59. Withal with; here used as a preposition governing ducats.

2. Old swearing. — "Old" was an intensive epithet in common use.

I. Troilus was a son of Priam, king of Troy. He loved Cressida, daughter of the Grecian soothsayer, Calchas.

2. Thisbe was a beautiful Babylonian lady, with whom Pyramus was in love. They agreed to meet at the tomb of Ninus; but, on arriving there, Thisbe was frightened at the sight of a lioness that had just killed an ox. She fled, leaving her cloak behind. Pyramus, finding the cloak stained with blood, believed that a wild beast had killed her, and took his own life example which was followed by Thisbe.

an

3. Dido was Queen of Carthage. She loved Æneas, by whom she was deserted. The "willow in her hand was the symbol of unhappy love.

4. Medea was the daughter of Æetes, king of Colchis. She assisted Jason in obtaining the Golden Fleece, and afterwards became his wife. She possessed magical powers, and in order to renew the youth of Aeson, the father of Jason, she boiled him in a caldron, into which she had cast enchanted herbs."

5. Out-night you

= beat you in this game of "In such a night."

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6. Holy crosses. — - These were numerous in Italy, being found not only in churches, but along the roads.

times made of gold.

await.

the plate used for the sacramental bread. It was some

13. Orpheus =a Thracian poet who accompanied the Argonauts, and had the power of moving inanimate objects by the music of his lyre. 14. Stockish = stupid, insensible.

15. Spoils

=

16. Erebus =

robbery, acts of plundering.

the underworld, or region of the dead.

17. Without respect = absolutely, independent of circumstances. attended to, heard attentively.

18. Attended: =

19. Season'd are

20. Endymion.

are made fit.

In Greek mythology Silene, or the moon, is represented as charmed with the beauty of Endymion, whom she put to sleep on Mount Latmos, that she might nightly kiss him unobserved.

21. Tucket = a flourish on a trumpet to announce an arrival.

22. We should hold day, etc. = we should have day at the same time with the Antipodes, if you, Portia, would walk abroad at night in the absence of the sun.

=

God dispose or arrange all things.

23. God sort all:
24. In all sense = in all reason.

=

=

25. Breathing courtesy : courtesy consisting of mere breath or talk. 26. Gratiano and Nerissa have been talking apart in dumb show. 27. Posy sentiment or motto inscribed on rings. A contraction of poesy. It was the custom to inscribe sentiments, usually in distichs, upon knives by means of aqua fortis.

28. Respective mindful or regardful of your oath.

=

=

29. The virtue of the ring: the power of the ring. It gave its possessor a right to Portia and all she had. 30. Contain - retain. 31. Wanted

reasonable."

as to have wanted; dependent on

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SO much un

=

40. Satisfied of these events at full fully satisfied concerning these

events.

41. Charge us upon inter'gatories, etc. "In the Court of Queen's Bench, when a complaint is made against a person for a 'contempt,' the practice is that before sentence is finally pronounced he is sent into the Crown Office, and being there 'charged upon interrogatories,' he is made to answer all things faithfully.'

swear that he will

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(1625-1660.)

MILTON'S L'ALLEGRO.

HENCE, loathed Melancholy,

Of Cerberus and blackest Midnight born,

In Stygian cave forlorn,

'Mongst horrid shapes, and shrieks, and sights unholy! Find out some uncouth cell,

Where brooding Darkness spreads his jealous wings,
And the night-raven sings:

There, under ebon shades, and low-brow'd rocks,

As ragged as thy locks,

In dark Cimmerian desert ever dwell.
But come, thou goddess fair and free,
In Heaven yclep'd Euphrosyne,
And by men, heart-easing Mirth;
Whom lovely Venus, at a birth,
With two sister Graces more,
To ivy-crowned Bacchus bore:
Or whether, as some sager sing,

The frolick wind, that breathes the spring,
Zephyr, with Aurora playing,

As he met her once a-Maying;

There on beds of violets blue,

And fresh-blown roses wash'd in dew,

Fill'd her with thee a daughter fair,

So buxom, blithe, and debonair.

Haste thee, nymph, and bring with thee

Jest, and youthful jollity,

Quips, and cranks, and wanton wiles,
Nods, and becks, and wreathed smiles,
Such as hang on Hebe's cheek,

And love to live in dimple sleek;
Sport that wrinkled Care derides,
And Laughter holding both his sides.
Come, and trip it, as you go,
On the light fantastick toe;

And in thy right hand lead with thee
The mountain-nymph, sweet Liberty;

And, if I give thee honour due,
Mirth, admit me of thy crew,

To live with her, and live with thee,
In unreproved pleasures free;
To hear the lark begin his flight,
And singing, startle the dull night,
From his watch-tower in the skies,
Till the dappled dawn doth rise;
Then to come, in spite of sorrow,
And at my window bid good morrow,
Through the sweet-briar, or the vine,
Or the twisted eglantine:
While the cock, with lively din,
Scatters the rear of darkness thin;
And to the stack, or the barn-door,
Stoutly struts his dames before:

Oft list'ning how the hounds and horn
Cheerly rouse the slumb'ring morn,
From the side of some hoar hill,
Through the high wood echoing shrill:
Some time walking, not unseen,
By hedge-row elms, on hillocks green,
Right against the eastern gate,
Where the great sun begins his state
Robed in flames, and amber light,
The clouds in thousand liveries dight;
While the plowman, near at hand,
Whistles o'er the furrow'd land,
And the milkmaid singeth blithe,
And the mower whets his sithe,
And every shepherd tells his tale

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