Works published from 1596 to 1640. The time of neither the birth or the death of this writer is known. He wrote over two hundred plays-only a few of which have come down to us — and several prose works, besides attending to his business as an actor. [From the "English Traveller."] SHIPWRECK BY DRINK. -THIS gentleman and I Passed but just now by your next neighbor's house, And there, this night, was held a sumptuous feast. Warmed with the heat of wine, discourse was offered Of ships and storms at sea; when, suddenly, The room wherein they quaffed to be a pinnace, To be the murmuring of winds, gusts, mariners; From rocking of the vessel. This conceived, And to look out for safety. Fly, saith one, Up to the maintop and discover. He Climbs by the bed-post to the tester, there A third takes the bass-viol for a cock-boat, Sits in the hollow on 't, labors and rows, His oar, the stick with which the fiddler played; Still fumbling on a gittern. The rude multitude, Which done, and hearing such a noise within Of imminent shipwreck, enters the house, and finds them In this confusion; they adore his staff, And think it Neptune's trident; and that he Comes with his Tritons, so they called his watch, To calm the tempest, and appease the waves; And at this point we left them. 6* LADY ELIZABETH CAREW. [Chorus from the Tragedy of " Marion."— Republished 1613.] THE fairest action of our human life If we a worthy enemy do find, To yield to worth, it must be nobly done; In base revenge there is no honor won. We say our hearts are great, and cannot yield; Because they cannot yield, it proves them poor. Great hearts are tasked beyond their power, but seld The weakest lion will the loudest roar. Truth's school, for certain, doth this same allòw High-heartedness doth sometimes teach to bow. A noble heart doth teach a virtuous scorn To scorn to be for benefits forborne ; To scorn to lie; to scorn to do a wrong; To scorn to bear an injury in mind; To scorn a free-born heart slave-like to bind. - But if for wrongs we needs revenge must have, And let our hate prevail against our mind! Had Marion scorned to leave a due unpaid, Massinger is considered superior to any other tragic poet of the reign of James I. He wrote a great number of pieces; the "New Way to Pay Old Debts" is considered one of his best productions. His life was spent in obscurity and poverty. He was one morning found dead in his bed, and "was buried, with no other inscription than the melancholy note in the parish register, 'Philip Massinger, a stranger,' [From the "Virgin Martyr."] A MIDNIGHT SCENE. [Angelo, an angel, attends Dorothea, as a page.] Dorothea. My book and taper. Angelo. Here, most holy mistress. Dor. Thy voice sends forth such music, that I never Was ravished with a more celestial sound. Were every servant in the world like thee, So full of goodness, angels would come down Therefore, my most loved mistress, do not bid Your boy, For then so serviceable, to get hence; you break his heart. Dor. Be nigh me still, then. In golden letters down I'll set that day Which gave thee to me. Little did I hope To meet such worlds of comfort in thyself - Ang. Proud am I that my lady's modest eye Dor. I have offered Handfuls of gold but to behold thy parents. I Be not ashamed.. Ang. I am not; I did never Know who my mother was; but, by your palace, Filled with bright heavenly courtesies, I dare assure you, Dor. A blessed day! [From the "City Madam."] COMPASSION FOR MISFORTUNE. Luke. No word, sir, I hope, shall give offence; nor let it relish |