Winchester Dialogues refers to two works of Early English Drama found in Winchester College MS 33, first published by Norman Davis in 1979.[1] Occupation and Idleness is a mid-fifteenth century interlude or play, although it is referred to as a "dialogue". Lucidus and Dubius is better described as a semi-dramatic dialogue rather than a play.[2][3]

Lucidus and Dubius

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The following two stanzas (Lines 440 - 449) serve to provide a general description of Lucidus and Dubius.

  • LUCIDUS: A, douteful Dubius, doubtful Dubius!
  • The cause there-of is this.
  • The first maide that ever was
  • was Eve, Adamys wyf.
  • Sche wrou3t the first trespas
  • and made al oure wo and stryf;
  • and as thurgh a mayde deth come in
  • and al men were lore,
  • Crist so wolde be Mary Virgyn
  • alle the world restore.

Modern English translation

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  • LUCIDUS: Ah, doubtful Dubius, doubtful Dubius!
  • The cause of that is this.
  • The first virgin that ever lived
  • was Eve, Adam's wife.
  • She initiated the first trespass
  • And caused all our anguish and strife
  • and because of this virgin death will occur
  • and all men were taught,
  • so by the Virgin Mary Christ would
  • cleanse the entire world.

Occupation and Idleness

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The following two stanzas (Lines 430 - 438) serve to provide a general description of Occupation and Idleness.

  • OCCUPACION: Ydelnes is nat ferre, as thynkith me,
  • And so Y tolde one ryght now.
  • DOCTRINE: Ydelnes, where is he?
  • OCCUPACION: Yonder, syr, as ye may se,
  • And scorneth both me and yow.
  • DOCTRINE: Ydelnes, come nere
  • And lerne of me som curtesie.
  • YDELNES: Y shrew me and Y come ther
  • While thou art so angry.

Modern English translation

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  • OCCUPACION: It seems to me that Idleness is not far [away]
  • And so I told you right now.
  • DOCTRINE: Idleness, where is he?
  • OCCUPACION: Over there, sir, as you will see,
  • And scorns both you and I.
  • DOCTRINE: Idleness, come here
  • And learn some courtesy from me
  • YDELNES: I curse myself if I [will] come to you
  • While you are so angry.

References

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  1. ^ Non-Cycle Plays and the Winchester Dialogues: Facsimiles of Plays and Fragments in Various Manuscripts and the Dialogues in Winchester College MS 33, edited by Norman Davis, with a transcript of the Dialogues (1979).
  2. ^ Richard Beadle, "Occupation and Idleness", Leeds Studies in English, n.s. 32 (2001), 7-47.
  3. ^ Annals of English drama, 975-1700 : an analytical record of all plays, extant or lost, chronologically arranged and indexed by authors, titles, dramatic companies, etc. by Alfred Harbage ; revised by S. Schoenbaum. London : Routledge, 1989.