The style of _Antonio and Mellida_ is the style of _The Murder of Gonzago_.

There is no subtlety nor introspection, the pale cast of thought falls with no shadow over its scenes.

And it is typical of a score of plays of the kind we have and beyond doubt of hundreds that have perished.

Shakespeare stands alone.
Beside this journey-work tragedy of revenge and murder which had its root through Kyd and Marlowe in Seneca and in Italian romance, there was a journey-work comedy of low life made up of loosely constructed strings of incidents, buffoonery and romance, that had its roots in a joyous and fantastic study of the common people.

These plays are happy and high-spirited and, compared with the ordinary run of the tragedies, of better workmanship.