Two Plays; Mantuan Revels, a Comedy, in Five Acts Henry the Seventh, an Historical Tragedy, in Five Acts (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1812 Excerpt: ...messenger of news That must be told, however it be grating. Read here this paper. CATESBY. Death no word but death I did expect not less. T is somewhat hard To meet it thus.... That's short indeed: --and then, To lose remembrance of the world; to be As though 't were nought --So vast a change, so sudden, Appals... Officer. My orders are that I be prompt. CATESBY. Sir, I'll attend you.--Do I die alone? What news of Brakenbury, Piercy, Norfolk, Ratcliffe and Ferrers, Lovel, the lord Staffords? OFFICER. Lovel, with Humphrey Stafford and his brother, Hath fled, as 't is supposed, to Colchester. The rest have dyed the battle with their blood. Catesby. Oh, Gloster, what a damning cause was thine Thou hadst a bond of my fidelity More strong than oaths and imprecations holy; Signed with the inn'cent blood I 've shed to o serve thee;-Sealed with my soul, and witnessed by my crimes Officer. You are a soldier, sir, and know what't is To be confin'd by duty. Catesby. I am ready. Oh, God, have mercy --T is too late repentance. And yet I'll try Pardon, almighty Heaven; For thou hast promised--There's comfort still--Yet canst thou hear a wretch imbrued, like me, With deeds which make the crimson stain of murder Seem white as snow, and turn to milky paleness The black damnation of abhorreid sacrilege? Make perjury look fair? Oh no, thou canst not --Pardon, Omnipotent Oh, pardon, pardon Is led away. OFFICER. For this base wretch, whose use of cruel deeds Has worn his sense of manhood that he sleeps, He must be guarded. He hath borne his office With more than needful harshness, still ex-ceeding The measure of his duty. Exit Officer. Jailor (awakening). Eh, what, is he gone? I thought so. If I have any custom of my dealing, I knew he would not be a long inmate here. And a...