creature has the heart of a lion; but who can resist five at once?—And so Pompey barked for assistance—the hurt he received was upon his cheat the doctor would not advise him to venture out 'tiil the wound is healed, for fear of an inflammation. Pray what's trumps I" Sir C. My dear, you'd make a most excellent actress. Lady R. Well, now, let's go to rest—but, Sir Charles, how shockingly you play'd that last rubber, when I stood looking over you! Sir C. My love, I played the truth of the game. Lady R. No, indeed my dear, you played it wrong. Sir C. Po! Nonsense! You don't understand it. Lady R. I beg your pardon, I'm allowed to play better than you. Sir C. All conceit, my dear! I was perfectly right. Lady R. No such thing, Sir Charles; the diamond was the play. Sir C. Po! Po! Ridiculous! The club was the card, against the world. Lady R. Oh No, no, no- -I say it was the diamond. Sir C. Madam, I say it was the club. Lady R. What do you fly into such a passion for ? Sir C. Death and fury! Do you think I don't know what I'm about? I tell you once more, the club was the judgment of it. Lady R. May be sc—have it your own way. Sir C. Vexation! You're the strangest woman that ever lived; there's no conversing with you.—Look 'ye here, my Lady Racket'tis the clearest case in Ihe world--I'll make it plain in a moment. Lady R. Well, Sir; ha, ha, !i ! Sir C. I had four cards left—a trump had ledthey were six- -no, no, no—they were seven, and we ninethen, you know the beauty of the play was Lady R. Well, now, 'tis amazing to me, that you can't see it. Give me leave, Sir Charles—your left hand adversary had led his last trump—and he had before finessed the club, and roughed the diamond—now if you had put on your diamond— Sir C. But, Madam, we played for the odd trick. Lady R. And sure the play for the odd trick- Sir C. Hear me, I say. Will you hear me? Sir C. Why then you are enough to provoke the patience of a Stoic. Very well, madam! You know no 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 for Whitechapel needles, my ancestors, my an* cestors, 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 stoodtrump being led, it was then my business Lady R, To play the diamond, to be sure. -the Sir C. I have done with you forever; and so you may tell 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 only, prevails with me 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 world we were 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 case is provoking-[Crosses to the ofifi site door where she went oui.J I tell you the diamond was not the play; and here I take my final leave of you— [Walks back aa fast as he can] 1 am resolved upon it; and I know the club was not the best in the house. VIII-Brutus and Cassius.SHAKESPEARE. For taking bribes here of the Sardians; Bru. You wrong'd yourself to write in such a case- That every nice offence should bear its comment ? To undeservers. Cas> I an itching palm ? You know that you are Brutus that speak this, 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 world3 But for supporting robbers; Shall we now Contaminate our fingers with base bribes ? Cas. Brutus, bay not me : I'll not endure rt. You forget yourself Bru. Go to! You are not, Cassius. Bru. I say you are not. Cas. Urge me no more: I shall fofget 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 1 endure all this! Bru. All this! Ay, more. Fret till your proud heart break: Go, show your slaves how choleric yon are, And make your bondmen 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. Cos. When Cesar liv'd he durst not thus have mov'd me. 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. I may do that 1 shall be sorry for. Bru. You have done that you should be sorry for, There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats; For I am arm'd so strong in honesty, That they pass by me as the idle wind, For certain sums of gold, which you denied me; And drop my blood for drachmas, than to wring To you for gold to pay my legions; Which you denied me. Was that done like Cassius ? Should I have answered Caius Cassius so? When Marcus Brutus grows so covetous, To lock such rascal counters from his friends, Dash him in pieces. Cas. 1 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 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 Cussius: For Gassius is a weary of the world |