Page 337 - Shakespeare - Vol. 3

A very ribbon in the cap of youth −
Yet needful too, for youth no less becomes
The light and careless livery that it wears
Than settled age his sables and his weeds

Importing health and graveness. Two months since [80]
Here was a gentleman of Normandy −
I have seen myself, and serv’d against, the French,
And they can well on horseback, but this gallant

Had witchcraft in’t. He grew unto his seat,
And to such wondrous doing brought his horse [85]
As had he been incorps’d and demi-natur’d
With the brave beast. So far he topp’d my thought

That I in forgery of shapes and tricks
Come short of what he did.

LAERTES
A Norman was’t?

KING
A Norman. [90]

LAERTES
Upon my life, Lamord.

KING
The very same.

LAERTES

I know him well. He is the brooch indeed
And gem of all the nation.

KING
He made confession of you,
And gave you such a masterly report [95]
For art and exercise in your defence,

And for your rapier most especial,
That he cried out ’twould be a sight indeed