He read Shakespeare, and had often thought how wonderful one of his
dramas must be on the stage. So it fell out that at last he yielded,
and it was arranged that Mrs. and Mr. Coleman should go with the
Major to Drury Lane to see the great Edmund Kean in "Othello." The
day was fixed, and Mrs. Coleman was busy for a long time beforehand
in furbishing up and altering her wedding-dress, so that she might
make a decent figure. She was all excitement, and as happy as she
could well be. For months Zachariah had not known her to be so
communicative. She seemed to take an interest in politics; she
discussed with him the report that Bonaparte was mad, and Zachariah,
on his part, told her what had happened to him during the day, and
what he had read in the newspapers. The Prince Regent had been to
Oxford, and verses had been composed in his honour. Mr. Bosanquet
had recited to the Prince an ode, or something of the kind, and had
ventured, after dilating on the enormous services rendered by kings
in general to the community during the last twenty years, to warn
them:
"But ye yourselves must bow: your praise be given
To Him, the Lord of lords, your King in heaven.
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