Merry Devil

The Merry Devil is a play written by William Shakespeare and likely co-written by Thomas Middleton. It is a comedic play that revolves around the character of Frank, a young man who is in love with a woman named Anne. However, Anne's father, Sir Arthur, disapproves of Frank and forbids him from seeing Anne. Frank, determined to win Anne's hand in marriage, enlists the help of a mischievous devil named Rafe. Rafe agrees to help Frank in exchange for his soul, but as the play progresses, it becomes clear that Rafe is not quite what he seems. The play is filled with mistaken identities, witty banter, and a host of colorful characters. It is believed to have been written in the early 17th century and was likely performed by Shakespeare's company, the King's Men. Despite its popularity at the time, The Merry Devil is not as well-known as some of Shakespeare's other works today.MOUNCHENSEY. I tell thee, Clare, his blood is good and clear As the best drop that panteth in thy veins: But for this maid, thy fair and vertuous child, She is no more disparaged by thy baseness Then the most orient and the pretious jewell, Which still retains his lustre and his beauty, Although a slave were owner of the same.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.