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 [Withdraws. hide me in the arbour. 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. But not for that, dream I on this strange course, 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, More moving-delicate, and full of life, 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: It fell upon a little western flower, 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. Hel. Lo, she is one of this confederacy! Now I perceive they have conjoin'd, all three, To fashion this false sport in spite of me. Injurious Hermia! most ungrateful maid! Have you conspired, have you with these contrived 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: for it; 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, Of hounds and echo in conjunction. Hip. I was with Hercules, and Cadmus, once, The. My hounds are bred out of the Spartan kind, E |