13 MAY 1916, Page 10

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

"SORTES SHAKESPEARIANAE." [TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR:1

enclose some emits Shakespearianae which perhaps the Spectator Ara.srurs. " Some airy devil hovers in the sky And pours down mischief." —K. John, III. ii. GERMAN SUBMARINE WARFARE.

" Thou concludest like the sanctimonious pirate, that went to sea with the Ten Commandments, but scraped one out of the table." —Measure for Measure, I.

CHIVALRY IN WAR.

" When lenity and cruelty play for a kingdom, the gentler gamester is the soonest winner." —Henry V., III. vi.

A RIGHTEOUS WAR. " Yet remember this, God and our good cause fight upon our side ; The prayers of holy saints and wronged souls, Like high-rear'd bulwarks, stand before our faces." —Richard III., V. iii.

WAR INCOME TAT. "The subjects' grief Comes through commissions, which compel from each The sixth part of his substance, to be levied Without delay ; and the pretence for this Is named, your wars in France." —Henry VIII., I. ii.

WAR CRITICS.

"And while a field should be dispateh'd and fought, You are disputing of your generals : One would have lingering wars with little cost ; Another would fly swift, but wanteth wings ; A third thinks, without expense at all, By guileful fair words peace may be obtained." —1 Henry VI., I. 1.

Smarmiest. RETREATS.

" Helena. You go so much backward, when you fight. Parolles. That's for advantage."

—All's Well that Ends Well, I. L THE ANGELS OF MONS.

" Fierce fiery warriors fought upon the clouds, In ranks and squadrons and right form of war." —Julius Caesar, II. 11.

THE DARDANELLES.

" And from the strand of Dardan, where they fought, To Simois' reedy banks the red blood ran, Whose waves to imitate the battle sought With swelling ridges ; and their ranks began To break upon the galled shore, and than Retire again, till, meeting greater ranks, They join and shoot their foam at Simois' banks."

—Lucrece, 1430.

Thirrsm.

" Anthony. What is his strength by land ?

Caesar. Great and increasing ; but by sea

He is an absolute master."—Anlony and Cleopatra, II. ii.

Tin CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR.

" But for these vile guns, He would himself have been a soldier."

—1 Henry IV., I.

THE PACMCIST.

." Peace Be to me and every man that dares not fight." —Love's Labour's Lost, L Tan Sirranzas.

" And gentlemen in England now abed Shall think themselves accursed they were not here, And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks That fought with us upon St. Crispin's Day." —Henry V., IV. iii.

THS Sotram's PRAYER.

" 0 Thou, whose captain I account myself, Look on my forces with a gracious eye ; Put in their hands thy braising irons of wrath, That they may crush down with a heavy fall The usurping helmets of our adversaries !" —Richard III., V.