Arm. Tell me precisely of what complexion. 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, surely, 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 mask'd 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, Her faults will ne'er be known; For blushing cheeks by faults are bred, And fears by pale-white shown: By this you shall not know; A dangerous rhyme, master, against the reason of white and red. Arm. Is there not a ballad, boy, of the King and the Beggar?' The allusion probably is to the willow, the supposed ornament of unsuccessful lovers. Of which she is naturally possessed. 7 This ballad, entitled King Cophetua and The Beggar Maid, is printed in Percy's Re'iques, Series First, Book ii. H. 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. 8 Arm. I will have the subject newly writ o'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. [Aside.] To be whipp'd; and yet a better love than my master. Arm. Sing, boy: my spirit grows heavy in love. 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' must fast three days a-week : For this damsel, I must keep her at the park; she is allow'd 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. 8 Digression is here used in the sense of going astray, or diverging from the right. Thus, in the Poet's Rape of Lucrece : Then, my digression is so vile, so 'base, And in Richard II., Act v. sc. 3, when York reveals the treacherous conspiracy of his son, Bolingbroke says, "And thy abundant goodness shall excuse H. 9 A day-woman is a dairy-woman. Johnson says day is an old word for milk. A dairy-maid is still called a dey or day in the northern parts of Scotland. Dull. Come, Jaquenetta, away. [Exeunt DULL and JAQUENETTA. Arm. Villain, thou shalt fast for thy offences, ere thou be pardoned. Cost. Well, sir, I hope, when I do it, I shall do it on a full stomach. 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; away. 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 see Moth. What shall some see? Cost. Nay, nothing, master Moth, but what they look upon. It is not for prisoners to be too silent 10 Jaquenetta and Armado are at cross-purposes. Hereby is used by her (as among the common people of some counties) in the sense of as it may happen. He takes it in the sense of just by. 11 This odd phrase was still in use in Fielding's time, who, putting it into the mouth of Beau Didapper, thinks it necessary to apologize for its want of sense, by adding that it was taken verbation from very polite conversation. 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. [Excunt 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 was Samson so tempted; and he had an excellent strength: yet was Solomon so seduced; and he had a very good wit. Cupid's butt-shaft 12 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 armiger is in love; yea, he loveth. Assist me, some extemporal god of rhyme, for, I am sure, I shall turn sonnetist. Devise, wit! write, pen! for I am for whole volumes in folio. [Exit. 13 . 12 A kind of arrow used for shooting at butts with. The butt was the place on which the mark to be shot at was placed. 13 This is explained in Touchstone's learned discourse on the causes of quarrel, in As You Like It, Act v. sc. 4. Y.. ACT II SCENE I. Another part of the Park. A Pavilion and Tents at a distance. Enter the PRINCESS of France, ROSALINE, MARIA, KATHARINE, BOYET, Lords, and other Attendants. Boy. Now, madam, summon up your dearest spirits: Consider whom the king your father sends; Of all perfections that a man may owe, As nature was in making graces dear, When she did starve the general world beside, Prin. Good lord Boyet, my beauty, though but mean, Needs not the painted flourish of your praise: Doth noise abroad, Navarre hath made a vow, |