Characters of Shakespeare's Plays by William Hazlitt
page 84 of 332 (25%)
page 84 of 332 (25%)
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Will knit and break religions; bless the accurs'd;
Make the hoar leprosy ador'd; place thieves, And give them title, knee, and approbation, With senators on the bench; this is it, That makes the wappen'd widow wed again; She, whom the spital-house Would cast the gorge at, THIS EMBALMS AND SPICES TO TH' APRIL DAY AGAIN. One of his most dreadful imprecations is that which occurs immediately on his leaving Athens. Let me look back upon thee, O thou wall, That girdlest in those wolves! Dive in the earth, And fence not Athens! Matrons, turn incontinent; Obedience fail in children; slaves and fools Pluck the grave wrinkled senate from the bench, And minister in their steads. To general filths Convert o' th' instant green virginity! Do't in your parents' eyes. Bankrupts, hold fast; Rather than render back, out with your knives, And cut your trusters' throats! Bound servants, steal: Large-handed robbers your grave masters are, And pill by law. Maid, to thy master's bed: Thy mistress is o' th' brothel. Son of sixteen, Pluck the lin'd crutch from thy old limping sire, And with it beat his brains out! Fear and piety, Religion to the Gods, peace, justice, truth, Domestic awe, night-rest, and neighbourhood, Instructions, manners, mysteries and trades, |
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