When great things labouring perish in their birth. 520
Ber. A right description of our sport, my lord.
Enter Braggart [i.e. Armado].
Arm. Anointed, I implore so much expense
of thy royal sweet breath as will utter a brace of
words. 524
[Armado converses with the King, and
delivers a paper to him.]
Prin. Doth this man serve God?
Ber. Why ask you?
Prin. A' speaks not like a man of God his making.
Arm. That is all one, my fair, sweet, honey 528
monarch; for, I protest, the schoolmaster is
exceeding fantastical; too-too vain; too-too
vain: but we will put it, as they say, to fortuna
de la guerra. I wish you the peace of mind, 532
most royal couplement! Exit.
King. Here is like to be a good presence of
Worthies. He presents Hector of Troy; the
swain, Pompey the Great; the parish curate, 536
Alexander; Armado's page, Hercules; the pe-
dant, Judas Maccabæus:
And if these four Worthies in their first show thrive,
These four will change habits and present the other five. 540
Ber. There is five in the first show.
King. You are deceived, 'tis not so.
Ber. The pedant, the braggart, the hedge-
priest, the fool, and the boy:— 544
Abate throw at novum, and the whole world again
521 our sport: i.e. the disguise as Muscovites
527 God his: God's
531 fortuna . . . guerra: the fortune of war
533 couplement: couple, pair
543 hedge-priest: poor, illiterate priest
545 Abate . . . novum: except for a rare throw of the dice; cf. n.
