faq. And how oft did you fay that his beard was not well cut? Clo. I durft go no further than the Lye circumftantial; nor he durft not give me the Lye direct, and fo we meafur'd fwords and parted. Jaq. Can you nominate in order now the degrees of the Lye? 2 Clo. O Sir, we quarrel in print, by the book; as you have books for good manners. I will name you 20 Sir, we quarrel in print, by the book;] The Poet has, in this fcene, rallied the mode of formal duelling, then fo prevalent, with the highest humour and addrefs; nor could he have treated it with a happier contempt, than by making his Clown fo knowing in the forms and preliminaries of it. The particular. book here alluded to is a very ridiculous treatife of one Vincentio Saviolo, intitled, Of honour and honourable quarrels, in Quarto, printed by Wolf, 1594. The first part of this tract he intitles, A difcourfe most necessary for all gentlemen that have in regard their bonours, touching the giving and receiving the lye, whereupon the Duello and the Combat in divers forms doth enfue; and many other inconveniences, for lack only of true knowledge of honor, and the RIGHT UNDERSTANDING OF WORDS, which here is fet down. The contents of the feveral chapters are as follow. I. What the reafon is that the party unto whom the lye is given ought to become challenger, and of the nature of lies. II. Of the man ner and diverfity of lies. III. Of the lye certain, or direct. IV. Of conditional lies, or the lye circumftantial. V. Of the lye in general. VI. Of the lye in particular. VII. Of foolish lies. VIII. A conclufion touching the wrefting or returning back of the lye, or the countercheck quarrelfome. In the chapter of conditional lies, fpeaking of the particle IF, he fays-Conditional lies be fuch as are given conditionally thus-IF thou hast faid fo or Jo, then thou lieft. Of thefe kind of lies, given in this manner, often arife much contention, whereof no fure conclufion can arife. By which he means, they cannot proceed to cut one another's throats, while there is an 1 between. Which is the reafon of Shakespeare's making the Clown fay, I knew when feven juftices could not make up å quarrel: but when the parties were met themselves, one of them thought but of an IF, as if you faid fo, then I faid fo, and they shook hands, and wore brothers. Your IF is the only peace-maker much virtue in IF. Caranza was another of these authentick Authors upon the Duello. Fletcher in his laft Act of Love's Pilgri mage ridicules him with much humour. WARBURTON. the the degrees. The firft, the Retort courteous; the fecond, the Quip modeft; the third, the Reply churlifh; the fourth, the Reproof valiant; the fifth, the Countercheck quarrelfome; the fixth, the Lye with circumstance; the feventh, the Lye direct. All these you may avoid, but the Lye direct; and you may avoid that too, with an If. I knew, when feven Juftices could not make up a quarrel; but when the parties were met themselves, one of them thought but of an If; as, if you said so, then I faid fo; and they fhook hands, and fwore brothers. Your If is the only peace-maker; much virtue in If. Faq. Is not this a rare fellow, my Lord? he's good at any thing, and yet a fool. Duke Sen. He uses his folly like a stalking horse, and under the presentation of that he shoots his wit. 3 Enter Hymen, Rofalind in woman's cloaths, and Celia. STILL MUSICK. Hym. Then is there mirth in heav'n, Good Duke, receive thy daughter, That thou might'ft join her hand with his, Rof. To you I give myself; for I am yours. [To the Duke. To you I give myself; for I am yours. [To Orlando. 3 Enter Hymen.] Rofalind is imagined by the rest of the company to be brought by enchant ment, and is therefore introduced Duke Duke Sen. If there be truth in fight, you are my daughter. Orla. If there be truth in fight *, you are my falind. Phe. If fight and fhape be true, Why, then my love adieu! Roj. I'll have no father if you be not he." I'll have no husband, if you be not he. Of these most strange events: If truth holds true contents 4. You and you no cross fhall part; Ro [To the Duke. [To Orlando, [To Phebe. TTo Orlando and Rofalind. You and you are heart in heart; You to his love must accord, [To Oliver and Celia. [To Phebe. [To the Clown and Audrey. Whiles a wedlock-hymn we fing, *If there be truth in fight.] The answer of Phebe makes it probable that Orlando fays, if there be truth in fhape: that is, if a form may be trufted; if one cannot ufurp the form of another. 4 If truth holds true contents.] That is, if there be truth in truth, unless truth fails of veracity. SONG SONG. Wedding is great Juno's Crown, High wedlock then be honoured: Duke Sen. O my dear niece, welcome thou art to me, Ev'n daughter-welcome, in no lefs degree. Phe. I will not eat my word-now thou art mine, Thy faith my fancy to thee doth combine. Jaq. de B. Let me have audience for a word or two I am the second son of old Sir Rowland, Duke Sen. Welcome, young man : A land A land itself at large, a potent Dukedom. That have endur'd fhrewd days and nights with us, Play, mufick; and you brides and bridegrooms all, And thrown into neglect the pompous Court. Jaq. To him will I: out of these convertites There is much matter to be heard and learn'd. You to your former Honour I bequeath. [To the Duke, Your patience and your virtue well deferve it. You to a love, that your true faith doth merit; [To Orla, You to your land, and love, and great allies; [To Oli. You to a long and well-deferved bed; [To Silv And you to wrangling; for thy loving voyage [To the Clown, Is but for two months victual'd-fo to your pleafures: I am for other than for dancing measures. Duke Sen. Stay, Jaques, stay. Jaq. To fee no paftime, I-what you would have, I'll ftay to know at your abandon'd Cave. [Exit. Duke Sen. Proceed, proceed; we will begin thefe rites; As, we do truft, they'll end, in true delights. EPI |