r own profession: how comes it to pass that the victorious arms of
England, quartered with the conquered coat of France, are not placed on
the dexter side, but give the flower-de-luce the better hand?

HER. Because that the three lions are one coat made of two French
dukedoms, Normandy and Aquitain.

[PHA.][264] But I pray you, Visus, what joy is that, that follows him?

VIS. 'Tis Colour, an object of mine, subject to his commandment.

PHA. Why speaks he not?

VIS. He is so bashful, he dares not speak for blushing:
What thing is that? tell me without delay.

BOY. That's nothing of itself, yet every way
As like a man as a thing like may be:
And yet so unlike as clean contrary,
For in one point it every way doth miss,
The right side of it a man's left side is;
'Tis lighter than a feather, and withal
It fills no place nor room, it is so small.

COM. SEN. How now, Visus, have you brought a boy with a riddle to pose
us all?

PHA. Pose us all, and I here? That were a jest indeed. My lord, if he
have a Sphinx, I have an Oedipus, assure yourself; let's hear it once
again.

BOY. What thing is that, sir, &c.

PHA. This such a knotty enigma? Why, my lord, I think 'tis a woman, for
first a woman is nothing of herself, and, again, she is likest a man of
anything.

COM. SEN. But wherein is she unlike?

PHA. In everything: in peevishness, in folly. 'St, boy?

HEU. In pride, deceit, prating, lying, cogging, coyness, spite, hate,
sir.

PHA. And in many more such vices. Now, he may well say, the left side a
man's right side is, for a cross wife is always contrary to her husband,
ever contradicting what he wisheth for, like to the verse in Martial,
_Velle tuum_.

MEM. _Velle tuum nolo, Dindyme, nolle volo_.

PHA. Lighter than a feather--doth any man make question of that?

MEM. They need not, for I remember I saw a cardinal weigh them once, and
the woman was found three grains lighter.

COM. SEN. 'Tis strange, for I have seen gentlewomen wear feathers
oftentimes. Can they carry heavier things than themselves?

MEM. O, sir, I remember, 'tis their only delight to do so.

COM. SEN. But how apply you the last verse? it fills no place, sir.

PHA. By my faith, that spoils all the former, for these farthingales
take up all the room now-a-days; 'tis not a woman, questionless. Shall I
be put down with a riddle? Sirrah Heuresis, search the corners of your
conceit, and find it me quickly.

HEU. Eh, [Greek: heureka, heu