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And gloriously he's now got up to girdle
The kingdoms he hath purchas'd. Noble
sister,

[heed
Take not your virtue from him; oh, take
We ebb not now to nothing; take heed, Calis!
Calis. The will of Heav'n (not mine) which
must not alter,
And my eternal doom, for aught I know,
Is fix'd upon me. Alas, I must love no-
thing;
[with!

Nothing that loves again must I be bless'd
The gentle vine climbs up the oak and clips
him,
[gether.

And when the stroke comes, yet they fall to-
Death, death must I enjoy, and live to love
Oh, noble Sir!

Mem. Those tears are some reward
Prav, let me wed your sorrows.

Calis. Take 'em, soldier;

[him!

yet:

['em,

They're fruitful ones; lay but a sigh upon
And straight they will conceive to infinites:
I told you what you'd find 'em.

Eum. [within.] Room before there! 79

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Turn all the stories over in the world yet, And search thro' all the memories of mankind,

[all,

And find me such a friend! H' has out-done
Outstripp'd 'em sheerly; all, all, thou hast,
Polydor!

[ness, To die for me? Why, as I hope for happi'Twas one o' th' rarest-thought-on things, the bravest,

And carried beyond compass of our actions.
I wonder how he hit it; a young man too,
In all the blossoms of his youth and beauty,
In all the fulness of his veins and wishes,
Woo'd by that paradise, that would catch
Heav'n!

It startles me extremely.80 Thou bless'd ashes,
Thou faithful monument, where love and

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I thought therefore that waters girdling a kingdom was a similar metaphor; and then recollected, that in the Two Noble Kinsmen (which was wrote by Shakespeare and Fletcher in conjection) act v. scene i. walls are called The stony girths of cities. I therefore was fully satisfy'd that I had hit upon the true reading; and long afterwards I met in the Captain with the very expression, act ii. scene i. speaking of soldiers,

That whilst the wars were, serv'd like walls and ribs
To girdle in the kingdom.

Seward.

We have adopted Mr. Seward's variation; though it would be nearer the old text to read,

And gloriously now is got up to girdle.

79 Room before there.] These words (which complete the verse) are only in the first folio. They are there made a continuation of Calis's speech."

It starts me extremely.] Former editions.

Seward.

$ I shall enjoy the dead.] The context, we think, authorises the alteration we have made.

broken;

Love at thy feet shall kneel, his smart bow [mourners. Faith at thy head, Youth and the Graces Oh, sweet young man!

King. Now I begin to melt too.

Mem. Have you enough yet, lady? Room for a gamester!

To my fond love, and all those idle fancies,
A long farewell! Thou diedst for me, dear
Polydor;

To give me peace, thou hast eternal glory!
I stay and talk here! I will kiss thee first,
And now I'll follow thee.

[Offers to kill himself. Polyd. Hold, for Heaven's sake!

[Polydor rises.

Mem, Ha! does he live? Dost thou de-
Polyd. Thus far;

Yet, for your good and honour.
King. Now, dear sister—-

[ceive me?

Calis. The oracle is ended, noble Sir;

Dispose me now as you please.
Polyd. You are mine then?
Calis. With all the joys that
Polyd. Your consent, Sir!

may be!

King. You have it freely.
Polyd. Walk along with me then,
And, as you love me, love my will.
Calis. I will so.

[tuous princess; Polyd. Here, worthy brother, take this virYou have deserv'd her nobly; she will love you: [she does,

[years.

And when my life shall bring you peace, as Command it, you shall have it. Mem. Sir, I thank you. King. I never found such goodness in such Mem. Thou shalt not over-do me, tho' I die for't. [ther!

Oh, how I love thy goodness, my best broYou've given me here a treasure to enrich me, Would make the worthiest king alive a begWhat may I give you back again? [gar: Polyd. Your love, Sir.

Mem. And you shall have it, ev'n my dearest love,

[Sir;

My first, my noblest love: Take her again, She's yours, your honesty has over-run me. She loves you; lov'st her not?-Excellent princess,

Enjoy thy wish; and now, get generals. Polyd. As you love Heav'n, love him. She's only yours, Sir.

Mem. As you love Heav'n, love him. She's only yours, Sir.

My lord the king

Polyd. He will undo himself, Sir,

And must without her perish: Who shall fight then?

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man,

That only worthy of the name of Brother,
I would resign all freely. "Tis all love
To me, all marriage rites, the joy of issues,
To know him fruitful, that has been so
faithful!

King. This is the noblest difference-Take
your choice, sister.
[both.

Calis. I see they are so brave, and noble I know not which to look on.

Polyd. Chuse discreetly, [in one man, And Virtue guide you! There all the world, Stands at the mark.

Mem. There all man's honesty,
The sweetness of all youth.
Calis. Oh, gods!

Mem. My armour!

By all the gods, she's yours! My arms, I say! And, I beseech your grace, give me employ[courtship.

ment:

[man,

That shall be now my mistress, there my
King. You shall have any thing.
Mem. Virtuous lady,
Remember me, your servant now. Young
You cannot over-reach me in your goodness.
Oh, Love! how sweet thou look'st now, and
how gentle!
[beauty.

I should have slubber'd thee, and stain'd thy
Your hand, your hand, Sir!

King. Take her, and Heav'n bless her!
Mem. So.

[merit; Polyd. 'Tis your will, Sir, nothing of my And, as your royal gift, I take this blessing. Calis. And I from Heav'n this gentleman

Thanks, goddess!

Calis. Now or never.

Mem. So, you are pleas'd now, lady? [frozen you Mem. My cold stiff carcase would have Wars, wars!

King. You shall have wars.

Mem. My next brave battle

dedicate to your bright honour, sister:

Give me a favour, that the world may know I am your soldier.

Calis. This, and all fair fortunes! Mem. And he that bears this from me, must strike boldly. [Cleanthe kneeling. Calis. I do forgive thee. Be honest; no more, wench. [shall prove

King. Come, now to revels. This blest day The happy crown of noble faith and love.

[Exeunt.

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If not perverse and crooked, utters still

No mitigation of that law? Brave friends,
Consider we are yours, made for your ends;
And every thing preserves itself (each will,
If not perverse and crooked, utters still
The best of that it ventures in). Have care,
Ev'n for your pleasures' sake, of what we are,
And do not ruin all; you may frown still,
But 'tis the nobler way to check the will.

62

The best of that it ventures in.] i. e. It is the inclination of all fair dealers to sell their 'customers the best of their wares.'

THE LOYAL SUBJECT.

A TRAGI-COMEDY.

The Commendatory Verses by Hills and Gardiner give to Fletcher the sole honour of this Play. The Prologue also (written soon after his demise, and consequently long after Beaumont's) speaks of him singly. It was first printed in the folio of 1647. In the year 1706, a Tragedy, entitled 'The Faithful General, written by a young lady,' was acted at the Queen's Theatre in the Hay-Market; but the writer in her preface declares, though her first intention had been to revive this play, yet that, in the progress of it, she made so many alterations, that a very small part of it belonged to our Author. We have also heard of an alteration by Mr. Sheridan, sen. but this we imagine was never printed; and it was probably acted, if at all, only in Ireland.

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Ruins the buildings which they strive to raise

daughters of Archus.

}

servants to Olympia.

SCENE, MOSCO.

To his best memory.] Mr. Seward thinks we should read, BLEST memory; but, from the context, the Author seems undoubtedly to have written BEST.

2 Ensign to Archas.] As this character is called Ancient all through the play, we know not any reason for calling him Ensign in the drama.

Vol. I.

3 M

Ancient

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