INTERLUDE (:\M. intcrludium. from Lat. interludere, to play between. from inter, between + Indere, to play). In the drama, primarily a short performance interposed between the of a. longer entertainment, as the play of Pyra mus and Thisbe in the Midsummer Night's Dream. The term was early used of dramatic Moralities (q.v.). played in the intervals of banquets and other Court festivities. During the sixteenth century. however, interlude enure to he the specific name for a rude form of dramatic representation which sprang from the Moralities, and was, as it chanced. historically intermediate between those and true comedy. It differed from the former in that its urn nut persolor consisted not of ale-triter of moral qualities, hut of real persons; it was shorter in dialogue and if a merrier and more farcical nature. The most noted author of such plays Was John Hey wood (q.v.). who nourished at the time of the great controversy between the Itoman Catholic Church .(id the Heformed Church in England.
Ills Four l"s is an excellent specimen of thii phase of the drama. A Peddler, a Pardoner, a Palmer, and a Potioary, each tries to tell the greatest lie. At last the Palmer halo/wits to say that be never saw a wonian out of temper; whereupon the others .1Ndare that his is the great..4 lie that can be told, and gains for him the victory. In music, all interlude is a short. melodious phrase played by an organist (gener ally extempore) between the stanzas of a hymn: also, any short instrumental selection played between portions of the Church service. Consult: lVard, English Dramatic Literal ur,•, vol. i. (Lon don, IS75) Collier. The History of English Dramatic l'oelry. vn1. ii. 18311; Symonds, Shakf.wpcurr'N Prcileecsors in the English Drama ( ih.. 1884) ; Dodsloy, ('o/le•/ion of Old English Plays, 4th ed., vol. i. ib.. 1S74).