She might have been a grandam ere she dy❜d. Cath. A light condition, in a beauty dark. Rof. We need more light to find your meaning out. Cath. You'll marr the light, by taking it in fnuff: Therefore I'll darkly end the argument. Rof. Look, what you do; and do it ftill i'th' Cath. So do not you, for you are a light wench. Rof. Great reafon; for (a) paft Cure is ftill paft Prin. Well bandied both; a fet of wit well play'd. Rof. I would, you knew. And if my face were but as fair as yours, Rof. Much in the letters, nothing in the praise. Rof. Ware pencils. How? let me not die your debter, My red dominical, my golden letter. [(a)-paft Cure is fill paft Care. Dr. Thirlby,Vulg. past Care is fill paft Cure.】 Cath. Cath. Pox of that jest, and I befhrew all fhrews: Prin. Did he not fend you twain? Mar. This, and thefe pearls, to me fent Longaville; The letter is too long by half a mile. Prin. I think no lefs; doft thou not wish in heart, The chain were longer, and the letter short? Mar. Ay, or I would thefe hands might never part. Prin. We are wife girls, to mock our lovers for't. Rof. They are worse fools to purchase mocking so. That fame Biron I'll torture, ere I go. O, that I knew he were but in by th' week! And make him proud to make me proud with jests: 4 So PERTAUN T-like would I o'er fway his ftate, That he should be my Fool, and I his Fate.] In old farces, to fhew the inevitable approaches of death and destiny, the Fool of the farce is made to employ all his ftratagems to avoid Death or Fate: Which very ftratagems, as they are ordered, bring the Fool, at every turn, into the very jaws of Fate. To this Shakespear alludes again in Measure for Measure, -merely thou art Death's Fool; For him thou labour'ft by thy flight to shun, It is plain from all this, that the nonfenfe of pertaunt-like should be read PORT EN T-like, i. e. I would be his fate or deftiny, and like a portent hang over, and influence his fortunes. For portents were not only thought to forebode, but to influence. So the Latins called a perfon destined to bring mischief, fatale por tentum. Prin. None are fo furely caught, when they are catch'd, As wit turn'd fool; folly, in wifdom hatch'd, Rof. The blood of youth burns not in fuch excess, As gravity's revolt to wantonnefs. Mar. Folly in fools bears not fo ftrong a note, Prin. Here comes Boyet, and mirth is in his face. Boyet. O, I am ftab'd with laughter; where's her Grace? Prin. Thy news, Boyet? Boyet. Prepare, Madam, prepare. Arm, wenches, arm; Encounters mounted are S Action Action and accent did they teach him there; I should have fear'd her, had the been a Devil. Cry'd, via! we will do't, come what will come. Prin. And will they fo? the gallants fhall be taskt; 5 Like Mofcovites, or Ruffians, as I guess.] The fettling commerce in Ruffia was, at that time, a matter that much ingroffed the concern and converfation of the publick. There had been feveral embaffies employed thither on that occafion; and several tracts of the manners and ftate of that nation written: So that a mask of Muscovites was as good an entertainment to the audience of that time, as a coronation has been fince. Hold, Hold, Rofaline; this Favour thou fhalt wear, And change your Favours too; fo fhall Rof. Come on then, wear the Favours moft in fight. Cath. But in this changing, what is your intent? Prin. Th' effect of my intent is to cross theirs; They do it but in mocking merriment, And mock for mock is only my intent. Their several councils they unbosom shall To loves miftook, and fo be mockt withal, Upon the next occafion that we meet, With visages difplay'd, to talk and greet. Rof. But fhall we dance, if they defire us to't? Prin. No; to the death, we will not move a foot; Nor to their pen'd speech render we no grace: But while 'tis fpoke, each turn away her face. Boyet. Why, that contempt will kill the Speaker's heart, And quite divorce his memory from his Part. Prin. Therefore I do it; and I make no doubt, There's no fuch Sport, as Sport by Sport o'erthrown, And they, well mockt, depart away with fhame.[Sound. Enter the King, Biron, Longaville, Dumain, and Attendants, difguis'd like Mofcovites; Moth with Mufick, as for a masquerade. Moth. All hail, the richest beauties on the earth! S 2 Moth. |