Dio. Your mercy, mother! and from this hour a deity I crown you. Delph. No more of that. Max. Oh, let my prayers prevail too! Here, like a tree, I dwell else: free me, mother, and, greater than great Fortune, I'll adore thee. Delph. Be free again, and have more pure thoughts in you. J. FLETCHER 823 Val. R VALENTINE-PROTEUS UFFIAN let go that rude uncivil touch; Pro. Valentine! Val. Thou common friend, that's without faith or love,for such is a friend now; treacherous man! thou hast beguil'd my hopes; nought but mine eye I have one friend alive; thou would'st disprove me. I am sorry, I must never trust thee more, but count the world a stranger for thy sake. The private wound is deepest: O time most accurst, 'mongst all foes that a friend should be the worst! Pro. My shame and guilt confounds me.- Forgive me, Valentine: if hearty sorrow be a sufficient ransom for offence, Val. Then I am paid; and once again I do receive thee honest. 824 W. SHAKESPEARE VIRTUE AND ITS TRIALS HERE may be one young, learned, valiant, virtuous, and full mann'd ; one, on whom nature spent so rich a hand, whilst a tree solid, since it gives no way to their wild rage, they rend up by the root : that will not wind by every crooked way, trod by the servile world, shall reel and fall, near to the frosty pole, where free Bootes from those dark deep waves turns his radiant team, swell, being enraged even from their inmost deep, as fortune swings about the restless state of virtue. G. CHAPMAN 825 Fer. Mir. FERDINAND-MIRANDA-PROSPERO THIS HIS is strange; your father's in some passion that works him strongly. Never till this day saw I him touched with anger so distempered. Pro. You do look, my son, in a mov'd sort, as if you were dismayed: be cheerful, sir. as dreams are made on; and our little life is rounded with a sleep.-Sir, I am vexed; bear with my weakness; my old brain is troubled: be not disturbed with my infirmity: if you be pleased, retire into my cell, and there repose; a turn or two I'll walk, W. SHAKESPEARE 826 827 Lo. La. GE KALED AND LARA RIEF had so tamed a spirit once too proud, LOVER-LADY LORD BYRON T burneth yet, alas, my heart's desire IT What is the thing that hath inflamed thy heart? Lo. I cannot stop the fervent raging ire— La. What may I do, if thyself cause thy smart? Lo. Hear my request, and rue my weeping chere. La. Thou seekest perchance of me that I may not. La. I see no time to answer yea, but no. Lo. Say yea, dear heart, and stand no more in doubt. Lo. Lo with delays thou drivest me still about. Lo. First may my heart his blood and life bleed out. Lo. From day to day thus wastes my life away, SIR T. WYATT 828 LAPIN BOASTING HIS SKILL IN MAGIC TO BYRON 829 ELL him this, my lord; TELL if knowledge of the sure events of things, even from the rise of subjects into kings, and falls of kings to subjects, hold a power of strength to work it, I can make it good. And tell him this too: if in midst of winter to make black groves grow green: to still the thunder; and cast out able flashes from mine eyes, to beat the light'ning back into the skies, prove power to do it, I can make it good. And tell him this too: if to lift the sea up to the stars, when all the winds are still, and keep it calm when they are most enrag'd; to make earth's driest palms sweat humourous springs; to make fix'd rocks walk, and loose shadows stand; to make the dead speak; midnight see the sun; mid-day turn midnight; to dissolve all laws of nature and of order-argue power able to work all, I can make all good; ANTONY-VENTIDIUS G. CHAPMAN HOU long'st to curse me, and I give thee leave. Ant. I know thou cam'st prepared to rail. Vent. I did. Ant. I'll help thee--I have been a man, Ventidius. Ant. I know thy meaning. But, I have lost my reason, have disgraced on tides of people crowding to my triumphs; and worked against my fortune, chid her from me and turned her loose; yet still she came again. My careless days, and my luxurious nights, at length have wearied her, and now she's gone, gone, gone, divorced for ever. J. DRYDEN 830 MAX. PICCOLOMINI-THE COUNTESS TERTSKY Max. Count. HIS can I not endure. THIS With most determined soul did I come hither, my purposed action seemed unblameable to my own conscience-and I must stand here on my own heart. My mind moves to and fro... What! you know not? does not your own heart tell you? O! then I'll tell it you. Your father is a traitor, a frightful traitor to us! And 'tis yours to make the amends-Make you the son's fidelity outweigh the father's treason. S. T. COLERIDGE from Schiller 831 WALLENSTEIN-MAX. PICCOLOMINI Wal. OFT cradled thee thy Fortune till to-day; SOFT thy duties thou couldst exercise in sport, no longer thus. Like enemies, the roads start from each other. Duties strive with duties, |