_Arm._ Sir, the king is a noble gentleman, and my familiar, I do assure ye, very good friend: for what is inward between us, let it pass. I do beseech thee, remember thy courtesy; I beseech thee, apparel thy head: and among 85 other important and most serious designs, and of great import indeed, too, but let that pass: for I must tell thee, it will please his Grace, by the world, sometime to lean upon my poor shoulder, and with his royal finger, thus, dally with my excrement, with my mustachio; but, sweet heart, let 90 that pass. By the world, I recount no fable: some certain special honours it pleaseth his greatness to impart to Armado, a soldier, a man of travel, that hath seen the world; but let that pass. The very all of all is,—but, sweet heart, I do implore secrecy,—that the king would have me present 95 the princess, sweet chuck, with some delightful ostentation, or show, or pageant, or antique, or firework. Now, understanding that the curate and your sweet self are good at such eruptions and sudden breaking out of mirth, as it were, I have acquainted you withal, to the end to crave 100 your assistance. _Hol._ Sir, you shall present before her the Nine Worthies. Sir, as concerning some entertainment of time, some show in the posterior of this day, to be rendered by our assistants, at the king’s command, and this most gallant, illustrate, 105 and learned gentleman, before the princess; I say none so fit as to present the Nine Worthies. _Nath._ Where will you find men worthy enough to present them? _Hol._ Joshua, yourself; myself and this gallant gentleman, 110 Judas Maccabæus; this swain, because of his great limb or joint, shall pass Pompey the Great; the page, Hercules,— _Arm._ Pardon, sir; error: he is not quantity enough for that Worthy’s thumb: he is not so big as the end of his club. _Hol._ Shall I have audience? he shall present Hercules 115 in minority: his enter and exit shall be strangling a snake; and I will have an apology for that purpose. _Moth._ An excellent device! so, if any of the audience hiss, you may cry, “Well done, Hercules! now thou crushest the snake!” that is the way to make an offence gracious, 120 though few have the grace to do it. _Arm._ For the rest of the Worthies?— _Hol._ I will play three myself. _Moth._ Thrice-worthy gentleman! _Arm._ Shall I tell you a thing? 125 _Hol._ We attend. _Arm._ We will have, if this fadge not, an antique. I beseech you, follow. _Hol._ Via, goodman Dull! thou hast spoken no word all this while. 130 _Dull._ Nor understood none neither, sir. _Hol._ Allons! we will employ thee. _Dull._ I’ll make one in a dance, or so; or I will play On the tabor to the Worthies, and let them dance the hay. _Hol._ Most dull, honest Dull! To our sport, away! 135 [_Exeunt._