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Excerpt from The Modern Language Review, 1919, Vol. 14: A Quarterly Journal Devoted to the Study of Medieval and Modern Literature and Philology
English drama, arising directly out of the services of the Church, was in the first stages of its development a poetic growth, and therefore demanded and secured a poetic expression. But even in the mystery plays, an unrest as to the correct dramatic medium is apparent; a variety Of metres is used, with some slight attempt at order in their distribu tion. Comic characters Often do not use the same kind of metre as the other characters, e.g. Mak in the Towneley Shepherds' Play. John Bale in his Mysteries distingui'shes between the speeches of good and of evil comic) characters by a corresponding change in the length of the lines. In the moralities, the need for such a distinction becomes even more marked; consequently there is great irregularity in the metre.
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