King Richard III. continued.]

I,that am rudely stamp'd and want love's majesty
To strut before a wanton ambling nymph;
I, that am curtail'd of this fair proportion,
Cheated of feature by dissembling nature,
Deform'd, unfinish'd, sent before my time
Into this breathing world, scarce half made up,
And that so lamely and unfashionable
That dogs bark at me as I halt by them,
Why, I, in this weak piping time of peace,
Have no delight to pass away the time,
Unless to see my shadow in the sun.

Act i. Sc. 1.

To leave this keen encounter of our wits.

Act i. Sc. 2.

Was ever woman in this humour woo'd?
Was ever woman in this humour won?

Framed in the prodigality of nature.

Ibid.

Ibid.

The world is grown so bad

That wrens make prey where eagles dare not

perch.

And thus I clothe my naked villany

Act i. Sc. 3.

With old odd ends, stol'n out of holy writ,

And seem a saint, when most I play the Devil.

Ibid.

O, I have pass'd a miserable night,
So full of fearful dreams, of ugly sights,
That, as I am a Christian faithful man,
I would not spend another such a night,
Though 't were to buy a world of happy days.

Act i. Sc. 4.

1 'stol'n forth,' White, Knight.

[King Richard III. continued.

O Lord, methought, what pain it was to drown!
What dreadful noise of water in mine ears!
What sights of ugly death within mine eyes!
Methought I saw a thousand fearful wracks;
A thousand men that fishes gnaw'd upon;
Wedges of gold, great anchors, heaps of pearl,
Inestimable stones, unvalued jewels,

All scattered in the bottom of the sea:

Some lay in dead men's skulls ; and in those holes
Where eyes did once inhabit, there were crept,
As 't were in scorn of eyes, reflecting gems.
Act i. Sc. 4.

So wise so young, they say, do ne'er live long.

Off with his head!1

Act iii. Sc. I.

Act iii. Sc. 4.

Lives like a drunken sailor on a mast;
Ready with every nod to tumble down.
Even in the afternoon of her best days.

Ibid.

Act iii. Sc. 7.

Thou troublest me: I am not in the vein.

Act iv. Sc. 2.

Their lips were four red roses on a stalk.

Act iv. Sc. 3.

The sons of Edward sleep in Abraham's bosom.

Ibid.

Let not the heavens hear these tell-tale women Rail on the Lord's anointed.

Tetchy and wayward.

Act iv. Sc. 4.

Ibid.

An honest tale speeds best, being plainly told.

1 Compare Cibber, p. 263.

King Richard III. continued.]

Thus far into the bowels of the land

Have we march'd on without impediment.

Act v. Sc. 2.

True hope is swift, and flies with swallow's wings; Kings it makes gods, and meaner creatures kings.

The king's name is a tower of strength.

Ibid.

Act v. Sc. 3.

Give me another horse! - bind up my wounds!

Ibid.

O, coward conscience, how dost thou afflict me!

Ibid.

My conscience hath a thousand several tongues,
And every tongue brings in a several tale,
And every tale condemns me for a villain.

Ibid.

The early village cock Hath twice done salutation to the morn. Ibid.

By the apostle Paul, shadows to-night Have struck more terror to the soul of Richard Than can the substance of ten thousand soldiers.

A horse! a horse! My kingdom for a horse!

Act v. Sc. 4.

I have set my life upon a cast,

And I will stand the hazard of the die.

I think there be six Richmonds in the field.

1 Compare Cibber, p. 264.

KING HENRY VIII.

Order gave each thing view.

This bold bad man.1

Act i. Sc. 1.

Act ii. Sc. 2.

'Tis better to be lowly born,

And range with humble livers in content,
Than to be perk'd up in a glist'ring grief,

And wear a golden sorrow.

Act ii. Sc. 3.

'Tis well said again;

And 't is a kind of good deed, to say well:

And yet words are no deeds. Act iii. Sc. 2. And then to breakfast, with

What appetite you have.

Ibid.

I have touch'd the highest point of all my great

ness,

And from that full meridian of my glory,

I haste now to my setting: I shall fall
Like a bright exhalation in the evening,
And no man see me more.

Ibid.

Press not a falling man too far.

Ibid.

Farewell, a long farewell, to all my greatness! This is the state of man: to-day he puts forth The tender leaves of hope, to-morrow blossoms, And bears his blushing honours thick upon him: The third day, comes a frost, a killing frost; And, when he thinks, good easy man, full surely

His greatness is a ripening, — nips his root, And then he falls, as I do. I have ventur'd,

1 See Spenser, Faerie Queene, Book i. Ch, i. St. 37.

King Henry VIII. continued.]

Like little wanton boys that swim on bladders, This many summers in a sea of glory,

But far beyond my depth: my high blown pride
At length broke under me, and now has left me,
Weary and old with service, to the mercy

Of a rude stream, that must forever hide me.
Vain pomp, and glory of this world, I hate ye;
I feel my heart new open'd. O, how wretched
Is that poor man, that hangs on princes' favours!
There is betwixt that smile we would aspire to,
That sweet aspect of princes and their ruin,
More pangs and fears than wars or women have;
And when he falls, he falls like Lucifer,
Never to hope again.

And sleep in dull, cold marble.

Act iii. Sc. 2.

Ibid.

Say, Wolsey, that once trod the ways of glory, And sounded all the depths and shoals of honour, Found thee a way, out of his wreck, to rise in ; A sure and safe one, though thy master miss'd it.

I charge thee, fling away ambition. By that sin fell the angels.

Ibid.

Ibid.

Love thyself last: cherish those hearts that hate

thee,

Corruption wins not more than honesty.
Still in thy right hand carry gentle peace,
To silence envious tongues : be just, and fear not.
Let all the ends thou aim'st at be thy country's,
Thy God's, and truth's; then if thou fall'st, O
Cromwell,

Thou fall'st a blessed martyr.

Ibid.