Chamber's household edition of the dramatic works of William Shakespeare, ed. by R. Carruthers and W. Chambers

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1861 edition. Excerpt: ...disguised apparel during her life, to make her infamously noted. This severe law, by the favour of some merciful magistrate, became little regarded until the time of Lord Promos's authority, who, convicting a young gentleman named Andrugio of incontinency, condemned both bim and his minion to the execution of this statute. Andrugio had a very virtuous and beautiful gentlewoman to his sister, named Cassandra: Cassandra, to enlarge her brother's life, submitted an humble petition to the Lord Promos. Promos, regarding her good behaviours, and fantasying her great beauty, was much delighted with the sweet order of her talk, and doing good that evil might come thereof, for a time he reprieved her brother; but, wicked man! turning Ms liking unto unlawful lust, he set down the spoil of her honour ransom for her brother's life. Chaste Cassandra, abhorring both him and his suit, by no persuasion would yield to his ransom; but, in fine, won with the importunity of her brother (pleading for life), upon these conditions she agreed to Promos; first, that he should pardon her brother, and then marry her. Promos, as fearless in promise as careless in performance, with solemn vow signed her conditions; but, worse than any infidel, his will satisfied, he performed neither the one nor the other; for to keep his authority unspotted with favour, and to prevent Cassandra's clamours, he commanded the jailer secretly to present Cassandra with her brother's head. The jailer, with the outcries of Andrugio, abhorring Promos's lewdness, by the providence of God provided thus for his safety. He presented Cassandra with a felon's head newly executed (who being mangled, knew it not from her brother's), and was so aggrieved at this treachery, that, at the point to kill...