Not to be other than one thing, not moving From the casque to the cushion, but commanding peace As he controul'd the war." Explain clearly the probable reasons why Coriolanus "could not carry his honours even:" and particularly the meaning of the italics. Which of Shakespeare's historical characters was "cur'd" by having "too much honour" taken from him? 14. Auf. "But he has a merit, To choke it in the utterance. So our virtues 15. And Power unto itself most commendable, To extol what it hath done. One fire drives out one fire; one nail, one nail." 16. "So our virtues," &c. Where else does Shakespeare deliver the same opinion? What celebrated author of the same time agrees with Shakespeare? 17. What is indirectly inculcated in “ one fire drives out one fire ?" Where else does the same figure occur? 18. Point to places in our literature where the following are severally used in the same senses as they are in this play: 66 "Bedward;” “jump;" "tetter;" "beesom" or "bisson ;" "physical;" "reechy;" "batten;""6 palter;" scotched;"" bale;" cautelous;" "boulted;". -And say what their meanings are. 66 19. Point out the allusions in the following: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) "Our veil'd dames Commit the war of white and damask.” "In that day's feats When he might act the woman in the scene.” "Though I go alone, Like to a lonely dragon, that his fen Makes fear'd and talk'd of more than seen." "You two are old men, tell me one thing." 20. What object has Shakespeare in view throughout in this play? What does the play develop? 21. BACON'S ESSAYS. Afternoon Paper. "The most tolerable sort of revenge is for those wrongs which there is no law to remedy; but then let a man take heed the revenge be such as there is no law to punish, else a man's enemy is still beforehand, and it is two for one.” What wrongs are alluded to, and why is there no law to remedy them? What sort of revenge is recommended? Explain the meaning of the italics. 22. 66 Prosperity is not without many fears and distastes; and adversity is not without comforts and hopes. We see in needle-works and embroideries, it is more pleasant to have a lively work upon a sad and solemn ground than to have a dark and melancholy work upon a lightsome ground: judge, therefore, of the pleasure of the heart by the pleasure of the eye." What are these images of, viz., the "lively work;" the "sad and solemn ground;" the "dark and melancholy work;" the "lightsome ground?" What judgment is to be formed? 23. 66 Envy is as the Sunbeams, that beat hotter upon a bank, or steep rising ground, than upon a flat.” 24. "The rising unto place is laborious, and by pains men come to greater pains; and it is sometimes base, and by indignities men come to dignities. The standing is slippery, and the regress is either a downfall, or at least an eclipse, which is a melancholy thing.” 25. "As in nature, things move violently to their place, and calmly in their place, so virtue in ambition is violent, in authority settled and calm.” Illustrate the antecedent, and consequent of this simile from Natural Philosophy and History. 26. "Such men in other men's calamities, are, as it were, in season, and are ever on the loading part: misanthropi that * make it their practise to bring men to the bough, and yet have never a tree for the purpose as Timon had.'” Point out the allusion in the latter part; and explain in what they are worse than Timon was. 66 27. 'Shepherds of people had need known the calendar of tempests in state, which are commonly greatest when things grow to equality." 28. To give moderate liberty for griefs and discontentments to evaporate (so it be without too great insolency or bravery) is a safe way; "for he that turneth the humours back, and maketh the wound bleed inwards, endangereth malign ulcers and pernicious imposthumations.” 29. "The increase of any estate must be upon the foreigner, for whatsoever is somewhere gained is somewhere lost"? Is this true? 30. "The first remedy, or prevention, is to remove, by all means possible, that material cause of sedition whereof we spake, which is, want and poverty in the estate: to which purpose serveth the opening and well balancing of trade." Explain what was meant by "the balance of trade." In what did it originate? Had it the tendency Bacon ascribes to it? 31. "Atheism leaves a man to sense, to philosophy, to natural piety, to laws, to reputation; but superstition dismounts all these, and erecteth as absolute monarchy in the minds of men." Shew by an example in each case how superstition dismounts (a) sense, (b) philosophy, (c) natural piety, (d) laws, (e) reputation. 32. "The master of superstition is the people, and in all superstition wise men follow fools; and arguments are fitted to practise in a reversed order.” 33. "Occasion turneth a bald noddle after she hath presented her locks in front, and no hold taken; or at least turneth the handle of the bottle first to be received, and after the belly which is hard to clasp." 34. "Let princes or states choose such servants as have not this mark (referring all to themselves,) except they mean their service should be made but the accessory." Which of Shakespeare's characters professes " this mark?" 35. "As the births of living creatures at first are ill-shapen, so are all innovations, which are the births of time; yet, notwithstanding, as those that first bring honour into their family are commonly more worthy than most that succeed, so the first precedent (if it be good) is seldom attained by imitation; for ill to man's nature as it stands perverted, hath a natural motion strongest in continuance; but good, as a forced motion, strongest at first." What is the "first precedent?" What is "the imitation ?" Suppose the "first precedent," be bad, what will be the consequence? 36. "The great multiplication of virtues upon human nature resteth upon societies well ordained and disciplined; for commonwealths and good governments do nourish virtue grown, but do not much mend the seeds? but the misery is, that the most effectual means are now applied to the ends least to be desired." Does the testimony of history support the assertion in italics? 37. "Neither is it almost seen that very beautiful persons are otherwise of great virtue; as if nature were rather busy not to err, than in labor to produce excellency." 38. "Honour that is gained and broken upon another hath the quickest reflection, like diamonds cut with facets; and therefore, let a man contend to excel any competitors of his in honor, in outshooting them, if he can, in their own bow." 39. "It may be Plato's great year, if the world should last so long, would have some effect," &c. What is the length of Plato's great year? What poets speak of it? 40. Where else in our literature may figures, nearly identical with the following, be found; (a) "The breath of flowers comes and goes like the warbling of music;" (b) Poetry a shadow; (c) The "lively work upon a sad and solemn ground." (d) "Virtue is like precious odours, most fragrant when they are incensed or crushed." (e) A compassionate heart compared "to the noble tree that is wounded itself when it gives the balm." (f) Beautiful persons compared to Apelles' Venus. FOURTH CLASS. KING JOHN. Morning Paper. 1. Eli. "This might have been prevented, and made whole With very easy arguments of love." What "arguments of love" are alluded to? Quote other passages from this play that have the same scope or aim with this. с 2. Bast. "But this is worshipful society, And fits the mounting spirit like myself; For, it shall strew the footsteps of my rising." What is it the intention of the Bastard to practise in order to rise? 3. Eli. "I see a yielding in the looks of France; Mark how they whisper; urge them while their souls Lest zeal, now melted by the windy breath Of soft petitions, pity and remorse, Cool and congeal again to what it was. To whom, and of whom does Elinor speak? The meaning of the italics. N. B.-Where no question is verbally proposed, a clear explanation of the italics opposite the number is what is required. 4. K. Phi. "Brother of England, how may we content Which we, God knows, have turn'd another way, Sketch briefly an outline of the general character of the Kings and Barons of John's time as it is reflected in this play. 5. Cons. "Thou mays't, thou shalt, I will not go with thee. I will instruct my sorrows to be proud, For grief is proud, and makes his owner stoop To me and to the state of my great grief, |