Imagens das páginas
PDF
ePub

An aged princess; many days shall see her, And yet no day without a deed to crown it. 'Would I had known no more! but she must die,

She must, the saints must have her; yet a virgin,

A most unspotted lily shall she pass

To the ground, and all the world shall mourn ber.

K. Hen. O lord archbishop,

Thou hast made me now a man; never, before
This happy child, did I get any thing:
This oracle of comfort has so pleas'd me,
That, when I am in heaven, I shall desire
To see what this child does, and praise my

Maker.

[blocks in formation]

She will be sick else. This day, no man think He has business at his house; for all shall stay,

This little one shall make it holiday. [Exeunt,

EPILOGUE..

'Tis ten to one, this play can never please All that are here: Some come to take their ease,

And sleep an act or two; but those, we fear, We have frighted with our trumpets; so, 'tis clear

They'll say, 'tis naught: others, to hear the Abus'd extremely, and to cry,-that's witty! city

Which we have not done neither that, I fear,
All the expected good we are like to hear
The merciful construction of good women;
For this play at this time, is only in
For such a one we show'd them: If they smile,
And say, 'twill do, I know, within a while
All the best men are our's; for 'tis ill hap,
If they hold, when their ladies bid them clap.

It is supposed that the epilogue and prologie to this play were both written by Ben Jonson.

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM.

LITERARY AND HISTORICAL NOTICE.

THE title of this play was probably suggested (like Twelfth Night, and The Winter's Tale,) by the time at which it was first performed; viz. at Midsummer thus it would be announced as "A Dream for the Entertainment of a Midsummer Night." No other ground can be assigned for the name which our auther has given to it; since the action is distinctly pointed out as occurring on the night preceding May-day. The piece was written in 1592; and, according to Stevens, might have been suggested by the Knight's Tale in Chancer, or, as Capell supposes, Shakspeare may have taken the idea of his fairies from Drayton's fantastical poèm, called Nymphidia, or, The Court of Fairy. Mason, however, denies that our peet made use of the materials which Shakspeare had rendered so popular; and asserts (in opposition to Johnson) that there is no analogy or resemblance between the fairies of the one, and the fairies of the other. The same critics are also at issue upon the general merits of this singular play. Johnson declares that all the parts, in their various modes, are well written." Malone, that the principal personages are insignificant---the fable meagre and uninteresting. Hippolyta, the Amazon, is undistinguished from any other female; and the solicitudes of Hermia and Demetrius, of Lysander and Helena, are childish and frivolous. Theseus, the companion of Hercules, is not engaged in any adventure worthy his rank and reputation: "he goes out a Maying; meets the lovers in perplexity, and makes no effort to promote their happiness; but when supernatural events have reconciled them, he joins their company, and concludes the entertainment by uttering some miserable puns, at an interlude represented by clowns." These faults are, however, almost wholly redeemed, by the glowing fervour, and varied imagination, which Shakspeare has displayed in the poetry; by the rich characteristic humour (free from the taint of grossness) which enlivens the blunt-witted devices of his theatrical tailors and cobblers; and by the admirable satire which he has passed on those self-conceited actors, who (not unlike some modern “* stars”) would monopolize the favours of the public, trample upon every competitor, and “bear the palm alone." Bottom was perhaps the leading tragedian of some rival house, and on that account is honoured with sa ass's head.

[blocks in formation]
[merged small][graphic][graphic][merged small][merged small][merged small][graphic][graphic][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][graphic][graphic][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[blocks in formation]

Turn melancholy forth to funerals,
The pale companion is not for our pomp.
[Exit PHILOSTRATE.
Hippolyta, I woo'd thee with my sword,
And won thy love, doing thee injuries;
But I will wed thee in another key,
With pomp, with triumph,
ling.

and with revel

[blocks in formation]

duke,

This hath bewitch'd the bosom of my child: Thou, thou, Lysander, thou hast given her rhymes,

And interchang'd love-tokens with my child:
Thou hast by moon-light at her window sung,
With feigning voice, verses of feigning love:
And stol'n the impression of her fantasy
With bracelets of thy hair, rings, gawds, † con-
ceits,

Knacks, trifles, nosegays, sweetmeats; messengers

Of strong prevailment in unharden'd youth: With cunning hast thou filch'd my daughter's heart;

Turn'd her obedience, which is due to me,
To stubborn harshness :-And, my gracious
duke,

Be it so she will not here before your grace
Consent to marry with Demetrius,

I beg the ancient privilege of Athens;
As she is mine, I may dispose of her:
Which shall be either to this gentleman,
Or to her death; according to our law,
Immediately provided in that case.

The. What say you, Hermia? be advis'd, fair maid :

To you your father should be as a god;
One that compos'd your beauties; yea,

one

To whom you are but as a form in wax,
By him imprinted, and within his power
To leave the figure, or disfigure it.
Demetrius is a worthy gentleman.
Her. So is Lysander.

The. In himself he is:

[blocks in formation]

ness.

Her. So will I grow, so live, so die, my lord,

Ere I will yield my virgin patent up
Unto his lordship, whose unwished yoke
My soul consents not to give sovereignty.
The. Take time to pause: and by the next
new moon,

(The sealing-day betwixt my love and me,
For everlasting bond of fellowship,)
Upon that day either prepare to die,
For disobedience to your father's will;
Or else, to wed Demetrius, as he would:
Or on Diana's altar to protest,
For aye, austerity and single life.

Dem. Releut, sweet Hermia ;-And, Lysander, yield

Thy crazed title to my certain right.

Lys. You have her father's love, Demetrius;

Let me have Hermia's: do you marry him.
Ege. Scornful Lysander! true, he hath my

love;

And what is mine my love shall render him;
And she is mine; and all my right of her
I do estate unto Demetrius.

Lys. I am, my lord, as well deriv'd as he,
As well possess'd; my love is more than his ;
My fortunes every way as fairly rank'd,
If not with vantage, as Demetrius';
And, which is more than all these boasts can
be,

I am belov'd of beauteous Hermia:
Why should not I then prosecute my right?
Demetrius, I'll avouch it to his head,
Made love to Nedar's daughter, Helena,
And won her soul; and she, sweet lady, dotes,
Devoutly dotes, dotes in idolatry,

Upon this spotted and inconstant man.

The. I must confess, that I have heard so much,

And with Demetrius thought to have spoke thereof;

and But, being over-full of self-affairs,

But, in this kind, wanting your father's voice, The other must be held the worthier.

Her. I would, my father look'd but with my

eyes.

[blocks in formation]

Her. I do entreat your grace to pardon me. I know not by what power I am made bold; Nor how it may concern my modesty,

In such a presence here, to plead my thoughts:
But I beseech your grace that I may know
The worst that may befall me in this case,
If I refuse to wed Demetrius.

The. Either to die the death, or to abjure
For ever the society of men.

Therefore, fair Hermia, question your desires, Know of your youth, examine well your blood, Whether, if you yield not to your father's

choice,

You can endure the livery of a nun;
For ayet to be in shady cloister mew'd,
To live a barren sister all your life,
Chaunting faint hymns to the cold fruitless

moon.

Thrice blessed they, that master so their blood,

To undergo such maiden pilgrimage:

My mind did lose it.-But, Demetrius, come;
And come, Egeus; you shall go with ine,

I have some private schooling for you both.-
For you, fair Hermia, look you arm yourself
To fit your fancies to your father's will;
Or else the law of Athens yield you up
(Which by no means we may extenuate,)
To death, or to a vow of single life.-
Come, my Hippolyta; What cheer, my love ?—
Demetrius, and Egeus, go along:

I must employ you in some business
Against our nuptial; and confer with you
Of something nearly that concerns yourselves.
Ege. With duty and desire we follow you.

[Exeunt THES. HIP. EGE. DEM. and train. Lys. How now, my love? Why is your cheek so pale?

How chance the roses there do fade so fast? Her. Belike for want of rain; which I could well

Beteem them from the tempest of mine eyes. Lys. Ah! me, for aught that ever I could read,

Could ever bear by tale or history,

The course of true love never did run smooth: But, either it was different in blood;

Her. O cross! too high to be enthrall'd to

low!

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]
« AnteriorContinuar »