Moth. No, Sir; that were fast and loose: | thou shalt to prison. Cost. Well, if ever I do see the merry days of desolation that I have seen, some shall seeMoth. What shall some see? Cost Nay, nothing, master Moth, but what they look upon. It is not for prisoners to be too silent in their words; and, therefore, I will say nothing: I thank God, I have as little patience as another man ; and, therefore, I can be quiet. Haste, signify so much; while we attend, Prin. All pride is willing pride, and yours Who are the votaries, my loving lords, Prin. Know you the man? Mar. I know him, madam; at a marriage feast, [Exeunt MOTH and COSTARD. Between lord Perigort and the beauteous heir Arm. I do affect the very ground, which is Of Jaques Falconbridge solemnized, base, where her shoe, which is baser, guided In Normandy saw I this Longaville: by her foot, which is basest, doth tread. IA man of sovereign parts he is esteem'd; shall be forsworn, (which is a great argument Well fitted in the arts, glorious in arins: of falsehood,) if I love: And how can that be Nothing becomes him ill, that he would well. true love, which is falsely attempted? Love is The only soil of his fair virtue's gloss, a familiar: love is a devil: there is no evil (If virtue's gloss will stain with any soil,) angel but love. Yet Samson was so tempt-Is a sharp wit match'd with too blunt a will; ed: and he had an excellent strength: yet was Whose edge hath power to cut, whose will Solomon so seduced: and he had a very good still wills wit. Cupid's butt-shaft is too hard for Hercules' club, and therefore too much odds for a Spaniard's rapier. The first and second cause will not serve my turn; the passado he respects not, the duello he regards not: his disgrace is to be called boy; but his glory is, to subdue men. Adieu, valour! rust, rapier! be still, drum! for your manager is in love; yea, he loveth. Assist me some extemporal god of rhyme, for, I am sure, I shall turn sonneteer. Devise wit; write pen; for I am for whole volumes in folio. [Exit. ACT II. SCENE I.-Another part of the same.-A Pa- Enter the PRINCESS OF FRANCE, ROSALINE, Boyet. Now, madam, summon up your dear- Consider who the king your father sends; Of all perfections that a man may owe, but mean, Needs not the painted flourish of your praise; [power. It should none spare that come within his Prin. Some merry mocking lord, belike; is't so? Mar. They say so most, that most his humours know. Prin. Such short-liv'd wits do wither as they grow. Who are the rest? Kath. The young Dumain, a well-accom plish'd youth, Of all that virtue love for virtue lov'd:' [ill; Ros. Another of these students at that time, Biron they call him; but a merrier man, That every one her own hath garnished Re-enter BOYET. Prin. Now, what admittance, lord? And he, and his competitors* in oath, He rather means to lodge you in the field, King. Fair princess, welcome to the cour 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 for sworn. 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, [rance. Where now his knowledge must prove ignoI hear, your grace hath sworn out house-keeping: Tis deadly sin to keep that oath, my lord, But pardon me, I am too sudden-bold; [Gives a paper. King. Madam, I will, if suddenly I may. Prin. You will the sooner, that I were away; For you'll prove perjur'd, 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. How needless was it then To ask the question! Biron. 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. Ros. The hour that fools should ask. Biron. Now fair befall your mask! King. Madam, your father here doth intimate On payment of a hundred thousand crowns, • Whereas. And wrong the reputation of your name, Prin. We arrest your word :- 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 interAll liberal reason I will yield unto. [view, Mean time, receive such welcome at my hand, As honour, without breach of honour, may Make tender of to thy true worthiness: You may not come, fair princess, in my gates; But here without you shall be so receiv'd, As you shall deem yourself lodg'd in my heart, Though so denied fair harbour in my house. Your own good thoughts excuse me, and farewell: To-morrow shall we visit you again. Prin. Sweet health and fair desires consort your grace! place! King. Thy own wish wish I thee in every [Exeunt KING and his Train. Biron. Lady, I will commend you to my own heart. Ros. 'Pray you, do my commendations; I would be glad to see it. Biron. I would, you heard it groan. Biron. Would that do it good? Ros. My physic says, I. Biron. Will you prick't with your eye? Ros. No poynt,t with my knife. Ros. And yours from long living! Biron. I cannot stay thanksgiving. [Retiring. Dum. Sir, I pray you, a word: What lady is that same? Boyet. The heir of Alençon, Rosaline her name. Dum. A gallant lady! Monsieur, fare you well. [Exit. Long. I beseech you a word; What is she in the white? Boyet. A woman sometimes, an you saw her in the light. Long. Perchance, light in the light: I desire her name. Boyet. She hath but one for herself; to de sire that, were a shame. Long. Pray you, Sir, whose daughter? Boyet. Her mother's, I have heard. Long. God's blessing on your beard! Boyet. Good Sir, be not offended: She is an heir of Falconbridge. Long. Nay, my choler is ended. She is a most sweet lady. Boyet. Not unlike, Sir; that may be. [Exit LONGAVILLE. * Aye, yes. + A French particle of negation. Biron. What's her name, in the cap? ACT III. Boyet. Katharine, by good hap. Biron. Is she wedded, or no? Boyet. To her will, Sir, or so. Biron. You are welcome, Sir; adieu! Boyet. And every jest but a word. his word. Boyet. I was as willing to grapple, as he was to board. [lips. Mar. Two hot sheeps, marry! Boyet. So you grant pasture for me. The civil war of wits were much better used On Navarre and his book-men; for here 'tis abused. Boyet. If my observation, (which very seldom lies,) By the heart's still rhetoric, disclosed with Leyes, Deceive me not now, Navarre is infected. Prin. With what? Boyet. With that which we lovers entitle, affected. Prin. Your reason? Boyet. Why, all his behaviours did make their retire To the court of his eye, peeping thorough de[sire: His heart, like an agate, with your print impressed, Proud with his form, in his eye pride expressed: Did point you to buy them, along as you pass'd. Prin. Come, to our pavilion: Boyet is dis- Boyet. But to speak that in words, which I only have made a mouth of his eye, Mar. He is Cupid's grandfather, and learns news of him. Ros. Then was Venus like her mother; for her father is but grim. Boyet. Do you hear my mad wenches? Boyet. What then, do you see? Boyet. You are too hard for me. SCENE I.-Another part of the same. Enter ARMADO and Mотк, 165 Arm. Warble, child; make passionate my sense of hearing. Moth. Concolinel [Singing Arm. Sweet air!-Go, tenderness of years; take this key, give enlargement to the swain, bring him festinately* hither; I must employ him in a letter to my love. Moth. Master, will you win your love with a French brawl?t Arm. How mean'st thou? brawling in French? off a tune at the tongue's end, canary to it Moth. No, my complete master; but to jig with your feet, humour it with turning up your eye-lids; sigh a note, and sing a note; somelove with singing love; sometime through the time through the throat, as if you swallowed nose, as if you snuffed up love by smelling love; with your hat penthouse-like, o'er the shop of your eyes; with your arms crossed on your your hands in your pocket, like a man after thin belly-doublet, like a rabbit on a spit; or the old painting; and keep not too long in one tune, but a snip and away: These are complements, these are humours; these betray nice these; and make them men of note, (do you wenches-that would be betrayed without note, men?) that most are affected to these. Arm. How hast thou purchased this expe- ! rience? Moth. By my penny of observation. Moth. -the hobby-horse is forgot. Arm. Callest thou my love, hobby-horse? have you forgot your love? Moth. No, master; the hobby-horse is but a colt, and your love, perhaps, a hackney. Bu Arm. Almost I had. Moth. Negligent student! learn her by heart. three I will prove. Arm. What wilt thou prove? without, upon the instant: By heart you love Moth. A man, if I live; and this, by, in, and her, because your heart cannot come by her: in heart you love her, because your heart is in being out of heart that you cannot enjoy her..] love with her; and out of heart you love her, Arm. I am all these three. Moth. And three times as much more, and yet nothing at all. Arm. Fetch hither the swain; he must carry me a letter. Moth. A message well sympathised; a horse to be ambassador for an ass! Arm. Ha, ha! what sayest thou? Moth. Marry, Sir, you must send the ass upon the horse, for he is very slow-gaited: But I go. Arm. The way is but short; away. Moth. As swift as lead, Sir. Is not lead a metal heavy, dull, and slow? Arm. I say, lead is slow. Moth. You are too swift, Sir, to say so [Exeunt. * Hastily. A quibble, several signified uninclosed lands. † A kind of danos. Canary was the name of a sprightly dance. Quick, ready. He reputes me a cannon; and the bullet, that's I shoot thee at the swain. [he:Moth. Thump then, and I flee. Exit. Arm. A most acute juvenal; voluble and free of grace! By thy favour, sweet welkin, I must sigh in thy face: Most rude melancholy, valour gives thee place. My herald is return'd. Re-enter MOTH and COSTARD. Moth. A wonder, master; here's a Costard* broken in a shin. Arm. Some enigma, some riddle: come,-thy l'envoy-begin. Cost. No egma, no riddle, no l'envoy; no salve in the mail, Sir: O, Sir, plantain, a plain plantain; no l'envoy, no l'envoy, no salve, Sir, but a plantain ! Arm. By virtue, thou enforcest laughter; thy silly thought, my spleen; the heaving of my lungs provokes me to ridiculous smiling: O, pardon me, my stars! Doth the inconsiderate take salve for l'envoy, and the word, l'envoy, for a salve? Moth. Do the wise think them other? is not l'envoy a salve? Arm. No, page: it is an epilogue or discourse, to make plain Some obscure precedence that hath tofore been I will example it: [sain. The fox, the ape, and the humble-bee, Were still at odds, being but three. There's the moral: Now the l'envoy. Moth. I will add the l'envoy: Say the moral again. Arm. The fox, the ape, and the humble-bee, Were still at odds, being but three: Moth. Until the goose came out of door, And stay'd the odds by adding four. Now will I begin your moral, and do you follow with my l'envoy. The fox, the ape, and the humble-bee, Were still at odds, being but three: Arm. Until the goose came out of door, Staying the odds by adding four. Moth. A good l'envoy, ending in the goose; Would you desire more? Cost. The boy hath sold him a bargain, a goose, that's flat: [fat.Sir, your pennyworth is good, an your goose be To sell a bargain well, is as cunning as fast and foose: Let me see a fat l'envoy; ay, that's a fat goose. Arm. Come hither, come hither: How did this argument begin? Moth. By saying that a Costard was broken in a shin. Then call'd you for the l'envoy. Cost. True, and I for a plantain; Thus came your argument in; Then the boy's fat l'envoy, the goose that you And he ended the market. [bought; Arm. But tell me; how was there a Costard broken in a shin? Moth. I will tell you sensibly. Cost. Thou hast no feeling of it, Moth; I will speak that l'envoy: Costard, running out, that was safely within, Fell over the threshold, and broke my shin. Arm. We will talk no more of this matter. Cost. Till there be more matter in the shin. Arm. Sirrah Costard, I will enfranchise thee. Cost. O, marry me to one Frances:-I smell some l'enroy, some goose, in this. Arm. By my sweet soul, I mean, setting thee at liberty, enfreedoming thy person; thou wert immured, restrained, captivated, bound. Cost. True, true; and now you will be my purgation, and let me loose. Arm. I give thee thy liberty, set thee from durance; and, in lieu thereof, impose on thee nothing but this: Bear this significant to the country maid Jaquenetta: there is remuneration; [Giving him money.] for the best ward of mine honour, is, rewarding my dependents. Moth, follow. [Exit. Moth. Like the sequel, I.-Signior Costard, adieu. Cost. My sweet ounce of man's flesh! my incony* Jew![Exit MOTH. Now will I look to his remuneration. Remuneration! O, that's the Latin word for three farthings: three farthings-remuneration.-What's the price of this inkle? a penny:—No, I'll give you a remuneration: why, it carries it.Remuneration !—why, it is a fairer name than French crown. I will never buy and sell out of this word. Cost. I thank your worship: God be with you! Biron. O, stay, slave; I must employ thee: As thou wilt win my favour, good my knave, Do one thing for me that I shall entreat. Cost. When would you have it done, Sir? Cost. Well, I will do it, Sir: Fare you well. Biron. It must be done this afternoon. Hark, slave, it is but this ; The princess comes to hunt here in the park, her name, And Rosaline they call her: ask for her; And to her white hand see thou do commend This seal'd-up counsel. There's thy guerdon;t go. [Gives him moncy. Cost. Guerdon,-O sweet guerdon! better than remuneration; elevenpence farthing bet ter: Most sweet guerdon !-I will do it, Sir, in print.t-Guerdon-remuneration. [Exit. Biron. O! And I, forsooth, in love! I, that have been love's whip; A very beadle to a humorous sigh; This senior-junior, giant-dwarf, Dan Cupid; With the utmost exactness. + Reward. Hooded, veiled. * Dread prince of packets, king of codpieces, Of trotting paritors, O my little heart!- And wear his colours like a tumbler's hoop! Well, I will love, write, sigh, pray, sue, and groan; Some men must love my lady, and some Joan. ACT IV. [Exit. SCENE 1.-Another part of the same. Enter the PRINCESS, ROSALINE, MARIA, KATHARINE, BOYET, Lords, Attendants, and a FORESTER. As I, for praise alone, now seek to spill [ill. The poor deer's blood, that my heart means no Boyet. Do not curst wives hold that selfsovereignty Only for praise' sake, when they strive to be Lords o'er their lords? Prin. Only for praise: and praise we may To any lady that subdues a lord. [afford Enter COSTARD. Prin. Here comes a member of the commonwealth. Cost. God dig-you-den* all! Pray you, which is the head lady? Prin. Thou shalt know her, fellow, by the rest that have no heads. Cost. Which is the greatest lady, the highest? Prin. The thickest, and the tallest. Cost. The thickest, and the tallest! it is so; truth is truth. [wit, An your waist, mistress, were as slender as my One of these maids' girdles for your waist should be fit. Are not you the chief woman? you are the thickest here. Prin. What's your will, Sir? what's your will? Cost. I have a letter from monsieur Biron, to one lady Rosaline. Prin. O, thy letter, thy letter; he's a good friend of mine; [carve; Stand aside, good bearer.-Boyet, you can Prin. Was that the king, that spurr'd his Break up this capon.t horse so hard Against the steep uprising of the hill? Boyet. I am bound to serve. This letter is mistook, it importeth none here; Boyet. I know not; but, I think, it was It is writ to Jaquenetta. not he. Prin. We will read it, I swear: [ear. Prin. Whoe'er he was, he show'd a mount-Break the neck of the wax, and every one give ing mind. Well, lords, to-day we shall have our despatch; A stand, where you may make the fairest shoot. say, no? O short-liv'd pride! Not fair? alack for woe! For. Yes, madam, fair. Prin. Nay, never paint me now; [brow. Where fair is not, praise cannot mend the Here, good my glass, take this for telling true; [Giring him money. Fair payment for foul words is more than due. For. Nothing but fair is that which you in herit. Prin. See, see, my beauty will be sav'd by O heresy in fair, fit for these days! [merit. A giving hand, though foul, shall have fair praise. But come, the bow:-Now mercy goes to kill, And, out of question, so it is sometimes; Petticoats. + The officers of the spiritual courts who serve citations. Boyet. [Reads.] By heaven, that thou art fair, is most infallible; true, that thou art beauteous; truth itself, that thou art lovely: More fairer than fair, beautiful than beauteous; truer than truth itself, have commiseration on thy heroical vassal! The magnanimous and most illustrate king Cophetua set eye upon the pernicious and indubitate beggar Zenelophon; and he it was that might rightly say, veni, vidi, vici; which to anatomize in the vulgar, (O'base and obscure vulgar!) videlicet, he came, saw, and overcame: he came, one; saw, two; overcame, three. Who came? the king; Why did he come? to see; Why did he see? to overcome: To whom came he? to the beggar; What w he? the beggar; Who overcame he? the beggar: The conclusion is victory; On whose side? the king's: the captive is enrich'd; On whose side? the beggar's; The catastrophe is a nuptial; On whose side? the king's?-no, on both in one, or one in both. I am the king; for so stands the comparison: thou the beggar; for so witnesseth thy lowliness. Shall I command thy love? I may: Shall I enforce thy love? I could: Shall I entreat thy love? I will. What shalt thou exchange for rugs? robes; For tittles, titles; For thyself, me. thy foot, my eyes on thy picture, and my heart on Thus, expecting thy reply, I profane my lips on thy every part. Thine, in the dearest design of industry, DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO. Thus dost thou hear the Nemean lion roar 'Gainst thee, thou lamb, that standest as his prey; Submissive fall his princely feet before, And he from forage will incline to play: But if thou strive, poor soul, what art thou then? Food for his rage, repasture for his don. |