MARS-LA-TOUR, A village of France. 12 miles from Metz. On the route be tween that city and Verdun (\laf): France. M 2). It is noted for the bloody battle which took place there between the French and Germans, August 16, 1870, better known as the battle of Vionville ((l.v.)• (1575?-1634). An Eng lish dramatist, belonging to the Marstons of Shropshire. Ile was born probably at Coventry, about 1575. In 1591 he graduated ILA. front Itrn,minst. College, Oxford, and very soon, it would seem, studied Turning to literature, he published in 159S The Metamorphosis of Pyg malion's linage; and Certain Satires, and The Scourge of I it/unit': three Hooks of Satin s. first, Pyaina/ion's fur/e, is an amatory poem, written, the author asserted, to bring into dis repute the whole species. The satires, some of which are devoted to a quarrel between Alarstun and Joseph Hall, are coarse and brutal. On the other band, they are vigorous and perspicu ous. Most famous are the lines in which Marston dedicates himself to everlasting oblivion. The earliest trace of Alarston as a playwright is in Ilenslowe's Diary (September 28, 1599), Ills extant tragedies comprise: Antonio and .1./,.//ida
and .1nionio's nerenge ( I6)11) : The Malcontent ( 1604 ; Sophonislat and The Insatiate Countess (1613). Ili; comedies comprise: The Dutch Court( zirn ( 1603 : The lawn ( 10061 ; and What You Will (1607 ). he often laborated. his band is also discernible in several other plays. ln conjunction with Chapman and he wrote Eastward llo (1605) ; on ac coma of certain offensive passages he and Chap man were :sent to prison, where Jonson volun tarily joined them. Before this, Alarston and Jonson had tpiarreled, but they were now rNqin eiled. The comedies are lively :Ind entertaining. The tragedies emit:tin nary blood-curdling pas sages. but they are ill-constructed. best is 'The Insatiate Countess, in the making of which l'.arksted may have hail a hand. In mid dle life. Marston left the stage and entered the Church. From 16111 to 1631. he held the living f Christchurch, in Hampshire. Ile died in London, June 23, 1634. Consult Works, ed. by Bullen (3 vols., London, 1887),