the world) sometime to lean upon my poor shoulder; and with his royal finger, thus, dally with my excrement, with my mustachio: but, sweet heart, let that pass. By the world, I recount no fable; some certain special honours it pleaseth his greatness to impart to Armado, a soldier, a man of travel, that hath seen the world but let that pass.-The very all of all is,-but, sweet heart, I do implore secrecy,—that the king would have me present the princess, sweet chuck, with some delightful ostentation, or show, or pageant, or antick, or fire-work. Now, understanding that the curate and your sweet self are good at such eruptions, and sudden breaking out of mirth, as it were, I have acquainted you withal, to the end to crave your assistance. Hol. Sir, you shall present before her the nine worthies. Sir Nathaniel, as concerning some entertainment of time, some show in the posterior of this day, to be rendered by our assistance,-the king's command, and this most gallant, illustrate, and learned gentleman, -before the princess; I say, none so fit as to present the nine worthies. Nath. Where will you find men worthy enough to present them? Hol. Joshua, yourself; myself, or this gallant gentleman, Judas Maccabæus; this swain, because of his great limb or joint, shall pass Pompey the great; the page, Hercules. Arm. Pardon, sir, error: he is not quantity enough for that worthy's thumb: he is not so big as the end of his club. Hol. Shall I have audience? he shall present Hercules in minority; his enter and exit shall be strangling a snake; and I will have an apology for that purpose. Moth. An excellent device! so, if any of the audience 5 dally with my excrement,] The author calls the beard valour's excrement in The Merchant of Venice. 6 chuck,] i. e. chicken; an ancient term of endearment. hiss, you may cry: well done, Hercules! now thou crushest the snake! that is the way to make an offence gracious ; though few have the grace to do it. Arm. For the rest of the worthies? Arm. We will have, if this fadge not', an antick. I beseech you, follow. Hol. Via, goodman Dull! thou hast spoken no word all this while. Dull. Nor understood none neither, sir. Hol. Allons! we will employ thee. Dull. I'll make one in a dance, or so; or I will play on the tabor to the worthies, and let them dance the hay. Hol. Most dull, honest Dull, to our sport, away. SCENE II. [Exeunt. Another Part of the same. Before the Princess's Pavilion. Enter the Princess, KATHARINE, ROSALINE, and MARIA, Prin. Sweet hearts, we shall be rich ere we depart, If fairings come thus plentifully in: A lady wall'd about with diamonds! Look you, what I have from the loving king. Ros. Madam, came nothing else along with that? Prin. Nothing, but this? yes, as much love in rhyme, As would be cramm'd up in a sheet of paper, Writ on both sides the leaf, margent and all; That he was fain to seal on Cupid's name. Ros. That was the way to make his god-head wax'; For he hath been five thousand years a boy. 7 9 if this fadge not,] i. e. suit not, pass not into action. 8 Via,] An Italian exclamation, signifying courage! come on! to make his god-head wax ;] To wax anciently signified to It is yet said of the moon, that she waxes and wanes. grow. Kath. Ay, and a shrewd unhappy gallows too. Ros. You'll ne'er be friends with him; he kill'd your sister. Kath. He made her melancholy, sad, and heavy; And so may you; for a light heart lives long. Ros. What's your dark meaning, mouse', of this light word? Kath. A light condition in a beauty dark. Ros. We need more light to find your meaning out. Kath. You'll mar the light, by taking it in snuff'; Therefore, I'll darkly end the argument. Ros. Look, what you do, you do it still i'the dark. Ros. Great reason; for, Past cure is still past care. Prin. Well bandied both; a set of wit well played. But Rosaline, you have a favour too: Who sent it? and what is it? Ros. The numbers true; and, were the numb'ring too, I am compar'd to twenty thousand fairs. Prin. Any thing like? Ros. Much, in the letters; nothing in the praise. 1 mouse,] This was a term of endearment formerly. 2 taking it in snuff;] Snuff is here used equivocally for anger, and the snuff of a candle. 3 a set of wit-] A term from tennis. Kath. Fair as a text B in a copy-book. Ros. 'Ware pencils! debtor, How? let me not die your My red dominical, my golden letter: O, that your face were not so full of O's! Kath. A pox of that jest! and beshrew all shrows'! Prin. But what † was sent to you from fair Dumain? Kath. Madam, this glove. Prin. Did he not send you twain? Kath. Yes, madam; and moreover, Some thousand verses of a faithful lover: A huge translation of hypocrisy, Vilely compil'd, profound simplicity. Mar. This, and these pearls, to me sent Longaville; The letter is too long by half a mile. Prin. I think no less: Dost thou not wish in heart, The chain were longer, and the letter short? Mar. Ay, or I would these hands might never part. O, that I knew he were but in by the week! A pox of that jest! and beshrew all shrows !] "Por of that jest!" Mr. Theobald is scandalized at this language from a princess. But there needs no alarm-the small-pox only is alluded to; with which, it seems, Katharine was pitted; or, as it is quaintly expressed, "her face was full of O's." Mr. Malone reads, "I beshrew." 5 MALONE. in by the week!] An expression taken from hiring servants or artificers; meaning, I wish I was as sure of his service for any time limited, as if I had hired him. And make him proud to make me proud that jests !] The meaning of this obscure line seems to be, I would make him proud to flatter me who make a mock of his flattery. So portent-like would I o'ersway his state, Prin. None are so surely caught, when they are catch'd, As wit turn'd fool: folly, in wisdom hatch'd, Hath wisdom's warrant, and the help of school; And wit's own grace to grace a learned fool. Ros. The blood of youth burns not with such excess, As gravity's revolt to wantonness. Mar. Folly in fools bears not so strong a note, Enter BOYET. Prin. Here comes Boyet, and mirth is in his face. Boyet O, I am stabb'd with laughter! Where's her grace? Prin. Thy news, Boyet? Boyet. Prepare, madam, prepare!— Arm, wenches, arm! encounters mounted are Against your peace: Love doth approach disguis'd, I thought to close mine eyes some half an hour: That well by heart hath con'd his embassage : |