386 The Early English Drama : [AriUL, 



" Come away ! come away !" &c. 



As there happens to be " no offence in't/' we may give the first part of 

 this scene, as a specimen of the author's manner in this portion of his 

 work. It is in a strangely wild harmony with the highly poeticnl 

 chorus which concludes it. Mark, too, how finely the character of the 

 evening is indicated by the very first line : bright, but stormy : for it 

 is only when the winds are careering swiftly among light broken clouds, 

 that the moon seems to " ride briskly." 



Hec. The moon's a gallant : see how brisk she rides. 



Stad. Here's a rich evening, Hecate. 



Hec. Aye, is't not, wenches 

 To take a journey of a thousand mile ? 



Hoppo. Our's will be more to-night. 



Hec. Oh, 'twill be precious. Heard you the owl yet? 



Stad. Briefly in the copse, 

 As we came through now. 



Hec. 'Tis high time for us then. 



Stad. There was a bat hung at my lips three times, 

 As we came through the woods, and drank her fill : 

 Old Puckle saw her. 



Hec. You are fortunate still : 

 The very scritch-owl lights upon your shoulder, 

 And woos you like a pigeon. Are ye furnished ? 

 Have ye your ointments ? 



Stad. All. 



^ Hec. Prepare to flight then : 

 I'll overtake ye swiftly. 



Stad. Hie, then, Hecate ! 

 We shall be up betimes. 



Hec. I'll reach ye quickly. (Act HI. Scene 3.) 



The opening of the fourth act finds the Duchess fully persuaded of 

 her husband's death by the hand of Amalchildes ; but the report of the 

 murder having occasioned a movement among the people, which threat- 

 ened the power and safety of the Duchess, she (once stepped into crime) 

 immediately determines on getting rid of her instrument, and turning 

 her favour towards the governor of the city, who has the public voice at 

 his command. The latter seemingly yields to the views of the Duchess, 

 in order the better to counteract them. 



Meanwhile Sebastian (as Celio) puts in practice his awkward and 

 complicated plans, utterly unintelligible without the most fixed attention, 

 yet equally unworthy and incapable of exciting any by which he 

 hopes to persuade Isabella of her husband's falsehood but the sole effect 

 of which is, to bring into suspicion with Antonio the honesty of Isabella 

 herself: which latter end is also furthered by the concurring plans of 

 Antonio's sister, Francisca. 



All this portion of the play is crude and confined to the last degree, in 

 point of plot and arrangement ; and this defect is not made up for by any 

 very striking merits in the details. We may, however, extract two 

 passages, which possess, together with much truth of character, con- 

 siderable poetic beauty. Sebastian is endeavouring to justify, to his 

 friend Fernando, the somewhat questionable measures in which he is 

 engaging his assistance. 



