With no less presence*, but with much more love, THE DECEIT OF ORNAMENT OR APPEARANCES. The world is still deceiv'd with ornament. In law, what plea so tainted and corrupt, But, being season'd with a gracious+ voice, Obscures the show of evil? In religion, What damned error, but some sober brow Will bless it, and approve it with a text, Hiding the grossness with fair ornament? There is no vice so simple, but assumes Some mark of virtue on his outward parts. How many cowards, whose hearts are all as false As stairs of sand, wear yet upon their chins The beards of Hercules, and frowning Mars; Who, inward search'd, have livers white as milk? And these assume but valour's excrement, To render them redoubted. Look on beauty, And you shall see 'tis purchased by the weight; Which therein works a miracle in nature, Making them lightest that wear most of it: So are those crisped snaky golden locks, Which make such wanton gambols with the wind, Upon supposed fairness, often known To be the dowry of a second head, The skull that bred them in the sepulchre. To a most dangerous sea; the beauteous scarf The seeming truth which cunning times put on * Dignity of mien. + Winning favour. Treacherous. PORTIA'S PICTURE. What find I here? [Opening the leaden casket. Fair Portia's counterfeit*? What demi-god Hath come so near creation? Move these eyes? Should sunder such sweet friends: Here in her hairs SUCCESSFUL LOVER COMPARED TO A CONQUEROR. Like one of two contending in a prize, HIS THOUGHTS TO THE INARTICULATE JOYS OF A CROWD. There is such confusion in my powers, As, after some oration fairly spoke By a beloved prince, there doth appear Where every something, being blent† together, IMPLACABLE REVENGE. Shy. I'll have my bond; I will not hear thee speak: I'll have my bond: and therefore speak no more, I'll not be made a soft and dull-ey'd fool. *Likeness, portrait. ་ ↑ Blended. To shake the head, relent, and sigh, and yield THE BOASTING OF YOUTH. I'll hold thee any wager, When we are both accouter'd like young men, That men shall swear, I have discontinued school AFFECTATION IN WORDS. O dear discretion, how his words are suited! The fool hath planted in his memory An army of good words: And I do know A many fools, that stand in better place, Garnish'd like him, that for a tricksy word Defy the matter. THE JEW'S REASON FOR revenge. You'll ask me, why I rather choose to have A weight of carrion flesh, than to receive Three thousand ducats: I'll not answer that: But, say, it is my humour*: Is it answered? What if my house be troubled with a rat, And I be pleas'd to give ten thousand ducats To have it baned? What, are you answered yet? Some men there are, love not a gaping pig ; Some, that are mad, if they behold a cat; * Particular fancy. And others, when the bag-pipe sings i' the nose, A losing suit against him. Are you answer'd? MERCY. The quality of mercy is not strain'd; Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings; It is enthroned in the hearts of kings, It is an attribute to God himself; And earthly power doth then show likest God's, When mercy season's justice. FORTUNE. For herein fortune shows herself more kind Than is her custom: it is still her use, To let the wretched man outlive his wealth, How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank! Sit, Jessica: Look, how the floor of heaven MUSIC. I am never merry, when I hear sweet music. * A small flat dish, used in the administration of the Eucharist. |