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sense; and I instantly attacked this passage, since 'purple' was
the word that had so pleased the writer of the article, to see if
there might not be some literary reason for its use. It will be
seen that I succeeded amply; and I am bound to say I think the
passage exceptional in Shakespeare--exceptional, indeed, in
literature; but it was not I who chose it.
'The BaRge she sat iN, like a BURNished throNe
BURNT oN the water: the POOP was BeateN gold,
PURPle the sails and so PUR* Fumed that
The wiNds were love-sick with them.' {7}
* per
It may be asked why I have put the F of 'perfumed' in capitals; and
I reply, because this change from P to F is the completion of that
from B to P, already so adroitly carried out. Indeed, the whole
passage is a monument of curious ingenuity; and it seems scarce
worth while to indicate the subsidiary S, L, and W. In the same
article, a second passage from Shakespeare was quoted, once again
as an example of his colour sense:
'A mole cinque-spotted like the crimson drops
I' the bottom of a cowslip.' {8}
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