of Merlin as new because he knew that about 40 years later someone would attribute it to Shakespeare? As to HD’s 1597 Pendragon play, what about it? The Fleay-bitten notion that every play with characters in common must be somehow connected is logically bankrupt. And even if we jettison that inconvenient Herbert evidence, what reason do we have, beyond wishful speculation, to think that Oxford or Shakespeare had anything to do with the Lord Admiral's players at the Rose in 1597? But have a happy new year anyways...

Good points, Crypto-Willobie! Title Page Attributions in those days could be extremely misleading and, as for "characters in common": an all-too-common practice. The play that I would most like to see performed is the fabled "Ur-Hamlet"!

-And a very Happy New Year to all -friends and visitors alike!