Lat. How, sir? I pray you clear that. Rusee. Of the duke's life; what dangers Norb. Apparent, and those sudden, when the byleg Or Alchoroden by direction come To a quartile opposition of the place Lat. But they may be prevented? [ing That rules the stars, may do it; for Mars be- So she being in her exilium, which is Scorpio, Lut. You cannot name the persons bring Norb. No, that the stars tell not us; they (Norb. How old is he? Norb. His head and beard inclining to bė Norb. He's somewhat corpulent, is he not? Lut. You speak the man, sir. Norb. Well, look to him! Farewell! [Exit. Lat. Oh, it is Aubrey. Gentlemen, I pray ye, Let me receive this under all your hands. Rusee. Why, he will shew you him in his magick-glass, If you entreat him, and but gratify Lat. He shall eat gold, If he will have it; so you shall all. There's that Amongst you first. Let me have this to send The duke in the mean time; and then what sights You please to shew. I'll have you so rewarded As never artists were; you shall to court Along with me, and there not wait your for[pockets. tunes. Bube. We have a pretty part of't in our Boy, we will all be new; you shall along too. [Exeunt. SCENÈ IIÍ. Enter Sophia, Matilda, and Edith. With such submiss beseeches; nor remain Soph. What would she say? I hear. That you would please to think as well of Claims th' air as well, and force of coming Soph. Sorrow is due already 62; Anger never Should be conceiv'd, but where it may be born but it is certainly a very just banter upon the ridiculous credulity of our Authors' age. The words Almuter and Alcoroden are two words which Bailey, the only dictionary I found them Seward. in, makes pretty near the same thing, viz. The star that reigns at our nativity. 62 Sorrow is due already.] Thus read the old books; and who can read with Seward, HAS's due, without the organs of a serpent? Edith desires them to think as well of justice Due to her son's revenge, as of more wrong and further says, that Anger is the twin of Sorrow.' Sophia replies, that 'Sorrow is due already, but that Anger, unless it could be brought forth with effect, had better not be con ceived;' by which answer she both replies to Edith's argument and her metaphor: At least, the reading is intelligible, and Mr. Seward's variation illegible. We have therefore followed the old books. In some fact fit t' employ his active flame, That else consumes who bears it, and abides Like a false star that quenches as it glides. Edith. I have such means t' employ it as your wish Can think no better, easier, or securer; And such as, but for the honours I intend To your partakings, I alone could end. But your parts in all dues to crying blood For vengeance in the shedder, are much greater, [slaughter; And therefore should work your hands to his For your consent to n hich, 'twere infinite Is but some richer ornaments and jewels Mat. Thou shalt have all my jewels and my mother's; And thou shalt paint too, that his blood's de wrongs Your lordship's privacy. Aub. Captain, your love Is ever welcome. I entreat your patience Ham. I attend your pleasure. I' th' letters that I brought, that thus transports him? Aub. To be wrought on by rogues, and have my head [bread? Brought to the axe by knaves that cheat for The creatures of a parasite, a slave? I find you here, Latorch, nor wonder at it; But that this honest captain should be made His instrument, afflicts me: I'll make trial Whether his will or weakness made him do it. 63 dares talk any thing that was [refuse, Aub. Nor would you, captain, I believe, Ham. I never have done. Ham. I hope it is not question'd. Aub. The means to have it so is now propos'd you. [head! Draw; so, 'tis well; and next, cut off my Ham. What means your lordship? Aub. Tis, sir, the duke's pleasure; My innocence hath made me dangerous, And I must be remov'd; and you the man Must act his will. Ham. I'll be a traitor first, Before I serve it thus! Aub. It must be done; [warrant. And that you may not doubt it, there's your But as you read, remember, Hamond, that I never wrong'd one of your brave profession; And, tho' it be not manly, I must grieve That man of whose love I was most ambitious Could find no object for his hate but me. Ham. It is no time to talk now. Honour'd sir, Be pleas'd to hear thy servant: I am wrong'd, Aub. I'm both ways ruin'd, both ways mark'd for slaughter!. On every side, about, behind, before me, Against the torrent of his own opinion.] The old quarto for was reads runs, a word much preferable to the other. But what during is there to talk only against his own opinion? To talk against such a man as Rollo's was daring indeed in an inferior. The words his own are probably a mere interpolation. Opinion, according to the constant usage of all the old poets, is four syllables or two, at will; and to call it opinion in general, rather than Rollo's in particular, is more elegant. Seward, Mr. Seward, therefore, treating opinion as four syllables,' omits the words his own. The Small change of talk into bulk, gives good versc, and sound sense, Or say he do not know it, where's my loyalty? In fires, in storms of arrows, battles,breaches, Enter Edith and a boy; a banquet set out. All chastity shall suffer if he reign! Look on the sacrifice she comes to send thee, And as i wipe these tears off, shed for thee, Storm-like may my destruction fall upon him, (For yet my constant soul ne'er knew dissem- And lull him in the down of his desires; I hear him come 64; go, boy, and entertain SONG*. Take, oh, take those lips away, That so sweetly were forsworn, Lights that do mislead the morn; Are yet of those that April wears; Rollo. What bright star, taking Beauty's form upon her, In all the happy lustre of Heav'n's glory, Wonder of nature, let it not prophane thee Edith. My gracious lord, no deity dwells Nor nothing of that virtue, but obedience; Rollo. Can it be flattery to swear those eyes Are Love's eternal lamps he fires all hearts with? That tongue the smart string to his bow? those sighs 64 I hear him come.] The following scene is evidently writ in emulation of the famous courtship of Richard the Third to Lady Ann; and though it may fall somewhat short, every reader of taste will be charmed with so noble a resemblance of that consummate master of dramatic poetry. Rollo is certainly an inferior character tỏ Richard, but Edith much excels Lady Ann, and indeed almost any female character that Shakespeare has drawn. So does Juliana in The Double Marriage, and Lucina in Valentinian. I forgot to mention in the former scenes of this play what were taken from Seneca's Thebais; but it is chiefly Sophia's speeches in the first act, which are almost literal translations. Seward. The famous courtship of Richard to Lady Ann' is not one of the happiest scenes of Shakespeare; and if we should allow that Edith much excels Lady Ann,' we could not by any means add, with Mr. Seward, that she also excels almost any female character that Shakespeare has drawn,' Editors are not bound to be partial. ** Song.] The first stanza of this Song is to be found in Shakespeare's Measure for Measure; and the whole of it is printed, as the production of that Author, in the edition of his Poems published by S.wel and Gildon. But Dr. Percy observes, these Gentlemen have inserted therein many pieces not written by our great Bard, and the present is not in Jaggard's old edition of Shakespeare's Sonnets: We cannot, therefore, with certainty ascribe it to him. R. The deadly shafts he sends into our souls? Thy mother fed on roses when she bred thee. Edith. And thine on brambles, that have prick'd her heart out! Rollo. The sweetness of th' Arabian wind, still blowing Upon the treasures of perfumes and spices, In all their pride and pleasures, calls thee mistress! Edith. Will't please you sit, sir? Rollo. So you please sit by me. Fair gentle maid, there is no speaking to thee; The excellency that appears upon thee Ties up my tongue! 'Pray speak to me. Edith. Of what, sir? Rollo. Of any thing, and any thing is excellent. [then; Will you take my direction? Speak of love Speak of thy fair self, Edith; and while thou speak'st, [wench. Let me, thus languishing, give up myself, Edith. I'has a strange cunning tongue.Why do you sigh, sir? How masterly he turns himself to catch me! Rollo. The way to Paradise, my gentle maid, Ling, Is hard and crooked, scarce repentance indWith all her holy helps, the door to enter. Give me thy hand: What dost thou feel? Edith. Your tears, sir; You weep extremely.-Strengthen me now, justice! Why are these sorrows, sir? Rollo. Thou'lt never love me [left (As I deserve it, lady) for my true love, When thou hast loaden me with earth for ever, Take heed my sorrows, and the stings I suffer, Take heed my nightly dreams of death and horror, [then, Pursue thee not; no time shall tell thy griefs Nor shall an hour of joy add to thy beauties. Look not upon me as I kill'd thy father; As I was smear'd in blood, do thou not hate me; [ance, But thus, in whiteness of my wash'd repentIn my heart's tears and truth of love to Edith, In my fair life hereafter Edith. He will fool me! Rollo. Ob, with thine angel-eyes behold and bless me! Of Heav'n we call for mercy, and obtain it; To Justice for our right on earth, and have it; Of thee I beg for love; save me, and give it! Edith. Now, Heav'n, thy help, or I am gone for ever; His tongue has turn'd me into melting pity! Enter Hamond and Guard. Ham. Keep the doors safe; and, upon pain of death, Let no man enter 'till I give the word. [Exeunt. Ham. Here he is, in all his pleasure: I have my wish. Rollo. How now? why dost thou stare so? Edith. A help, I hope! Rollo. What dost thou here? who sent thee? [office |