This has all the greatness of Nature's “equal eye.” You may see how truly Decker felt it to be of this kind, by the company in which he has placed it ; and there is a consummation of propriety in its wildness, for he is speaking of lunatics :

There are of madmen, as there are of tame,
All humour'd not alike. We have here some
So apish and fantastic, will play with a feather;
And though 't would grieve a soul to see God's image
So blemish'd and defaced, yet do they act
Such antic and such pretty lunacies,
That, spite of sorrow, they will make you smile.
Others again we have like hungry lions,
Fierce as wild bulls, untameable as flies.

Middleton partakes of the poetry and sweetness of Decker, but not to the same height: and he talks more at random. You hardly know what to make of the dialogue or stories of some of his plays. But he has more fancy; and there is one character of his (De Flores in the “Changeling") which, for effect at once tragical, probable, and poetical, surpasses anything I know of in the drama of domestic life. Middleton has the honour of having furnished part of the witch poetry to Macbeth, and of being conjoined with it also in the powerful and beautiful music of Locke.

From Massinger, Ford, and the others (as far as I have met with them, and apart from the connexion of Massinger's name with Decker), I could find nothing to extract of a nature to suit this particular volume, and of equal height with its contents. It is proper to state, however, that I have only glanced through their works : for though no easily daunted reader, I never read an entire play either of Ford or Massinger. They repel me with the conventional tendencies of their style, and their unnatural plots and characters. Ford, however, is elegant and thoughtful; and Massinger has passion, though (as far as I know) not in a generous shape. With these two writers began that prosaical part of the corruption of dramatic style (merging passionate language into conventional) which came to its head in Shirley

Donusa. What magic hath transform'd me from myself?
Where is my virgin pride? how have I lost
My boasted freedom! what new fire burns up
My scorch'd entrails !! what unknown desires
Invade, and take possession of my soul ?

Massinger's Renegado.

Hialas.

To this union
The good of both the Church and Commonwealth
Invite you.

Durham. To this unity, a mystery
Of providence points out a greater blessing
For both these nations, than our human wisdom
Can search into. King Henry hath a daughter
The Princess Margaret. I need not urge, &c.

Ford's Perkin Warbeck.

Both these passages are the first I came to, on dipping into their works. One might fancy one'sself reading Cato or the Grecian Daughter, instead of men who had breathed the air of the days of Shakspeare.

Massinger was joint author with Decker, of the play from which the scene of the lady and the angel is taken; but nobody who knows the style of the two men can doubt for a moment to which it belongs. I have, therefore, without hesitation assigned it according to the opinion expressed by Mr. Lamb.

FLIGHT OF WITCHES.

Scene, a Field. Enter HECATE, STADLIN, HOppo, and other

Witches. FIRESTONE in the back-ground.

Hec. The moon's a gallant; see how brisk she rides !
Stad. Here's a rich evening, Hecate.
Нес. .

Ay, is 't not, wenches,
To take a journey of five thousand miles ?
Hec. .

O’t will be precious!
Heard you the owl yet ?
Stad.

Briefly in the copse,
As we came through now.
Hec. .

'T is high time for us then.
Stad. There was a bat hung at my lips three times,
As we came through the woods, and drank her fill:
Old Puckle saw her.
Hec.

You are fortunate still;
The very screech-owl lights upon your shoulder,
And woos you like a pigeon. Are you furnished ?
Have you your ointments ?

Stad.

All.
Hec.

Prepare to flight then;
I'll overtake you swiftly.
Stad.

Hie thee, Hecate;
We shall be up betimes.
Hec.

I'll reach you quickly.

[Exeunt all the Witches except HECATE. Fire. They are all going a birding to-night: they talk of fowls i'th' air that fly by day; I am sure they 'll be a company of foul sluts there to-night: if we have not mortality after't, I'll be hanged, for they are able to putrefy it, to infect a whole region. She spies me now.

Hec. What, Firestone, our sweet son ?

Fire. A little sweeter than some of you, or a dunghill were too good for me.

[Aside. Hec. How much hast here? Fire.

Nineteen, and all brave plump ones, besides six lizards and three serpentine eggs.

Hec. Dear and sweet boy! what herbs hast thou?
Fire. I have some marmartin and mandragon,
Hec. Marmaritin and mandragora, thou wouldst say.

Fire. Here 's panax too—I thank thee-my pan aches I'm sure, with kneeling down to cut 'em. Hec. .

And selago,
Hedge-hysop too: how near he goes my cuttings!
Were they all cropt by moonlight ?
Fire.

Every blade of 'em,
Or I'm a moon-calf, mother.
Hec.

Hie thee home with 'em :
Look well to the house to-night; I'm for aloft.

Fire. Aloft, quoth you? I would you would break your neck once, that I might have all quickly! (Aside] - Hark, hark, mother! they are above the steeple already, flying over your head with a noise of musicians.

Hec. They 're they indeed. Help, help me; I'm too late else.

SONG ABOVE.

Come away, come away,

Hecate, Hecate, come away.
Hec. I come, I come, I come, I come,

With all the speed may.

Where's Stadlin?
[Voice above.]

Here.
Hec. Where's Puckle ?
[Voice above.]

Here.
And Hoppo too, and Hellwain too;
We lack but you, we lack but you ;

Come away, make up the count.
Hec. I will but ’noint and then I mount.

[A spirit like a cat descends. [Voice above.] There's one comes down to fetch his dues,

A kiss, a coll, a sip of blood;
And why thou stay’st so long, I muse,

Since the air 's so sweet and good ?
Hec. 0, art thou come? what news, what news ?
Spirit. All goes still to our delight.

Either come, or else refuse.
Hec. Now I'm furnished for the fight.
Fire. Hark, hark, the cat rings a brave treble in her own
language !
Hec. (going up.] Now I go, now I fiy,

Malkin my suceet spirit and I.
O what a dainty pleasure it is

To ride in the air

When the moon shines fair,
And sing and dance, and toy and kiss !
Over woods, liigh rocks, and mountains,
Over seas, our mistress' fountains ;
Over steeples, towers, and turrets,
We fly by night, 'mongst troops of spirits :
No ring of bells to our ears sounds;