To say, and to say in pompous words, that a "young man shall feel"
as much in an assembly of beauties, "as young men feel in the month
of April," is surely to waste sound upon a very poor sentiment.
I read, Such comfort as do lusty YEOMEN feel. You shall feel from
the sight and conversation of these ladies such hopes of happiness
and such pleasure, as the farmer receives from the spring, when the
plenty of the year begins, and the prospect of the harvest fills
him with delight.
ACT I. SCENE iv. (l. iii. 92.)
That in gold clasps locks in the golden story.
The "golden story" is perhaps the "golden legend", a book in the
darker ages of popery much read, and doubtless often exquisitely
embellished, but of which Canus, one of the popish doctors, proclaims
the author to have been homo ferrei oris, plumbei cordis.
ACT I. SCENE vi. (1. v. 34.)
Good cousin Capulet.
This cousin Capulet is "unkle" in the paper of invitation, but as
Capulet is described as old, "cousin" is probably the right word
in both places. I know not how Capulet and his lady might agree,
their ages were very disproportionate; he has been past masking
for thirty years, and her age, as she tells Juliet is but eight
and twenty.
ACT I. CHORUS. (II. PROLOGUE.)
The use of this chorus is not easily discovered, it conduces nothing
to the progress of the play, but relates what is already known or
what the next scenes will shew; and relates it without adding the
improvement of any moral sentiment.
ACT II. SCENE vi. (ii. vi. 15.)
Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow.
He that travels too fast is as long before he comes to the end of
his journey, as he that travels slow.
Precipitation produces mishap.
ACT III. SCENE i. (III. i. 2.)
The day is hot.
It is observed that in Italy almost all assassinations are committed
during the heat of summer.
ACT III. SCENE iii. (III. i. 183.)
Affection makes him false.
The charge of falshood on Bentivolio, though produced at hazard,
is very just. The authour, who seems to intend the character of
Bentiolio as good, meant perhaps to shew, how the best minds, in
a state of faction and discord, are detorted to criminal partiality.
ACT III. SCENE viii. (III. v. 84.)
And, yet, no Man like he doth grieve my heart.
Juliet's equivocations are rather too artful for a mind disturbed
by the loss of a new lover.
ACT IV. SCENE iii. (IV. iii. 2-3.)
Leave me to myself to-night;
For I have need of many orisons.
Juliet plays most of her pranks under the appearance of religion:
perhaps Shakespeare meant to punish her hypocrisy.
ACT V. SCENE i. (V. i. 3.)
My bosom's Lord sits lightly on this throne, &c.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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