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Biron. We are shame-proof, my lord: and 'tis fome

policy

To have one show worse than the king's and his company. King. I fay, they fhall not come.

Prin. Nay, my good lord, let me o'er-rule you now; That sport best pleases, 'that doth least know how: Where zeal strives to content, and the contents

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Dies in the zeal of that which it presents,

There form confounded makes moft form in mirth;
When great things labouring perish in their birth.
Biron. A right defcription of our fport, my lord.

Enter Armado.

Arm. Anointed, I implore fo much expence of thy royal fweet breath as will utter a brace of words.

[Converses apart with the King, and gives him a paper. Prin. Doth this man ferve God?

Biron. Why afk you?

Prin. He fpeaks not like a man of God's making. Arm. That's all one, my fair, fweet, honey monarch: for, I proteft, the fchool-mafter is exceeding fantastical; too, too vain; too, too vain: But we will put it, as they fay, to fortuna della guerra. I wish you the peace of mind, most royal couplement ! [Exit Armado.

King. Here is like to be a good presence of worthies: He prefents Hector of Troy; the fwain, Pompey the

1 that doth leaft know how :]-that favours leaft of art. This speech will, perhaps, be beft explained by comparing it with thofe of Thefeus, Hippolita, and Philoftrate, on a like occafion.

MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, A&t V, S. 1. mand the contents dies in the zeal of that which it prefents, &c.]—and the performance mifcarries, through the eagerness of the attempters; there putting them out of form enhances our mirth, when we fee their great undertakings come to nothing.

Where zeal ftrives to content, and the content
Lies in the zeal of thofe which it prefent.

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couplement !]-pair.

great;

great; the parish curate, Alexander; Armado's page, Hercules; the pedant, Judas Macchabæus.

And if these four worthies in their first show thrive, These four will change habits, and prefent the other five. Biron. There is five in the first show.

King. You are deceiv'd, 'tis not fo.

Biron. The pedant, the braggart, the hedge-prieft, the fool, and the boy :

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A bare throw at novum; and the whole world again, Cannot prick out five fuch, take each one in his vein. King. The fhip is under fail, and here fhe comes amain. [Pageant of the Nine Worthies.

Enter Coftard for Pompey.

Coft. I Pompey am,

Boyet. You lye, you are not he.

Coft. I Pompey am,

Boyet. With libbard's head on knee.

Biron. Well faid, old mocker; I muft needs be friends. with thee.

Coft. I Pompey am, Pompey furnam'd the Big,

Dum. The great.

Coft. It is great, fir;-Pompey furnam'd the great ; That oft in field, with targe and fhield, did make my foe to

fweat:

And, travelling along this coaft, I here am come by chance; And lay my arms before the legs of this fweet lafs of France: If your ladyship would fay, Thanks, Pompey, I had done. Prin. Great thanks, great Pompey.

Coft. 'Tis not so much worth; but, I hope, I was perfect: I made a little fault in, great.

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novem, -nine ; a game

at dice played by nine perfons.

P prick]-felect by puncture, or mark-pick out.

a libbard's head on knee.]-leopards-anciently worn on the knees. and elbows of military habits.

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Biron.

Biron. My hat to a half-penny, Pompey proves the best worthy.

Enter Nathaniel for Alexander.

Nath. When in the world I liv'd, I was the world's commander;

By east, weft, north, and fouth, I fpread my conquering might: My Scutcheon plain declares, that I am Alifander.

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Boyet. Your nose says, no, you are not; for it stands 'too right.

Biron. Your nofe fmells, no, in this, moft tender-fmelling knight.

Prin. The conqueror is difmay'd: Proceed, good Alex

ander.

Nath. When in the world I liv'd, I was the world's com mander:

Boyet. Most true, 'tis right; you were fo, Alifander. Biron. Pompey the great,

Coft. Your fervant, and Coftard.

Biron. Take away the conqueror, take away Alifander. Coft. O, fir, you have overthrown Alifander the conqueror! [To Nath.] You will be fcraped out of the ' painted cloth for this: your lion, that holds his poll-ax fitting on a close-stool, will be given to "A-jax; he will then be the ninth worthy. A conqueror, and afeard to speak! run away for fhame, Alifander. [Exit Nath.] There, an't shall please you! a foolish mild man; an honeft man, look you, and foon dafh'd! He is a marvellous good neighbour, infooth; and a very good bowler: but, for Alifander, alas, you fee, how 'tis ;-a little "o'er

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too right.]-Alexander had a wry neck.

painted cloth]-tapestry hangings, whereof the nine worthies were a common fubject.

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your lion,]-a lion, fitting in a chair, holding a battle ax, was affigned for the arms of Alexander.

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A-jax ;]-a jakes.

wo'er parted:]-placed in a character to which he was unequal.

parted

parted :-But there are worthies a coming will speak their

mind in fome other fort.

Biron. Stand afide, good Pompey.

Enter Holofornes for Judas, and Moth for Hercules.

Hol. Great Hercules is prefented by this imp,

Whofe club kill'd Cerberus, that three-beaded canus ; And, when he was a babe, a child, a shrimp,

Thus did be ftrangle ferpents in his manus:

Quoniam, be feemeth in minority;

Ergo, I come with this apology.

[To Moth.] Keep fome ftate in thy exit, and vanish.

Hol. Judas I am,—

Dum. A Judas!

Hol. Not Ifcariot, fir.

Judas I am, *ycleped Macchabæus.

[Exit Moth.

Dum. Judas Macchabæus clipt, is plain Judas.

Biron. A kiffing traitor :-How art thou prov'd Judas?

Hol. Judas I am,—

Dum. The more fhame for you, Judas.

Hol. What mean you, fir?

Boyet. To make Judas hang himself.

Hol. Begin, fir; you are my elder.

Biron. Well follow'd; Judas was hang'd on an elder.

Hol. I will not be put out of countenance.

Biron. Because thou haft no face.

Hol. What is this?

Boyet. A cittern head.

Dum. The head of a bodkin.

Biron. A death's face in a ring.

Long. The face of an old Roman coin, fcarce feen.
Boyet. The pummel of Cæfar's faulchion.

*ycleped]-called.

A cittern bead.]-The head of a guitar.

Dum.

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Dum. The carv'd-bone face on a flafk.

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Biron. St. George's half-cheek in a brooch.
Dum. Ay, and in a brooch of lead.

Biron. Ay, and worn in the cap of a tooth-drawer: And now, forward; for we have put thee in countenance. Hol. You have put me out of countenance.

Biron. Falfe; we have given thee faces.

Hol. But you have out-fac'd them all.

Biron. An thou wert a lion, we would do so.
Boyet. Therefore, as he is, an afs, let him go.

And fo adieu, fweet Jude! nay, why doft thou ftay?

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Dum. For the latter end of his name.

Biron. For the ass to the Jude; give it him:-Jud-as,

away.

Hol. This is not generous, not gentle, not humble. Boyet. A light for monfieur Judas; it grows dark, he may ftumble.

Prin. Alas, poor Macchabæus, how he hath been baited! Enter Armado for Hector.

Biron. Hide thy head, Achilles; here comes Hector in

arms.

Dum. Though my mocks come home by me, I will now be merry.

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King. Hector was but a Trojan in respect of this.
Boyet. But is this Hector?

Dum. I think, Hector was not fo'clean timber'd.

Long. His leg is too big for Hector.

Dum. More calf, certain.

Boyet. No; he is beft indu'd in the fmall.

Biron. This can't be Hector.

Dum. He's a god or a painter; for he makes faces.

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a brooch.1-a jewel, an egret, or hair pin.

b

a Trojan]-a ruffian, a thief in refpect of this accomplished hero.

Arm.

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