Page images
PDF
EPUB

ANTAGONISM OF THE SPLEENS.

BENEDICK. But it is certain, I am loved of all ladies, only you excepted: and I would I could find in my heart that I had not a hard heart: for, truly, I love none.

BEATRICE. A dear happiness to women; they would else have been troubled with a pernicious suitor. I thank God, and my cold blood, I am of your humour for that; I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow, than a man

swear he loves me.

BENE. God keep your ladyship still in that mind! so some gentleman or other shall 'scape a predestinate scratched face.

BEAT. Scratching could not make it worse, an 'twere such a face as yours were.

BENE. Well, you are a rare parrot-teacher. BEAT. A bird of my tongue is better than a beast of yours.

BENE. I would, my horse had the speed of your tongue; and so good a continuer: But keep your way o' God's name; I have done. BEAT. You always end with a jade's trick; I know you of old.

MUCH ADO, A. 1, s. 1.

ANTECEDENTS IMPORTANT.

THINK we king Harry strong;

And, princes, look, you strongly arm to meet
him.
The kindred of him hath been fleshed upon us;
And he is bred out of that bloody strain,
That haunted us in our familiar paths:
Witness our too much memorable shame,

When Cressy battle fatally was struck,
And all our princes captiv'd, by the hand
Of that black name, Edward black prince of
Wales;

Whiles that his mountain sire,-on mountain standing,

Up in the air, crown'd with the golden sun,-
Saw his heroical seed, and smil❜d to see him
Mangle the work of nature, and deface

The patterns that by God and by French fathers
Had twenty years been made. This is a stem
Of that victorious stock; and let us fear
The native mightiness and fate of him.

K. HENRY V., a. 2, s. 4.

APPEARANCES SUPPORT RANK.

CESAR. Why have

you stol'n upon us thus?

You come not

Like Cæsar's sister: The wife of Antony
Should have an army for an usher, and
The neighs of horse to tell of her approach,
Long ere she did appear; the trees by the way
Should have borne men; and expectation fainted,
Longing for what it had not: nay, the dust
Should have ascended to the roof of heaven,
Rais'd by your populous troops: But you are

come

A market-maid to Rome; and have prevented
The ostent of our love, which, left unshown,
Is often left unlov'd: we should have met you
By sea and land; supplying every stage
With an augmented greeting.

ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA, A. 3, s. 6.

D

ART VERSUS NATURE. LUCULLUS. Draw nearer, honest Flaminius. Thy lord's a bountiful gentleman: but thou art wise; and thou knowest well enough, although thou comest to me, that this is no time to lend money; especially upon bare friendship, without security. Here's three solidares for thee; good boy, wink at me, and say, thou saw'st me not. Fare thee well.

FLAMINIUS.

Is't possible, the world should

so much differ:

And we alive, that liv'd? Fly, damned baseness, To him that worships thee.

[Throwing the money away. LUCUL. Ha! now I see, thou art a fool, and

fit for thy master.

TIMON OF ATHENS, A. 3, s. 1.

ASSIMILATION OF NATURE AND
CHARACTER.

I NEVER did repent for doing good,
Nor shall not now: for in companions
That do converse and waste the time together,
Whose souls do bear an equal yoke of love,
There must be needs a like proportion
Of lineaments, of manners, and of spirit;
Which makes me think, that this Antonio,
Being the bosom lover of my lord,
Must needs be like my lord: If it be so,
How little is the cost I have bestow'd,
In purchasing the semblance of my soul
From out the state of hellish cruelty?
This comes too near the praising of myself;
Therefore, no more of it.

MERCHANT OF VENICE, A. 3, s. 4.

AVARICE KILLS THE SOUL, AS INTEMPERANCE KILLS THE BODY.

JESSICA. I am sorry, thou wilt leave my father so;

Our house is hell, and thou, a merry devil,
Didst rob it of some taste of tediousness:
But fare thee well: there is a ducat for thee.
And, Launcelot, soon at supper shalt thou see
Lorenzo, who is thy new master's guest:
Give him this letter; do it secretly,

And so farewell; I would not have my father
See me talk with thee.

LAUNCELOT.

tongue.

Adieu !

tears exhibit my

Most beautiful pagan,-most sweet Jew! If a Christian do not play the knave, and get thee, I am much deceived: But, adieu! these foolish drops do somewhat drown my manly spirit; adieu!

JES. Farewell, good Launcelot.

Alack, what heinous sin is it in me,

To be asham'd to be my father's child!
But though I am a daughter to his blood,
I am not to his manners: O Lorenzo,
If thou keep promise, I shall end this strife;
Become a Christian, and thy loving wife.

MERCHANT OF VENICE, A. 2, s. 3.

AVOID ENGENDERING EVIL. HAVE patience, sir, O, let it not be so; Herein you war against your reputation, And draw within the compass of suspect The unviolated honour of your wife.

Once this,-Your long experience of her wisdom, Her sober virtue, years, and modesty,

Plead on her part some cause to you unknown;
And doubt not, sir, but she will well excuse
Why at this time the doors are made against you.
Be rul'd by me; depart in patience,

And let us to the Tiger all to dinner:
And, about evening, come yourself alone,
To know the reason of this strange restraint.
If by strong hand you offer to break in,
Now in the stirring passage of the day,
A vulgar comment will be made on it;
And that supposed by the common rout
Against your yet ungalled estimation,
That may with foul intrusion enter in,
And dwell upon your grave when you are dead:
For slander lives upon succession;

For ever hous'd, where it once gets possession.

COMEDY OF ERRORS, A. 3, s. 1.

AVOID TEMPTATION.

TAKE heed o'the foul fiend: Obey thy parents; keep thy word justly; swear not; commit not with man's sworn spouse; set not thy sweet heart on proud array.

What hast thou been?

A serving man, proud in heart and mind; that curled my hair; wore gloves in my cap, served the lust of my mistress's heart, and did the act of darkness with her; swore as many oaths as I spake words, and broke them in the sweet face of heaven: one, that slept in the contriving of lust, and waked to do it: Wine loved I deeply; dice dearly; and in woman, out

« PreviousContinue »