remarkable literary partnership that exists in history. This partnership continued for a long series of years, and the plays which bear their name were the joint production of both. After these, and belonging to the same period, may be mentioned Chapman, Dekker, Webster, Middleton, Massinger, Ford, Heywood, Shirley, &c. There were also, during the same period, other poets, not dramatists, of some consideration. Among the prose writers of this period are found some of the greatest lights of English history,-Lord Bacon, the father of modern philosophy, Chillingworth, Usher, Hooker, Jeremy Taylor, Hobbes, &c. In the extracts which follow, from the poets of this period, all that has been deemed necessary after this general notice, is to prefix to each piece the name of the author, with the date of his birth and death. Accusation and Death of Silius in the Senate House. (From the Fall of Sejanus.) Silius, an honourable Roman, hated by Tiberius Cæsar, the emperor, and Sejanus, is unjustly ac used in the senate house by Varro, the consul. The other persons present are Domitius Afer, Latiaris, and Cotta, enemies of Silius, and Arruntius and Sabinus, his friends, with lictors and præcones, inferior officers of the senate. Afer. Cite Caius Silius. Præ. Sil. Caius Silius! Here. Afer. The triumph that thou hadst in Germany For thy late victory on Sacrovir, Thou hast enjoyed so freely, Caius Silius, As no man it envied thee; nor would Cæsar, Afer. Sil. Patience, Silius. Tell thy moil of patience I am a Roman. What are my crimes? proclaim them. Am I too rich? too honest for the times? Have I or treasure, jewels, land, or houses, Afer. Nay, Silius, if the name Of crime so touch thee, with what impotence Wilt thou endure the matter to be searched? Sil. I tell thee, Afer, with more scorn than fear: Employ your mercenary tongue and art. Where's my accuser? Against the majesty of Rome, and Cæsar, Next, drawing out the war in Gallia, For which thou late triumph'st; dissembling long That Sacrovir to be an enemy, Only to make thy entertainment more: Whilst thou and thy wife Sosia polled the province. Wherein, with sordid, base desire of gain, Thou hast discredited thy actions' worth, And been a traitor to the state. Sil. Thou liest. Arr. I thank thee, Silius, speak so still and often Var. If I not prove it, Cæsar, but unjustly Have called him into trial; here I bind Myself to suffer what I claim against him; And yield to have what I have spoke, confirmed By judgment of the court, and all good men. Sil. Cæsar, I crave to have my cause deferred, Till this man's consulship be out. And is a right that custom hath allowed Sil. Cæsar, thy fraud is worse than violence. The credit of the consul to thy wrong; But only do preserve his place and power, And honour of the state. And all our gods, but that the dear republic, Are interessed therein, I should be silent. Afer. 'Please Cæsar to give way unto his trial; He shall have justice. Sil. Shall I not, Afer? speak. Afer. Nay, I shall have law; Would you have more? Sil. No, my well-spoken man, I would no more; Nor less: might I enjoy it natural, Not taught to speak unto your present ends, Free from thine, his, and all your unkind handling, Foul wresting, and impossible construction. This doth enough declare him what he is. Sil. What am I? speak. Var. An enemy to the state. Sil. Because I am an enemy to thee, Sil. Ay, take part. Reveal yourselves. Alas! I scent not your confederacies, But forward marks, wounds on my breast and face, |