children, like the young of the pelican, glutting themselves on their parent's blood, and, accordingly, Lear is made to exclaim "Is it the fashion that discarded fathers Its obviousness would make it superfluous to observe, that the history of the Paphlagonian king furnished the incident which gave occasion for Edgar's magnificent description of Dover cliff, were it not necessary to remark, that he did not thence derive the incongruous idea of persuading Gloster that he had actually fallen from the stupendous height, though he was perfectly unhurt, and only fell the length of his own body. Respecting the management of the story of Lear, the most striking circumstance is its connection with the history of the king of Paphlagonia and his sons. Never were the materials of an episode more harmonious with the main incident, and never was an episode more ingeniously interwoven and finally amalgamated with the subject matter than the fable of Gloster with the tale of Lear. Indeed, from the arrival of Albany and Regan at Gloster's castle it is impossible to disconnect the stories; and by means the most artful, though at the same time apparently natural and simple, the episode is made to promote the ends of retributive justice, which were unsatisfied by the conclusion of the original tale. ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL. 1606. THE plot of All's Well that Ends Well, or, as Dr. Farmer supposes it to have been sometimes called, Love's Labour Wonne, was originally the property of Bocaccio, but was immediately derived by Shakspeare from the thirty-eighth novel in the first volume of Painter's Palace of Pleasure: its title is Giletta of Narbona. Isnardo, Count of Rossiglione, was continually afflicted by sickness. He retained in his house a celebrated physician, Gerardo of Narbona, whose daughter, Giletta, fostered a very early attachment for Bertram, the son of Isnardo. On the decease of his father, the young Count became a ward of the king, and was sent to Paris. Shortly afterwards the father of Giletta also died, when she conceived the idea of making a journey in pursuit of the object of her romantic passion. The king's disease baffled his most skilful· physicians; and on this circumstance Giletta founded a project of obtaining Bertram for her husband. Directed by the knowledge she had obtained from her father, she prepared a powder of herbs; set out for Paris, had an audience of the king, and undertaking to effect his cure, without any pain, within the period of eight days, she prevailed on him to make a trial of her skill. The penalty of failure was to be death by fire in the event of success, she stipulated for permission to choose a husband, with reservation only of the royal blood. The king was restored to health within the appointed time, and Giletta fixed her choice on Bertram. Unable to refuse obedience to the king's commands, he reluctantly submitted to the union; but highly disgusted with the meanness of his connection, immediately after the performance of the marriage ceremony he dismissed his bride to her home, and set out himself for Tuscany to join the Florentine army. From Rossiglione, Giletta despatched two knights to Bertram with a message expressive of her entire obedience to his will. He coldly re plied, "Let her do what she list: for I do purpose to dwell with her when she shall have this ring upon her finger, and a son in her arms begotten by me." The ring was one he greatly loved, and constantly wore upon his finger on account of a virtue he supposed it to possess. Giletta quickly determined on her course. Providing herself with money, and jewels, she assumed the habit of a pilgrim, and taking with her a kinsman and female servant, travelled without intermission till she arrived at Florence. Here she discovered that her husband was violently in love with the daughter of a poor, but highly respectable lady, On this information she formed her plan; and repairing to the house of this lady, after the fullest explanation, proposed that her daughter should seemingly acquiesce in the desires of the Count, on his consenting to give her the ring he wore. Every preparation was made for Bertram's introduction in the obscurity of night, and Giletta, instead of the young lady whom he loved, received Bertram to her arms. The ring was obtained, and Giletta had the satisfaction, in due time, of giving birth to two sons, both bearing a striking resemblance to their father. In the mean time, Bertram, informed of the departure of his wife from Rossiglione, resolved |