BOYET, Lords attending on the Prin- DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO, a fantastical SIR NATHANIEL, a Curate. DULL, a Constable. Princess of France. ROSALINE, Ladies, attending on the KATHARINE, JAQUENETTA, a country Wench. Officers and others, Attendants on the King and Princess. Scene,-Navarre. ACT I. SCENE I. King. Let fame, that all hunt after in their Live register'd upon our brazen tombs, As, not to see a woman in that term; Long. You swore to that, Biron, and to the And the huge army of the world's desires, If you are arm'd to do, as sworn to do, Biron. I can but say their protestation over, should not know. [common sense? Biron.Things hid and barr'd, you mean,from King.Ay,that is study's god-like recompense. Biron. Come on then, I will swear to study know the thing I am forbid to know: [so, thus-To study where I well may dine, When I to feast expressly am forbid; Or, study where to meet some mistress fine, As When mistresses from common sense are hid: King. These be the stops that hinder study Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look: | Light,seeking light, doth light of light beguile: So, ere you find where light in darkness lies, Your light grows dark by losing of your eyes. Study me how to please the eye indeed, By fixing it upon a fairer eye; Who dazzling so, that eye shall be his heed, And give him light that was it blinded by. Study is like the heaven's glorious sun, [looks; That will not be deep search'd with saucy Small have continual plodders ever won, are. Save base authority from others' books. These earthly godfathers of heaven's lights, That give a name to every fixed star, Have no more profit of their shining nights, Than those that walk, and wot not what they [fame; Too much to know, is, to know nought but And every godfather can give a name. [reading! King. How well he's read, to reason against Dum. Proceeded well, to stop all good proceeding! [grow the weeding. Long. He weeds the corn, and still lets Biron. The spring is near, when green geese Dum. How follows that? [are a breeding. Biron. Fit in his place and time. Dum. In reason nothing. Biron. Something then in rhyme. Long. Biron is like an envious sneaping + frost, [spring. That bites the first-born infants of the Biron. Well, say I am; why should proud summer boast, Before the birds have any cause to sing? But like of each thing, that in season grows. Biron. [Reads.] Item, That no woman shall come within a mile of my court.— And 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? Long. Marry, that did I. Biron. Sweet lord, and why? [penalty. Long. To fright them hence with that dread Biron. A dangerous law against gentility. [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 cómplete majesty,About surrender-up of Aquitain To her decrepit, sick, and bed-rid father: Therefore this article is made in vain, Or vainly comes the admired princess hither. 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, 'Tis won, as towns with fire; so won, so lost. King. We must, of force, dispense with this She must lies here on mere necessity. [decree; Biron. Necessity will make us all forsworn Three thousand times within this three years' For every man with his affects is born; [space: Not by might master'd, but by special grace: If I break faith, this word shall speak for me, I am forsworn on mere necessity.So to the laws at large I write my name: [Subscribes. And he, that breaks them in the least degree, Stands in attainder of eternal shame: Suggestions are to others, as to me; But, I believe, although I seem so loth, I am the last that will last keep his oath. But is there no quick ¶ recreation granted? King. Ay, that there is: our court, you know, is haunted With a refined traveller of Spain; A man in all the world's new fashion planted, That bath a mint of phrases in his brain: One, whom the music of his own vain tongue Doth ravish, like enchanting harmony; A man of complements, whom right and wrong Have chose as umpire of their mutiny : This child of fancy, that Armado hight **, For interim to our studies, shall relate, In high-born words, the worth of many a knight From tawny Spain,lost in the world's debate. How you delight, my lords, I know not, I; But, I protest, I love to hear him lie, And I will use him for my minstrelsy. Biron. Armado is a most illustrious wight, A man of fire-new words, fashion's own knight. Long. Costard, the swain, and he, shall be our sport; And, so to study, three years is but short. Dull. Signior Arme-Arme-commends you. There's villany abroad; this letter will tell you more. Games, sports. Reside. Temptations. tti. e., third-borough, a peace-officer. 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 having: God grant us patience! 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 climb in the merriness. Cost. The matter is to me, sir, as concerning Jaquenetta. The manner of it is, I was taken with the manner*. Biron. In what manner? King. that unletter'd small-knowing King. that shallow vassal, King. which, as I remember, hight Cost. O me! King. sorted and consorted, contrary to thy established proclaimed edict and continent canon, with-with,-0 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 everesteemed duty pricks me on) have sent to thee, to receive the meed of punishment, by thy sweet grace's officer, Antony Dull; a man of good repute, carriage, bearing, and Dull. Me, an't shall please you; I am Antony Dull. Cost. In inanner 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 follow-estimation. ing. 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; King.Will you hear this letter with attention? 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. Cost. It may be so: but if he say it is so, he is, in telling true, but so, so. King. Peace. King. For Jaquenetta, (so is the weaker vessel called, which I apprehended with the aforesaid swain,) I keep her as a vessel of thy law's fury; and shall, at the least of thy sweet notice, bring her to trial. Thine, in all compliments of devoted and heart-burning heat of duty, DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO. 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 imprison Cost. -be to me, and every man that dares ment, to be taken with a wench. not 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 1 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. Cost. I was taken with none, sir, I was taken with a damosel. . King. Well, it was proclaimed damosel. Cost. This was no damosel 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. King.And Don Armadoshall be your keeper. Cost, I suffer for the truth, sir: for true it is, I was taken with Jaquenetta, and Jaquenetta * In the fact. is a true girl; and therefore, Welcome the to the word three, and study three years in sour cup of prosperity! Affliction may one two words, the dancing horse will tell you. day smile again, and till then, Sit thee down, [Exeunt. sorrow! SCENE II. Another part of the same. Armado's House, Enter ARMADO and MOTн. Arm. Boy, what sign is it, when a man of great spirit grows melancholy? Arm. A most fine figure! Moth. To prove you a cipher. [Aside. Arm. I will hereupon confess, I am in love: and, as it is base for a soldier to love, so am I in love with a base wench. If drawing my sword against the humour of affection would deliver me from the reprobate thought of it, I would take desire prisoner, and ransom him to any French courtier for a Moth. A great sign, sir, that he will look sad. Arm. Why, sadness is one and the self-new devised courtesy. I think scorn to sigh; same thing, dear imp. 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 inay name tough. Arm. Pretty, and apt. Moth. How mean you, sir? I pretty, and my saying apt? or I apt, and my saying pretty?, Arm. Thou pretty, because little. Moth. Little pretty, because little: Wherefore apt? Arm. And therefore apt, because quick. Moth. Speak you this in my praise, master? Arm. In thy condign praise. Moth. I will praise an eel with the same praise. Arm. What? that an eel is ingenious? Arm. I do say, thou art quick in answers: Thon heatest my blood. Moth. I am answered, sir. Moth. He speaks the mere contrary, crosses t love not him. [Aside. Arm. I have promised to study three years with the duke. Moth. You may do it in an hour, sir. Moth. How many is one thrice told? Arm. I am ill at reckoning, it fitteth the spirit of a tapster. 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, yon know how much the gross sum of deuce-ace amounts to. Arm. It doth amount to one more than two. Moth. Which the base vulgar do call, three. Arm. True. 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 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. Sampson, 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 Sampson! strong jointed Sampson! I do excel thee in my rapier, as much as thou didst me in carrying gates. I am in love too,-Who was Sampson'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. Green, indeed, is the colour of lovers: but to have a love of that colour, methinks, Sampson had small reason for it. He, surely, affected her for her wit. Moth. It was so, sir; for she had a green wit. Arm. My love is most immaculate white and red. Moth. Most maculate thoughts, master, are masked under such colours. 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 pathetical! Moth. If she be made of white and red, Her faults will ne'er be known; By this you shall not know; 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 'tis not to be found; or, if it were, it • Young man, + The name of a coin once, current. Of which she is naturally possesse would neither serve for the writing, nor the tune. Arm. I will have the subject newly writ o'er, that I 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. To be whipped; and yet a better love than my master. [Aside. 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. Enter DULL, COSTARD, and JAQUENETTA. Dull. Sir, the duke's pleasure is, that you keep Costard safe: and you must let him take no delight, nor no penance; but a' must fast three days a-week: For this damsel, I must keep her at the park; she is allowed for the day-womant. Fare you well. Arm. I do betray myself with blushing. Maid. Juq. Man. Arm. I will visit thee at the lodge. Arm. I know where it is situate. Jaq. Lord, how wise you are! Arm. I will tell thee wonders. Jaq. With that face? Arm. I love thee. Jaq. So I heard you say. Arm. And so farewell. [Exeunt DULL and JAQUENETTA. Arm. Villain, thou shalt fast for thy of fences, ere thou be pardoned. Cost. Well, sir, I hope, when I do it, I shall do it on a full stomach. SCENE I. 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. Moth. Come, you transgressing slave; away. Cost. Let me not be pent up, sir; I will fast, being 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 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. [Exeunt MOTH and COSTARD. Arm. I do affect the very ground, which is base, where her shoe, which is baser, guided by her foot, which is basest, doth tread. I shall be forsworn, (which is a great argument of Falsehood,) if I love: And how 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 Sampson was 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 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. Another part of the same. A Pavilion and Tents at a distance. Enter the Princess of France, ROSALINE MARIA, KATHARINE, BOYET, Lords, and other Attendants. Boyet. Now, madam, summon up your dearest spirits: Consider who the king your father sends; Of all perfections that a man may owe, And prodigally gave them all to you. Prin. Good lord Boyet, my beauty, though but mean, Needs not the painted flourish of your praise Beauty is bought by judgment of the eye, Not utter'd by base sale of chapmen's tongues: I am less proud to hear you tell my worth, Than you much willing to be counted wise In spending your wit in the praise of mine. But now to task the tasker,-Good Boyet, You are not ignorant, all-telling fame Doth noise abroad, Navarre hath made a vow, Till painful study shall out wear three years, No woman may approach his silent court: Therefore to us seemeth it a needful course, Before we enter his forbidden gates, To know his pleasure; and in that behalf, Bold of your worthiness, we single you | As our best-moving fair solicitor: |