As many other manish cowards have, ACT II. SOLITUDE PREFERRED TO A COURT LIFE, AND THE ADVANTAGES OF ADVERSITY. Now, my co-mates, and brothers in exile, Hath not old custom made this life more sweet Than that of painted pomp? are not these woods More free from peril than the envious court? Here feel we but the penalty of Adam, The seasons' difference; as the icy fang, And churlish chiding of the winter's wind; Which, when it bites and blows upon my body, Even till I shrink with cold, I smile, and say, This is no flattery: these are counsellors That feelingly persuade me what I am. Sweet are the uses of adversity; Which, like the toad, ugly and venemous, Wears yet a precious jewel in his head; And this our life, exempt from public haunt, Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, Sermons in stones, and good in every thing. REFLECTIONS ON THE WOUNDED STAG. Duke S. Come, shall we go and kill us venison? And yet it irks me, the poor dappled fools,- 1 Lord. Indeed, my lord, * Barbed arrows. FROST. An envious sneaping* frost, That bites the first born infants of the spring. A CONCEITED COURTIER. wrong A man in all the world's new fashion planted, ACT II. BEAUTY. My beauty, though but mean, Needs not the painted flourish of your praise; A merrier man, A MERRY MAN. Within the limit of becoming mirth, I'll do the service of a younger man DESCRIPTION OF A LOVER. O, thou didst then ne'er love so heartily: Or if thou hast not sat as I do now, Or if thou hast not broke from company, DESCRIPTION OF A FOOL, AND HIS MORALIZING ON TIME. Good-morrow, fool, quoth I: No, sir, quoth he, Thus may we see, quoth he, how the world wags: Jaq. O worthy fool!-One that hath been a cour tier; And says if ladies be but young, and fair, * The fool was anciently dressed in a party-coloured coat. 1 In our heart's fable;* heart, too capable COWARDICE. I know him a notorious liar, Think him a great way fool, solely a coward; THE REMEDY OF EVILS GENERALLY IN Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie, CHARACTER OF A NOBLE COURTIER. In his youth He had the wit, which I can well observe Making them proud of his humility. Such a man ; Might be a copy to these younger times. * Helena considers her heart as the tablet on which his resemblance was pourtrayed. † Peculiarity of feature. Countenance. § His is put for its. ACT II. HONOUR DUE TO PERSONAL VIRTUE ONLY, NOT TO BIRTH. From lowest place when virtuous things proceed, The place is dignified by the doer's deed: Where great additions* swell, and virtue none, It is a dropsied honour: good alone Is good, without a name; vileness is so:† The property by what it is should go, Not by the title. She is young, wise, fair; In these to nature she's immediate heir; And these breed honour: that is honour's scorn, Which challenges itself as honour's born, And is not like the sire: Honours best thrive, When rather from our acts we them derive Than our foregoer: the mere word's a slave, Debauch'd on every tomb; on every grave, A lying trophy, and as oft is dumb, Where dust and damn'd oblivion, is the tomb Of honour'd bones indeed. ACT III. SELF-ACCUSATION OF TOO GREAT LOVE. Poor Lord! is't I That chase thee from thy country, and expose Those tender limbs of thine to the event Of the non-sparing war? and is it I That drive thee from the sportive court, where thou Wast shot at with fair eyes, to be the mark Of smoky muskets? O you leaden messengers, That ride upon the violent speed of fire, Fly with false aim; move the still-piercing air, That sings with piercing, do not touch my lord! Whoever shoots at him, I set him there; Whoever charges on his forward breast, I am the caitiff, that do hold him to it; * Titles. + Good is good independent of any worldly distinction and so is vileness vile. |