with bootless labour swim against the tide, and spend her strength with over-matching waves. W. SHAKESPEARE 867 CASSIUS-BRUTUS RGE me no more, I shall forget myself; Cas. URGE have mind upon your health, tempt me no further. Bru. Away, slight man! Cas. Is't possible? Bru. Hear me, for I will speak. Must I give way and room to your rash choler? Cas. O ye gods! ye gods! must I endure all this? and make your bondmen tremble. Must I budge? Cas. Is it come to this? Bru. You say, you are a better soldier: let it appear so; make your vaunting true, and it shall please me well: for mine own part, 868 Cas. Come, Antony, and young Octavius, come, for Cassius is a-weary of the world: hated by one he loves; brav'd by his brother; Bru. 869 when thou didst hate him worst, thou lov❜dst him better than ever thou lov'dst Cassius. Sheath your dagger: be angry when you will, it shall have scope; do what you will, dishonour shall be humour. O Cassius, you are yokéd with a lamb that carries anger as the flint bears fire; who, much enforcéd, shows a hasty spark, and straight is cold again. W. SHAKESPEARE REPROOF TO A FLATTERING COURTIER ᎠᏎ AREST thou mention affection, or a heart, that ne'er hadst any? dost draw a cloud of words before his eyes, dare go the straightest way which still's the shortest, of him thou flatterest. 870 J. FLETCHER THE DEATH OF THE DUKE OF YORK SUFFOL DUKE OF EXETER UFFOLK first died: and York, all haggled over, comes to him, where in gore he lay insteeped, and cries aloud, Tarry, dear cousin Suffolk! Upon these words I came and cheered him up: So did he turn, and over Suffolk's neck He threw his wounded arm and kissed his lips, The pretty and sweet manner of it forced Those waters from me which I would have stopped; And all my mother came into mine eyes, W. SHAKESPEARE 871 KING HENRY V—ARCHBISHop of canterbURY— K. H. W EARL OF WESTMORELAND E must not only arm to invade the French, but lay down our proportions to defend against the Scots who will make road upon us with all advantage. Cant. They of those marches, gracious sovereign, shall be a wall sufficient to defend our island from the pilfering borderers. K. H. We do not mean the coursing snatchers only, but fear the main intendment of the Scot, who hath been still a giddy neighbour to us; for you shall read that my great-grandfather never went with his forces into France, but that the Scot on his unfurnished kingdom came pouring, like the tide into a breach, with ample and brim fulness of his force; galling the gleanéd land with hot assays, girding with grievous siege castles and towns; that England, being empty of defence, hath shook and trembled at the ill neighbourhood. Cant. She hath been then more feared than harmed, my liege. W. But there's a saying very old and true- W. SHAKESPEARE 872 ARCHBISHop of CanterbURY AND BISHop of Cant. Ely. 873 ELY TO KING HENRY V GRACIOUS Lord, stand for your own: unwind your bloody flag; look back unto your mighty ancestors: go, my dread lord, to your great-grandsire's tomb, O noble English, that could entertain with half their forces the full pride of France; W. SHAKESPEARE DIVERS PROVIDENCES HAD we no winter, summer would be thought not half so pleasing: and, if tempests were not, such comforts could not by a calm be brought; for things save by their opposites appear not, both health and wealth is tasteless unto some, and so is ease and every other pleasure; till poor or sick or grievéd they become; and then they relish these in ampler measure. God, therefore, full as kind, as He is wise, and make His chastisements less bitter to us. the flowers and blossoms of our hopes away, which into scarcity our plenty turns, and changeth new-mown grass to parchéd hay; anon His fruitful showers and pleasing dews, commixed with cheerful rays, He sendeth down; and then the barren earth her crop renews, which with rich harvests hills and valleys crown; for as, to relish joys, He sorrow sends, so comfort on temptation still attends. G. WITHER 874 THE COUNTESS TERTSKY TO HER NIECE THEKLA, PRINCESS OF FRIEDLAND, WHO IS IN LOVE WITH 'HOU seest it with a lovelorn maiden's eyes. Coun. Th Cast thine eye round, bethink thee who thou art. Into no house of joyance hast thou stepped, for no espousals dost thou find the walls deck'd out, no guests the nuptial garland wearing. Here is no splendour but of arms. Or think'st thou that all these thousands are here congregated to lead up the long dances at thy wedding? Thou seest thy father's forehead full of thought, thy mother's eye in tears: upon the balance lies the great destiny of all our house. Leave now the puny wish, the girlish feeling, O thrust it far behind thee! Give thou proof, thou'rt the daughter of the Mighty-his who where he moves creates the wonderful. Not to herself the woman must belong, annexed and bound to alien destinies. But she performs the best part, she the wisest, meet and disarm necessity by choice, and what must be, take freely to her heart, |