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. I will praise an eel with the same praise. Arm. What? that an eel is ingenious? Arm. I do say, thou art quick in answers: 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. 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, A dangerous rhyme, master, against the reason 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. Why, Sir, is this such a piece of study? [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? 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, * The name of a coin once current. Arm. I do betray myself with blushing. Jaq. Man. Arm. I will visit thee at the lodge. Arm. I know where it is situate. Arm. I love thee. [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. *Of which she is naturally possessed. 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, [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; 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; Of all perfections that a man may owe, Prin. Good lord Boyet, my beauty, though but mean, Needs not the painted flourish of your praise; Best. Within the limit of becoming mirth, Prin. God bless my ladies! are they all in love; nothing else. King. Your ladyship is ignorant what it is. Prin. Were my lord so, his ignorance were wise. [rance. Where now his knowledge must prove ignoI hear, your grace hath sworn out house-keeping: 'Tis deadly sin to keep that oath, my lord, But pardon me, I am too sudden-bold; [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. Ros. The hour that fools should ask. Ros. Fair fall the face it covers! Biron. And send you many lovers! King. Madam, your father here doth intimate On payment of a hundred thousand crowns, * Whereas. From reason's yielding, your fair self should make A yielding, 'gainst some reason, in my breast, And go well satisfied to France again. Prin. You do the king, my father, too much wrong, And wrong the reputation of your name, Prin. We arrest your word:- 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. [view, King. It shall suffice me: at which interAll liberal reason I will yield unto. Mean time, receive such welcome at my hand, As honour, without breach of honour, may Make tender of to thy true worthiness: You may not come, fair princess, in my gates; But here without you shall be so received, As you shall deem yourself lodg'd in my heart, Though so denied fair harbour in my house. Your own good thoughts excuse me, and farewell: To-morrow shall we visit you again. Prin. Sweet health and fair desires consort your grace! King. Thy own wish, wish I thee in every place! [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. Biron. Would that do it good? Biron. Will you prick't with your eye? Biron. I cannot stay thanksgiving. [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. [Exil. 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 de sire that, were a shame. Long. Pray you, Sir, whose daughter? Boyet. Her mother's, I have heard. Long. God's blessing on your beard! Boyet. Good Sir, be not offended: She is an heir of Falconbridge. Long. Nay, my choler is ended. She is a most sweet lady. Boyet. Not unlike, Sir; that may be. [Exit LONGAVILLE. ACT III. Biron. What's her name, in the cap? Boyet. To her will, Sir, or so. Biron. You are welcome, Sir, adieu! [lord; Boyet. And every jest but a word. Boyet. I was as willing to grapple, as he was Mar. Two hot sheeps, marry! Boyet. So you grant pasture for 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: Did point you to buy them, along as you pass'd. Prin. Come to our pavilion: Boyet is dis- Boyet. But to speak that in words, which I only have made a mouth of his eye, Mar. He is Cupid's grandfather, and learns Ros. Then was Venus like her mother; for Boyet. Do you hear my mad wenches? Boyet. What then do you see? Ros. Ay, our way to be gone. 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. 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? Arm. Thy meaning, pretty ingenious? Moth. You are too swift, Sir, to say so: * Hastily. Arm. Some enigma, some riddle: come,-thy l'envoy ;t-begin. Cost. No egma, no riddle, no l'envoy; no salve in the mail, Sir: O, Sir, plantain, a plain plantain; no l'envoy, no l'envoy, no salve, Sir, but a plantain! Arm. By virtue, thou enforcest laughter; thy silly thought, my spleen; the heaving of my lungs provokes me to ridiculous smiling: pardon me, my stars! Doth the inconsiderate take salve for l'envoy, and the word, l'envoy, for a salve? Moth. Do the wise think them other? is not l'envoy a salve? Arm. No, page: it is an epilogue, or discourse, to make plain Cost. O, marry me to one Frances:-I smell some l'envoy, some goose, in this. Arm. By my sweet soul, I mean, setting thee at liberty, enfreedoming thy person; thou wert immured, restrained, captivated, bound. Cost. True, true; and now you will be my purgation, and let me loose. Arm. I give thee thy liberty, set thee from durance; and, in lieu thereof, impose on thee nothing but this: Bear this significant to the country maid Jaquenetta: there is remuneration; [Giving him money.] for the best ward of mine honour, is, rewarding my dependents. Moth, follow. [Exit. Moth. Like the sequel, I.—Signior Costard, adieu. Cost. My sweet ounce of man's flesh! my in cony* Jew![Exit MOTH. Now will I look to his remuneration. Remuneration! O, that's the Latin word for three farthings: three farthings-remuneration. What's the price of this inkle? a penny :—No, I'll give you a remuneration: why, it carries it.Remuneration !-why, it is a fairer name than French crown. I will never buy and sell out of this word. Enter BIRON. Biron. O, my good knave Costard! exceed Some obscure precedence that hath tofore beeningly well met. I will example it: [sain. The fox, the ape, and the humble-bee, There's the moral: Now the l'envoy. Arm. The fox, the ape, and the humble-bee, And stay'd the odds by adding four. Now will I begin your moral, and do you follow with my l'envoy. The fox, the ape, and the humble-bee, Were still at odds, being but three : Arm. Until the goose came out of door, Staying the odds by adding four. Moth. A good l'envoy, ending in the goose; Would you desire more? Cost. The boy hath sold him a bargain, a that's flat: goose, [fat.Sir, your pennyworth is good, an your goose be To sell a bargain well, is as cunning as fast and loose; Let me see a fat l'envoy; ay, that's a fat goose. Arm. Come hither, come hither: How did this argument begin? Moth. By saying that a Costard was broken Cost. Pray you, Sir, how much carnation ribbon may a man buy for a remuneration? Biron. What is a remuneration? Cost. Marry, Sir, halfpenny farthing. Biron. O, why then, three-farthings-worth of silk. Cost. I thank your worship: God be with you! Biron. O, stay, slave; I must employ thee: As thou wilt win my favour, good my knave, Do one thing for me that I shall entreat. Cost. When would you have it done, Sir? Cost. Well, I will do it, Sir: Fare you well. Biron. It must be done this afternoon. Hark, slave, it is but this ; The princess comes to hunt here in the park, her name, And Rosaline they call her: ask for her; And to her white hand see thou do commend This seal'd-up counsel. There's thy guerdon ;+ go. [Gives him money. Cost. Guerdon,-O sweet guerdon! better than remuneration: elevenpence farthing better: Most sweet guerdon!--I will do it, Sir, in [Exit. print.t-Guerdon-remuneration. Biron. O And I, forsooth, in love! I, that have been love's whip; A very beadle to a humorous sigh; This senior-junior, giant-dwarf, Dan Cupid; |