pire who shall peruse "BLIGHTED AMBITION" will judge for themselves; and as we are writing neither the puff direct, nor oblique, we may be allowed now to put an end to our advertisement, and permit the reader to seize the passing hour, which, like the wave, never returns again.

With respect to the characters who make a figure in this "Romance," except one female, they are all historical, even to the very serving-men and women, and shone with various degrees of splendour, as good substantial courtiers in the reign of the First

James of England. The follies of the fools of that period were never yet painted in truer colours, than their prototypes wore; and the crimes and vices of the knaves and villains who surrounded the Prince have never been represented in stronger language than by their illustrious contemporaries, Coke, Bacon, Shakespeare, Ben Jonson, and the neglected but veracious Rushworth.

Shrove-Tuesday,

1822.

BLIGHTED AMBITION,

&c.

CHAPTER I.

O polish'd perturbation! golden care!
That keeps the ports of slumber open wide
To many a watchful night: sleep with it now!
Yet not so sound, nor half so deeply sweet,
As he, whose brow with homely biggen bound,
Snores out the watch of night. O Majesty!
When thou dost pinch thy bearer, thou dost sit
Like a rich armour, worn in heat of day,
That scalds with safety.

SECOND PART OF HENRY IV.

TRADITION records that an Ambassador of Henry the Seventh consulted a prophetic monk of Italy, to know how long the crown, acquired by his master in the battle of Bosworth Field, should continue in the family. The seer replied by repeating these enigmatical words, Mars,