Like some untimely product of the season,
Robb'd of its properties of strength and office.
This is the sorcery of Edward's wife,
Who, in conjunction with that harlot, Shore,
And other like confed'rate midnight hags,
By force of potent spells, of bloody characters,
And conjurations horrible to hear,

Call fiends and spectres from the yawning deep,
And set the ministers of hell at work,
To torture and despoil me of my life."

And the following abrupt reply to Lord Hastings is admirably charaсteristic of this cunning and implacable tyrant:

"Lord Hastings, I arrest thee of high treason-
Seize him, and bear him instantly away,-
He sha'nt live an hour. By holy Paul,

I will not dine before his head be brought me :
Ratcliff, stay you, and see that it be done.-
The rest that love me, rise, and follow me."

The rhyming couplets that conclude each act, however musically they

fall upon the ear, are out of place in tragedy

"Grief unaffected suits but ill with art,

Or flowing numbers with a bleeding heart."

Kemble's Glo'ster was wonderfully fine. His start, when he bared his withered arm, his rapid utterance half choaked with rage, and his far-beaming eye glaring beneath a profusion of raven-black hair, fully realized the terror of the scene. The noble burst of Mrs. Siddons, when, as Jane Shore, she invokes the blessings of Providence on Hastings for his fidelity to King Edward's children, was such as none but herself could reach; and her dying exclamation to her husband

"Forgive me!-but forgive me!"

was the last effort of a penitent and broken heart.

D-G.

Costume.

DUKE OF GLO'STER.-Round black hat, black plumes, purple and gold mantle, crimson velvet doublet and trunks, garter, white hose, white shoes, sword and gauntlets.

LORD HASTINGS.-Black hat, white plumes, white and gold doublet and trunks, white hose, garter, white shoes, sword and gauntlets.

RATCLIFFE.-Black hat, white plumes, crimson and gold doublet and trunks, a cloak of scarlet and silver, buff hose, russet boots, sword and gauntlets.

CATESBY.-Light blue doublet and trunks, buff hose, russet boots, sword and gauntlets. BELMOUR.-Fawn coloured doublet and trunks trimmed with black, buff hose, russet boots, sword. SHORE, or DUMONT, -Slate coloured dress and white wig, sword. Second dress-Black velvet.

JANE SHORE.-Light blue satin trimmed with white lace. Second dress-White muslin.

ALICIA.-White satin trimmed with white lace and silver. Second dress-Black velvet, and black crape veil.

Cast of the Characters in the Tragedy of JANE SHORE, at the Theatre-Royal, Covent Garden,

1824.

The Conductors of this Work print no Plays but those which they have seen acted. The Stage Directions are given from their own personal observations, during the most recent performances.

The instant a Character appears upon the Stage, the point of Entrance, as well as every subsequent change of Position, till its Erit, is noted, with a fidelity which may in all cases be relied on; the object being, to establish this Work as a Standard Guide to the Stage business, as now conducted on the London boards.

EXITS and ENTRANCES.

R. means Right; L. Left; R.D. Right Door; L. D. Left Door; S. E. Second Entrance; U. E. Upper Entrance; M.D. Middle Door.

RELATIVE POSITIONS.

R. means Right; L. Left; C. Centre: R. C. Right of Centre; L. C. Left of Centre. The following view of the Stage with Five Performers in front, will, it is presumed, fully demonstrate the Relative Positions.

**The Readeris supposed to be on the Stage, facing the Audience.

JANE SHORE.

ACT I.

SCENE I.-An Apartment in the Tower.
Enter the DUKE of GLOSTER, SIR RICHARD
RATCLIFFE, and CATESBY, R.

Glos. (c.) Thus far success attends upon our councils,

And each event has answered to my wish;
The queen and all her upstart race are quell'd;
Dorset is banish'd, and her brother Rivers,
Ere this, lies shorter by the head at Pomfret.
The nobles have with joint concurrence, nam'd me
Protector of the realm; my brother's children,
Young Edward and the little York, are lodg'd
Here, safe within the Tower. How say you, sirs,
Does not this business wear a lucky face?
The sceptre and the golden wreath of royalty
Seem hung within my reach.

Sir R. (R. C.) Then take 'em to you,
And wear them long and worthily: you are
The last remaining male of princely York;
(For Edward's boys, the state esteems not of 'em,)
And therefore on your sov'reignty and rule
The commonweal does her dependence make,
And leans upon your highness' able hand.

Cates. (L. C.) And yet to-morrow does the council

meet

To fix a day for Edward's coronation.

Who can expound this riddle ?

Glos. That can I.

Those lords are each one my approv'd good friends,

Of special trust and nearness to my bosom:

And howsoever busy they may seem,

And diligent to bustle in the state,

Their zeal goes on no further than we lead,

And at our bidding stays.

Cates. Yet there is one,

And he amongst the foremost in his power

Of whom I wish your highness were assur'd.

For me, perhaps it is my nature's fault,

I own I doubt of his inclining much.

Glos. I guess the man at whom your words would

point:

Hastings

Cates. The same.

Glos. He bears me great good will.

Cates. "Tis true, to you, as to the lord protector,

And Gloster's duke, he bows with lowly service:
But were he bid to cry, God save king Richard,
Then tell me in what terms he would reply.
Believe me, I have prov'd the man, and found him:
I know he bears a most religious reverence
To his dead master Edward's royal memory.
And whither that may lead him, is most plain.
Yet more One of that stubborn sort he is,
Who, if they once grow fond of an opinion,
They call it honour, honesty, and faith,
And sooner part with life than let it go.

Glos. And yet this tough, impracticable heart,
Is govern'd by a dainty-finger'd girl;
Such flaws are found in the most worthy natures ;
A laughing, toying, wheedling, whimpering she
Shall make him amble on a gossip's message,
And take the distaff with a hand as patient
As e'er did Hercules.

Sir R. The fair Alicia,

Of noble birth and exquisite of feature,
Has held him long a vassal to her beauty.

Caies. I fear he fails in his allegiance there;
Or my intelligence is false, or else
The dame has been too lavish of her feast,
And fed him till he loathes.

Glos. No more, he comes.

[SIR R. and CATES. retire back and confer.

Enter LORD HASTINGS, L.

Has. (L.C.) Health, and the happiness of many days,

Attend upon your grace.

Glos. (c.) My good Lord Chamberlain,

We're much beholden to your gentle friendship.

Has. My lord, I come an humble suitor to you.