From Faustus to The Alchemist

Puestos a tratar de estos dos grandes autores, hombres de su tiempo sin duda, de quienes algo sabemos y en un caso no sabemos si lo que sabemos era cuestión del oficio de espía, elijamos dos obras bien distintas y cuya lectura nos llevará a intentar adivinar alguna superficie de contacto entre ellas.

Como suele ser el caso, la historia de los textos y de las representaciones nos pondrá en contacto con la realidad material de la literatura y el arte dramático, con las contingencias de estos oficios, por así decir.

Tampoco estará de más repasar la trayecotria litraria del personaje de Fausto. Y ya puestos, la de Don Juan.

Textos más a mano

Como siempre, una lectura conciencuda reclama buenas ediciones. Incluimos aquí dos enlaces para consultas rápidas o para una primera aproximación.

The Alchemist

The sickness hot, a master quit, for fear,

His house in town, and left one servant there;

Ease him corrupted, and gave means to know

 

A Cheater, and his punk; who now brought low,

Leaving their narrow practice, were become

Cozeners at large; and only wanting some

House to set up, with him they here contract,

Each for a share, and all begin to act.

Much company they draw, and much abuse,

In casting figures, telling fortunes, news,

Selling of flies, flat bawdry with the stone,

Till it, and they, and all in fume are gone.

Doctor Faustus

Sobre la relación entre ambas obras

https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/84875063.pdf

Farewell, thou child of my right hand, and joy;

My sin was too much hope of thee,lov'd boy.

Seven years tho' wert lent to me, and I thee pay,

Exacted by thy fate, on the just day.

O, could I lose all father now! For why

Will man lament the state he should envy?

To have so soon 'scap'd world's and flesh's rage,

And if no other misery, yet age?

Rest in soft peace, and, ask'd, say,"Here doth lie

Ben Jonson his best piece of poetry."

For whose sake henceforth all his vows be such,

As what he loves may never like too much.