Texts:Shakespeare/cw162319: Difference between revisions

<h2>LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST</h2>

<p>  FERDINAND, King of Navarre<br/>

   BEROWNE,    lord attending on the King<br/>

   LONGAVILLE,  "      "      "  "  "<br/>

   DUMAIN,      "      "      "  "  "<br/>

   BOYET,  lord attending on the Princess of France<br/>

   MARCADE,  "    "      "  "    "      "    "<br/>

   DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO, fantastical Spaniard<br/>

   SIR NATHANIEL, a curate<br/>

   HOLOFERNES, a schoolmaster<br/>

   DULL, a constable<br/>

   COSTARD, a clown<br/>

   MOTH, page to Armado<br/>

   A FORESTER<br/>

</p>

<p>  THE PRINCESS OF FRANCE<br/>

   ROSALINE, lady attending on the Princess<br/>

   MARIA,      "    "      "  "    "<br/>

   KATHARINE, lady attending on the Princess<br/>

   JAQUENETTA, a country wench<br/>

</p>

<h4>SCENE:

Navarre</h4>

<h4>ACT I. SCENE I.

Navarre. The King's park</h4>

<p>  KING. Let fame, that all hunt after in their lives,<br/>

     Live regist'red upon our brazen tombs,<br/>

     And then grace us in the disgrace of death;<br/>

     When, spite of cormorant devouring Time,<br/>

     Th' endeavour of this present breath may buy<br/>

     That honour which shall bate his scythe's keen edge,<br/>

     And make us heirs of all eternity.<br/>

     Therefore, brave conquerors- for so you are<br/>

     That war against your own affections<br/>

     And the huge army of the world's desires-<br/>

     Our late edict shall strongly stand in force:<br/>

     Navarre shall be the wonder of the world;<br/>

     Our court shall be a little Academe,<br/>

     Still and contemplative in living art.<br/>

     You three, Berowne, Dumain, and Longaville,<br/>

     Have sworn for three years' term to live with me<br/>

     My fellow-scholars, and to keep those statutes<br/>

     That are recorded in this schedule here.<br/>

     Your oaths are pass'd; and now subscribe your names,<br/>

     That his own hand may strike his honour down<br/>

     That violates the smallest branch herein.<br/>

     If you are arm'd to do as sworn to do,<br/>

     Subscribe to your deep oaths, and keep it too.<br/>

   LONGAVILLE. I am resolv'd; 'tis but a three years' fast.<br/>

     The mind shall banquet, though the body pine.<br/>

     Fat paunches have lean pates; and dainty bits<br/>

     Make rich the ribs, but bankrupt quite the wits.<br/>

   DUMAIN. My loving lord, Dumain is mortified.<br/>

     The grosser manner of these world's delights<br/>

     He throws upon the gross world's baser slaves;<br/>

     To love, to wealth, to pomp, I pine and die,<br/>

     With all these living in philosophy.<br/>

   BEROWNE. I can but say their protestation over;<br/>

     So much, dear liege, I have already sworn,<br/>

     That is, to live and study here three years.<br/>

     But there are other strict observances,<br/>

     As: not to see a woman in that term,<br/>

     Which I hope well is not enrolled there;<br/>

     And one day in a week to touch no food,<br/>

     And but one meal on every day beside,<br/>

     The which I hope is not enrolled there;<br/>

     And then to sleep but three hours in the night<br/>

     And not be seen to wink of all the day-<br/>

     When I was wont to think no harm all night,<br/>

     And make a dark night too of half the day-<br/>

     Which I hope well is not enrolled there.<br/>

     O, these are barren tasks, too hard to keep,<br/>

     Not to see ladies, study, fast, not sleep!<br/>

   KING. Your oath is pass'd to pass away from these.<br/>

   BEROWNE. Let me say no, my liege, an if you please:<br/>

     I only swore to study with your Grace,<br/>

     And stay here in your court for three years' space.<br/>

   LONGAVILLE. You swore to that, Berowne, and to the rest.<br/>

   BEROWNE. By yea and nay, sir, then I swore in jest.<br/>

     What is the end of study, let me know.<br/>

   KING. Why, that to know which else we should not know.<br/>

   BEROWNE. Things hid and barr'd, you mean, from common sense?<br/>

   KING. Ay, that is study's god-like recompense.<br/>

   BEROWNE. Come on, then; I will swear to study so,<br/>

     To know the thing I am forbid to know,<br/>

     As thus: to study where I well may dine,<br/>

     When I to feast expressly am forbid;<br/>

     Or study where to meet some mistress fine,<br/>

     When mistresses from common sense are hid;<br/>

     Or, having sworn too hard-a-keeping oath,<br/>

     Study to break it, and not break my troth.<br/>

     If study's gain be thus, and this be so,<br/>

     Study knows that which yet it doth not know.<br/>

     Swear me to this, and I will ne'er say no.<br/>

   KING. These be the stops that hinder study quite,<br/>

     And train our intellects to vain delight.<br/>

   BEROWNE. Why, all delights are vain; but that most vain<br/>

     Which, with pain purchas'd, doth inherit pain,<br/>

     As painfully to pore upon a book<br/>

     To seek the light of truth; while truth the while<br/>

     Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look.<br/>

     Light, seeking light, doth light of light beguile;<br/>

     So, ere you find where light in darkness lies,<br/>

     Your light grows dark by losing of your eyes.<br/>

     Study me how to please the eye indeed,<br/>

     By fixing it upon a fairer eye;<br/>

     Who dazzling so, that eye shall be his heed,<br/>

     And give him light that it was blinded by.<br/>

     Study is like the heaven's glorious sun,<br/>

     That will not be deep-search'd with saucy looks;<br/>

     Small have continual plodders ever won,<br/>

     Save base authority from others' books.<br/>

     These earthly godfathers of heaven's lights<br/>

     That give a name to every fixed star<br/>

     Have no more profit of their shining nights<br/>

     Than those that walk and wot not what they are.<br/>

     Too much to know is to know nought but fame;<br/>

     And every godfather can give a name.<br/>

   KING. How well he's read, to reason against reading!<br/>

   DUMAIN. Proceeded well, to stop all good proceeding!<br/>

   LONGAVILLE. He weeds the corn, and still lets grow the weeding.<br/>

   BEROWNE. The spring is near, when green geese are a-breeding.<br/>

   DUMAIN. How follows that?<br/>

   BEROWNE. Fit in his place and time.<br/>

   DUMAIN. In reason nothing.<br/>

   BEROWNE. Something then in rhyme.<br/>

   LONGAVILLE. Berowne is like an envious sneaping frost<br/>

     That bites the first-born infants of the spring.<br/>

   BEROWNE. Well, say I am; why should proud summer boast<br/>

     Before the birds have any cause to sing?<br/>

     Why should I joy in any abortive birth?<br/>

     At Christmas I no more desire a rose<br/>

     Than wish a snow in May's new-fangled shows;<br/>

     But like of each thing that in season grows;<br/>

     So you, to study now it is too late,<br/>

     Climb o'er the house to unlock the little gate.<br/>

   KING. Well, sit out; go home, Berowne; adieu.<br/>

   BEROWNE. No, my good lord; I have sworn to stay with you;<br/>

     And though I have for barbarism spoke more<br/>

     Than for that angel knowledge you can say,<br/>

     Yet confident I'll keep what I have swore,<br/>

     And bide the penance of each three years' day.<br/>

     Give me the paper; let me read the same;<br/>

     And to the strictest decrees I'll write my name.<br/>

   KING. How well this yielding rescues thee from shame!<br/>

   BEROWNE. [Reads] 'Item. That no woman shall come within a mile of<br/>

     my court'- Hath this been proclaimed?<br/>

   LONGAVILLE. Four days ago.<br/>

   BEROWNE. Let's see the penalty. [Reads] '-on pain of losing her<br/>

     tongue.' Who devis'd this penalty?<br/>

   LONGAVILLE. Marry, that did I.<br/>

   BEROWNE. Sweet lord, and why?<br/>

   LONGAVILLE. To fright them hence with that dread penalty.<br/>

   BEROWNE. A dangerous law against gentility.<br/>

     [Reads] 'Item. If any man be seen to talk with a woman within<br/>

     the term of three years, he shall endure such public shame as the<br/>

     rest of the court can possibly devise.'<br/>

     This article, my liege, yourself must break;<br/>

     For well you know here comes in embassy<br/>

     The French king's daughter, with yourself to speak-<br/>

     A mild of grace and complete majesty-<br/>

     About surrender up of Aquitaine<br/>

     To her decrepit, sick, and bedrid father;<br/>

     Therefore this article is made in vain,<br/>

     Or vainly comes th' admired princess hither.<br/>

   KING. What say you, lords? Why, this was quite forgot.<br/>

   BEROWNE. So study evermore is over-shot.<br/>

     While it doth study to have what it would,<br/>

     It doth forget to do the thing it should;<br/>

     And when it hath the thing it hunteth most,<br/>

     'Tis won as towns with fire- so won, so lost.<br/>

   KING. We must of force dispense with this decree;<br/>

     She must lie here on mere necessity.<br/>

   BEROWNE. Necessity will make us all forsworn<br/>

     Three thousand times within this three years' space;<br/>

     For every man with his affects is born,<br/>

     Not by might mast'red, but by special grace.<br/>

     If I break faith, this word shall speak for me:<br/>

     I am forsworn on mere necessity.<br/>

     So to the laws at large I write my name;        [Subscribes]<br/>

     And he that breaks them in the least degree<br/>

     Stands in attainder of eternal shame.<br/>

     Suggestions are to other as to me;<br/>

     But I believe, although I seem so loath,<br/>

     I am the last that will last keep his oath.<br/>

     But is there no quick recreation granted?<br/>

   KING. Ay, that there is. Our court, you know, is haunted<br/>

     With a refined traveller of Spain,<br/>

     A man in all the world's new fashion planted,<br/>

     That hath a mint of phrases in his brain;<br/>

     One who the music of his own vain tongue<br/>

     Doth ravish like enchanting harmony;<br/>

     A man of complements, whom right and wrong<br/>

     Have chose as umpire of their mutiny.<br/>

     This child of fancy, that Armado hight,<br/>

     For interim to our studies shall relate,<br/>

     In high-born words, the worth of many a knight<br/>

     From tawny Spain lost in the world's debate.<br/>

     How you delight, my lords, I know not, I;<br/>

     But I protest I love to hear him lie,<br/>

     And I will use him for my minstrelsy.<br/>

   BEROWNE. Armado is a most illustrious wight,<br/>

     A man of fire-new words, fashion's own knight.<br/>

   LONGAVILLE. Costard the swain and he shall be our sport;<br/>

     And so to study three years is but short.<br/>

</p>

<p>  DULL. Which is the Duke's own person?<br/>

   BEROWNE. This, fellow. What wouldst?<br/>

   DULL. I myself reprehend his own person, for I am his Grace's<br/>

     farborough; but I would see his own person in flesh and blood.<br/>

   BEROWNE. This is he.<br/>

   DULL. Signior Arme- Arme- commends you. There's villainy abroad;<br/>

     this letter will tell you more.<br/>

   COSTARD. Sir, the contempts thereof are as touching me.<br/>

   KING. A letter from the magnificent Armado.<br/>

   BEROWNE. How low soever the matter, I hope in God for high words.<br/>

   LONGAVILLE. A high hope for a low heaven. God grant us patience!<br/>

   BEROWNE. To hear, or forbear hearing?<br/>

   LONGAVILLE. To hear meekly, sir, and to laugh moderately; or, to<br/>

     forbear both.<br/>

   BEROWNE. Well, sir, be it as the style shall give us cause to climb<br/>

     in the merriness.<br/>

   COSTARD. The matter is to me, sir, as concerning Jaquenetta.<br/>

     The manner of it is, I was taken with the manner.<br/>

   BEROWNE. In what manner?<br/>

   COSTARD. In manner and form following, sir; all those three: I was<br/>

     seen with her in the manor-house, sitting with her upon the form,<br/>

     and taken following her into the park; which, put together, is in<br/>

     manner and form following. Now, sir, for the manner- it is the<br/>

     manner of a man to speak to a woman. For the form- in some form.<br/>

   BEROWNE. For the following, sir?<br/>

   COSTARD. As it shall follow in my correction; and God defend the<br/>

     right!<br/>

   KING. Will you hear this letter with attention?<br/>

   BEROWNE. As we would hear an oracle.<br/>

   COSTARD. Such is the simplicity of man to hearken after the flesh.<br/>

   KING. [Reads] 'Great deputy, the welkin's vicegerent and sole<br/>

     dominator of Navarre, my soul's earth's god and body's fost'ring<br/>

     patron'-<br/>

   COSTARD. Not a word of Costard yet.<br/>

   KING. [Reads] 'So it is'-<br/>

   COSTARD. It may be so; but if he say it is so, he is, in telling<br/>

     true, but so.<br/>

   KING. Peace!<br/>

   COSTARD. Be to me, and every man that dares not fight!<br/>

   KING. No words!<br/>

   COSTARD. Of other men's secrets, I beseech you.<br/>

   KING. [Reads] 'So it is, besieged with sable-coloured melancholy, I<br/>

     did commend the black oppressing humour to the most wholesome<br/>

     physic of thy health-giving air; and, as I am a gentleman, betook<br/>

     myself to walk. The time When? About the sixth hour; when beasts<br/>

     most graze, birds best peck, and men sit down to that nourishment<br/>

     which is called supper. So much for the time When. Now for the<br/>

     ground Which? which, I mean, I upon; it is ycleped thy park. Then<br/>

     for the place Where? where, I mean, I did encounter that obscene<br/>

     and most prepost'rous event that draweth from my snow-white pen<br/>

     the ebon-coloured ink which here thou viewest, beholdest,<br/>

     surveyest, or seest. But to the place Where? It standeth<br/>

     north-north-east and by east from the west corner of thy<br/>

     curious-knotted garden. There did I see that low-spirited swain,<br/>

     that base minnow of thy mirth,'<br/>

   COSTARD. Me?<br/>

   KING. 'that unlettered small-knowing soul,'<br/>

   COSTARD. Me?<br/>

   KING. 'that shallow vassal,'<br/>

   COSTARD. Still me?<br/>

   KING. 'which, as I remember, hight Costard,'<br/>

   COSTARD. O, me!<br/>

   KING. 'sorted and consorted, contrary to thy established proclaimed<br/>

     edict and continent canon; which, with, O, with- but with this I<br/>

     passion to say wherewith-'<br/>

   COSTARD. With a wench.<br/>

     King. 'with a child of our grandmother Eve, a female; or, for thy<br/>

     more sweet understanding, a woman. Him I, as my ever-esteemed<br/>

     duty pricks me on, have sent to thee, to receive the meed of<br/>

     punishment, by thy sweet Grace's officer, Antony Dull, a man of<br/>

     good repute, carriage, bearing, and estimation.'<br/>

   DULL. Me, an't shall please you; I am Antony Dull.<br/>

   KING. 'For Jaquenetta- so is the weaker vessel called, which I<br/>

     apprehended with the aforesaid swain- I keep her as a vessel of<br/>

     thy law's fury; and shall, at the least of thy sweet notice,<br/>

     bring her to trial. Thine, in all compliments of devoted and<br/>

     heart-burning heat of duty,<br/>

                                         DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO.'<br/>

</p>

<p>  BEROWNE. This is not so well as I look'd for, but the best that<br/>

     ever I heard.<br/>

   KING. Ay, the best for the worst. But, sirrah, what say you to<br/>

     this?<br/>

   COSTARD. Sir, I confess the wench.<br/>

   KING. Did you hear the proclamation?<br/>

   COSTARD. I do confess much of the hearing it, but little of the<br/>

     marking of it.<br/>

   KING. It was proclaimed a year's imprisonment to be taken with a<br/>

     wench.<br/>

   COSTARD. I was taken with none, sir; I was taken with a damsel.<br/>

   KING. Well, it was proclaimed damsel.<br/>

   COSTARD. This was no damsel neither, sir; she was a virgin.<br/>

   KING. It is so varied too, for it was proclaimed virgin.<br/>

   COSTARD. If it were, I deny her virginity; I was taken with a maid.<br/>

   KING. This 'maid' not serve your turn, sir.<br/>

   COSTARD. This maid will serve my turn, sir.<br/>

   KING. Sir, I will pronounce your sentence: you shall fast a week<br/>

     with bran and water.<br/>

   COSTARD. I had rather pray a month with mutton and porridge.<br/>

   KING. And Don Armado shall be your keeper.<br/>

     My Lord Berowne, see him delivered o'er;<br/>

     And go we, lords, to put in practice that<br/>

     Which each to other hath so strongly sworn.<br/>

                             Exeunt KING, LONGAVILLE, and DUMAIN<br/>

   BEROWNE. I'll lay my head to any good man's hat<br/>

     These oaths and laws will prove an idle scorn.<br/>

     Sirrah, come on.<br/>

   COSTARD. I suffer for the truth, sir; for true it is I was taken<br/>

     with Jaquenetta, and Jaquenetta is a true girl; and therefore<br/>

     welcome the sour cup of prosperity! Affliction may one day smile<br/>

     again; and till then, sit thee down, sorrow.<br/>

                                                           Exeunt<br/>

</p>

<h4>SCENE II.

The park</h4>

<p>  ARMADO. Boy, what sign is it when a man of great spirit grows<br/>

     melancholy?<br/>

   MOTH. A great sign, sir, that he will look sad.<br/>

   ARMADO. Why, sadness is one and the self-same thing, dear imp.<br/>

   MOTH. No, no; O Lord, sir, no!<br/>

   ARMADO. How canst thou part sadness and melancholy, my tender<br/>

     juvenal?<br/>

   MOTH. By a familiar demonstration of the working, my tough signior.<br/>

   ARMADO. Why tough signior? Why tough signior?<br/>

   MOTH. Why tender juvenal? Why tender juvenal?<br/>

   ARMADO. I spoke it, tender juvenal, as a congruent epitheton<br/>

     appertaining to thy young days, which we may nominate tender.<br/>

   MOTH. And I, tough signior, as an appertinent title to your old<br/>

     time, which we may name tough.<br/>

   ARMADO. Pretty and apt.<br/>

   MOTH. How mean you, sir? I pretty, and my saying apt? or I apt, and<br/>

     my saying pretty?<br/>

   ARMADO. Thou pretty, because little.<br/>

   MOTH. Little pretty, because little. Wherefore apt?<br/>

   ARMADO. And therefore apt, because quick.<br/>

   MOTH. Speak you this in my praise, master?<br/>

   ARMADO. In thy condign praise.<br/>

   MOTH. I will praise an eel with the same praise.<br/>

   ARMADO. that an eel is ingenious?<br/>

   MOTH. That an eel is quick.<br/>

   ARMADO. I do say thou art quick in answers; thou heat'st my blood.<br/>

   MOTH. I am answer'd, sir.<br/>

   ARMADO. I love not to be cross'd.<br/>

   MOTH. [Aside] He speaks the mere contrary: crosses love not him.<br/>

   ARMADO. I have promised to study three years with the Duke.<br/>

   MOTH. You may do it in an hour, sir.<br/>

   ARMADO. Impossible.<br/>

   MOTH. How many is one thrice told?<br/>

   ARMADO. I am ill at reck'ning; it fitteth the spirit of a tapster.<br/>

   MOTH. You are a gentleman and a gamester, sir.<br/>

   ARMADO. I confess both; they are both the varnish of a complete<br/>

     man.<br/>

   MOTH. Then I am sure you know how much the gross sum of deuce-ace<br/>

     amounts to.<br/>

   ARMADO. It doth amount to one more than two.<br/>

   MOTH. Which the base vulgar do call three.<br/>

   ARMADO. True.<br/>

   MOTH. Why, sir, is this such a piece of study? Now here is three<br/>

     studied ere ye'll thrice wink; and how easy it is to put 'years'<br/>

     to the word 'three,' and study three years in two words, the<br/>

     dancing horse will tell you.<br/>

   ARMADO. A most fine figure!<br/>

   MOTH. [Aside] To prove you a cipher.<br/>

   ARMADO. I will hereupon confess I am in love. And as it is base for<br/>

     a soldier to love, so am I in love with a base wench. If drawing<br/>

     my sword against the humour of affection would deliver me from<br/>

     the reprobate thought of it, I would take Desire prisoner, and<br/>

     ransom him to any French courtier for a new-devis'd curtsy. I<br/>

     think scorn to sigh; methinks I should out-swear Cupid. Comfort<br/>

     me, boy; what great men have been in love?<br/>

   MOTH. Hercules, master.<br/>

   ARMADO. Most sweet Hercules! More authority, dear boy, name more;<br/>

     and, sweet my child, let them be men of good repute and carriage.<br/>

   MOTH. Samson, master; he was a man of good carriage, great<br/>

     carriage, for he carried the town gates on his back like a<br/>

     porter; and he was in love.<br/>

   ARMADO. O well-knit Samson! strong-jointed Samson! I do excel thee<br/>

     in my rapier as much as thou didst me in carrying gates. I am in<br/>

     love too. Who was Samson's love, my dear Moth?<br/>

   MOTH. A woman, master.<br/>

   ARMADO. Of what complexion?<br/>

   MOTH. Of all the four, or the three, or the two, or one of the<br/>

     four.<br/>

   ARMADO. Tell me precisely of what complexion.<br/>

   MOTH. Of the sea-water green, sir.<br/>

   ARMADO. Is that one of the four complexions?<br/>

   MOTH. As I have read, sir; and the best of them too.<br/>

   ARMADO. Green, indeed, is the colour of lovers; but to have a love<br/>

     of that colour, methinks Samson had small reason for it. He<br/>

     surely affected her for her wit.<br/>

   MOTH. It was so, sir; for she had a green wit.<br/>

   ARMADO. My love is most immaculate white and red.<br/>

   MOTH. Most maculate thoughts, master, are mask'd under such<br/>

     colours.<br/>

   ARMADO. Define, define, well-educated infant.<br/>

   MOTH. My father's wit my mother's tongue assist me!<br/>

   ARMADO. Sweet invocation of a child; most pretty, and pathetical!<br/>

   MOTH.      If she be made of white and red,<br/>

               Her faults will ne'er be known;<br/>

             For blushing cheeks by faults are bred,<br/>

               And fears by pale white shown.<br/>

             Then if she fear, or be to blame,<br/>

               By this you shall not know;<br/>

             For still her cheeks possess the same<br/>

               Which native she doth owe.<br/>

     A dangerous rhyme, master, against the reason of white and red.<br/>

   ARMADO. Is there not a ballad, boy, of the King and the Beggar?<br/>

   MOTH. The world was very guilty of such a ballad some three ages<br/>

     since; but I think now 'tis not to be found; or if it were, it<br/>

     would neither serve for the writing nor the tune.<br/>

   ARMADO. I will have that subject newly writ o'er, that I may<br/>

     example my digression by some mighty precedent. Boy, I do love<br/>

     that country girl that I took in the park with the rational hind<br/>

     Costard; she deserves well.<br/>

   MOTH. [Aside] To be whipt; and yet a better love than my master.<br/>

   ARMADO. Sing, boy; my spirit grows heavy in love.<br/>

   MOTH. And that's great marvel, loving a light wench.<br/>

   ARMADO. I say, sing.<br/>

   MOTH. Forbear till this company be past.<br/>

</p>

<p>  DULL. Sir, the Duke's pleasure is that you keep Costard safe; and<br/>

     you must suffer him to take no delight nor no penance; but 'a<br/>

     must fast three days a week. For this damsel, I must keep her at<br/>

     the park; she is allow'd for the day-woman. Fare you well.<br/>

   ARMADO. I do betray myself with blushing. Maid!<br/>

   JAQUENETTA. Man!<br/>

   ARMADO. I will visit thee at the lodge.<br/>

   JAQUENETTA. That's hereby.<br/>

   ARMADO. I know where it is situate.<br/>

   JAQUENETTA. Lord, how wise you are!<br/>

   ARMADO. I will tell thee wonders.<br/>

   JAQUENETTA. With that face?<br/>

   ARMADO. I love thee.<br/>

   JAQUENETTA. So I heard you say.<br/>

   ARMADO. And so, farewell.<br/>

   JAQUENETTA. Fair weather after you!<br/>

   DULL. Come, Jaquenetta, away.            Exit with JAQUENETTA<br/>

   ARMADO. Villain, thou shalt fast for thy offences ere thou be<br/>

     pardoned.<br/>

   COSTARD. Well, sir, I hope when I do it I shall do it on a full<br/>

     stomach.<br/>

   ARMADO. Thou shalt be heavily punished.<br/>

   COSTARD. I am more bound to you than your fellows, for they are but<br/>

     lightly rewarded.<br/>

   ARMADO. Take away this villain; shut him up.<br/>

   MOTH. Come, you transgressing slave, away.<br/>

   COSTARD. Let me not be pent up, sir; I will fast, being loose.<br/>

   MOTH. No, sir; that were fast, and loose. Thou shalt to prison.<br/>

   COSTARD. Well, if ever I do see the merry days of desolation that I<br/>

     have seen, some shall see.<br/>

   MOTH. What shall some see?<br/>

   COSTARD. Nay, nothing, Master Moth, but what they look upon. It is<br/>

     not for prisoners to be too silent in their words, and therefore<br/>

     I will say nothing. I thank God I have as little patience as<br/>

     another man, and therefore I can be quiet.<br/>

                                         Exeunt MOTH and COSTARD<br/>

   ARMADO. I do affect the very ground, which is base, where her shoe,<br/>

     which is baser, guided by her foot, which is basest, doth tread.<br/>

     I shall be forsworn- which is a great argument of falsehood- if I<br/>

     love. And how can that be true love which is falsely attempted?<br/>

     Love is a familiar; Love is a devil. There is no evil angel but<br/>

     Love. Yet was Samson so tempted, and he had an excellent<br/>

     strength; yet was Solomon so seduced, and he had a very good wit.<br/>

     Cupid's butt-shaft is too hard for Hercules' club, and therefore<br/>

     too much odds for a Spaniard's rapier. The first and second cause<br/>

     will not serve my turn; the passado he respects not, the duello<br/>

     he regards not; his disgrace is to be called boy, but his glory<br/>

     is to subdue men. Adieu, valour; rust, rapier; be still, drum;<br/>

     for your manager is in love; yea, he loveth. Assist me, some<br/>

     extemporal god of rhyme, for I am sure I shall turn sonnet.<br/>

     Devise, wit; write, pen; for I am for whole volumes in folio.<br/>

  Exit<br/>

</p>

<h4>ACT II. SCENE II.

The park</h4>

<p>Enter the PRINCESS OF FRANCE, with three attending ladies,<br/>

ROSALINE, MARIA, KATHARINE, BOYET, and two other LORDS<br/>

</p>

<p>  BOYET. Now, madam, summon up your dearest spirits.<br/>

     Consider who the King your father sends,<br/>

     To whom he sends, and what's his embassy:<br/>

     Yourself, held precious in the world's esteem,<br/>

     To parley with the sole inheritor<br/>

     Of all perfections that a man may owe,<br/>

     Matchless Navarre; the plea of no less weight<br/>

     Than Aquitaine, a dowry for a queen.<br/>

     Be now as prodigal of all dear grace<br/>

     As Nature was in making graces dear,<br/>

     When she did starve the general world beside<br/>

     And prodigally gave them all to you.<br/>

   PRINCESS OF FRANCE. Good Lord Boyet, my beauty, though but mean,<br/>

     Needs not the painted flourish of your praise.<br/>

     Beauty is bought by judgment of the eye,<br/>

     Not utt'red by base sale of chapmen's tongues;<br/>

     I am less proud to hear you tell my worth<br/>

     Than you much willing to be counted wise<br/>

     In spending your wit in the praise of mine.<br/>

     But now to task the tasker: good Boyet,<br/>

     You are not ignorant all-telling fame<br/>

     Doth noise abroad Navarre hath made a vow,<br/>

     Till painful study shall outwear three years,<br/>

     No woman may approach his silent court.<br/>

     Therefore to's seemeth it a needful course,<br/>

     Before we enter his forbidden gates,<br/>

     To know his pleasure; and in that behalf,<br/>

     Bold of your worthiness, we single you<br/>

     As our best-moving fair solicitor.<br/>

     Tell him the daughter of the King of France,<br/>

     On serious business, craving quick dispatch,<br/>

     Importunes personal conference with his Grace.<br/>

     Haste, signify so much; while we attend,<br/>

     Like humble-visag'd suitors, his high will.<br/>

   BOYET. Proud of employment, willingly I go.<br/>

   PRINCESS OF FRANCE. All pride is willing pride, and yours is so.<br/>

                                                       Exit BOYET<br/>

     Who are the votaries, my loving lords,<br/>

     That are vow-fellows with this virtuous duke?<br/>

   FIRST LORD. Lord Longaville is one.<br/>

   PRINCESS OF FRANCE. Know you the man?<br/>

   MARIA. I know him, madam; at a marriage feast,<br/>

     Between Lord Perigort and the beauteous heir<br/>

     Of Jaques Falconbridge, solemnized<br/>

     In Normandy, saw I this Longaville.<br/>

     A man of sovereign parts, peerless esteem'd,<br/>

     Well fitted in arts, glorious in arms;<br/>

     Nothing becomes him ill that he would well.<br/>

     The only soil of his fair virtue's gloss,<br/>

     If virtue's gloss will stain with any soil,<br/>

     Is a sharp wit match'd with too blunt a will,<br/>

     Whose edge hath power to cut, whose will still wills<br/>

     It should none spare that come within his power.<br/>

   PRINCESS OF FRANCE. Some merry mocking lord, belike; is't so?<br/>

   MARIA. They say so most that most his humours know.<br/>

   PRINCESS OF FRANCE. Such short-liv'd wits do wither as they grow.<br/>

     Who are the rest?<br/>

   KATHARINE. The young Dumain, a well-accomplish'd youth,<br/>

     Of all that virtue love for virtue loved;<br/>

     Most power to do most harm, least knowing ill,<br/>

     For he hath wit to make an ill shape good,<br/>

     And shape to win grace though he had no wit.<br/>

     I saw him at the Duke Alencon's once;<br/>

     And much too little of that good I saw<br/>

     Is my report to his great worthiness.<br/>

   ROSALINE. Another of these students at that time<br/>

     Was there with him, if I have heard a truth.<br/>

     Berowne they call him; but a merrier man,<br/>

     Within the limit of becoming mirth,<br/>

     I never spent an hour's talk withal.<br/>

     His eye begets occasion for his wit,<br/>

     For every object that the one doth catch<br/>

     The other turns to a mirth-moving jest,<br/>

     Which his fair tongue, conceit's expositor,<br/>

     Delivers in such apt and gracious words<br/>

     That aged ears play truant at his tales,<br/>

     And younger hearings are quite ravished;<br/>

     So sweet and voluble is his discourse.<br/>

   PRINCESS OF FRANCE. God bless my ladies! Are they all in love,<br/>

     That every one her own hath garnished<br/>

     With such bedecking ornaments of praise?<br/>

   FIRST LORD. Here comes Boyet.<br/>

</p>

<p>  PRINCESS OF FRANCE. Now, what admittance, lord?<br/>

   BOYET. Navarre had notice of your fair approach,<br/>

     And he and his competitors in oath<br/>

     Were all address'd to meet you, gentle lady,<br/>

     Before I came. Marry, thus much I have learnt:<br/>

     He rather means to lodge you in the field,<br/>

     Like one that comes here to besiege his court,<br/>

     Than seek a dispensation for his oath,<br/>

     To let you enter his unpeopled house.<br/>

                                     [The LADIES-IN-WAITING mask]<br/>

</p>

<p>            Enter KING, LONGAVILLE, DUMAIN, BEROWNE,<br/>

                         and ATTENDANTS<br/>

</p>

<p>    Here comes Navarre.<br/>

   KING. Fair Princess, welcome to the court of Navarre.<br/>

   PRINCESS OF FRANCE. 'Fair' I give you back again; and 'welcome' I<br/>

     have not yet. The roof of this court is too high to be yours, and<br/>

     welcome to the wide fields too base to be mine.<br/>

   KING. You shall be welcome, madam, to my court.<br/>

   PRINCESS OF FRANCE. I will be welcome then; conduct me thither.<br/>

   KING. Hear me, dear lady: I have sworn an oath-<br/>

   PRINCESS OF FRANCE. Our Lady help my lord! He'll be forsworn.<br/>

   KING. Not for the world, fair madam, by my will.<br/>

   PRINCESS OF FRANCE. Why, will shall break it; will, and nothing<br/>

     else.<br/>

   KING. Your ladyship is ignorant what it is.<br/>

   PRINCESS OF FRANCE. Were my lord so, his ignorance were wise,<br/>

     Where now his knowledge must prove ignorance.<br/>

     I hear your Grace hath sworn out house-keeping.<br/>

     'Tis deadly sin to keep that oath, my lord,<br/>

     And sin to break it.<br/>

     But pardon me, I am too sudden bold;<br/>

     To teach a teacher ill beseemeth me.<br/>

     Vouchsafe to read the purpose of my coming,<br/>