As he's most valiant; he were no inan for (I cannot help it) he must die relenting; Enter Champernel, Lamira, Anabel, Beaupre, Lam. Will not you go, sweetheart? I stay behind? Lam. My father will be there too, And all our best friends. Beau. And if we be not merry, We have hard luck, lady. Verdone. 'Faith, let's have a kind of play. [mont, Lam. With the merry conceits of ClereHis fits and fevers. Ana. But I'll lie still no more. be rare sport ; Lum. That, as you make the play. 'Twill [hear it! And how 'twill vex my gallants, when they Have you giv'n order for the coach? Horrid and dire. La-Writ. I love a dire revenge: 'Give me the man that will all others kill, And last himself 38.' Cler. You stole that resolution. [all one, La-Writ. I had it in a play; but that's I would see it done. Cler. Come, you must be more merciful. La-Writ. To no lord's cousins in the world; I hate 'em! A lord's cousin to me is a kind of cockatrice; If I see him first, he dies 39. Cler. A strange antipathy! What think you of their picces? La-Writ. If I like 'em, [morning. They may live and multiply.-Tis a cold 37 Chump. Fy, what a night shall we have?] As Champernel promotes and not discourages the scheme of mirth, fy is surely wrong. It might be fly, in answer to Beaupre; but I rather think it was a note of joy instead of disapprobation; as hey! or something to that effect. Seward. Mr. Seward reads, hey! We prefer his other conjecture, fly, which the next speech seems to countenance. 38 Give me the man that will all others kill, And last himself.] There is certainly great humour in this quotation, if we knew from whence it was taken. Such a sentiment, or something like this sentiment, had probably been introduced as a piece of serious sublimity; for had it been before comick only, there would be no humour in the quotation. Whoever reads Almanzor, wrote by so eminent a poet as Mr. Dryden, will not wonder to find sentiments as ridiculous as this in tragedies of some note. Seward. 39 If I see him first, he dies. A strange antipathy!] Did the latter part belong to La-Writ, the line would have been continued; for the first three monosyllables being contracted by the reader into two, (a liberty the old Poets often use) the verse is compleat. This, together with the humour the sentiment receives, by making it the observation of Cleremont upon what La-Writ had said, seems to prove sufficiently that it belongs to him, Seward. Cler. 'Tis sharp indeed. You've broke your La-Writ. No, verily. [fast? Cler. Your valour would have ask’d a good foundation. La-Writ. Hang him, I'll kill him fasting. Jeently; Enter Sampson and the Gentleman. Cler. Here they come. Bear yourself, in your language, smooth and When your swords argue La-Writ. Pray, sir, spare your precepts. Sump. I thank you, sir; few words. I'll cut vour throat for your own sake. La-Writ. I esteem of you 4o, Cler. Let's render 'em honest and fair gentlemen. Search my friend, I'll search yours. [crafts? Gent. That's quickly done, Cier. You come with no spells nor witchSamp, I come fairly, to kill him honestly. La-Writ. Hang spells and witchcrafts! I come to kill my lord's nephew like a genAnd so I kiss his band. [tleman; Gent. This doublet is too stiff. Gent. Tis no soft one. I'll fight with him like a flead cat. [honour But tell me this, why should I mix mine With a fellow that has ne'er a lace in's shirt? Sump. Saint Denis, then! I accept your shirt. Cler. Not so forward; first, you must talk; (It is a main point of the French method) Talk civilly, and make your cause authentic. Gent. No weapon must be near you, nor {resolutions; Cler. When you have done, then stir your Take to your weapons bravely. no anger. La-Writ. Tis too cold: Cler. Not for a world Gent. An 'twere in a river Cler. Where both stood up to th' chins! Plague o' this circumstance! Cler. Are the horses come yet? Gent. Yes, certain.--Give your swords to us; now, civilly. Cler. We'll stand a while off.-Take the things, and leave 'em— You know when- and let the children play: This is a dainty time of year for 'Would the old lord were here! puppies. Gent. He'd die with laughter. [game out; Cler. I'm sorry I've no time to see this Away, away! Gent. Here's like to be a hot fight. Call when ye're fit. [Exeunt Cler, and Gent. Lu-Writ. Why, look you, sir, you scem to be a gentleman, 4o 1 esteem of you.] The of seems here only to hurt both sense and measure. This is a fine continuation of the banter on the French politeness in duelling. And I doubt not but our Poets, who so often, and with such infinite variety of humour, have bantered the shocking fashion of their age, of fighting for every trifle, did not little contribute to the reformation of their countrymen in that particular. Seward. There is a stiff complaisant formality in the of; and it is perfectly in the style, not only of the character, but of the times. Samp. Where's yours? La-Writ. So ho! our weapons! be wi' you, gentlemen! Samp. Are these the rules of honour? I am Sump. Oh, for a couple of faggots! La-Writ. Rogues, thieves-Boh, boh--Run away with our doublets! [game! To fight at buffets now, 'twere such a maySamp. There were no honour in't; plague [fisty-cuffs? on't, 'tis scurvy! La-Writ. Or to revenge my wrongs at Samp. My lord mine uncle's cause depend [cover 'emon boxes? La-Writ. Let's go in quest. If ever we reSamp. Av, come, our colds together, and [valiant gentleman! our doublets. La-Writ. Give me thy hand; thou art a I say, if ever we recover 'emSamp. Let's get into a house and warm our To keep us warm. If ever we recover 'em- La-Writ. I'll warm thee, I'll warin thee- Rogues, thieves, thieves! Run now; I'll [Exeunt. Enter Vertaign, Champernel, Beaupre, Ver- Will meet you within half a mile, Lam. I like [coach, The walk so well, I should not miss my Beau. She is still musing, sister, Nor can you blame her. Char. Had I ta'en her place, [tled me; I know not, but I fear I should ha' shriek'd, Tho' he had never offer'd Ana. Out upon thee! Thou wouldst have taught him. Char. I think, with your pardon, That you wish now you had. Ana. I am glad I yield you [Cornet. Such ample scope of mirth. [Musick within. VOL. II. [musick? Vert. Nay, be not angry; Bestows it on us? My dancing days are done; [ther, E Lam. I think, rather, [will, Nurse. I say, if you are noble, be't who Go presently, and thank 'em. I can jump yet, Or tread a measure. Lam. Like a miller's mare. [the country. Nurse. I warrant you, well enough to serve [Exit. I'll make one, and lead the way. Char. Do you note 1. How zealous the old crone is? Lam. And you titter As eagerly as she. Come, sweet, we'll follow; [Musick ends. [Exeunt. SONG IN THE WOOD. This way, this way come, and hear, Enter a company of Gentlemen, like ruffians. 2 Gent. They follow still; the president [after; Vertaign Comes on apace, and Champernel limps The women, as if they had wings, and walk'd Upon the air, fly to us. [All know 1 Gent. They are welcome; We'll make 'em sport. Make a stand here. How we are to proceed? 2 Gent. We are instructed. [Musick continues within, Enter Vertaign, Champernel, Beaupre, Verdone, Lamira, Anabel, Nurse, and Charlotte. 1 Gent. One strain or two more-Excel[ness, yet lent! they're come. Nurse. We cannot miss; in such a busi Mine ear ne'er fail'd me. Char. 'Would we were at it once! I do not walk, but dance. 1 Gent. You shall have dancing! Begin; and when I give the word 2 Gent. No more : We are instructed. [Dance; after which the Gentlemen rush on Beaupre and company.] Now! Beau. But win us fairly! [your valour, 1 Gent. Oh, sir, we do not come to try But to possess you; yet we use you kindly, In that, like English thieves, we kill you not, But are contented with the spoil. Vert. Ob, Heav'n! How hath mine age deserv'd this? Champ. Hell confound it! This comes of walking! Had I kept my legs, Or my good horse, my armour on, My staff in my rest, and this good sword to friend 41, How I would break and scatter these! Champ. Do you scorn me, rogues? Nurse. Nay, gentlemen, kind gentlemen, Or honest keepers of these woods! but hear Be not so rough! If you are taken with [me; My beauty, as it hath been worth the seeking, Some one or two of you try me in private; You shall not find me squeamish. Char. Do not kill me, And do your worst; I'll suffer. Lam. Peace, vile creatures! Vert. D'you know me, or my place,that you [presume not 1 Gent. If you are well, rest so; To touch my person? Provoke not angry wasps. Vert. You're wasps indeed, Never created to yield wax or honey, But for your country's torment. Yet, if you [Frenchmen, are men, (As you seem such in shape) if true-born However want compels you to these courses, Rest satisfied with what you can take from us, (These ladies' honours, and our liberties safe) We freely give it. 1 Gent. You give but our own. Vert. Look on these grey hairs, as you would be old! [mercy Their tears, as you would have yours to find When justice shall o'ertake you! Champ. Look on me, Look on ine, rascals, and learn of me too, That have been in some part of your profession, [it; Before that most of you e'er suck'd, I know I have rode hard, and late too. If you are high, and want some sport, or so, (As living without action here, you may do) Forbear their tender gristles; they are meat Will wash away; there is no substance in it; We that are expert in the game, and tough Will hold you play. [too, Enter Dinant and Cleremont. 1 Gent. This hen longs to be trodden. Din. Lacquey, my horse! Cler. This way, I heard the cries Of distress'd women. 2 Gent. Stand upon your guard! Din, Who's here? my witty, scornful ladyI' th' hands of ruffians? Cler. And my fine cold virgin, [plot, That was insensible of man, and woman? Din. Justice too, without a sword to guard itself? Cler. And valour with its hands bound? Why, this is strange. Lam. Dinant, as thou art noble Ana. As thou art valiant, Cleremont- Appeared lovely Ana. As you ever hope For what I would give gladly Cler. Pretty conjurations! Lam. All injuries a little laid bebind youAna. Shew yourselves men, and help us. Din. Tho' your many [me And gross abuses of me should more move To triumph in your mis'ries than relieve you, Yet, that hereafter you may know that I, The scorn'd and despis'd Dinant, know what Belong to honour, thus Cler. I will say little; Champ. 'Tis bravely fought. To do thus for their enemies! [does [Fight, 1 Gent. You that would rescue others, shall now feel What they were born to. 2 Gent. Hurry them away! [Exeunt. Shall fire the woods, but I will find 'em out: No cave, no rock, nor hell, shall keep them My searching vengeance! Enter La-Writ and Sampson. [from La-Writ. Oh, cold! oh, fearful cold! Plague of all seconds! "And this good sword too, friend.] Mr. Sympson has undoubtedly hit on the true reading here, i. e. to befriend me, is an expression common to the best writers. Seward. Act 4. Scene 1.] Sump. Oh, for a pint of burnt wine, or a sip La-Writ. As you are honourable gentlemen, Samp. My lord mine uncle, as I live! How that word has warm'd my mouth! Why, why, and where, man, have you been? That you are cas'd thus like a rabbit? I [children, could laugh now, And, I shall laugh, for all I have lost my Champ. What are they? Laugh more and more, never leave laughing! Vert. Why, 'tis such a thing, (I smell it, Such a ridiculous thing! La-Writ. Do you laugh at me, my lord? I'm very cold, but that should not be laugh'd La-Writ. What art thou? Samp. if he had his doublet, Tat. And his sword by his side, as a gentleman Vert. Peace, monsieur Sampson! 42 And at what gusts of danger Champ. Is this the Little Lawyer? His manhood has arriv'd, but that men's fates And often headlong over-run their fortunes- And bite your honour by the nose— La-Writ. So niggle about your grave shins, Samp. No more, sweet gentleman; no more of that, sir. [more. La-Writ. I will have more, I must have Vert. Out with it. Samp. Nay, he is as brave a fellow Champ. Have I caught you? [Strikes him down, Vert. Do not kill him, do not kill him. Champ. No, no, no, I will not. [heart! D'you peep again? Down, down,`proud Look up, brave friend, I have no means to Champ. I'll sword you presently; I'll claw your skin-coat too. Vert. Away, good Sampson; You go to grass else instantly. Samp. But do not murder my brave friend. Champ. If you do, sirrah Samp. Must I go off dishonour'd? Adversity tries valour; so I leave thee! [Exit. His manhood has arriv'd.] Mr. Seward, disliking the word gusts, reads, -at what justs of danger "His manhood has arrived:" i. e.' says he, "what dangerous tournements his manhood has been engaged in." It is a technical word in knight-errantry, and perfectly suitable to the errant knight that utters it.' gusts of danger.' The conjecture is probable; but we see no difficulty in “ sneers. 43 My kingdom for a sword!] Mr. Sympson thinks this a stupid sneer at Shakespeare, and Mr. Theobald always used to look on every such jocular quotation from him, as so many For my part, I think it no more a sneer upon Shakespeare, than The Battle of the Frogs and Mice is upon the Iliad, or The Splendid Shilling upon Paradise Lost. Every sentiment, or expression of dignity and sublimity, when applied to a ridiculous subject, serves only by its contrast to render the subject more ridiculous. Thus, Et tu, Brute, below, cannot possibly be a sneer upon Shakespeare, who does nothing but transcribe the very expression Cæsar made use of at his death; at least the Latin translation of it. But Sampson assuming the distress of Richard the Third, and La-Writ the dignity of Cæsar in his fall, extremely heighten the comic drollery of their characters. Thus again, in an emendation of Mr. Sympson's note ", in this very play, [a pretended emendation !] "What mister-thing is this?" as Spenser had stamp'd a dignity upon the obsolete word mister, it is with great humour applied to La-Writ. But is Spenser sneer'd by the application? No; Fletcher was so far on The Faithful Shepfrom sneering, that he almost idolized him; as is shewn in note herdess. Seward, 76 After all, it cannot be denied that our Poets, as well as Ben Jonson, have certainly more than once indulged themselves in sneering allusions to the Works of Shakespeare. E 2 |