The style is more like rhythmical prose than that of any other of Massinger’s plays. Here alone in our author do children occur, and that in an unpleasing context.(498) The ghosts of Malefort’s victims, which appear in the last scene, seem to me a legitimate and powerful episode. It was natural to compare this violent play with Chapman’s tragedies; Malefort reminding us of _Bussy d’Ambois_ and Byron; but there is little in common between the two authors. In the first place, Massinger knows how to construct a play; in the second place, there is hardly a line in _The Unnatural Combat_ which is obscure, whereas in the last act of _Bussy d’Ambois_, Chapman’s masterpiece, there is hardly a line which is intelligible. The _Parliament of Love_ contains much fine poetry(499) and one great forensic scene, such as our author loves.(500) It is, however, in too fragmentary a state for us to judge it fairly.(501) The atmosphere is unreal, the interest flags, the boisterous comedy is unattractive. There are more women than is usual in Massinger, and duelling and friendship inspire two noble scenes (III., 2; IV., 2). Though vice is humbled, we ask here, as in _The Picture_, does virtue gain by the way in which its opposite is portrayed? And are not the characters, male and female alike, undiscriminated? The interest, in other words, is concentrated in the triple story, and doubtless we feel some satisfaction in the punishment of Clarindore, the betrayer of secrets.(502) There are a good many half-lines in the manner of Fletcher. Though _Believe as You List_(503) is full of dignity and poetry, it has a plot without much nexus, of the sort which Aristotle would blame as ἐπεισοδιώδης.(504) We are wafted from Carthage to Bithynia, from Bithynia to Lusitania, from Lusitania to Sicily. Though Antiochus is truly a king even in his misfortunes, and excites our respect and compassion, the play can hardly have been a success. The melancholy tinge is too uniform; the improbabilities of the recognitions are too glaring. The Courtesan and Berecinthius cannot be said to have added to the gaiety of nations; of the other characters Flaminius alone has individuality. The peculiar circumstances under which the play was written may help to explain the fiasco.