He rather means to lodge you in the field, To let you enter his unpeopled house. King. You shall be welcome, madam, to my court. Prin. Were my lord so, his ignorance were wise, 6 But pardon me, I am too sudden-bold; Vouchsafe to read the purpose of my coming, [Gives a paper. Ros How needless was it then To ask the question! Biron. You must not be so quick. Ros. 'Tis 'long of you that spur me with such questions. Biron. Your wit's too hot, it speeds too fast, 'twill 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 befall your mask! Ros. Fair fall the face it covers! [6] The princess shews an inconvenience very frequently attending rash oaths, which, whether kept or broken, produce guilt. JOHNSON. Biron. And send you many lovers! Ros. Amen, so you be none. Biron. Nay, then will I begone. King. Madam, your father here doth intimate But say, that he, or we, (as neither have,) Although not valued to the money's worth. Which we much rather had depart withal,7 Dear princess, were not his requests so far From reason's yielding, your fair self should make 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. Prin. We arrest your word :— Boyet, you can produce acquittances, Of Charles his father. King. Satisfy me so. Boyet. So please your grace, the packet is not come, Where that and other specialties are bound; To-morrow you shall have sight of them. [7] To depart and to part were anciently synonymous. STEEVENS. King. It shall suffice me at which interview, 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 my 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 heart. Ros. Alack, let it blood. Biron. Would that do it good? Ros. My physic says, I. Biron. Will you prick't with your eye? Ros. No poynt, with my knife, Biron. Now, God save thy life! 9 Ros. And yours from long living! [Retiring. Dum. Sir, I pray you, a word: What lady is that same? Long. Pray you, sir, whose daughter? Long. God's blessing on your beard! 1 [8] She means to say, ay. The old spelling of the affirmative particle has been retained here for the sake of the rhyme. MALONE. [9] No point was a negation borrowed from the French. See the note on the same words, Act V. sc. ii. MALONE. [1] That is, may'st thou have sense and seriousness more proportionate to the beard, the length of which suits ill with such idle catches of wit. JOHNSON Boyet. Good sir, be not offended: Boyet. Not unlike, sir; that may be. Boyet. To her will, sir, or so. Biron. You are welcome, sir; adieu! [Exit LONG. Boyet. Farewell to me, sir, and welcome to you. [Exit BIRON.-Ladies unmask. Mar. That last is Biron, the merry mad-cap lord; Not a word with him but a jest. 'Boyet. And every jest but a word. Prin. It was well done of you to take him at his word. Boyet. I was as willing to grapple, as he was to board. Mar. Two hot sheeps, marry! Boyet. And wherefore not ships? No sheep, sweet lamb, unless we feed on your lips. Mar. Not so, gentle beast: [Offering to kiss her. My lips are no common, though several they be Mar. To my fortunes and me. Prin. Good wits will be jangling: but, gentles, agree: The civil war of wits were much better used On Navarre and his book-men; for here 'tis abused. Prin. With what? Boyet. With that which we lovers entitle, affected. Boyet. Why, all his behaviours did make their retire [2] A play on the word several, which besides its ordinary signification of separate, distinct, likewise signifies in uninclosed lands, a certain portion of ground appropriated to either corn or meadow, adjoining the common field. MALONE Did stumble with haste in his eye-sight to be;" Methought, all his senses were lock'd in his eye, Who, tend'ring their own worth, from where they were glass'd, Did point you to buy them, along as you pass'd. An you give him for my sake but one loving kiss. I only have made a mouth of his eye, By adding a tongue which I know will not lie. Ros. Thou art an old love-monger, and speak'st skilfully. Mar. He is Cupid's grandfather, and learns news of him. Ros. Then was Venus like her mother; for her father is but grim. Boyet. Do you hear, my mad wenches? Mar. No. Boyet. What then, do you see? [Exeunt. ACT III. SCENE I.—Another part of the same. Enter ARMADO and MOTH. Armado. WARBLE, child; make passionate my sense of hearing. Moth. Concolinel— [Singing. [3] Although the expression in the text is extremely odd, I take the sense of it to be that his tongue envied the quickness of his eyes, and strove to be as rapid in its utterance, as they in their perceptions.-Edin. Mag. STEEVENS [4] Here is apparently a song lost. JOHNSON. I have observed in the old comedies, that the songs are frequently omitted. On this occasion the stage direction is generally-Here they sing-or, Cantant. Probably the performer was left to choose his own ditty, and therefore it could not with propriety be exhibited as a part of a new performance. STEEVENS. |