Imatges de pàgina
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Thy triumphs tell of fame no more,
Or deepen every stain-
If thou hadst died as honor dies,
Some new Napoleon might arise,
To shame the world again—
But who would soar the solar height,
To set in such a starless night?

Weigh'd in the balance, hero dust
Is vile as vulgar clay;
Thy scales, mortality! are just
To all that pass away;
But yet methought the living great
Some higher sparks should animate

To dazzle and dismay ;

Nor deem'd contempt could thus make mirth
Of these, the conquerors of the earth.

And she, proud Austria's mournful flower,
Thy still imperial bride;

How bears her breast the torturing hour?
Still clings she to thy side?

Must she too bend, must she too share
Thy late repentance, long despair,
Thou throneless homicide?

If still she loves thee, hoard that gem,
'Tis worth thy vanish'd diadem!

Then haste thee to thy sullen isle,
And gaze upon the sea;
That element may meet thy smile,
It ne'er was ruled by thee!
Or trace with thine all idle hand,
In loitering mood upon the sand,
That earth is now as free!
That Corinth's pedagogue hath now
Transferred his bye-word to thy brow.*

* These lines probably refer to the salutation which Diogenes gave to Dionysius, the tyrant, when he first saw him,-"How little dost thou deserve to live."

CLXII.-DESCRIPTION OF A FINICAL COURTIER.*

Extract from Shakspeare. King Henry IV.-Act 1-Scene 3.

My liege, I did deny no prisoners.

But, I remember, when the fight was done,
When I was dry with rage, and extreme toil,
Breathless and faint, leaning upon my sword,
Came there a certain lord, neat, trimly dress'd,
Fresh as a bridegroom; and his chin, new reap'd,
Show'd like a stubble-land at harvest-home ;t
He was perfumed like a milliner;

And 'twixt his finger and his thumb he held
A pouncet-box,‡ which ever and anon
He gave his nose, and took't away again ;-
Who, therewith angry, when it next came there,
Took it in snuff;§-and still he smil'd, and talk'd,
And, as the soldiers bore dead bodies by,
He call'd them-untaught knaves, unmannerly,
To bring a slovenly unhandsome corse
Betwixt the wind and his nobility.
With many holiday and lady terms

He question'd me; among the rest demanded
My prisoners, in your majesty's behalf.

I then, all smarting, with my wounds being cold,
To be so pester'd with a popinjay,||

Out of my grief and my impatience,

Answer'd neglectingly, I know not what ;

He should, or he should not ;-for he made me mad,
To see him shine so brisk, and smell so sweet,
And talk so like a waiting gentle-woman,

Of guns, and drums, and wounds,

And telling me, the sovereign'st thing on earth

This is the speech of Hotspur to King Henry, who had sent for

the prisoners that had been taken in battle.

That is, his chin looked like a field of grain just reaped.

A pouncet-box, a small box for perfumes.

Snuff is ambiguously used either for anger, or for a powder taken up the nose.

A popinjay, a parrot.

Grief here means pain.

Was parmaceti,* for an inward bruise;
And that it was great pity, so it was,
That villanous salt-petre should be digg'd
Out of the bowels of the harmless earth,
Which many a good tall† fellow had destroy'd
So cowardly; and, but for these vile guns,
He would himself have been a soldier.
This bald unjointed chat of his, my lord,
I answer'd indirectly, as I said;
And, I beseech you, let not his report
Come current for an accusation,
Betwixt my love and your high majesty.

CLXIII.-SIR ANTHONY AND ABSOLUTE.

From the Comedy of the Rivals, by R. B. Sheridan.-Act 2..

Abs. I am delighted to see you here, and looking so wellyour sudden arrival at Bath made me apprehensive for your health.

Sir Anth. Very apprehensive, I dare say, Jack. What, you are recruiting here, hay?

Abs. Yes, sir, I am on duty.

Sir Anth. Well, Jack, I am glad to see you, though I did not expect it; for I was going to write to you on a little matter of business. Jack, I have been considering that I grow old and infirm, and shall probably not trouble you long.

Abs. Pardon me, sir, I never saw you look more strong and hearty; and I pray, fervently, that you may continue so. Sir Anth. I hope your prayers may be heard, with all my heart. Well, then, Jack, I have been considering that I am so strong and hearty, I may continue to plague you a long time. Now, Jack, I am sensible that the income of your commission, and what I have hitherto allowed you, is but a small pittance for a lad of your spirit.

Abs. Sir, you are very good.

Sir Anth. And it is my wish, while yet I live, to have my

*Parmaceti, for spermaceti. + Tall, brave.

boy make some figure in the world. I have resolved, there. fore, to fix you at once in a noble independence.

Abs. Sir, your kindness overpowers me-such generosity makes the gratitude of reason more lively than the sensations even of filial affection.

Sir Anth. I am glad you are so sensible of my attention and you shall be master of a large estate in a few weeks.

Abs. Let my future life, sir, speak my gratitude: I cannot express the sense I have of your munificence.-Yet, sir, I presume you would not wish me to quit the army? Sir Anth. O, that shall be as your wife chooses. Abs. My wife, sir!-(in great astonishment.)

Sir Anth. Ay, ay, settle that between you-settle that between you!

Abs. A wife, sir, did you say?

Sir Anth. Ay, a wife-why, did I not mention her before?

Abs. Not a word of her, sir.

Sir Anth.

Odd so I mustn't forget her though-Yes, Jack, the independence I was talking of is by a marriagethe fortune is saddled with a wife; but I suppose that makes no difference.

Abs. Sir, sir! you amaze me !

Sir Anth. Why, what the devil's the matter with the fool! just now you were all gratitude and duty.

Abs. I was, sir-you talked to me of independence and a fortune; but not a word of a wife.

Sir Anth. Why, what difference does that make? odd's life, sir, if you have the estate, you must take it with the live stock on it as it stands.

Abs. If my happiness is to be the price, I must beg leave to decline the purchase. Pray, sir, who is the lady?

Sir Anth. What's that to you, sir?-come, give me your promise to love and to marry her directly.

Abs. Sure, sir, this is not very reasonable, to summon my affections for a lady I know nothing of!

Sir Anth. I am sure, sir, 'tis more unreasonable in you to object to a lady you know nothing of.

Abs. Then, sir, I must tell you plainly, that my inclinations are fixt on another-my heart is engaged to an angel.

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Sir Anth. Then pray let it send an excuse.- -It is very sorry-but business prevents its waiting on her.

Abs. But my vows are pledged to her.

Sir Anth. Let her foreclose, Jack; let her foreclose; they are not worth redeeming; besides, you have the angel's vows in exchange, I suppose, so there can be no loss there.

Abs. You must excuse me, sir, if I tell you, once for all, that in this point I cannot obey you.

Sir Anth. Hark'ee, Jack; I have heard you for some time with patience-(growing angry)-I have been coolquite cool; but take care; you know I am compliance itself, when I am not thwarted; no one more easily led, when I have my own way; but don't put me in a frenzy.

Abs. Sir, I must repeat it—in this I cannot obey you.

Sir Anth. Zounds! if ever I call you Jack again while I live! (growing more angry.)

Abs. Nay, sir, but hear me.

Sir Anth. Sir, I wont hear a word-not a word-not one word; so give me your promise by a nod, and I'll tell you what, Jack-I mean, you dog-if you don't, by—

Abs. What, sir, promise to link myself to some mass of ugliness! to

Sir Anth. Zounds! sirrah?, the lady shall be as ugly as I choose she shall have a hump on each shoulder; she shall be as crooked as the crescent; her one eye shall roll like the bull's in Cox's museum; she shall have a skin like a mummy, and the beard of a Jew; she shall be all this, sirrah; yet I'll make you ogle her all day, and sit up all night, to write sonnets on her beauty.

Abs. This is reason and moderation, indeed!

Sir Anth. None of your sneering, puppy! no grinning, jackanapes.

Abs. Indeed, sir, I never was in a worse humor for mirth in my life.

Sir Anth. 'Tis false, sir; I know you are laughing in your sleeve: I know you'll grin when I am gone, sirrah!

Abs. I hope I know my duty better.

Sir Anth. None of your passion, sir! none of your violence, if you please. It won't do with me, I promise you. Abs. Indeed, sir, I never was cooler in my life.

Sir Anth. "Tis a confounded lie! I know you are in a

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