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not what. It happened that his gaze wandering about the room, met that of Joanna, who was watching him with great anxiety; and then, by degrees the whole scene, till he was deprived of consciousness, came upon his memory. At this, in a sort of horror, he shook in every limb, and looked as if he was about to fall; which seeing, Joanna, regardless of all else but his safety, hastened to support him; but the weakness was only momentary, and gently pushing her from him, with a look of mingled terror and dislike, he turned from her, and slowly left the room.

Joanna moved not, and turned not her eyes from him till the door closed, when she had just strength left to totter to a chair; where she was found about an hour afterwards by Dame Margery, with her arm thrown over the back, and her head leaning on it, in a state of complete insensibleness.

CHAPTER III.

nature only helpt him, for looke thorow
This whole book, thou shalt find he doth not borow
One phrase from Greekes, nor Latines imitate,
Nor once from vulgar languages translate.

Dawberry. Whither speeds his boldness?

Check his rude tongue great sir!

King Henry. O, let him range:

The player's on the stage still, 'tis his part;
He does but act.

DIGGES.

FORD.

Now before Jove, admirable! By Phoebus, my sweet facetious rascal, I could eat water-gruel with thee for a month, for this jest, my dear rogue.-BEN JONSON.

A NUMEROUS party were assembled in one of the queen's withdrawing rooms, consisting principally of the ladies of her court, to hear Master Shakspeare read a new play which he had writ upon her majesty's suggestion, as hath been described. Master Shakspeare stood with his back to the light, and his face to the queen, reading of his manuscript, with his audience in a half circle before him, in the centre of which sat Queen Elizabeth in her chair of state, looking exceeding pleased, and dressed with marvellous grandeur; having at her right hand the Earl of Essex attired very gor

geously, and leaning on her majesty's chair with the air of one that is privileged to say what he lists, ever and anon making of such remarks as the circumstances seemed to give good warrant for; and joining in her majesty's mirth, whenever it was exhibited, with a heartiness which shewed that in such instances, to play the courtier was nothing but natural to him. It was remarked of all, that never had the queen looked so gracious, for she kept turning and smiling upon the handsome nobleman at her side, and saying of this thing and that thing after so amiable a fashion; and commended Master Shakspeare so liberally, that the whole court were moved with admiration. All present appeared in an excellent fine humour, and listened with the very profoundest attention. Some looked to be in a continual smile-others frequently did indulge themselves with a giggle-and some few, who seemed as though they could not confine their mirth within such modest bounds, must needs laugh aloud.

By this time Master Shakspeare had got into the third act of his play, which hath become so singularly liked of the world, under the title of "The Merry Wives of Windsor," and that it lacked nothing in the reading of it is beyond all possibility of doubt. Indeed it may be said, without starting from the truth any great way, so altered he his voice, and expressed he the dialogue

with such a natural manner, that any one, at the shutting of his eyes, might have fancied he heard many different persons. In truth, there wanted no He was the whole Dramatis Personæ

more actors.

in himself. This excellent talent of his made his hearers receive the scene of the challenge between the choleric Welchman and the equally incensed French Doctor, in the field nigh unto Frogmore, with wonderful admiration. But when came Sir John Falstaff put into the buck-basket by the merry wives, and the account he gives of it to the jealous husband, surely nothing could exceed the delight with which it was received.

"In honest truth, Master Shakspeare," cried the queen very merrily, "that fat knight of yours is like to make our sides ache. Oh, the absolute villain! Oh, the monstrous rogue! I'faith 'tis in excellent conceit. We are taken with the humour of it mightily. What say you, my lord," exclaimed the queen, turning to her favourite, "doth it no em to you as ridiculous as heart could wish?"

"Please your majesty, never have I been so taken with any play," replied the Lord Essex. "It hath

in it a wonderful store of wit certainly---- indeed, I take it to be as rare a device of the mind as was ever writ."

"What say you, my Lady Howard," enquired her majesty, turning round to the Lady Howard of

Walden, who was to the left of her, "think you the villainous old fellow was well served of those inerry wives, by being stuffed into the buck-basket, and then cast into the ditch at Datchet mead?"

"Indeed, please your majesty, methinks he had the very properest reward for his abominable impudency," answered her ladyship. "I would have served him worse, for I would have had the greasy rogue smothered to death, or drowned outright."

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Nay, that's too bad of you," observed the queen, “'twould be but right to let him live and repent him of his misdoings. But, odds my life, he be so droll a fish none should have the heart to kill him."

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"O'my word, so think I," added my Lord Essex, your majesty hath expressed the very drift of my mind in this. I must say I like the varlet hugely, and consider a ducking or so a very fitting punishment for his offences."

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Nay, I think it be monstrous of him, at his time of life, that he should be gallanting of two women at once-and they married too!" cried Lady Blanche Somerset, who was somewhat of a prude.

"Married two!" exclaimed my Lord Bumble, who had heard not enough of what had passed to give him a proper knowledge of the matter. "Married two did he? that be clean bigamy: that is to say, if he had marriage of one whilst the other was

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