His glassy essence,-like an angry ape, Plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven, As make the angels weep; who, with our spleens, CLAUDIO WOULD FAIN PURCHASE LIFE EVEN BY HIS SISTER'S RUIN. Isab. What says my brother? Claud. Death is a fearful thing. Isab. And shamed life a hateful. Claud. Ay, but to die, and go we know not where ; This sensible warm motion to become Isab. Alas! alas! MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING. BENEDICK'S PROTEST AGAINST LOVE. Bene. Boy, Boy. Signior. Bene. In my chamber-window lies a book; bring it hither to me in the orchard. Boy. I am here already, Sir. Bene. I know that;-but I would have thee hence, and here again. [Exit Boy.]-I do much wonder, that one man, seeing how much another man is a fool when he dedicates his behaviours to love, will, after he hath laughed at such shallow follies in others, become the argument of his own scorn, by falling in love: And such a man is Claudio. I have known, when there was no music with him but the drum and fife; and now he would rather hear the tabor and the pipe: I have known, when he would have walked ten miles afoot, to see a good armour; and now will he lie ten nights awake, carving the fashion of a new doublet. He was wont to speak plain, and to the purpose, like an honest man, and a soldier; and now is he turned orthographer; his words are a very fantastical banquet, just so many strange dishes. May I be so converted, and see with these eyes? I cannot tell; I think not: I will not be sworn but love may transform me to an oyster; but I'll take my oath on it, till he have made an oyster of me, he shall never make me such a fool. One woman is fair; yet I am well: another is wise; yet I am well another virtuous; yet I am well: but till all graces be in one woman, one woman shall not come in my grace. Rich she shall be, that's certain; wise, or I'll none; virtuous, or I'll never cheapen her; fair, or I'll never look on her; mild, or come not near me; noble, or not I for an angel; of good discourse, an excellent musician, and her hair shall be of what colour it please God. Ha! the prince and monsieur Love! I will hide me in the arbour. [Withdraws. THE FRIAR'S ADVICE TO LEONATO, THE FATHER OF HERO. Friar. Pause a while, And let my counsel sway you in this case. Your daughter here the princes left for dead; Let her awhile be secretly kept in, And publish it, that she is dead indeed : Maintain a mourning ostentation; Hang mournful epitaphs, and do all rites That appertain unto a burial. Leon. What shall become of this? What will this do? Friar. Marry, this, well carried, shall on her behalf Change slander to remorse; that is some good. Of every hearer: For it so falls out, So will it fare with Claudio: And every lovely organ of her life Shall come apparell'd in more precious habit, Into the eye and prospect of his soul, Than when she lived indeed :-then shall he mourn, A MIDSUMMER-NIGHT'S DREAM. OBERON COMMISSIONS PUCK TO GATHER HIM A CERTAIN FLOWER. Obe. My gentle Puck, come hither: Thou remember'st Since once I sat upon a promontory, And heard a mermaid, on a dolphin's back, Puck. I remember. Obe. That very time I saw, (but thou could'st not,) Flying between the cold moon and the earth, Cupid all arm'd: a certain aim he took At a fair vestal, throned by the west; And loosed his love-shaft smartly from his bow, In maiden meditation, fancy-free. Yet mark'd I where the bolt of Cupid fell: Before, milk-white; now purple with love's wound,- Fetch me that flower; the herb I show'd thee once: Puck. I'll put a girdle round about the earth HELENA REPROVES HERMIA. Her. You speak not as you think; it cannot be. Is all the counsel that we two have shared, All school-days' friendship, childhood innocence? Have with our neelds, created both one flower, Like to a double cherry, seeming parted, Two lovely berries moulded on one stem : Due but to one, and crowned with one crest. THESEUS AND HIPPOLYTA SETTING FORTH TO HUNT. The. Go, one of you, find out the forester ;— For now our observation is perform'd: And since we have the vaward of the day, My love shall hear the music of my hounds.- Of hounds and echo in conjunction. Hip. I was with Hercules, and Cadmus, once, The. My hounds are bred out of the Spartan kind, Each under each. A cry more tunable Was never holla'd to, nor cheer'd with horn, E |