a combustion in the state. I miss'd the meteor once, and hit that woman, who cried out, clubs !4 when I might see from far some forty truncheoneers draw to her succour, which were the hope of the Strand, where she was quarter'd. They fell one I made good my place; at length they came to the broomstaff with me, I defied them still; when suddenly a file of boys behind them, loose shot, deliver'd such a shower of pebbles, that I was fain to draw mine honour in, and let them win the work: the devil was amongst them, I think, surely. Port. These are the youths that thunder at a play-house, and fight for bitten apples; that no audience but the Tribulation of Tower-hill, or the limbs of Limehouse, their dear brothers, are able to endure, I have some of them in Limbo Patrum, and there they are like to dance these three days; besides the running banquet of two beadles §, that is to come. Enter the Lord CHAMBERLAIN. Cham. Mercy o' me, what a multitude are here! They grow still too, from all parts they are coming, As if we kept a fair here! Where are these porters These lazy knaves?-Ye have made a fine hand fellows. There's a trim rabble let in: Are all these Great store of room, no doubt, left for the ladies, We are but men; and what so many may do, Cham. As I live, If the king blame me for't, I'll lay ye all The brazier. + Outery for assistance. A desert of whipping. Black leather vessels to hold beer. Place of confinement. A Marshalsea, shall hold you play these two months. Port. Make way there for the princess. Man. You great fellow, stand close up, or I'll make your head ake. Port. You i' the camblet, get up o' the rail; I'll pick you o'er the pales else. SCENE IV.-The Palace +. [Exeunt Enter Trumpets, sounding; then two Aldermen, Lord Mayor, GARTER, CRANMER, Duke of NORFOLK, with his Marshal's Staff, Duke of SUFFOLK, two Noblemen bearing great standing-bowls for the christening gifts, then four Noblemen bearing a canopy, under which the Duchess of Norfolk, godmother, bearing the Child richly habited in a mantle, &c.-Train borne by a Lady; then follows the Marchioness of Dorset, the other godmother, and Ladies.-The Troop pass once about the stage, and GARTER speaks. Gart. Heaven, from thy endless goodness, send prosperous life, long, and ever happy, to the high and mighty princess of England, Elizabeth! Flourish.-Enter KING and Train. Cran. [Kneeling.] And to your royal grace, and the good queen, My noble partners, and myself, thus pray- K. Hen. Thank you, good lord archbishop : Cran. Elizabeth. K. Hen. Stand up, lord. [The King kisses the Child. With this kiss take my blessing: God protect thee! Into whose hands I give thy life. Cran. Amen. K. Hen. My noble gossips, ye have been too prodigal : I thank ye heartily; so shall this lady, Cran. Let me speak, Sir, For Heaven now bids me; and the words I utter Let none think flattery, for they'll find them truth. • Pitch. + At Greenwich. This royal infant, (heaven still move about her!) her, Holy and heavenly thoughts still connsel her: She shall be loved, and fear'd: her own shall bless her; Her foes shake like a field of beaten corn, In her days, every man shall eat in safety As great in admiration as herself; Who, from the sacred ashes of her honour, terror, That were the servants to this chosen infant, dren Shall see this, and bless heaven. This and the following seventeen lines were probably written by B. Johnson, after the acces sion of king James. K. Hen. Thou speakest wonders.] Cran. She shall be, to the happiness of England, To the ground, and all the world shall mourn her. Thou hast made me now a man; never, before lords ; Ye must all see the queen, and she must thank ye, [Exeunt EPILOGUE. 'Tis ten to one, this play can never please The play of Henry the Eighth is one of those which still keeps possession of the stage by the splendour of its pageantry. The coronation; about forty years ago, drew the people together in multitudes for a great part of the winter. Yet pomp is not only the merit of this play. The meek sorrows, and virtuous distress of Katharine, have furnished some scenes, which may be justly num bered among the greatest efforts of tragedy. But the genius of Shakspeare comes in and goes out with Katharine. Every other part may be easily conceived and easily written. JOHNSON. The historical dramas are now concluded, of which the two Parts of Henry the Fourth, and Henry the Fifth, are among the happiest of our author's compositions; and King John, Richard the Third, and Henry the Eighth, deservedly stand in the second class. Those whose curiosity would refer the historical scenes to their original, may consult Holinshed, and sometimes Hall: from Holinshed, Shakspeare has often inserted whole speeches, with no more alteration than was ne cessary to the numbers of his verse. To transcribe them into the margin was unnecessary, because the original is easily examined, and they are sel dom less perspicuous in the poet than in the his torian. To play histories, or to exhibit a succession of events by action and dialogue, was a common entertainment among our rude ancestors upon great festivities. The parish clerks once performed at Clerkenwell a play which lasted three days, containing The History of the World. IBID. |