2. The mounting mind that climbs the haughty cliffs, And soaring seeks the tip of lofty type, Intoxicates the brain with giddy drifts, Then rolls and reels and falls at length plum-ripe. Lo, heaving high is of so small forecast, To totter first, and tumble down at last. Yet Pegasus still rears himself on high, And coltishly doth kick the clouds in sky. 3. Who saw the grief engraven in a crown, Or knew the bad and bane, whereto it’s bound, Would never stick to throw and fling it down, Nor once vouchsafe to heave it from the ground. Such is the sweet of this ambitious power, No sooner had, than turns oftsoons to sour, Achiev’d with envy, exercis’d with hate, Guarded with fear, supported with debate. 4. O restless race of high-aspiring head! O worthless rule both pitied and envied! How many millions to their loss you lead, With love and lure of kingdoms’ bliss untried! So things untasted cause a quenchless thirst, Which, were they known, would be refused first: Yea, oft we see, yet seeing cannot shun The fact we find as fondly dar’d as done. _The Argument of the Third Act._ 1. In the first scene Cador and Howell incite and exhort Arthur unto war: who, moved with fatherly affection towards his son, notwithstanding their persuasions, resolveth upon peace. 2. In the second scene an herald is sent from Mordred to command Arthur to discharge his armies under pain of death, or otherwise, if he dare, to try it by battle. 3. In the third scene Arthur calleth his assistants and soldiers together, whom he exhorteth to pursue their foes. 4. In the fourth scene Arthur, between grief and despair, resolveth to war. _The Argument and Manner of the Third Dumb-Show._ During the music after the second act, there came upon the stage two gentlemen attired in a peaceable manner, which brought with them a table, carpet and cloth: and then having covered the table they furnish it with incense on the one end and banquetting dishes on the other end. Next there came two gentlemen apparelled like soldiers, with two naked swords in their hands, the which they laid across upon the table. Then there came two sumptuously attired and warlike who, spying this preparation, smelled the incense and tasted the banquet. During the which there came a messenger and delivered certain letters to those that fed on the dainties: who, after they had well viewed and perused the letters, furiously flung the banquet under feet, and violently snatching the swords unto them, they hastily went their way. By the two first that brought in the banquet was meant the servants of peace: by the second two were meant the servants of war: by the two last were meant Arthur and Cador. By the Messenger and his letters was meant the defiance from Mordred.