SCENE II.—KING, GHOST.
King. What noise is this? What villain dares, At this dread hoar, with feet and voice profane, Disturb our royal walls?
Ghost. One who defies Thy empty power to hurt him; [1] one who dares Walk in thy bedchamber.
[Footnote 1: Almanzor reasons in the same manner:
A ghost I'll be;
And from a ghost, you know, no place is free.
—Conquest of Granada.
]
King. Presumptuous slave! Thou diest.
Ghost. Threaten others with that word: [1] I am a ghost, and am already dead.
[Footnote 1: "The man who writ this wretched pun," says Mr D., "would have picked your pocket:" which he proceeds to shew not only bad in itself, but doubly so on so solemn an occasion. And yet, in that excellent play of Liberty Asserted, we find something very much resembling a pun in the mouth of a mistress, who is parting with the lover she is fond of:
Ul. Oh, mortal woe! one kiss, and then farewell. Irene. The gods have given to others to fare well. O! miserably must Irene fare.
Agamemnon, in the Victim, is full as facetious on the most solemn occasion—that of sacrificing his daughter: