1828.] The White Devil; or, Vilteria Corombona. 123 
resources, and often leads to most curious and interesting results. With- 
out this disposition and habit we should have had a few better plays than 
any that we now possess, as dramatic compositions ; but ex revanche, we 
should have had incalculably less in amount of that wonderful display of 
dramatic power, and of poetic beauty, which may now be looked upon 
as the chief boast and glory of our national literature. Other nations 
may have approached or equalled us in other departments of literary 
wealth and achievement ; but in this one we stand absolutely alone, and 
shall ever stand so; because no circumstances can, in the very nature of 
things, recur, to make such a display possible. We shall extract, from 
the fine scene above alluded to, the passage in which Vittoria first opens 
her true character, and the nature of her after views :— 
Vit. To pass away the time, I'll tell your grace 
A dream If had last night. 
Brach. Most wishedly. y 
Vit. A foolish, idle dream : 
Methought I walk’d, about the mid of night, 
Into a church-yard, where a goodly yew-tree 
Spread her large root in ground. Under that yew, 
As I sat sadly leaning on a grave, 
Chequered with cross-sticks, there came stealing in 
Your duchess and my husband ; one of them 
A pick-axe bore, th’ other a rusty spade ; 
And in rough terms they ’gan to challenge me 
About this yew. 
Brach. That tree? 
Vit. This harmless yew. 
They told me my intent was to root up 
That well-grown yew, and plant in its stead 
A wither’d black-thorn ; and for that they vow’d 
To bury me alive. My husband straight 
With pick-axe ’gan to dig; and your fell duchess 
With shovel, like a fury, voided out 
The earth and scattered bones. Lord! how, methought, 
I trembled! And yet, for all this terror, 
I could not pray. 
Flam. No! the devil was in your dream ! 
Vit. When to my rescue there arose, methought, 
A whirlwind, which let fall a mighty arm 
From that strong plant ; 
And both were struck down by that sacred yew 
Into that shallow grave, that was their due. 
Flam. Excellent devil! 
She hath taught him, in a dream, 
To make away his duchess and her husband. 
Brach. Sweetly shail I interpret this your dream. 
You are lodged within his arms that shall protect you 
From all the fevers of a jealous husband ; 
From the poor envy of our phlegmatic duchess ; 
V’'ll seat you above law, and above scandal ; 
Give to your thoughts th’ invention of delight, 
And the fruition ; nor shall government 
Divide me from you longer than a care 
To keep you great. You shall to me at once 
Be dukedom, health, wife, children, friends and all. 
R 2 
