And thou art flying to a fresher clime.
Look, what thy soul holds dear, imagine it
To lie that way thou go'st, not whence thou com'st.
Suppose the singing birds musicians, 288
The grass whereon thou tread'st the presence strew'd,
The flowers fair ladies, and thy steps no more
Than a delightful measure or a dance;
For gnarling sorrow hath less power to bite 292
The man that mocks at it and sets it light.
Boling. O! who can hold a fire in his hand
By thinking on the frosty Caucasus?
Or cloy the hungry edge of appetite 296
By bare imagination of a feast?
Or wallow naked in December snow
By thinking on fantastic summer's heat?
O, no! the apprehension of the good 300
Gives but the greater feeling to the worse:
Fell sorrow's tooth doth never rankle more
Than when it bites, but lanceth not the sore.
Gaunt. Come, come, my son, I'll bring thee on thy way. 304
Had I thy youth and cause, I would not stay.
Boling. Then, England's ground, farewell; sweet soil, adieu:
My mother, and my nurse, that bears me yet!
Where'er I wander, boast of this I can, 308
Though banish'd, yet a true-born Englishman.
289 presence: royal presence-chamber
strew'd: i.e., with rushes or flowers
291 measure: a grave and formal dance
292 gnarling: snarling
293 sets it light: regards it lightly
299 fantastic: imagined
300 apprehension: conception
304 bring: accompany
305 stay: delay
