The endeavour of this present breath may buy mon sense? That honour, which shall bait his scythe's keen edge, King. Ay, that is study's god-like recompense. BR Bi Re And make us heirs of all eternity. Biron. Come on then, I will swear to study so, WI Therefore, brave conquerors! -for so you are, That war against your own affections, To know the thing I am forbid to know: L R 1 1 8 S T i And the huge army of the world's desires,- Still and contemplative in living art. You three, Birón, Dumain, and Longaville, Your oaths are past, and now subscribe your names; If you are arm'd to do, as sworn to do, Biron. I can but say the protestation over. King. Your oath is pass'd to pass away from these. Biron. Why, all delights are vain; but that most vain, To seek the light of truth; while truth the while Have no more profit of their shining nights, King. How well he's read, to reason against reading! weeding. 1 Biron. The spring is near, when green geese are a breeding. Dum. How follows that? T For, well you know, here comes in embassy Cost. In manner and form following, sir; all those three: I was seen with her in the manor-house, sitting The French king's daughter, with yourself to speak, - with her upon the form, and taken following her into 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, the park; which, put together, is in manner and form following. Now, sir, for the manner, it is the manner of a man to speak to a woman: for the form,-in some form. Orvainly comes the admired princess hither. Biron. For the following, sir? King. What say you, lords? why, this was quite Cost. As it shall follow in my correction; and God forgot. defend the right! Biron. So study evermore is overshot; King. Will you hear this letter with attention? While it doth study to have what it would, Biron. As we would hear an oracle. It doth forget to do the thing it should: Cost. Such is the simplicity of man to hearken after And, when it hath the thing it hunteth most, the flesh. 'Tis won, as towns with fire; so won, so lost. King. [Reads.] Great deputy, the welkin's vicege King. Wemust, of force, dispense with this decree; rent, and sole dominator of Navarre, my soul's earth's ntleman. King. Ay, that there is: our court you know is haunted beasts most graze, birds best peck, and men sit down With a refined traveller of Spain; A man in all the world's new fashion planted, That hath a mint of phrases in his brain : One, whom the music of his own vain tongue to that nourishment which is called supper. So much for the time when. Now for the ground which; which, I mean, I walked upon: it is ycleped thy park. Then for the place where; where, I mean, I did encounter 134 LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST. that obscene and most preposterous event, that King. -that unletter'd small-knowing soul, King. -that shallow vassal, Cost. Still me. King. -with a child of our grandmother Eve, a female; or, for thy more sweet understanding, awoman. Him 1 (asmy ever-esteemed duty pricks me on) have sent to thee, to receive the meed of punishment, by thy sweet grace's officer, Antony Dull; a man of goodrepute, carriage, bearing, and estimation. Moth. A great sign, sir, that he will look sad. Dull. Me, an't shall please you; Iam Antony Dull. King. For Jaquenetta, (so is the weaker vessel called, which I apprehended with the aforesaid swain,) I keep her as a vessel of thy law'sfury; and shall, at the least of thy sweet notice, bring her to trial. Thine, in all compliments of devoted and heart-burning heat of duty, Don Adriano de Armado. Biron. This is not so well as I looked for, but the best that ever I heard. King. Ay, the best for the worst.-But, sirrah, what say you to this? Cost. Sir, I confess the wench. King. Did you hear the proclamation? Moth, of the fo Arm. Moth. Moth Arm. теа mallr Moth. No, no; O lord, sir, no. my tender juvenal? Moth. By a familiar demonstration of the working, Arm. Why tough senior? why tough senior? Cost. I do confess much of the hearing it, but little of the marking of it. King. It was proclaimed a year's imprisonment, to be taken with a wench. Cost. I was taken with none, sir; I was taken with a damosel. King. Well, it was proclaimed damosel. Moth. And I, tough senior, as an appertinent title Cost. This was no damosel neither, sir; she was a virgin. Moth. How mean you, sir? I pretty, and my saying King. It so varied too; for it was proclaimed virgin. Cost. If it were, I deny her virginity; I was taken with a maid. Arm. Thou pretty, becauselittle. Moth. Little pretty, becauselittle: wherefore apt? Moth. I will praise an eel with the same praise. Moth. That an eel is quick. Arm. I do say, thou art quickin answers: thou heat est my blood. Moth. I am answered, sir. [Aside. Arm. I have promised to study three years with the duke. Moth. You may do it in an hour, sir. Moth. How many is one thrice told? Arm. I am illat reckoning, it fitteth the spirit of a Moth. You are a gentleman, and a gamester, sir. Moth. Then, I am sure, you know, how much the Arm. It doth amount to one more than two. Moth. Which the base vulgar do call, three. Moth Arm. Noth nder Arm Mot m Arm pathe Mot Ad Whi A Be M $01 fo W m d th se Cost. I had rather pray a month with mutton and is base for a soldier to love, so am I in love with a base Moth. Sampson, master: he was a man of good car- Arm. Boy, whatsignis it, when a man of great spirit son's love, my dear Moth? Moth. A woman, master. wench. If drawing my sword against the humour of affection would deliver me from the reprobate thought of it, I would take desire prisoner, and ransom him to any French courtier for a new devised courtesy. I think scorn to sigh; methinks, I should outswear Cupid. Comfort me, boy! What great men have been in love? Moth. Hercules, master. Arm. Of what complexion? Moth. Of all the four, or the three, or the two or one of the four. Arm. Tell me precisely, of what complexion? Moth. Ofthe sea-water green, sir. Arm. Is that one of the four complexions? Moth. As I haveread, sir; and the best of them too. Arm. Green, indeed, is the colour of lovers: but to have a love of that colour, methinks, Sampson had small reason for it. He, surely, affected her for her wit. Moth. It was so, sir; for she had a green wit. Arm. Myloveis most immaculate white and red. Moth. Most maculate thoughts, master, are masked under such colours. Arm. Define, define, well educated infant! Moth. My father's wit, and my mother's tongue as sist me! Arm. Sweetinvocation of a child; most pretty, and pathetical! Moth. If she be made of white and red, Her faults will ne'er be known; For still her cheeks possess the same, A dangerous rhyme, master, against the reason Arm. Is there not a ballad, boy, of the King and Beggar? Arm. Take away this villain; shut him up! 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 I Moth' What shall some see? Cost. Nay nothing, master Moth, but what they look upon. It is not for prisoners to be too silent in their words; and, therefore, I will say nothing: I thank God, I have as little patience as another man; and therefore can be quiet. [Exeunt 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 Sampson was so tempted; and he had an excellent strength: yet was Solomon so seduced; and he had a very good wit. Cupid's butt-shaft 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 of his glory is to subdue men. Adieu, valour! rust, rapier! be still, drum! for your manager is in love; yea, he loveth. Assist me, some extemporal god of rhyme; for, I am sure, I shall turn sonnetteer. Devise, wit; write, pen; for I am for whole volumes in folio! [Exit. the Moth. The world was very guilty of such a ballad some three ages since: but, I think, now 'tis not to be found; or, ifit were, it would neither serve for the writing, nor the tune. Arm. I will have that 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. To be whipped; and yet a better love, than my [Aside. master. Arm. Sing, boy; my spirit grows heavy in love. Moth. Forbear till this company be past. Enter DULL, COSTARD, and JAQUENETTA. Dull. Sir, the duke's pleasureis, 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 allowed 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. Jaq. That's hereby. Arm. I know, whereit is situate. Jaq. Lord, how wise you are! Arm. I will tell thee wonders. Jaq. With that face? Arm. I love thee. Jaq. So I heard you say. Jaq. Fair weather after you! Dull. Come, Jaquenetta, away! [Exeunt Dull and Jaquenetta. Arm. Villaiu, 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. Enter the Princess of France, ROSALINE, MARIA, CA- Of all perfections, that a man may owe, Prin. Good lord Boyet, my beauty, though but mean, Cost. I am more bound to you, than your fellows; for Haste, signify so much; while we attend, Like humbly-visag'd suitors, his high will, Prin. Were my lord so, his ignorance were wise, T 1 Lord. Longaville is one. And sin to break it: Prin. Know you the man? But pardon me, I am too sudden-bold; Th Mar. I know him, madam; at a marriage feast, Between lord Perigort and the beauteous heir To teach a teacher ill besecmeth me. it Vouchsafe to read the purpose of my coming, Of Jaques Falconbridge solemnized, And suddenly resolve me in my suit! [Gives a paper. Pr King. Madam, I will, if suddenly I may. The only soil of his fair virtue's gloss, Prin. You will the sooner, that I were away; L 1 A Ros. How needless was it then, " To ask the question! Ros. 'Tis 'long of you that spur me with such ques Prin. Some merry mocking lord, belike; is't so? Mar. They say so most, that most his humours know. Prin. Such short-liv'd wits do wither as they grow. Who are the rest? Kath. The young Dumain, a well-accomplish'd youth, Of all, that virtue love, for virtuelov'd: Prin. God bless my ladies! are they all in love, Biron. You must not be so quick. tions. Biron. Your wit's too hot, it speeds too fast, 'twill tire. Rost. Not till it leave the rider in the mire. Ros. The hour that fools should ask. Enter KING, LONGAVILLE, DUMAIN, BIRON, and Atten dants. 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. Dear princess, were not his requests so far Prin. You do the king my father too much wrong, Prin. Wearrest your word. Boyet, you can produce acquittances, For such a sum, from special officers Of Charles his father. King. Satisfy me so! 1 Boyet. So please your grace, the packet is not come, Mean time, receive such welcome at my hand, |