Clown's song upon record; and a treatise might be written upon its wisdom. It is the history of a life, from the condition of "a little tiny boy," through "man's estate," to decaying age "when I came unto my bed;" and the conclusion is, that what is true of the individual is true of the species, and what was of yesterday was of generations long passed away-for "A great while ago the world begun." Steevens says this "nonsensical ditty" is utterly unconnected with the subject of the comedy. We think he is mistaken. PERSONS REPRESENTED. ORSINO, Duke of Illyria. Appears, Act I. sc. 1; sc. 4. Act II. sc. 4. Act V. sc. 1. SEBASTIAN, a young gentleman, brother to Viola. Appears, Act II. sc. 1. Act III. sc. 3. Act IV. sc. 1; sc. 3. ANTONIO, a sea-captain, friend to Sebastian. VALENTINE, a gentleman attending on the Duke. CURIO, a gentleman attending on the Duke. SIR TOBY BELCH, uncle to Olivia. Appears, Act I. sc. 3; sc. 5. Act II. sc. 3; sc. 1; sc. 2; sc. 4. Act IV. sc. 1; sc. 2. sc. 5. Act III. Act V. sc. 1. MALVOLIO, steward to Olivia. Appears, Act I. sc. 5. Act II. sc. 2; sc. 3; sc. 5. Act III sc. 4. Act IV. sc. 2. Act V. sc. 1. FABIAN, servant to Olivia. Appears, Act II. sc. 5. Act III. sc. 2; sc. 4. Act IV. sc. 1. Act V. sc. 1. Clown, servant to Olivia. Appears, Act I. sc. 5. Act II. sc. 3; sc. 4. Act III. sc. 1. Act IV. sc. 1; sc. 2. Act V. sc. 1. OLIVIA, a rich Countess. Appears, Act I. sc. 5. Act III. sc. 1; sc. 4. Act IV. sc. 1; sc. 3. Act V. sc. 1. VIOLA, in love with the Duke. Appears, Act I. sc. 2; sc. 4; sc. 5. Act II. sc. 2; sc. 4. Act III. sc. 1; sc. 4. Act V. sc. 1. MARIA, Olivia's woman. Appears, Act I. sc. 3; sc. 5. Act II. sc. 3; sc. 5. Act III. sc. 1; sc. 2; sc. 4. Act IV. sc. 2. Lords, Priests, Sailors, Officers, Musicians, and other attendants. SCENE,-A CITY IN ILLYRIA; AND THE SEA-COAST NEAR IT. TWELFTH NIGHT; OR, WHAT YOU WILL. ACT I. SCENE I.-An Apartment in the Duke's Palace. Enter DUKE, CURIO, Lords; Musicians attending. Duke. If music be the food of love, play on, Give me excess of it; that, surfeiting, The appetite may sicken, and so die. That strain again;-it had a dying fall: O, it came o'er my ear like the sweet sound That breathes upon a bank of violets, a Stealing, and giving odour.-Enough; no more; "T is not so sweet now as it was before. O spirit of love, how quick and fresh art thou! a Like the sweet sound. To those who are familiar with the well-known text, "O, it came o'er my ear like the sweet south," the restoration of the word sound, which is the reading of all the early editions, will at first appear strange and startling. But Shakspere has nowhere made the south an odour-breathing wind; his other representations are directly contrary. In As You Like It,' Rosalind says, "You foolish shepherd, wherefore do you follow her In 'Romeo and Juliet' we have the "dew-dropping south;" in 'Cymbeline,' "The south-fog rot him." That, notwithstanding thy capacity But falls into abatement and low price, Even in a minute! so full of shapes is fancy, Cur. Will you go hunt, my lord? Duke. Cur. What, Curio? The hart. Duke. Why, so I do, the noblest that I have : And my desires, like fell and cruel hounds, E'er since pursue me.-How now? what news from her? Val. So please my lord, I might not be admitted, Duke. O, she that hath a heart of that fine frame. How will she love, when the rich golden shaft Hath kill'd the flock of all affections else That live in her! when liver, brain, and heart, a Heat-heated. [Exeunt. |