The Tragedy of Cymbeline, III. iii 67
Are arch'd so high that giants may jet through
And keep their impious turbans on, without
Good morrow to the sun. Hail, thou fair heaven!
We house i' the rock, yet use thee not so hardly 8
As prouder livers do.
Gui.Hail, heaven!
Arv.Hail, heaven!
Bel. Now for our mountain sport. Up to yond hill;
Your legs are young; I'll tread these flats. Consider,
When you above perceive me like a crow, 12
That it is place which lessens and sets off;
And you may then revolve what tales I have told you
Of courts, of princes, of the tricks in war;
This service is not service, so being done; 16
But being so, allow'd: to apprehend thus
Draws us a profit from all things we see.
And often, to our comfort, shall we find
The sharded beetle in a safer hold 20
Than is the full-wing'd eagle. O! this life
Is nobler than attending for a check.
Richer than doing nothing for a bribe,
Prouder than rustling in unpaid-for silk; 24
Such gain the cap of him that makes 'em fine.
Yet keeps his book uncross'd; no life to ours.
Gui. Out of your proof you speak; we, poor unfledg'd,
Have never wing'd from view o' the nest, nor know not 28
What air 's from home. Haply this life is best.
If quiet life be best; sweeter to you
That have a sharper known, well corresponding
5 jet: strut
16,17 This service . . . allow'd; cf. n.
17 apprehend: understand
20 sharded: with imperfect wingshold: place
22 attending: doing servicecheck: rebuke
25, 26 Cf. n.
29 Haply: perhaps
