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Lies now even in the centre of this isle,
Near to the town of Leicester, as we learn:
From Tamworth thither, is but one day's march.
In God's name, cheerly on, courageous friends,
To reap the harvest of perpetual peace

By this one bloody trial of sharp war.

Hope.

True hope is swift, and flies with swallows wings, Kings it makes gods, and meaner creatures kings.

Daybreak.

The silent hours steal on,

And flaky darkness breaks within the east.

Richmond's Prayer before the Battle.

O Thou, whose captain I account myself,
Look on my forces with a gracious eye;
Put in their hands thy bruising irons of wrath,
That they may crush down with a heavy fall
The usurping helmets of our adversaries!
Make us thy ministers of chastisement,
That we may praise thee in thy victory!
To thee I do commend my watchful soul,
Ere I let fall the windows of mine eyes ;
Sleeping, and waking, O, defend me still!

Richard Starting out of his Dream.

Give me another horse,-bind up my wounds,Have mercy, Jesu !-Soft; I did but dream.O coward conscience, how dost thou afflict me! The lights burn blue. It is now dead midnight. Cold fearful drops stand on my trembling flesh.

Conscience.

Conscience is but a word that cowards use, Devis'd at first to keep the strong in awe.

Richard's Address before the Battle.

A thousand hearts are great within my bosom :
Advance our standards, set upon our foes;
Our ancient word of courage, fair Saint George,
Inspire us with the spleen of fiery dragons!
Upon them! Victory sits on our helms.

Richard's Desperation on the Battlefield.

Slave, I have set my life upon a cast,
And I will stand the hazard of the die :
I think there be six Richmonds in the field,
Five have I slain to-day instead of him :
A horse! a horse! my kingdom for a horse.

-000—

KING HENRY VIII.

In this play is recorded the fall of Cardinal Wolsey, who, full of anguish at losing the favour of the king, retires to Leicester Abbey, where he expires. The dying moments of Katharine, wife of the king, are depicted, and the union of the king with Anne Bullen. The christening of the Princess Elizabeth (afterwards Queen Elizabeth) concludes the play, an eloquent prophecy as to her future greatness being delivered by Archbishop Cranmer. In speaking of Shakspere's historical plays, Dr. Johnson pronounces the two parts of Henry the Fourth and Henry the Fifth to possess the greatest excellence; and "King John, Richard the Third, and Henry the Eighth, deservedly stand in the second class."

To climb steep hills,

Аст I.

Anger.

Requires slow pace at first: Anger is like
A full hot horse, who being allow'd his way,
Self-mettle tires him.

Action to be carried on with Resolution.

If I am traduced by tongues which neither know My faculties nor person, yet will be

The chronicles of my doing,-let me say,

'Tis but the fate of place, and the rough brake* That virtue must go through. We must not stint † Our necessary actions in the fear

To cope malicious censurers; which ever
As ravenous fishes, do a vessel follow

That is new trimm'd; but benefit no further
Than vainly longing. What we oft do best,
By sick interpreters, once§ weak ones, is
Not ours, or not allow'd:|| what worst, as oft,
Hitting a grosser quality is cried up
For our best act. If we shall stand still,

In fear our motion will be mock'd or carp'd at,
We should take root here where we sit, or sit
State statues only.

New Customs.

New customs,

Though they be never so ridiculous,

Nay, let them be unmanly, yet are followed.

*A thicket of thorns. § Sometimes.

† Retard.

Encounter.

|| Approved.

ACT II.

The Duke of Buckingham's Prayer for the King.

May he live

Longer than I have time to tell his years !

Ever belov'd, and loving, may his rule be,

And, when old time shall lead him to his end,
Goodness and he fill up one monument !

A loss of her,

A Good Wife

That, like a jewel, has hung twenty years
About his neck, yet never lost her lustre :
Of her that loves him with that excellence
That angels love good men with; even of her
That, when the greatest stroke of fortune falls,
Will bless the king.

The Blessings of a Low Station.

'Tis better to be lowly born,

And range with humble livers in content,

Than to be perk'd up in glistering grief,

And wear a golden sorrow.

Queen Katharine's Speech to the King, her Husband.

Alas, sir,

In what have. I offended you? what cause

Hath my behaviour given to your displeasure,
That thus you should proceed to put me off,

And take your good grace from me? Heaven witness,
I have been to you a true and humble wife,

At all times to your will conformable:

Ever in fear to kindle your dislike,

Yea, subject to your countenance: glad or sorry,

As I saw it inclined.

When was the hour

your friends

I ever contradicted your desire,
Or made it not mine too? Or which of
Have I not strove to love, although I knew
He were mine enemy? What friend of mine
That had to him deriv'd your anger, did I
Continue in my liking? nay, gave notice
He was from thence discharg'd? Sir, call to mind
That I have been your wife, in this obedience,
Upward of twenty years.

Queen Katharine's Speech to Cardinal Wolsey.
You are meek and humble-mouth'd;
You sign your place and calling, in full seeming,
With meekness and humility: but your heart
Is cramm'd with arrogancy, spleen, and pride.
You have, by fortune and his highness' favours,
Gone slightly o'er low steps; and now are mounted
Where powers are your retainers: and your words,
Domestics to you, serve your will, as't please
Yourself pronounce their office. I must tell you,
You tender more your person's honour than
Your high profession spiritual.

King Henry's Character of Queen Katharine.

That man i' the world who shall report he has
A better wife, let him in nought be trusted,
For speaking false in that. Thou art, alone
(If thy rare qualities, sweet gentleness,
Thy meekness saint-like, wife-like government,
Obeying in commanding,-and thy parts

Sovereign and pious else, could speak thee out), †
The queen of earthly queens.

* Appearance.

+ Speak out thy merits.

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