Her answer to
Lucetta, who advises her against following her lover in disguise, is
a beautiful piece of poetry.
Lucetta. I do not seek to quench your love's hot fire, But qualify
the fire's extremes! rage, Lest it should burn above the bounds of
reason.
Julia. The more thou damm'st it up, the more it burns; The current
that with gentle murmur glides, Thou know'st, being stopp'd,
impatiently doth rage; But when his fair course is not hindered, He
makes sweet music with th' enamell'd stones, Giving a gentle kiss to
every sedge He overtaketh in his pilgrimage: And so by many winding
nooks he strays, With willing sport, to the wild ocean.
[Footnote: 'The river wanders at its own sweet will.' Wordsworth.
]
Then let me go, and hinder not my course; I'll be as patient as a
gentle stream, And make a pastime of each weary step, Till the last
step have brought me to my love; And there I'll rest, as after much
turmoil, A blessed soul doth in Elysium.
If Shakespeare indeed had written only this and other passages in
the TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA, he would ALMOST have deserved Milton's
praise of him--
And sweetest Shakespeare, Fancy's child, Warbles his native wood-
notes wild.
But as it is, he deserves rather more praise than this.
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
This is a play that in spite of the change of manners and of
prejudices still holds undisputed possession of the stage.
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