Clarence. Methought I had; for still the envious flood Kept in my soul and would not let it forth To seek the empty, vast, and wand’ring air; But smother’d it within my panting bulk, Which almost burst to belch it in the sea. Richard III., Act I., Sc. IV.
How oft when men are at the point of death, Have they been merry! which their keepers call A lightning before death. Romeo and Juliet, Act V., Sc. III.
Out, alas! she’s cold; Her blood is settled, and her joints are stiff; Life and these lips have long been separated: Death lies on her like an untimely frost Upon the sweetest flower of all the field. Romeo and Juliet, Act IV., Sc. V.
Do you notice How much her grace is alter’d on the sudden? How long her face is drawn? how pale she looks, And of an earthy cold! Mark her eyes. * * * She is going. Henry VIII., Act IV., Sc. II.
Her physician tells me She hath pursu’d conclusions infinite Of easy ways to die. Antony and Cleopatra, Act V., Sc. II.
Bid a sick man in sadness make his will:— A word ill urg’d to one that is so ill. Romeo and Juliet, Act I., Sc. I.
By his gates of breath There lies a downy feather, which stirs not: Did he suspire, that light and weightless down Perforce must move. Henry IV—2d, Act IV., Sc. IV.
Lend me a looking-glass; If that her breath will mist or stain the stone, Why then she lives. King Lear, Act V., Sc. III.
Death, on a solemn night of state, In all his pomp of terror sate: The attendants of his gloomy reign, Diseases dire, a ghastly train! Crowded the vast court. With hollow tone, A voice thus thundered from the throne: “This night our minister we name; Let every servant speak his claim; Merit shall bear this ebon wand.” All, at the word, stretched forth their hand. Fever, with burning heat possessed. Advanced, and for the wand addressed: “I to the weekly bills appeal; Let those express my fervant zeal; On every slight occasion near, With violence I persevere” Next Gout appears with limping pace, Pleads how he shifts from place to place; From head to foot how swift he flies, And every joint and sinew plies; Still working when he seems supprest, A most tenacious stubborn guest. A haggard spectre from the crew Crawls forth, and thus asserts his due: “’Tis I who taint the sweetest joy, And in the shape of love destroy. My shanks, sunk eyes, and noseless face, Prove my pretension to the place.” Stone urged his overgrowing force; And, next consumption’s meagre corse, With feeble voice that scarce was heard, Broke with short coughs, his suit preferred: “Let none object my lingering way; I gain, like Fabius, by delay; Fatigue and weaken every foe By long attack, secure, though slow.” Plague represents his rapid power, Who thinned a nation in an hour. All spoke their claim and hoped the wand. Now expectation hushed the band, When thus the monarch from the throne: “Merit was ever modest known. What! no physician speak his right? None here! but fees their toil requite. Let, then, Intemperance take the wand, Who fills with gold their zealous hand. You, Fever, Gout, and all the rest— Whom wary men as foes detest— Forego your claim. No more pretend Intemperance is esteemed a friend; He shares their mirth, their social joys, And as a courted guest destroys. The charge on him must justly fall, Who finds employment for you all.” Gay—“Court of Death.”