Abby Sage Richardson

“ He was the cruel Oliver whom Orlando had described to them, and, driven forth by Duke Frederick to seek his brother, he had come at last to the forest of Arden. Worn out with fatigue, he lay down to sleep under the shade of a tree, and so Orlando came upon him, as he lay stretched in slumber. At that very moment a snake, ugly and venomous, had coiled about the sleeper’s neck, ready to strike him with deadly fangs. In the thicket close behind him lurked a lioness, her eyes fixed on the sleeping man, waiting for some movement to prove he was living, before she seized him as her prey. ”

“ At one glance he saw the mangled steed of the maiden, and descried also her golden girdle lying coiled upon the sand.
As quickly as the red lightning rushes from the clouds on some hoary monarch of the forest, and rives its ancient trunk with its forked darts, so quickly did Sir Satyrane ride upon the horrid monster and fell him to the trembling earth.
But by the witch’s magic arts no sword had power to end his unclean life; and after many blows which would have put an end to him, if it had not been for the charms by which he was protected, the knight sent him howling back to his mistress. ”

“ Only Titania had not stolen this earth child, who was her charge. It was the offspring of an Indian princess who had died; and dying, preferred to give her boy to the fairy queen, rather than leave it to the mercies of the cold world. So Titania kept him tenderly, and loved him as dearly as if he were a fairy. But Oberon, who was both jealous and exacting,—as much so as an earth-born lord,—saw she boy, and coveted him to be his cup-bearer, to bring him dew in flower-cups, or to gather him sweets from the heavy loaded cups of the wild honeysuckle. ”

“ Alexander’s face grew darker. He raised his arm as if he would strike the two lovers to the earth. His eye met the appealing glance of Campaspe, who waited as if breathlessly expecting her death-blow. A sudden revulsion of feeling overcame him. He took Campaspe’s little cold hand, and placed it in that of Apelles.
“Here, Apelles,’’ he said firmly, “I give her to thee frankly. I see I cannot conquer hearts, though I may subdue nations. She is thine, love her as dearly as thou wilt.” ”

“ Simonides was one of the rarest of men, for he saw that true nobility was altogether in the man and not in his surroundings; and the manner in which he treated Prince Pericles proved that his people did not prize him too dearly, when they esteemed him the best and wisest of rulers.
Thaisa inherited her father’s spirit. To her, the young hero who had shown himself brave in arms, skilled in the elegant arts, and whose conversation she found each day sparkling with wit and knowledge, was worthy of her love, even if he were beggared by adverse fortune. ”

“ While he was speaking, a sudden light lit up the Head with a brightness like that of day. The terrible features wore a frown so dreadful that the glance struck dismay to the heart of the swaggering Miles. As he stood motionless, with awful accent and in a voice of thunder, the Head cried out, “Time is past!” Then came a lightning flash so vivid that the serving-man fell prone to earth, and with a fearful crash the grand Head fell, a shattered mass of fragments, without shape or semblance.
Amidst the dire noise Friar Bacon started up and rushed to his doorway. ”

“ Not now were all the troubles of Florimel a at an end. Proteus beheld how fair the maiden was, and forgetful of her mortal birth, he sought her for his bride. But she, fearing such a suitor, and remembering her love for Marinell, which she still cherished in despite of the story of his cruel death, told Proteus she could wed none but an earthly knight.
Proteus, who can take as many shapes as there are fancies, took at once the image of a mortal gentleman; and finding the maiden still averse, he tried in turn all different shapes, striving in each to win her heart. ”

“ The tallest horseman, still riding erect and proudly, in spite of the day’s fatigues, was Macbeth, Thane of Glamis, a kinsman of the Scottish king, chief of a royal clan, the handsomest, bravest, and proudest of all King Duncan’s nobles. With him rode Banquo, another cousin of the king, a man of rare virtue; not approved so much for his brave deeds, as for his wisdom in council; shining rather in the quiet of peace than in the storms of war. Such were the two who crossed the heath together. The witches waited impatiently their coming. ”

“ Inspired by double soul and valor Dyamond was hardly to be subdued, and for a long time the victory seemed doubtful,—till, with one gigantic blow, Cambello wielded his good sword, and struck from his body the head of his brave adversary.
Then as the united lives of his two brothers passed into the breast of Triamond, a great cry of defiance escaped his throat. Not one whit dismayed at the prowess of Cambello, he burned to engage with him hand to hand. ”

“ Weep no more, for I promise thy pleasure shall yet be done, and Palamon shall have Emelie.”
Now in the broad daylight, Athens is all astir. Now is heard the clattering of hoofs; the ringing of hammers, which rivet together the links of the armor; the tramping of hurried feet; the sharp word of command, and the knights calling on their squires. Now is seen the glitter of gold and the flash of steel, the waving of plumes and fluttering of mantles. Now each man has fastened the last buckle and helped his master mount, and the steeds champ their shining bits, impatient to be gone. ”

“ One would have imagined that Prospero’s inquiries into all the mysteries of magic might have taught him how to read the designs of men, but it seems they did not; for while he was deep in his books, and suspected no harm, this bad brother Antonio took possession of his throne, seized Prospero and the little Princess Miranda, thrust them into a leaky boat, and pushed them off into the wide ocean, all alone by themselves.
But it sometimes happens that the winds and waves, and all the great forces of Nature, though they seem so pitiless, are more kind than men. ”

“ Leontes clasped Perdita in his arms, crying out that she was his lost daughter; Paulina listened to the account of her husband’s death with tears of grief, which were softened by her joy in seeing the oracle fulfilled; Camillo was dumb with amazement, and Florizel scarcely knew whether he waked or dreamed. There were laughter and tears, and explanations and rejoicings, till the whole court of Sicily seemed to have gone quite mad. ”

“ Lear had three children, all of them daughters, and all very beautiful. The eldest was named Goneril; the second, Regan; and the youngest, Cordelia. Goneril and Regan were proud and haughty beauties. They trod the halls of their father’s palace as if they were already queens. When any story of suffering or complaint of wrong arose from the people, they always took the part of the oppressor, Their radiant black eyes glistened with hatred or sparkled with anger, but they never softened with pity or tenderness. ”

“ Before the coming thither of the disguised maidens, the young Orlando, with his old servitor, had joined the train of the Duke, and now lived as one of them, in Arden. And in this forest-life which was so in harmony with the sweet thoughts that run to music in the brain of youth, Orlando had grown to cherish the remembrance of the sparkling eyes that had shone on him, and the tender voice that had praised him, when the chain he wore was first placed about his neck. ”

“ She sang and played on the harp with great skill, and she was an apt scholar in the languages. The only daughter of Dionyza, who was called Philoten, was the sharer of all the princess’s studies, and her close companion, but while Marina was graceful and lovely, Philoten was deformed and ugly; where Marina excelled in accomplishments, she was left far behind.
Dionyza, for her daughter’s sake, beheld the beauty and sweetness of Marina with envious eyes. That her only child, nurtured with so much maternal love and fondness, should be outstripped by a stranger, was hateful beyond measure to her. ”

“ O! how these gentlemen who call themselves noble, will flatter and feign, to wrong a trusting woman’s heart!”
“On my life, on my knightly honor, Margaret, I mean no jest. I love you. At first, indeed, I laughed at the charms of woman’s face and voice. But since I saw you, everywhere, at the fair, in all our walks and meetings, I have loved you more and more. And if thou wilt, I will make thee the Lincoln Countess and my true and honorable wife.”
“Alas! Lord Lacy, I fear much that pride will never let thee stoop so low as from thee to me.” ”

“ The fairy king told him of a magic flower, purple in hue, which grew in rare places, known to none but himself, of which the juice, squeezed upon the sleeping eyes of lovers, should compel them to doat upon whomever their first waking glance should fall on. He would squeeze some of this fateful juice on the drowsy lids of Titania when she slept in her bower close by, and place before her some hideous monster whom her waking eyes should fix upon, and, so enchanted should love. ”

“ On this wedding morn, then, he came into her bower, and in cold speech, thus spoke to her,—“Griselda, thou must have guessed that for many years I have bewailed the caprice which led me to take thee, low-born, and rude in manners, as my wife. At last my people’s discontent, and my own heart, have told me that I must take a bride who can share fitly my state, and bring me a noble heir. Even now from Pavia, my sister’s court, my young bride, surpassing beautiful, is on her way hither. Canst thou be content to go back to thy father, and leave me free to marry her?” ”

“ Three times did Cymoent swoon over the body of her son. Thrice and thrice did she call on Neptune and Nereus, and all her sea-born kinsfolk, to revenge his death.
“False Proteus!” she cried, “no woman dealt this deep wound which his poor breast bears. You taught me to fear his death-blow from a woman, and I, credulous, feared love. But they that love do not always die. Better, a thousand times, love than death.” ”

“ Never since the world began, were there such brave preparations. The field was made a circle, and walled about with stone. At three points in the walls a fair temple was built. One of pure marble, in honor of Venus, queen of Love and Beauty. The second, shining with gold, was to Mars, god of war. The third, of red and white coral, beautiful beyond compare, was dedicated to Diana, at whose altar sweet Emelie worshipped.
When the year was at an end, into Athens came Palamon with his hundred knights, each the flower of chivalry. ”

“ Now do you trust my friendship, good Friar Bacon?”
“My lord Cardinal, I do trust you,” answered Bacon, whose keen eye had closely scanned the features of the priest while he had spoken. “But it becometh us men of letters to be mistrustful. We remember that many who were not heretics, have been invited into the presence of the Inquisition, and have not returned from thence. But I trust your word, and I will betray to you my mystery.”
Rising hastily, the friar drew aside the green curtain which had hitherto concealed some object from the view. ”

“ Perdita had grown up under the roof of the rude peasants who had fostered her, a beautiful maiden, fair and pure as a lily, with a delicate refinement in all her looks and words, a grace in all her motions, which made the peasants look upon her with admiration, and regard her almost as a queen, She ruled them with a gentle sway, and at all their rustic festivals her wish was law. ”

“ You knew well that I loved this maiden, when I intrusted her to thee to be put on thy canvas.”
“I knew it, King Alexander, and knowing it, I have guarded my lips from any word of love to her,”’ answered the painter.
“You cannot deny that you do love her,” said the monarch fiercely.
“No, I do not wish to deny that. Who could see her daily as I have, and not love her with all his heart? He would either be less than a man, or more than a god.”
“And you, Campaspe,” asked Alexander, turning to where she sat tremblingly watching the interview, “do you love Apelles?” ”

“ So they lived till the time when Miranda was about sixteen. So beautiful a creature as this young daughter of Prospero had rarely been seen. Bred among the enchantments of this island, her own rich loveliness was nourished by wonders, till she seemed more like a spirit than a mortal. Her father, too, had taught her much strange and curious learning, so that she was wise in things foreign to her sex and years. She had seen no faces which resembled the human, except those of her father, and his servants Ariel and Caliban. ”

“ Macbeth was brave, but he could not fight against destiny. “Fate is a spaniel; we cannot beat it from us.” Before sunset the head of Macbeth was raised upon a pole above the walls of Dunsinane by the conquering hand of Macduff, and its stony eyes looked down upon the hosts of Malcolm as he passed through the castle gates, the crowned and rightful King of Scotland. ”

“ When Lear thus fled from the luxurious palace-hall in which he had held this last meeting with his daughters, it was beginning to grow dark, and a terrible storm was coming on. Already they heard the loud roll of thunder and saw the sharp flashes of lightning. But though some nobles in Regan’s court, more tender hearted than these stony women, pleaded for the king, and besought them not to let him go out into a night when even beasts ought to be sheltered, they alone were pitiless. They helped to drive their poor old father forth, and locked after him their heavy castle gates. ”

“ Have you any message from my lord, Furio?”
“My lady,” answered the old man, hesitatingly, “I have a message. It is somewhat hard to deliver, but the Duke must have his own will. My lord fears you are too much with the babes; that you are not quite a fitting nurse for them. Not that he fears your low birth will taint the manners of his children, but he fears the people might fancy it was so, and he must consult the wishes of his people.”
“If my lord thinks so,” answered Griselda, “he may find nurses for his babes. It seems as if no love could be so dear as mine: But perchance he is right. ”

“ Angry at the indignity put upon all women by the indifference of Marinell, Britomart rode onward to avenge the wrong done to beauty and chivalry by his scorn of the lovely Florimel.
As the warrior-maid approached, Marinell beheld her coming, and his eyes flashed with the desire of meeting some warrior worthy of his prowess. Her sex he could not guess at, through the thick armor and closed visor which she wore; else might the remembrance of the prophecy which he knew threatened his life have made him fear to engage in battle with a woman. ”