I, that am curtail’d of this fair proportion, Cheated of feature by dissembling nature, Deform’d, unfinish’d, sent before my time Into this breathing world, scarce half made up, And that so lamely and unfashionable, That dogs bark at me as I halt by them; Why I, * * * since I cannot prove a lover, I am determined to prove a villain. Richard III., Act I., Sc. I.
Marry, they say my uncle grew so fast That he could gnaw a crust at two hours old; ’Twas full two years ere I could get a tooth. Richard III., Act II., Sc. IV.
Thou elvish-mark’d, abortive, rooting hog! Thou that wast seal’d in thy nativity The slave of nature and the son of hell! Thou slander of thy mother’s heavy womb! Thou loathed issue of thy father’s loins! Richard III., Act I., Sc. III.
Art thou so hasty? I have stay’d for thee, God knows, in anguish, pain and agony. * * * A grievous burden was thy birth to me. Richard III., Act IV., Sc. IV.
From forth the kennel of thy womb hath crept A hell-hound that doth hunt us all to death: That dog, that had his teeth before his eyes. Richard III., Act IV., Sc. IV.
A few other quotations referring to labor are here found.
By her he had two children at one birth. Henry VI—2d, Act IV., Sc. II.
A terrible child-bed hast thou had, my dear; No light, no fire. Pericles, Act III., Sc. I.
At sea, in child-bed died she, but brought forth A maid-child called Marina. Pericles, Act V., Sc. III.
The child-bed privilege denied, which ’longs To women of all fashion;—lastly, hurried Here to this place, i’ the open air, before I have got strength of limit. Winter’s Tale, Act III., Sc. II.