FROM lowest place when virtuous things procced, Is good, without a name; vileness is sot: And these breed honour: that is honour's scorn, Where dust and damn'd oblivion, is the tomb ACT III. A MAID'S HONOUR. THE honour of a maid is her name; and no legacy is so rich as honesty. * Titles. Good is good independent of any worldly distinction, and so is vileness vile. "Till I have no wife I have nothing in France." That chase thee from thy country, and expose That drive thee from the sportive court, where thou Fly with false aim; move the still-piercing air, I met the ravin* lion when he roar'd With sharp constraint of hunger; better 'twere Were mine at once: No, come thou home, Rousillon, * Ravenous. As oft it loses all; I will be begone: ADVICE TO YOUNG WOMEN. Beware of them, Diana; their promises, enticements, oaths, tokens, and all these engines of lust, are not the things they go under*: many a maid hath been seduced by them; and the misery is, oxample, that so terribly shows in the wreck of maidenhood, cannot for all that dissuade succession, but that they are limed with the twigs that threaten them. I hope, I need not to advise you further; but, I hope, your own grace will keep you where you are, though there were no further danger known, but the modesty which is so lost. ACT IV. CUSTOM QF SEDUCERS. AY, so you serve us, Till we serve you: but when you have our roses, CHASTITY. Mine honour's such a ring: My chastity's the jewel of our house, They are not the things for which their names would make them pass. LIFE CHEQUERED. The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and ill together: our virtues would be proud, if our faults whipped them not; and our crimes would despair, if they were not cherished by our virtues. A COWARDLY BRAGGART. Yet am I thankful: if my heart were great, "Twould burst at this: Captain, I'll be no more; But I will eat and drink, and sleep as soft As captain shall: simply the thing I am Shall make me live. Who knows himself a braggart, Let him fear this; for it will come to pass, That every braggart shall be found an ass. Rust, sword! cool, blushes! and Parolles, live Safest in shame! being fool'd, by foolery thrive! There's place, and means, for every man alive. ACT V. AGAINST DELAY. LET'S take the instant by the forward top; EXCUSE FOR UNREASONABLE DISLIKE. At first I stuck my choice upon her, ere my heart To a most hideous object: Thence it came, As You Like It. ACT I. MODESTY AND COURAGE IN YOUTH. I BESEECH you, punish me not with your hard thoughts; wherein I confess me much guilty, to deny so fair and excellent ladies any thing. But let your fair eyes, and gentle wishes, go with me to my trial: wherein if I be foiled, there is but one shamed that was never gracious; if killed, but one dead that is willing to be so: I shall do my friends no wrong, for I have none to lament me; the world no injury, for in it I have nothing; only in the world' I fill up a place, which may be better supplied when I have made it empty. PLAY-FELLOWS. We still have slept together, Rose at an instant, learn'd, play'd, eat together, BEAUTY. Beauty provoketh thieves sooner than gold. ROSALIND PROPOSING TO WEAR MEN'S CLOTHES. Because that I am more than common tall, That I did suit me all points like a man? |