"Observe," says he (p. 60), "Sir Walter Raleigh's great manner of ending the first part of the _History of the World_: 'By this, which we have already set down, is seen the beginning and end of the three first monarchies of the world, whereof the founders and erectors thought that they never could have ended; that of Rome, which made the fourth, was also at this time almost at the highest. We have left it flourishing in the middle of the field, have rooted up or cut down all that kept it from the eyes and admiration of the world; but after some continuance it shall begin to lose the beauty it had, the storms of ambition shall beat the great boughs and branches one against another, her leaves shall fall off, her limbs wither, and a rabble of barbarous nations enter the field and cut her down.' What strength of colouring! what grace, what nobleness of expression! with what a majesty does he close his immortal labour! It puts one in mind of the so much admired exit of the late famed Italian singer!" (Senesino.[96]) What a climax! A WOMAN SWEARING HER CHILD TO A GRAVE CITIZEN. "Here Justice triumphs in his elbow chair, And makes his market of the trading fair; His office shelves with parish laws are grac'd, But spelling-books and guides between 'em plac'd.[97] Here pregnant madam screens the real sire, And falsely swears her bastard child for hire Upon a rich old leecher, who denies The fact, and vows the naughty hussif lies. His wife enrag'd, exclaims against her spouse, And swears she'll be reveng'd upon his brows; The jade, the justice, and churchward'ns agree, And force him to provide security." [Illustration: WOMAN SWEARING A CHILD.] These curious rhymes, engraven under the original print, in a degree describe the plot of the play, and the characters of the performers in this religious ceremony; for as such does Picart class a copy which he has introduced in the fourth volume of his work,[98] accompanied with the following explanation:--