So shall all the couples three And the blots of Nature's hand Shall upon their children be. Every fairy take his gait; And each several chamber bless E'er shall it in safety rest, And the owner of it blest. Trip away : Make no stay; Meet me all by break of day. 6" Now the hungry lion roars.”—Upon the songs of Puck and Oberon, Coleridge exclaims, "Very Anacreon in perfectness, proportion, and spontaneity! So far it is Greek; but then add, O! what wealth, what wild ranging, and yet what compression and condensation of English fancy! In truth, there is nothing in Anacreon more perfect than these thirty lines, or half so rich and imaginative. They form a speckless diamond.”—Literary Remains, vol. ii. p. 114. LOVERS AND MUSIC. LORENZO and JESSICA, awaiting the return home of PORTIA and NERISSA, discourse of music, and then welcome with it the bride and her attendant. Lor. The moon shines bright. In such a night as this," When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees, Stood Dido with a willow in her hand10 Upon the wild sea-banks, and wav'd her love To come again to Carthage. Did Jessica steal from the wealthy Jew; And with an unthrift love did run from Venice, As far as Belmont. Jes. And in such a night Did young Lorenzo swear he lov'd her well; Stealing her soul with many vows of faith, And ne'er a true one. Lor. And in such a night Did pretty Jessica, like a little shrew, Slander her love, and he forgave it her. Jes. I would out-night you, did nobody come; But, hark; I hear the footing of a man. Enter STEPHANO. Lor. Who comes so fast in silence of the night? Step. A friend. Lor. A friend! what friend? your name, I pray you, friend? Step. Stephano is my name; and I bring word My mistress will, before the break of day, Be here at Belmont: she doth stray about By holy crosses, where she kneels and prays Lor. Who comes with her? Step. None but a holy hermit and her maid. Lor. Sweet soul, let's in, and there expect their coming. And yet no matter; why should we go in ? My friend Stephàno, signify, I pray you, [Exit STEPHANO. How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon the bank! Sit, Jessica look, how the floor of heaven Is thick inlaid with patines* of bright gold; There's not the smallest orb which thou behold'st,12 * Patines (Pátine, Paténe, Ital.) have been generally understood to mean plates of gold or silver used in the Catholic service. A new But in her motion like an angel sings, Enter MUSICIANS. Come, ho! and wake Diana with a hymn; With sweetest touches pierce your mistress' ear, [Music. Jes. I am never merry when I hear sweet musick. A race of youthful and unhanded colts, Fetching mad bounds,-bellowing and neighing loud, If they but hear, perchance, a trumpet sound, Or any air of musick touch their ears, You shall perceive them make a mutual stand- Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils; The motions of his spirit are dull as night, And his affections dark as Erebus: Let no such man be trusted.-Mark the musick. and interesting commentator, however (the Rev. Mr. Hunter), is of opinion that the proper word is patterns. Enter PORTIA and NERISSA, at a distance. Por. That light we see is burning in my hall; How far that little candle throws its beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world. Ner. When the moon shone, we did not see the candle. Por. So doth the greater glory dim the less; A substitute shines brightly as a king, Until a king be by; and then his state Ner. It is your musick, madam, of the house. Ner. Silence bestows that virtue on it, madam. How many things by season, season'd are, To their right praise, and true perfection! [Music ceases. Por. He knows me, as the blind man knows the cuckoo, 7" In such a night as this," &c.—All the stories here alluded to,-Troilus and Cressida, Pyramus and Thisbe, Dido and Æneas, Jason and Medea, are in Chaucer's Legend of Good Women. It is pleasant to see our great poet so full of his predecessor. He |