Page:Wit, humor, and Shakspeare. Twelve essays (IA cu31924013161223).pdf/102

 An esperance so obstinately strong, That doth invert th' attest of eyes and ears; As if those organs had deceptious functions, Created only to calumniate."

In the same fashion, the Prologue seems written by a pen whose feather was in a constant ruffling. It talks of "princes orgulous," a word nowhere used by Shakspeare, and one which he would have rallied: the six gates of Troy have

"Massy staples And corresponsive and fulfilling bolts."

And Hector well earns the epithet which has sprung from his name when he cries,—

"Stand, stand, thou Greek! thou art a goodly mark:— No! wilt thou not?—I like thy armor well; I'll frush it, and unlock the rivets all, But I'll be master of it. Wilt thou not, beast, abide? Why then, fly on, I'll hunt thee for thy hide."

Numerous passages like this have the tone which unmistakably remands them to the original play.

But who can help feeling the joyous and tender mood of Shakspeare reproduced by the worshipping lines of Troilus to Cressida?—

"Oh that I thought it could be in a woman (As, if it can, I will presume in you), To feed for aye her lamp and flame of love; To keep her constancy in plight and youth, Outliving beauty's outward, with a mind That doth renew swifter than blood decays! Or, that persuasion could but thus convince me, That my integrity and truth to you Might be affronted with the match and weight