Full of unpleafing blots, and fightless stains, GRIEF. I will inftruct my forrows to be proud; For grief is proud, and makes the owner ftout. If thou had'ft been born Deform'd and crooked in the features of A loathfome leprofy had fpread itself, And made thee fhun'd of human fellowships, Rather than as now, (Tho' I had drown'd thee for it in the fea) Appearing as thou doft a new Pandora, With Juno's fair cow-eyes, Minerva's brow, Aurora's blufhing cheeks, Hebe's fresh youth, Venus foft paps, and Thetis filver feet. The laft lines of Mafinger, are an immediate tranflation from a pretty Greek epigram, the author of which compares his miftreffes eyes to Juno's, her paps to Venus", &c. A& 4. S. 1. Ομματ' έχεις Ηρης, Μελίτη, τας χείρας Αθήνης, Τις μάζες Παφίης, τα σφυρα της Θέτιδος, & (5) Nature, &c.] In the Philoctetes of Sophocles, it is faid, Αλλ' ευγενης γαρ η φυσις, κα'ξ ευγενων Ω τέκνον, η ση Noble thy nature, as thy birth. my son. E £4 SCENE SCENE V. The Horrors of unclofing a Conspiracy. (6) I had, &c.] The reader cannot but be ftruck with the peculiar excellencies of this fpeech: we fee into the very workings of king John's troubled foul, while he is wishing yet afraid to difclofe his bloody purpofe to Hubert; and how finely does the author defcribe the fituation the mind fhou'd be in to hear and embrace fuch a propofal, the place fittest to disclose it in, the time most suitable to pour it into the bofom of the hearer. See Julius Cæfar, p. 97. Shakespear, when he would exprefs the most dreadful time of night, always fpeaks of the hours of twelve or ne; for that, in the vulgar opinion, was the peculiar time of ghosts and fpirits. In Midfummer Night's Dream, he fays, The iron tongue of midnight hath told twelve. And the ghoft in Hamblet juft then talks forth, when Bernarda giving an account of it comes to The bell then beating one. A most beautiful break, and finely imagin'd. The king, in Beaumont and Fletcher's King and no King, is alike troubled and fearful to difclofe his intentions. fays of him, He has followed me Thro' twenty rooms, and ever when I ftay Kept in his bufinefs: fo turns away from me: And the king fays of himself, I cannot utter it; why fhou'd I keep A breaft to harbour thoughts I dare not fpeak? Mardonius A thoufand thoughts that cannot brook the light; If this fame were a churchyard, where we stand, Had bak'd thy blood, and made it heavy-thick, Or if that thou couldft fee me without eyes, SCENE VI. A Mother's Ravings. I am not mad; this hair I tear is mine; I am not mad: I would to heav'n, I were ! A Mother's Grief. Father Cardinal, I have heard you say, That we fhall fee and know our friends in heav'n; For fince the birth of Cain, the first male-child, There was not fuch a gracious creature born. And chafe the native beauty from his cheek; child; When I fhall meet him in the court of heav'n, SCENE VII. Defpondency. There's nothing in this world can make me joy ; (7) Life is as tedious as a twice told tale, Vexing the dull ear of a drowsy man. (7) Life, &c.] So in another part of the play he says, This act is as an ancient tale new told, And in the last repeating troublesome. I bring this paffage chiefly that the reader may more carefully dwell on the inimitable beauties of that in the text. Departing Departing Difeafes. Before the curing of a strong disease, Ev'n in the inftant of repair and health, The fit is strongest: evils that take leave, On their departure, moft of all fhew evil. Danger lays hold of any Support. He that ftands upon a flipp'ry place, Makes nice of no vile hold to stay him up. Arthur's pathetick Speeches to Hubert. Have you the heart? when your head did but ake, And with my hand at midnight held your head; Why |