[Footnote 13: —because then it would be unfit for a woman-part. A piece of gold so worn that it had a crack reaching within the inner circle was no longer current. 1st Q. 'in the ring:'—was a pun intended?]
[Footnote 14: —like French sportsmen of the present day too.]
[Page 102]
straight. Come giue vs a tast of your quality: come, a passionate speech.
1. Play. What speech, my Lord? [Sidenote: my good Lord?]
Ham. I heard thee speak me a speech once, but it was neuer Acted: or if it was, not aboue once, for the Play I remember pleas'd not the Million, 'twas Cauiarie to the Generall[1]: but it was (as I receiu'd it, and others, whose iudgement in such matters, cried in the top of mine)[2] an excellent Play; well digested in the Scoenes, set downe with as much modestie, as cunning.[3] I remember one said there was no Sallets[4] in the lines, to make the [Sidenote: were] matter sauoury; nor no matter in the phrase,[5] that might indite the Author of affectation, but cal'd it [Sidenote: affection,] an honest method[A]. One cheefe Speech in it, I [Sidenote: one speech in't I] cheefely lou'd, 'twas Æneas Tale to Dido, and [Sidenote: Aeneas talke to] thereabout of it especially, where he speaks of [Sidenote: when] Priams[6] slaughter. If it liue in your memory, begin at this Line, let me see, let me see: The rugged Pyrrhus like th'Hyrcanian Beast.[7] It is [Sidenote: tis not] not so: it begins[8] with Pyrrhus.[9]
[10] The rugged Pyrrhus, he whose Sable Armes[11]
Blacke as his purpose, did the night resemble
When he lay couched in the Ominous[12] Horse,
Hath now this dread and blacke Complexion smear'd
With Heraldry more dismall: Head to foote
Now is he to take Geulles,[13] horridly Trick'd
[Sidenote: is he totall Gules [18]
With blood of Fathers, Mothers, Daughters, Sonnes,
[14] Bak'd and impasted with the parching streets,
That lend a tyrannous, and damned light [Sidenote: and a damned]
[Footnote A: Here in the Quarto:— as wholesome as sweete, and by very much, more handsome then fine:]
[Footnote 1: The salted roe of the sturgeon is a delicacy disliked by most people.]
[Footnote 2: 'were superior to mine.'