Arm. I confefs both; they are both the varnish of a complete man. Moth. Then, I am fure, you know how much the grofs fum of deuce-ace amounts to. Arm. It doth amount to one more than two. Arm. True. Moth. Why, fir, is this fuch a piece of study? now here's three studied ere you'll thrice wink and how eafy it is to put years to the word three, and study three years in two words, the dancing horfe will tell you. 4 Arm. A moft fine figure. Moth. To prove you a cypher. Arm. I will hereupon confefs, I am in love: and, as it is base for a foldier to love, fo I am in love with a bafe wench. If drawing my fword against the humour of affection would deliver me from the reprobate thought of it, I would take defire prifoner; and ransom him to any French courtier for a new devis'd court'fy. I think it fcorn to figh; methinks, I fhould 4 Moth. And how eafy is it to put years to the word three, and fudy three years in two words, the dancing-horfe will tell you.]. Banks's horfe, which play'd many remarkable pranks. Sir Walter Raleigh (Hiftory of the World, first part, p. 178) fays, "If Banks ❝ had lived in older times, he would have fhamed all the inchan"ters in the world: for whofoever was oft famous among them, "could never mafter, or initruct any beaft as he did his horfe." And fir Kenelm Digby (a Treatife of Bodies, chap. 38. page 393.) obferves, "That his horie would reftore a glove to the due 61 owner, after the mafter had whispered the man's name in his "ear; would tell the juft number of pence in any piece of filver coin, newly fhewed him by his mafter; and even obey prefently his command, in difcharging himself of his excrements, "whenfoever he had bade him." Dr. GRAY. 46 Banks's horfe is alluded to by many writers contemporary with Shakespeare; among the reft, by B. Jonfon, in Every Man out of his Humour. "He keeps more ado with this monfter, than ever Banks did with his horfe." STEEVENS. out-fwear Cupid. Comfort me, boy; What great men have been in love? Moth. Hercules, master. Arm. Moft fweet Hercules! More authority, dear boy, name more; and, fweet my child, let them be men of good repute and carriage. Math. Samplon, master; he was a man of good carriage; great carriage; for he carried the town. gates on his back like a porter: and he was in love. Arm. O well-knit Sampfon, ftrong-jointed Sampfon! I do excel thee in my rapier, as much as thou didft me in carrying gates. I am in love too. Who was Sampfon's love, my dear Moth? Moth. A woman, master. Arm. Of what complexion? Moth. Of all the four, or the three, or the two, or one of the four. Arm. Tell me precifely of what complexion? Arm. Is that one of the four complexions? too. Arm. Green, indeed, is the colour of lovers: but to have a love of that colour, methinks, Samplon had small reason for it. He, furely, affected her for her wit. Moth. It was fo, fir; for fhe had a green wit. Arm. My love is most immaculate white and red. Moth. Moft maculate thoughts, master, are mask'd under fuch colours. Arm. Define, define, well-educated infant. Moth. My father's wit, and my mother's tongue, affift mel Arm. Sweet invocation of a child; most pretty and pathetical Moth. If he be made of white and red, Her faults will ne'er be known; For For blufhing cheeks by faults are bred, By this you shall not know; For still her cheeks poffefs the fame, 1 A dangerous rhime, master, against the reason of white and red. Arm. Is there not a ballad, boy, of the King and the Beggar? Moth. The world was guilty of fuch a ballad fome three ages fince; but, I think, now 'tis not to be found; or if it were, it would neither ferve for the writing, nor the tune. Arm. I will have that fubject newly writ o'er, that I may example my digreffion by fome mighty precedent. Boy, I do love that country girl, that I took in the park with the rational hind Coftard; fhe deferves well. 6 Moth. To be whipp'd; and yet a better love than my master. Arm. Sing, boy; my spirit grows heavy in love. Moth. And that's great marvel, loving a light wench. Arm. I fay, fing. Moth. Forbear, till this company is past. Enter Coftard, Dull, Jaquenetta, a Maid. Dull. Sir, the duke's pleasure is, that you keep Coftard fafe and you must let him take no delight, nor no penance; but he muft faft three days a-week. For this damfel, I must keep her at the park; fhe is allow'd for the day-woman. Fare you well. 5 the King and the Beggar?] See Dr. Percy's Collection in 3 vols. STEEVENS. "the rational bind Coftard;] Perhaps, we should read-the irrational bind, &c. T. T. The rational bind, perhaps, means only the reasoning brute, the animal with fome share of reajon. STEEVENS. A a 4 Arm. Arm. I do betray myself with blufhing. Maid, Arm. I will vifit thee at the lodge. Jaq. That's here by. Arm. I know where it is fituate. Arm. I will tell thee wonders. Arm. I love thee. Jaq. So I heard you say. Am. And fo farewell. Faq Fair weather after you! Dull. Come, Jaquenetta, away." [Exeunt Dull and Jaquenetta. Arm. Villain, thou shalt faft for thy offences, ere thou be pardoned. Coft. Well, fir, I hope, when I do it, I fhall do it on a full ftomach. Arm. Thou shalt be heavily punish'd. Coft. I am more bound to you, than your followers; for they are but lightly rewarded. Arm. Take away this villain; fhut him up. Moth. Come, you tranfgreffing flave; away. Coft. Let me not be pent up, fir; I will faft, being loofe. 7 Maid. Fair weather after you. Come, Jaquenetta, away.] Thus all the printed copies: but the editors have been guilty of much inadvertence. They make Jaquenetta, and a Maid enter; whereas Jaquenetta is the only maid intended by the poet, and is committed to the cuftody of Dull, to be conveyed by him to the lodge in the park. This being the cafe, it is evident to demonftration, that Far aveather after you must be spoken by Jaquenetta; and then that Dull fays to her, Come, Jaquenetta, away, as I have regulated the text. THEOBALD. Mr. Theobald has endeavoured here to dignify his own induftry by a very flight performance. The folios all read as he reads, except that inftead of naming the perfons they give their characters, enter Clown, Conftable, and Wench. JOHNSON. Moth. Moth. No, fir; that were fast and loose: thou fhalt to prison. Coft. Well, if ever I do fee the merry days of defolation that I have seen, some shall see- Moth. What fhall fome fee? Coft. Nay, nothing, mafter Moth, but what they look upon. 'It is not for prifoners to be filent in their words, and therefore I will fay nothing: I thank God, I have as little patience as another man ; and, therefore I can be quiet. ; [Exeunt Moth and Coftard. Arm. I do affect the very ground, which is base, where her fhoe, which is bafer, guided by her foot, which is baseft, doth tread. I fhall be forfworn, which is a great argument of falfhood, if I love. And how can that be true love, which is falfly attempted? Love is a familiar; love is a devil there is no evil angel but love. Yet Sampfon was fo tempted; and he had an excellent ftrength: yet was Solomon fo feduced; and he had a very good wit. Cupid's but-shaft is too hard for Hercules's club, and therefore too much odds for a Spaniard's rapier. The first and fecond caufe will not ferve my turn; the paffado he refpects not, the duello he regards not: his difgrace is to be call'd boy; but his glory is, to fubdue men. Adieu, valour! ruft, rapier! be ftill, drum! for your manager is in love; yea, he loveth. Affift me fome extemporal God of rhime, for, I am fure, I fhall turn fonneteer. Devife wit; write pen; for I am for whole volumes [Exit. in folio. It is not for prifoners to be filent in their words,] I fuppofe we hould read, it is not for prifoners to be filent in their wards, that is, in cuftody, in the bolds. JOHNSON. I believe the blunder was intentional. The quarto, however, reads, It is for prifoners, &c. STEEVENS. The first and fecond cause will not ferve my turn ;] See the last act of As you like it, with the notes. JOHNSON. ACT |