How coldly you receive it! I expected The mere relation of so great a blessing, _Borne proudly on the wings of sweet revenge_, Would have call’d on a sacrifice of thanks.(157) Or, again, in _A New Way_: OVERREACH. The garments of her widowhood laid by, _She now appears as glorious as the spring_.(158) Or in _The Roman Actor_: Could I imp feathers to the wings of time, Or with as little ease command the sun _To scourge his coursers up heaven’s eastern hill_.(159) We may remark in passing that Massinger’s best single lines are usually decasyllabic. It has been remarked by Mr. Swinburne, whose discerning judgment of the Jacobean dramatists has lavished just praise on Massinger’s art and style, that in the second act of _Sir John Van Olden Barnavelt_, “the student will say, ‘This tune goes manly,’ ” and it is remarkable that our poet had formed in 1619 the style which marked him to the end of his life.(160) An instance of this simple strength may be given from _The City Madam_, where Luke debates whether he shall agree to the proposition of the pretended Indians: LUKE. Give me leave—(_walks aside_) I would not lose this purchase. A grave matron! And two pure virgins! Umph, I think my sister, Though proud, was ever honest, and my nieces Untainted yet. Why should not they be shipp’d For this employment? They are burthensome to me, _And eat too much_.(161) When rudeness is necessary it is uttered with some vigour, as in _The Fatal Dowry_, where this is what Romont gets for his well-meant pains: ROCHFORT. Sir, if you please To bear yourself as fits a gentleman, The house is at your service; but if not, Though you seek company elsewhere, your absence Will not be much lamented.(162) The rejected lover in such a scene as the following has no illusions left him: MUSTAPHA. All happiness— DONUSA. Be sudden. ’Twas saucy rudeness in you, sir, to press On my retirements; but ridiculous folly To waste the time that might be better spent, In complimental wishes. CORISCA. There’s a cooling For his hot encounter! (_aside_) DONUSA. Come you here to stare? If you have lost your tongue and use of speech, Resign your government; there’s a mute’s place void In my uncle’s court, I hear; and you may want me To write for your preferment.(163) Two minor features of Massinger’s style may be mentioned here: 1. The catalogue line, so familiar to the student of Lucretius—_e.g._: _Believe as You List_, I., 2, 85. The sapphire, ruby, jacinth, amber, coral. _Believe as You List_ II, 2, 312. All circumstances, Answers, despatches, doubts, and difficulties. _Picture_, V., I, 59. The comfortable names of breakfasts, dinners, Collations, supper, beverage. _Emperor of East_, 2 Prol., 8. With his best of fancy, judgment, language, art.