Page:The Psychology of Shakespeare.pdf/279

262 Buried some dear friend ? Hath not else his eye Stray'd his affection in unlawful love? A sin prevailing much in youthful men, Who give their eyes the liberty of gazing. Which of these sorrows is he subject to ? Adr. To none of these, except it be the last; Namely, some love that drew him oft from home. Abb. You should for that have reprehended him.

Adr. Why, so I did. Abb. Ay, but not rough enough. Adr. As roughly, as my modesty would let me. Abb. Haply, in private. Adr.

And in assemblies too.

Abb. Ay, but not enough. Adr. It was the copy of our conference : In bed, he slept not for my urging it : At board, he fed not for my urging it :

Alone, it was the subject of my theme; In company, I have often glanced it ; Still did I tell him it was vile and bad.

Abb. And thereof came it, that the man was mad :

The venom clamours of a jealous woman Poison more deadly than a mad dog's tooth. It seems, his sleeps were hinder'd by thy railing; And therefore comes it, that his head is light. Thou say'st his meat was sauc’d with thy upbraidings ; Unquiet meals make ill digestions, Thereof the raging fire of fever bred ; And what's a fever but a fit of madness

Thou say'st, his sports were hinder'd by thy brawls : Sweet recreation barr'd, what doth ensue,

But moody and dull melancholy, Kinsman to grim and comfortless despair; And, at her heels, a huge infectious troop

Of pale distemperatures, and foes to life 2 In food, in sport, and life-preserving rest To be disturb'd, would mad or man, or beast :

The consequence is then, thy jealous fits Have scar'd thy husband from the use of wits.” The imputation of disordered mind is cast upon many other characters in these dramas, but in no other is there a

discussion, or so to say, an inquisition upon the truth of the