The mysterious reference to "An English Poet" in MU
In the Vol II, Chapter III of The Mysteries of Udolpho
p196, Ed. The Folio Society, 1987
Ann Radcliffe refers to "an English poet" in the following
To him, indeed, might have been applied that beautiful exhortation of an English poet, had it then existed:
—"Strike up, my master,
But touch the strings with a religious softness!
Teach sounds to languish through the night's dull ear
Till Melancholy starts from off her couch,
And Carelessness grows concert to attention!"
The OUP edition mentions that "the lines which follow [the unidentified reference to an English poet] may be by Radcliffe herself."
It turns out that if Ann did not name the poet, it is because at the time (and maybe still somewhat today) there was some controversy about the author of those lines. It comes from the play
"Double Falshood, or The Distrest Lovers" (1728) Act I, Scene III
by Lewis Theobald (1688-1744) / (William Shakespeare/John Fletcher)
p196, Ed. The Folio Society, 1987
Ann Radcliffe refers to "an English poet" in the following
To him, indeed, might have been applied that beautiful exhortation of an English poet, had it then existed:
—"Strike up, my master,
But touch the strings with a religious softness!
Teach sounds to languish through the night's dull ear
Till Melancholy starts from off her couch,
And Carelessness grows concert to attention!"
The OUP edition mentions that "the lines which follow [the unidentified reference to an English poet] may be by Radcliffe herself."
It turns out that if Ann did not name the poet, it is because at the time (and maybe still somewhat today) there was some controversy about the author of those lines. It comes from the play
"Double Falshood, or The Distrest Lovers" (1728) Act I, Scene III
by Lewis Theobald (1688-1744) / (William Shakespeare/John Fletcher)
The publication said, on its title-page, 'written originally by W. Shakespeare, and now revised and adapted to the stage by Mr Theobald"
The original lines are again very slightly different, like most of the time when Ann quotes from various sources
The original lines are again very slightly different, like most of the time when Ann quotes from various sources
—"Strike up, my masters,
But touch the strings with a religious softness!
Teach sounds to languish through the night's dull ear
Till Melancholy start from off her lazy couch,
And Carelessness grows concert to attention!"
Wikipedia says that "Theobald's claim of a Shakespearean foundation for his Double Falshood met with suspicion, and even accusations of forgery, from contemporaries (...)" and later mentions that "There appears to be agreement among scholars that the 18th century Double Falsehood is not a forgery, but is based on the lost Cardenio of 1612-13, and that the original authors of Cardenio were John Fletcher and possibly William Shakespeare."
But touch the strings with a religious softness!
Teach sounds to languish through the night's dull ear
Till Melancholy start from off her lazy couch,
And Carelessness grows concert to attention!"
Wikipedia says that "Theobald's claim of a Shakespearean foundation for his Double Falshood met with suspicion, and even accusations of forgery, from contemporaries (...)" and later mentions that "There appears to be agreement among scholars that the 18th century Double Falsehood is not a forgery, but is based on the lost Cardenio of 1612-13, and that the original authors of Cardenio were John Fletcher and possibly William Shakespeare."
An interesting story, to say the least...
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