May now perchance both quake and tremble here,
When lion rough in wildest rage doth roar.
Then know that I, one Snug the joiner, am228
A lion-fell, nor else no lion's dam:
For, if I should as lion come in strife
Into this place, 'twere pity on my life.
The. A very gentle beast, and of a good con-
science.233
Dem. The very best at a beast, my lord, that
e'er I saw.
Lys. This lion is a very fox for his valour.
The. True; and a goose for his discretion.237
Dem. Not so, my lord; for his valour cannot
carry his discretion, and the fox carries the
goose.240
The. His discretion, I am sure, cannot carry
his valour, for the goose carries not the fox. It
is well: leave it to his discretion, and let us
listen to the moon.244
Moon. This lanthorn doth the horned moon present;—
Dem. He should have worn the horns on his
head.
The. He is no crescent, and his horns are in-
visible within the circumference.249
Moon. This lanthorn doth the horned moon present;
Myself the man i' the moon do seem to be.
The. This is the greatest error of all the rest.
The man should be put into the lantern: how
is it else the man i' the moon?
Dem. He dares not come there for the candle;
for, you see, it is already in snuff.256
229 lion-fell: lion's skin
246 horns; cf. n.
255 for: because of
256 in snuff: with a pun on the sense 'in hasty anger'
