Cor. We are not the first, As if we were Heaven's spies: And we'll wear out, Edm. Take them away. Lear. Upon such sacrifices, my Cordelia, The gods themselves throw incense. Have I caught thee? And fire us hence, like foxes. Wipe thine eyes; They shall not make us weep: we'll see them starve first. Come. [Exeunt LEAR, and CORDELIA, guarded. Lear and his daughter are conveyed to Prison, and orders are given by Albany to hang Cordelia. Punishment now overtakes the guilty Regan and Goneril. In pursuing thei. nlawful love towards Edmund, Regan, through jealousy, poisons her sister, and then dies by her own hand. Edmund receives the reward of his crimes from Edgar, who challenges him to single combat and slays him. Gloster is reconciled to his son, and the Play ends with the death of Lear. SCENE.-A Prison. Enter LEAR, with CORDELIA dead in his arms; EDGAR, Officer, and others. Lear. Howl, howl, howl, howl!-, you are men of stones; That heaven's vault should crack:-0, she is gone før ever!— She's dead as earth :-Lend me a looking-glass; If that her breath will mist or stain the stone, Kent. Is this the promis'd end? Edg. Or image of that horror? Lear. This feather stirs ; she lives! if it be so, It is a chance that does redeem all sorrows That ever I have felt. Kent. my good master! [Kneeling. Lear. Pr'ythee, away. Edg. 'Tis noble Kent, your friend. What is't thou say'st ?-Her voice was ever soft, Off. 'Tis true, my lords, he did. Lear. Did I not, fellow? I have seen the day, with my good biting falchion Lear. This is a dull sight: Are you not Kent? Lear. He's a good fellow, I can tell you that; Lear. I'll see that straight. Kent. That, from your first of difference and decay, Have follow'd your sad steps. Lear. You are welcome hither. Kent. Nor no man else; all's cheerless, dark, and dead.y.— Your eldest daughters have fore-doom'd themselves, And desperately are dead. Lear. And my poor fool is hang'd! No, no, no life: Why should a dog, a horse, a rat, have life, And thou no breath at all? O, thou wilt come no more. Never, never, never, never, never!— Pray you, undo this button: Thank you, sir.— Do you see this? Look on her,-look,-her lips,- [He dies. MIDSUMMER-NIGHT'S DREAM. This Play is considered by the critics to have "all the merit of entire originality of plot and incident." The traditions of all Europe and the East, furnished the leading dea of fairy character, while classical and mythological history has been drawn upon for he heroical personages. Our selections from this brilliant poetical composition, are confined to the action of the Drama, as connected with the "princely loves" of Theseus and Hippolyta, and the Athenian Lovers. The humorous under-plots we are unwillingly compelled to omit from want of space. HIPPOLYTA, Queen of the Amazons, betrothed to Theseus. HELENA, in love with Demetrius. OBERON, king of the fairies. TITANIA, queen of the fairies. PUCK, or Robin-goodfellow, a fairy. PEAS-BLOSSOM, COBWEB, MOTH, MUSTARD-SEED, fairies. Pyramus, Thisbe, Wall, Moonshine, Lion, characters in the In terlude performed by the Clowns. Other Fairies attending their King and Queen. Attendants on Theseus and Hippolyta. SCENE, ATHENS, and a Wood not far from it. ACT I. SCENE I.—Athens. A Room in the Palace of Theseus. Enter THESEUS, HIPPOLYTA, PHILOSTRATE, and Attendants. The. Now, fair Hippolyta, our nuptial hour Draws on apace; four happy days bring in Another moon; but, oh, methinks, how slow This old moon wanes! she lingers my desires, Like to a step-dame, or a dowager, Long withering out a young man's revenue. Hip. Four days will quickly steep themselves in nights; Four nights will quickly dream away the time; And then the moon, like to a silver bow Now bent in heaven, shall behold the night Of our solemnities. The. Go, Philostrate, Stir up the Athenian youth to merriments; With pomp, with triumph, and with revelling. | Exit PHILOSTRATE. Enter EGEUS, HERMIA, LYSANDER, and DEMETRIUS. Ege. Happy be Theseus, our renowned duke! The. Thanks, good Egeus: What's the news with thee? Consent to marry with Demetrius, Го The. What say you, Hermia? be advis'd, fair maid: you your father should be as a god; One that compos'd your beauties; yea, and one To whom you are but as a form in wax, The. In himself he is: But, in this kind, wanting your father's voice, The other must be held the worthier. Her. I would, my father look'd but with my eyes. The. Rather your eyes must with his judgment look. I know not by what power I am made bold; In such a presence here to plead my thoughts: The. Either to die the death, or to abjure Therefore, fair Hermia, question your desires, For aye to be in shady cloister mew'd, Chanting faint hymns to the cold fruitless moon. Her. So will I grow, so live, so die, my lord. |