Hamlet. It shall to the barber's, with your beard.—Pr'ythee (to the 1st Player), say on: he's for a jig, ... or he sleeps.
5. Measure. Beatrice, in the quoted passage from Much Ado About Nothing, gives a capital idea of the relative speed of the Scotch jig and the Measure. The jig, she says, is like the lover's wooing, hot, hasty, and fantastical; the measure, however, is like the Wedding, mannerly modest, full of state and ancientry.
The term Measure certainly seems to have been used to signify a particularly staid and formal dance. Selden (see above), at least, puts 'grave Measures' at the sober beginning of his list, and so goes on, by easy descent, through the more spirited Coranto, and tolerably lively Galliard, to the lower depths of the Cushion-Dance, which were reached towards the close of the evening, when the grave and reverend Elders may be supposed to have gone to bed.
But, besides this, the word appears to have been used generically, meaning merely 'a dance.' It was certainly applied to the Passamezzo, and to other country dances. In H. 8. I, iv, 104, King Henry says—
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... 'I have half a dozen healths To drink to these fair ladies, and a measure To lead 'em once again.' |
The next passage uses the word for a pun.
As You V, iv, 178.
Duke Senior. Play Music! and you brides and bridegrooms all,
With measure heap'd in joy, to the measures fall.
L. 192.
Jaques. ... So, to your pleasures;
I am for other than for dancing measures.
A similar play upon the word is in Richard II. III, iv, 6, where the queen asks her ladies to propose some sport to drive away care.
1 Lady. Madam, we'll dance.
Queen. My legs can keep no measure in delight,
When my poor heart no measure keeps in grief:
Therefore, no dancing, girl.