Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]

IACH.

and stop.

Had I this cheek,
To bathe my lips upon; this hand, whose touch,
Whose every touch, would force the feeler's soul
To the oath of loyalty; this object, which
Takes prisoner the wild motion of mine eye,
Fixing it only here: should I (damn'd then)
Slaver with lips as common as the stairs
That mount the Capitol: join gripes with hands
Made hard with hourly falsehood (falsehood, as
With labour); then, by-peeping in an eye,
Base and unlustrous as the smoky light
That's fed with stinking tallow; it were fit
That all the plagues of hell should at one time
Encounter such revolt.

[blocks in formation]

a By-peeping-so the original. Johnson changed it to "lie peeping;" but it appears to us that "by-peeping" is clandestinely peeping.

[blocks in formation]

IACH. O dearest soul! your cause doth strike my heart

IMO.

With pity, that doth make me sick. A lady
So fair, and fasten'd to an empery,

Would make the great'st king double! To be partner'd
With tomboysa, hir'd with that self-exhibition

Which your own coffers yield! with diseas'd ventures,

That play with all infirmities for gold

Which rottenness can lend nature! such boil'd stuff,
As well might poison poison! Be reveng'd:
Or she that bore you was no queen, and you
Recoil from your great stock.

Reveng'd!

How should I be reveng'd? If this be true, (As I have such a heart that both mine ears Must not in haste abuse,) if it be true,

How shall I be reveng'd?

IACH.

IMO.

Should he make me

Live like Diana's priest, betwixt cold sheets,
Whiles he is vaulting variable ramps,
In your despite, upon your purse? Revenge it.
I dedicate myself to your sweet pleasure;
More noble than that runagate to your bed;
And will continue fast to your affection,

Still close, as sure.

What ho, Pisanio!
IACH. Let me my service tender on your lips.
Iмo. Away!-I do condemn mine ears that have

So long attended thee.-If thou wert honourable,
Thou wouldst have told this tale for virtue, not
For such an end thou seek'st; as base, as strange.
Thou wrong'st a gentleman, who is as far
From thy report, as thou from honour; and
Solicit'st here a lady, that disdains

Thee and the devil alike.-What, ho! Pisanio!-
The king my father shall be made acquainted

Of thy assault; if he shall think it fit,
A saucy stranger, in his court, to mart
As in a Romish stew, and to expound
His beastly mind to us; he hath a court
He little cares for, and a daughter whom
He not respects at all.-What ho, Pisanio!

• Verstegan thus defines a tomboy: "Tumbe, to dance. Tumbed, danced. Hereof we yet call

a wench that skippeth or leapeth like a boy, a tomboy.”

Diana's priest. In 'Pericles' we have the expression, used by Diana, of “maiden priests."

IACH. O happy Leonatus! I

IMO.

may say:

The credit that thy lady hath of thee

Deserves thy trust; and thy most perfect goodness
Her assur'd credit!-Blessed live you long!

A lady to the worthiest sir, that ever

Country call'd his! and you his mistress, only
For the most worthiest fit! Give me your pardon.
I have spoke this, to know if your affiance
Were deeply rooted; and shall make your lord
That which he is, new o'er: And he is one

The truest manner'd; such a holy witch,
That he enchants societies unto him:
Half all men's hearts are his.

You make amends.

IACH. He sits 'mongst men, like a descended god:
He hath a kind of honour sets him off,

More than a mortal seeming. Be not angry,
Most mighty princess, that I have adventur'd
To try your taking, a false report which hath
Honour'd with confirmation your great judgment
In the election of a sir so rare,

Which you know, cannot err: The love I bear him
Made me to fan you thus; but the gods made you,
Unlike all others, chaff-less. Pray, your pardon.
IMO. All's well, sir: Take my power i' the court for yours.
IACH. My humble thanks. I had almost forgot

[blocks in formation]

IACH. Some dozen Romans of us, and your lord,
(The best feather of our wing,) have mingled sums,
To buy a present for the emperor;

[blocks in formation]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][graphic]
[graphic][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

CLO. Was there ever man had such luck! when I kissed the jack, upon an upcast to be hit away! I had a hundred pound on 't: And then a whoreson jackanapes must take me up for swearing; as if I borrowed mine oaths of him, and might not spend them at my pleasure.

1 LORD. What got he by that? You have broke his pate with your bowl.

a This is usually pointed, "when I kiss'd the jack upon an upcast, to be hit away." But the jack was kiss'd by Cloten's bowl, and the up-cast of another bowler hit it away. The same technical expressions of kiss and cast are used by Rowley, in 'A Woman never vex'd;'-" This city bowler has kiss'd the mistress at the first cast."

AT STA

hold y

Bears all

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small]
« AnteriorContinua »