gh the more spirited Coranto, and tolerably
lively Galliard, to the lower depths of the Cushion-Dance, which were
reached towards the close of the evening, when the grave and reverend
Elders may be supposed to have gone to bed.

But, besides this, the word appears to have been used generically,
meaning merely 'a dance.' It was certainly applied to the Passamezzo,
_and to other country dances_. In _H. 8._ I, iv, 104, King Henry
says--

... 'I have half a dozen healths
To drink to these fair ladies, and a _measure_
To lead 'em once again.'

The next passage uses the word for a pun.

_As You_ V, iv, 178.

_Duke Senior._ _Play Music!_ and you brides and bridegrooms all,
With _measure_ heap'd in joy, to the _measures_ fall.

L. 192.

_Jaques._ ... So, to your pleasures;
I am for other than for _dancing measures_.

A similar play upon the word is in _Richard II._ III, iv, 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,
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._ V, ii, 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_ 1127. As a serenade it is named in the _Two Gent._ III, ii,
83. The nature of the steps of this dance is not certainly known. Two
features, however, may be guessed at--viz., a tapping of the foot at
certain places, which may be inferred from the possible connection of
the word with 'Thump'; and seco