'Philomathes' Dream' is a convenience title for an untitled 'allegory or dream' written for 'the exercise of the children after dinner' at St. Paul's School in 1584. Harrison was a controversial High Master at the school. The text's only publication has been in a 1954 Malone Society reprint.
11 February 1584
a synoptic, alphabetical character list
ĈMULUS
Ĉmulus praises Theophilus for his excellent way of speaking after
Theophilus intervenes in the controversy between Theopompus and Ephorus
over the proper form of oration. Philomathes then praises Ĉmulus for his
discernment, but suggests that the whole company get back to interpreting
the last part of his dream. (The attribution of any lines to Ĉmulus is
uncertain, however, since the speakers' names in this part of the play are
often not given).
EPHORUS
Ephorus chastises Theopompus for his tendency toward inflated rhetoric
after Theopompus cuts off a suggested reading of Erasmus of Rotterdam's
biography of John Collet (the founder of St. Paul's, who appears in the
dream as Philomathes' guide). Theopompus claims that he could make a
"flaunting oration" about Collet. Ephorus suggests that Theopompus needs a
bridle, but is then told by Theophilus that he has "as much need of a spur"
as Theopompus of a bridle-that is, Ephorus is too reticent in his speech.
(The attribution of any lines to Ephorus is uncertain, however, since the
speakers' names in this part of the play are often not given).
EUBULUS
Eubulus interprets the final part of Philomathes' allegorical dream, in
which Polumathes appears at the pasture gate and is assured eventual
entry. Eubulus understands the Polumathes episode to represent the
students of St. Paul's school eagerly seeking to advance to the
University. His interpretation develops into a general praise of the
school (with a few suggestions for improvement) and closes the play. His
speech also suggests how the other characters in the play could fulfill the
potentials (or remedy the faults) for which they are named: "Theophilius
might learn to love and fear the lord. Ĉmulus might follow with
cheerfulness. Ephorus might abide the spur and Theopompus the bridle
willingly. Philomathes might love to learn.Eubulus might give sound advice,
and so in the end that Polumathes come forth as a furnished scholar." (The
attribution of any lines to Eubulus is uncertain, however, since the
speakers' names in this part of the play are often not given).
PHILOMATHES
The central speaker in the play, Philomathes relates a dream he has dreamt
the night before and which continues to trouble him. His friends then
interpret the dream, which turns out to be an allegory for the current
state of the student body at St. Paul's school. In the dream, a "grave
man" brings Philomathes to a feast in a great hall with four tables. One
table is empty, and at the other three are groups of feasters consuming
milk with various degrees of inappropriateness. From the feast,
Philomathes is led out into an orchard and then a pasture, where he views
fruit trees and then cattle in successive stages of disappointing growth.
Finally, he sees a gate at which his friend Polumathes is trying to enter
the pasture. A maiden peers through a little window and tells Polumathes
he will be able to enter shortly, at which point the grave guide
disappears. Philomathes asks Polumathes who the man was, and Polumathes
suggests that an "E.R." could provide that information.
POLUMATHES
Polumathes interprets most of Philomathes' allegorical dream, modestly
leaving out the part in which he himself appears and tries to enter a
pasture through a gate. The places in the dream all stand for St. Paul's
school, and the empty or barren locations within those larger spaces stand
for a "vestibule" which the school no longer uses (and which Harrison
apparently wanted to revive). The feasters, the orchard trees, and the
cattle represent the eight grades, or "formes," of students at the school.
The various states of these people, plants, and animals represent the good
and bad aspects of current teaching and learning at St. Paul's. The grave
guide is John Collet, the founder of St. Paul's; "E.R." is Erasmus of
Rotterdam, who wrote a biography of Collet. Polumathes ends his reading of
the dream with a suggestion that Philoponus read a translation of the
biography aloud, but Philoponus is cut off by Theopompus. The dream
episode involving Polumathes at the gate is interpreted later by Eubulus to
signify the desire of St. Paul's students to fulfill their potential at St.
Paul's and advance to the University.
THEOPHILUS
Theophilus encourages Philomathes to recount his dream. He suggests that
"dreams are more than fantasies," and that they can sometimes be
prophetic. After Polumathes has interpreted most of the dream and
suggested a reading of Erasmus of Rotterdam's biography of John Collet (the
founder of St. Paul's, who appears in the dream as Philomathes' guide),
Theophilus intervenes in a debate between Ephorus and Theopompus about
proper oration. Theophilus suggests that Theopompus's speech tends to be
overblown, but that Ephorus's speech is too reticent. Ĉmulus then praises
Theophilus for demonstrating the best and most balanced kind of speech.
(The attribution of any lines to Theophilus is uncertain, however, since
the speakers' names in this part of the play are often not given)
THEOPOMPUS
Theopompus diagnoses Philomathes early on in the play as suffering from
melancholy, which then turns out to be due to his preoccupation with last
night's dream. Later, after Polumathes has interpreted most of the dream
and asked for Philoponus to read aloud a translation of Erasmus of
Rotterdam's biography of John Collet (the founder of St. Paul's, who
appears in the dream as Philomathes' guide), Theopompus interrupts to claim
that he could make a "flaunting oration" on Collet. He is interrupted in
turn by Ephorus, who chastises him for overzealous oration and suggests
that Theopompus is in "need of a bridle." (The attribution of this second
set of lines to Theopompus is uncertain, however, since the speakers' names
in this part of the play are often not given).
PHILOPONUS
After Polumathes interprets most of Philomathes' dream and identifies the
guide in the dream as John Collet (the founder of St. Paul's school), he
suggests that Philoponus read aloud a translation of Erasmus of Rotterdam's
biography of Collet. Philoponus never speaks in the play, however, because
Theopompus interrupts to attempt his own oration on Collet. It's possible
that the biography of Collet actually was read in performance, but if so it
has been left out of the written record.