Thrusting poor Bees out of their hives, You ate their flesh, and drank their blood. Fairies, thrust 'em to their fate.1 Oberon then confirms Prorex in his Government; and breaks Ober. up Session. -now adieu! Prorex shall again renew His potent reign: the massy world Field Music.2 Oberon must away; For us our gentle Fairies stay: We'll hunt the Grey, and little Fox, Who destroy our lambs at feed, And spoil the nests where turtles feed. [Ch. xii.3] DAVID AND BETHSABE. A SACRED DRAMA.4 BY GEORGE PEELE, 1599 NATHAN. DAVID. Nath. Thus Nathan saith unto his Lord the King: The one was mighty, and exceeding rich In oxen, sheep, and cattle of the field; Which he had bought, and nourish'd by his hand, 1 [Sixteen lines omitted.] [See also page 401.] 2 The hum of Bees. As was his daughter or his dearest child.- But took the poor man's sheep, partly poor man's store; What, tell me, shall be done to him for this? Dav. Now, as the Lord doth live, this wicked man Is judged, and shall become the child of death; Fourfold to the poor man he shall restore, That without mercy took his lamb away. Nath. THOU ART THE MAN, AND THOU HAST JUDGED THYSELF. David, thus saith the Lord thy God by me : I thee anointed King in Israel, And saved thee from the tyranny of Saul; Thy master's house I gave thee to possess, And Juda and Jerusalem withal; And might, thou know'st, if this had been too small, Have given thee more. Wherefore then hast thou gone so far astray, And hast done evil, and sinned in my sight? That hast him slain; wherefore from this day forth Dav. Nathan, I have against the Lord, I have Sinned, oh sinned grievously, and lo! From heaven's throne doth David throw himself, And groan and grovel to the gates of hell. Nath. David, stand up; thus saith the Lord by me, David the King shall live, for he hath seen The true repentant sorrow of thy heart; But for thou hast in this misdeed of thine Stirr'd up the enemies of Israel To triumph and blaspheme the Lord of Hosts, "He set a wicked man to reign And say, Over his loved people and his tribes ; " The Child shall surely die, that erst was born, Dav. How just is Jacob's God in all his works! O that the mighty one of Israel Nill change his doom, and says the Babe must die! Wither, ye cedar trees of Lebanon ; Ye sprouting almonds with your flowing tops, Droop, drown, and drench in Hebron's fearful streams: His Mother's sin, his Kingly Father's scorn. ABSALON, rebelling. Now for the crown and throne of Israel, Which thou hast made to give their glories light. With state exceeding all her other Kings. That day and night you may be brought to peace, Then fight, brave Captains, that these joys may fly [Sc. 3.1] [Sc. 12 entire.] 2 Jove, for Jehovah. ABSALON, triumphant. Abs. First Absalon was by the trumpet's sound With complete state and glory of a crown. [Sc. 9.1] A A LOOKING GLASS FOR ENGLAND AND LONDON. TRAGI-COMEDY [PUBLISHED 1594].2 BY THOMAS LODGE [1558 ?-1625] AND ROBERT GREEN [1560 ?1592] Alvida, Paramour to Rasni, the Great King of Assyria, courts a petty King of Cilicia. Alv. Ladies, go sit you down amidst this bower, And let the Eunuchs play you all asleep: Put garlands made of roses on your heads, Ladies. Thou beautiful of all the world, we will. And play the wantons, whilst I talk awhile. Alv. King of Cilicia, kind and courteous; Like to thyself, because a lovely King; Come lay thee down upon thy Mistress' knee, Cil. Most gracious Paragon of excellence, 1[For other extracts from Peele see note to p. 13.] (Exeunt.) 2[Not divided into Acts. See Lodge's Works, ed. for the Hunterian Club, 1883, vol. iv., pp. 45-47. For another extract from Lodge see p. 569.] It fits not such an abject wretch as I To talk with Rasni's Paramour and Love. Alv. To talk, sweet friend! who would not talk with thee? Oh be not coy; art thou not only fair? Come twine thine arms about this snow-white neck, None but thyself can merit such a grace. Cil. Madam, I hope you mean not for to mock me. Cil. Sing, madam, if you please; but love in jest. (She sings.) Beauty, alas! where wast thou born, When as Beauty kiss'd to woo thee; I and thou in sooth are one, Wanton thou; and, wilt thou, wanton, Heigho, I love; heigho, I love; Cil. Madam, your Song is passing passionate. I love my Rasni for my dignity: I love Cilician King for his sweet eye. I love my Rasni, since he rules the world: How sweet he looks!-O were I Cynthia's sphere, |