The Poems of Mackenzie Bell

To a performance of Episodes from the Plays of Shakespeare, illustrative of London life. Given in the Gardens of Lowther Lodge, South Kensington, on June 21 and 22, 1907, by the Members of the Shakespeare Reading Society, in aid of the Funds of the South Kensington District Branch of the League

of Mercy. The poem was spoken throughout in the first instance by Mr. Otto Sallmann, and subsequently the eight detached portions were delivered by eight chosen narrators, one from each group of players.

Leagued in the angel Mercy's “twice-blessed” cause,
We bring these scenes before you. Your applause
We take not to ourselves, 'tis meant for him—
London's chief bard whose glory grows not dim—
Shakespeare, whom Coleridge called “the thousand-souled.”
'Tis our delight to-day that we unfold
Some treasures;—freaks of fancy, genius-fraught;
Glimpses of wit and pathos he had caught
When dreaming in the London of the past,
Where gabled fronts of oak long shadows cast,
Where rapiers rattled, and where, far and nigh,
The varied garb gave pleasure to the eye.
To him each showed an inmost self; and there
Perchance the Muse first found him, unaware.

Now is presented sad Queen Katherine's trial,
Her piteous suit to Henry, and denial;—
A tale of woman's sorrow long ago,
A tale of mingled guile, deceit, and woe.

[_]

[Here was performed “Henry VIII.,” Act 2, Scene 4 (The Trial of Queen Katharine).]

Then comes from bright Messina, far away,
Sage Dogberry. And, have we not to-day

Some of his tribe still with us? Night by night
Do they not guard us—make our slumbers light?

[_]

[Here was performed “Much Ado About Nothing,” Act 3, Scene 3 (The Watch Scene).]

And soon shall you behold the fall of pride
As shown by stately Wolsey, placed beside
Anne Boleyn's coronation. There 'tis plain
How fickle is kingly favour and disdain.

[_]

[Here was performed “Henry VIII.,” Act 3, Scene 3 (the dialogue between Wolsey and Cromwell), followed by Scene 4 (the Coronation Procession of Anne Boleyn).]

Later, you will perceive the measured pace
And beauty of the gay Pavane, each grace
And gesture setting forth the melody
And joy of happy motion, full and free.
And then in troop the sprightly Morris throng,
Their dance a fitting close to rustic song.

[_]

[Here was given a Pavane, followed by a Morris Dance.]

In the fair Temple Gardens glow the roses,
Both white and red, whose plucking soon discloses
Fierce cause of deadly feud, for which, alas!
Ere many summer joyous days shall pass,
Many of England's bravest sons must bleed
In direful civic strife, whose root was greed

Of power: “In our dear England's day of need”
(Hear this their voiceless cry) “'twere sweet indeed
Against her foemen to defend her cause,
Or die for her—to uphold her righteous laws.
But thus, 'tis ill to die, merely that one
Or other despot find his ill work done.”

[_]

[Here was performed “Henry V.,” Act 1, Scene 4, (the Plucking of the Roses in the Temple Gardens).]

See! Gloster here—Gloster with fawning tongue
Envenomed, snake-like, deadly; for among
Those near him is the youthful prince whose life
He seeks; with hatred all his soul is rife.

[_]

[Here was performed “Richard III.,” Act 3, Scene 1 (the Meeting of Edward V. and the Duke of Gloster).]

And look, you now shall see that bold, old lover
Falstaff, with ardour cooled, abashed discover
Himself befooled when he essays to wage
Victorious war with “merry” Mistress Page.

[_]

[Here was performed “The Merry Wives of Windsor,” Act 3, Scene 3 (the Buck-Basket Scene).]

Great Shakespeare now approaches; he will read
One of his “sugred” sonnets; you will heed
The matchless lofty music, rich and strong,

The cadence of his pure, immortal song,
Full of rare tact towards proud Elizabeth,
Her name, by him enshrined, shall know no death.

Leagued in the angel Mercy's “twice-blessed” cause,
These scenes we bring before you. Your applause
We take not to ourselves, 'tis meant for him—
London's chief bard whose glory grows not dim.

[_]

[At the close of the Episodes was given a representation of Shakespeare and his Fellows being received by Queen Elizabeth and her Court, subsequent to a performance of “The Comedy of Errors.” Shakespeare read his celebrated sonnet beginning: “Not marble, nor the gilded monuments,” in praise of the Queen.]

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IV.—PROLOGUE AND INTERSPERSED LINES