Ronald Brunlees McKerrow

“ They are satirical in character and aim at setting forth the wretched state of scholars and the small respect paid to learning by the world at large, as exemplified in the adventures of two university men, Philomusus and Studioso. The first part, The Pilgrimage to Parnassus, describes allegorically their four year's journey to Parnassus, i.e. their progress through the university course of logic, rhetoric, &c., and the temptations set before them by their meeting with Madido, a drunkard, Stupido, a puritan who hates learning, Amoretto, a lover, and Ingenioso, a disappointed student. ”

“ Philomusus and Studioso find work respectively as a sexton and a tutor in a merchant's family, while Luxurioso becomes a writer and singer of ballads. In the meanwhile Ingenioso has met with a patron, a coxcombical fellow named Gullio, for whom he composes amorous verses in the style of Chaucer, Spenser and Shakespeare, the last alone being to the patron's satisfaction. Gullio is indeed a great admirer of Shakespeare, and in his conversations with Ingenioso we have some of the most interesting of the early allusions to him. ”

“ A recent edition in modern spelling by Mr O. Smeaton in the “Temple Dramatists” is of little value. All questions connected with the play have been elaborately discussed by Dr W. Lühr in a dissertation entitled Die drei cambridger Spiele vom Parnass (Kiel, 1900) . ”