(Though the image of his Maker) hope to win byt? Love thyself last; cherish those hearts that wait thee i Corruption wins not more than honesty. Still in thy right hand carry gentle peace, To silence envious tongues. Be just and fear not. Thy God's and truth's; then, if thou fall'st, O Cromwell, And prithee lead me in There take an inventory of all I have; To the last penny, 'tis the king's. My robe, I dare now call my own. Oh, Cromwell, Cromwell! I serv'd my king-he would not in mine age Crom. Good Sir, have patience. Wol. So I have. Farewell The hopes of court! My hopes in heaven do dwell. VII. Sir Charles and Lady Racket. THREE WEEKS AFTER MARRIAGE. Lady R. O LA! I'm quite fatigued-I can hardly move- Why don't you help me, you barbarous man? Sir C. There-take my arw— Lady R. But I won't be laugh'd at-I don't love you. Sir C. Don't you ? Lady R. No. Dear me! This glove! Why don't you neip me off with my glove? Pshaw! You awkward. thing; let it alone; you an't fit to be about me. me a chair-you have no compassion for me Reach -I am so glad to sit down-Why do you drag me to routs ?— You know I hate 'em. Sir C. Oh! There's no existing, no breathing, unless one does as other people of fashion do. Lady R. But I'm out of humor-I lost all my money, Sir C. How much? Lady R. Three hundred. Sir C. Never fret for that-I don't value three hundred pounds, to contribute to your happiness. Lady R. Don't you? Not value three hundred pounds to please me? Sir C. You know I don't. Lady R. Ah! You fond fool!-But I hate gaming It almost metamorphoses a woman into a tury.Do you know that I was frighted at myself several times tonight I had a huge oath at the very tip of my tongue. Sir C. Had you? Lady R. I caught myself at it-and so I bit my lips. And then as crammed up in a corner of the room, with such a strange party, at a whist table, looking at black and red spots-Did you mind 'em ? Sir C. You know I was busy elsewhere. Lady R. There was that strange unaccountable wo man, Mrs. Nightshade. She behaved so strangely to her husband-a poor, inoffensive, good natured, goodsort of a good for nothing kind of a man. But she so teazed him "How could you play that card? Ah, you've a head, and so has a pin.-You're a numskull, you know you are-Ma'am he's the poorest head in the world ;-he does not know what he is about; you know you don'tAh, fie! I'm asham'd of you!" Sir C. She has served to divert you, I see. Lady R. And then to crown all-there was my lady Clackit, who runs on with an eternal volubility of nothing, out of all season, time and place. In the very midst of the game, she begins-"Lard, Ma'am, I was apprehensive I should not be able to wait on your ladyship-my poor little dog, Pompey-the sweetest thingin the world!--A spade led! There's the knave.-I was fetching a walk, Me'em, the other morning in the Park-A fine frosty morning it was. I love frosty weather of all things--let me look at the it trick-and so Me'em, little Pompey-and if your ladyship was to see the dear creature pinched with the frost, and mincing his steps along the Mall-with his pretty little innocent face -f vow I don't know what to play. And so, Me'em, while I was talking to Captain Flimsey--your ladyship knows Captain Flimsey-Nothing but rubbish in my hand!--I can't help it.--And so, Me'em, five odious frights of dogs beset my poor little Pompey--the dear. creature has the heart of a lion; but who can resist five at once-And so Pompey barked for assistance- the hurt he received was upon his chest-the doctor would not advise him to venture out till the wound is healed, for fear of an inflamation. Pray what's trumps ?" Sir C. My dear, you'd make a most excellent actress. Lady R. Well, now, let's go to rest-but, Sir Charles, how shockingly you play'd that last rubber, when I stood looking over you! Sir C. My love, I play'd the truth of the game. Lady R. No, indeed my dear, you played it wrong. Sir C. Po Nonsense! You don't understand it. Lady R. I beg your pardon, I'm allowed to play betfer than you. Sir C. All conceit, my dear! I was perfectly right. Lady R. No such thing, Sir Charles; the diamond was the play. Sir C. Po! po! Ridiculous! The club was the card, against the world. Lady R. Oh No, no, no- -1 say it was the diamond. Sir C. Madam, I say it was the club. Lady R. What do you fly into such a passion for? Sir C. Death and fury! Do you think I don't know what I'm about? I tell you once more, the club was the judgment of it. Lady R. May be so-have it your own way. Sir C. Vexation! You're the strangest woman that ever lived; there's no conversing with you.-Look 'ye here, my Lady Racket. 'tis the clearest case in the world-il make it plain in a moment. Lady R. Well, Sir; ha, ha, ha! Sir C. I had four cards left-a trump had ledthey were six-no, no, no-they were seven, and we nine-then, you know- -the beauty of the play was to Lady R. Well, now, 'tis amazing to me,that you can't see it. Give me leave, Sir Charles-your left hand adversary had led his last trump-and he had before finess. ed the club, and roughed the diamond-now if you had put on your dian ond Sir C. But, Madam, we played for the odd trick Lady R. And sure the play for the odd trick Sir C. Hear me, I say. Will you hear me? Sir C. Why then you are enough to provoke the patience of a Stoic. Very well, madam! you know no more of the game than your father's leaden Hercules on the top of the house. You know no more of whist than he does of gardening. Lady R. Ha, ha, ha! Sir C. You're a vile woman,and I'll not sleep another night under one roof with you. Lady R. As you please, Sir. Sir C. Madam, it shall be as I please-I'll order my chariot this moment. [Going.] I know how the cards should be played as well as any man in England, that let me tell you Going.] And when your family were standing behind counters, measuring out tape, and bartering fur Whitechapel needless, my ancestors. my an-. cestors, Madam, were squandering away whole estates at cards; whole estates, my lady Racket-She hums a tune Why, then, by all that's dear to me, I'll never exchange another word with you, good, bad, or indiffer. ent. Look ye, my lady Racket-thus it stood-trump being led, it was then my business Lady R. To play the diamond, to be sure. -the Sir C. I have done with you forever; and so you may tell your father. Lady R. What a passion the gentleman is in! Ha! ba! I promise him ' not give up my judgment. Re-enter Sir Charles. Sir C. My lady Racket-look'ye, Ma'am, once more, out of pure good nature Lady R. Sir, I am convinced of your good nature. Sir C. That, and that only, prevails with me to tell you, the club was the play. Lady R. Well, be it so I have no objection. Sir C. 'Tis the clearest point in the world- we were nine, and Lady R. And for that very reason, you know the club was the best in the house. Sir C. There's no such thing as talking to you.——— You're a base woman-'ll part with you forever, you may live here with your father, and admire his fantasticat evergreens, till you grow as fantastical yourself-I'll set out for London this instant-Stops at the door] The club was not the best in the house. Lady R. How calm you are! Well, I'll go to bed. Will you come? You had better- -Poor Sir Charles. [Looks and laughs, then exit.] Sir C. That ease is provoking-(Crosses to the opposite door where she went out.)I tell you the diamond was not the play; and here I take my final leave of you(Walks back as fast as he can) I am resolved upon it; and I know the club was not the best in the house. VIH-Brutus and Cassius.-SHAKESPEARE. Cas. THAT you have wrong'd me, doth appear in this You have condemn'd and noted Lucius Pella For taking bribes here of the Sardians; Wherein my letter (praying on his side, Because I knew the man) was slighted off. Bru. You wrong'd yourself to write in such a case. That every nice offence should bear its comment ? Cas. I an itching palm ? You know that you are Brutus that speak this, Bru. The name of Cassius honors this corruption; Cas. Chastisement ? Bru. Remember March, the Ides of March remember. Did not great Julius bleed for justice' sake? What! shail one of us, That struck the foremost man of all this world, But for supporting robbers; Shall we now |