Biron. Why, all delights are vain; but' that most vain, To seek the light of truth; while truth the while Light, seeking light, doth light of light beguile. By fixing it upon a fairer eye; That will not be deep-search'd with saucy looks: Than those that walk, and wot not what they are. Too much to know is to know nought but fame; And every godfather can give a name. King. How well he's read, to reason against reading! Dum. Proceeded well, to stop all good proceeding! Long. He weeds the corn, and still lets grow the weeding. Biron. The spring is near, when green geese are a breeding. Dum. How follows that? Biron. Fit in his place and time. Before the birds have any cause to sing? Why should I joy in any abortive birth? At Christmas I no more desire a rose, Than wish a snow in May's new-fangled shows; Climb o'er the house-top to unlock the gate.' King. Well, set you out: go home, Biron: adieu! Biron. No, my good lord; I have sworn to stay with you: And, though I have for barbarism spoke more, And bide the penance of each three years' day. Biron. [Reads.] Item, "That no woman shall come within a mile of my court."-Hath this been proclaim'd? Long. Four days ago. Biron. Let's see the penalty. [Reads.] "On pain of losing her tongue."-Who devis'd this penalty? Long. Marry, that did I. Biron. Sweet lord, and why? Long. To fright them hence with that dread penalty. Biron. A dangerous law against garrulity.' [Reads.] Item, "If any man be seen to talk with a woman within the term of three years, he shall endure such public shame as the rest of the court can possibly devise." This article, my liege, yourself must break; For, well you know, here comes in embassy The French king's daughter with yourself to speak,A maid of grace, and complete majesty,About surrender up of Aquitain To her decrepit, sick, and bed-rid father: Therefore, this article is made in vain, Or vainly comes th' admired princess rather. King. What say you, lords? why, this was quite forgot. Biron. So study evermore is overshot: While it doth study to have what it would, It doth forget to do the thing it should; And when it hath the thing it hunteth most, Biron. Necessity will make us all forsworn Not by might master'd, but by special grace. So to the laws at large I write my name; [Subscribes. King. Ay, that there is. Our court, you know, is haunted With a refined traveller of Spain; A man in all the world-new fashions flaunted, A man of complements, whom right and wrong For interim to our studies, shall relate In high-born words the worth of many a knight Biron. Armado is a most illustrious wight, A man of fire-new words, fashion's own knight. Enter DULL, with a letter, and COSTARD. Dull. Which is the duke's own person? Biron. This, fellow. What wouldst? Dull. I myself reprehend his own person, for I am his grace's tharborough'; but I would see his own person in flesh and blood. Biron. This is he. Dull. Signior Arm-Arm-commends you. There's villainy abroad: this letter will tell you more. Cost. Sir, the contempts thereof are as touching me. King. A letter from the magnificent Armado. Biron. How low soever the matter, I hope in God for high words. Long. A high hope for a low hearing": God grant us patience! 1 From the quarto; the folio reads: and. 2 Snipping, or nipping 3 Climb o'er the house to unlock the little gate in fe. what I have swore: in f. e. 5 gentility: in f. e. speak in f. e. 1 Temptations.world's new fashions planted: in f. e. strel to tell me stories. 10 Third borough, a peace officer. 11 having in f.e I'll keep As a min Biron. To hear, or forbear hearing. Long. To hear meekly, sir, and to laugh moderately; or to forbear both. Biron. Well, sir, be it as the style shall give us cause to chime in in' the merriness. Cost. The matter is to me, sir, as concerning Jaquenetta. The manner of it is, I was taken with the manner.2 Biron. In what manner? Cost. In manner and form following, sir; all those three: I was seen with her in the manor house, sitting with her upon the form, and taken following her into the park; which, put together, is, in manner and form following. Now, sir, for the manner,-it is the manner of a man to speak to a woman; for the form,-in some form. Biron. For the following, sir? Cost. As it shall follow in my correction; and God defend the right! King. Will you hear this letter with attention? Cost. Such is the simplicity of man to hearken after the flesh. King. [Reads.] "Great deputy, the welkin's vicegerent, and sole dominator of Navarre, my soul's earth's God, and body's fostering patron, Cost. Not a word of Costard yet. King. "So it is,-" Cost. It may be so; but if he say it is so, he is, in telling true, but so, King. Peace! ment, by thy sweet grace's officer, Antony Dull, a man Biron. This is not so well as I looked for, but the best that ever I heard. King. Ay, the best for the worst.-But, sirrah, what say you to this? Cost. Sir, I confess the wench. King. Did you hear the proclamation? Cost. I do confess much of the hearing it, but little of the marking of it. King. It was proclaimed a year's imprisonment to be taken with a wench. Cost. I was taken with none, sir: I was taken with a damsel. King. Well, it was proclaimed damsel. Cost. This was no damsel neither, sir: she was a virgin. King. It is so varied, too, for it was proclaimed virgin. Cost. If it were, I deny her virginity: I was taken with a maid. King. This maid will not serve your turn, sir. Cost. -be to me, and every man that dares not shall fast a week with bran and water. fight. King. No words. Cost. of other men's secrets, I beseech you. King. "So it is, besieged with sable-coloured melancholy, I did commend the black-oppressing humour to the most wholesome physic of thy health-giving air; and, as I am a gentleman, betook myself to walk. The time when? About the sixth hour; when beasts most graze, birds best peck, and men sit down to that nourishment which is called supper. So much for the time when. Now for the ground which; which, I mean, I walked upon: it is ycleped thy park. Then for the place where; where, I mean, I did encounter that obscene and most preposterous event, that draweth from my snow-white pen the ebon-coloured ink, which here thou viewest, beholdest, surveyest, or seest. But to the place, where-it standeth north-north-east and by east from the west corner of thy curious-knotted garden': there did I see that low-spirited swain, that base minnow of thy mirth,” Cost. Me. King. "-that unletter'd small-knowing soul," King. "which, as I remember, hight Costard," King. "-sorted and consorted, contrary to thy established proclaimed edict and continent canon, with-with,-O! with-but with this I passion to say wherewith.". Cost. With a wench. King. "-with a child of our grandmother Eve, a female; or, for thy more sweet understanding, a woman. Him I (as my ever-esteemed duty pricks me on) have sent to thee, to receive the meed of punish Cost. I had rather pray a month with mutton and porridge. King. And Don Armado shall be your keeper.— [Exeunt KING, Longaville, and DUMAINE. Cost. I suffer for the truth, sir: for true it is, I was taken with Jaquenetta, and Jaquenetta is a true girl; and therefore, welcome the sour cup of prosperity Affliction may one day smile again, and till then, set [Exeunt. thee down, sorrow! SCENE II.-ARMADO's House in the Park. Moth. A great sign, sir, that he will look sad. Moth. No, no; O lord! sir, no. Arm. How canst thou part sadness and melancholy, my tender juvenal ? Moth. By a familiar demonstration of the working, my tough senior. Arm. Why tough senior? why tough senior? Moth. Why tender juvenal? why tender juvenal? Arm. I spoke it, tender juvenal, as a congruent epitheton appertaining to thy young days, which we may nominate tender. Moth. And I, tough senior, as an appertinent title to your old time, which we may name tough Arm. Pretty, and apt. 1 climb in: in f. e. The law French phrase, mainour, with the thing stolen in hand. formal gardens of the period. • vassal in f. e. f. e. give this speech to BIRON. The fantastic figures in the beds of the Moth. How mean you, sir? I pretty, and my say- to have a love of that colour, methinks, Samson had ing apt; or I apt. and my saying pretty? Arm. Thou pretty, because little. Moth. How many is one thrice told? Arm. I am ill at reckoning: it fitteth the spirit of a tap-ter. Moth. You are a gentleman, and a gamester, sir. Arm. I confess both: they are both the varnish of a complete man. Moth. Then, I am sure, you know how much the gross sum of deuce-ace amounts to. Arm. It doth amount to one more than two. Moth. Why, sir, is this such a piece of study? Now, here is three studied ere you'll thrice wink and how easy it is to put years to the word three, and study three years in two words, the dancing horse will tell you. Arm. A most fine figure! Moth. [Aside] To prove you 2. cypher. small reason for it. He, surely, affected her for her wit. Arm. Define, define, well-educated infant. Moth. My father's wit, and my mother's tongue, assist me ! Arm. Sweet invocation of a child; most pretty, and poetical3 ! Moth. If she be made of white and red, By this you shall not know; For still her cheeks possess the same, A dangerous rhyme, master, against the reason of Arm. Is there not a ballad, boy, of the King and the Beggar? Moth. The world was very guilty of such a ballad some three ages since, but, I think, now 't is not to be found; or, if it were, it would neither serve for the writing, nor the tune. Arm. I will have that subject newly writ o'er, that may example my digression by some mighty precedent Boy, I do love that country girl, that I took in the park with the rational hind Costard: she deserves well. Moth. [Aside.] To be whipped; and yet a better love than my master. Arm. Sing, boy: my spirit grows heavy in love. Moth. And that's great marvel, loving a light wench. Arm. I say, sing. Moth. Forbear, till this company be past. For Arm. I will hereupon confess I am in love; and, as [Enter DULL, COSTARD, and JAQuenetta. it is base for a soldier to love, so am I in love with a Dull. Sir, the duke's pleasure is, that you keep Cosbase wench. If drawing my sword against the humour tard safe: and you must let him take no delight, nor of affection would deliver me from the reprobate no penance; but a' must fast three days a week. thought of it, I would take desire prisoner, and ransom this damsel, I must keep her at the park; she is him to any French courtier for a new devised courtesy. allowed for the day-woman. Fare you well. I think scorn to sigh: methinks, I should out-swear Cupid. Comfort me, boy. What great men have been in love? Moth. Hercules, master. Arm. Most sweet Hercules!-More authority, dear boy, name more; and, sweet my child, let them be men of good repute and carriage. Moth. Samson, master: he was a man of good carriage, great carriage; for he carried the town-gates on his back, like a porter, and he was in love. Arm. O well-knit Samson! strong-jointed Samson! I do excel thee in my rapier, as much as thou didst me in carrying gates. I am in love too. Who was Samson's love, my dear Moth? Moth. A woman, master. Arm. Of what complexion? Moth. Of all the four, or the three, or the two, or one of the four. Arm. Tell me precisely of what complexion. Arm. Is that one of the four complexions? Moth. As I have read, sir, and the best of them too. Arm. I do betray myself with blushing.-Maid. Arm. I will visit thee at the lodge. Jaq. That 's hereby. Arm. I know where it is situate. Arm. I will tell thee wonders. Jaq. With that face? [Exeunt DULL and JAQUENETTA. Arm. Villain, thou shalt fast for thy offences, ere thou be pardoned. Cost. Well, sir, I hope, when I do it, I shall do it on a full stomach. Arm. Thou shalt be heavily punished. Cost. I am more bound to you than your fellows, for they are but lightly rewarded. Arm. Take away this villain: shut him up. Coins; so called from the crosses on them. Bankes' horse, Marocco, exhibited in London about the close of the sixteenth centary and repeatedly alluded to in the writings of the time. He is said to have ascended St. Paul's steeple. Bankes took his horse to the continent, and both are said to have been burnt, at Rome, for witchcraft. 'pathetical in f. e. Possess. It is printed in Voi L, of Percy's Reliques. Dey, or dairy. Cost. Let me not be pent up, sir: I will fast, being is a great argument of falsehood) if I love; and how loose. 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 see Moth. What shall some see? can that be true love, which is falsely attempted? Love is a familiar; love is a devil: there is no evil angel but love. Yet was Samson so tempted, and he had an excellent strength: yet was Solomon so seduced, and he had a very good wit. Cupid's butt-shaft is too hard for Hercules' club, and therefore too much odds for a Cost. Nay nothing, master Moth, but what they look Spaniard's rapier. The first and second cause will not upon. It is not for prisoners to be too silent in their serve my turn; the passado he respects not, the duello words; and therefore I will say nothing: I thank God he regards not: his disgrace is to be called boy, but I have as little patience as another man, and therefore his glory is, to subdue men. Adieu, valour! rust, rapier! I can be quiet. [Exeunt MOTH and COSTARD. be still, drum! for your armiger' is in love; yea, he Arm. I do affect the very ground, which is base, loveth. Assist me some extemporal god of rhyme, for, where her shoe, which is baser, guided by her foot, I am sure, I shall turn sonnet-maker Devise wit, write which is basest, doth tread. I shall be forsworn, (which | pen, for I am for whole volumes in folio. [Exit. ACT II. SCENE I-Another part of the Park. A Pavilion Of Jaques Falconbridge, solemnized and Tents at a distance. Enter the PRINCESS of France, ROSALINE, MARIA, Consider whom the king your father sends, Of all perfections that a man may owe, Prin. Good lord Boyet, my beauty, though but mean, [Exit. Boyet. Proud of employment, willingly I go. 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. Know you the man? Mar. I know him, madam: at a marriage feast, Between lord Perigort and the beauteous heir I manager in f. e. sonneteer in fe. The folio has: sonnet. In Normandy, saw I this Longaville. Kath. The young Dumaine, a well-accomplished youth, Of all that virtue love for virtue lov'd: Ros. Another of these students at that time Prin. God bless my ladies! are they all in love, 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, Before I came. Marry, thus much I have learnt, He rather means to lodge you in the field, Like one that comes here to besiege his court, dearest in f.e Than seek a dispensation for his oath, 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 wide' 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. Pria. 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, But pardon me, I am too sudden-bold: To ask the question? Biron. How needless was it, then, You must not be so quick. Ros. 'T is 'long of you, that spur me with such questions. Biron. Your wit's too hot, it speeds too fast, 't will 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 befal your mask! Ros. Fair fall the face it covers! Biron. And send you many lovers! 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) A hundred thousand more; in surety of the which, One part of Aquitain is bound to us, On An hundred thousand crowns; and not demands, Which we much rather had depart3 withal, 1 Some mod, eds. read: wild. Than Aquitain, so gelded as it is. Dear princess, were not his requests so far Prin. You do the king my father too much wrong. King. It shall suffice me: at which interview, Mean time, receive such welcome at my hand, You may not come, fair princess, within my gates; 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 mine own heart. Ros. Pray you, do my commendations; I would be glad to see it. Biron. I would, you heard it groan. Ros. Is the fool sick? Biron. Sick at the heart. Ros. Alack! let it blood. Biron. Would that do it good? Ros. My physic says, ay. [Stands back. Biron. Will you prick 't with your eye? Long. I beseech you a word. white? [Exit What is she in the [Coming forward.' Boyet. A woman sometimes, an you saw her in the Long. Pray you, sir, whose daughter? Boyet. Her mother's, I have heard. 2 Not in f. e. 3 Part and depart were used indifferently. So the quarto; the folio: in Le Non point: Fr. Retiring in f. e. Not in f. e. • fair in |