If broken then, it is no fault of mine; If by me broke, what fool is not so wise, To lose an oath to win a paradise? SONG. On a day, (alack the day!) Through the velvet leaves the wind, Wish'd himself the heaven's breath. That I am forsworn for thee: Thou for whom even Jove would swear, Juno but an Ethiop were; And deny himself for Jove, Turning mortal for thy love. THE POWER OF LOVE. But love, first learned in a lady's eyes, Lives not alone immured in the brain; But with the motion of all elements, Courses as swift as thought in every power; And gives to every power a double power, Above their functions and their offices. It adds a precious seeing to the eye; A lover's eyes will gaze an eagle blind; A lover's ear will hear the lowest sound, When the suspicious head of theft is stopp'd; Love's feeling is more soft, and sensible, Than are the tender horns of cockled snails; Love's tongue proves dainty Bacchus gross in taste: For valour, is not love a Hercules, Still climbing trees in the Hesperides? Subtle as sphinx, as sweet and musical, WOMEN'S EYES. From women's eyes this doctrine I derive; They sparkle still the right Promethean fire; They are the books, the arts, the academies, That show, contain, and nourish all the world; Else, none at all in aught proves excellent. ACT V. JEST AND JESTER. Your task shall be With all the fierce* endeavour of your wit, It cannot be; it is impossible: Mirth cannot move a soul in agony. Ros. Why, that's the way to choke a gibing spirit, Of him that hears it, never in the tongue SONG. Spring. When daisies pied, and violets blue, * Vehement. Cuckoo, cuckoo,-O word of fear, When shepherds pipe on oaten straws, Cuckoo, cuckoo,-O word of fear, Winter. When icicles hang by the wall, And Dick the shepherd blows his nail, And milk comes frozen home in pail, Tu-whit, to-who, a merry note, When all aloud the wind doth blow, And Marian's nose looks red and raw, To-whit, to-who, a merry note, MEASURE FOR MEASURE. ACT I. VIRTUE GIVEN TO BE EXERTED. HEAVEN doth with us, as we with torches do; Not light them for themselves: for if our virtues + Wild apples. * Cool. Did not go forth of us, 'twere all alike As if we had them not. Spirits are not finely touch'd, The smallest scruple of her excellence, Both thanks and use.j THE CONSEQUENCE OF LIBERTY INDulged. ELOQUENCE AND BEAUTY. In her youth There is a prone§ and speechless dialect, Such as moves men; beside, she hath prosperous art PARDON THE SANCTION OF WICKEDNESS. For we bid this be done, When evil deeds have their permissive pass, A SEVERE GOVERNOR. Lord Angelo is precise; Stands at a guard with envy; scarce confesses Is more to bread than stone; Hence shall we see, RESOLUTION. Our doubts are traitors, And make us lose the good we oft might win, By fearing to attempt. * For high purposes. Voraciously devour On his defence + Interest. § Prompt THE PRAYERS OF MAIDENS EFFECTUAL. Go to lord Angelo, And let him learn to know, when maidens sue, As they themselves would owe* them. ACT II. ALL MEN FRAIL. Let but your honour know,† (Whom I believe to be most strait in virtue,) Could have attained the effect of your own purpose, THE FAULTS OF OTHERS NO JUSTIFICATION OF OUR OWN. "Tis one thing to be tempted, Escalus, Another thing to fall. I not deny, The jury, passing on the prisoner's life, May, in the sworn twelve, have a thief or two Guiltier than him they try: What's open made to justice, That justice seizes. What know the laws, That thieves do pass§ on thieves? 'Tis very pregnant. The jewel that we find, we stoop and take it, You may not so extenuate his offence, ForT I have had such faults; but rather tell me, Let mine own judgment pattern out my death, * Have. ** Sentence. + Examine. Plain. + Suited. ¶ Because. |