The Phoenix (play)
Jacobean city comedy
The Phoenix is a Jacobean play, a city comedy written by Thomas Middleton c. 1603–4, and performed by the Children of Paul's. It may be Middleton's earliest surviving play.
The play was performed at Court before King James on 20 February 1604. It was entered into the Stationers' Register on 9 May 1607; the first quarto was published later that year by the bookseller Arthur Johnson. A second quarto was issued in 1630 by Richard Meighen.
Characters
The Duke of Ferrara
Infesto, a lord
Lussurioso, a lord
Proditor, a lord
Nobles
Prince Phoenix, the Duke's son
Fidelio, his servant
Niece to Falso
Three Soldiers of the sea
The Captain, Castiza's husband
Castiza, Fidelio's mother
The Groom of an inn
Suitors to Tangle
Tangle, a lawyer
The Jeweller'S Wife, Falso's daughter
Her Boy
The Knight
His Lackey
Suitors to Falso
Falso, a justice
Latronello, his servant
Furtivo, his servant
Two Gentlemen, friends of Falso's brother
Servant to Proditor
Fucato, Falso's servant
Constable and Officers
Quieto, a reformed lawyer
Quieto's Boy
Maid to the Jeweller's Wife
Gentleman, a reveller
A Drawer
Synopsis
Act I
Scene 1: A chamber in the palace of the Duke of Ferrara
The Duke of Ferrara is old and nearing death, and needs his son, the Phoenix, to take over from him. The boy is virtuous and wise; however, he has little practical experience of the world, and so his counsellors advise the Duke to send his son travelling. One of the lords, Proditor, says in asides that he hopes the Phoenix will go and never come back. The Phoenix enters, with his servant Fidelio; his father advises him to see the world, to find out what men are really like.
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