My answer must be made but I am arm'd, 45 And dangers are to me indifferent.*

Casca. You speak to Casca; and to such a man That is no fleering tell-tale. Hold, my hand: Be factious for redress of all these griefs;

And I will set this foot of mine as far

50 As who goes farthest.

Cas.

There's a bargain made.

Now know you, Casca, I have mov'd already
Some certain of the noblest-minded Romans,
To undergo with me an enterprise

55 Of honourable-dangerous consequence ;*
And I do know, by this, they stay for me
In Pompey's porch for now, this fearful night,
There is no stir, or walking in the streets;
And the complexion of the element

60 In favour's like the work we have in hand,
Most bloody, fiery, and most terrible.

From Julius Cæsar.-Shakspeare.

LVII.

THE INFLUENCE OF MUSIC.

[Lorenzo, Jessica, and Stephano are in the avenue leading to the house of Portia, at Belmont, and await Portia's return.]

Lor. SWEET Soul, let's in, and there expect their
coming.

And yet no matter :—why should we go in ?—
My friend Stephano, signify, I pray you,

Within the house, your mistress is at hand;

5 And bring your music forth into the air.[Exit Stephano. How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank! Here will we sit, and let the sounds of music Creep in our ears: soft stillness, and the night, Become the touches of sweet harmony.

10 Sit, Jessica look, how the floor of heaven

*

Is thick inlaid with patines of bright gold:

There's not the smallest orb which thou behold'st,
But in his motion like an angel sings,
Still quiring to the young-ey'd cherubims":
Such harmony is in immortal souls;
But whilst this muddy vesture of decay1
Doth grossly close it in, we cannot hear it.

Enter Musicians.

Come, ho! and wake Diana2 with a hymn: With sweetest touches pierce your mistress' ear, 20 And draw her home with music.

[Music. Jes. I am never merry when I hear sweet music. Lor. The reason is, your spirits are attentive: For do but note a wild and wanton herd, Or race of youthful and unhandled colts, 25 Fetching mad bounds, bellowing, and neighing loud, Which is the hot condition of their blood;

If they but hear perchance a trumpet sound,
Or air of music touch their ears,
any

You shall perceive them make a mutual stand,

30 Their savage eyes turn'd to a modest gaze,

By the sweet power of music; therefore the poet Did feign that Orpheuss drew trees, stones, and

floods !

*

Since nought so stockish, hard, and full of rage,

But music for the time doth change his nature. 35 The man that hath no music in himself,

Nor is not mov'd with concord of sweet sounds,
Is fit for treasons, stratagems," and spoils ;"
The motions of his spirit are dull as night,
And his affections dark as Erebus :4

40 Let no such man be trusted.

From the Merchant of Venice.Shakspeare.

LVIII.

KING JOHN AND THE DEATH OF PRINCE ARTHUR (1).

[John, King of England, had assumed kingly power on the death of his brother, Richard I., although his nephew, Arthur, was thought by many to be the rightful heir to the throne, on account of his deceased father, Geoffrey, being the elder brother of John. Philip, King of France, supported Arthur's cause, and even kept the boy and his mother at the French court. The English, at that time, held several towns in France, and Philip had declared war against England on the ground that John would not give up the English throne to Arthur. John took an army across the Channel, and a battle ensued between the English and French before the walls of Angiers, one of the towns held by England. In this battle the young prince was taken prisoner and was sent to England in care of Hubert, the King's Chamberlain. The King hinted to Hubert his desire that some evil should befall the youth, and, as it appears in a later stage of the play, gave him instructions in writing. Hubert had placed the boy in a castle, and prepared to burn out his eyes, but was at last overcome by the pleading of Arthur. Hubert

was softened he vowed never to harm the young prince. But, hiding Arthur away in a castle, he pretended to the King that the boy had been killed. By relating this wicked untruth, he pleased the King for a time. Cardinal Pandulph, on behalf of the Pope of Rome, believing the boy to have been killed by John's orders, urged the French to make fresh war on England, and stirred the English people to rebel against their King. Prince Arthur (dressed as a young sailor) made his escape from the castle by jumping from the wall, and was found dead. It was thought that the boy had been killed, and that Hubert had done the deed.]

The characters in the fourth act of the play of King John, the whole of which act is here given, are:

JOHN, King of England.

PRINCE ARTHUR, his nephew.

and other

HUBERT DE BURGH, the King's Chamberlain.
WILLIAM MARSHALL, Earl of Pembroke
WILLIAM LONGSWORD, Earl of Salisbury
ROBERT BIGOT, Earl of Norfolk.

lords.

LEWIS, Dauphin, eldest son of the King of France. PANDULPH, the Pope's Legate.*

PHILIP FAULCONBRIDGE, claiming to be a son of

Richard I.

PETER OF POMFRET, a supposed prophet.
Attendants, Messengers, &c.

ACT IV. SCENE I.-Northampton. A Room in a
Castle.

Enter Hubert and two Attendants.

Hub. HEAT me these irons hot; and look thou

stand

*

Within the arras : when I strike my foot

Upon the bosom of the ground, rush forth, And bind the boy, which1 you shall find with me, 5 Fast to the chair: be heedful: hence, and watch.

1 Attend. I hope your warrant will bear out the

deed.

Hub. Uncleanly scruples! 2 fear not you look

to 't

[Exeunt Attendants. Young lad, come forth; I have to say with you.

Enter Arthur.

Arth. Good morrow, Hubert.

10

Hub.

Good morrow, little prince.

Arth. As little prince (having so great a title To be more prince) as may be.3-You are sad. Hub. Indeed, I have been merrier.

Arth.

Mercy on me!
15 Methinks no body should be sad but I :
Yet, I remember, when I was in France,
Young gentlemen would be sad as night,
Only for wantonness. By my Christendom,*
So I were out of prison, and kept sheep,
20 I should be as merry as the day is long;
And so I would be here, but that I doubt
My uncle practises more harm to me:
He is afraid of me, and I of him :

Is it my fault that I was Geffrey's son ?
25 No, indeed, is 't not; and I would to heaven
I were your son, so you would love me, Hubert.
Hub. [Aside.] If I talk to him with his innocent

30

prate

He will awake my mercy, which lies dead :

Therefore I will be sudden, and despatch."

Arth. Are you sick, Hubert ? you look pale to-day. In sooth, I would you were a little sick,

That I might sit all night, and watch with you:
I warrant, I love you more than you

6

do me.