nor with thy sweets comfort his ravenous sense; W. SHAKESPEARE 947 Ma. TIME MARMADUKE—OSWALD IME, since Man first drew breath, has never with such a weight upon his wings as now; great actions move our admiration, chiefly. the motion of a muscle-this way or that- Ma. Truth—and I feel it. Os. What! if you had bid eternal farewell to unmingled joy and the light dancing of the thoughtless heart; it is the toy of fools, and little fit for such a world as this. The wise abjure all thoughts whose idle composition lives in the entire forgetfulness of pain. -I see I have disturbed you. Ma. By no means. Os. Compassion! pity! pride can do without them; and what if you should never know them more! He is a puny soul who, feeling pain, W. WORDSWORTH 948 LOVEL'S ANSWER TO THE QUESTION WHAT true O VALOUR IS Lov. So help me, Love, and my good sword at need. of all mankind, the object of it is danger. what's good or evil. It springs out of reason, L. Beau. No! not for reputation? Lov. That's man's idol, set up 'gainst God, the maker of all laws, three ways: the first is in respect of matter, and in the end, which must be ever lawful. B. JONSON 949 SIR R. BRAKENBURY-DUKE OF CLARENCE HAT was your dream, my lord? I pray you tell me. Br. WHAT Cl. Methought, that I had broken from the Tower, upon the hatches; thence we look'd toward England, methought that Gloster stumbled; and, in falling, O Lord! methought, what pain it was to drown! all scatter'd in the bottom of the sea. Some lay in dead men's skulls; and, in those holes and mock'd the dead bones that lay scatter'd by. Br. Had you such leisure in the hour of death to gaze upon these secrets of the deep? 950 Cl. Methought I had; and often did I strive to yield the ghost: but still the envious flood stopt in my soul, and would not let it forth, to find the empty, vast, and wandering air; but smother'd it within my panting bulk, which almost burst to belch it in the sea. Br. Awaked you not in this sore agony? Cl. No, no, my dream was lengthen'd after life; O, then began the tempest to my soul! I pass'd, methought, the melancholy flood, with that grim ferryman which poets write of, unto the kingdom of perpetual night. The first that there did greet my stranger soul, was my great father-in-law, renowned Warwick, who cried aloud:-'What scourge for perjury can this dark monarchy afford false Clarence?' and so he vanished. Then came wandering by a shadow like an angel, with bright hair dabbled in blood, and he shriek'd out aloud,— 'Clarence is come, false, fleeting, perjur'd Clarence,— that stabb'd me in the field by Tewksbury; 951 seize on him, furies, take him to your torments!' W. SHAKESPEARE A TENDer petitION AND REPLY ORLANDO-DUKE Orl. PEAK you so gently? Pardon me, I pray you: had savage and therefore put I on the countenance of stern commandment: but whate'er you are, under the shade of melancholy boughs, lose and neglect the creeping hours of time; if ever you have look'd on better days, in the which hope I blush, and hide my sword. Du. True is it that we have seen better days; and sat at good men's feasts, and wip'd our eyes of drops that sacred pity hath engender'd; and therefore sit you down in gentleness, and take upon command what help we have, that to your wanting may be ministered. Orl. Then, but forbear your food a little while whiles, like a doe, I go to find my fawn, and give it food. There an old poor man, who after me hath many a weary step limped in pure love; till he be first sufficed,— oppressed with two weak evils, age and hunger,— I will not touch a bit. 'tis very certain, for this reverend seat I told you I must leave you; 'tis most true: and yours shall be all one; henceforth I'll know you in a dishonest suit, shall be to me as is the branded slave. Justice should have as free from passion as the gods above. I was your friend and kindsman, now your judge; so says the bond:-doth it not, noble judge?— Por. It is so. Shy. the flesh? I have them ready. Por. Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your charge, to stop his wounds, lest he do bleed to death. Shy. Is it so nominated in the bond? |