"Nobody would dare to sing in the presence of your worship, unless
commanded,--not even the mermaid herself."
SIR THOMAS.
"Canst thou sing it?
WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE.
"Verily, I can sing nothing."
SIR THOMAS.
"Canst thou repeat it from memory?"
WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE.
"It is so long since I have thought about it, that I may fail in the
attempt."
SIR THOMAS.
"Try, however."
WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE.
"'The mermaid sat upon the rocks
All day long,
Admiring her beauty and combing her locks,
And singing a mermaid song.'"
SIR THOMAS
"What was it? what was it? I thought as much. There thou standest,
like a woodpecker, chattering and chattering, breaking the bark with
thy beak, and leaving the grub where it was. This is enough to put
a saint out of patience."
WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE.
"The wishes of your worship possess a mysterious influence,--I now
remember all.
"'And hear the mermaid's song you may,
As sure as sure can be,
If you will but follow the sun all day,
And souse with him into the sea.'"
SIR THOMAS.
"It must be an idle fellow who would take that trouble; besides,
unless he nicked the time he might miss the monster. There be many
who are slow to believe that the mermaid singeth.
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