[Footnote 1: "The man who writ this wretched pun," says Mr D., "would
have picked your pocket:" which he proceeds to shew not only bad in
itself, but doubly so on so solemn an occasion. And yet, in that
excellent play of Liberty Asserted, we find something very much
resembling a pun in the mouth of a mistress, who is parting with the
lover she is fond of:
_Ul_. Oh, mortal woe! one kiss, and then farewell.
_Irene_. The gods have given to others to fare well.
O! miserably must Irene fare.
Agamemnon, in the Victim, is full as facetious on the most solemn
occasion--that of sacrificing his daughter:
Yes, daughter, yes; you will assist the priest;
Yes, you must offer up your vows for Greece,
]
_King_. Ye stars! 'tis well, Were thy last hour to come,
This moment had been it; [1] yet by thy shroud
I'll pull thee backward, squeeze thee to a bladder,
Till thou dost groan thy nothingness away.
Thou fly'st! 'Tis well. [_Ghost retires_.
[2] I thought what was the courage of a ghost!
Yet, dare not, on thy life--Why say I that,
Since life thou hast not?--Dare not walk again
Within these walls, on pain of the Red Sea.
For, if henceforth I ever find thee here,
As sure, sure as a gun, I'll have thee laid--
[Footnote 1:
I'll pull thee backwards by thy shroud to light,
Or else I'll squeeze thee, like a bladder, there,
And make thee groan thyself away to air.
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