Follow the noble genius that inspires ye; AFFIRMING. AFFIRMING, especially with a judicial oath, is expressed by lifting the open right hand, and eyes, toward heaven; or if conscience is appealed to, by laying the right hand upon the breast. HERMIA SWEARING TO MEET LYSANDER. My good Lysander! I swear to thee, by Cupid's strongest bow; By his best arrow with the golden head; By the simplicity of Venus' doves; By that which knitteth souls, and prospers loves; And by that fire which burned the Carthage queen, By all the vows that ever men have broke, DESDEMONA AFFIRMING HER FAITHFULNESS TO OTHELLO. -By this light of heaven, I know not how I lost him. Here I kneel:-(kneeling.) If e'er my will did trespass 'gainst his love, Either in discourse of thought, or actual deed; Or that mine eyes, mine ears, or any sense, Delighted them on any other form; Or that I do not yet, and ever did, And ever will, though he do shake me off To beggarly divorcement, love him dearly, Comfort forswear me! Unkindness may do much; And his unkindness may defeat my life, But never taint my love. DENYING Is expressed by pushing the open right hand from one; and turning the face the contrary way. (See Aversion). OLIVIA DENYING ORSINO'S SUIT. Your lord does know my mind, I cannot love him; PROMISING. PROMISING is expressed with benevolent looks, the nod of consent, and the open hands gently moved towards the person to whom the promise is made the palms upwards. The sincerity of the promise may be expressed by laying the right hand gently on the breast. PRINCE JOHN PROMISING REDRESS TO THE REBELS. I like them all, and do allow them well; And swear here by the honour of my blood, My lord, these griefs shall be with speed redress'd; That all their eyes may bear those tokens home, HASTE. CATESBY, ON SEEING RICHARD III. IN DANGER. The king enacts more wonders than a man, Daring an opposite to every danger; His horse is slain, and all on foot he fights, LADY RANDOLPH HURRYING AWAY DOUGLAS. Fly to the camp, my son ! That winding path conducts thee to the river, GRAVITY, or Seriousness, when the mind is fixed upon some important subject, draws down the eyebrows a little; casts down, or shuts, or raises the eyes to heaven; shuts the mouth, and pinches the lips close. The posture of the body and limbs is composed, and without motion. The speech, if any, slow and solemn; the tone unvarying. ON THE BEING OF A GOD. Retire; the world shut out;-thy thoughts call home, Lock up thy senses;-let no passion stir ;- AUTHORITY opens the countenance, but draws down the eyebrows a little, so as to give the look of gravity. (See Gravity.) DUKE OF VENICE TO SHYLOCK. Make room, and let him stand before our face,- And where thou now exact'st the penalty, (Which is a pound of this poor merchant's flesh,) But, touch'd with human gentleness and love, Glancing an eye of pity on his losses, That have of late so huddled on his back, Enough to press a royal merchant down, And pluck commiseration of his state From brassy bosoms, and rough hearts of flint; We all expect a gentle answer, Jew. COMMANDING. COMMANDING requires an air a little more peremptorily, with a look a little severe or stern. The head is held out, and moved towards the person to whom the order is given, with the palm upwards, and the head nods towards him. PRINCE ENJOINING PEACE TO CAPULET AND MONTAGUE. U Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace, Will they not hear? What, ho! you men, you beasts, That quench the fire of your pernicious rage Cast by their grave beseeming ornaments, Canker'd with peace, to part your canker'd hate; FORBIDDING. FORBIDDING, on the contrary, draws the head backwards, and pushes the hand from one, with the palm downwards, as if going to lay it upon the person, to hold him down immoveable, that he may not do what is forbidden him. THE DUKE OF MILAN FORBIDDING VALENTINE HIS COURT. Thank me for this, more than for all the favours Will give thee time to leave our royal court, Begone, I will not hear thy vain excuse, But, as thou lov'st thy life, make speed from hence. COMMENDATION.-PRAISE. ORATION IN PRAISE OF CORIOLANUS. I shall lack voice; the deeds of Coriolanus At sixteen years, When Tarquin made a head from Rome, he fought I cannot speak him home; he stopp'd the fliers; And, by his rare example, made the coward A vessel under sail, so men obey'd, And fell below his stem; his sword (death's stamp). The mortal gate o' the city, which he painted And with a sudden re-inforcement struck -And 'till we call'd Both field and city ours, he never stood PERSUADING. PERSUASION puts on the looks of moderate love, (See Love). The Greek and Roman name in such lustre, A third, the theme of all succeeding times, TEMPTING, or wheedling, expresses itself much in the same way; only carrying the fawning part to excess. SERPENT TEMPTING EVE. -O fruit divine, Sweet of thyself, but much more sweet thus cropp'd, For gods; yet able to make gods of men; And why not gods of men, since good the more Communicated more abundant grows, The author not impaired, but honored more? |