Jaq. And how was that ta'en up?
Touch. Faith, we met, and found the quarrel
was upon the seventh cause. 52
Jaq. How seventh cause? Good my lord,
like this fellow.
Duke S. I like him very well.
Touch. God 'ild you, sir; I desire you of the
like. I press in here, sir, amongst the rest of the
country copulatives, to swear, and to forswear,
according as marriage binds and blood breaks. 59
A poor virgin, sir, an ill-favoured thing, sir, but
mine own: a poor humour of mine, sir, to take
that that no man else will. Rich honesty dwells
like a miser, sir, in a poor house, as your pearl
in your foul oyster. 64
Duke S. By my faith, he is very swift and
sententious.
Touch. According to the fool's bolt, sir, and
such dulcet diseases. 68
Jaq. But, for the seventh cause; how did you
find the quarrel on the seventh cause?
Touch. Upon a lie seven times removed:—
bear your body more seeming, Audrey:—as thus,
sir. I did dislike the cut of a certain courtier's 73
beard: he sent me word, if I said his beard was
not cut well, he was in the mind it was: this is
called 'the retort courteous.' If I sent him word
again, it was not well cut, he would send me
word, he cut it to please himself: this is called
the 'quip modest.' If again, it was not well cut,
50 ta'en up: made up
56 desire . . . like; cf. n.
58 copulatives: i.e., persons about to be married
59 blood: passion
65 swift: quick-witted
66 sententious: pithy
67 fool's bolt: i.e., which is soon shot
68 dulcet diseases: sweet vexations (?)
72 seeming: becomingly
73 dislike: express disapproval of
79 'quip modest': i.e., a moderate flout
