appear in him but only in patient stillness while 24
his rider mounts him: he is indeed a horse; and
all other jades you may call beasts.
Con. Indeed, my lord, it is a most absolute
and excellent horse. 28
Dau. It is the prince of palfreys; his neigh
is like the bidding of a monarch and his counte-
nance enforces homage.
Orl. No more, cousin. 32
Dau. Nay, the man hath no wit that cannot,
from the rising of the lark to the lodging of the
lamb, vary deserved praise on my palfrey: it is
a theme as fluent as the sea; turn the sands into 36
eloquent tongues, and my horse is argument for
them all. 'Tis a subject for a sovereign to rea-
son on, and for a sovereign's sovereign to ride
on; and for the world—familiar to us, and 40
unknown—to lay apart their particular func-
tions and wonder at him. I once writ a son-
net in his praise and began thus: 'Wonder of
nature!'— 44
Orl. I have heard a sonnet begin so to one's
mistress.
Dau. Then did they imitate that which I
composed to my courser; for my horse is my
mistress. 49
Orl. Your mistress bears well.
Dau. Me well; which is the prescript praise
and perfection of a good and particular mis-
tress. 53
Con. Nay, for methought yesterday your mis-
tress shrewdly shook your back.
27 absolute: perfect
34 lodging: lying down
37 argument: theme
51 prescript: prescribed
55 shrewdly: viciously
