With such bedecking ornaments of praise? Re-enter BOYET. Prin. Now, what admittance, lord ? Boyet. Navarre had notice of your fair approach; And he, and his competitors in oath, Were all address'd to meet you, gentle lady, (Like one that comes here to besiege his court,) To let you enter his unpeopled house. [The Ladies mask. Enter KING, LONGAVILLE, DUMAIN, BIRON, and At tendants. King. Fair princess, welcome to the court of Na varre. 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. 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 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 tions. ques 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? Rus. The hour, that fools should ask. Biron. Now fair befall your mask! King. Madam, your father here doth intimate The payment of a hundred thousand crowns; Being but the one half of an entire sum, Disbursed by my father in his wars. But say, that he, or we, (as neither have,) Receiv'd that sum; yet there remains unpaid A hundred thousand more; in surety of the which, Although not valued to the money's worth. Which we much rather had depart withal, And have the money by our father lent, Dear princess, were not his requests so far From reason's yielding, your fair self should make A yielding, 'gainst some reason, in my breast, And go well satisfied to France again. 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. Prin. We arrest your word : I hear, your grace hath sworn-out house-keeping: 'Tis deadly sin to keep that oath, my lord, Boyet, you can produce acquittances, For such a sum, from special officers Of Charles his father. 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, Prin. Sweet health and fair desires consort your grace! King. Thy own wish wish I thee in every place! [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 Ros. Is the fool sick? Biron. Sick at heart. heard it groan. Ros. Alack, let it blood. Biron. Would that do it good? Ros. My physick says I. Biron. Will you prick't with your eye? 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. [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 desire that, were a shame. Long. Pray you, sir, whose daughter? Boyet. Her mother's, I have heard. She is a most sweet lady. Boyet. Not unlike, sir; that may be. [Erit LONG, Biron. What's her name, in the cap? Boyet. Katharine, by good hap. Biron. Is she wedded, or no? Boyet. To her will, sir, or so. Biron. You are welcome, sir; adieu! |