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. 1. 



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. 1. 



N N 



