Prin. Great thanks, great Pompey. 560 Cost. "Tis not so much worth; but I hope I was perfect: I made a little fault in " "Great." Biron. My hat to a half-penny, Pompey proves the best Worthy. Enter SIR NATHANIEL, for Alexander. Nath. When in the world I lived, I was the world's commander; By east, west, north and south, I spread my conquering might: My scutcheon plain declares that I am Alisander,— Boyet. Your nose says no, you are not; for it stands too right. Biron. Your nose smells "no" in this, most tendersmelling knight. Prin. The conqueror is dismay'd. Proceed, good Alexander. 570 Nath. When in the world I lived, I was the world's commander, Boyet. Most true, 'tis right; you were so, Alisander. Cost. Your servant, and Costard. Biron. Take away the conqueror, take away Alisander. Cost. [To Sir Nath.] O, sir, you have overthrown Alisander the conqueror! You will be scraped out of the painted cloth for this: your lion, that holds his poll-axe sitting on a close-stool, will be given to Ajax: he will be the ninth Worthy. A conqueror, and afeard to speak! run away for shame, Alisander. [Nath. retires.] There, an't shall please you; a foolish mild man; an honest man, look you, and soon dashed. He is a marvellous good neighbour, faith, and a very good bowler: but, for Alisander,―alas, you see how 'tis,- -a little o'erparted. But there are Wor thies a-coming will speak their mind in some other sort. 590 Prin. Stand aside, good Pompey. Enter HOLOFERNES, for Judas; and MOTH, for Hercules. Hol. Great Hercules is presented by this imp, Whose club kill'd Cerberus, that three-headed canis ; And when he was a babe, a child, a shrimp, Thus did he strangle serpents in his manus. Quoniam he seemeth in minority, Ergo I come with this apology. Keep some state in thy exit, and vanish. Judas I am,— : Dum. A Judas! [Moth retires. 600 Hol. Not Iscariot, sir. Judas I am, ycliped Maccabæus. Dum. Judas Maccabæus clipt is plain Judas. Biron. A kissing traitor. How art thou proved Judas? Hol. Judas I am,— Dum. The more shame for you, Judas. Hol. What mean you, sir? Boyet. To make Judas hang himself. Hol. Begin, sir; you are my elder. Biron. Well followed: Judas was hanged on an elder. Hol. I will not be put out of countenance. Biron. Because thou hast no face. Hol. What is this? Boyet. A cittern-head. Dum. The head of a bodkin. Biron. A Death's face in a ring. Long. The face of an old Roman coin, scarce seen. Dum. The carved-bone face on a flask. Biron. Saint George's half-oheek in a brooch. Dum. Ay, and in a brooch of lead. Biron. Ay, and worn in the cap of a tooth-drawer. And now forward; for we have put thee in countenance. Hol. You have put me out of countenance Biron. False; we have given thee faces Hol. But you have out-faced them all. Biron. An thou wert a lion, we would do so. Boyet. Therefore, as he is an ass, let him go. And so adieu, sweet Jude! nay, why dost thy stay? 611 620 630 Biron. For the ass to the Jude; give it him :—Jud-as, away! Hol. This is not generous, not gentle, not humble. may stumble. Enter ARMADO, for Hector. Biron. Hide thy head, Achilles here comes Hector in arms. Dum. Though my mocks come home by me, I will now be merry. King. Hector was but a Troyan in respect of this. 640 Boyet. But is this Hector? King. I think Hector was not so clean-timbered. Long. His leg is too big for Hector's. Dum. More calf, certain. Boyet. No; he is best indued in the small. Biron. This cannot be Hector. Dum. He's a god or a painter; for he makes faces. Arm. The armipotent Mars, of lances the almighty, 650 Gave Hector a gift, Dum. A gilt nutmeg. Biron. A lemon. Long. Stuck with cloves. Dum. No, cloven. Arm. Peace !— The armipotent Mars, of lances the almighty, Gave Hector a gift, the heir of Ilion; A man so breathed, that certain he would fight; yea I am that flower, Dum. That mint. That columbine. Arm. Sweet Lord Longaville, rein thy tongue. 660 Long. I must rather give it the rein, for it runs against Hector. Dum. Ay, and Hector's a greyhound. Arm. The sweet war-man is dead and rotten; sweet chucks, beat not the bones of the buried: when he breathed, he was a man. But I will forward with my device. [To the Princess] Sweet royalty, bestow on me the sense of hearing. Prin. Speak, brave Hector: we are much delighted. Boyet. [Aside to Dum.] Loves her by the foot. Dum. [Aside to Boyet] He may not by the yard. 670 Cost. The party is gone, fellow Hector, she is gone; she is two months on her way. Arm. What meanest thou? 680 Cost. Faith, unless you play the honest Troyan, the poor wench is cast away: she's quick; the child brags in her belly already: 'tis yours. Arm. Dost thou infamonize me among potentates? thou shalt die. Cost. Then shall Hector be whipped for Jaquenetta that is quick by him and hanged for Pompey that is dead by him. Dum. Most rare Pompey! Boyet. Renowned Pompey ! 690 Biron. Greater than great, great, great, great Pompey ! Pompey the Huge! Dum. Hector trembles. Biron. Pompey is moved. More Ates, more Ates ! stir them on stir them on! Dum. Hector will challenge him. Biron. Ay, if a' have no more man's blood in 's belly than will sup a flea. Arm. By the north pole, I do challenge thee. Cost. I will not fight with a pole, like a northern man: I'll slash; I'll do it by the sword. I bepray you, let me borrow my arms again. Dum. Room for the incensed Worthies! Cost. I'll do it in my shirt. Dum. Most resolute Pompey! Moth. Master, let me take you a button-hole lower. Do you not see Pompey is uncasing for the combat? What mean you? You will lose your reputation. Arm. Gentlemen and soldiers, pardon me; I will not combat in my shirt. 711 Dum. You may not deny it: Pompey hath made the challenge. Arm. Sweet bloods, I both may and will. Biron. What reason have you for't? Arm. The naked truth of it is, I have no shirt; I go wool ward for penance. Boyet. True, and it was enjoined him in Rome for want of linen since when, I'll be sworn, he wore none but a dishclout of Jaquenetta's, and that a' wears next his heart for a favour. Enter MERCADE. Mer. God save you, madam! Prin. Welcome, Mercade; But that thou interrupt'st our merriment. Mer. I am sorry, madam; for the news I bring Is heavy in my tongue. The king your father Prin. Dead, for my life! Mer. Even so; my tale is told. Biron. Worthies, away! the scene begins to cloud. 730 Arm. For mine own part, I breathe free breath. I have seen the day of wrong through the little hole of discretion, and I will right myself like a soldier. King. How fares your majesty? [Exeunt Worthies. Prin. Boyet, prepare; I will away to-night. Prin. Prepare, I say. I thank you, gracious lords, For all your fair endeavours; and entreat, In your rich wisdom to excuse or hide 740 The liberal opposition of our spirits, King. The extreme part of time extremely forms 750 All causes to the purpose of his speed, And often at his very loose decides That which long process could not arbitrate : Forbid the smiling courtesy of love The holy suit which fain it would convince, From what it purposed; since, to wail friends lost As to rejoice at friends but newly found. Prin. I understand you not: my griefs are double. 760 Biron. Honest plain words best pierce the ear of grief; And by these badges understand the king. For your fair sakes have we neglected time, Play'd foul play with our oaths: your beauty, ladies, Hath much deform'd us, fashioning our humours By being once false for ever to be true To those that make us both,-fair ladies, you: And even that falsehood, in itself a sin, Thus purifies itself and turns to grace. Prin. We have received your letters full of love; Your favours, the ambassadors of love; And, in our maiden council, rated them 770 780 |