III.-JEPHTHAH, JUDGE OF ISRAEL. IN Shakespeare's Hamlet, Act ii., the hero of the play takes occasion to banter Polonius with some scraps of an old ballad, which has never appeared yet in any collection: for which reason, as it is but short, it will not perhaps be unacceptable to the reader, who will also be diverted with the pleasant absurdities of the composition. The banter of Hamlet is as follows: Hamlet. "O Jeptha, Judge of Israel," what a treasure hadst thou! Polonius. What a treasure had he, my lord? Ham. Why, "One faire daughter, and no more, The which he loved passing well." Polon. Still on my daughter. Ham. Am not I i' th' right, old Jeptha? Polon. If you call me Jeptha, my lord, I have a daughter, that I love passing well. Ham. Nay, that follows not. Polon. What follows then, my lord? Ham. Why, "As by lot, God wot:" and then you know, "It came to passe, As most like it was.' The first row of the pious chanson will shew you more. IN his Twelfth Night, Shakespeare introduces the Clown singing part of the two first stanzas of the following song; which song is here printed from what appears the most ancient of Dr. Harrington's poetical MSS., and which seems to have been written in the reign of King Henry VIII. V.-A SONG TO THE LUTE IN MUSICKE. THIS Sonnet (which is ascribed to Richard Edwards, in the Paradise of Daintie Devises, fo. 31, b.) is by Shakespeare made the subject of some pleasant ridicule in his Romeo and Juliet, Act iv. Sc. v., where he introduces Peter putting this question to the musicians: Peter. why "Silver Sound"? why say you, Simon Catling? "Musicke with her silver sound"? what I Mus. Marry, sir, because silver hath a sweet sound. Pet. Pretty! what say you, Hugh Rebecke? 2 Mus. I say, silver sound, because musicians sound for silver. Pet. Pretty too! what say you, James Sound-post? 3 Mus. Faith, I know not what to say. Pet. . . . . . . I will say it for you: It is "Musicke with her silver sound," because musi cians have no gold for sounding. WHERE gripinge grefes the hart would wounde, The Gods by musicke have theire prayse; The lyfe, the soul therein doth joye : And dolefulle dumps the mynde For, as the Romayne poet sayes, VI.-KING COPHETUA AND THE BEGGAR MAID Is a story often alluded to by our old dramatic writers. Shakespeare, in his Romeo and Juliet, Act ii. Sc. i., makes Mercutio say: In the second part saying to Pistoll: "Her (Venus') purblind son and heir, Young Adam Cupid, he that shot so true, When King Cophetua loved the beggar maid." of Henry IV., Act v. Sc. iii., Falstaff is introduced affectedly "O base Assyrian knight, what is thy news? Let King Cophetua know the truth thereof.' Shakespeare also alludes to the ballad in Love's Labour Lost, Act iv. Sc. i. And there is an allusion to the story in King Richard II., Act v. Sc. iii. I READ that once in Affrica From natures lawes he did decline, But did them all disdaine. The blinded boy, that shootes so trim, Which soone did pierse him to the quicke, He looketh as he would dye. Then from the window he did come, For now he meanes to crave her love, But Cupid had him so in snare, That this poor begger must prepare And, as he musing thus did lye, The Gods shall sure suffice. The Gods preserve your majesty, The king to them his pursse did cast, That after them did hye. For thou, quoth he, shalt be my wife, As shortly shall be seene: Thou shalt go shift thee cleane. What is thy name, faire maid? quoth he. A trim one as I weene. Thus hand in hand along they walke The begger blusheth scarlet red, And straight againe as pale as lead, But not a word at all she said, She was in such amaze. At last she spake with trembling voyce, And my degree's so base. And when the wedding day was come, Upon the queene to wait. Which she did weare of late. He knowth not his estate. Here you may read, Cophetua, Though long time fancie-fed, Compelled by the blinded boy The begger for to wed: He that did lovers lookes disdaine, As to that king it did. And thus they led a quiet life During their princely raigne; Their death to them was paine, VII. TAKE THY OLD CLOAK ABOUT THEE. GIVEN in the folio under the title of Bell my Wiffe. This piece is more than a controversy between man and wife. It notes the tendency of the age, the struggle between social revolution and social conservatism. The man is anxious to do as his neighbours, and to do away with distinctions and rise to a higher level. The wife thinks old things are best, and wishes not to meddle with new. Shakespeare quotes the 7th stanza in Act ii. of Othello. THIS winters weather itt waxeth cold, She sayd unto me quietlye, HE. O Bell, why dost thou flyte "and scorne?" Itt is soe bare and overworne A cricke he theron cannot renn: SHE. Cow Crumbocke is a very good cowe, And other things shee will not fayle; Good husband, councell take of mee, It is not for us to go soe fine, Man, take thine old cloake about thee. HE. My cloake it was a verry good cloake, I have had it four and forty yeere: 'Tis now but a sigh clout as you may see, It will neither hold out winde nor raine; And Ile have a new cloake about mee. SHE. It is four and fortye yeeres agoe Since the one of us the other did ken, And we have had betwixt us towe Of children either nine or ten; Wee have brought them up to women and men; In the feare of God I trow they bee; Man, take thine old cloake about thee. O Bell my wiffe, why dost thou "floute!" Thou kenst not clownes from gentlemen. or " gray," Soe far above their owne degree: For Ile have a new cloake about mee. King Stephen was a worthy peere, And thouse but of a low degree: "Bell my wife she loves not strife, I am forced to yield, though Ime good- Itt's not for a man with a woman to threape, As wee began wee now will leave, And Ile take mine old cloake about mee. |