infusing him with self and vain conceit,- bores through his castle wall, and-farewell king! for you have but mistook me all this while : how can you say to me, I am a king? W. SHAKESPEARE 1016 Bell. BELLARIO-PHILASTER IR, if I have made Sa fault of ignorance, instruct my youth; I shall be willing, if not apt, to learn; age and experience will adorn my mind with larger knowledge; and if I have done a wilful fault, think me not past all hope for once. What master holds so strict a hand over his boy, that he will part with him without one warning? Let me be corrected to break my stubbornness, if it be so, rather than turn me off; and I shall mend. Phil. Thy love doth plead so prettily to stay, Bel. that, trust me, I could weep to part with thee. with joy receive thee; as I live, I will! nay, weep not, gentle boy. 'Tis more than time thou did'st attend the princess. I am gone. But since I am to part with you, my lord, and none knows whether I shall live to do more service for you, take this little prayer: heaven bless your loves, your fights, all your designs! may sick men, if they have your wish, be well; and Heaven hate those you curse, though I be one! Phil. The love of boys unto their lords is strange; I have read wonders of it: yet this boy BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER 1017 OSMYN on recoverinG HIS WIFE ALMERIA Osm. Y life, my health, my liberty, my all, MY how shall I welcome thee to this sad place? how speak to thee the words of joy and transport? how run into thy arms, withheld by fetters; or take thee into mine, while I'm thus manacled and pinioned like a thief or murderer? Shall I not hurt or bruise thy tender body, and stain thy bosom with the rust of these rude irons? Must I meet thee thus, Almeria ? Alm. Thus, thus; we parted, thus to meet again. Thou told'st me thou would'st think how we might meet to part no more. Now we will part no more, for these thy chains, or death, shall join us ever. Osm. Hard means to ratify that word!-O cruelty! that ever I should think beholding thee Alm. a torture!—yet, such is the bleeding anguish O say not so; with mutual appetite; and mingling in one cup the common stream of both our eyes, drink bitter draughts, with never-slacking thirst. thou canst not! thy poor arms are bound, and strive in vain with the remorseless chains, which gnaw W. CONGREVE 1018 Mess. MESSENGER-MANOA OH, whither shall I run, or which way fly the sight of this so horrid spectacle, which erst my eyes beheld, and yet behold ? But providence or instinct of nature seems, or reason, though disturbed and scarce consulted, to have guided me aright, I know not how, to thee first, reverend Manoa, and to these my countrymen, whom here I knew remaining, as at some distance from the place of horror, so in the sad event too much concerned. Man. The accident was loud, and here before thee with rueful cry, yet what it was we hear not. No preface needs, thou seest we long to know. Mess. It would burst forth; but I recover breath and sense distract, to know well what I utter. Man. Tell us the sum, the circumstance defer. Mess. Gaza yet stands, but all her sons are fallen, all in a moment overwhelmed and fallen. Man. Sad; but thou knowest to Israelites not saddest the desolation of a hostile city. Mess. Feed on that first, there may in grief be surfeit. Man. Relate by whom. By Samson. Mess. to utter what will come at last too soon; What glorious hand gave Samson his death's wound? Mess. Unwounded of his enemies he fell. Man. Wearied with slaughter then, or how? explain. 1019 Man. Mess. Self-violence! what cause brought him so soon at variance with himself among his foes? Inevitable cause, at once both to destroy and be destroyed. The edifice, where all were met to see him, upon their heads and on his own he pulled. Man. Oh, lastly over-strong against thyself! a dreadful way thou tookest to thy revenge. More than enough we know: but, while things yet are in confusion, give us, if thou can’st, eye-witness of what first or last was done, relation more particular and distinct. Mess. Occasions drew me early to this city, and as the gates I entered with sun-rise, the morning trumpets festival proclaimed through each high street. Little I had dispatched when all abroad was rumoured that this day Samson should be brought forth to show the people proof of his mighty strength in feats and games. I sorrowed at his captive state, but minded not to be absent at that spectacle. The building was a spacious theatre, half round, on two main pillars vaulted high, of sort might sit in order to behold; the other side was open, where the throng on banks and scaffolds under sky might stand; I among these aloof obscurely stood. The feast and noon grew high, and sacrifice had filled their hearts with mirth, high cheer, and wine, when to their sports they turned. Immediately in their state livery clad; before him pipes rifted the air, clamouring their god with praise, who had made their dreadful enemy their thrall. 1020 He patient, but undaunted, where they led him came to the place, and what was set before him, which without help of eye might be assayed, to heave, pull, draw, or break, he still performed, all with incredible, stupendous force, none daring to appear antagonist. At length for intermission sake they led him with both his arms on those two massy pillars, I mean to show you of my strength, yet greater, he tugged he shook, till down they came and drew J. MILTON 1021 Lor. LORENZO-JESSICA HOW sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank! here will we sit, and let the sounds of music creep in our ears; soft stillness and the night become the touches of sweet harmony. Sit, Jessica. Look, how the floor of heaven is thick inlaid with patines of bright gold; |