Sweet, sweet, fweet poifon for the age's tooth; Enter Lady Faulconbridge, and James Gurney, Lady. Where is that flave, thy brother? where is he, That holds in chase mine honour up and down? Phil. My brother Robert, old Sir Robert's fon, Colbrand the giant, that fame mighty man, Is it Sir Robert's Son, that you feek fo? Lady. Sir Robert's fon? ay, thou unrev'rend boy, Phil. James Gurney, wilt thou give us leave a while? Phil. Philip! (6) Ipare me, James; (6) The Philip, fparrow, James.] Thus the old Copies; and Mr. Pope has attempted to glofs this Reading by telling us, that Philip is the common Name for a tame Sparrow. So that then Faulconbridge would fay, Call me Philip? You may as well call me Sparrow. Allufion is very mean and trifling: and every Body, I believe, will chufe to embrace Mr. Warburton's Emendation, which I have inferted into the Text. Spare me, and Forbear me, it may be observed, are our Author's accustom'd Phrases; either when any one wants another to leave him, or would be rid of a difpleafing Subject. So, in the Tempeft, Alonfo, when his Companions teize him with unfeasonable Difcourfe, fays; I pr'ythee, fpare. So, Imogen, in Cymbeline, when She wants to get rid of CLOTEN; I fall unfold equal Difcourtesy To your beft Kindness So in Anthony and Cleopatra, when he difmiffes the Meffenger, that brings an Account of his Wife's Death: Forbear me; There's a great Spirit gone! And, in Measure for Meafure, when the Duke would have Mariana leave him; I fall crave your Forbearance a little; may be, I will call upon you anon. There's There's toys abroad; anon I'll tell thee more. [Ex.James. Madam, I was not old Sir Robert's fon Lady. Haft thou confpir'd with thy Brother too, That, for thine own gain, fhould'ft defend mine honour? What means this fcorn, thou most untoward knave? Phil. Knight, Knight, good mother like. (7) What! I am dub'd; I have it on my fhoulder: I have disclaim'd Sir Robert, and my land; Bafilifco (7) Knight, Knight, good Mother, Bafilifco like.] Thus muft this Paffage be pointed; and, to come at the Humour of it, I must clear up an old Circumftance of Stage-Hiftory. Faulconbridge's Words here carry a conceal'd Piece of Satire on a ftupid Drama of that Age, printed in 1599, and call'd Soliman and Perfeda. In this Piece there is the Character of a bragging cowardly Knight, call'd Bafilifco. His Pretenfion to Valour is fo blown and feen thro', that Pifton, a Buffoon-fervant in the Play, jumps upon his Back, and will not disengage him, till he makes Bafilifco fwear upon his dudgeon Dagger to the Contents, and in the Terms, he dictates to him: as, for Initance. Baf. O, I fwear, I fwear. Pift. By the Contents of this Blade, Baf. I, the aforefaid Bafilifco, Knight, good Fellow, knight, knight, Pift. Knave, good Fellow, knave, knave, So that 'tis clear, our Poet is fneering at this Play; and makes Philip, when his Mother calls him knave, throw off that Reproach by humouroufly laying claim to his new Dignity of Knighthood; as Bafilifco arrogantly infiits on his Title of Knight in the Paffage above quoted. This old Play is an execrable bad one; and, I fuppofe, was fufficiently exploded in the Representation: which might make this Circumftance fo well known, as to become the Butt for a Stage-Sarcafm. Then, Then, good my mother, let me know my father; Lady. King Richard Coeur-de-lion was thy father; Which was fo ftrongly urg'd paft my defence. And they fhall fay, when Richard me begot, [Exeunt. VOL. III. N ACT A CT SCENE, before the walls of Angiers in France. Enter Philip King of France, Lewis the Dauphin, the Archduke of Auftria, Conftance, and Arthur. B LEWIS. EFORE Angiers well met, brave Auftria. And fought the holy wars in Palestine, By this brave Duke came early to his Grave: At our importance hither is he come, To fpread his Colours, boy, in thy behalf; Of thy unnatural Uncle, English John. Embrace him, love him, give him welcome hither. Lewis. A noble boy! who would not do thee Right? Ev'n 'till that outmoft corner of the Weft, Conft. O, take his Mother's thanks, a Widow's thanks, Till your ftrong hand fhall help to give him ftrength, To make a more requital to your love. Auft. The peace of heav'n is theirs, who lift their fwords In fuch a juft and charitable war. K. Philip. Well then, to Work; our engines shall be bent Against the brows of this refifting town; Conft. Stay for an answer to your Embaffie, Enter Chatilion. K. Philip. A wonder, lady! lo, upon thy wish Our meffenger Chatilion is arriv'd; What England fays, fay briefly, gentle lord, We coldly paufe for thee. Chatilion, speak. Chat. Then turn your forces from this paultry siege, And stir them up against a mightier task. England, impatient of your juft demands, Hath put himself in arms; the adverse winds, His Marches are expedient to this town, With |