That his own hand may strike his honour down, If you are arm'd to do, as sworn to do, The mind shall banquet, though the body pine: Biron. I can but say their protestation over, 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, so study with your Grace, And stay here in your court for three years' space. Long. You swore to that, Biron, and to the rest. Biron. By yea and nay, Sir, then I swore in What is the end of study? let me know. 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, 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: To seek the light of truth; while truth the Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look: Light, secking light, doth light of light beguile : So, ere you find where light in darkness lies, 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, That will not be deep search'd with saucy Small have continual plodders ever won, Than those that walk, and wot not what 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 pro ceeding! Long. He weeds the corn, and still lets grow the weeding. Biron. The spring is near, when green geese Biron. Well, say I am; why should proud summer boast, Before the birds have any cause to sing? Why should I joy in an abortive birth? At Christmas I no more desire a rose, Than wish a snow in May's new-fangled shows; But like of each thing, that in season grows. So you, to study now it is too late, Climb o'er the house to unlock the little gate. adieu ! Biron. No, my good Lord; go home, Biron; 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' Give me the paper, let me read the same; Biron. [Reads.] Item, That no woman shall come within a mile of my court. And hath this been proclaim'd? 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 talk with a woman within the term of three years, he shall endure such publick 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 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 forsworn Three thousand times within this three years' space: For every man with his affects is born; 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 am so loth, "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, |