And extreme fear can neither fight nor fly, "Had Collatinus killed my son or sire, But as he is my kinsman, my dear friend, The shame and fault finds no excuse nor end. 1 "Shameful it is;-ay, if the fact be known. Thus, graceless, holds he disputation Quoth he, "She took me kindly by the hand, 1 Malone says the words such as shameful it is are "supposed to be spoken by some airy monitor." Surely the poet only meant to express that contest of thoughts which goes forward in a mind distracted between reason and passion; and which the dramatic poet can only represent by soliloquy, as it is here represented. 2 See As You Like It, Illustrations of Act III. Fearing some hard news from the warlike band O, how her fear did make her color rise! And how her hand, in my hand being locked, 66 That had Narcissus seen her as she stood, Why hunt I then for color or excuses? All orators are dumb when beauty pleadeth; Poor wretches have remorse in poor abuses; Love thrives not in the heart that shadows dread eth: Affection is my captain, and he leadeth ; 66 And when his gaudy banner is displayed, The coward fights, and will not be dismayed. Then, childish fear, avaunt! debating, die! 3 Then who fears sinking where such treasure lies?" 1 Took away, being taken away. 2 Respect, prudence, in the sense of the originai Latin, lock ing again. 3 Sad, grave. As corn o'ergrown by weeds, so heedful fear So cross him with their opposite persuasion, Within his thought her heavenly image sits, That eye which looks on her confounds his wits; But with a pure appeal seeks to the heart, And therein heartens up his servile powers, By reprobate desire thus madly led, The Roman lord marcheth to Lucrece' bed. The locks between her chamber and his will, They fright him, yet he still pursues his fear. As each unwilling portal yields him way, The wind wars with his torch, to make him stay, But his hot heart, which fond desire doth scorch, And being lighted, by the light he spies Thou seest our mistress' ornaments are chaste. But all these poor forbiddings could not stay him, He takes for accidental things of trial; Or as those bars which stop the hourly dial, "So, so," quoth he, "these lets attend the time, Like little frosts that sometime threat the spring, To add a more rejoicing to the prime, 4 And give the sneapéd birds more cause to sing. 1 Conduct, conductor. 2 Neeld, needle. 3 Let, obstruct. 4 Sneaped, checked. So in Love's Labor's Lost, Act 1. Sc. I. : "Birón is like an envious sneaping frost, That bites the first-born infants of the spring." Huge rocks, high winds, strong pirates, shelves, and sands, The merchant fears, ere rich at home he lands." Now is he come unto the chamber door That shuts him from the heaven of his thought, Which with a yielding latch, and with no more, Hath barred him from the blesséd thing he sought. So from himself impiety hath wrought, That for his prey to pray he doth begin, As if the heavens should countenance his sin. But in the midst of his unfruitful Having solicited the eternal power prayer, That his foul thoughts might compass his fair fair, Even there he starts: quoth he, "I must deflower, The powers to whom I pray abhor this fact, How can they then assist me in the act? "Then Love and Fortune be my gods, my guide! Thoughts are but dreams till their effects be tried, The eye of heaven is out, and misty night This said, his guilty hand plucked up the latch, But she, sound sleeping, fearing no such thing, |