Yourself, held precious in the world's esteem, Of all perfections that a man may owe, When she did starve the general world beside, Prin. Good lord Boyet, my beauty, though but mean, Tell him the daughter of the king of France, Boyet. Proud of employment, willingly I go. [Exit. Prin. All pride is willing pride; and yours is so.Who are the votaries, my loving lords, That are vow-fellows with this virtuous duke? 1 Lord. Longaville is one. Prin. Mar. I know him, madam. Know you the man? At a marriage feast, 1 i. e. confident of it. 1; Between lord Perigort and the beauteous heir Prin. Some merry mocking lord, belike; is't so? Mar. They say so most, that most his humors know. Prin. Such short-lived wits do wither as they grow. Who are the rest? Kath. The young Dumain, a well-accomplished youth, Of all that virtue love for virtue loved; Most power to do most harm, least knowing ill; Ros. Another of these students at that time Prin. God bless my ladies! are they all in love, With such bedecking ornaments of praise? Mar. Here comes Boyet. Prin. Re-enter BOYET. Now, what admittance, lord? To let you enter his unpeopled house. [The ladies mask. Enter KING, LONGAVILLE, DUMAIN, BIRON, and Attendants. King. Fair princess, welcome to the court of Navarre. Prin. Fair, I give you back again; and, welcome I have not yet. The roof of this court is too high to be yours; and welcome to the wild fields too base to be mine. King. You shall be welcome, madam, to my court. Prin. I will be welcome then; conduct me thither. King. Hear me, dear lady; I have sworn an oath. Prin. Our lady help my lord! He'll be forsworn. King. Not for the world, fair madam, by my will. Prin. Why, will shall break it; will, and nothing else. King. Your ladyship is ignorant what it is. Prin. Were my lord so, his ignorance were wise, Where now his knowledge must prove ignorance. I hear your grace has sworn-out house-keeping. 'Tis deadly sin to keep that oath, my lord, And sin to break it. But pardon me, I am too sudden-bold; To teach a teacher ill beseemeth me. Vouchsafe to read the purpose of my coming, [Gives a paper. King. Madam, I will, if suddenly I may. Prin. You will the sooner, that I were away; For you'll prove perjured, if you make me stay. Biron. Did not I dance with you in Brabant once? Ros. Did not I dance with you in Brabant once? Biron. I know you did. Ros. To ask the question! Biron. How needless was it then You must not be so quick. Ros. 'Tis 'long of you that spur me with such questions. Biron. Your wit's too hot; it speeds too fast; 'twill tire. Ros. Not till it leave the rider in the mire. Biron. What time o' day? Ros. The hour that fools should ask. Biron. Now fair befall your mask! Ros. Fair fall the face it covers! Biron. And send you many lovers! King. Madam, your father here doth intimate But say, that he, or we, (as neither have,) A hundred thousand more; in surety of the which, Although not valued to the money's worth. To have his title live in Aquitain; Which we much rather had depart1 withal, Than Aquitain so gelded as it is. Dear princess, were not his requests so far From reason's yielding, your fair self should make Prin. You do the king my father too much wrong, And wrong the reputation of your name, In so unseeming to confess receipt Of that which hath so faithfully been paid. We arrest your word.— Prin. King. Satisfy me so. Boyet. So please your grace, the packet is not come, Where that and other specialties are bound. To-morrow you shall have a sight of them. King. It shall suffice me; at which interview, Mean time, receive such welcome at my hand, As you shall deem yourself lodged in my heart, Prin. Sweet health and fair desires consort your grace! King. Thy own wish wish I thee in every place! [Exeunt King and his Train. 1 To depart and to part were anciently synonymous. |