Those twins of learning that he raised in you, Acr V. Archbishop Cranmer's Prophecy of the Future Greatness of the Infant Princess, afterwards Queen Elizabeth. Let me speak, sir, For heaven now bids me; and the words I utter Upon this land a thousand thousand blessings, Shall still be doubled on her: truth shall nurse he Holy and heavenly thoughts still counsel her; She shall be lov'd and fear'd: her own shall bless her; Ipswich. Her foes shake like a field of beaten corn, And hang their heads with sorrow: good grows with her; In her days, every man shall eat in safety, Under his own vine, what he plants; and sing As great in admiration as herself, So shall she leave her blessedness to one, (When Heaven shall call her from this cloud of dark ness) Who, from the sacred ashes of her honour, Shall star-like rise, as great in fame as she was, And so stand fix'd: peace, plenty, love, truth, terror, Shall then be his, and like a vine grow to him; dren Shall see this, and bless Heaven, ·000 PERICLES, PRINCE OF TYRE. This play describes the wanderings of Pericles, Prince of Tyre, to avoid the anger of Antiochus, King of Antioch, who was seek Y ing to kill him. It has been generally conjectured, that portions only of the drama were written by Shakspere's hand. The play, however, appears in every edition of the great dramatist's works. Malone says of Pericles-"The numerous expressions bearing a similitude to passages in the undisputed plays, some of the incidents, and in various places the colour of the style, all combine to set the seal of Shakspere on the play, and furnish us with proofs that a considerable portion of it was written by him." Аст І. Sanctity of a Good Man's Word. I'll take thy word for faith, not ask thine oath ; Who shuns not to break one, will sure crack both. Description of a Prosperous City. This Tharsus, o'er which I have government, And strangers ne'er beheld, but wonder'd at; Sorrows never come singly. One sorrow never comes but brings an heir, That may succeed as his inheritor. ✓ Jet, to strut. † Trim, to dress. ACT III. Pericles' Prayer during the Storm at Sea. Thou God of this great vast,* rebuke these surges, Which wash both heaven and hell; and thou that hast Upon the winds command, bind them in brass, Having call'd them from the deep! O still thy deaf'ning, Thy dreadful thunders, gently quench thy nimble sulphurous flashes. Virtue and Knowledge superior to Nobility and Wealth. I held it ever, Virtue and cunning† were endowments greater Than nobleness and riches; careless heirs ·000· THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSor. It is generally supposed that this comedy was written at the command of Queen Elizabeth, who was so much amused at the humours of Sir John Falstaff in the historical plays, that she desired to have a representation of the fat knight in love. Shakspere is said to have written this play in fourteen days. The escapades of Falstaff occupy the most conspicuous place in it, whilst the episode of the loves of Fenton and Anne Page form a pleasing variety. Dr. Johnson says-"This comedy is remarkable for the variety and number of the personages, who exhibit more characters, appropriated and discriminated, than perhaps can be found ir any other play." *This vast extent of ocean + Knowledge. ACT III. Inequality of means and position between lovers an obstacle to marriage. He doth object, I am too great of birth; ; Besides these, other bars he lays before me,— The sincerity of Fenton's love for Anne Page. Was the first motive that I woo'd thee, Anne: That now I aim at. ACT IV. Legend of Herne the Hunter. There is an old tale goes, that Herne the hunter, Sometime a keeper here in Windsor forest, Doth all the winter time, at still midnight, Walk round about an oak, with great ragged horns; And there he blasts the tree, and takes* the cattle; And makes milch-kine yield blood, and shakes a chain In a most hideous and dreadful manner : You have heard of such a spirit; and well you know, The superstitious idle-headed eld Received, and did deliver to our age, This tale of Herne the hunter for a truth. * Strikes with disease. |