Winchester Dialogues

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

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

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

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

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

^ 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).
^ Richard Beadle, "Occupation and Idleness", Leeds Studies in English, n.s. 32 (2001), 7-47.
^ 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.

[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.

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