This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
DANCES AND DANCING
127

A similar play upon the word is in Richard II. 3/4, 6, where the queen asks her ladies to propose some sport to drive away care.

1 Lady. Madam, we'll dance.
Queen. My legs can keep no measure in delight,<br /When my poor heart no measure keeps in grief:
Therefore, no dancing, girl.

See especially the following, which holds a whole string of quibbles.

L.L.L. 5/2, 184. Masked ball.

King of Navarre. Say to her, we have measur'd many miles,
To tread a measure with her on this grass.
Boyet (to the ladies). They say, that they have measur'd many a mile,
To tread a measure with you on this grass.
Rosaline. It is not so. Ask them how many inches
Is in one mile: if they have measur'd many,
The measure then of one is easily told.
Boyet. If, to come hither, you have measur'd miles,
And many miles, the princess bids you tell,
How many inches do fill up one mile.
Biron. Tell her, we measure them by weary steps.

And l. 209, measure.

Another dance that is frequently referred to is the Dump, the slow and mournful character of which has already been explained in the notes on Lucrece