A man of sovereign parts he is esteem'd ; 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; Ros. Another of these students at that time Prin. God bless my ladies! are they all in love; 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, He rather means to lodge you in the field, To let you enter his unpeopled house. [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 yours; and welcome to the wild fields too base to be mine. King. You shall be welcome, madam, to my court. Prin. Were my lord so, his ignorance were wise, But pardon me, I am too sudden-bold; Vouchsafe to read the purpose of my coming, [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. Biron. Did not I dance with you in Brabant once? Ros. Did not I dance with you in Brabant once? Biron. I know, you did. 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! [6] The princess shows an inconvenience very frequently attending rash oaths, which, whether kept or broken, produce guilt. JOHNSON. Biron. And send you many lovers! 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," Dear princess, were not his requests so far 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 a sight of them. [7] To depart and to part were anciently synonymous. STEEV. King. It shall suffice me at which interview, Mean time, receive such welcome at my hand, You may not come, fair princess, in my gates; Your own good thoughts excuse me, and farewell: Prin.Sweet health and fair desires consort your grace! [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, 1.8 Biron. Will you prick't with your eye? Ros. No poyt, with my knife," Biron. Now, God save thy life! Ros. And yours from long living! [Retiring. Dum. Sir, I pray you,a word: What lady is that same? Boyet. The heir of Alençon, Rosaline her name. Dum. A gallant lady! Monsieur, fare you well. [Exit. Long. I beseech you, a word; What is she in the white? Boyet. A woman sometimes,an you saw her in the light. Long. Perchance, light in the light: I desire her name. Boyet. She hath but one for herself; to desire that, were a shame. Long. Pray you, sir, whose daughter? [8] She means to say, ay. The old spelling of the affirmative particle has been retained here for the sake of the thyme. MAL. [9] No point was a negation borrowed from the French. See the note on the same words, Act V. sc. ii. MAL. [1] That is, may'st thou have sense and seriousness more proportionate to thy beard, the length of which suits ill with such idle catches of wit. JOH. 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. You sheep, and I pasture; Shall that finish the jest? Boyet. So you grant pasture for me. Mar. Not so, gentle beast: My lips are no common, though several Mar. To my fortunes and me. [Offering to kiss her. they be. 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. Boyet. If my observation, (which very seldom lies), By the heart's still rhetoric, disclosed with eyes, Deceive me not now, Navarre is infected. Prin. With what? Boyet. With that which we lovers entitle, affected. Prin. Your reason? Boyet. Why, all his behaviours did make their retire To the court of his eye, peeping thorough desire : His heart, like an agate, with your print impressed, Proud with his form, in his eye pride expressed: His tongue, all impatient to speak and not see, [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. |