ferous flowers of fancy, the jerks of invention?
Imitari is nothing; so doth the hound his
master, the ape his keeper, the tired horse his 132
rider. But, damosella virgin, was this directed
to you?
Jaq. Ay, sir; from one Monsieur Berowne,
one of the strange queen's lords. 136
Hol. I will overglance the superscript. 'To
the snow-white hand of the most beauteous
Lady Rosaline.' I will look again on the intel-
lect of the letter, for the nomination of the party 140
writing to the person written unto: 'Your lady-
ship's, in all desired employment, Berowne.'—
Sir Nathaniel, this Berowne is one of the votaries
with the king; and here he hath framed a letter 144
to a sequent of the stranger queen's, which, acci-
dentally, or by the way of progression, hath mis-
carried. Trip and go, my sweet; deliver this
paper into the royal hand of the king; it may 148
concern much. Stay not thy compliment; I
forgive thy duty: adieu.
Jaq. Good Costard, go with me. Sir, God
save your life! 152
Cost. Have with thee, my girl.
Exit [with Jaquenetta].
Nath. Sir, you have done this in the fear of
God, very religiously; and, as a certain Father
saith— 156
Hol. Sir, tell not me of the Father; I do fear
colourable colours. But to return to the verses:
did they please you, Sir Nathaniel?
131 Imitari: to imitate
136 queen's lords; cf. n.
137 superscript: superscription, address
139 intellect: i.e. signature
145 sequent: follower
147 Trip and go; cf. n.
149 Stay . . . compliment: do not pause for ceremony
158 colourable colours: false pretexts
