That's curdied by the frost from purest snow And hangs on Dian's temple: dear Valeria! Vol. This is a poor epitome of yours, Cor. Vol. Which by the interpretation of full time 70 The god of soldiers, prove To shame unvulnerable, and stick i' the wars Cor. That's my brave boy! Your knee, sirrah. Vol. Even he, your wife, this lady and myself Cor. I beseech you, peace: The thing I have forsworn to grant may never was hence the goddess of chastity. The "chaste," "cold" moon belongs to classic, the "fickle" ("lunish") moon to mediæval, folklore. -C. H. H. 67. "dear Valeria"; a lady named Valeria was one of the great examples of chastity held out by the writers of the middle ages. The following lines, from Shirley's Gentleman of Venice, deserve to be cited here: "Thou art chaste As the white down of heaven, whose feathers play Trembling with fear to touch th' impurer earth.” -H. N. H. 71. "supreme Jove"; this is inserted with great decorum. Jupiter was the tutelary god of Rome.-H. N. H. 80. "The thing I have forsworn,” etc.; i. e. in saying no, I shall not be refusing your request, as such, but merely observing my oath to refuse any.-C. H. H. Vol. Be held by you denials. Do not bid me 81 O, no more, no more! us. 90 Cor. Aufidius, and you Volsces, mark; for we 'll Hear nought from Rome in private. Your re quest? Vol. Should we be silent and not speak, our raiment And state of bodies would bewray what life We have led since thy exile. Think with thyself How more unfortunate than all living women Are we come hither: since that thy sight, which should Make our eyes flow with joy, hearts dance with comforts, Constrains them weep and shake with fear and sorrow; Making the mother, wife and child, to see 100 Vir. That all but we enjoy; for how can we, Whereto we are bound? alack, or we must lose Our wish, which side should win; for either thou With manacles thorough our streets, or else son, I purpose not to wait on fortune till These wars determine: if I cannot persuade thee That brought thee to this world. Aye, and mine, That brought you forth this boy, to keep your name Living to time. Boy. A' shall not tread on me; I'll run away till I am bigger, but then I'll fight. Cor. Not of a woman's tenderness to be, Requires nor child nor woman's face to see. 130 |