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814

and underwrite in an observing kind

his humorous predominance; yea, watch
his pettish lunes, his ebbs, his flows, as if

the passage and whole carriage of this action
rode on his tide.

W. SHAKESPEARE

GIACOMO AWAITING THE NEWS OF HIS FATHER'S

MURDER

THO

HOU unreplenished lamp! whose narrow fire is shaken by the wind, and on whose edge devouring darkness hovers! Thou small flame, which, as a dying pulse rises and falls,

still flickerest up and down, how very soon,
did I not feed thee, would'st thou fail and be
as thou hadst never been! So wastes and sinks
even now, perhaps, the life that kindled mine:
but that no power can fill with vital oil
that broken lamp of flesh. Ha! 'tis the blood
which fed these veins that ebbs till all is cold:
it is the form that moulded mine, that sinks
into the white and yellow spasms of death;
it is the soul by which mine was arrayed

in God's immortal likeness which now stands
naked before Heaven's judgment-seat!-One! Two!
the hours crawl on: and when my hairs are white
my son will then perhaps be waiting thus,
tortured between just hate and vain remorse;
chiding the tardy messenger of news

like those which I expect.

P. B. SHELLEY

815 SATIRE UPON UTOPIAN FORms of government

GONZALO

and were the king on 't, what would I do?
I' the commonwealth I would by contraries
execute all things: for no kind of traffic
would I admit; no name of magistrate;
letters should not be known; riches, poverty,
and use of service, none; contract, succession,
bourn, bound of land, tilth, vineyard, none:

no use of metal, corn, or wine, or oil:
no occupation; all men idle, all;

and women too; but innocent and pure;
no sovereignty:

all things in common nature should produce
without sweat or endeavour: treason, felony,
sword, pike, knife, gun, or need of any engine,
would I not have: but nature should bring forth,
of its own kind, all foizon, all abundance,

to feed my innocent people.

I would with such perfection govern, sir,
to excel the golden age.

W. SHAKESPEARE

816

817

WITH

COUNT PALURIN

WITHI
IIN which dreadfull prison when we came,
the noble county Palurin, that there

lay chain'd in gives, fast fetter'd in his bolts,
out of the dark dungeon we did uprear,
and haled him thence into a brighter place,
that gave us light to work our tyranny.
But when I once beheld his manly face,
and saw his chear, no more appall'd with fear
of present death, than he whom never dread
did once amate; my heart abhorred then

to give consent unto so foul a deed:

that wretched death should reve so worthy a man.
On false fortune I cry'd with loud complaint,
that in such sort overwhelms nobility.

But he, whom neither grief ne fear could taint,
with smiling chear himself oft willéd me
to leave to plain his case or sorrow make
for him; for he was far more glad apaid,
death to embrace thus, for his Lady's sake,
than life, or all the joys of life, he said.

MACBETH ON BANQUO

IS much he dares;

'TIS

R. WILMOT

and, to that dauntless temper of his mind, he hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour

to act in safety. There is none, but he

whose being I do fear: and, under him,

my Genius is rebuk'd; as, it is said,

Mark Antony's was by Cæsar. He chid the sisters,
when first they put the name of King upon me,
and bade them speak to him; then, prophet-like,
they hail'd him father to a line of kings:
upon my head they plac'd a fruitless crown,
and put a barren sceptre in my gripe,
thence to be wrench'd with an unlineal hand,
no son of mine succeeding. If't be so,
for Banquo's issue have I fil'd my mind;

for them the gracious Duncan have I murder'd;
put rancours in the vessel of my peace
only for them; and mine eternal jewel
given to the common enemy of man,

to make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings!

W. SHAKESPEARE

818

THOU

ARCITE'S ADDRESS TO MARS

HOU mighty one, that with thy power hast
turn'd

green Neptune into purple, whose approach
comets prewarn; whose havoc in vast field

unearthed skulls proclaim; whose breath blows down
the teeming Ceres' foison; who dost pluck
with hand armipotent from forth blue clouds

the mason'd turrets; that both mak'st and break'st
the stony girths of cities; me thy pupil,
youngest follower of thy drum, instruct this day
with military skill, that to thy laud

I may advance my streamer, and by thee,

be styl'd the lord o' the day. Give me, great Mars, some token of thy pleasure!

Oh, great corrector of enormous times,

shaker of o'er-rank states, thou grand decider
of dusty and old titles, that heal'st with blood
the earth when it is sick, and cur'st the world
of the plurisy of people; I do take
thy signs auspiciously, and in thy name
to my design march boldly!-Let us go.

BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER

819

I

RETIREMENT

CHAMONT

SEE there is no man but may make his paradise; and it is nothing but his love and dotage

upon the world's foul joys that keeps him out on't;
for he that lives retir'd in mind and spirit

is still in paradise, and has his innocence
partly allow'd for his companion too,

as much as stands with justice. Here no eyes
shoot their sharp-pointed scorns upon my shame;
they know no terms of reputation here,
no punctual limits, or precise dimensions:
plain down-right honesty is all the beauty
and elegancy of life found amongst shepherds;
for knowing nothing nicely, or desiring it,
quits many a vexation from the mind,

with which our quainter knowledge does abuse us:
the name of envy is a stranger here,

that dries men's bloods abroad, robs health and rest; why, here's no such fury thought on; no, nor falsehood, that brotherly disease, fellow-like devil,

that plays within our bosom, and betrays us.

J. FLETCHER

820

WE

E gave the signe of battaile: shouts are rais'd,
that shooke the heavens; pell mell our armies
joyne;

horse, targets, pikes, all against each oppos'd,
they give fierce shocke, armes thunder'd as they clos'd:
men cover earth, which straight are covered
with men and earth; yet doubtfull stood the fight;
more faire to Carthage: when loe, as oft we see,
in mines of gold, when labouring slaves delve out
the richest ore, being in sudden hope,
with some unlookt-for veine to fill their buckets,
and send huge treasure up, a sudden dampe
stifles them all, their hands yet stuff'd with gold,
so fell our fortunes; for looke, as we stood proud,
like hopeful victors, thinking to returne

with spoyles worth triumph, wrathfull Syphax lands

821

with full ten thousand strong Numidian horse,
and joynes to Scipio; then loe, we all were dampt;
we fell in clusters, and our wearyed troopes

quit all. Slaughter ran through us straight; we flie.

I

THEODOSIUS TO HIS EUNUCHS

WILL put off

J. MARSTON

that majesty of which you think I have nor use nor feeling; and in arguing with you, convince you with strong proofs of common reason, and not with absolute power, against which, wretches, you are not to dispute. Dare you, that are my creatures, by my prodigal favours fashioned, presuming on the nearness of your service, set off with my familiar acceptance,

condemn my obsequiousness to the wise directions of an incomparable sister, whom all parts

of our world, that are made happy in the knowledge of her perfections, with wonder gaze on?

And yet you, that were only born to eat

the blessings of our mother earth, that are

distant but one degree from beasts, (since slaves

can claim no larger privilege,) that know
no further than your sensual appetites,
or wanton lusts have taught you, undertake
to give your sovereign laws to follow that
your ignorance marks out to him!

P. MASSINGER

822 DELPHIA A PROPHETESS-MAXIMIAN-DIOCLES

Delph. should dare to oppose the power of Destiny?

S it not strange, these wild and foolish men

that power the gods shake at? Max. Have you spied me? then have Delph. Do, shoot boldly;

Dio.

Look yonder son. at you!

hit me and spare not, if thou canst.
Shoot, cousin.

Max. I cannot; mine arm's dead, I have no feeling;

or, if I could shoot, so strong is her armed virtue, she would catch the arrow flying.

Delph. Poor doubtful people!

I pity your weak faiths.

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