504 505 when he shall hear she died upon his words, into his study of imagination; and every lovely organ of her life, shall come apparell'd in more precious habit, ON NIGHT AND DEATH W. SHAKESPEARE MYSTERIOUS Night! when our first parent thee from report divine, and heard thy name, who could have thought such darkness lay concealed THE DEATH OF CLEOPATRA ALEXAS-ANTONY HE snatch'd her poignard, Al. S B. WHITE and, ere we could prevent the fatal blow, plung'd it within her breast: then turn'd to me, Go, bear my lord (said she) my last farewell; and ask him if he yet suspect my faith. More she was saying, but death rush'd betwixt. She half pronounc'd your name with her last breath, Ant. Then art thou innocent, my poor dear love? O, those two words! their sound should be divided: J. DRYDEN 506 507 THE FUNERAL LOWLY they bore, with solemn step, the dead; my part began: a crowd drew near the place, so swift the ill, and of so fierce a kind, that fear with pity mingled in each mind; friends with the husband came, their griefs, to blend; while the meek father, listening to their tones, INVOCATION OF SLEEP G. CRABBE CARE sable, ‘ARE-CHARMER Sleep, son of the sable Night, 508 relieve my languish, and restore the light, TIME J. FLETCHER OR time is like a fashionable host, FOR that slightly shakes his parting guest by the hand; and with his arms out-stretched, as he would fly, grasps-in the comer: welcome ever smiles, and farewell goes out sighing. O, let not virtue seek remuneration for the thing it was; for beauty, wit, high birth, vigour of bone, desert in service, 509 love, friendship, charity, are subjects all One touch of nature makes the whole world kin,- more laud than gilt o'er-dusted. The present eye praises the present object. WITH W. SHAKESPEARE WITH war-songs and wild music they came on: we the while kneeling raised with one accord the hymn of supplication. Front to front, and now th' embattled armies stood: a band of priests, all sable-garmented, advanced: they piled a heap of sedge before our host, and warned us- "Sons of Ocean! from the land of Atlan, while ye may, depart in peace! before the fire shall be extinguished, hence! or, even as yon dry sedge amid the flame, so shall ye be consumed." The arid heap they kindled and the rapid flame ran up, and blazed and died away. Then from his bow, with steady hand, their chosen archer loosed the arrow of the Omen. 510 BEATRICE PARTING FROM HER BROTHER BERNARDO `AREWELL, my tender brother. Think FARE of our sad fate with gentleness, as now: and let mild, pitying thoughts lighten for thee but tears and patience. One thing more, my child: thou bearest us; and to the faith that I ill tongues shall wound me, and our common name P. B. SHELLEY 511 512 513 ASIA TO PANTHEA OOK, sister, ere the vapour dim thy brain: beneath is a wide plain of billowy mist, as a lake, paving in the morning sky, with azure waves which burst in silver light, some Indian vale. Behold it rolling on under the curdling winds, and islanding the peak whereon we stand, midway, around, encinctured by the dark and blooming forests, dim twilight-lawns, and stream-illumined caves, and wind-enchanted shapes of wandering mist; and far on high the keen sky-cleaving mountains from icy spires of sun-like radiance fling the dawn, as lifted Ocean's dazzling spray, from some Atlantic islet scattered up, spangles the wind with lamp-like water-drops. P. B. SHELLEY CHARACTER OF A GENTLE WOMAN NOBI [OBLE she is by birth, made good by virtue, exceeding fair, and her behaviour to it is like a singular musician to a sweet instrument, or else as doctrine is to the soul, that puts it into act, and prints it full of admirable forms. Her eminent judgment to dispose those parts to check, and to affright it from attempting G. CHAPMAN CONSOLATION OF EARLY DEATH VIROLET TO ASCANIO WEET prince, the name of death was never terrible SWEET to him that knew to live; nor the loud torrent of all afflictions, singing as they swim, a gall of heart but to a guilty conscience: whilst we stand fair, though by a two-edged storm bent to the earth, we bear our native sweetness. are more than lives; and though their tombs want yet have they eyes that daily sweat their losses, for then we reach at Heaven in our full virtues, 514 KING ARTHUR TO THE KNIGHT To whom replied King Arthur, much in wrath : T% "Ah, miserable and unkind, untrue, unknightly, traitor-hearted! Woe is me! laid widow'd of the power in his eye that bow'd the will. I see thee what thou art, for thou, the latest-left of all my knights, in whom should meet the offices of all, and the third time may prosper, get thee hence: I will arise and slay thee with my hands." A. TENNYSON 515 FRIAR LAURENCE ENTERING HIS CELL WITH TH A BASKET 'HE grey-eyed morn smiles on the frowning night, chequering the eastern clouds with streaks of light; and fleckéd darkness like a drunkard reels from forth day's path and Titan's fiery wheels: now, ere the sun advance his burning eye, the day to cheer, and night's dank dew to dry, |