A PARROT-TEACHER. 273 



heart that I had not a hard heart, for truly I love 

 now. 



Beat. A dear happiness to women ; they would else 

 have been troubled with a pernicious suitor. I thank 

 God, and my cold blood, I am of your humour for 

 that ; I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a 

 man swear he loves me. 



Bened. God keep your ladyship still in that mind ! so 

 some gentleman or other shall 'scape a predestinate 

 scratched face. 



Beat. Scratching could not make it worse, an 'twere 

 such a face as yours were. 



Bened. Well, you are a rare parrot-teacher* 



Beat. A bird of my tongue is better than a beast of 

 yours. 



Bened. I would my horse had the speed of your 

 tongue, and so good a continuer : but keep your way, 

 o' God's name ! I have done. 



Beat. You always end with a jade's trick : I know you 

 of old." 



[Whereupon Don Pedro steps in and puts an end to this 



bantering.] 



Much Ado about Nothing, Act i. Sc. i. 



The "Popinjay" (Henry IV. Part I. Act i. Sc. 3) 

 apparently is only another name for parrot. 



In the Glossary to Chaucer's Works we find the word 



* Compare " Redbreast-teacher," Henry IV. Part I. Act iii. Sc. i. 



N N 



