Third Servant. Ay, and why was the balcony-chamber
countermanded, that with the great worked carpet?—there one can
look about one.
First Servant. Nay, that you must ask the mathematician there. [10]
He says it is an unlucky chamber.
Second Servant. Poh! stuff and nonsense! That's what I call
a hum. A chamber is a chamber; what much can the place
signify in the affair?
Seni. My son, there's nothing insignificant, [15]
Nothing! But yet in every earthly thing
First and most principal is place and time.
First Servant (to the Second). Say nothing to him, Nat. The
Duke himself must let him have his own will.
Seni (counts the chairs, half in a loud, half in a low voice, till he comes to eleven, which he repeats).
Eleven! an evil number! Set twelve chairs. 20
Twelve! twelve signs hath the zodiac: five and seven,
The holy numbers, include themselves in twelve.
Second Servant. And what may you have to object against
eleven? I should like to know that now.
Seni. Eleven is—transgression; eleven oversteps 25
The ten commandments.
Second Servant. That's good! and why do you call five an
holy number?