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.

Biron. For the following, sir?

Cost. As it shall follow in my correction; and God defend the right!

King. Will you hear this letter with attention?
Biron. As we would hear an oracle.

Cost. Such is the simplicity of man to hearken after the flesh.

King. [Reads.] "Great deputy, the welkin's vicegerent, and sole dominator of Navarre, my soul's earth's God, and body's fostering patron,—"

Cost. Not a word of Costard yet.

King. “So it is,—”

Cost. It may be so; but if he say it is so, he is, in

telling true, but so,

King. Peace!

King. Did you hear the proclamation? 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 damsel.

King. Well, it was proclaimed damsel.

Cost. This was no damsel neither, sir: she was a virgin.
King. It is so varied, too, for it was proclaimed virgin.
Cost. If it were, I deny her virginity: I was taken
with a maid.

King. This maid will not serve your turn, sir.
Cost. This maid will serve my turn, sir.
King. Sir, I will pronounce your sentence: you
shall fast a week with bran and water.

Cost. I had rather pray a month with mutton and porridge.

King. And Don Armado shall be your keeper.

Cost.-be to me, and every man that dares not fight. My lord Biron, see him deliver'd o'er:
King. No words.

Cost. of other men's secrets, I beseech you.
King. "So it is, besieged with sable-coloured melan-
choly, I did commend the black-oppressing humour to
the most wholesome physic of thy health-giving air;
and, as I am a gentleman, betook myself to walk.
The time when? About the sixth hour; when beasts
most graze, birds best peck, and men sit down 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
that obscene and most preposterous event, that draweth
from my snow-white pen the ebon-coloured ink, which
here thou viewest, beholdest, surveyest, or seest. But
to the place, where :-it standeth north-north-east and
by east from the west corner of thy curious-knotted
garden there did I see that low-spirited swain, that
base minnow of thy mirth,"

Cost. Me.

King. "with a child of our grandmother Eve, a female; or, for thy more sweet understanding, a woman. Him I (as my 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 good repute, carriage, bearing, and estimation."

Dull. Me, an't shall please you: I am 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's fury; and shall, at the least of thy sweet notice, bring her to trial. Thine, in all complements 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.

And

go we, lords, to put in practice that
Which each to other hath so strongly sworn.

[Exeunt KING, LONGAVILLE, and DUMAINE.
Biron. I'll lay my head to any good man's hat,
These oaths and laws will prove an idle scorn.
Dull. Sirrah, come on.

Cost. I suffer for the truth, sir: for true it is, I was
taken with Jaquenetta, and Jaquenetta is a true girl;
and, therefore, welcome the sour cup of prosperity!
Affliction may one day smile again, and till then, set
thee down, sorrow!
[Exeunt.

SCENE II.-ARMADO'S House in the Park.
Enter ARMADO and Moтн, his page.
Arm. Boy, what sign is it, when a man of great
spirit grows melancholy?

Moth. A great sign, sir, that he will look sad.
Arm. Why? sadness is one and the self-same thing,
dear imp.

Moth. No, no; O lord! sir, no.

Arm. How canst thou part sadness and melancholy, my tender juvenal?

Moth. By a familiar demonstration of the working, my tough senior.

Arm. Why tough senior? why tough senior?

Moth. Why tender juvenal? why tender juvenal? Arm. I spoke it, tender juvenal, as a congruent epitheton appertaining to thy young days, which we may nominate tender.

Moth. And I, tough senior, as an appertinent title to your old time, which we may name tough. Arm. Pretty, and apt.

Moth. How mean you, sir? I pretty, and my say-
ing 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. [Aside.] He speaks the mere contrary:

King. Ay, the best for the worst.-But, sirrah, what crosses love not him? say you to this?

Cost. Sir, I confess the wench.

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. Arm. I confess both: they are both the varnish 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. [Aside.] To prove you a cypher.

Arm. I will hereupon confess I am in love; and, as it is base for a soldier to love, so am I in love with a base 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 out-swear Cupid. Comfort me, boy. What 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.
Samson's love, my dear Moth?

Moth. A woman, master.

Arm. Of what complexion?

Who was

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 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. [Aside.] To be whipped; 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 Cos-
tard 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 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,

Moth. Of all the four, or the three, or the two, or for they are but lightly rewarded.

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, 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 poetical!

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.

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 deso-
lation 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 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.
[Exeunt MoтH 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 fors worn, (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 is too hard
for Hercules' club, and therefore too much odds for a
Spaniard's rapier. The first and second cause will not

A dangerous rhyme, master, against the reason of serve my turn; the passado he respects not, the duello white and red.

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,

ACT II.

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 wide fields too base to be mine.

King. You shall be welcome, madam, to my court.
Prin. I will be welcome then. Conduct me thither.
King. Hear me, dear lady: I have sworn an oath.
Prin. Our lady help my lord! he'll be forsworn.
King. Not for the world, fair madam, by my will.
Prin. Why, will shall break it; will, and nothing else.
King. Your ladyship is ignorant what it is.

Prin. Were my lord so, his ignorance were wise,
Where now his knowledge must prove ignorance.
I hear, your grace hath sworn out house-keeping:
"Tis deadly sin to keep that oath, my lord,
And sin to break it.

But pardon me, I am too sudden-bold:
To teach a teacher ill beseemeth me.
Vouchsafe to read the purpose of my coming,
And suddenly resolve me in my suit. [Gives a paper.
King. Madam, I will, if suddenly I may. [Reads.

Prin. You do the king my father too much wrong, And wrong the reputation of your name,

In so unseeming to confess receipt

Of that which hath so faithfully been paid.
King. I do protest, I never heard of it;
And, if you prove it, I'll repay it back,
Or yield up Aquitain.

Prin.
We arrest your word.
Boyet, you can produce acquittances
For such a sum from special officers
Of Charles his father.

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.

King. It shall suffice me: at which interview, All 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, within my gates; But here without you shall be so receiv'd, As you shall deem yourself lodg'd in my heart, Though so denied free harbour in my house. Your own good thoughts excuse me, and farewell: To-morrow shall we visit you again.

Prin. With what?

Boyet. With that which we lovers entitle, affected.
Prin. Your reason?

Boyet. Why, all his behaviours did make their retire
To the court of his eye, peeping thorough desire:
His 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.
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,

eye,

Did point you to buy them, along as you pass'd.
His face's own margin did quote such amazes,
That all eyes saw his eyes enchanted with gazes.

SCENE I.-Another part of the Same.

Enter ARMADO and MOTH.

SONG. See, my love.

ACT III.

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

[Singing.

Moth. Concolinel (Amato bene.) 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?

Arm. How meanest 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's doublet, like a rabbit on a spit; or your hands in your pocket, like a man after 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 experience?
Moth. By my pain of observation.

Arm. But O, but 0,

Moth. The hobby-horse is forgot.

Arm. Callest thou my love hobby-horse?

Moth. No, master; the hobby-horse is but a colt, and your love, perhaps, a hackney. But have you forgot your love?

Arm. Almost I had.

Moth. Negligent student! learn her by heart.

Arm. By heart, and in heart, boy.

Moth. A messenger 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. Minime, 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!
He reputes me a cannon; and the bullet, that's he:-
I shoot thee at the swain.

Moth.
Thump then, and I flee. [Exit.
Arm. A most acute juvenal; voluble and fair of
grace!

By thy favour, sweet welkin, I must sigh in thy face:
Moist-eyed melancholy, valour gives thee place.
My herald is return'd.

Re-enter MOTH with COSTARD.

Moth. A wonder, master! here's a Costard broken in a shin.

Arm. Some enigma, some riddle: come,-thy l'envoy; -begin.

Cost. No egma, no riddle, no l'envoy! no salve in them all, 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

Moth. And out of heart, master: all those three I me to ridiculous smiling. O, pardon me, my stars!

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

Doth the inconsiderate take salve for l'envoy, and the word l'envoy for a salve?

a

Moth. Do the wise think them other? is not l'envoy salve?

Arm. No, page: it is an epilogue, or discourse, to make plain