Thus, ever mated, never sated, they—
Nor did they bid the chime of time to haste :
Rife was their life, in short, with every sort

Of pleasure (within measure) bright, and right!
Oh! could the past but last, what flow'rs were ours!
But, ah! how far we're wrong when long we think
With joy to toy, and without pain remain !

If such our theme, the scheme's extreme-we dream!
Woman is human-so a saint she ai'nt.

Prompt me, ye powers! what now befel to tell.
MOORE the first floor possess'd-a handsome man,
But skill'd and will'd to tempt with art the heart.
A libertine prepense, in every sense,

Looser seducer ne'er had birth on earth.

Now Mrs. White, on whom Dame Spite (that fright,
That shrew of livid hue) had not yet set

Her claws, past thirty was, and passing fair,

While White was only passable, and older

But let that pass." Here's sport to court!" thought Moore: "I'm sure she's pretty, and I'm pretty sure

She's not what pot-people call over-proof.

I like her wilfully, and I will fully

Make, ere I take the least denial, trial."
Then, in his wily style, he slily plied

The glance askance, the nod, the sign malign,
The smile of guile, the hint with evil in't,

The jest well-dress'd, sly sigh, queer leer, and jeer,

The inuendo, and all else that men do

When 'tis their care and pray'r to ensnare the fair:
And ah! if ever man succeeded- he did.

Shame on the dame, and worse blame on his name!

Right on in wrong they went-their flame became
Not colder, but, as it grew older, bolder.
Impunity spoils unity of plan;

Success makes less our portion of precaution.
One day, when they had got where they ought not,
Into White's room (the tomb of his dead honour!)
He chanced to be, by them unscann'd, at hand.
The whisper this pernicious, vicious course
Did call from all, to him had pass'd at last.
Suspicion intuition brings of things:

"I'll try to spy," thought White, and took to look
First through the key-hole, just to see all visible.
Half through the hole he saw, and guess'd the rest.
Burn'd his hot brain, and turn'd he all to gall!
To't went his foot, until no more the door
Stood in his way to say a stubborn nay.
Caught he the naughty pair within their lair;
Stood they (how could they otherwise?) aghast ?
Gleam'd his wild eyes, and stream'd like fire his ire;
While their scared looks on him were bent, intent.
The words to curds seem'd wrought within his throat,
Till speech at length from strength of wrath burst forth:
"Base to my face, and black behind my back,

Here your career of vice shall meet its price!

Thinks the vile minx-? but I'll be at her, d'rat her!”’

"Oh! is it so?" said Moore, and drew close to her; I must protect, or dire may be the effect."

46

"Now Venus screen us!" sobb'd the blameful dame.
Rush'd the flush'd White, with dizzy, busy rage,
To seize his wife; the strife grew rife-a knife
Lay in the way-'twas clutch'd by White outright.
Mind what you're at, you flat," says Moore," before
You do what you may rue. You fool, you'll cool,
If time you take." Thus spake the rake-but words
Served but to rouse the spouse; and the fell tool
Sure had made Moore good food for rude, red worms,
But that the cut caught in his coat, and there
A prophylactic button stay'd the blade,

Which, slipping, on the carpet flopp'd, and stopp'd.
Shriek'd Mrs. White with fright, and snatch'd the weapon:
'Midst the amazement through the casement she
Down to the basement flung it. White, all spite,
(By fates' decree 'twas nigh the head o' the stairs),
Robb'd of his arms, bethought him of his feet.

"Wretch, for Jack Ketch to stretch too mean!" he cries,
"Scarce, for fit blow, the toe can go so low!

This, my nursed thirst of vengeance to slake, take!
This to my wrongs belongs-a sign behind!"
He said and sped his wrath in action forth.
Pat on that part his forceful foot-fall fell
Where honour, wanting a seat, is fain to dwell.
Electric kick! its jerk the "spark" shot forth,
Resistless dashing down the crashing stairs,
Headlong he went, in bathos of descent,

And, in his voyage downwards, found the "landing"
With shock that broke his chin, and eke his shin,
And rubb'd off half an ear-The buccaneer!

Soon as he felt his feet, he gain'd the street,
To shift, for his poor credit's thrift, the scene.
Floor'd in one house, he took another "floor,"
Where, ruminating with well-shaken brains,
Reduced seducer! he a prey remains

To late repentance and ulterior pains.

What of the wife? her life a blank must rank.
Ejected and dejected, she did stray,

Whither-the Muse don't choose to sigh or say!

APPLICATION.

Beware of impulse, cheating those who've lean'd on't!
Be of thyself 'gainst passion the defendant.
Virtue can hardly hurt you, in the end on't,

But vice will make you ache, you may depend on't.

G. D.

SHAKSPEARE'S HISTORICAL PLAYS CONSIDERED

HISTORICALLY.-NO. VI.*

BY THE RIGHT HON. T. P. COURTENAY.

I NOW come to the worst of the historical plays, the three parts of Henry the Sixth. It has been doubted whether Shakspeare wrote any one of these, and it was the decided opinion of Malone and Farmer, from which, however, Steevens and Johnson dissented, that he did not write, or even re-model and adopt, the first part. I will not undertake to decide between these two pairs of critics; nor indeed have I looked sufficiently into the evidence to justify a strong opinion. I am afraid that a play may contain a great deal that is bad, and still be the work of our poet; but, whether five acts of diversified writing, with scarcely one passage of eminent merit, can be Shakspeare's work, is more doubtful. I attach considerable importance to Malone's remarkt upon the dissimilar versification of this piece from that of the undoubted plays. Of this first play, the rhythm is neither appropriate nor agreeable.

On historical inaccuracies or contradictions no stress is to be laid. I am surprised that Malone, who has detected so many mistakes, should think it improbable that Shakspeare should in such matters be inconsistent with himself. As to the poet's carelessness, I do not think that Dr. Johnson overrates it.

I am afraid that the defects of the play must necessarily affect my commentary; and I really cannot find one good passage to relieve the unavoidable dulness of minute criticism.

Since, however, these plays are included in all editions of Shakspeare's works, and are read with the rest, by the youth of England, and I presume of Germany, it is equally my business to examine them, whether he wrote them or not. And let it not be supposed that I decide the question when I speak of the author as Shakspeare.

The First Part of Henry the Sixth opens with the corpse of Henry the Fifth lying in state in Westminster Abbey, surrounded by the Dukes of Bedford, Gloucester, and Exeter; the Earl of Warwick, and the Bishop of Winchester, well known as Cardinal Beaufort.§

Henry died in France on the 31st of August, 1422; and was buried in Westminster Abbey, with great pomp; and, doubtless, amidst the lamentations of his nobles and people. But Shakspeare would have done much better had he versified the panegyric of Holinshed, instead of giving such lines as these :

-

"Gloucester. England ne'er had a king until his time. Virtue he had, deserving to command;

*Continued from No. ccxiv., p. 272.

+ Bosw., xviii. 4; and 560.

The dramatis personae contains only one Earl of Warwick: but this Warwick is the Beauchamp of the former plays, (cxiii. 45); whereas he who takes a more prominent part presently is the successor, Nevil, who became Earl in 1439.

§ It can hardly be necessary to say that Henry Beaufort was one of the sons of John of Gaunt, by Catharine Swinford, legitimated (except as to the crown) by Act of parliament. Thomas, Duke of Exeter, was another; they were great uncles to the king.

His brandish'd sword did blind men with his beams;
His arms spread wider than a dragon's wings;
His sparkling eyes, replete with wrathful fire,
More dazzled and drove back his enemies,

Than mid-day sun, fierce bent against their faces."
How much better is this:-

"This Henry was a king, of life without spot; a prince whom all men loved, and of none disdained; a captain against whom fortune never frowned, nor mischance once spurned; whose people, him so severe a justicer, both loved and obeyed; and so humane withal, that he left no offence unpunished nor friendship unrewarded; a terror to rebels, and suppresser of sedition, his virtues notable, his qualities most praiseworthy.

"In strength and nimbleness of body, from his youth, few to him comparable; for in wrestling, leaping, and running, no man well able to compare. In casting of great iron bars and heavy stones, he excelled commonly all men, never shrinking at cold, nor slothful for heat, and when he most laboured, his head commonly uncovered; no more weary of harness than a light cloak; very valiantly abiding at needs both hunger and thirst; so manful of mind, as never seen to winch at a wound, or to smart at the pain, nor to turn his nose from evil savours, nor to close his eyes from smoke or dust; no man more moderate in eating or drinking, with diet not delicate, but rather more meet for men of war, than for princes, or tender stomachs. "Every honest person was permitted to come to him sitting at meal, where either secretly or openly to declare his mind. High and weighty causes as well between men of war and others he would gladly hear, and either determined them himself, or else for end committed them to others. He slept very little, but that very soundly, insomuch that when his soldiers sung at nights, or minstrels played, he then slept fastest. Of courage invincible, of purpose immutable; so wise-hardy always, as fear was banished from him: at every alarum, he first in armour and foremost in ordering. In time of war, such was his providence, bounty, and hap, as he had true intelligence not only what his enemies did but what they said and intended; of his devices and purposes, few before the thing was at the point to be done should be made privy.

"He had such knowledge in ordering and guiding an army, with such a gift to encourage his people, that the Frenchmen had constant opinion he could never be vanquished in battle. Such wit, such prudence, and such policy withal, that he never enterprised anything before he had fully debated and forecast all the main chances that might happen; which done, with all diligence and courage he set his purpose forward. What policy he had in finding present remedies for sudden mischiefs, and what engines in serving himself and his people in sharp distresses, were it not that by his acts they did plainly appear, hard were it by words to make them credible. Wantonness of lies and thirst of avarice had he quite quenched in him; virtues, indeed, in such an estate of sovereignty, youth, and power, as very rare, so right commendable in the highest degree. So staid of mind and countenance besides that, never jolly or triumphant for victory, nor sad or damped for loss or misfortune. For bountifulness and liberality no man more free, gentle and frank in bestowing rewards to all persons, according to their deserts; for his saying was, that he never desired money to keep, but to give and spend.

"Although this story properly serves not for theme of praise or dispraise, yet what in brevity may well be remembered in truth would not be forgotten by sloth, were it but only to remain as a spectacle for magnanimity to have always in eye, and to have encouragement to nobles in honourable enterprises. Known it be therefore, of person and form was this prince rightly representing his heroical affects; of stature and proportion tall and manly; rather lean than gross; somewhat long-necked, and black-haired;

of countenance amiable; eloquent and grave was his speech, and of great grace and power to persuade for conclusion, a majesty was he, that both lived and died a pattern in prince-hood, a load-star in honour, and mirror of magnificence. The more highly exalted in his life, the more deeply lamented at his death, and famous to the world alway."

This is taken from "Maister Hall," but his authority is not stated. Monstrelet, in much less detail, and more moderation, gives a similar character; as does also the contemporary Walsingham. None of these writers say anything more unfavourable of Henry than that he was "a severe justicer;" and as it is not alleged that his judgments were unjust, this is not a very heavy charge.

In this first scene we have a commencement of the bickerings between Gloucester and Cardinal Beaufort, which occupy so much of the play. The Cardinal ascribes Henry's success to the prayers of the church which he favoured; Gloucester maligns both the church and the Cardinal, who rejoins:

"Cardinal. Whate'er we are, thou art protector; And lookest to command the prince and realm. Thy wife is proud; she holdeth thee in awe,

More than God, or religious churchmen may."

A succession of messengers now enter, announcing "sad tidings out of France"-the loss of Guienne, Champagne, Rheims, and Orleans, Paris, Gisors, and Poictiers; the coronation of the dauphin (Charles the Seventh) as King of France; and lastly, the defeat and capture of Lord Talbot at the siege of Orleans; and the weak state of the army under the Earl of Salisbury.† And one of the messengers charges the losses in France upon the divisions in the English council.

"Among the soldiers this is muttered ;

That here you maintain several factions,

And whilst a field should be dispatch'd and fought,
You are disputing of your generals.

One would have lingering wars with little cost;
Another would fly swift, but wanteth wings.

A third thinks, without expense at all,

By guileful fair words peace may be maintained."

The dialogue then gives a variety of circumstances:

"Exeter. Remember, lords, your oaths to Henry sworn,
Either to quell the dauphin utterly,

Or bring him in obedience to your yoke.

Gloucester. I'll to the Tower with all the haste I can,

To view the artillery and munition,

And then I will proclaim young Henry king.

Exeter. To Eltham will I, where the young king is,

Being ordained his special governor;

And for his safety there I'll best devise.

Winchester. Each hath his place and function to attend ;

I am left out, for me nothing remains,

But long I will not be Jack-out-of-office;

The king from Eltham I intend to send,

And sit at chiefest stern of public weal."

Henry's dying injunctions, to which Exeter alludes, are properly given from Holinshed.

Hol. iii., 133.

+ Thomas de Montacute, seventh Earl.