DANCES AND DANCING
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A similar play upon the word is in Richard II. 34, 6, where the queen asks her ladies to propose some sport to drive away care.
1 Lady. | Madam, we'll dance. |
Queen. | My legs can keep no measure in delight,<br /When my poor heart no measure keeps in grief: Therefore, no dancing, girl. |
See especially the following, which holds a whole string of quibbles.
L.L.L. 52, 184. Masked ball.
King of Navarre. | Say to her, we have measur'd many miles, To tread a measure with her on this grass. |
Boyet | (to the ladies). They say, that they have measur'd many a mile, To tread a measure with you on this grass. |
Rosaline. | It is not so. Ask them how many inches Is in one mile: if they have measur'd many, The measure then of one is easily told. |
Boyet. | If, to come hither, you have measur'd miles, And many miles, the princess bids you tell, How many inches do fill up one mile. |
Biron. | Tell her, we measure them by weary steps. |
And l. 209, measure.
Another dance that is frequently referred to is the Dump, the slow and mournful character of which has already been explained in the notes on Lucrece