Would lofe their names, and fo would Justice too. Then every thing includes itself in power; Power into will, will into appetite; And appetite (an universal wolf, So doubly seconded with will and power} Must make perforce an universal prey, And laft, eat up itself.
Conduct in War fuperior to Action.
The ftill and mental parts,
That do contrive how many hands fhall ftrike, When fitness call them on, and know by measure Of their obfervant toil the enemies weight; Why, this hath not a finger's dignity; They call this bed-work mapp'ry, closet war: So that the ram that batters down the wall, For the great fwing and rudeness of his poize, They place before his hand that made the engine; Or those, that with the fineness of their fouls By reafon guide his execution.
SCENE VI. Refpect.
I ask, that I might waken reverence, And bid the cheek be ready with a blush Modeft as morning, when fhe coldly eyes The youthful Phoebus...
ACT II.
DOUBT
The wound of peace is furety, Surety fecure; but modeft doubt is call'd
The
side th
mentator is to do justice to his author, it feems to me, highly improper to stuff one's obfervations with the gall of private animoaties
The beacon of the wife; the tent that fearches To th' bottom of the worst.
SCENE IV. Pleafure and Revenge. Pleasure and revenge
Have ears more deaf than adders, to the voice Of any true decision.
An expecting Lover.
No, Pandarus: I ftalk about her door Like a strange foul upon the Stygian banks Staying for waftage. O, be thou my Charon, And give me fwift transportance to those fields, Where I may wallow in the lilly beds Propos'd for the deferver! O, gentle Pandarus, From Cupid's fhoulders pluck his painted wings, And fly with me to Creffid: I'm giddy; expectation whirls me round. Th' imaginary relifh is fo fweet,
That it inchants my fenfe: what will it be, When that the watry palate tastes indeed, Love's thrice reputed nectar? Death, I fear me; Swooning deftruction, or fome joy too fine, Too fubtle-potent, and too fharp in fweetnefs, For the capacity of my rude powers;
*
*
I fear it much, and I do fear befides, That I shall lose distinction in my joys; As doth a battle, when they charge on heaps The flying enemy. My heart beats thicker than a fev'rous pulse; And all my powers do their beffowing lofe, Like vaffalage at unawares encountring The eye of majesty.
SCENE V. Conftancy in Love protested. Troilus. True fwains in love fhall in the world to
come
7
Approve their truths by Troilus: when their rhimes, Full of protest, of oath, and big compare, Want fimilies: truth, tired with iteration, As true as fteel, (4) as plantage to the moon, As fun to day, as turtle to her mate, As iron to adamant, as earth to th' center: Yet after all comparisons of truth, (As truths authentick author to be cited,) As true as Troilus, fhall crown up the verfe, And fanctify the numbers.
Cref. Prophet may you be !
If I be false, or fwerve a hair from truth, When time is old and hath forgot itself, When water drops have worn the stones of Troy, And blind oblivion swallow'd cities up,
And mighty ftates characterlefs are grated To dufty nothing; yet let memory, From falfe to falfe, among falfe maids in love, Upbraid my falfhood! when they've faid, as falfe As air, as water, as wind, as fandy earth;
.
As fox to lamb, as wolf to heifer's calf;' Pard to the hind, or ftep-dame to her fon; Yea-let them fay, to stick the heart of falfhood, As falfe as Creffid.
(4) As plantage, &c.] The Oxford editor obferves, "It was heretofore the prevailing opinion, that the production and growth of plants depended much upon the influences of the moon: and the rules and directions given for fowing, planting, grafting, pruning, had reference generally to the changes, the increase, or waining of the moon.
SCENE VII. Pride cures Pride.
Pride hath no other glass
To fhew itself, but pride: for fupple knees Feed arrogance, and are the proud man's fees.
Greatness, contemptible when it declines.
'Tis certain; greatnefs, once fall'n out with fortune, Muft fall out with men too: what the declined is, He fhall as foon read in the eyes of others, As feel in his own fall: for men, like butterflies, Shew not their mealy wings but to the fummer; And not a man, for being fimply man,
Hath honour, but is honour'd by thofe honours That are without him: as place, riches, favour, Prizes of accident as oft as merit ; Which, when they fall, (as being flipp'ry ftanders) The love that lean'd on them, as flipp'ry too,
(5) Do one pluck down another, and together Die in the fall;
Honour continu'd Acts neceffary to preferve its Luftre. Time hath, my lord, a wallet at his back,
Wherein he puts alms for oblivion.
(A great-fiz'd monfter of ingratitudes)
Thofe fcraps are good deeds paft, which are devour'd As fast as they are made, forgot as foon
As done: perfeverance keeps honour bright: 'To have done, is to hang quite out of fashion, Like rufty mail in monumental mockery. For honour travels in a straight so narrow, fo M 4
Where
(5) Do] This is commonly read doth; but fo, is not English. Which, in the 3d line preceding, is the nominative cafe, and plural: the reft fhould all be read as in a parenthesis. I find, the Oxford editor is the only one that reads it properly.
Where one but goes abreaft; keep then the path; For emulation hath a thousand sons, That one by one purfue; if you give way, Or turn afide from the direct forth-right, Like to an entred tide, they all rufh by, And leave you hindermoft; and there you lie, Like to a gallant horfe fall'n in first rank, For pavement to the abject rear, o'er-run And trampled on : then what they do in prefent, Tho' lefs than yours in paft, muft o'er-top yours. For time is like a fashionable host,
*1
'That flightly shakes his parting guest by the hand; But with his arms out-ftretch'd, as he would fly,
Grafps in the comer; welcome ever smiles, And farewel goes out fighing. O let not virtue feek Remuneration for the thing it was;
For beauty, wit, high birth, defert in fervice Love, friendship, charity, are fubjects all To envious and caluminating time. :
***
One touch of nature makes the whole world kin That all, with one confent praife new-born gawds, 'Tho' they are made and moulded of things paft And give to duft, that is a little gilt,
More land than they will give to gold o'er dusted: The prefent eye praifes the prefent object.
: SCENE VIII. Love hook off by a Soldier.
Sweet, rouse yourself; and the weak wanton Cupid Shall from your neck unloose his am'rous fold; And, like a dew-drop from the lion's mane, Befhook to air,
« AnkstesnisTęsti » |