He whose right hand carves his own epitaph, [Act i., Sc. 2.] The turn of this is the same with Iago's definition of a Deserving Woman: "She that was ever fair and never proud," etc. ["Othello," Act ii., Sc. 1, line 149, etc.] The matter is superior. SATIRO-MASTIX, OR OR THE UNTRUSSING OF THE HUMOROUS POET [PUBLISHED 1602], BY THOMAS DECKER1 The King exacts an oath from Sir Walter Terill to send his Bride Cœlestina to Court on the marriage night. Her Father, to save her honour, gives her a poisonous mixture which she swallows. Cal. Why didst thou swear? Ter. The King Sat heavy on my resolution, Till (out of breath) it panted out an oath. FATHER. Col. An oath! why, what's an oath? 'tis but the smoke Of flame and blood; the blister of the spirit Which riseth from the steam of rage, the bubble That shoots up to the tongue and scalds the voice; (For oaths are burning words.) Thou swor'st but one, What countrymen are they, where do they dwell, Ter. They're Men of Hell. An oath why 'tis the traffic of the soul, I swore to them; the very hairs that guard, Would straight condemn me: argue oaths no more [This play is not divided. See Pearson's ed. of Decker's Works, 1873, vol. i.. pp. 247-251.] Cal. Must I betray my chastity, so long Clean from the treason of rebelling lust? O husband, O my father, if poor I Must not live chaste, then let me chastely die. Fath. Aye, here's a charm shall keep thee chaste, come, come. Old time hath left us but an hour to play Our parts; begin the scene; who shall speak first? Oh I, I play the King, and Kings speak first: There's one in cloth of silver, which no doubt Cal. Nor I to answer him. Fath. No, girl! know'st thou not how to answer him? Why, then the field is lost, and he rides home Like a great conqueror: not answer him! Out of thy part already! foil'd the scene! Disrank'd the lines! disarm'd the action! Ter. Yes, yes, true chastity is tongued so weak "Tis overcome ere it know how to speak. Fath. Come, come, thou happy close of every wrong, "Tis thou that canst dissolve the hardest doubt; "Tis time for thee to speak, we all are out. To heaven and you, and gave my child to both; Still to run true till death: now, sir, if not, She shall die now, now whilst her soul is true. Cal. Aye, I am death's echo. Fath. O my son: I am her father; every tear I shed Is threescore ten years old; I weep and smile Fath. White wine and poison. Ter. Oh! That very name of poison poisons me. Thou winter of a man, thou walking grave, Whose life is like a dying taper: how Canst thou define a Lover's labouring thoughts? What scent hast thou but death? what taste but earth? Fath. Well, let her go; she's thine, thou call'st her thine, Indeed she may promote her shame and thine, What man would pledge a King in his own Wife? [Drinks. Ter. Hold, hold, thou shalt not die, my bride, my wife, O stop that speedy messenger of death; O let him not run down that narrow path My Soul removes from this weak Standing-house To see how sweetly a true virgin dies.1 The beauty and force of this scene are much diminished to the reader of the entire play, when he comes to find that this solemn preparation is but a sham contrivance of the father's, and the potion which Cælestina swallows nothing more than a sleeping draught; from the effects of which she is to awake in due time, to the surprise of her husband, and the great mirth and edification of the King and his courtiers. As Hamlet says, they do but "poison in jest" ["Hamlet,' Act iii., Sc. 2, line 244.-The sentiments are worthy of a real martyrdom, and an Appian sacrifice in earnest. WESTWARD HOE. A COMEDY [PUBLISHED 1607]. BY THOMAS DECKER AND JOHN WEBSTER [1580 ?-1625?] Sweet Pleasure! Pleasure, the general pursuit. Delicious Pleasure! earth's supremest good, [For other extracts from this play see page 464," Serious Fragments" page 569, and Appendix page 588. For other extracts from Decker alone see pp. 590 and 595.1 We feed; wear rich attires; and strive to cleave Why even those that starve in voluntary wants, Let music Music. Charm with her excellent voice an awful silence [Act iv., Sc. 1.1] [Act iv., Sc. 1.] THE HISTORY OF ANTONIO AND MELLIDA. THE FIRST PART [PUBLISHED 1602]. BY JOHN MARSTON [1575 P-1634] Andrugio Duke of Genoa banished his country, with the loss of a son supposed drowned, is cast upon the territory of his mortal enemy the Duke of Venice; with no attendants but Lucio an old nobleman, and a page. Andr. Is not yon gleam the shuddering Morn that flakes [Pearson's ed. of Decker, vol. ii. For Decker in partnership with Massinger see p. 357. For Decker in partnership with Ford and Rowley see p. 145. For Webster see p. 162. "[This selection precedes the foregoing, ten lines intervening.] '[Line and a half and Sforza's letter omitted.] |