My original intention in the present paper was merely to call attention to
a few such expressions as the foregoing; but I cannot resist the impulse to
quote one or two parallels of a different character:--

_Henry VIII._:
"The dews of heaven fall thick in blessings on her!"--Act IV. 2.

Fletcher:
"The dew of sleep fall gently on you, sweet one!"--_Elder Brother_, IV.
3.
"Blessings from heaven in thousand showers fall on ye!"--_Rollo_, II. 3.
"And all the plagues they can inflict, I wish it,
Fall thick upon me!"--_Knight of Malta_, III. 2.

_Henry VIII._:
"To-day he puts forth
The tender leaves of hope, to-morrow blossoms."--Act III. 2.

Fletcher:
"My long-since-blasted hopes shoot out in blossoms."--_Rollo_, II. 3.

These instances, of course, prove nothing; yet they are worth the noting.
If, however, I were called upon to produce two passages from the whole of
Fletcher's writings most strikingly characteristic of his style, and not
more in expression than in thought, I should fix upon the third scene of
the first act of _Henry VIII._, and the soliloquy of Wolsey, Beginning--

"Farewell, a long farewell to all my greatness!"