581

Happy in this, she is not yet so old,
But she may learn; and happier than this,
She is not bred so dull but she can learn;
Happiest of all, is, that her gentle spirit
Commits itself to yours, to be directed.

582

She did make defect, perfection,

And, breathless, power breathe forth.

Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale

9-iii. 2.

Her infinite variety.

583

30-ii. 2.

Whom every thing becomes, to chide, to laugh,
To weep; whose every passion fully strives
To make itself, in thee, fair and admired.

584

30-i. 1.

I have those hopes of her good, that her education promises her dispositions she inherits, which make fair gifts fairer ! for where an unclean mind carries virtuous qualities,* there commendations go with pity, they are virtues and traitors too; in her, they are the better for their simpleness;† she derives her honesty, and achieves her goodness. 11—i. 1.

585

Alack, what heinous sin is it in me,

To be ashamed to be my father's child!

But though I am a daughter to his blood,
I am not to his manners.

586

My shame will hang upon my richest robes,
And show itself, attire me how I can.

587

O constancy, be strong upon my side!

9-ii. 3.

22-ii. 4.

Set a huge mountain 'tween my heart and tongue!

* Qualities of good breeding and condition.

† Her excellencies are the better because they are artless.

I have a man's mind, but a woman's might.
How hard it is for women to keep counsel!

588

29-ii. 4.

For she is wise, if I can judge of her;
And fair she is, if that mine eyes be true;
And true she is, as she hath proved herself;
And therefore, like herself, wise, fair, and true,
Shall she be placed in my constant soul.

589

She will outstrip all praise,

9-ii. 6.

And make it halt behind her.

1-iv. 1.

590

All, that life can rate

Worth name of life, in thee hath estimate ;*
Youth, beauty, wisdom, courage, virtue, all
That happiness and prime can happy call.

591

11-ii. 1.

She is of so free, so kind, so apt, so blessed a disposition, that she holds it a vice in her goodness, not to do more than she is requested

In any honest suit; she's framed as fruitful

As the free elements.

592

Each your doing,

37-ii. 3.

So singular in each particular,

Crowns what you are doing in the present deeds,

That all your acts are queen's.

593

13-iv. 3.

She hath all courtly parts more exquisite,
Than lady, ladies, woman;t from every one
The best she hath, and she, of all compounded,
Outsells them all.

31-iii. 5.

*i. e. May be counted among the gifts enjoyed by thee. Than any lady, than all ladies, than all womankind.

594

She's a lady

So tender of rebukes, that words are strokes,
And strokes death to her.

595

For I am sick, and capable* of fears;

31-iii. 5.

Oppress'd with wrongs, and therefore full of fears; A widow, husbandless, subject to fears;

A woman, naturally born to fears.

596

16-iii. 1.

Her passions are made of nothing but the finest part of pure love we cannot call her winds and waters, sighs and tears; they are greater storms and tempests than almanacks can report: this cannot be cunning in her; if it be, she makes a shower of rain as well as Jove.

597

All of her, that is out of door most rich,
If she be furnish'd with a mind so rare,
She is alone the Arabian bird.†

598

30-i. 2.

31-i. 7.

Thou look'st

Modest as justice, and thou seem'st a palace
For the crown'd truth to dwell in.

599

A maiden never bold;

Of spirit so still and quiet, that her motion

Blush'd at herself.

33-v. 1.

37-i. 3.

600

Her smoothness,

10-i. 3.

Her very silence, and her patience,
Speak to the people, and they pity her.

601

A maiden hath no tongue but thought.

* Susceptible.

9—iii. 2.

†The Phoenix.

602

She dwells so securely on the excellency of her honour, that the folly of any soul dares not present itself; she is too bright to be looked against.

603

3-ii. 2.

She bore a mind that envy could not but call fair.

604

Thy tender-hefted nature* shall not give

4-ii. 1.

Thee o'er to harshness; her eyes are fierce, but thine Do comfort, and not burn.

605

Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave

34-ii. 4.

My heart into my mouth.

606

34-i. 1.

Her voice was ever soft,

Gentle and low; an excellent thing in woman.

607

34-v. 3.

There's nothing ill can dwell in such a temple:

If the ill spirit have so fair a house,

Good things will strive to dwell with it.

608

O, she that hath a heart of that fine frame,
To pay this debt of love but to a brother,
How will she love when the rich golden shaft
Hath kill'd the flock of all affections else

1-i. 2.

That live in her! when liver, brain, and heart,† These sovereign thrones, are all supplied and fill'd (Her sweet perfections) with one self king!

609

She'll not be hit

With Cupid's arrow, she hath Dian's wit;

* A bosom agitated by tender passions.

4-i. 1.

Liver, brain, and heart, are admitted in poetry as the residence of passions, judgment, and sentiment; these are what Shakspeare calls her sweet perfections.

And, in strong proof of chastity well-arm'd,
From love's weak childish bow she lives unharm'd.
She will not stay the siege of loving terms,
Nor bide th' encounter of assailing eyes,
Nor ope her lap to saint-seducing gold.

35-i. 1.

FEMALE CHARACTERS.

SUBORDINATE.

610

Disdain and scorn ride sparkling in her eyes,
Misprising what they look on; and her wit
Values itself so highly, that to her

All matter else seems weak.

611

6-iii. 1.

Make the doorst upon a woman's wit, and it will out at the casement; shut that, and, 'twill out at the keyhole; stop that, 'twill fly with the smoke out at the chimney. 10-iv. 1.

612

You have a nimble wit; I think it was made of Atalanta's heels. 10-iii. 2.

613

O, she will sing the savageness out of a bear! Of so high and plenteous wit and invention !

614

37-iv. 1.

Mistress, know yourself; down on your knees,
And thank heaven, fasting, for a good man's love:
For I must tell you friendly in your ear,

Sell when you can; you are not for all markets.

* Undervaluing.

10-iii. 5.

† Bar the doors.