riches, and knowing this her humour, had almost got her, by counterfeiting himself to be an old man. Justice. And how came he to miss her? Maid. The strangliest 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 can love an old man so-wellThe 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? 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. [From the "Example," a Tragi-Comedy, by Jas. Shirley, 1638.] 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? 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. Hah! 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 dulness Is the disease of souls. Sleep in the night! Dorm. Shall I wake my fellow Old-rat? he is re freshed. Plot. Do; but return you with him: I have business with both Dorm. To hear us join in opinion of what's a clock ! They talk of Endymion: now could I sleep three lives. (exit.) Plot. When other men measure the hours with sleep, Careless of where they are and whom they trust, [From "Hey for Honesty," a Comedy, Exposing their condition to danger by T. Randolph, 1651.] To Plutus. Did not Will Summers break his wind for thee? Riches above Poverty; a syllogism. -My major, That which is most noble, is most honorable. 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. Of plots, I wake and wisely think prevention. About the world; this subtle world, this world No faith in man nor woman. Where's this Dormant ? vermin. 39. Tiberius was smothered with pillows, at the instigation of Macro, the 235. friend of Caligula. 238. 42. Caligula was stabbed by Cherea and other conspirators, when retiring from the celebration of the Pala- 238. tine games. 55. Claudius was poisoned by the artifice of his wife Aggrippina. 69. Nero in the midst of a general revolt was condemned to death by the senate. Upon hearing of which he killed himself with a dagger. 69. Sergius Galba conspired against by Otho, by whose partisans he was beheaded. 243. 248. 251. 253. 70. Otho destroyed himself, to avoid further contest with his competitor 259. Vitellius. Heliogabalus was murdered by the soldiers, who threw his dead body into the Tiber. Alexander was beheaded by the sol diers. Maximin was murdered by his own guards. Maximus and Balbinus, joint empe rors, were both murdered by the prætorian guards. Gordian was murdered by order of Philip, whom he had associated with him in the command of the empire. Philip was murdered by the soldiers. Decius destroyed himself, after having been defeated by the Goths. Gallus was slain in battle, with his competitor Emilianus. Valerian was taken prisoner by Sapor, king of Persia, who caused him to be cruelly murdered. Galienus was slain by his own sol diers. 270. CLAUDIUS died a natural death. 275. Aurelian was murdered by Menesthus and other conspirators. 275. TACITUS died a natural death. 282. Probus was murdered by his soldiers. 284. Carus and his sons, Carinus and Numerian, joint emperors. The father was struck dead by lightning, and both his sons were murdered. 304. Dioclesian and Maximian, joint emperors. Dioclesian resigned the empire, and died either by poison or madness. Maximian also resigned, but was afterwards condemned to death by Constantine. 306. CONSTANTIUS and (joint emperors, 311. GALERIUS, both died a natural death. 343. CONSTANTINE the Great died a natural death. Where did these events occur? Among the savage tribes of interior Africa, or the rude barbarians of modern Europe? No: but in Rome-imperial Rome-in her "high and palmy state," when she was mistress of the world, and held within her dominion all the science and literature of which the earth conld boast. Surely we may with reason doubt, whether the moral improvement of mankind invariably keeps pace with their intellectual advancement." O. Z. ILL-FATED ROYAL FAMILIES. THE LINE OF CHARLEMAGNE, The successors of Charlemagne in his French dominions, were examples of a melancholy destiny. His son, Louis le Debonnaire, died for want of food, in consequence of a superstitious panic. His successor, Charles the Bald, was poisoned by his physician. The son of Charles, Louis the Stutterer, fell also by poison. Charles, king of Aquitaine, brother to Louis, was fatally wounded in the head by a lord, named Álbuin, whom he was endeavouring, by way of frolic, to terrify, in disguise. Louis III., successor to Louis the Stutterer, riding through the streets of Tours, pursued the handsome daughter of a citizen named Germond, till the terrified girl took refuge in a house; and the king, thinking more of her charms than of the size of the gateway, attempting to force his horse after her, broke his back, and died. His successor, Carloman, fell by an illdirected spear, thrown, by his own servant, at a wild boar. Charles the Fat perished of want, grief, and poison, all together. His successor, Charles the Simple, died in prison of penury and despair. Louis the Stranger, who succeeded him, was bruised to death as he was hunting. Lotharius and Louis V., the two last kings of the race of Charlemagne, were both poisoned by their wives. After a revolution of two hundred and thirty years, there remained of the whole line of Charlemagne, only Charles, duke of Lorrain; and he, after ineffectually struggling in defence of his rights against Hugh Capet, sunk beneath the fortune of his antagonist, and ended his life and race in solitary confinement. The French historians observe, that the epithets given to the princes of the line of Charlemagne, were, almost all, expressive of the contemptuous light in which that family was held by the people over whom it reigned. THE STUARTS. The royal line of Stuart was as steadily unfortunate as any ever recorded in history. Their misfortunes continued with unabated succession, during three hundred and ninety years. Robert III. broke his heart, because his eldest son Robert was starved to death, and his youngest, James, was made a captive. James I., after having beheaded three of his nearest kinded, was assassinated by his own uncle, who was tortured to death for it. James II. was slain by the bursting of a piece of ordnance. James III., when flying from the field of battle, was thrown from his horse, and murdered in a cottage, into which he had been carried for assistance. James IV. fell in Flodden field. James V. died of grief for the wilful ruin of his army at Solway Moss. Henry Stuart, lord Darnley, was assassinated, and then blown up in his palace. Mary Stuart was beheaded in England. James I. (and VI. of Scotland) died, not without suspicion of being poisoned by lord Buckingham. Charles I. was beheaded at Whitehall. Charles II, was exiléd for many years; and when he ascended the throne became I'm no foeman, no Scot, in sooth now to say, Who hath not heard De Mowbray's song ? • Tynemouth castle and priory, which stand together on a bleak promontory. O sweet and wild is the harper's strain, "O what is sweeter and softer than thou "What is more sweet in the leafy grove "Than the nightingale's plaintive song of love? "And what is more gay than the lark of spring, "As he carrols lightly on heaven-bent wing? "O yes, more sweet and more gay is she, "The dark-eyed Maiden of the Sea. "Her raven-tresses in ringlets flow, "Her step is more light than the forest doe, "Her dark eyes shine 'neath their silken lash, "Like the bright but lambent lightning flash "Of a summer eve, as noiseless it plays "Midst a million stars of yet softer rays. "The beauteous Eltha's evening song "Is wafted o'er the swelling wave, "And it catches the ear, as it steals along, "Of wondering seamen, while billows lave "In gentle murmurs his vessel's prow, "As he voyages to where the cedars grow. "A shallop is riding upon the sea, "With her broad sail furl'd to the mast; "A pennon brave floats fair and free "On the breeze, as it whispers past: "And who is that stranger of lofty mien "He has heard the beauteous Eltha's notes "His gentlesse show'd him of noble race, "Tho' roaming on billows wide :"But fair skims the breeze o'er the placid sea, "And the stranger must hie to a far countrie. "Dark Eltha still sings but her song is slow, "And the west wind catches its mournful flow; "The mariners wonder the changed lay, "As their slothful barks calm lingering stay: "The songstress' cheek is wan and pale, "And her tresses neglected float on the gale; "The sea flower is thrown on its rocky bed, "The once gay Eltha's peace is fled, "The eye of the Maiden is dark and bright, "But it rivals no more the diamond's light. "On many a whiten'd sail hast thou gaz'd, "Till the lazy breeze bore it on, "But they pass, and thy weary eyes are glaz'd, "On yon tall cliff to whose broken base "Tis Eltha's form, that with eager glance, "Scans the wide world of waves, as they dance, "And what is yon distant speck on the sea, "Waves in the sun's bright gleam? "A bark is driven with rapid sail, "But O with rapid, fiend-like, haste, "Of the waves dashing fierce on the trembling shore, "Ten thousand eddying billows recede, "And boom o'er the cliff where Eltha's form "And on his cold breast, near his heart, is display'd "A golden gift of the dark-ey'd maid. "The lovely Eltha's smiles are fled, "And she wildly looks o'er the ocean-bed "With sunken glance and a pale, pale cheek, "And her once bounding step is slow and weak; "On the wave she launches the blue sea-shell "Which swims for a moment then sinks in the swell; "And wilder'd she bends o'er the chrystal billow As it eddying whirls to its coral pillow: "She fancys a faëry bark is sped "To bring her cold love from the land of the dead; De Mowbray's soft harp ceas'd the mournful strain |