Lady R And sure the play for the odd trick- Sir C. Hear me, I say. Will you hear me? my life. Sir C. Why then you are enough to provoke the patience of a Stoic. Very well, madam! you know uo more of the game than your father's leaden Hercules on the top of the house. You know no more of whist than he does of gardening. Lady R. Ha, ha, ha! Sir C. You're a vile woman,and I'll not sleep another night under one roof with you. Lady R. As you please, Sir. Sir C. Madam, it shall be as I please-I'll order my chariot this moment. [Going.] I know how the cards should be played as well as any man in England, that let me tell you-Going.] And when your family were standing behind counters, measuring out tape, and bartering für Whitechapel needless, my ancestors. my ancestors, Madam, were squandering away whole estates at cards; whole estates, my lady Racket-She hums a tune] Why, then, by all that's dear to me, I'll never exchange another word with you, good, bad, or indifferent. Look ye, my lady Racket-thus it stood the trump being led, it was then my business tell Lady R. To play the diamond, to be sure. Sir C. I have done with you forever; and so you may your father. Lady R. What a passion the gentleman is in! Ha! ha! I promise him I'll not give up my judgment. Re-enter Sir Charles. Sir C. My lady Racket-look'ye, Ma'am, once more, out of pure good nature Lady R. Sir, I am convinced of your good nature. Sir C. That, and that oniy, prevails with ine to tell you, the club was the play. Lady R. Well, be it so-I have no objection. Sir C. 'Tis the clearest point in the worldwere nine, and Lady R. And for that very reason, you know the club was the best in the house. Sir C. There's no such thing as talking to you.You're a base woman-I'll part with you forever, you may live here with your father, and admire his fantastical evergreens, till you grow as fantastical yourself—I'll set out for London this instant-Stops at the door] The club was not the best in the house. Lady R. How calm you are! Well, I'll go to bed. Will you come? You had better- -Poor Sir Charles. [Looks and laughs, then exit.] Sir C. That ease is provoking-(Crosses to the opposite door where she went out.)I tell you the diamond was not the play; and here I take my final leave of you➡ (Walks back as fast as he can) I am resolved upon it; and I know the club was not the best in the house. VIII.-Brutus and Cassius.-SHAKESPEARE. Cas. THAT you have wrong'd me, doth appear in this; You have condemn'd and noted Lucius Pella For taking bribes here of the Sardians; Wherein my letter (praying on his side, Because I knew the man) was slighted off. Bru. You wrong'd yourself to write in such a case. That every nice offence should bear its comment ? Cas. I an itching palm ? You know that you are Brutus that speak this, Bru. The name of Cassius honors this corruption, Cas. Chastisement ? Bru. Remember March, the Ides of March remember. Did not great Julius bleed for justice' sake? What shall one of us, That struck the foremost man of all this world, But for supporting robbers; Shall we now Contaminate our fingers with base bribes ? Cas. Brutus, bay not me: I'll not endure it. You forget yourself Bru. Go to! You are not, Cassius. Bru. I say you are not. Cas Urge me no more: I shall forget myself: Have mind upon your health: tempt me no farther. Bru. Away, slight man! Cas. Is't possible! Bru. Hear me, for I will speak. Must I give way and room to your rash choler ? Cas. Must I endure all this! Bru. All this! Ay, more. Fret till your proud heart break; Go, show your slaves how choleric you are, And make your boudmen tremble. Must I budge? You shall digest the venom of your spleen, Cas. Is it come to this ? Bru. You say you are a better soldier ; Let it appear so; make your vaunting true, And it shall please me well. For my own part I shall be glad to learn of noblemen. Cas. You wrong me every way; you wrong me Brutus; I said an elder soldier, not a better. Did I say better? Bru. If you did I care not. Cas. When Cesar liv'd he durst not thus have moy'd mé. I Bru. Peace peace; you durst not so have tempted him. Cas. I durst not! Bru. No. Cas. What! durst not tempt him! Bru. For your life you durst not. Cas. Do not presume too much upon my love. Bru. You have done that you should be sorry And drop my blood for drachmas, than to wring To you for gold to pay my legions; Which you denied me. for. Was that done like Cassius? Should I have answer'd Caius Cassius so ? When Marcus Brutus grows so covetous, To lock such rascal counters from his friends, Dash him in pieces. Cas. I denied you not. Bru. You did. Cas. I did not; he was but a fool That brought my answer back. Brutus hath riv'd my heart. A friend should bear a friend's infirmities; But Brutus makes mine greater than they are. Bru. I do not. Still you practise them on me. Bru. I do not like your faults. Cas. A friendly eye could never see such faults. As huge as high Olympus. Cas. Come Anthony! And young Octavius, come! Revenge yourselves alone on Cassius: For Cassius is weary of the world Hated by one he loves; brav'd by his brother; Bru. Sheath your dagger, Be angry when you will, it shall have scope, Cas. Hath Cassius lived To be but mirth and laughter to his Brutus, Cas. O Brutus ! Bru. What's the matter? Cas. Have you not love enough to bear with me, When the rash humor which my mother gave me, Makes me forgetful? Bru. Yes, Cassius; and from henceforth, When you are over earnest with your Brutus, He'll think your mother chides, and leave you so. II-SPEECHES AND SOLILOQUIES. TRAGEDY OF HAMLET. SPEAK the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to you; trippingly on the tongue. But if you mouth it, as many of our players do, I had as lief the town crier had spoken my lines. And do not saw the air too |