 | Love's Last Labour Not Lost |  |
[“‘Let those laugh that win,’ is a saying in vogue]
“What news from Parnassus, my merry masters? What (opening the first paper that was handed to him) sings Autolicus?
“‘Let those laugh that win,’ is a saying in vogue
Very glib (like a fib!) with the prosperous rogue.
Very glib (like a fib!) with the prosperous rogue.
“‘Let those laugh that win,’ cries the ‘Shop,’ with a grin,
When it has taken a customer in!
When it has taken a customer in!
“‘Let those laugh that win,’ in a risible fit,
Is Mammon's salute to a capital hit.
Is Mammon's salute to a capital hit.
“‘Let those that win,’” is the jubilant cry
Of Good-luck and Company's fortunate fry,
Of Good-luck and Company's fortunate fry,
137
Poor Honesty only, through thick and through thin,
Has never yet chuckled ‘Let those laugh that win.’
Has never yet chuckled ‘Let those laugh that win.’
“Soft words, but hard arguments! What says Touchstone?
“‘De mortuis nil nisi bonum’—
Spare dead rascals, let alone 'em!
Memories so rank and rotten
Should be by Charity forgotten.
Spare dead rascals, let alone 'em!
Memories so rank and rotten
Should be by Charity forgotten.
“‘De mortuis nil nisi’ Verum!
Gibbet knaves; that knaves may fear 'em!
And from their example learn
They shall be gibbetted in turn!
Gibbet knaves; that knaves may fear 'em!
And from their example learn
They shall be gibbetted in turn!
“‘Bonum?’ ‘Verum!’ Never, never
Truth, from dead or living, fever.
Truth, from dead or living, fever.
“Mischief in miniature! who takes a turn at the churn, or a swig at the home-brewed with equal gusto—Now for thy ‘silver penny.’
“‘Forget and Forgive.’—If I can do the one,
Without further doing, the other is done!
Put but ‘Forgive’ in the place of its brother,
My heart shall try one, while my brain tries the other.
But this will I promise (for injuries live)
What my brain can't ‘Forget,’ why my heart shall ‘Forgive.’”
Without further doing, the other is done!
Put but ‘Forgive’ in the place of its brother,
My heart shall try one, while my brain tries the other.
But this will I promise (for injuries live)
What my brain can't ‘Forget,’ why my heart shall ‘Forgive.’”
138
Here Uncle Timothy peeped over his spectacles at Puck; paused, and then called upon Othello.
“‘Two blacks don't make a white,’
Very right, Sir; very right.
You than most men being meaner,
Makes me not a bit the cleaner.
Differing only in degree,
A pretty pair of rogues are we!
Very right, Sir; very right.
You than most men being meaner,
Makes me not a bit the cleaner.
Differing only in degree,
A pretty pair of rogues are we!
“Curt and pert! Now for Sir John Falstaff.
“‘Tell the truth and shame the sire
Of every lie, and every liar.”
Telling truth would Pelion level
Quite as soon as ‘shame the Devil.’
Tell the truth, and fibbers rather
Make ashamed of such a father!
Of every lie, and every liar.”
Telling truth would Pelion level
Quite as soon as ‘shame the Devil.’
Tell the truth, and fibbers rather
Make ashamed of such a father!
“Starved Apothecary!
‘Make hay while the sun shines.’ So I would have done,
If on my poor pasture had e'er shone the sun.
If on my poor pasture had e'er shone the sun.
“Shylock.
Son, thy yearly ‘groat’ to win,
Pick up Mammon's daily ‘pin;’
And when up the pin thou pickest
(Where the mud is blackest, thickest),
Think what life is; what a boon
To money-grubs beneath the moon!
Ending just as it begins,
In picking up, and hoarding ‘pins.’
Pick up Mammon's daily ‘pin;’
And when up the pin thou pickest
(Where the mud is blackest, thickest),
Think what life is; what a boon
To money-grubs beneath the moon!
Ending just as it begins,
In picking up, and hoarding ‘pins.’
139
“Trinculo.
‘The end shall justify the means.’
‘True!’ says Satan, behind the scenes.
But if from evil good's to come,
Leave the old sinner to work his sum!
‘True!’ says Satan, behind the scenes.
But if from evil good's to come,
Leave the old sinner to work his sum!
“Timon.
Where's ‘Charity’ all winter been?
At home!
She abroad was never seen
To roam.
Against the cold and cutting blast
She barr'd her doors and windows fast.
But now the weather's bright, and warm,
And clear,
She will let her tender form
Appear;
And for long absence make amends
By going out to see her friends.
At home!
She abroad was never seen
To roam.
Against the cold and cutting blast
She barr'd her doors and windows fast.
But now the weather's bright, and warm,
And clear,
She will let her tender form
Appear;
And for long absence make amends
By going out to see her friends.
“Goodman Dogberry.
Gossip! gossip! he advi-sed,‘A still tongue doth make a wise head.’
Rather say, Sir, rather say,
It don't that empty head betray;
So of gravity the visor
Makes a fool look all the wiser.
“Orlando.
‘Money makes the mare to go.’Very quick, or very slow!
140
She will start into a trot;
If from hot, it hotter grow,
She, full gallop, off will go!
If its strings be tightened all,
How the jade will creep and crawl!
But if finally at fault,
Rosinante makes a halt!
| Love's Last Labour Not Lost | |