Shakespeare and His Comedies by Brown John Russell;

Author:Brown, John Russell;
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 1474599
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Group

But as we already know, he, who had laughed to see Cupid's power, has now found that he also must accept his demands. Soon all four lovers know each other's plight. In his ‘simplicity’ even Costard can mock them as he and Jaquenetta are hurriedly ordered away: ‘Walk aside the true folk’, he comments, ‘and let the traitors stay’ (IV. iii. 213).

Biron encourages the others to accept Costard's valuation ; they are ‘traitors’ to their self-appointed order but ‘true … as flesh and blood can be’ (1. 215). After this new realization, they see their earlier oaths as ‘Flat treason 'gainst the kingly state of youth’ (l. 293) and know that order can now only be truly attained if each acknowledges his ‘fair mistress’ (l. 376). To Biron, this new order seems able to draw all things into its own harmony:

… when hove speaks, the voice of all the gods

Make heaven drowsy with the harmony.

Never durst poet touch a pen to write

Until his ink were temper'd with Love's sighs;

O, then his lines would ravish savage ears

And plant in tyrants mild humility.

(IV. iii. 344–9)

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.