Where zeal strives to content, and the contents Their form confounded makes most form in mirth, Enter ARMADO. Arm. Anointed, I implore so much expense of thy Prin. Doth this man serve God? Prin. He speaks not like a man of God's making. Arm. That's all one, my fair, sweet, honey monarch; for, I protest, the schoolmaster is exceeding fantastical; too, too vain; too, too vain. But we will put it, as they say, to fortuna della guerra. I wish you the peace of mind, most royal couplement.2 [Exit ARMADO. King. Here is like to be a good presence of worthies. He presents Hector of Troy; the swain, Pompey the Great; the parish curate, Alexander; Armado's page, Hercules; the pedant, Judas Machabæus. And if these four worthies in their first show thrive, These four will change habits, and present the other five. Biron. There is five in the first show. King. You are deceived, 'tis not so. 1 The old copies read- "Dies in the zeal of that which it presents." The cmendation in the text is Malone's, and he thus endeavors to give this obscure passage a meaning. The word it, I believe, refers to sport. That sport, says the princess, pleases best, where the actors are least skilful; where zeal strives to please, and the contents, or great things attempted, perish in the very act of being produced, from the ardent zeal of those who present the sportive entertainment. It, however, may refer to contents, and that word may mean the most material part of the exhibition. 2 This word is used again by Shakspeare in his 21st Sonnet. VOL. II. "Making a couplement of proud compare." 20 Biron. The pedant, the braggart, the hedge-priest, the fool, and the boy, A bare throw at novum ;1 and the whole world again, Cannot prick out five such, take each one in his vein. King. The ship is under sail, and here she comes amain. [Seats brought for the King, Princess, &c. Pageant of the Nine Worthies. Enter COSTARD armed, for Pompey. Cost. I Pompey am,- Cost. 1 Pompey am,- You lie; you are not he. With libbard's head on knee.3 Biron. Well said, old mocker; I must needs be friends with thee. Cost. I Pompey am, Pompey, surnamed the Big,— Dum. The Great. Cost. It is Great, sir;-Pompey, surnamed the Great; That oft in field, with targe and shield, did make my foe to sweat; And travelling along this coast, I here am come by chance, And lay my arms before the legs of this sweet lass of France. If your ladyship would say, Thanks, Pompey, I had done. Prin. Great thanks, great Pompey. Cost. 'Tis not so much worth; but, I hope, I was perfect. I made a little fault in Great. Biron. My hat to a halfpenny, Pompey proves the best worthy. 1 A game at dice, properly called novem quinque, from the principal throws being nine and five. The first folio reads "Abate throw," &c. The second folio, which reads "A bare throw," is evidently right. 2 Pick out. 3 This alludes to the old heroic habits, which, on the knees and shoulders, had sometimes, by way of ornament, the resemblance of a leopard's or lion's head. See Cotgrave's Dictionary, in v. Masquine. Enter NATHANIEL armed, for Alexander. Nath. When in the world I lived, I was the world's commander; By east, west, north, and south, I spread my conquering might; My 'scutcheon plain declares that I am Alisander. Boyet. Your nose says, no, you are not; for it stands too right.' Biron. Your nose smells, no, in this, most tendersmelling knight." Prin. The conqueror is dismayed. Proceed, good Alexander. Nath. When in the world I lived, I was the world's commander ; Boyet. Most true; 'tis right; you were so, Alisander. Cost. sander. Cost. O, sir, [TO NATH.] you have overthrown Alisander the conqueror! You will be scraped out of the painted cloth for this. Your lion, that holds his poll-axe sitting on a close-stool,3 will be given to A-jax: he will be the ninth worthy. A conqueror, and afeard to speak! Run away for shame, Alisander. [NATH. retires.] There, an't shall please you; a foolish, mild man; an honest man, look you, and soon dashed! He is a marvellous good neighbor, in sooth; and a very good bowler; but, for Alisander, alas! you see how 'tis; a little o'erparted.-But there are worthies a coming will speak their mind in some other sort. Prin. Stand aside, good Pompey. 1 It should be remembered, that the head of Alexander was obliquely placed on his shoulders. 2 "His (Alexander's) body had so sweet a smell of itselfe that all the apparell he wore next unto his body, tooke thereof a passing delightful savour, as if it had been perfumed." North's Plutarch. 3 This alludes to the arms given, in the old history of the Nine Worthies, to Alexander, "the which did bear geules a lion, or, seiante in a chayer, holding a battle-axe argent." Enter HOLOFERNES armed, for Judas, and MOTH armeḍ, for Hercules. Hol. Great Hercules is presented by this imp, Quoniam he seemeth in minority, Ergo I come with this apology. Keep some state in thy exit, and vanish. [Exit MOTH. Hol. Judas I am,— Dum. A Judas! Hol. Not Iscariot, sir. Judas I am, ycleped Machabæus. Dum. Judas Machabæus clipped is plain Judas. Biron. A kissing traitor!-How art thou proved Judas? Hol. Judas I am, Dum. The more shame for Hol. What mean you, sir? Boyet. To make Judas hang himself. Hol. Begin, sir; you are my elder. Biron. Well followed. Judas was hanged on an elder. Hol. I will not be put out of countenance. Biron. Because thou hast no face. Hol. What is this? Boyet. A cittern head.1 Dum. The head of a bodkin. Biron. A death's face in a ring. Long. The face of an old Roman coin, scarce seen. 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 counte nance. 1 The cittern, a musical instrument like a guitar, had usually a hend grotesquely carved at the extremity of the neck and finger-board. Hol. You have put me out of countenance. Biron. An thou wert a lion, we would do so. And so adieu, sweet Jude! Nay, why dost thou stay! 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 monsieur Judas. It grows dark; he may stumble. Prin. Alas, poor Machabæus, how hath he been baited! Enter ARMADO armed, 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. King. Hector was but a Trojan1 in respect of this. Boyet. But is this Hector? Dum. I think, Hector was not so clean-timbered. Long. His leg is too big for Hector. Dum. More calf, certain. Boyet. No; he is best indued in the small. Biron. This cannot be Hector. Dum. He's a god or a painter; for he makes faces. Arm. The armipotent Mars, of lances the almighty, Gave Hector a gift,— Dum. A gilt nutmeg. Biron. A lemon. Long. Stuck with cloves. Dum. No, cloven. 1 Trojan is supposed to have been a cant term for a thief. It was however, a familiar name for any equal or inferior. 2 i. e. lance-men. |