LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST. LITERARY AND HISTORICAL NOTICE. SHAKSPEARE'S first draught of this trifling play, (which all the editors have concurred in censuring, and some have rejected as unworthy of its author) was written in or before 1594, and some additions were probably made to it between that year and 1597, when it was exhibited before Queen Elizabeth. Like the Taming of the Shrew, it was undoubtedly one of his earliest essays to dramatic writing; as the frequent rhymes, the imperfect versification, the artless and desultory dialogue, and the irregularity of the composition, sufficiently prove. The fable does not seem to be a work entirely of invention; and perhaps owes its birth to some novel which has yet to be discovered. The character of Armado bears some resemblance to Don Quixotte, but the play is older than the work of Cervantes; of Holofernes, another singular character, there are some traces in a masque of Sir Philip Sidney, presented before Queen Elizabeth at Wansted. Dr. Johnson says, that in this play there are many passages mean, childish, and vulgar; and some which ought not to have been exhibited, as we are told they were, to a maiden Queen. But there are scattered through the whole many sparks of genius; nor is there any play that has more evident marks of the hand of Shakspeare." SCENEI.-Navarre.—A Park, with a Palace That his own hand may strike his honour down, in it. Enter the KING, BIRON, LONGAVILLE, and DUMAIN. King. Let fame, that all hunt after in their Live register'd upon our brazen tombs, The endeavour of this present breath may buy And make us heirs of all eternity. mie, My fellow-scholars, and to keep those statutes That violates the smallest branch herein: wits. Dum. My loving lord, Dumain is mortified; Biron. I can but say their protestation over, (When I was wont to think no harm all night, King. Your oath is pass'd to pass away from these. Biron. Let me say no, my liege, an if you please; I only swore, to study with your grace, rest Biron. By yea and nay, Sir, then I swore in jest. What is the end of study? let me know. King. Why, that to know, which else we should not know. Biron. Things hid and barr'd, you mean, from common sense? King. Ay, that is study's god-like recompense. Biron. Come on then, I will swear to study so To know the thing I am forbid to know: As thus-To study where I well may dine, When I to feast expressly aim forbid ; Or, study where to meet some mistress fine, When mistresses from common sense are hid: Or, having sworn too bard-a-keeping oath, Study to break it, and not break my troth. If study's gain be thus, and this be so, Study knows that, which yet it doth not know : Swear me to this, and I will ne'er say, no. King. These be the stops that hinder study quite, } And train our intellects to vain delight. Biron. Why, all delights are vain; but that most vain, Which, with pain purchas'd, doth inherit pain: As, painfully to pore upon a book, To seek the light of truth; while truth the while Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look : Light, seeking light, doth light of light be. guile : So, ere you find where light in darkness lies, By fixing it upon a fairer eye; That will not be deep-search'd with saucy looks; Small have continual plodders ever won, 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. That bites the first-boru infauts of the spring. Biron. Well, say I am; why should proud summer boast, Before the birds have any cause to sing? Dishonestly, treacherously. Nipping. shows; " But like of each thing, that in season grows. Climb o'er the house to unlock the little gate. King. Well, sit you out: go home, Biron; adien ! Biron. No, my good lord; I have sworn to stay with you : And, though I have for barbarism spoke more, Than for that angel knowledge you can say, Yet confident I'll keep what I have swore, And bide the penance of each three years' day. Give me the paper, let me read the same; And to the strict'st decrees I'll write my name. 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 ↑ Long. To fright them hence with that dread penalty. Biron. A dangerous law against gentility. [Reads.] Item, If any man be seen to telk with a woman within the term of three years, he shall endure such public shame as the resi 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 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 decree; She must lie here on mere necessity. Biron. Necessity will make us all forsword Three thousand times within this three years' space: For every man with his affects is born; Not by might master'd, but by special If I break faith, this word shall speak for me, [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 loath, I am the last that will last keep his oath. But is there no quick ý 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, In high-born words, the worth of many a knight | curious-knotted garden: There did I see From tawny Spain, lost in the world's de- that low spirited swain, that base minnow of bate. How you delight, my lords, I know not, I; Biron. Armado is a most illustrious wight, Biron. This is he. Dull. Signior Arme-Arme-commends you. There's villany abroad; this letter will tell you more. thy mirth. Cost. 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 eversteemed duty pricks me on) have sent to thee, to receive the meed of punishment, by thy Cost. Sir, the contempts thereof are as touch-sweet grace's officer, Antony Dull; a man of ing me. King, A letter from the magnificent Armado. Biron. How low soever the matter, I hope in God for bigh words. Long. A high hope for a low having: God grant us patience! Biron. To heart or forbear hearing? Long. To hear meekly, Sir, and to laugh derately; or to forbear both. good repute, carriage, bearing, and estimation. Dull. Me, an't shall please you; I am Antony Dull. King. For Jaquenetta, (so is the weaker vessel called, which I apprehend with the aforesaid swain.) I keep her as a vessel of thy law's fury and shall at the least of thy mo-sweet notice bring her to trial. Thine, in all compliments of devoted and heart-burning heat of duty. Biron. Well, Sir, be it as the style shall give us cause to climb to the merriness. Cost. The matter is to me, Sir, as concerning Ja quenetta. The manner of it is, I was taken with the manner.+ Biron. In what manner? 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, sirrab, what say you to this? Cost. In manner and form following, Sir; all Cost. Sir, I confess the wench. Cost. I do confess much of the bearing it, Biron. For the following, Sir: Cost. As it shall follow in my correction; And King. Will you hear this letter with attention ? King. [Reads.] Great deputy, the welkin's ricegerent, 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 be say it is so, he is, in telling true, but so, so. King. No words. [Exeunt KING, LONCAVILLE, and DUMAIN. Biron. I'll lay my head to any good man's hat, [scorn. These oaths and laws will prove an idle Sirrah, come on. Cost. I suffer for the truth, Sir: for true it is, I was taken with Jaquenetta, and Jaqueuetta is a true girl; and therefore, Welcome the sour cup of prosperity! Affliction may one day smile again, and till then, Sit thee down, sorrow! [Exeunt. 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 ycloped thy park. Then SCENE II.-Another part of the same.—ARfor the place where; where, I mean, I did encounter that obscene and most preposterous erent, 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 • I. e. Third-Borough, a peace-officer. + In the fact. MADO'S House. Enter ARMADO and MOTH. Arm. Boy what sign is it, when a man of great spirit grows melancholy? Moth. A great sign, Sir, that he will look sad. Arm. Why, sadness is one and the seit-same thing, dear imp. Moth. No, no; O lord, Sir, no. Arm. How can'st 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. 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. I will praise an eel with the same praise. Arm. What? that an eel is ingenious? Moth, That an eel is quick. 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, Samson had small reason for it. He, sarely, 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, For still her cheeks possess the same, A dangerous rhyme, master, against the reason Arm. I do say, thou art quick in answers: of white and red, Thou heatest my blood. 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. 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 would neither serve for the writing, nor the tune. Arm. I will have the subject newly writ e'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. Arm. Sing, boy, my spirit grows heavy in Moth. You are a gentleman, and a gamester, 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? Moth. Hercules, master. Arm. Most sweet Hercules !-More authori ty, dear boy, name more; and, sweet my child, let them be men of good repute and carriage. Moth. Samson, master: he was a mau 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? 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' mest fast three days a week: for this damsel, I met keep her at the park; she is allowed for the day-woman. Fare you well. Arm. I do betray myself with blushing.— Maid. Jaq. Man. Arm. I will visit thee at the lodge. Arm. I know where it is situate. Jaq. So I heard you say. Jaq. Fair weather after you ! [Exeunt DULL and JAQUENETTA, 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; awa 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 Samson was so tempted and he had an excellent strength: yet was Solomon so seduced : and he had a very good wit. Cupid's buttshaft 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, be 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 1.-Another part of the same.-A Pavilion and Tents at a distance. Enter the PRINCESS OF FRANCE, ROSALINE, MARIA, KATHARINE, BOYEY, Lords and other Attendants. Boyet. Now, madam, summon up your dear. est spirits: Consider who the king your father sends; Of all perfections that a man may owe, Prin. Good lord Boyet, my beauty, though but mean, Needs not the painted flourish of your praise; Who are the votaries, my loving lords, Mar. I know him, madam; at a marriage feast, Between lord Perigort and the beauteous heir 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 humouts 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: For he hath wit to make an ill shape good, Ros. Another of these students at that time, That every one her own hath garnished 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, BIRON, and Attendants. King. Fair princess, welcome to the court of Navarre. Prin. Fair, I give you back again; and, welcome I have not yet: the roof of this court is too high to be your's; and welcome to the wild fields too base to be mine. King. You shall be welcome, madam, to my |