pleasure many years ago. It was on the night that King took leave of the stage, when he and Mrs. Jordan played together in the after-piece of the Wedding-day. Nothing could go off with more éclat, with more spirit, and grandeur of effect. Mrs. Siddons played Hermione, and in the last scene acted the painted statue to the life— with true monumental dignity and noble passion; Mr. Kemble, in Leontes, worked himself up into a very fine classical phrensy; and Bannister, as Autolycus, roared as loud for pity as a sturdy beggar could do who felt none of the pain he counterfeited, and was sound of wind and limb. We shall never see these parts so acted again; or if we did, it would be in vain. Actors grow old, or no longer surprise us by their novelty. But true poetry, like nature, is always young; and we still read the courtship of Florizel and Perdita, as we welcome the return of spring, with the same feelings as ever. "Florizel. Thou dearest Perdita, When these forc'd thoughts, I pr'ythee, darken not Mine own, nor any thing to any, if I be not thine. To this I am most constant, Tho' destiny say, No. Be merry, gentle; Strangle such thoughts as these, with any thing That you behold the while. Your guests are coming : Of celebration of that nuptial, which We two have sworn shall come. Perdita. O lady fortune, Stand you auspicious! Enter Shepherd, Clown, MOPSA, DORCAS, Servants; with POLIXENES, and CAMILLO, disguised. Florizel. See, your guests approach. Address yourself to entertain them sprightly, And let's be red with mirth. Shepherd. Fie, daughter! when my old wife liv'd, upon This day, she was both pantler, butler, cook; Both dame and servant: welcom'd all, serv'd all : Would sing her song, and dance her turn: now here At upper end o' the table, now i' the middle: On his shoulder, and his : her face o' fire With labour; and the thing she took to quench it Pray you, bid These unknown friends to us welcome; for it is Peraita. Sir, welcome! It is my father's will I should take on me [To Polixenes and Camillo. The hostess-ship o' the day: you're welcome, sir! Give me those flowers there, Dorcas.-Reverend sirs, Polixenes. Shepherdess, (A fair one are you) well you fit our ages With flowers of winter. Perdita. Sir, the year growing ancient, Not yet on summer's death, nor on the birth Of trembling winter, the fairest flowers o' the season Our rustic garden's barren; and I care not To get slips of them. Polixenes. Wherefore, gentle maiden, Do you neglect them? Perdita. For I have heard it said There is an art, which, in their piedness, shares Polixenes. Say, there be : Yet nature is made better by no mean, But nature makes that mean: so, o'er that art Which you say, adds to nature, is an art That nature makes. You see, sweet maid, we marry A gentler scyon to the wildest stock; And make conceive a bark of baser kind By bud of nobler race. This is an art Which does mend nature, change it rather: but The art itself is nature. Perdita. So it is.1 Polixenes. Then make your garden rich in gilly-flowers, And do not call them bastards. Perdita. I'll not put The dibble in earth, to set one slip of them ;1 1The lady, we here see, gives up the argument, but keeps her mind. No more than, were I painted, I would wish Perdita. Out, alas! You'd be so lean, that blasts of January Would blow you through and through. Now my fairest friends, For the flowers now, that, frighted, thou let'st fall That come before the swallow dares, and take Florizel. What, like a corse ? Perdita. No, like a bank, for love to lie and play on; But quick, and in mine arms. Come take your flowers; In Whitsun pastorals: sure this robe of mine Does change my disposition. Florizel. What you do, Still betters what is done. When you speak, sweet, I'd have you do it ever : when you sing, I'd have you buy and sell so; so, give alms; To sing them too. When you do dance, I wish you Nothing but that: move still, still so, And own no other function. Each your doing, Crowns what you're doing in the present deeds, Perdita. O Doricles, Your praises are too large; but that your youth And the true blood, which peeps forth fairly through it, You woo'd me the false way. Florizel. I think you have As little skill to fear, as I have purpose To put you to't. But come, our dance, I pray : Your hand, my Perdita: so turtles pair, That never mean to part. Perdita. I'll swear for 'em. Polixenes. This is the prettiest low-born lass that ever Camillo. He tells her something That makes her blood look out: good sooth she is This delicious scene is interrupted by the father of the prince discovering himself to Florizel, and haughtily breaking off the intended match between his son and Perdita. When Polixenes goes out, Perdita says, "Even here undone : I was not much afraid; for once or twice I told you what would come of this. Beseech you, [To Florizel. As Perdita, the supposed shepherdess, turns out to be the daughter of Hermione, and a princess in disguise, both feelings of the pride of birth and the claims of nature are satisfied by the fortunate events of the story, and the fine romance of poetry is reconciled to the strictest courtetiquette. ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL is one of the most pleasing of our author's comedies. The interest is however more of a serious than of a comic nature. The character of Helen is one of great sweetness and delicacy. She is placed in circumstances of the most critical kind, and has to court her husband both as a virgin and a wife: yet the most scrupulous nicety of female modesty is not once violated. There is not one thought or action that ought to bring a blush into her cheeks, or that for a moment lessens her in our esteem. Perhaps the romantic attachment of a beautiful and virtuous girl to one placed above her hopes by the circumstances of birth and fortune, was never so exquisitely expressed as in the reflections which she utters when young Roussillon leaves his mother's house, under whose protection she has been brought up with him, to repair to the French king's court. "Helena. Oh, were that all-I think not on my father, I have forgot him. My imagination The interest excited by this beautiful picture of a fond and innocent heart is kept up afterwards by her resolution M |