Passages from this character's speech that contain the most distinguishing words for Cluster 22 (broom, tiff, loathsome, snakes, hercles, dismal…). Matches are highlighted.
their leader. Why should we think there be such things as dangers? Scylla, Charybdis, Python are but fables. Medea's Bull, and Dragon very tales. See monsters, serpents, all Poetical figments. Nay Hell it self, and Acheron mere inventions. Or were they true, as they are false, should I be So timorous as to fear these Bugbear Harpies,
Full speech
What can there be That I should fear? The Gods? If they be good, 'Tis sin to fear them; if not good, no Gods, And then let them fear me. Or are they Devils That must affright me? Whats the matter? 'Tis nothing Deilus But your weak Fancy, that from every object Draws arguments of fear. This terrible black thing— —Is but your shadow Deilus. No! why should we? I nothing fear. Who? If they be I care not. Though they be Giants all, and armed with thunder. Thunder? no! No more then squibs and crackers. Let fools gaze At bearded stars, it is all one to me As if they had been shaved—thus, thus would I Out-beard a Meteour, for I might as well Name it a prodigy when my candle blazes. Deil. Is there a Comet say you? Nay I saw it, It reached from Paul's to Charing, and portends Some certain imminent danger to the inhabitants Betwixt those two places: I'll go get a lodging Out of its Influence. Not I. No more then sudden sleeps: Sir I dare die. How can you Sir prevent it? Why then we should have Larks. Would save me the expenses of a grave. Canons to me are pot-guns. A rapier's but a bodkin. Oh that the valiant Giants would again Rebel against the Gods, and besiege Heaven, So I might be their leader. Why should we think there be such things as dangers? Scylla, Charybdis, Python are but fables. Medea's Bull, and Dragon very tales. See monsters, serpents, all Poetical figments. Nay Hell it self, and Acheron mere inventions. Or were they true, as they are false, should I be So timorous as to fear these Bugbear Harpies, Medusa's, Centaurs, Gorgons? What Glass is that? Look to it eyes, if ye refuse this sighed, My nails shall damn you to eternal night.
Plot summary
Plot — The Muses' Looking Glass
Bird and Mistress Flowerdew, Puritan residents of Blackfriars, bring their wares to the theatre, but are appalled when Roscius tells them they have been ordered for use as props in a filthy stage play. Roscius argues that they themselves make a living from the vice of vanity, and invites them to see the play before they condemn it; he will give them a running commentary on its moral import. Despite Roscius’ high claims, Comedy and Tragedy seem initially more concerned about the order of their precedence; they agree to spend a year in competition, staging examples of their respective genres, and whichever is adjudged the better will thereafter have the theatre to herself. The play is a series of episodes showing specific virtues to be the mean: an excess or a deficiency constitutes a vice. A lack of courtesy makes Dyscolus churlishly ready to pick quarrels, whereas too much of it makes Colax sycophantic, to such an extent that he hangs around for the rest of the play flattering all the other vices. Aphobus is over-confident and Deilus cowardly, afraid of his own shadow: they have respectively too much fortitude and too little. Temperance is the next example, illustrated by Acolastus the epicure and Anaisthetus the ascetic, followed by liberality, missing in Aneleutherus the miser and carried to excess in Asotus the prodigal. The over-ostentatious Banausus, full of extravagant schemes for public works, overdoes magnificence, whereas Microprepes balks at replacing a church steeple. (The Puritans in the audience 1630 approve.) Chaunus overvalues himself, and seeks inappropriate high offices, whereas Micropsychus thinks himself unsuited to even the meanest position. Meekness is quite absent from quarrelsome Orgylus, who persistently tries to provoke patient Aorgus to a fight, without success. The arrogant Alazon and the modest Eiron deviate from truth: one falsely claims personal qualities he lacks, the other denies those he does have. Philotimia is unduly fastidious about her appearance, whereas her slovenly husband Luparus would rather clothes had never been invented. The impudent bawd Anaiskyntia brings Kataplectus to visit Philotimia, but he is too bashful to speak to her in English. Philotimia appoints him her gentleman usher, and they go off together; it looks as if Luparus is going to be cuckolded, but he doesn’t care. The extremes of justice are next: Nimis is worldly and prone to accept bribes, adjudicating between litigants according to which can…