Category: Humour

The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 08

_Phoe._ Know you the reason of this present summons? 'Tis neither council day, nor is this heaven. What business has our Jupiter on earth? Why more at Thebes than any other place? And why we two, of all the herd of gods, Are chosen out to meet him in consult? They call me God...

Chapters

15. ACT V. SCENE I.

_Osm._ Grimbald made prisoner, and my grove destroyed! Now what can save me----Hark, the drums and trumpets! [_Drums and Trumpets within._ Arthur is marching onward to the fort....

31. SCENE I.--_Lopez's House.

_Carl._ That was invented only in hopes of you, Dalinda; though now I thank my stars that I have missed you: for two wits without fortunes would be like two millstones without c...

24. SCENE II.--_A Prison.

_Cleom._ No food, and this the third arising sun! But what have I to do with telling suns, And measuring time, that runs no more for me? Yet sure the gods are good: I would thin...

7. ACT V. SCENE I.

_Phæd._ Thou seller of other people: thou weather-cock of government; that, when the wind blows for the subject, pointest to privilege; and when it changes for the sovereign, ve...

5. SCENE I.--_Before_ AMPHITRYON'S _Palace_.

_Amph._ Now, sirrah, follow me into the house; thou shalt be convinced at thy own cost, villain! What horrible lies hast thou told me! such improbabilities, such stuff, such non...

6. ACT IV.--SCENE I.

_Jup._ Hate not, the best and fairest of your kind! Nor can you hate your lover, though you would: Your tears, that fall so gently, are but grief: There may be anger; but there...

30. SCENE I.--_A Street, with a Temple at a distance.

_Xim._ So may it move your noble mind to pity, As what the paper tells you is most true. She gave it me; and, with a thousand sighs, Begged me to recommend her life, her love, A...

25. SCENE I.--_A Presence-chamber.

_At the drawing up of the Curtain_, VERAMOND, _King of Arragon, appears_; XIMENA, _the Queen, by him_; VICTORIA, _their eldest Daughter, on the right Hand; and_ CELIDEA, _their...

22. SCENE I.--_An Antechamber of_ CASSANDRA'S _Lodging_.

_Clean._ I remember somewhat Of certain horses which he could not buy, And saw thee go away dissatisfied; Which to prevent, I meant to purchase them: The rest I heard not, nor b...

18. SCENE II.--_The Apartment of_ CASSANDRA.

_Ptol._ Council! What's that? a pack of bearded slaves, Grave faces, saucy tongues, and knavish hearts, That never speak one word, but self's at bottom; The scavengers that swee...

3. SCENE I.--_A Night Scene of a Palace.

_Sos._ Was not the devil in my master, to send me out this dreadful dark night, to bring the news of his victory to my lady? and was not I possessed with ten devils, for going o...

13. SCENE II.--_A Deep Wood.

_Phil._ I left all safe behind; For, in the hindmost quarter of the wood, My former lord, grim Osmond, walks the round, Calls o'er the names, and schools the tardy sprites. His...

28. SCENE I.--VICTORIA'_s Chamber_.

_What state of life can be so blest As love, that warms a lover's breast? Two souls in one, the same desire To grant the bliss, and to require! But if in heaven a hell we find,...

4. SCENE II.

_Jup._ [_To the Pages._] Those torches are offensive; stand aloof; For, though they bless me with thy heavenly sight, [_To her._ They may disclose the secret I would hide. The T...

1. ACT I. SCENE I.

_Phoe._ Know you the reason of this present summons? 'Tis neither council day, nor is this heaven. What business has our Jupiter on earth? Why more at Thebes than any other plac...

16. SCENE I.--_The Sea-Port of Alexandria.

_Cleom._ Dejected! no, it never shall be said, That fate had power upon a Spartan soul: My mind on its own centre stands unmoved, And stable, as the fabric of the world, Propt o...

27. SCENE II.--_A Street.

_Carl._ That is the door of Lopez, and Sancho must come out this way. Now, fool, sit fast, for thou shalt not want for pestilent advice: but first, I must know how far thou hast...

26. SCENE I.--_A Bed-Chamber; a Couch prepared, and set so near the

_Vict._ If on your private business I intrude, Forgive the excess of love, that makes me rude. I hope your sickness has not reached your heart, But come to bear a suffering sist...

2. SCENE II.--AMPHITRYON'S _Palace_.

_Alc._ Why was I married to the man I love! For, had he been indifferent to my choice, Or had been hated, absence had been pleasure; But now I fear for my Amphitryon's life: At...

29. SCENE II.--_The Street before_ LOPEZ'S _House_.

_Dal._ [_Aside._] The fool's too much a fool; he's going to discover himself, if I prevent it not.-- [_To_ LOPEZ.] Make haste, father, and put him upon the point, or he'll give...

14. ACT IV. SCENE I.

Now I am settled in my forceful sway; Why then, I'll be luxurious in my love; Take my full gust, and, setting forms aside, I'll bid the slave, that fires my blood, lie down. [_S...

11. SCENE II.--_A Pavilion.

_Em._ But now I fear He'll be too great, to love poor silly me, If he be dead, or never come again, I mean to die. But there's a greater doubt, Since I ne'er saw him here,-- How...

19. SCENE I.--_The King's Apartment.

_Sosib._ He said he could command them with his nod: Can he do this with mercenaries, raised Not at his charge, but yours? by you maintained? What could he more, had they been S...

8. ACT I--SCENE I.

_Con._ In ten set battles have we driven back These heathen Saxons, and regained our earth. As earth recovers from an ebbing tide Her half-drowned face, and lifts it o'er the wa...

21. SCENE III.--_The Port of Alexandria.

_Cleom._ The propositions are unjust and hard; And if I swallow them, 'tis as we take The wrath of heaven. We must have patience, for they will be gods, And give us no account o...

10. ACT II. SCENE I.

_Phil._ Alas, for pity, of this bloody field! Piteous it needs must be, when I, a spirit, Can have so soft a sense of human woes! Ah, for so many souls, as but this morn Were cl...

9. SCENE II.--_A Place of Heathen Worship. The Three Saxon Gods_,

_Osm._ Father of gods and men, great Woden, hear! Mount thy hot courser, drive amidst thy foes, Lift high thy thundering arm, let every blow Dash out a misbelieving Briton's bra...

17. ACT II.--SCENE I.

_Cleom._ Rise a prophet!-- For since his father's death, this Ptolemy Has minded me no more Than boys their last year's gewgaws. Petition on petition, prayer on prayer, For aid,...

23. ACT V.--SCENE I.

_Cas._ He daily dies, by hours and moments; All vital nourishment but air is wanting. Three rising days and two descending nights Have changed the face of heaven by turns, But b...

12. ACT III. SCENE I.

_Aur._ Cast off hope; The embattled legions of fire, air, and earth, Are banded for our foes: For, going to discover, with the dawn, Yon southern hill, which promised to the sig...

20. SCENE II.--_Of a Temple with Illuminations. An Altar_, APIS

PTOLEMY, CASSANDRA, _Courtiers, men and women, all decently placed. Musick, Instrumental and Vocal. Then_ PTOLEMY, _taking_ CASSANDRA _by the hand, advances to the Altar of_ API...