Moth. How mean you, Sir? I pretty, and my saying apt? or I apt, and my saying pretty? Arm. Thou pretty, because little.

Moth. Little pretty, because little : Wherefore apt?

Arm. And therefore apt, because quick.
Moth. Speak you this in my praise, master?
Arm. In thy condign praise.

Moth. I will praise an eel with the same praise.

Arm. What? that an eel is ingenious?
Moth. That an eel is quick.

Arm. I do say, thou art quick in answers:
Thou heatest my blood.

Moth. I am answered, Sir.

Arm. I love not to be crossed.

Moth. He speaks the mere contrary, crosses* love not him. [Aside.

Arm. I have promised to study three years with the duke.

Moth. You may do it in an hour, Sir.
Arm. Impossible.

Moth. How many is one thrice told?

Arm. I am ill at reckoning, it fitteth the spirit of a tapster.

Moth. You are a gentleman, and a gamester,

Sir.

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 masked 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:
Then, if she fear, or be to blame,
By this you shall not know;
For still her cheeks possess the same,
Which native she doth owe.*

A dangerous rhyme, master, against the reason
of white and red.

Arm. Is there not a ballad, boy, of the King and the Beggar?

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

Arm. I confess both; they are both the var-neither serve for the writing, nor the tune. nish of a complete man.

Moth. Then, I am sure, you know how much the gross sum of deuce-ace amounts to.

Arm. It doth amount to one more than two.
Moth. Which the base vulgar do call, three.
Arm. True.

Moth. Why, Sir, is this such a piece of study?
Now here is three studied, ere you'll thrice
wink: and how easy it is to put years to the
word three, and study three years in two words,
the dancing horse will tell you.
Arm. A most fine figure!
Moth. To prove you a cipher.

[Aside.

Arm. I will have the subject newly writ o'er, that I may example my digressiont 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 master. [Aside. 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. Arm. I will hereupon confess, I am in love: Enter DULL, COSTARD, and JAQUENETTA. and, as it is base for a soldier to love, so am I Dull. Sir, the duke's pleasure is that you in love with a base wench. If drawing my keep Costard safe: and you must let him sword against the humour of affection would take no delight, nor no penance; but a' must deliver me from the reprobate thought of it, I fast three days a week: for this damsel, I must would take desire prisoner, and ransom him to keep her at the park; she is allowed for the any French courtier for a new devised cour-day-woman. Fare you well. tesy. I think scorn to sigh; methinks, I should out-swear Cupid. Comfort me, boy: What Maid. great men have been in love?

Moth. Hercules, master.

Arm. Most sweet Hercules!-More authority, dear boy, name more; and, sweet my child, let them be men of good repute and carriage.

Moth. Samson, master: he was a man of good carriage, great carriage; for he carried the town-gates on his back, like a porter: and he was in love.

Arm. O well-knit Samson! strong-jointed Samson! I do excel thee in my rapier, as much as thou didst me in carrying gates. I am in love too,-Who was Samson's love, my dear Moth?

Moth. A woman, 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. Of the sea-water green, Sir.

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, * The name of a coin once current.

Arm. I do betray myself with blushing.

Jaq. Man.

Arm. I will visit thee at the lodge.
Jaq. That's hereby.

Arm. I know where it 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.
Arm. And so farewell.
Jaq. Fair weather after you!
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.

*Of which she is naturally possessed.
Transgression.

Dairy-woman.

Moth. No, Sir; that were fast and loose: | Haste, signify so much; while we attend, thou shalt to prison.

Cost. Well, if ever I do see the merry days of desolation that I have seen, some shall seeMoth. 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, I can be quiet.

Like humbly-visag'd suitors, his high will. Boyet. Proud of employment, willingly I go. [Exit.

Prin. All pride is willing pride, and yours

is so.

Who are the votaries, my loving lords,
That are vow-fellows with this virtuous duke?
1 Lord. Longaville is one.
Prin. Know you the man?
[feast,
Mar. I know him, madam; at a marriage
Between lord Perigort and the beauteous heir
Of Jaques Falconbridge, solemnized
In Normandy, saw I this Longaville:
A man of sovereign parts he is esteem'd;
Well fitted in the arts, glorious in arms:
Nothing becomes him ill, that he would well.
The only soil of his fair virtue's gloss,
(If virtue's gloss will stain with any soil,)
Is a sharp wit match'd with too blunt a will;
Whose edge hath power to cut, whose will
[power.

[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. 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 Samson was so tempted: and he had an excellent strength: yet was Solomon so seduced and he had a very good wit. Cupid's butt-shaftt is too hard for Her-It cules' 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 manager is in love; yea, he loveth. Assist me, some extemporal god of rhyme, for, I am sure, I shall turn sonneteer. Devise, wit; write, pen; for I am for whole volumes in folio. [Exit.

ACT II.

SCENE I.-Another part of the same.-A Pa

vilion and Tents at a distance.

Enter the PRINCESS OF FRANCE, ROSALINE, MARIA, KATHARINE, BOYET, Lords, and other Attendants.

still wills

should none spare that come within his 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-accom

plish'd youth,

Of all that virtue love for virtue lov'd: [ill;
Most power to do most harm, least knowing
For he hath wit to make an ill shape good,
saw him at the duke Alençon's once;
And shape to win grace though he had no wit.
And much too little of that good I saw,
Is my report, to his great worthiness.

I

Ros. Another of these students at that time, Was there with him: if I have heard a truth,

Boyet. Now, madam,summon up your dear- Biron they call him; but a merrier man,

est‡ spirits:

Consider who the king your father sends;
To whom he sends; and what's his embassy:
Yourself, held precious in the world's esteem;
To parly with the sole inheritor

Of all perfections that a man may owe,
Matchless Navarre; the plea of no less weight
Than Aquitain; a dowry for a queen.
Be now as prodigal of all dear grace,
As nature was in making graces dear,
When she did starve the general world beside,
And prodigally gave them all to you.

Prin. Good lord Boyet, my beauty, though

but mean,

Needs not the painted flourish of your praise;
Beauty is bought by judgement of the eye,
Not utter'd by base sale of chapmen's tongues :
I am less proud to hear you tell my worth,
Than you much willing to be counted wise
In spending your wit in the praise of mine.
But now to task the tasker,-Good Boyet,
You are not ignorant, all-telling fame
Doth noise abroad, Navarre hath made a vow,
Till painful study shall out-wear three years,
No woman may approach his silent court:
Therefore to us seemeth it a needful course,
Before we enter his forbidden gates,
To know his pleasure; and in that behalf,
Bold of your worthiness, we single you
As our best-moving fair solicitor:
Tell him, the daughter of the king of France,
On serious business, craving quick despatch,
Impórtunes personal conference with his grace.
Love. † Arrow to shoot at butts with.

Best.

Within the limit of becoming mirth,
I never spent an hour's talk withal:
His eye begets occasion for his wit;
For every object that the one doth catch,
The other turns to a mirth-moving jest;
Which his fair tongue (conceit's expositor,)
Delivers in such apt and gracious words,
That aged ears play truant at his tales,
And younger hearings are quite ravished;
So sweet and voluble is his discourse.

Prin. God bless my ladies! are they all in love;
That every one her own hath garnished
With such bedecking ornaments of praise?
Mar. Here comes Boyet.

ACT III.

Biron. What's her name, in the cap?
Boyet. Katharine, by good hap.
Biron. Is she wedded, or no?

Boyet. To her will, Sir, or so.

Biron. You are welcome, Sir, adieu!
Boyet. Farewell to me, Sir, and welcome to
you. [Exit BIRON.-Ladies unmask.
Mar. That last is Biron, the merry mad-cap
Not a word with him but a jest.

[lord;

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? [lips.
No sheep, sweet lamb, unless we feed on your
Mar. You sheep, and I pasture; Shall that
finish the jest?

Boyet. So you grant pasture for me.
[Offering to kiss her.
Mar. Not so, gentle beast;
[be.
My lips are no common, though several* they
Boyet. Belonging to whom?
Mar. To my fortunes and me.

SCENE I.-Another part of the same.

Enter ARMADO and MOTH.

Arm. Warble, child; make passionate my sense of hearing.

Moth. Concolinel

[Singing. Arm. Sweet air!-Go, tenderness of years; take this key, give enlargement to the swain, bring him festinately hither; I must employ him in a letter to my love.

Moth. Master, will you win your love with a French brawl?t

Arm. How mean'st thou? brawling in French? Moth. No, my complete master; but to jig off a tune at the tongue's end, canary‡ to it with your feet, humour it with turning up your eye-lids; sigh a note, and sing a note; sometime through the throat, as if you swallowed love with singing love; sometime through the nose, as if you snuffed up love by smelling love; with your hat penthouse-like, o'er the shop of your eyes; with your arms crossed on your thin belly-doublet, like a rabbit on a spit; or

Prin. Good wits will be jangling: but, gen-your hands in your pocket, like a man after

tles, 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,) [eyes, By the heart's still rhetoric, disclosed with 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

[sire: To the court of his eye, peeping thorough deHis 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,
Did stumble with haste in his eye-sight to be;
All senses to that sense did make their repair,
To feel only looking on fairest of fair: eye,
Methought all his senses were lock'd in his
As jewels in crystal for some prince to buy ;
Who, tend'ring their own worth, from where
they were glass'd,

Did point you to buy them, along as you pass'd.
His face's own margent did court such amazes,
That all eyes saw his eyes enchanted with gazes:
I'll give you Aquitain, and all that is his,
An you give him, for my sake, but one loving
kiss.

Prin. Come to our pavilion: Boyet is dis-
pos'd-

Boyet. But to speak that in words, which
his eye hath disclos'd:

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?

Ros. Ay, our way to be gone.
Boyet. You are too hard for me. [Exeunt.
A quibble, several sig

ed lands.

the old painting; and keep not too long in one tune, but a snip and away: These are complements, these are humours; these betray nice wenches-that would be betrayed without these; and make them men of note, (do you note, men?) that most are affected to these. Arm. How hast thou purchased this expe

rience?

Moth. Negligent student! learn her by heart.
Arm. By heart, and in heart, boy.
Moth. And out of heart, master: all those
three I will prove.

Arm. What wilt thou prove?

Moth. A man, if I live; and this, by, in, and without, upon the instant: By heart you love her, because your heart cannot come by her: in heart you love her, because your heart is in love with her; and out of heart you love her, being out of heart that you cannot enjoy her. Arm. I am all these three.

Moth. And three times as much more, and yet nothing at all.

Arm. Fetch hither the swain; he must carry me a letter.

Moth. A message well sympathised; a horse to be ambassador for an ass!

Arm. Ha, ha! what sayest thou?
Moth. Marry, Sir, you must send the ass upon
the horse, for he is very slow-gaited: But I go.
Arm. The way is but short; away.
Moth. As swift as lead, Sir.

Arm. Thy meaning, pretty ingenious?
Is not lead a metal heavy, dull, and slow?
Moth. Minimè, honest master; or rather,
master, no.
Arm. I say, lead is slow.

Moth. You are too swift, Sir, to say so:
Is that lead slow which is fir'd from a gun?
Arm. Sweet smoke of rhetoric!

* Hastily.
† A kind of dance.
Canary was the name of a sprightly dance.
Quick, ready.

Some obscure precedence that hath tofore beeningly well met. I will example it: