A Midsummer Night's Dream UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA School o f Library Science UNIVERSITY OF N.C. AT CHAPEL HILL 00022093930 A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill http://www.archive.org/details/midsummernightsdOOnesb ' TITANIA AND THE CLOWN a j^idsummer Niqht's Dream, AND OTHER STORIES. BY E. NESBIT. ILLUSTRATED BY FRANCES BRUNDAGE, H, HORWITZ, Etc.. etc. I^pbael Cuek, o cSons , L^ l**tts? Loader) • Pdri^ • £*rj,r> . New York. PRINTED IN ENGLAND. CONTENTS: A Midsummer Night's Dream. Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Twelfth Night. King Lear. JJERMIA and Lysander were lovers ; but Hermia's father wished her to marry another man, named Demetrius. Now, in Athens, where they lived, there was a wicked law, by which any girl who refused to marry according to her father's wishes, might be put to death. Hermia's father was so angry with her for refusing to do as he wished, that he actually brought her before the Duke of Athens to ask that she might be killed, if she still refused to obey him. The Duke gave her four days to 6 A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. think about it, and, at the end of that time, if she still refused to marry De- metrius, she would have to die. Lysander of course was nearly mad with grief, and the best thing to do seemed to him for Hermia to run away to his aunt's house at a place beyond the reach of that cruel law ; and there he would come to her and marry her. But before she started, she told her friend, Helena, what she was going to do. Helena had been Demetrius' sweet- heart long before his marriage with Hermia had been thought of, and being very silly, like all jealous people, she could not see that it was not poor Hermia' s fault that Demetrius wished to marry her instead of his own lady, Helena. She knew that if she told De- metrius that Hermia was going, as she was, to the wood outside Athens, he would follow her, " and I can follow TlTANTA : The Queen of the Fairies. 8 A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. him, and at least I shall see him," she said to herself. So she went to him, and betrayed her friend's secret. Now this wood where Lysander was to meet Hermia, and where the other two had decided to follow them, was full of fairies, as most woods are, if one only had the eyes to see them, and in this wood on this night were the King and Queen of the fairies, Oberon and Titania. Now fairies are very wise people, but now and then they can be quite as foolish as mortal folk. Oberon and Titania, who might have been as happy as the days were long, had thrown away all their joy in a foolish quarrel. They never met without say- ing disagreeable things to each other, and scolded each other so dreadfully that all their little fairy followers, for fear, would creep into acorn cups and hide them there. So, instead of keeping one happy A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. 9 Court and dancing all night through in the moonlight, as is fairies' use, the King with his attendants wandered through one part of the wood, while the Queen with hers kept state in another. And the cause of all this trouble was a little Indian boy whom Titania had taken to be one of her followers. Oberon wanted the child to follow him and be one of his fairy knights ; but the Queen would not give him up. On this night, in a mossy moonlit glade, the King and Queen of the fairies met. " 111 met by moonlight, proud Ti- tania," said the King. " What ! jealous, Oberon ? " answered the Queen. " You spoil everything with your quarrelling. Come, fairies, let us leave him. I am not friends with him now." " It rests with you to make up the 10 A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. quarrel," said the King. "Give me that little Indian boy, and I will aga in be your hum- ble servant and suitor." "Set your mind at rest," said the Queen. " Your whole fairy king- dom buys not that boy from me. Come, fairies." And she and her train rode off down the moonbeams. " Well, go your ways," said Oberon. " But I'll be even with you before you leave this wood." Then Oberon called his favourite A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DEE AM. 11 fairy, Puck. Puck was the spirit of mischief. He used to slip into the dairies and take the cream away, and get into the churn so that the butter would not come, and turn the beer sour, and lead people out of their way on dark nights and then laugh at them, and tumble people's stools from under them when they were going to sit down, and upset their hot ale over their chins when they were going to drink. "Now," said Oberon to this little sprite, " fetch me the flower called Love-in-idleness. The juice of that little purple flower laid on the eyes of those who sleep will make them, when they wake, to love the first thing they see. I will put some of the juice of that flower on my Titania's eyes, and when she wakes she will love the first thing she sees, were it lion, bear, or wolf, or bull, or meddling monkey, or a busy ape." While Puck was gone, Demetrius 12 A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. passed through the glade followed by poor Helena, and still she told him how she loved him and reminded him of all his promises, and still he told her that he did not and could not love her, and that his promises were nothing. Oberon was soiry for poor Helena, and when Puck returned with the flower, he bade him follow Demetrius and put some of the juice on his eyes, so that he might love Helena when he woke and looked on her, as much as she loved him. So Puck set off, and wandering through the wood found, not Demetrius, but Lysander, on whose eyes he put the juice ; but when Lysander woke, he saw not his own Hermia, but Helena, who was walking through the wood looking for the cruel Demetrius; and directly he saw her he loved her and left his own lady, under the spell of the purple flower. When Hermia woke she found Lys- Helena in the Wood. 24 A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. ander gone, and wandered about the wood trying to find him. Puck went back and told Oberon what he had done, and Oberon soon found that he had made a mistake, and set about looking for Demetrius, and having found him, put some of the juice on his eyes. And the first thing Demetrius saw when he woke was also Helena. So now Demetrius and Lysander were both following her through the wood, and it was Hermia's turn to follow her lover as Helena had done before. The end of it was that Helena and Hermia began to quarrel, and Demetrius and Lysander went off to fight. Oberon was very sorry to see his kind scheme to help these lovers turn out so badly. So he said to Puck — " These two young men are going to fight. You must overhang the night with drooping fog, and lead them so astray, that one will never find the A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM. 15 other. When they are tired out, they will fall asleep. Then drop this other herb on Lysander's eyes. That will give him his old sight and his old love. Then each man will have the lady who loves him, and they will all think that this has been only a Midsummer Night's Dream. Then when this is done, all will be well with them." So Puck went and did as he was told, and when the two had fallen asleep without meeting each other, Puck poured the juice on Lysander's eyes, and said : — " When thou wakest, Thou takest True delight In the sight Of thy former lady's eye : Jack shall have Jill ; Nought shall go ill." Meanwhile Oberon found Titania asleep on a bank where grew wild 16 A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. thyme, oxlips, and violets, and wood- bine, musk-roses and eglantine. There Titania always slept a part of the night, wrapped in the enamelled skin of a snake. Oberon stooped over her and laid the juice on her eyes, saying : — ( ''What thou seest when thou wake, Do it for thy true love take." Now, it happened that when Titania woke the first thing she saw was a stupid clown, one of a party of players who had come out into the wood to rehearse their play. This clown had met with Puck, who had clapped an ass's head on his shoulders so that it looked as if it grew there. Directly Titania woke and saw this dreadful monster, she said, " What angel is this? Are you as wise as you are beautiful ? " "If I am wise enough to find my way out of this wood, that's enough for me," said the foolish clown. " Do not desire to go out of the A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DRBAM. 17 wood," said Titania. The spell of the love-juice was on her, and to her the clown seemed the most beautiful and delightful creature on all the earth. " I love you," she went on. " Come with me, and I will give you fairies to attend on you." So she called four fairies, whose names were Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Moth, and Mustardseed. "You must attend this gentleman," said the Queen. " Feed him with apri- cots and dewberries, purple grapes, green figs, and mulberries. Steal honey-bags for him from the humble- bees, and with the wings of painted butterflies fan the moonbeams from his sleeping eyes." " I will," said one of the fairies, and all the others said, " I will." " Now, sit down with me," said the Queen to the clown, " and let me stroke your dear cheeks, and stick musk-roses c 18 A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. in your smooth, sleek head, and kiss your fair large ears, my gentle joy." "Where's Peaseblossom ? " asked the clown with the ass's head. He did not care much about the Queen's affection, but he was very proud of having fairies to wait on him. " Ready," said Pease- blossom. " Scratch my head, Peaseblossom," said the clown. " Where's Cobweb?" " Ready," said Cobweb. " Kill me," said the clown, "the red bumble-bee on the top of the thistle yonder, and bring me the honey-bag. Where's Mustardseed ? " " Ready," said Mustardseed. "Oh, I want nothing," said the clown. " Only just help Cobweb to scratch. I must go to the barber's, for methinks I am marvellous hairy about the face." (i Would you like anything to eat ? " said the fairy Queen. A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. 19 '*•'■• lIC » " I should like some good dry oats," said the clown — for his donkey's head made him desire donkey's food — "and some hay to follow." " Shall some of my fairies fetch you new nuts from the squirrel's house ? " asked the Queen. " I'd rather have a handful or two of c 2 30 A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. good dried peas," said the clown. " But please don't let any of your people dis- turb me ; I am going to sleep." Then said the Queen, "And I will wind thee in my arms." And so when Oberon came along he found his beautiful Queen lavishing kisses and endearments on a clown with a donkey's head. And before he released her from the enchantment, he persuaded her to give him the little Indian boy he so much desired to have. Then he took pity on her, and threw some juice of the disenchanting flower on her pretty eyes ; and then in a moment she saw plainly the donkey-headed clown she had been loving, and knew how foolish she had been. Oberon took off the ass's head from the clown, and left him to finish his sleep with his own silly head lying on the thyme and violets. A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. Thus all was made plain and straight again. Oberon and Titania loved each other more than ever. Demetrius thought of no one but Helena, and Helena had never had any thought of anyone but Demetrius. As for Hermia and Lysander, they were as loving a couple as you could meet in a day's march, even through a fairy wood. So the four mortal lovers went back to Athens and were married ; and 22 A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. the fairy King and Queen live happily together in that very ■ wood at this very day. JJAMLET was the only son of the King of Denmark. He loved his father and mother dearly — and was happy in the love of a sweet lady named Ophelia. Her father, Polonius, was the King's Chamberlain. While Hamlet was away studying at Wittenberg, his father died. Young- Hamlet hastened home in great grief to hear that a serpent had stung the King, and that he was dead. The young Prince had loved his father so tenderlv 24 HAMLET. that you may judge what he felt when he found that the Queen, before yet the King had been laid in the ground a month, had determined to marry again — and to marry the dead King's brother. Hamlet refused to put off mourning for the wedding. "It is not only the black I wear on my body," he said, "that proves my loss. I wear mourning in my heart for my dead father. His son at least re- members him, and grieves still." Then said Claudius the King's brother, " This grief is unreasonable. Of course you must sorrow at the loss of your father, but — " " Ah," said Hamlet, bitterly, " I can- not in one little month forget those I love." With that the Queen and Claudius left him, to make merry over their wedding, forgetting the poor good HAMLET. 23 King who had been so kind to them both. And Hamlet, left alone, began to wonder and to question as to what he ought to do. For he could not believe the story about the snake-bite. It seemed to him all too plain that the wicked Claudius had killed the King, so as to get the crown and marry the Queen. Yet he had no proof, and could not accuse Claudius. And while he was thus thinking came Horatio, a fellow student of his, from Wittenberg. "What brought you here?" asked Hamlet, when he had greeted his friend kindly. " I came, my lord, to see your father's funeral." " I think it was to see my mother's wedding," said Hamlet, bitterly. " My father! We shall not look upon his like again." 26 HAMLET. "My lord," answered Horatio, "I think I saw him yesternight." Then, while Hamlet listened in sur- prise, Horatio told how he, with two gentlemen of the guard, had seen the King's ghost on the battlements. Ham- let went that night, and true enough, at midnight, the ghost of the King, in the armour he had been wont to wear, ap- peared on the battlements in the chill moonlight. Hamlet was a brave youth. Instead of running away from the ghost he spoke to it — and when it beckoned him he followed it to a quiet place, and theie the ghost told him that what he had suspected was true. The wicked Claudius had indeed killed his good brother the King, by dropping poison into his ear as he slept in his orchard in the afternoon. "And you," said the ghost, "must avenge this cruel murder — on my wicked brother. But do nothing against HAMLET. •27 the Queen — -for I have loved her, and she is your mother. Remember me." Then seeing the morning approach, the ghost vanished. " Now," said Hamlet, " there is no- thing left but revenge. Remember thee — I will remember nothing else — books, pleasure, youth — let all go — and your commands alone live on my brain." So when his friends came back he 28 HAMLET. made them swear to keep the secret of the ghost, and then went in from the battlements, now grey with mingled dawn and moonlight, to think how he might best avenge his murdered father. The shock of seeing and hearing his father's ghost made him feel almost mad, and for fear that his uncle might notice that he was not himself, he deter- mined to hide his mad longing for revenge under a pretended madness in other matters. And when he met Ophelia, who loved him — and to whom he had given gifts, and letters, and many loving words — he behaved so wildly to her, that she could not but think him mad. For she loved him so that she could not believe he would be as cruel as this, unless he were quite mad. So she told her father, and showed him a pretty letter from Hamlet. And in the letter was much folly, and this pretty verse — HAMLET. 29 11 Doubt that the stars are fire ; Doubt that the sun doth move ; Doubt truth to be a liar ; But never doubt I love." And from that time everyone believed that the cause of Hamlet's supposed madness was love. Poor Hamlet was very unhappy. He longed to obey his father's ghost — and yet he was too gentle and kindly to wish to kill another man, even his father's murderer. And sometimes he wondered whether, after all, the ghost spoke truly. Just at this time some actors came to the Court, and Hamlet ordered them to perform a certain play before the King and Queen. Now, this play was the story of a man tvho had been murdered in his garden by a near relation, who after- wards married the dead maris tvife. You may imagine the feelings of the wicked King, as he sat on his throne, 30 HAMLET. with the Queen beside him and all his Court around, and saw, acted on the stage, the very wickedness that he had himself done. And when, in the play, the wicked relation poured poison into the ear of the sleeping man, the wicked Claudius suddenly rose, and staggered from the room — the Queen and others following. Then said Hamlet to his friends — "Now I am sure the ghost spoke true. For if Claudius had not done this murder, he could not have been so distressed to see it in a play." Now the Queen sent for Hamlet, by the King's desire, to scold him for his conduct during the play, and for other matters ; and Claudius, wishing to know exactly what happened, told old Polo- nius to hide himself behind the hang- ings in the Queen's room. And as they talked, the Queen got frightened at Hamlet's rough, strange words, and HAMLET cried for help, and Polonius behind the curtain cried out too. Hamlet, think- ing it was the King who was hidden 32 HAMLET. there, thrust with his sword at the hangings, and killed, not the King, but poor old Polonius. So now Hamlet had offended his uncle and his mother, and by bad hap killed his true love's father. " Oh ! what a rash and bloody deed is this," cried the Queen. And Hamlet answered bitterly, "Al- most as bad as to kill a king, and marry his brother." Then Hamlet told the Queen plainly all his thoughts and how he knew of the murder, and begged her, at least, to have no more friend- ship or kindness of the base Claudius, who had killed the good King. And as they spoke the King's ghost again appeared before Hamlet, but the Queen could not see it. So when the ghost had gone, they parted. When the Queen told Claudius what had passed, and how Polonius was dead, he said, " This shows plainly HAMLET. 33 that Hamlet is mad, and since he has killed the Chancellor, it is for his own safety that we must carry out our plan, and send him away to England." So Hamlet was sent, under charge of two corn-tiers who served the King, and these bore letters to the English Court, requiring that Hamlet should be put to death. But Hamlet had the good sense to get at these letters, and put in others instead, with the names of the two courtiers who were so ready to betray him. Then, as the vessel went to England, Hamlet escaped on board a pirate ship, and the two wicked cour- tiers left him to his fate, and went on to meet theirs. Hamlet hurried home, but in the meantime a dreadful thing had hap- pened. Poor pretty Ophelia, having lost her lover and her father, lost her wits too, and went in sad madness about 34 HAMLET. the Court, with straws, and weeds, and flowers in her hair, singing strange scraps of song, and talking poor, foolish, pretty talk with no heart of meaning to it. And one day, coming to a stream where willows grew, she tried to hang a flowery garland on a willow, and fell into the water with all her flowers, and so died. And Hamlet had loved her, though his plan of seeming madness had made him hide it; and when he came back, he found the King and Queen, and the Court, weeping at the funeral of his dear love and lady. Ophelia's brother, Laertes, had also just come to Court to ask justice for the death of his father, old Polonius; and now, wild with grief, he leaped into his sister's grave, to clasp her in his arms once more. " I loved her more than forty thou- sand brothers," cried Hamlet, and leapt HAMLET 35 into the grave after him, and they fought till they were parted. Afterwards Hamlet begged Laertes to forgive him. "I could not bear," he said, "that any, even a brother, should seem to love her more than L" But the wicked Claudius would not let them be friends. He told Laertes how Hamlet had killed old Polonius, and between them they made a *#£? plot to slay * Hamlet by treachery. L a er t e s chall enged him to a f enc- ing match, and all the Court were HAMLET. present. Hamlet had the blunt foil always used in fencing, but Laertes had prepared for himself a sword, sharp, and tipped with poison. And the wicked King had made ready a bowl of poisoned wine, which he meant to give poor Hamlet when he should grow warm with the sword play, and should call for drink. So Laertes and Hamlet fought, and Laertes, after some fencing, gave Ham- let a sharp sword thrust. Hamlet, angry at this treachery — for they had been fencing, not as men fight, but as they play — closed with Laertes in a struggle ; both dropped their swords, and when they picked them up again, Hamlet, without noticing it, had ex- changed his own blunt sword for Laertes' sharp and poisoned one. And with one thrust of it he pierced Laertes, who fell dead by his own treachery. At this moment the Queen cried out, HAMLET. 37 " The drink, the drink ! Oh, my dear Hamlet ! I am poisoned ! " She had drunk of the poisoned bowl the King had prepared for Hamlet, and the King saw the Queen, whom, wicked as he was, he really loved, fall dead by his means. Then Ophelia being dead, and Polo, nius, and the Queen, and Laertes, and the two courtiers who had been sent to England, Hamlet at last found 38 HAMLET. courage to do the ghost's bidding and avenge his father's murder — which, if he had braced up his heart to do long before, all these lives had been spared, and none had suffered but the wicked King, who well deserved to die. Hamlet, his heart at last being great enough to do the deed he ought, turned the poisoned sword on the false King. " Then — venom — do thy work!" he cried, and the King died. So Hamlet in the end kept the pro- mise he had made his father. And all being now accomplished, he himself died. And those who stood by saw him die, with prayers and tears, for his friends and his people loved him with their whole hearts. Thus ends the tragic tale of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. TWELFTH NIGHT. QRSINO, the Duke of Illyria, was deeply in love with a beautiful Countess named Olivia. Yet was all his love in vain, for she disdained his suit ; and when her brother died, she sent back a messenger from the Duke, bidding him tell his master that for seven years she would not let the very air behold her face, but that, like a nun, 40 TWELFTH NIGHT. she would walk veiled ; and all this for the sake of a dead brother's love, which she would keep fresh and lasting in her sad remembrance. The Duke longed for someone to whom he could tell his sorrow, and repeat over and over again the story of his love. And chance brought him such a companion. For about this time a goodly ship was wrecked on the Illy- rian coast, and among those who reached land in safety were the captain and a fair young maid, named Viola. But she was little grateful for being rescued from the perils of the sea, since she feared that her twin brother was drowned, Sebastian, as dear to her as the heart in her bosom, and so like her that, but for the difference in their manner of dress, one could hardly be told from the other. The captain, for her comfort, told her that he had seen her brother bind himself " to a strong TWELFTH NIGHT. 41 mast that lived upon the sea," and that thus there was hope that he might be saved. Viola now asked in whose country she was, and learning that the young 42 TWELFTH NIGHT. Duke Orsino ruled there, and was as noble in his nature as in his name, she decided to disguise herself in male attire, and seek for employment with him as a page. In this she succeeded, and now from day to day she had to listen to the story of Orsino 7 s love. At first she sympathised very truly with him, but soon her sym- pathy grew to love. At last it occurred to Orsino that his hopeless love-suit might prosper better if he sent this pretty lad to woo Olivia for him. Viola unwillingly went on this errand, but when she came to the house, Malvolio, Olivia's steward, a vain, officious man, sick, as his mistress told him, of self- love, forbade the messenger admittance. Viola, however (who was now called Cesario), refused to take any denial, and vowed to have speech with the Countess. Olivia, hearing how her in- structions were defied and curious to TWELFTH NIGHT. see this daring youth, said, " We'll once more hear^Orsino's embassy." When Viola was admitted to her pre- sence and the servants had been sent away, she listened patiently to the re- proaches which this bold messenger from the Duke poured upon her, and listening she fell in love with the sup- posed Cesario ; and when Cesario had gone, Olivia longed to send some love- token after him. So, calling Malvolio, she bade him follow the boy. " He left this ring behind him," she said, taking one from her finger. " Tell him I will none of it." Malvolio did as he was bid, and then Viola, who of course knew perfectly well that she had left no ring behind her, saw with a woman's quickness that Olivia loved her. Then she went back to the Duke, very sad at heart for her lover, and for Olivia, and for herself. It was but cold comfort she could u TWELFTH SIGHT. give Orsino, who now sought to ease the pangs of despised .love by listening to sweet music, while Cesario stood by his side. " Ah," said the Duke to his page that night, " you too have been in love." " A little," answered Viola. " What kind of woman is it ? " he asked. " Of your complexion," she answered. TWELFTH NIGHT. 45 " What years, i' faith ? " was his next question. To this came the pretty answer, " About your years, my lord." " Too old, by Heaven ! " cried the Duke. " Let still the woman take an elder than herself." And Viola very meekly said, " I think it well, my lord." By and by Orsino begged Cesario once more to visit Olivia and to plead his love-suit. But she, thinking to dis- suade him, said — " If some lady loved you as you love Olivia?" " Ah ! that cannot be," said the Duke. " But I know," Viola went on, " what love woman may have for a man. My father had a daughter loved a man, as it might be," she added blushing, u perhaps, were I a woman, I should love your lordship." 46 TWELFTH NIGHT. "And what is her history?" he asked. " A blank, my lord," Viola answered. " She never told her love, but let con- cealment like a worm in the bud feed on her damask cheek: she pined in thought, and with a green and yellow melancholy she sat, like Patience on a monument, smiling at grief. Was not this love indeed ? " " But died thy sister of her love, my boy?" the Duke asked; and Viola, who had all the time been telling her own love for him in this pretty fashion, said — " I am all the daughters my father has and all the brothers — Sir, shall I go to the lady ? " " To her in haste/' said the Duke, at once forgetting all about the story, " and give her this jewel." So Viola went, and this time poor Olivia was unable to hide her love, and TWELFTH NIGET. 47 openly confessed it with such passionate truth, that Viola left her hastily, say- ing— " Nevermore will I deplore my master's tears to you." But in vowing this, Viola did not know the tender pity she would feel for other's suffering, So when Olivia, in the violence of her love, sent a mes- senger, praying Cesario to visit her once more, Cesario had no heart to refuse the request. But the favours which Olivia bestowed upon this mere page aroused the jealousy of Sir Andrew Aguecheek, a foolish, re- jected lover of hers, who at that time was staying at her house with her merry old uncle Sir Toby. This same Sir Toby dearly loved a practical joke, and knowing Sir Andrew to be an arrant coward, he thought that if he could bring off a duel between him and Cesario, there would be rare sport TWELFTH MGHT. indeed. So he induced Sir Andrew to send a challenge, which he himself took to Cesario. The poor page, in great terror, said — "I will return again to the house, I am no fighter." " Back you shall not to the house," said Sir Toby, "unless you fight me first." TWELFTH NIGHT. 49 And as he looked a very fierce old gentleman, Viola thought it best to await Sir Andrew's coming ; and when he at last made his appearance, in a great fright, if the truth had been known, she tremblingly drew her sword, and Sir Andrew in like fear followed her example. Happily for them both, at this moment some officers of the Court came on the scene, and 50 TWELFTH NIGHT. stopped the intended duel. Viola gladly made off with what speed she might, while Sir Toby called after her — " A very paltry boy, and more a coward than a hare ! " Now, while these things were hap- pening, Sebastian had escaped all the dangers of the deep, and had landed safely in Illyria, where he determined to make his way to the Duke's Court. On his way thither he passed Olivia's house just as Viola had left it in such a hurry, and whom should he meet but Sir Andrew and Sir Toby. Sir Andrew, mistaking Sebastian for the cowardly Cesario, took his courage in both hands, and walking up to him struck him, say- ing, " There's for you." "Why, there's for you; and there, and there ! " said Sebastian, hitting back a great deal harder, and again and again, till Sir Toby came to the rescue of his friend. Sebastian, however, tore him- TWELFTH NIGHT. 51 self free from Sir Toby's clutches, and drawing his sword would have fought them both, but that Olivia herself, hav- ing heard of the quarrel, came running in, and with many reproaches sent Sir Toby and his friend away. Then turn- ing to Sebastian, whom she too thought to be Cesario, she besought him with many a pretty speech to come into the house with her. Sebastian, half dazed and all delighted with her beauty and grace, readily con- sented, and that very day, so great was Olivia's haste, they were married before she had discovered that he was not Cesario, or Sebastian was quite certain whether or not he was in a dream. Meanwhile Orsino, hearing how ill Cesario sped with Olivia, visited her himself, taking Cesario with him. Olivia met them both before her door, and see- ing, as she thought, her husband there, e 2 52 TWELFTH NIGHT. reproached hirn for leaving her, while to the Duke she said that his suit was as fat and wholesome to her as howling after music. im Still so cruel ? " said Orsino. " Still so constant/' she answered. Then Orsino' s anger growing to cruelty, he vowed that, to be revenged on her, he would kill Cesario, whom he knew she loved. " Come, boy," he said to the page. And Viola, following him as he moved away, said, " I, to do you rest, a thou- sand deaths would die." A great fear took hold on Olivia, and she cried aloud, " Cesario, husband, stay ! " "Her husband?" asked the Duke angrily. " No, my lord, not I," said Viola. "Call forth the holy father," cried Olivia. And the priest who had married TWELFTH NIGHT 53 Sebastian and Olivia, coming in, de- clared Cesario to be the bridegroom. " thou dissembling cub ! " the Duke exclaimed. " Farewell, and take her, but go where thou and I henceforth may never meet." At this moment Sir Andrew came up with bleeding crown, complaining that Cesario had broken his head, and Sir Toby's as well. C \I never hurt you," said Viola, very positively ; " you drew your sword on me, but I bespoke you fair, and hurt you not." 54 TWELFTH NIGHT. Yet, for all her protesting, no one there believed her ; but all their thoughts were on a sudden changed to wonder, when Sebastian came in. " I am sorry, madam," he said to his wife, " I have hurt your kinsman. Par- don me, sweet, even for the vows we made each other so late ago." " One face, one voice, one habit, and two persons ! " cried the Duke, looking first at Viola, and then at Sebastian. "An apple cleft in two," said one who knew Sebastian, "is not more twin than these two creatures. Which is Sebastian ? " " I never had a brother," said Sebas- tian. " I had a sister, whom the blind waves and surges have devoured." " Were you a woman," he said to Viola, " I should let my tears fall upon your cheek, and say, < Thrice welcome, drowned Viola ! ' " Then Viola, rejoicing to see her dear TWELFTH NIGHT. 55 brother alive, confessed that she was indeed his sister, Viola. As she spoke, Orsino felt the pity that is akin to love. "Boy," he said, a thou hast said to me a thousand times thou never shouldst love woman like to me." "And all those sayings will I over- swear," Viola replied, " and all those swearings keep true." " Give me thy hand," Orsino cried in gladness. "Thou shalt be my wife, and my fancy's queen." Thus was the gentle Viola made happy, while Olivia found in Sebastian a constant lover, and a good husband, and he in her a true and loving* wife. & ~nS KING LEAR. KING LEAR was old and tired. He was aweary of the business of his kingdom, and wished only to end his days quietly near his three daughters. Two of his daughters were married to the Dukes of Albany and Cornwall ; and the Duke of Burgundy and the King of France were both suitors for the hand of Cordelia, his youngest daughter. KING- LEAR. 57 Lear called his three daughters to- gether, and told them that he proposed to divide his kingdom between them. " But first," said he, " I should like to know how much you love me." Groneril, who was really a very wicked woman, and did not love her father at all, said she loved him more than words could say ; she loved him dearer than eyesight, space or liberty, more than life, grace, health, beauty, and honour. " I love you as much as my sister and more," professed Regan, " since I care for nothing but my father's love.'' Lear was very much pleased with Regan's professions, and turned to his youngest daughter, Cordelia. " Now, our joy, though last not least," he said, " the best part of my kingdom have I kept for you. What can you say? " " Nothing, my lord," answered Cor- delia. 58 KING LEAR. " Nothing can come of nothing. Speak again," said the King. And Cordelia answered, " I love your Majesty according to my duty — no more, no less." And this she said, because she was disgusted with the way in which her sisters professed love, when really they had not even a right sense of duty to their old father. " I am your daughter/' she went on, " and you have brought me up and loved me, and I return you those duties back as are right and fit, obey you, love you, and most honour you." Lear, who loved Cordelia best, had wished her to make more extravagant professions of love than her sisters. " Go," he said, " be for ever a stranger to my heart and me." The Earl of Kent, one of Lear's xavourite courtiers and captains, tried to say a word for Cordelia's sake, but KING LEAE. 59 Lear would not listen. He divided the kingdom between Goneril and Began, and told them that he should only keep a hundred knights at arms, and would live with his daughters by turns. When the Duke of Burgundy knew that Cordelia would have no share of 60 KING LEAR. the kingdom, he gave up his courtship of her. But the King of France was wiser, and said, tl Thy dowerless daughter, King, is Queen of us — of ours, and our fair France." " Take her, take her," said the King; "for I will never see that face of hers again." So Cordelia became Queen of France, and the Earl of Kent, for having ven- tured to take her part, was banished from the kingdom. The King now went to stay with his daughter Groneril, who had got everything from her father that he had to give, and now began to grudge even the hundred knights that he had reserved for himself. She was harsh and undutiful to him, and her servants either refused to obey his orders or pretended that they did not hear them. Now the Earl of Kent, when he was banished, made as though he would go KISG LEAR. 61 into another country, but instead he came back in the disguise of a serving- man and took service with the King. The King had now two friends — the Earl of Kent, whom he only knew as his servant, and his Fool, who was faithful to him. G-oneril told her father plainly that his knights only served to fill her Court with riot and feasting ; and so she begged him only to keep a few old men about him such as himself. u My train are men who know all parts of duty," said Lear. " Goneril, I will not trouble you further — yet I have left another daughter." And his horses being saddled, he set out with his followers for the castle of Regan. But she, who had formerly outdone her sister in professions of at- tachment to the King, now seemed to outdo her in undutiful conduct, saying that fifty knights were too many to wait on him, and Goneril (who had 62 KING LEAR, hurried thither to prevent Regan show- ing any kindness to the old King) said five were too many, since her servants could wait on him. Then when Lear saw that what they really wanted was to drive him away, he left them. It was a wild and stormy night, and he wandered about the heath half mad with misery, and with no companion but the poor Fool. But presently his servant, the good Earl of Kent, met him, and at last persuaded him to lie down in a wretched little hovel. At daybreak the Earl of Kent removed his royal master to Dover, and hurried to the Court of France to tell Cordelia what had happened. Cordelia's husband gave her an army and with it she landed at Dover. Here she found poor King Lear, wander- ing about the fields, wearing a crown of nettles and weeds. They brought him back and fed and clothed him. KING LEAK. 63 and Cordelia came to him and kissed him. " You must bear with me," said Lear ; " forget and forgive. I am old and foolish." And now he knew at last which of his children it was that had loved him best, and who was worthy of his love. G-oneril and Regan joined their armies to fight Cordelia's army, and were successful ; and Cordelia and her father were thrown into prison. Then GoneriPs husband, the Duke of Albany, who was a good man, and had not known how wicked his wife was, heard the truth of the whole story ; and when Goneril found that her husband knew her for the wicked woman she was, she killed herself, having a little time be- fore given a deadly poison to her sister, Regan, out of a spirit of jealousy. But they had arranged that Cordelia should be hanged in prison, and though Gi KING- LEAR. the Duke of Albany sent messengers at once, it was too late. The old King came staggering into the tent of the Duke of Albany, carrying the body of his dear daughter Cordelia in his arms. And soon after, with words of love for her upon his lips, he fell with her still in his arms, and died. A SELECTION FROM RAPHAEL TUCK & SONS' Publications. THE CHILDREN'S GEM LIBRARY. A series of 18 cloth-bound Story Books by the most popular Writers for Children. Illustrated in colour and black and white. Sixty- four pages. 25c. each, or Six Books complete in fancy case, 1.50. CHILDREN'S STORIES BY POPULAR AUTHORS. 1. Effie's Little Mother, by Rosa Nouchette Carey. 2. Tic-tac-too, by L. T. Meade. 3. Betsy Brian's Needle, by M. A. Hoyer. 4. The Seven Plaits of Nettles, by Edric Vredenburg. 5. The Rainbow Queen, by E. Nesbit. 6. Mildred and Her Mills, by Nora Chesson. CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM DICKENS. Told by Mary A. Dickens, Edric Vredenburg, Nora Chesson, and others. 7. Little David Copperfield and other Stories 8. Tiny Tim do. do. o. Jenny Wren do. do. 10. The Blind Toy-Maker do. do. 11. Little Paul Dombey do. do. 12. The Runaway Couple do. do. CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM SHAKESPEARE. Told by E. Nesbit, etc. 13. The Winter's Tale 14. Romeo and Juliet 15. A Midsummer Night's Dream 16. Cymbeline 17. The Taming of the Shrew 18. The Merchant of Venice FATHER TOCK'S "GOLDEN GIFT" SERIES. Board Covers, 50c. each. Cloth Binding, 75c. each. An exceptional line of Juvenile Books, each consisting of seventy- two pages of good quality paper. Fifty-six pages are illustrated in Black and White, sixteen pages printed in Two Colours, and frontispiece in Full Colour. The illustrations are by well-known and favourite artists, the letterpress being interesting, amusing and instructive. The Books are bound in Strong Boards with an attractive illustration in Full Colour, and are also in Cloth binding in a variety of shades. Days of Delight. Tales told by E. Nesbit, M. A. Hoyer, etc., etc. With pictures by T. Noyes Lewis, Hilda Co wham, etc., etc. Granny's Stories. By Nora Chesson, Margery Williams, Grace C. Floyd, etc., etc. Pictured by M. A. Attwell, Frances Brundage, etc. etc. Our Favourites. With verses by Grace C. Floyd, Gladys Davidson, etc., illustrated by W. Foster, G. H. Thompson, M. F. Taylor, etc., etc. ^ Picture Pages. Verses by Clifton Bingham, H. M. Burnside, Grace C. Floyd, etc., and illustrations by M. Bowley, Hilda Cowham, Frances Brundage, etc., etc. The Children's Hour. Stories and verses by E. Nesbit, Norman Gale, etc., etc. Pictured by E. M. and M. F. Taylor, A. Dixon, etc., etc. To Nursery Land with Louis Wain. Illustrations by Louis Wain. With verses by Clifton Bingham, S. K. Cowham, etc., etc. BOOKS BY T. E. DONNISON, etc. Picture boards, One Dollar each. Odds and Ends and Old Friends. Thirty-six pages of coloured and black and white pictures, rhymes, etc. Old Fairy Legends, in New Colours, with verses by Nora Chesson. Thirty-six pages of coloured and black and white pictures and verses. Rhymes without Reason. Pictured and penned by E. M. and M. F. Taylor. Thirty-six pages of coloured and black and white pictures and rhymes. Proverbs Old, Newly Told, by Clifton Bingham. Thirty-six pa^es of coloured and black and white pictures and verses. ILLUSTRATED BIBLE BOOKS. Picture boards, One Dollar each. Cloth, 1.50 each. Picture Stories from the Bible. By Lady Magnus. Many of the most interesting events in the Old Testament, told by Lady Magnus in simple language, and most beautifully illustrated. Twenty-four full-page coloured pictures and numerous illustrations in two colours, by John Lawson, etc. Thirty-six pages. Size 13f by 10. Pictures from "The Life of Christ." UNTEARABLE. Incidents in the New Testament, and Parables and Miracles, exquisitely illustrated and related briefly and simply. Twenty- four full-page coloured pictures and four pages of illustra- tions, in two colours. 28 pages. Sizes 13| by, 10. BY THE REV. CANON DUCKWORTH. D.D., C.V.O. Sub-Dean of Westminster ; Ohaplain-in-Ordinary to the King. The Holy Land. Illustrated with forty -nine pictures in colour and black and white, from original drawings, painted in Palestine, by W. J. Webb. Coloured map. Thirty-six pages. BY THE REY. H. R. HAWEIS. M.A. Author of " Musio and Morals," " Arrows in the Air," " Obrist and Christianity," etc. The Child's Life of Jesus. Illustrated with twenty full-page coloured and forty-three black and white pictures. One hundred pages. HUMOROUS BOOKS BY LOUIS WAIN. Big Dogs, Little Dogs, Cats and Kittens. Thirty-six pages of coloured and black and white pictures with letterpress. At the Pantomime with Louis Wain. Thirty six pages of coloured and black and white pictures with verses. In Storyland with Louis Wain. Cats as Fairyland and Sport- ing Characters with verses. On strong untearable leaves. Twenty-four full-page coloured pictures, and four black and white. In Cat and Dog Land with Louis Wain. Thirty six pages of coloured and black and white pictures with verses. FATHER TUCK'S ANNUAL. TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY-SIX PAGES. Every Page Illustrated. Edited by Edric Vredenburg. A truly excellent production of enthralling interest and amusement, containing all sorts of pictures in colour and black and white by some of the leading artists, illustrating stories in prose and poetry, songs, etc. , by well-known contributors. Eight coloured illustrations. 256 pages. Picture boards 1.25 Cloth, bevelled, gilt edges 2.00 FATHER TUCK'S "MIGHTY MIDGET" SERIES. Illuminated Board Covers. The Jungle Baby. An attractive miniature volume, containing a charmingly told little story of the Jungle, illustrated with twenty-four coloured pictures. Ninety-six pages 25c. The Lad who Always did his Best. Thirty-six pages of coloured and black and white pictures and letterpress,, all most quaint and original. Two stories. Picture boards 15c. The Boy, the Piano, and the Baby. Thirty-six pages of coloured and black and white pictures and letterpress, full of delightful humour. Two stories. Picture boards 15c. The Five Little Pigs. Thirty-six pages of black and white pictures and letterpress illustrating and detailing the further adventures of " The Five Little Pigs," so well known to nursery inmates. Picture boards 15c. The Boy and his Presence of Mind and Nurse is Always Right. Thirty-six pages of black and white pictures and letterpress by C. M. Fry. Very striking and amusing. Picture boards 15o. 5 FATHER TUCK'S PATENT PAINTBOX POST CARD PAINTING BOOKS. WITH PALETTE AND PAINTS. Each book contains enough paint to colour all the pictures with the tints used in the copies. All that the young artist will require will be a brush and a glass of water. Oval palettes are cut through the upper portion of the pages, with novel and most attractive effect, and the colours are thus handy for use. These books are patented. Each post card is perforated all around, so that it can be detached and sent through the post when painted. Father Tuck's Paintbox Post Card Painting Book Series, containing twenty -four post cards in colour and twenty- four post cards in outline, and water colours prepared for use. Father Tucks Palette Post Card Painting Book. Pictures of various objects, such as ships, carriages, fruit, furniture, etc. Patented 25c. Father Tuck's Welcome Post Card Painting Book. Pictures of toys, articles used in sport, etc. Patented 25c. Father Tuck's Paintbox Post Card Painting Book Series, containing twelve post cards in colour and twelve post cards in outline, and water colours prepared for use Father Tuck's Favourite Post Card Painting Book. Patented 15c. Father Tuck's Playtime Post Card Painting Book. Patented 15c. Father Tuck's Toyland Post Card Painting Book. Patented 15c. Father Tuck's Kindergarten Post Card Painting Book. Patented 15c. FAIRY TALES, etc. Untearable leaves, Picture boards, 1.50 each. With Father Tuck to Fairyland. Re-told by Edric Vreden- burg and others. One hundred pages of the old familiar Fairy Tales, illustrated with twenty pages in colour, and numerous black and white pictures. With Father Tuck to Nurseryland. Edited by Edric Vredenburg. One hundred pages of the old nursery favourites, illustrated with twenty pages in colour, and eighty pages in black and white. With Father Tuck to Animal Land. Edited by Edric Vredenburg. One hundred pages of pictures and stories. Twenty pages in full colour. Hans Andersen's Fairy Tales. Illustrated with sixty-nine pictures in colour and "black and white, by E. J. Andrews and S. Jacobs. Edited by Edric Vredenburg. Picture boards 1.50 Grimm's Fairy Tales. Illustrated with ninety-five pictures in colour and black and white, by E. J. Andrews and S. Jacobs. Edited by Edric Vredenburg. Bound in Cloth, bevelled, gilt edges 2.50 FATHER TUCK'S INDESTRUCTIBLE BOARD SERIES. CARDBOARD LEAVES THROUGHOUT. Special attention must be called to this serviceable line of Books, which are practically everlasting wear. Picture boards. Card- board leaves throughout. Coloured throughout. Our Farm. -* Domestic animals 75c. Father Tuck's Bird A B C. A large variety of birds 50c. From Story land. Cinderella, etc., with verses 25c. Pets and Playmates. Animals, with verses 25c. Farm Favourites. Pictures of horses, etc., with verses 25c. By Road and Rail. Full pages, with verses 25c. From Fairyland. Well-known fairy-tale characters 25c. Animal Friends. Pretty, full-page pictures of farm scenes 25c. Pictures from the Bible. Pictures with simple descriptions 25c. Bible Pictures. The histories of Joseph and Moses 25c. 7 FATHER TUCK'S PANORAMA BOARD SERIES. COLOURED THROUGHOUT. Twenty pages of beautiful coloured pictures folding into the form of a book, but opening out and standing firmly with a most attractive panoramic effect, and thus to be used as a plaything. Pictures on both sides and letterpress. To Nursery Land. Full-page pictures of The Three Bears, Three Kittens, etc., etc. 50c. Old Friends. Full-page pictures of Nursery Rhymes, etc. 50c. Pictureland. Full-page pictures of children, fairy tales, etc. 25c. Twice Ten Cats. Comical cats, by Louis Wain 25c. BABY BOOKS. Size 7i by 5 inches. 32 pages, with 4 illustrations in colour. Our Baby. Moire Antique. Paper boards 50o. >> Padded cloth 75c. »> Padded silk 1.00 Size 10 by 7£. Baby's Book. Cloth boards 1.50 >> Padded cloth 2.00 >> Padded silk 2.50 Size 12| by 9£ inches. 96 pages of text and illustrations and 8 full-sized coloured platos. Padded cloth 5.00 Padded silk 7.50 8 FATHER TUCK'S INDESTRUCTIBLE CALICO BOOKS. Printed Direct on Tuck's Washable Calico. These books are practically unspoilable. The colours are fast, so that they may, with perfect safety, be given to the smallest baby that, attracted by the bright pictures, finds pleasure in appropriating them as playthings ; and, being made of wash- able material, they can always be kept in a wholesome condi- tion. Ten pages, coloured throughout. AH My Dollies. Twenty-four full-page dolls of all descriptions 1.00 Field Friends. Full-page pictures of domestic animals 75c. Nursery Hours. Full-page pictures of favourite nursery characters, etc. 75c. Ten Pages. Coloured Throughout. Dollyland. Twelve full-page dolls of various kinds 50c. Dolly Dear. Twelve full-page boy dolls and girl dolls 50c. Six Pages. Coloured Throughout. Each containing eight full-page dolls, all different. Twenty-four dolls in the four books. Little Fisherman 25c. Baby Dolly 25c. Happy Dollies 25c. FATHER TUCK'S INDESTRUCTIBLE NURSERY MATS, NURSERY CURTAINS AND BED-SPREADS. PRINTED DIRECT ON WASHABLE CALICO. These Washable Calico Nursery Mats, Curtains, and Bed- spreads are of a most durable and attractive character. With their brightly coloured yet artistic pictures, which when washed retain their brilliant hues, they will be popular both in day and night nurseries, where they may be utilised in many ways. FATHER TUCK'S INDESTRUCTIBLE NURSERY MATS. Forty cents each. Eyeletted at the four corners. THE ANIMAL ABC. Animals, Birds, and Large Letters. NURSERY RHYMES. Favourite Nursery Rhymes, illustrated^ OUR DOLLIES. Dolls of various descriptions,. TRADE MARK