f Woolbeding
close by. Otway died miserably when only thirty-three, partly of
starvation, partly of a broken heart at the unresponsiveness of Mrs.
Barry, the actress, whom he loved, but who preferred the Earl of
Rochester. His two best plays, although they are no longer acted, lived
for many years, providing in Belvidera, in _Venice Preserv'd_ and
Monimia, in _The Orphan_ (in which he "sung the female heart") congenial
_roles_ for tragic actresses--Mrs. Barry, Mrs. Oldfield, Mrs. Cibber,
Mrs. Siddons and Miss O'Neill. Otway was buried in the churchyard of St.
Clement Danes, but a tablet to his fame is in Trotton church, which is
of unusual plainness, not unlike an ecclesiastical barn. Here also is
the earliest known brass to a woman--Margaret de Camoys, who lived about
1300.

[Sidenote: HOTSPUR'S LADY]

The transition is easy (at Trotton) from Otway to Shakespeare, from
_Venice Preserv'd_ to _Henry IV._

HOTSPUR (to LADY PERCY). Come, Kate, thou art perfect in lying
down: come quick, quick; that I may lay my head in thy lap.

_Lady P._ Go, ye giddy goose. [_The music plays._

_Hot._ Now I perceive, the devil understands Welsh;
And 't is no marvel' he's so humorous,
By'r lady, he's a good musician.

_Lady P._ Then should you be nothing but musical; for you are
altogether governed by humours. Lie still, ye thief, and hear the
lady sing in Welsh.

_Hot._ I had rather hear Lady, my brach, howl in Irish.

_Lady P._ Wouldst have thy head broken?

_Hot._ No.

_Lady P._ Then be still.

_Hot._ Neither: 'tis a woman's fault.

_Lady P._ Now God help thee!

_Hot._ To the Welsh lady's bed.

_Lady P._ What's that?

_Hot._ Peace! she sings.

[_A Welsh song sung by_ LADY MORTIMER.

_Hot._ Come, Kate, I'll have your song too.

_Lady P._ Not mine, in good sooth.

_Hot._ Not yours, in good sooth! 'Heart, you swear like a
comfit-maker's wife. 'Not you, in good sooth'; and, 'As true as I
live'; and,

'As God shall mend me'; and, 'As sure as day':
And giv'st such sarcenet surety for thy oaths,
As if thou never walk'dst further than Finsbury.
Swear me, Kate, like a lady as thou art,
A good mouth-filling oath; and leave 'in sooth,'
And such protest of pepper-gingerbread,