vised courtesy. I think scorn to sigh: methinks, I Moth. Forbear till this company be past. should out-swear Cupid. Comfort me, boy. What

Enter Dull, CoSTARD, and JAQUENETTA. great men have been in love? Moth. Hercules, master.

Dull. Sir, the duke's pleasure is, that you keep Arm. Most sweet Hercules !—More authority, Costard safe ; and you must let him take no delight, dear boy, name more; and, sweet my child, let them nor no penance: but a' must fast three days a week. be men of good repute and carriage.

For this damsel, I must keep her at the park; she Moth. Samson, master : he was a man of good is allowed for the day-woman. Fare you well. carriage, great carriage; for he carried the town-gates Arm. I do betray myself with blushing.-Maid. on his back, like a porter, and he was in love.

Jaq. Man. Arm. O well-knit Samson! strong-jointed Sam- Arm. I will visit thee at the lodge. son! I do excel thee in my rapier, as much as thou Jaq. That's hereby. didst me in carrying gates. I am in love too. Who Arm. I know where it is situate. was Samson's love, my dear Moth?

Jaq. Lord, how wise you are! Moth. A woman, master.

Arm. I will tell thee wonders. Arm. Of what complexion ?

Jaq. With that face? Moth. Of all the four, or the three, or the two, or Arm. I love thee. one of the four.

Jaq. So I heard you say. Arm. Tell me precisely of what complexion. Arm. And so farewell. Moth. Of the sea-water green, sir.

Jaq. Fair weather after you! Arm. Is that one of the four complexions ?

Dull. Come, Jaquenetta, away. Moth. As I have read, sir; and the best of them

[Ereunt Dull and JAQUENETTA. too..

Arm. Villain, thou shalt fast for thy offences, ere Arm. Green, indeed, is the colour of lovers; but thou be pardoned. to have a love of that colour, methinks, Samson had Cost. Well, sir, I hope, when I do it, I shall do small reason for it. He, surely, affected her for her it on a full stomach. wit.

Arm. Thou shalt be heavily punished. Moth. It was so, sir, for she had a green wit. Cost. I am more bound to you than your fellows,

Arm. My love is most immaculate white and for they are but lightly rewarded. red.

Arm. Take away this villain : shut him up. Moth. Most maculate thoughts, master, are mask- Moth. Come, you transgressing slave: away! ed under such colours.

Cost. Let me not be pent up, sir: I will fast, Arm. Define, define, well-educated infant.

being loose. Moth. My father's wit, and my mother's tongue, Moth. No, sir; that were fast and loose; thou assist me!

shalt to prison. Arm. Sweet invocation of a child; most pretty, Cost. Well, if ever I do see the merry days of and pathetical!

desolation that I have seen, some shall seeMoth. If she be made of white and red,

Moth. What shall some see?
Her faults will ne'er be known;

Cost. Nay nothing, master Moth, but what they
For blushing cheeks by faults are bred, look upon. It is not for prisoners to be too silent
And fears by pale-white shown:

in their words; and therefore I will say nothing: Then, if she fear, or be to blame,

I thank God I have as little patience as another man, By this you shall not know;

and therefore I can be quiet. For still her cheeks possess the same,

[Exeunt Moth and CoSTARD. Which native she doth owe.

Arm. I do affect the very ground, which is base, A dangerous rhyme, master, against the reason of where her shoe, which is baser, guided by her foot, wbite and red.

which is basest, doth tread. I shall be forsworn, Arm. Is there not a ballad, boy, of the King and (which is a great argument of falsehood,) if I love; the Beggar?

and how can that be true love, which is falsely Moth. The world was very guilty of such a ballad attempted ? Love is a familiar; love is a devil: some three ages since, but, I think, now 'tis not to there is no evil angel but love. Yet was Samson so be found; or, if it were, it would neither serve for tempted, and he had an excellent strength: yet was the writing, nor the tune.

Solomon so seduced, and he had a very good wit. Arm. I will have that subject newly writ o'er, Cupid's butt-shaft is too hard for Hercules' club, that I may example my digression by some mighty and therefore too much odds for a Spaniard's rapier. precedent. Boy, I do love that country girl, that I The first and second cause will not serve my turn; took in the park with the rational hind Costard: she the passado he respects not, the duello he regards deserves well.

not: his disgrace is to be called boy, but his glory Moth. [Aside.] To be whipped; and yet a better is, to subdue men. Adieu, valour! rust, rapier! be love than my master.

still, drum! for your manager is in love; yea, he Arm. Sing, boy: my spirit grows heavy in love. loveth. Assist me some extemporal god of rhyme,

Moth. And that's great marvel, loving a light for, I am sure, I shall turn sonnets. Devise wit, wench.

write pen, for I am for whole volumes in folio. Arm. I say, sing.

[Erit.

.

Scene I.- Another part of the Park. A Pavilion A man of sovereign parts he is esteem'd; and Tents at a distance.

Well fitted in arts; glorious in arms : Enter the Princess of France, ROSALINE, MARIA, The only soil of his fair virtue's gloss,

Nothing becomes him ill, that he would well. KATHARINE, Boyer, Lords, and other Attendants.

If virtue's gloss will stain with any soil, Boyet. Now, madam, summon up your dearest is a sharp wit match'd with too blunt a will; spirits.

Whose edge hath power to cut, whose will still wills Consider whom the king your father sends, It should none spare that come within his power. To whom he sends, and what's his embassy : Prin. Some merry mocking lord, belike; is't so ? Yourself, held precious in the world's esteem, Mar. They say so most that most his humours To parley with the sole inheritor

know. Of all perfections that a man may owe,

Prin. Such short-liv'd wits do wither as they Matchless Navarre; the plea of no less weight

grow. Than Aquitain, a dowry for a queen.

Who are the rest ? Be now as prodigal of all dear grace,

Kath. The young Dumaine, a well-accomplish'd As nature was in making graces dear,

youth, When she did starve the general world beside, Of all that virtue love for virtue lov'd: And prodigally gave them all to you.

Most power to do most harm, least knowing ill, Prin. Good lord Boyet, my beauty, though but For he hath wit to make an ill shape good, mean,

And shape to win grace though he had no wit.
Needs not the painted flourish of your praise: I saw him at the duke Alençon's once;
Beauty is bought by judgment of the eye,

And much too little of that good I saw
Not uiter'd by base sale of chapmen's tongues. Is my report to his great worthiness.
I am less proud to hear you tell my worth,

Ros. Another of these students at that time Than you much willing to be counted wise

Was there with him : if I have heard a truth, In spending your wit in the praise of mine.

Biron they call him; but a merrier man, But now to task the tasker.—Good Boyet,

Within the limit of becoming mirth,
You are not ignorant, all-telling fame

I never spent an hour's talk withal.
Doth noise abroad, Navarre hath made a vow, His eye begets occasion for his wit;
Till painful study shall out-wear three years, For every object that the one doth catch,
No woman may approach his silent court:

The other turns to a mirth-moving jest,
Therefore to us seem'th it a needful course,

Which his fair tongue (conceit's expositor) Before we enter his forbidden gates,

Delivers in such apt and gracious words, To know his pleasure; and in that behalf,

That aged ears play truant at bis tales, Bold of your worthiness, we single you

And younger hearings are quite ravished, As our best moving fair solicitor.

So sweet and voluble is his discourse. Tell him, the daughter of the king of France, Prin. God bless my ladies! are they all in love, On serious business, craving quick despatch, That every one her own hath garnished Importunes personal conference with his grace. With such bedecking ornaments of praise ? Haste, signify so much; while we attend,

Lord. Here comes Boyet. Like humble-visag'd suitors, his high will.

Re-enter Boyet. Boyel. Proud of employment, willingly I go.

[Exit. Prin.

Now, what admittance, lord ? Prin. All pride is willing pride, and yours is so.— Boyet. Navarre had notice of your fair approach; Who are the votaries, my loving lords,

And he, and his competitors in oath, That are vow-fellows with this virtuous duke? Were all address'd to meet you, gentle lady, 1 Lord. Longaville is one.

Before I came. Marry, thus much I have learnt, Prin.

Know you the man? He rather means to lodge you in the field, Mar. I know him, madam: at a marriage feast, Like one that comes here to besiege his court, Between lord Perigort and the beauteous heir Than seek a dispensation for his oath, Of Jaques Falconbridge, solemnized

To let you enter his unpeopled house. In Normandy, saw I this Longaville.

Here comes Navarre.

[The Ladies mask.

Enter King, LONGAVILLE, DUMAINE, Biron, and Ros. Not till it leave the rider in the mire.
Attendants.

Biron. What time o' day?
King. Fair princess, welcome to the court of Ros. The hour that fools should ask.
Navarre.

Biron. Now fair befal your mask!
Prin. Fair, I give you back again; and welcome Ros. Fair fall the face it covers !
1 have not yet: the roof of this court is too high to Biron. And send you many lovers!
be yours, and welcome to the wide fields too base Ros. Amen, so you be none.
to be mine.

Biron. Nay, then will I begone. King. You shall be welcome, madam, to my King. Madam, your father here doth intimate court.

The payment of a hundred thousand crowns; · Prin. I will be welcome then. Conduct me Being but the one half of an entire sum, thither.

Disbursed by my father in his wars. King. Hear me, dear lady: I have sworn an oath. But say, that he, or we, (as neither have,) Prin. Our lady help my lord! he'll be forsworn. Receiv'd that sum, yet there remains unpaid King. Not for the world, fair madam, by my will. A hundred thousand more; in surety of the which, Prin. Why, will shall break it; will, and nothing One part of Aquitain is bound to us, else.

Although not valued to the money's worth.
King. Your ladyship is ignorant what it is. If, then, the king your father will restore

Prin. Were my lord so, his ignorance were wise, But that one half which is unsatisfied,
Where now his knowledge must prove ignorance. We will give up our right in Aquitain,
I hear, your grace hath sworn out house-keeping: And hold fair friendship with his majesty.
'Tis deadly sin to keep that oath, my lord,

But that, it seems, he little purposeth,
And sin to break it.

For here he doth demand to have repaid But pardon me, I am too sudden-bold :

An hundred thousand crowns; and not demands, To teach a teacher ill beseemeth me.

On payment of a hundred thousand crowns,
Vouchsafe to read the purpose of my coming, To have his title live in Aquitain;
And suddenly resolve me in my suit.

Which we much rather had depart withal,
(Gives a paper.

And have the money by our father lent, King. Madam, I will, if suddenly I may. Than Aquitain, so gelded as it is.

Prin. You will the sooner that I were away, Dear princess, were not his requests so far
For you'll prove perjur'd, if you make me stay. From reason's yielding, your fair self should make

Biron. Did not I dance with you in Brabant once ? A yielding, 'gainst some reason in my breast,
Ros. Did not I dance with you in Brabant once? And go well satisfied to France again.
Biron. I know you did.

Prin. You do the king my father too much wrong, Ros.

How needless was it, then, And wrong the reputation of your name, To ask the question !

In so unseeming to confess receipt Biron.

You must not be so quick. Or that which hath so faithfully been paid. Ros. 'Tis 'long of you, that spur me with such King. I do protest, I never heard of it;

I questions.

And, if you prove it, I'll repay it back, Biron. Your wit's too hot, it speeds too fast, Or yield up Aquitain. 'twill tire.

Prin.

We arrest your word.

Boyet, you can produce acquittances

Long. I beseech you a word. What is she in For such a sum, from special officers

the white ? Of Charles his father.

Boyet. A woman sometimes, an you saw her in King. Satisfy me so.

the light. Boyet. So please your grace, the packet is not Long. Perchance, light in the light. I desire come,

her name. Where that and other specialties are bound: Boyet. She hath but one for herself; to desire To-morrow you shall have a sight of them.

that, were a shame. King. It shall suffice me: at which interview, Long. Pray you, sir, whose daughter? All liberal reason I will yield unto.

Boyet. Her mother's, I have heard. Mean time, receive such welcome at my hand, Long. God's blessing on your beard ! As honour, without breach of honour, may

Boyet. Good sir, be not offended. Make tender of to thy true worthiness.

She is an heir of Falconbridge.
You may not come, fair princess, within my gates; Long. Nay, my choler is ended.
But here without you shall be so receiv'd,

She is a most sweet lady.
As you shall deem yourself lodgd in my heart, Boyet. Not unlike, sir: that may be.
Though so denied fair harbour in my house.

[Erit LONGAVILLE. Your own good thoughts excuse me, and farewell: Biron. What's her name, in the cap? To-morrow shall we visit you again.

Boyet. Katharine, by good hap. Prin. Sweet health and fair desires consort your Biron. Is she wedded, or no? grace!

Boyet. To ber will, sir, or so.
King. Thy own wish wish I thee in every place! Biron. O! you are welcome, sir. Adieu.

[Exeunt King and his train. Boyet. Farewell to me, sir, and welcome to you. Biron. Lady, I will commend you to mine own

[Exit Biron.—Ladies unmask. heart.

Mar. That last is Biron, the merry mad-cap lord: Ros. Pray you, do my commendations; I would Not a word with him but a jest. be glad to see it.

Boyet.

And every jest but a word. Biron. I would, you heard it groan.

Prin. It was well done of you to take him at his Ros. Is the fool sick ?

word. Biron. Sick at the heart.

Boyet. I was as willing to grapple, as he was to Ros. Alack! let it blood.

board. Biron. Would that do it good ?

Mar. Two hot sheeps, marry ! Ros. My physic says, ay.

Boyet.

And wherefore not ships ? Biron. Will you prick’t with your eye?

No sheep, sweet lamb, unless we feed on your Ros. No point, with my knife.

lips. Biron. Now, God save thy life!

Mar. You sheep, and I pasture: shall that finish Ros. And yours from long living !

the jest? Biron. I cannot stay thanksgiving. [Retiring. Boyet. So you grant pasture for me. Dum. Sir, I pray, you a word. What lady is

[Offering to kiss her. that same?

Mar.

Not so, gentle beast. Boyet. The heir of Alençon, Rosaline her name. My lips are no common, though several they be. Dum. A gallant lady. Monsieur, fare you well. Boyet. Belonging to whom?

Mar.

To my fortunes and me.

[Erit.

Prin. Good wits will be jangling; but, gentles, Who, tend'ring their own worth, from where they agree.

were glass'd, This civil war of wits were much better used Did point you to buy them, along as you pass'd. On Navarre and his book-men, for here 'tis abused. His face's own margin did quote such amazes, Boyet. If my observation, (which very seldom That all eyes saw his eyes enchanted with gazes. lies,)

I'll give you Aquitain, and all that is his, By the heart's still rhetoric, disclosed with eyes, An you give him for my sake but one loving kiss. Deceive me not now, Navarre is infected.

Prin. Come to our pavilion: Boyet is dispos'dPrin. With what?

Boyet. But to speak that in words, which his eye Boyet. With that which we lovers entitle, af- hath disclos'd. fected.'

I only have made a mouth of his eye, Prin. Your reason?

By adding a tongue, which I know will not lie. Boyet. Why, all his behaviours did make their Ros. Thou art an old love-monger, and speak'st retire

skilfully. To the court of his eye, peeping thorough desire : Mar. He is Cupid's grandfather, and learns news His heart, like an agate, with your print im

of him. pressed,

Ros. Then was Venus like her mother, for her Proud with his form, in his eye pride expressed:

father is but grim. His tongue, all impatient to speak and not see, Boyet. Do you hear, my mad wenches ? Did stumble with haste in his eye-sight to be; Mar.

No. All senses to that sense did make their repair,

Boyet.

What then, do you see? To feel only looking on fairest of fair.

Ros. Ay, our way to be gone. Methought, all his senses were lock'd in his eye, Boyet.

You are too hard for me. As jewels in crystal for some prince to buy;

Ereunt.