Passages from this character's speech that contain the most distinguishing words for Cluster 20 (ithimore, nat, invisible, notary, glycerie, humfrey…). Matches are highlighted.
hope, he may as well dive to the bottom of the sea, and bring up and Anchor of a thousand weight, as plod with his gold to corrupt a people so wise. And beside, a Nation (as I have herd) so valiant, that are re dier to strike than ward.
Full speech
Take me with you, but speak softly, for these redes may have ears, and hear us. Well, then this I say, when a Lion doth so much degenerate from Princely kind, that he will borrow of the beasts, I say he is no Lion, but a monster; pieced with the craftiness of the fox, the cruelty of the tiger, the ravening of the wolf, the dissembling of Hyena, he is worthy also to have the ears of and ass. Tush, tush, those Ilanders are too subtle to nibble at craft, and too richet to swallow treasure: if that be his hope, he may as well dive to the bottom of the sea, and bring up and Anchor of a thousand weight, as plod with his gold to corrupt a people so wise. And beside, a Nation (as I have herd) so valiant, that are re dier to strike than ward.
Plot summary
Plot — Midas
Offered anything he wishes by way of reward for entertaining Baéehus) KingiMidas seeks advice. Two of his lords suggest that he request love and empire respectively; the third proposes gold, which can buy both, so Midas asks that everything he touches should turn to gold. The gift proves to be an inconvenience, turning Midas’s food and even his beard to gold. (A BaBE steals the golden beard from the FSyalibarber, but the barber gets his own back by giving him toothache.) Regretting his folly and his imperialistic designs on other nations, Midas seeks a remedy from the oracle, and washes off the golden touch in a nearby river. On the way home, Midas goes hunting in the woods, gets lost, and encounters Ajpoll6 and Pan ‘The two gods are in dispute over which is the best musician; Midas is asked to judge, and, perversely, chooses Pan. Apollo gives him ass’s ears in reprisal, and he becomes reclusive while rumours spread; even the reeds whisper about his ears. Meanwhile his empire begins to disintegrate and he is unable to achieve his overriding objective, the conquest of Lesbos. Finally he seeks a remedy from the oracle of Apollo, and also proclaims that any further talk about his ass’s ears will cost the speaker his own. The pages inveigle Motto the barber into flouting the edict, and thereby force him to return the golden beard. Midas makes his obeisance at Apollo’s oracle, and is ordered to give up his imperial ambitions; in particular, his ears will only get longer if he continues to covet Lesbos. He agrees, and promises to make annual sacrifices at the oracle. The ass’s ears fall off, and the play ends with praise for Apollo.