Chapter XIV: Epilogue: To Sheridan Knowles' Comedy, "the Wife"

(1833)

When first our Bard his simple will express'd,
That I should in his Heroine's robes be dress'd,
My fears were with my vanity at strife,
How I could act that untried part--a "Wife."
But Fancy to the Grison hills me drew,
Where Mariana like a wild flower grew,
Nursing her garden-kindred: so far I
Liked her condition, willing to comply
With that sweet single life: when, with a cranch,
Down came that thundering, crashing avalanche,
Startling my mountain-project! "Take this spade,"
Said Fancy then; "dig low, adventurous Maid,
For hidden wealth." I did: and, Ladies, lo! }
Was e'er romantic female's fortune so, }
To dig a life-warm lover from the--snow? }

A Wife and Princess see me next, beset
With subtle toils, in an Italian net;
While knavish Courtiers, stung with rage or fear,
Distill'd lip-poison in a husband's ear.
I ponder'd on the boiling Southern vein;
Racks, cords, stilettos, rush'd upon my brain!
By poor, good, weak Antonio, too disowned--
I dream'd each night, I should be Desdemona'd:
And, being in Mantua, thought upon the shop,
Whence fair Verona's youth his breath did stop:
And what if Leonardo, in foul scorn,
Some lean Apothecary should suborn
To take my hated life? A "tortoise" hung
Before my eyes, and in my ears scaled "alligators" rung.
But _my_ Othello, to his vows more zealous--
Twenty Iagos could not make _him_ jealous!

New raised to reputation, and to life-- }
At your commands behold me, without strife, }
Well-pleased, and ready to repeat--"The Wife." }

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JOHN WOODVIL

A TRAGEDY

(1798-1802. _Text of_ 1818)

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CHARACTERS

SIR WALTER WOODVIL.

JOHN. }
SIMON. } _his sons._

LOVEL. }
GRAY. } _Pretended friends of John._

SANDFORD. _Sir Walter's old steward._
MARGARET. _Orphan ward of Sir Walter._
FOUR GENTLEMEN. _John's riotous companions._
SERVANTS.

SCENE--_for the most part at Sir Walter's mansion in_ DEVONSHIRE; _at other times in the forest of_ SHERWOOD.

TIME--_soon after the_ RESTORATION.

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