Kat. Yes Madame: and moreover,

Some thousand Verses of a faithfull Lover.

A huge translation of hypocrisie,

Vildly compiled, profound simplicitie.

Mar. This, and these Pearls, to me sent Longavile. The Letter is too long by halfe a mile.

Qu. I thinke no lesse: Dost thou wish in heart The Chaine were longer, and the Letter short.

60

Mar. I, or I would these hands might never part. Quee. We are wise girles to mocke our Lovers so. Ros. They are worse fooles to purchase mocking so. That same Berowne ile torture ere I goe.

O that I knew he were but in by th' weeke,

How I would make him fawne, and begge, and seeke, And wait the season, and observe the times,

And spend his prodigall wits in booteles rimes.

And shape his service wholly to my device,

And make him proud to make me proud that jests. 70 So pertaunt like would I o'resway his state,

That he shold be my foole, and I his fatc.

Qu. None are so surely caught, when they are catcht, As Wit turn'd foole, follie in Wisedome hatch'd: Hath wisedoms warrant, and the helpe of Schoole, And Wits owne grace to grace a learned Foole?

Ros. The bloud of youth burns not with such excesse, As gravities revolt to wantons be.

Mar. Follie in Fooles beares not so strong a note, As fool'ry in the Wise, when Wit doth dote:

Since all the power thereof it doth apply,

To prove by Wit, worth in simplicitie.

59. thou wish: thou not wish-2-4F. 69. device: hests-DYCE.

72. fatc: fate-1Q.

78. wantons be: wantonness-2-4F.

80

Enter Boyet.

Qu. Heere comes Boyet, and mirth in his face.
Boy. OI am stab'd with laughter, Wher's her Grace?
Qu. Thy newes Boyet?

Boy. Prepare Madame, prepare.

Arme Wenches arme, incounters mounted are,
Against your Peace, Love doth approach, disguis'd:
Armed in arguments, you'll be surpriz'd.
Muster your Wits, stand in your owne defence,
Or hide your heads like Cowards, and flie hence.
Qu. Saint Dennis to S. Cupid: What are they,
That charge their breath against us? Say scout say.

Boy. Under the coole shade of a Siccamore,
I thought to close mine eyes some halfe an houre:
When lo to interrupt my purpos'd rest,
Toward that shade I might behold addrest,
The King and his companions: warely
I stole into a neighbour thicket by,
And over-heard, what you shall over-heare:
That by and by disguis'd they will be heere.
Their Herald is a pretty knavish Page:
That well by heart hath con'd his embassage,
Action and accent did they teach him there.
Thus must thou speake, and thus thy body beare.
And ever and anon they made a doubt,

Presence majesticall would put him out:

For quoth the King, an Angell shalt thou see:
Yet feare not thou, but speake audaciously.
The Boy reply'd, An Angell is not evill:

90

100

IIO

I should have fear'd her, had she beene a devill.
With that all laugh'd, and clap'd him on the shoulder,

84. mirth in: mirth is in-12.

Making the bold wagg by their praises bolder.
One rub'd his elboe thus, and fleer'd, and swore,
A better speech was never spoke before.
Another with his finger and his thumb,

120

Cry'd via, we will doo't, come what will come.
The third he caper'd and cried, All goes well.
The fourth turn'd on the toe, and downe he fell:
With that they all did tumble on the ground,
With such a zelous laughter so profound,
That in this spleene ridiculous appeares,
To checke their folly passions solemne teares.
Quee. But what, but what, come they to visit us?
Boy. They do, they do; and are apparel'd thus,
Like Muscovites, or Russians, as I gesse.
Their purpose is to parlee, to court, and dance,
And every one his Love-feat will advance,
Unto his severall Mistresse: which they'll know
By favours severall, which they did bestow.

130

Queen. And will they so? the Gallants shall be taskt:
For Ladies; we will every one be maskt,
And not a man of them shall have the grace
Despight of sute, to see a Ladies face.

Hold Rosaline, this Favour thou shalt weare,
And then the King will court thee for his Deare:
Hold, take thou this my sweet, and give me thine,
So shall Berowne take me for Rosaline.
And change your Favours too, so shall your
Woo contrary, deceiv'd by these removes.

Loves 140

Rosa. Come on then, weare the favours most in sight. Kath. But in this changing, What is your intent? Queen. The effect of my intent is to crosse theirs:

128. parlee: parle-CAPELL.

140. your Favours: you favours-IQ.

They doe it but in mocking merriment,
And mocke for mocke is onely my intent.
Their severall counsels they unbosome shall,
To Loves mistooke, and so be mockt withall.
Upon the next occasion that we meete,
With Visages displayd to talke and greete.

150

Ros. But shall we dance, if they desire us too't? Quee. No, to the death we will not move a foot, Nor to their pen'd speech render we no grace: But while 'tis spoke, each turne away his face.

Boy. Why that contempt will kill the keepers heart, And quite divorce his memory from his part.

Quee. Therefore I doe it, and I make no doubt,
The rest will ere come in, if he be out.

Theres no such sport, as sport by sport orethrowne:
To make theirs ours, and ours none but our owne. 160
So shall we stay mocking entended game,
And they well mockt, depart away with shame. Sound.
Boy. The Trompet sounds, be maskt, the maskers
[The ladies mask.]

come.

Enter Black moores with musicke, the Boy [Moth] with
a speech, and the rest of the Lords disguised.
Page. All haile, the richest Beauties on the earth.
Ber. [Boyet] Beauties no richer then rich Taffata.
Pag. A holy parcell of the fairest dames that ever

turn'd their backes to mortall viewes.

170

The Ladies turne their backes to him. Ber. [Aside to Moth] Their eyes villaine, their eyes. Pag. That ever turn'd their eyes to mortall viewes. Out

Boy. True, out indeed.

155. keepers: speaker's-IQ.

158. ere: ne'er-2-4F.

Pag. Out of your favours heavenly spirits vouchsafe Not to beholde.

Ber. [Aside to Moth] Once to behold, rogue. Pag. Once to behold with your Sunne beamed eyes, With your Sunne beamed eyes.

Boy. They will not answer to that Epythite, You were best call it Daughter beamed eyes.

180

Pag. They do not marke me, and that brings me out. Bero. Is this your perfectnesse? be gon you rogue.

Rosa. What would these strangers? Know their mindes Bojet.

[Exit Moth.]

If they doe speake our language, 'tis our will
That some plaine man recount their purposes.
Know what they would?

Boyet. What would you with the Princes?
Ber. Nothing but peace, and gentle visitation.
Ros. What would they, say they?

Boy. Nothing but peace, and gentle visitation.

190

Rosa. Why that they have, and bid them so be gon. Boy. She saies you have it, and you may be gon. Kin. Say to her we have measur'd many miles, To tread a Measure with you on the grasse. Boy. They say that they have measur'd many a mile, To tread Measure with you on this grasse. Rosa. It is not so. Aske them how many Is in one mile? If they have measur'd manie, The measure then of one is easlie told.

inches

Boy. If to come hither, you have measur'd miles, And many miles: the Princesse bids you tell,

How many inches doth fill up one mile?

185-6. 1 1.-POPE.

197. you on the: her on this-1Q.

201

190. Princes: princess-4F.