With an attent ear; till I may deliver Ham. For heaven's love let me hear. Hor. Two nights together had those gentlemen, Marcellus and Bernardo, on their watch, In the dead waist and middle of the night, Been thus encountered: a figure, like your father, Appears before them, and, with solemn march, Stand dumb, and speak not to him. This to me, And I with them, the third night, kept the watch: Form of the thing, each word made true and good, Ham. But where was this? Hor. My lord, upon the platform where we watched. Ham. Did you not speak to it? Hor. My lord, I did; But ǎnswer made it none. Yet once, methought, It lifted up its head, and did address Itself to motion, like as it would speak: But, even then, the morning cock crew loud; Ham. 'Tis very strange. Hor. As I do live, my honored lord, 'tis true; And we did think it writ down in our duty, To let you know of it. Ham. Indeed, indeed, Sir, but this troubles me, Hold you the watch to-night? Hor. We do, my lord. Ham. Armed, say you? Hor. Armed, my lord. Hor. My lord, from head to foot. Ham. Then saw you not his face. Hor. O, yes, my lord; he wore his beaver up Ham. What, looked he frowningly? Hor. A countenance more In sorrow than in anger. Ham. Pale, or red? Hor. Nay, very pale. Ham. And fixed his eyes upon you? Hor. Most constantly. Ham. I would I had been there! Hor. It would have much amazed you. Ham. Very like, very like ;-Staid it long? Hor. While one with moderate haste might tell a hundred. Ham. His beard was grizzled?-no? Hor. It was, as I have seen it in his life, A sable silvered. Ham. I will watch to-night; Perchǎnce 'twill walk again. Hor. I warrant 'twill. Ham. If it assume my noble father's person, I'll speak to it, though hell itself should gape, And bid me hold my peace. I pray you Sir, you have hitherto concealed this sight, If Let it be tenable in your silence still; I will requite your love: so, fare you well. LESSON CXC. Extract from the Essay on Criticism.—POPE. Since none can compass more than they intend; Once on a time, La Mancha's knight, they say, "What! leave the combat out?" exclaims the knight. Yes, or we must renounce the Stagirite. "Not so by heaven!" (he answers in a rage) Knights, squires, and steeds must enter on the stage." So văst a throng the stage can ne'er contain: "Then build anew, or act it in a plain." Thus critics of less judgment than caprice, Some to conceit alone their taste confine, Others for language all their care express, And value books, as women men,-for dress: Their praise is still, the style is excellent : The sense, they humbly take upon content. Words are like leaves; and where they most abound, Much fruit of sense beneath is rarely found. False eloquence, like the prismatic glass, Expression is the dress of thought, and still Be not the first by whom the new are tried, But most by numbers judge a poet's song; And smooth or rough, with them, is right or wrong. Who haunt Parnassus but to please their ear, These, equal syllables alone require, That, like a wounded snake, drags its slow length along. Leave such to tune their own dull rhymes, and know What's roundly smooth or languishingly slow; And praise the easy vigor of a line, Where Denham's strength and Waller's sweetness join. 'Tis not enough no harshness gives offence; Flies o'er the unbending corn, and skims along the main. LESSON CXCI. Dialogue:-GIL BLAS* and the OLD ARCHBISHOP.-From LE SAGE. Arch. WELL, young man, what is your business with me? Gil Blas. I am the young man whom your nephew,† Dou Fernando, was pleased to mention to you. Arch. O! you are the person then, of whom he spoke so handsomely. I engage you in my service, and consider you a valuable acquisition. From the specimens he showed me of your powers, you must be pretty well acquainted with the Greek and Latin authors. It is very evident your education has not been neglected. I am satisfied with your hand writing, and still more with your understanding. I thank my nepl ew, Don Fernando, for having given me such an able your g man, whom I consider a rich acquisition. You trănscrib so well you must certainly understand grammar. Tell me, ingenuously, my friend, did you find nothing that shocked you in writing over the homily I sent you on trial? some neglect, perhaps, in style, or some improper term? Gil. B. O! Sir, I am not learned enough to make critical observations, and if I was I am persuaded the works of your grace would escape my censure. *In this name, the & has the sound of z in a-zure; the a is sounded as in bar, and the s is silent. + Pron. nev-ew. |