To fetter Justice, when she might be free.
Eggs I'll not shave; but yet, brave man, if I
Was destin'd forth to golden sovereignty,
A prince I'd be, that I might thee prefer
To be my counsel both and chancellor.
Hisped (hispidus), rough with hairs. Postern-bribe, a back-door bribe. Forked fee, a fee from both sides in a case; cp. Ben Jonson's Volpone: "Give forked counsel, take provoking gold on either hand". Eggs I'll not shave, a proverb.
560. THE WATCH.
Man is a watch, wound up at first, but never
Wound up again: once down, he's down for ever.
The watch once down, all motions then do cease;
And man's pulse stop'd, all passions sleep in peace.
561. LINES HAVE THEIR LININGS, AND BOOKS
THEIR BUCKRAM.
As in our clothes, so likewise he who looks,
Shall find much farcing buckram in our books.
Farcing, stuffing.
562. ART ABOVE NATURE: TO JULIA.
When I behold a forest spread
With silken trees upon thy head,
And when I see that other dress
Of flowers set in comeliness;
When I behold another grace
In the ascent of curious lace,
Which like a pinnacle doth show
The top, and the top-gallant too.
Then, when I see thy tresses bound
Into an oval, square, or round,
