I do talk to somewhat methinks; it may be,
My Evil Genius.-Do not the bells ring?
I've a strange noise in my head. Oh, fly in.
Come, age, and wither me into the malice
Of those that have been happy; let me have
One property for more than the devil of hell;
Let me envy the pleasure of youth heartily;
Let me in this life fear no kind of ill,

That have no good to hope for. Let me sink,
Where neither man nor memory may find me.
[Falls to the ground.
Confessor (entering). You are well employ'd, I hope;
the best pillow in th' world

For this your contemplation is the earth,
And the best object, Heaven.

Leonora. I am whispering

To a dead friend

Obstacles.

Let those, that would oppose this union,
Grow ne'er so subtle, and entangle themselves
In their own work, like spiders; while we two
Haste to our noble wishes; and presume,
The hindrance of it will breed more delight,-
As black copartaments shews gold more bright,
Falling out.

To draw the Picture of Unkindness truly
Is, to express two that have dearly loved
And fal'n at variance.

THE BRIDE:

A COMEDY. BY THOMAS NABBS, 1640.

Antiquities.

HORTEN, a Collector. His friend.

Friend. You are learned in Antiquities?

Hort. A little, Sir.

I should affect them more, were not tradition
One of the best assurances to show

They are the things we think them. What more proofs,
Except perhaps a little circumstance,
Have we for this or that to be a piece
Of Delphos' ruins? or the marble statues,
Made Athens glorious when she was supposed
To have more images of men than men?
A weather-beaten stone, with an inscription
That is not legible but thro' an optic,
Tells us its age; that in some Sibyl's cave
Three thousand years ago it was an altar,
'Tis satisfaction to our curiosity,
But ought not to necessitate belief.-
For Antiquity,

I do not store up any under Grecian;

Your Roman antiques are but modern toys

Compared to them. Besides they are so counterfeit
With mouldings, 'tis scarce possible to find
Any but copies.

Friend. Yet you are confident

Of yours, that are of more doubt.

Hort. Others from their easiness

May credit what they please. My trial's such
Of any thing I doubt, all the impostors,
That ever made Antiquity ridiculous,
Cannot deceive me. If I light upon

Aught that's above my skill, I have recourse
To those, whose judgment at the second view
(If not the first) will tell me what Philosopher's
That eye-less, nose-less, mouth-less Statue is,
And who the workman was; tho' since his death
Thousands of years have been revolved.

Accidents to frustrate Purpose.

How various are the events that may depend
Upon one action, yet the end proposed
Not follow the intention! accidents

Will interpose themselves; like those rash men,
That thrust into a throng, occasioned

By some tumultuous difference, where perhaps
Their busy curiosity begets

New quarrels with new issues.

THE GENTLEMAN USHER:

A COMEDY. BY G. CHAPMAN, 1606.

VINCENTIO, a Prince, (to gain him over to his interest in a loveaffair) gulls BASSIOLO, a formal Gentleman Usher to a great Lord, with commendations of his wise house-ordering at a great Entertainment.

[well

Vinc. -besides, good Sir, your Show did shew so
Bass. Did it indeed, my Lord ?
Vinc. O Sir, believe it,

"Twas the best fashion'd and well-order'd thing,

That ever eye beheld and therewithal,
The fit attendance by the servants used,
The gentle guise in serving every guest,
In other entertainments; everything
About your house so sortfully disposed,
That ev'n as in a turn-spit (call'd a Jack)
One vice* assists another; the great wheels,
Turning but softly, make the less to whirr
About their business; every different part
Concurring to one commendable end :
So, and in such conformance, with rare grace
Were all things ordered in your good Lord's house.
Bass. The most fit Simile that ever was.
Vinc. But shall I tell you plainly my conceit,
Touching the man that (I think) caused this order?
Bass. Aye, good my Lord.

Vinc. You note my Simile?

turn-spit

Bass. Drawn from the turn-spit

Vinc. I see, you have me.

Even as in that quaint engine you have seen
A little man in shreds stand at the winder,
And seems to put in act all things about him,
Lifting and pulling with a mighty stir,--
Yet adds no force to it, nor nothing does :

* Turn.

So, though your Lord be a brave gentleman,
And seems to do this business, he does nothing.
Some man about him was the festival robe

That made him shew so glorious and divine.

Bass. I cannot tell, my Lord; but I should know, If any such there were.

Vinc. Should know, quoth you?

I warrant, you know well.

Well, some there be Shall have the fortune to have such rare men

(Like brave Beasts to their arms) support their state; When others of as high a worth and breed,

Are made the wasteful food of them they feed.What state hath your Lord made you for your service?

*

The same BASSIOLO described.

Lord's Daughter. his place is great; for he is not My father's Usher, but the world's beside, Because he goes before it all in folly.

[only

THE BASTARD:

A TRAGEDY. AUTHOR UNKNOWN, 1652.

Lover's Frown.

Roderiguez. Thy uncle, Love, holds still a jealous

eye

On all my actions; and I am advised,

That his suspicious ears

Are still behind the hangings; that the servants
Have from him in command to watch who visits.
'Tis safest, in my judgment, in his presence
That thou forbear to cast a smile upon me ;
And that, like old December, I should look
With an unpleasant and contracted brow.

Varina. What, canst thou change thy heart, my dear, that heart

Of flesh thou gav'st me, into adamant,
Or rigid marble canst thou frown on me?

Rod. You do mistake me, sweet, I mean not so To change my heart; I'll change my countenance, But keep my heart as loyal as before.

Var. In truth I cannot credit it, that thou Canst cast a frown on me; I prithee, try. Rod. Then thus:

[He tries, and cannot; they smile on each other. Var. I prithee, sweet, betake thyself to school ; This lesson thou must learn; in faith thou art out. Rod. Well, I must learn, and practise it, or we Shall blast our budding hopes.

Var. Come, try again.

Rod. But if I try, and prove a good proficient; If I do act my part discreetly, you

Must take it as a play, not as a truth;

Think it a formal, not a real frown.

Var. I shall

Rod. Then thus: i'faith, minion, I'll look to thee.

[She swoons. Why, how now, sweet!-I did mistrust thy weakness: Now I have learn'd my part, you are to seek.

Var. 'Faith, 'twas my weakness; when I did perceive

A cloud of rage condensed on thy brow,
My heart began to melt.

LOVE TRICKS:

A COMEDY. BY JAMES SHIRLEY.

Passionate Courtship.

Infortunio. I must have other answer, for I love you. Selina. Must! but I don't see any necessity that I must love you. I do confess you are

A proper man.

Inf. O do not mock, Selina; let not excellence, Which you are full of, make you proud and scornful. I am a Gentleman; though my outward part Cannot attract affection, yet some have told me,