Which make such wanton gambols with the wind, Upon supposed fairness, often known beauty: in a word, The seeming truth which cunning times put on To entrap the wisest. PORTIA'S PICTURE. What find I here? [Opening the leaden casket. Fair Portia's counterfeit? What demi-god SUCCESSFUL LOVER COMPARED TO A CONQUEROR. Like one of two contending in a prize, HIS THOUGHTS TO THE INARTICULATE JOYS OF CROWD. There is such confusion in my powers, *Treacherous; † Likeness, portrait. Blended. Turns to a wild of nothing save of joy, IMPLACABLE REVENGE. Shy. I'll have my bond; I will not hear thee speak: I'll have my bond; and therefore speak no more, I'll not be made a soft and dull-ey'd fool, To shake the head, relent, and sigh, and yield To Christian intercessors. THE BOASTING OF YOUTH. I'll hold thee any wager, When we are both accouter'd like young men, AFFECTATION IN WORDS. O dear discretion, how his words are suited! THE JEW'S REASON FOR REVENGE. You'll ask me why I rather chose to have A weight of carrion flesh, than to receive Three thousand ducats: I'll not answer that: But, say, it is my humour:* Is it answer'd? What if my house be troubled with a rat, And I be pleased to give ten thousand ducats A losing suit against him. Are you answer'd? MERCY. The quality of mercy is not strain'd; And earthly power doth then show likest God's, FORTUNE. For herein fortune shows herself more kind An age of poverty. * Prejudice. 1 ACT V. MOONLIGHT. How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank! Here will we sit, and let the sounds of music MUSIC. I am never merry, when I hear sweet music. Lor. The reason is, your spirits are attentive: For de but note a wild and wanton herd, Or rac of youthful and unhandled colts, Fetching mad bounds, bellowing, and neighing loud, Which is the hot condition of their blood; If they but hear perchance a trumpet sound, Or any air of music touch their ears, You shall perceive them make a mutual stand, Their savage eyes turn'd to a modest gaze, By the sweet power of music: Therefore the poet Did feign that Orpheus drew trees, stones, and floods; Since not so stockish, hard, and full of rage, But music for the time doth change his nature: The man that hath no music in himself, Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds, Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils; The motions of his spirit are dull as night, And his affections dark as Erebus: Let no such man be trusted. A GOOD DEED COMPARED. How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world. * A small flat dish, used in the administration of the Eucharist. NOTHING GOOD OUT OF SEASON. The crow doth sing as sweetly as the lark, How many things by season seasoned are And would not be awak'd! MOONLIGHT NIGHT. 1 This night, methinks, is but the daylight sick, It looks a little paler; 'tis a day, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. ACT I. A FATHER'S AUTHORITY. TO you your father should be as a god; One that compos'd your beauties; yea, and one To whom you are but as a form in wax, By him imprinted, and within his power To leave the figure, or disfigure it. A RECLUSE LIFE. Therefore, fair Hermia, question your desires, Know of your youth, examine well your blood, Whether, if you yield not to your father's choice, You can endure the livery of a nun; For aye* to be in shady cloister mew'd, To live a barren sister all your life, Chanting faint hymns to the cold fruitless moon. Thrice blessed they, that master so their blood, To undergo such maiden pilgrimage: But earthlier happy is the rose distill'd, * Ever. |