; ; I'll leave it by degrees: foft, let us fee ; Prin. No, they are free, that gave these tokens to us. Biron. Our states are forfeit, seek not to undo us. Rof. It is not fo; for how can this be true (2), That you ftand forfeit, being those that fue? Biron. Peace, for I will not have to do with you. Rof. Nor fhall not, if I do as I intend. Biron. Speak for yourfelves, my wit is at an end. King. Teach us, fweet Madam, for our rude tranfgreffion Some fair excufe. Prin. The fairest is confefsion. Were you not here, but even now, disguis'd? King. Madam, I was. Prin. And were you well advis'd? King. I was, fair Madam. Prin. When you then were here, What did you whisper in your lady's ear? King. That more than all the world I did respect her. Prin. When the fhall challenge this, you will reject her. King. Upon mine honour, no. Prin. Peace, peace, forbear: Your oath once broke, you force not to forfwear (3). (1) Write, &c.] This was the infcription put upon the doors of the houfes infected with the plague, to which Biron compares the love of himself and his companions; and pursuing the metaphor finds the Tokens likewife on the ladies. The tokens of the plague are the firft fpots or difcolorations by which the infection is known to be received. (2) -how can this be true, That you should forfeit, being those that fue ?] That is, how can thofe be liable to forfeiture that begin the process. The jeft lies in the ambiguity of fue, which fignifies to profecute by law, or to offer a petition. (3) You force not to forfwear.] You force not is the fame with yeu make no difficulty. This is a very juft oblervation. The crime which has been once committed is committed again with less reluctance. King. Defpife me, when I break this oath of mine. Prin. I will, and therefore keep it. Rofaline, What did the Ruffian whisper in your ear? Rof. Madam, he swore, that he did hold me dear King. What mean you, Madam? by my life, my troth, I never fwore this lady fuch an oath. Ref. By heav'n, you did; and to confirm it plain, You gave me this; but take it, Sir, again.. King. My faith, and this, to th Princess I did give I knew her by this jewel on her sleeve. Prin Pardon me, Sir, this jewel did she wear: Biron. Neither of either: I remit both twain. Some carry-tale, fome pleafe-man, fome flight zany, To make my lady laugh, when he's difpos'd, Much (4) -fmiles his cheek in years. -] Mr. Theobald fays, he cannot, for his heart, comprehend the fenfe of this phrafe. It was not his heart but his head that ftood in his way. In years, fignifies, into wrinkles. So in The Merchant of Venice, With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come. cafe, and fo alters it to fleers. -But the Oxford edit.r was in the fame S 3 Much Much upon this it is. -And might not You [To Boyet. Foreftal our fport, to make us thus untrue? You put our page out go, you are allowed (6); Boyet. Full merrily Hath this brave Manage, this Career, been run. Biron. Lo, he is tilting ftrait. Peace, I have done. Enter Coftard. Welcome, pure wit, thou parteft a fair fray. Coft. No, Sir, but it is very fine; Biron. And three times three is nine. Ceft. Not fo, Sir, under correction. Sir, I hope, it is not fo. You cannot beg us (7), Sir; I can affure you, Sir, we know What we know: I hope, three times three, Sir- Biren. Is not nine. Much upon this it is-And might not you—] I believe this passage fhould be read thus, •In will and error. Boyet. Much upon this it is. Biron. And might not you, &c. REVISAL. * Knew my Lady's foot by th' Squier.] Efquierre French, a rule, or Square. (6) go you are allow'd ;] i. e. you may fay what you will; you are a licensed fool, a common jester. So Twelfth Night. There is no flander in an allowed fool. WARBURTON. our next rela (7) You cannot beg us,] That is, we are not fools, tions cannot beg the wardfhip of our perfons and fortunes. One of the legal tefts of a natural is to try whether he can number. Caft. Coft. Under correction, Sir, we know where until it doth amount. Biron By Jove, I always took three threes for nine. Coff. O Lord, Sir, it were pity you should get your living by reckoning, Sir, Biron. How much is it? Coft. O Lord, Sir, the parties themselves, the actors, Sir, will fhew where until it doth amount; for my own part, I am, as they fay, but to perfect one man in one poor man, Pompion the Great, Sir. Biron. Art thou one of the Worthies?. Coft. It pleafed them to think me worthy of Pompion the Great for mine own part, I know not the degree of the Worthy; but I am to ftand for him. Biron. Go bid them prepare. Cot. We will turn it finely off, Sir, we will take fome care. King. Biron, they will fhame us; let them not approach. [Exit Coft. Biron. We are shame-proof, my lord; and 'tis fome policy To have one Show worse than the King's and his Company. King. I fay, they shall not come. Prin. Nay, my good lord, let me o'er-rule you now; That sport best pleases, that doth leaft know how (8). Where zeal ftrives to content, and the contents Dies in the zeal of that which it prefents; Their form, confounded, makes moft form in mirth; When great things, labouring, perish in their birth. Biron. A right defcription of our sport, my lord. (8) That sport best pleases, which doth least know how. Where zeal ftrives to content, and the contents Dies in the zeal of that which it prefents; Their form, &c.] The third line may be read better thus, The contents Die in the zeal of him which them prefents. This fentiment of the Princess is very natura', but lefs generous than that of the Amazonian Queen, who fays on a like occafion in Midfummer-Night's Dream. I love not to fee wretchedness o'ercharg'd, Ner duty in his fervice perishing. 4. SCENE SCENE IX. Enter Armado. Arm. Anointed, I implore fo much expence of thy royal sweet breath, as will utter a brace of words. Prin. Doth this man ferve God? Biron. Why afk you? Prin. He fpeaks not like a man of God's making. Arm. That's all one, my fair, sweet, honey monarch for, I proteft, the schoolmafter is exceeding fantastical; too, too vain; too, too vain but we will put it, as they fay, to fortuna de la guerra. I with you the peace of mind, moft royal coupplement. King Here is like to be a good presence of Worthies; he prefents Hector of Troy; the fwain, Pompey the Great; the parish curate, Alexander; Armado's page, Hercules; the pedant, Judas Maccabeus. And if these four Worthies in their firft Show thrive, These four will change habits, and prefent the other five. Biron. There are five in the first Show. Biron. The pedant, the braggart, the hedge-priest, A bare throw at Novum (9), and the whole world again, Cannot prick out five fuch, take each one in's vein. King. The fhip is under fail, and here he comes amain. Enter Coftard for Pompey. Coft. I Pompey am Boyet. You lye, you are not he. Coft. I Pompey am Boyet. With Libbard's head on knee (1). (9) A bare throw at Novum.] This paffage I do not understand. I fancy that Novum fhould be Novem, and the fame allufion is intended between the play of nine pins and the play of the nine worthies, but it lies too deep for my investigation. (1) With Libbard's head on knee.] This alludes to the old heroic habits, which on the knees and fhoulders had ufually, by way of ornament, the refemblance of a Leopard's or Lion's head. WARB. |