Maid. The strangeliest that ever you heard; for all things were agreed, the very writings drawn, and when he came to seal them, because he set his name without using a pair of spectacles, she would never see him more.

Justice. Nay, if she could love an old man so well—

[Act iii., Sc. 3.1]

The Waiting Maid places the Justice, where he can overhear a sham discourse of the Lady with a pretended Brother.

Brother. What is the matter, Sister? 2 you do not use to be so strange to me.

Lady. I do not indeed; but now methinks I cannot conceal any thing; yet I could wish you could now guess my thoughts, and look into my mind; and see what strange passions have ruled there of late, without forcing me to strain my modesty.

Broth. What, are you in love with anybody? Come, let me know the party; a brother's advice may do you no harm.3

Sist. Did you not see an ancient gentleman with me, when you came in?

Broth. What, is it any son or kinsman of his ?

Broth. Who then?

Sist. I have told you—

Broth. What, that feeble and decrepit piece of age

Sist. Nay, brother

Broth. That sad effect of some threescore years and ten-that antic relique of the last century

Sist. Alas, dear brother, it is but too true.

Broth. It is impossible.

Sist. One would think so indeed.

Broth. I grant, you may bear a reverence and regard, as to your father's ashes, or your grandsire's tomb.5

Sist. Alas, brother, you know I never did affect those vain though pleasing braveries of youth, but still have set my mind on the more noble part of man, which age doth more refine and elaborate, than it doth depress and sink this same contemptible clod.

Justice. I see, she loves me."

[Edition of 1656.]

3[Three lines omitted. "[Seven lines omitted.]

[Act iii., Sc. 4.]

"["Come let me be partaker of whatever troubles you."] "Harm" should be "hurt".] [Three lines omitted.]

"The Scene is continued, the Justice (a listener) really exclaims, "Is it possible that she should so love me," etc.] [See "Serious Fragments," page 576.]

HEY FOR HONESTY. A COMEDY [PUBLISHED 1651]. BY THOMAS RANDOLPH [1605-1635]

To Plutus.

Did not Will Summers break his wind for thee?
And Shakespeare therefore writ his comedy?
All things acknowledge thy vast power divine,
Great God of Money, whose most powerful shine
Gives motion, life; day rises from thy sight,
Thy setting though at noon makes pitchy night.
Sole catholic cause of what we feel and see,
All in this all are but the effects of thee.

[Act i., Sc. 1.1]

Riches above Poverty; a syllogism.

-My major, That which is most noble, is most honorable.3 But Poverty is more noble. My minor I prove thus. Whose houses are most ancient, those are most noble. But Poverty's houses are most ancient; for some of them are so old, like Vicarage houses, they are every hour in danger of falling.

[Act ii., Sc. 5.] Stationer's Preface before the Play.

Reader, this is a pleasant Comedy, though some may judge it satirical, 'tis the more like Aristophanes, the father; besides, if it be biting, 'tis a biting age we live in; then biting for biting. Again, Tom Randal, the adopted son of Ben Jonson, being the Translator hereof, followed his father's steps. They both of them loved Sack, and harmless mirth, and here they shew it; and I, that know myself, am not averse from it neither. This I thought good to acquaint thee with. Farewell. Thine, F. J.

THE EXAMPLE. A TRAGI-COMEDY [PUBLISHED 1637 : LICENSED 1634]. BY J. SHIRLEY

The humour of a wary Knight, who sleeps all day, and wakes all night, for security.—He calls up his Household at midnight.

Plot. Dormant, why Dormant, thou eternal sleeper! Who would be troubled with these lethargies

About him? are you come, dreamer?

1 [Works, ed. Hazlitt, 1875, vol. ii., p. 397.] [Should be "preferable ".]

2[This is an interpolation.]

"["Dormant."]

[For further extracts from Randolph see pp. 582, 583.]

Dormant (entering). Would I were so happy.

There's less

noise in a steeple upon a Coronation-day. O sleep, sleep, tho' it were a dead one, would be comfortable. Your Worship might

be pleased to let my fellow Old-rat watch as well as I.

Plot. Old-rat! that fellow is a drone.

Dorm. He has slept this half hour on the iron chest. Would I were in my grave to take a nap; death would do me a courtesy ; I should be at rest, and hear no noise of "Dormant."

Plot. Ha! what's the matter?

Dorm. Nothing but a yawn, Sir, I do all I can to keep myself waking.

Plot. 'Tis done considerately. This heavy dullness—

Is the disease of souls. Sleep in the night?

Dorm. Shall I wake my fellow Old-rat? he is refreshed.

(Exit.)

Plot. Do; but return you with him: I have business for both.
Dorm. To hear us join in opinion of what's a clock !
They talk of Endymion: now could I sleep three lives.
Plot. When other men measure the hours with sleep,
Careless of where they are and whom they trust,
Exposing their condition to danger

Of plots, I wake and wisely think prevention.
Night was not made to snore in; but so calm,
For our imaginations to be stirring

About the world; this subtle world, this world

Of plots and close conspiracy. There is

No faith in man nor woman.

Where's this Dormant?

Dorm. (re-entering with Old-rat). Here is the sleepy vermin.1 Old. It has been day this two hours.

Plot. Then 'tis time for me to go to bed.

Dorm. Would my hour were once come!

Plot. Keep out daylight, and set up a fresh taper.

Dorm. By that time we have dined, he will have slept out his

first sleep.

Old. And after supper call for his breakfast.

Plot. You are sure 'tis morning?

Dorm. As sure as I am sleepy.

[Eleven lines omitted.]

[Act i., Sc. 1.2]

2[Shirley's Works, vol. iii. For other extracts from Shirley see note to page 393.]

LOVE'S DOMINION. A DRAMATIC PASTORAL [PUBLISHED 1654]. BY RICHARD FLECKNOE [DIED 1678 ?]1

Invocation to Silence.

Still-born Silence, thou that art

Floodgate of the deeper heart;
Offspring of a heavenly kind;

Frost o' th' mouth and thaw o' th' mind;
Secrecy's Confident, and he

That makes religion Mystery;
Admiration's speaking'st tongue,—
Leave thy desart shades, among
Reverend Hermits' hallowed cells,
Where retir'd'st Devotion dwells:
With thy Enthusiasms come;

Seize this Maid, and strike her dumb.

Fable.

[Act ii., Sc. 6.2]

Love and Death o' th' way once meeting,
Having past a friendly greeting,
Sleep their weary eye-lids closing,
Lay them down, themselves reposing;
When this fortune did befall 'em,
Which after did so much appal 'em ;
Love, whom divers cares molested,
Could not sleep; but, whilst Death rested,
All away in haste he posts him:
But his haste full dearly costs him;
For it chanced, that, going to sleeping,
Both had giv'n their darts in keeping
Unto Night; who (Error's Mother)
Blindly knowing not th' one from th' other,
Gave Love Death's, and ne'er perceiv'd it,
Whilst as blindly Love receiv'd it:
Since which time, the darts confounding,
Love now kills, instead of wounding;
Death, our hearts with sweetness filling,
Gently wounds, instead of killing.

[Act iv., Sc. 4.]

[Also entitled "Love's Kingdom, A Pastoral Tragi-comedy," see ed. of 1674.]

[Edition of 1654.]

ANDRONICUS. A TRAGEDY [PUBLISHED 1661]. BY
PHILONAX LOVEKIN [AUTHOR UNKNOWN]
Effect of Religious Structures on different minds.
Crato. I grieve the chapel was defaced: 'twas stately.
Cleobulus. I love no such triumphant Churches-
They scatter my devotion; whilst my sight

Is courted to observe their sumptuous cost,
I find my heart lost in my eyes;

Whilst that a holy horror seems to dwell
Within a dark obscure and humble cell.

Crato. But I love Churches, mount up to the skies,
For my devotion rises with their roof:
Therein my soul doth heav'n anticipate.

Song for Sleep.

[Act v., Sc. 6.2]

Come, Somnus, with thy potent charms,
And seize this Captive in thy arms;
And sweetly drop on every sense
Thy soul-refreshing influence.

His sight, smell, hearing, touch, and taste,
Unto the peace do thou bind fast.

On working brains, at school all day,

At night thou dost bestow a play,

And troubled minds thou dost set free;

Thou mak'st both friends and foes agree:
All are alike, who live by breath,

In thee, and in thy brother Death.

[Act v., Sc. 7.]

A

[THE COMICAL HISTORY OF] DON QUIXOTE. COMEDY, IN THREE PARTS [PUBLISHED 1694-6]. BY THOMAS D'URFEY [1653-1723]

Dirge, at the hearse of Chrysostom.

Sleep, poor Youth, sleep in peace,
Relieved from love and mortal care;
Whilst we, that pine in life's disease,
Uncertain-bless'd, less happy are.

["I grieve more that the chapel was defaced."]

2[Edition of 1661.]