tell thee, it will please his Grace, by the world,
sometime to lean upon my poor shoulder, and
with his royal finger, thus dally with my excre- 112
ment, with my mustachio: but, sweet heart, let
that pass. By the world, I recount no fable:
some certain special honours it pleaseth his
greatness to impart to Armado, a soldier, a man 116
of travel, that hath seen the world: but let that
pass. The very all of all is, but, sweet heart, I do
implore secrecy, that the king would have me
present the princess, sweet chuck, with some 120
delightful ostentation, or show, or pageant, or
antick, or fire-work. Now, understanding that
the curate and your sweet self are good at such
eruptions and sudden breaking out of mirth, as 124
it were, I have acquainted you withal, to the end
to crave your assistance.
Hol. Sir, you shall present before her the
Nine Worthies. Sir Nathaniel, as concerning 128
some entertainment of time, some show in the
posterior of this day, to be rendered by our
assistants, the king's command, and this
most gallant, illustrate, and learned gentleman, 132
before the princess; I say, none so fit as to pre-
sent the Nine Worthies.
Nath. Where will you find men worthy
enough to present them? 136
Hol. Joshua, yourself; myself, or this gallant
gentleman, Judas Maccabæus; this swain, be-
cause of his great limb, or joint, shall pass
Pompey the Great; the page, Hercules,— 140
Arm. Pardon, sir; error: he is not quantity
112 excrement: excrescence, hair on lip
120 chuck: a pet name
128 Nine Worthies; cf. n.
139 pass: pass for (?), surpass (?)
