Plays and Dramatic Essays Author:Charles Lamb Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: THE WIFE'S TRIAL; OR, THE INTRUDING WIDOW. A Dramatic Poem, founded on Mr. Crabbe's Tale of "The Confidant." CHARACTERS. Mr. Selby, a Wiltshire Gent... more »leman. Katherine, Wife to Selby. LUCY, Sister to Selby. Mrs. Frampton, a Widow. Servants. Scene.—At Mr. Selby's House, or in the Grounds adjacent. Scene.—A Library. Mr. Selby, Katherine. Selby. Do not too far mistake me, gentlest wife; I meant to chide your virtues, not yourself, And those too with allowance. I have not Been blest by thy fair side with five white years Of smooth and even wedlock, now to touch With any strain of harshness on a string Hath yielded me such music. 'Twas the quality Of a too grateful nature in my Katherine, 1 Blackwootfs Magazine, December 1828. Included afterwards in Lamb's Album Verses (Moxon, 1830). That to the lame performance of some vows, And common courtesies of man to wife, Attributing too much, hath sometimes seem'd To esteem as favours, what in that blest union Are but reciprocal and trivial dues, As fairly yours as mine: 'twas this I thought Gently to reprehend. Kath. In friendship's barter The riches we exchange should hold some level, And corresponding worth. Jewels for toys Demand some thanks thrown in. You took me, sir, To that blest haven of my peace, your bosom, An orphan founder'd in the world's black storm. Poor, you have made me rich; from lonely maiden, Your cherish'd and your full-accompanied wife. Selby. But to divert the subject: Kate, too fond I would not wrest your meanings ; else that word Accompanied, and full-accompanied too, Might raise a doubt in some men, that their wives Haply did think their company too long; And over-company, we know by proof, Is worse than no attendance. Kath. I must guess, You speak this of the Widow Selby. '...« less