the use of the general reader. You will find, I suspect, that they have deservedly fallen into obscurity on account of their impure language and gross allusions. It may be said of them all as it was said of Marston by one of his contemporaries,- He cared not for modest close-couched terms, but dealt in plain naked words, stripped from their shirts."" "And yet,” replied the nymph, "a judicious selection from their works would be a valuable addition to the library of the boudoir. Many passages of Marston himself are of the very highest order of poetry. Look at his explanation of what it is to be a king.” Why, man, I never was a prince till now. Who is not blown up with the flattering puffs Who can enjoy himself, maugre the throng Adoring, not affecting, majesty : Whose brow is wreathed with the silver crown "The description of Antonio's visit to the vaults in which the body of his father lies, affords also a specimen of very splendid poetry." "I purify the air with odorous fume. Graves, vaults, and tombs, groan not to bear my weight. Most honour'd sepulchre, vouchsafe a wretch Tomb, I'll not be long my Thou royal spirit of Andrugio, where'er thou hoverest, (Airy intellect) I heave up tapers to thee (view thy son), On celebration of due obsequies. Once every night I'll dew thy funeral hearse O blessed father of a cursed son! Thou diedst most happy, since thou livedst not Stoop and beat down this rising fog of shame, “And the death of Mellida is full of tenderness and beauty. The fool alluded to is Antonio in disguise." Being laid upon her bed, she grasp'd my hand, And do I live to say Antonio's dead? And have I lived to see his virtues blurr'd With guiltless blots? O world, thou art too subtle Therefore I'll leave thee; farewell, mart of woe, With that her head sunk down upon her breast; Screech'd out so loud, that he brought back her soul, Dared kiss her hand, wish'd her soft rest, loved bride e; She fumbled out thanks good, and so she died.” "And, my dear Benedict, could even you yourself say any thing finer than the lewd Marston has done of conjugal love ?" "If love be holy, if that mystery Into our species; if those amorous joys, Those sweets of life, those comforts even in death, Unchanged by time, immortal, maugre death. D And," continued the nymph, "I doubt very much if any equal number of lines of Lord Byron would furnish finer extracts, in what may be termed his lordship's own peculiar style, than the "Duke OF BYRON" of old Chapman. The story consists of two parts, or distinct plays, THE CONSPIRACY and THE TRAGEDY. The first part opens with the arrival of the Duke of Savoy at the court of Henry IV. of France openly, but with the secret design of corrupting and drawing over Byron, the marshal of France; and he thus addresses his own minister:" "Sav. I would not, for half Savoy, but have bound And wring beneath some private discontent: To make you comprehend. I will do more Is that which, I confess, may, for the time, my cannons The long-tongued heralds of my hidden drifts, "Lafin is also another object for Savoy to gain; and the task is facilitated by Henry's rejection of Lafin's suit, as described in the following spirited scene. The king enters with Lafin:". "Hen. I will not have my train Made a retreat for bankrupts, nor my court With no more shade than may admit that kingdom Navarre shall be Navarre, and France still France : By mutual right, so neither shall be worse. Which thou would'st quit with count'nance. Borrowing (In my supportance) now our old wars cease, To wage worse battles with the arms of peace. Laf. Peace must not make men cowards, nor keep calm Her pursie regiment with men's smother'd breaths. |