To know his pleasure ; and in that behalf,
Bold of your worthiness, we single you
As our best-moving fair solicitor.
Tell him, the daughter of the King of France,
On serious business, craving quick despatch,
Importunes personal conference with his Grace.
Haste, signify so much ; while we attend,
Like humble-visag’d suitors, his high will.

Boy. Proud of employınent, willingly I go. [Erit.

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. 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 Of Jacques Faulconbridge, solemnized, In Normandy saw I this Longaville. A man of sovereign parts he is esteemid, In arts well fitted, glorious in arms; Nothing becomes him ill, that he would well. The only soil of his fair virtue's gloss -If virtue's gloss will stain with any soilIs a sharp wit match'd with too blunt a will; Whose edge hath power to cut, whose will still wills It should none spare that come within his power.

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-accomplish’d

youth,
Of all that virtue love for virtue lov'd;
Most power to do most harm, least knowing ill;
For he hath wit to make an ill-shape good,
And shape to win grace though he had no wit.
I saw him at the Duke Alanson's once;
And much too little of that good I saw
Is my report, to his great worthiness.

Ros. Another of these students at that time
Was there with him. If I have heard a truth,
Berowne they call him; but a merrier man,
Within the limit of becoming mirth,
I never spent an hoür's talk withal.
His eye begets occasion for his wit;
For every object that the one doth catch,
The other turns to a mirtb-moving jest ;
Which his fair tongue-conceit's expositor-
Delivers in such apt and gracious words,
That aged ears play truant at his tales,
And younger hearings are quite ravished;
So sweet and voluble is his discourse.

Prin. God bless my ladies ! are they all in love;
That every one her own hath garnished
With such bedecking ornaments of praise ?
Mar. Here comes Boyet.

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-Than seek a dispensation for his oath, To let you enter his unpeopled house. Here comes Navarre.

[The Ladies mask. Enter King, LONGAVILLE, DUMAIN, BEROWNE,

and Attendants. King. Fair Princess, welcome to the court of NaPrin. “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 is too base to be mine.

King. You shall be welcome, madam, to my court.

varre.

me,

Prin. I will be welcome then; conduct me thither. King. Hear 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 hath 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, And suddenly resolve me in my suit. [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.

Ber. Did not l dance with you in Brabant once ?
Ros. Did I not dance with you in Brabant once ?
Ber. I know you did.
Ros.

How needless was it then
To ask the question !
Ber.

You must not be so quick. Ros. 'Tis ’long of you that spur me with such ques

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,
One part of Aquitain is bound to us,
Although not valued to the money's worth.
If then the King your father will restore
But that one half which is unsatistied,
We will give up our right in Aquitain,
And hold fair friendship with his Majesty.
But that, it seems, he little purposeth,
For here he doth demand to have repaid
A hundred thousand crowns; and not demands,
On payment of a hundred thousand crowns,
To have his title live in Aquitain;
Which we much rather had depart withal,
And have the money by our father lent,
Than Aquitain so gelded as it is.
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.

King. I do protest, I never heard of it;
And, if you prove it, I'll repay it back,
Or yield up Aquitain.
Prin.

We arrest your word.—
Boyet, you can produce acquittances,
For such a sum, from special officers
Of Charles his father.
King.

Satisfy me
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,

All liberal reason I will yield unto.
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 we shall visit you again.
Prin. Sweet health and fair desires consort your

Grace!
King. Thy own wish wish I thee in every place!

[Exeunt King and his Train. Ber. Lady, I will commend you to my own heart.

Ros. 'Pray you, do my commendations; I would be glad to see it.

Ber. I would, you heard it groan.
Ros, Is the fooi sick ?
Ber. Sick at the heart.
Ros. Alack! let it blood.
Ber. Would that do it good ?
Ros. My Physic says, I.
Ber. Will you prick’t with your eye?
Ros. No point, with my knife.
Ber. Now, God save thy life!
Ros. And yours from long living !
Ber. I cannot stay thanksgiving. [Retiring.
Dum. Sir, 1 pray you, a word. What lady is that

same? Boyet. The heir of Alanson, Katherine her name. Dum. A gallant lady! Monsieur, fare you well.

[Eait. Long. I beseech you a word. What is she in the

white? Boyet. A woman sometimes, if you saw her in the

light. Long. Perchance, light in the light. I desire her