Cos. Not so, sir ; under correction, sir; I hope, it is not so: You cannot beg us, sir, 1 I can assure you, sir : we know what we know : I hope, sir, three times thrice, sir,Bir Is not nine. Cos. Under correction, sir, we know whereuntil it doth amount. Bir. By Jove, I always took three threes for nine. Cos. O Lord, sir, it were pity you should get your living by reckoning, sir. Bir. How much is it? Cos. O Lord, sir, the parties themselves, the actors, sir, will show whereuntil it doth amount: for my own part, I am, as they say, but to parfect one man,-ev'n one poor man; Pompion the great, sir. Bir. Art thou one of the worthies ? Cos. It pleased them to think me worthy of Pompion the great: for mine own part, I know not the degree of the worthy; but I am to stand for him. Bir. Go, bid them prepare. [Exit Costard. King. Biron, they will shame us; let them not approach. some care. 1.We are not fools : our next relations cannot beg the wardship of our persons and fortunes.'- Jobnson. Bir. We are shame-proof, my lord; and 'tis some policy To have one show worse than the king's and his company now; Bir. A right description of our sport, my lord. Enter ARMADO. Arm. Anointed, I implore so much expense of thy royal sweet breath as will utter a brace of words. [Armado converses with the King, and delivers him a paper.] Arm. That's all one, my fair, sweet, honey monarch ; for, I protest, the schoolmaster is exceeding fantastical ; too, too vain ; too, too vain. But we will put it, as they say, to fortuna della guerra. wish you the peace of mind, most royal couplement ! [Exit Armado. King. Here is like to be a good presence of worthies. He presents Hector of Troy; the swain, Pompey the great; the parish curute, Alexander; thrive, These four will change habits, and present the other five. Bir. There is five in the first show. King. You are deceived ; 'tis not so. Bir. The pedant, the braggart, the hedge-priest, the fool, and the boy :Abate a throw at novum; 1 and the whole world again Cannot prick out five such, take each one in his vein. King. The ship is under sail, and here she comes amain. [seats brought for the King, Princess, &c. Pageant of the Nine Worthies. Enter costARD armed, for Pompey. You lie; you are not he. With libbard's head on knee.3 A game at dice. 2 With vigor. Alluding to the old heroic habits, which usually had a lion or leopard's head on the knees and shoulders. 3 Bir. Well said, old mocker! I must needs be friends with thee. Cos. "I Pompey am, Pompey surnamed the big, great ; That oft in field, with targe and shield, did make my foe to sweat: And, travelling along this coast, I here am come by chance; And lay my arms before the legs of this sweet lass of France.' If your ladyship would say . Thanks, Pompey,' I had done. Prin. Great thanks, great Pompey. Cos. 'Tis not so much worth ; but, I hope, I was perfect : I made a little fault in 'great.' Bir. My hat to a halfpenny, Pompey proves the best worthy. Enter SIR NATHANIEL armed, for Alexander. Sir Nath. When in the world I lived, I was the world's commander; By east, west, north, and south, I spread my con quering might: My 'scutcheon plain declares, that I am Alisander.' Boy. Your nose says, no, you are not ; for it stands too right. Bir. Your nose smells, no, in this, most tender. smelling knight. Prin. The conqueror is dismay'd. Proceed, good Alexander ! Sir Nath. "When in the world I lived, I was the world's commander ;Boy. Most true, 'tis right; you were so, Alisander. Bir. Pompey the great,Cos. Your servant, and Costard. Bir. Take away the away Ali sander. Cos. O, sir, [to Sir Nath.] you have overthrown Alisander the conqueror ! You will be scraped out of the painted cloth for this : your lion, that holds his poll-axe sitting on a close-stool, will be given to A-jax: he will be the ninth worthy. A conqueror, and afеard to speak ! run away for shame, Alisander. [Sir Nath. retires.] There, an 't shall please you : a foolish mild man ; an honest man, look you, and soon dashed! He is a marvellous good neighbor, in sooth, and a very good bowler ; but, for Alisander, alas, you see how ’tis ;—a little o'erparted. But there are worthies a coming will speak their mind in some other sort. Prin. Stand aside, good Pompey. Enter HOLOFERNES armed, for Judas, and MOTI armed, for Hercules. Hol. ·Great Hercules is presented by this imp, Whose club kill'd Cerberus, that three-headed canus ; 1 The part allotted to him in this piece is too considerable. |