Moth. That an eel a quick. Arm. I do say, thou art quick in answers: Thou neatest my blood. 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 Moth. If she be made of white and red, A dangerous rhyme, master, against the reason of white and red. 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 the subject newly writ o'er, that I may example my digression by some mighty precedent. Boy, I do love that country girl, that 1 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 spirits grow heavy in love Moth. And that's great marvel, loving a light Arm. I say, sing. Moth. Why, sir, is this such a piece of study? Arm. A most fine figure! [Aside. Moth. Forbear till this company be past. Arm. I will hereupon confess, I am in love: and, Enter Dull, Costard, and Jaquenetta. as it is base for a soldier to love, so am I in love Dull. Sir, the duke's pleasure is, that you keep with a base wench. If drawing my sword against Costard safe; and you must let him take no delight, the humour of affection would deliver me from the nor no penance; but a' must fast three days a-week: reprobate thought of it, I would take desire pri- For this damsel, I must keep her at the park; she soner, and ransom him to any French courtier for is allowed for the day-woman. Fare you well. a new devised courtesy. I think scorn to sigh; Arm. I do betray myself with blushing.-Maid. methinks, I should out-swear Cupid. Comfort me, Jaq. Man. 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 towngates on his back, like a porter: and he was in love. Arm. O well-knit Samson! strong-jointed Samon! I do excel thee in my rapier, as much as thou fidst me in carrying gates. I am in love too,-Who fas Samson's love, my dear Moth? Moth. A woman, master. Arm. Of what complexion? Moth. Of all the four, or the three, or the two; Arm. Tell me precisely of what complexion. 0. Arm. Green, indeed, is the colour of lovers: but o 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 pathetical! (1) The name of a coin once current. I Arm. I will visit thee at the lodge. Jaq. That's hereby. 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. Cost. I am more bound to you, than your fellows, for they are but lightly rewarded. 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 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. [Exeunt Moth and Costard. Arm. I do affects the very ground, which is base, (3) Transgression. (4) Dairy-woman. (5) Love. where her shoe, which is baser, guided by her foot, Between lord Perigort and the beauteous heir which is basest, doth tread. I shall be forsworn Of Jacques Falconbridge solemnized. (which is a great argument of falsehood,) if I love: In Normandy saw I this Longaville: and how can that be true love, which is falsely at- A man of sovereign parts he is esteem'd; tempted? Love is a familiar; love is a devil: there Well fitted in the arts, glorious in arms: is no evil angel but love. Yet Samson was so Nothing becomes him ill, that he would well. tempted: and he had an excellent strength: yet The only soil of his fair virtue's gloss, was Solomon so seduced; and he had a very good (If virtue's gloss will stain with any soil,). wit. Cupid's butt-shaft is too hard for Hercules' Is a sharp wit match'd with too blunt a will club, and therefore too much odds for a Spaniard's Whose edge hath power to cut, whose will still rapier. The first and second cause will not serve wills my turn; the passado he respects not, the duello It should none spare that come within his power. Prin. Some merry mocking lord, belike; is't so! Mar. They say so most, that most his humours know. he regards not: his disgrace is to be called boy; ACT II. [Exil. Prin. Such short-liv'd wits do wither as they grow. Kath. The young Dumain, a well-accomplish'd youth, Of all that virtue love for virtue lov'd: Most power to do most harm, least knowing ill; For he hath wit to make an ill shape good, SCENE I-Another part of the same. A pavi-I saw him at the duke Alençon's once; And shape to win grace though he had no wit. lion and tents at a distance. Enter the Princess And much too little of that good I saw, of France, Rosaline, Maria, Katharine, Boyet, Lords, and other attendants. Boyet. Now, madam, summon up your dearest Consider who the king your father sends; Of all perfections that a man may owe, Prin. Good lord Boyet, my beauty, though but Needs not the painted flourish of your praise; Tell him, the daughter of the king of France, [Exit. (1) Arrow to shoot at butts with. (2) Best. Is my report, to his great worthiness. Ros. Another of these students at that time I never spent an hour's talk withal: Prin. God bless my ladies! are they all in love Prin. Why, will shall break it; will, and nothing else. King. Your ladyship is ignorant what it is. 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? How needless was it then Ros. Not till it leaves the rider in the mire. Biron. What time o' day? Ros. The hour that fools should ask. Biron. Now fair befall your mask! Ros. Fair fall the face it covers! King. Madam, your father here doth intimate, The payment of a hundred thousand crowns; Being but the one half of an entire sum, Disbursed by my father in his wars. But say, that he, or we (as neither have,) A hundred thousand more; in surety of the which, A hundred thousand crowns; and not demands, Which we much rather had depart2 withal, Dear princess, were not his requests so far Prin. You do the king my father too much wrong, Prin. 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 specialities are bound, King. It shall suffice me: at which interview 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? Ros. Alack, let it blood. Biron. Would that do it good? Ros. My physic says, I. Biron. Will you prick't with your eye' Ros. No poynt, with my knife. Biron. Now, God save thy life! Ros. And yours from long living! [Retiring. Dum. Sir, I pray you, a word: What lady is that same? [Exit Long. Biron. What's her name, in the cap? Boyet. Katharine, by good hap. Biron. Is she wedded, or no? Boyet. To her will, sir, or so. Biron. You are welcome, sir; adieu! Boyet. Farewell to me, sír, and welcome to you. [Exit Biron.-Ladies unmask. Mar. That last is Biron, the merry mad-cap lord; Not a word with him but a jest. Boyet. And every jest but a word. Prin. It was well done of you to take him at his word. Boyet. I was as willing to grapple, as he was to board. Mar. Two hot sheeps, marry! We arrest your word: Boyet. And wherefore not ships! (1) Whereas. (2) Part. (3) Ayt yes. (4) A French particle of negation No sheep, sweet lamb, unless we feed on your lips. Mar. You sheep, and I pasture; Shall that finish the jest? Arm. How means't thou? brawling in French? Moth. No, my complete master: but to jig of a tune at the tongue's end, canary" to it with your Boyet. So you grant pasture for me. feet, humour it with turning up your eyelids; sigt [Offering to kiss her. a note, and sing a note; sometime through the Mar. Not so, gentle beast; throat, as if you swallowed love with singing love; My lips are no common, though several' they be. sometime through the nose, as if you snuffed up Boyet. Belonging to whom? love by smelling love; with your hat penthouse Mar. To my fortunes and me. like, o'er the shop of your eyes; with your arms Prin. Good wits will be jangling: but, gentles, crossed on your thin belly-doublet, like a rabbit on agree: 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 are most affected to these. The civil war of wits were much better used By the heart's still rhetoric, disclosed with eyes, Prin. With what? Boyet. With that which we lovers entitle, affected. Boyet. Why, all his behaviours did make their| To the court of his eye, peeping thorough desire : Did point you to buy them along as you pass'd. An you give him for my sake but one loving kiss. 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 her father is but grim. Boyet. Do you hear, my mad wenches? Mar. No. Boyet. What then, do you see? Ros. Ay, our way to be gone. Boyet. You are too hard for me. Arm. Warble, child; make passionate my sense of hearing. Moth. Concolinel Arm. How hast thou purchased this experience? 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? I Arm. Almost I had. Moth. Negligent student! learn her by heart. Moth. And out of heart, master: all those three 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? 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. You are too swift, sir, to say so; He reputes me a cannon; and the bullet, that's he: of grace! [Singing. By thy favour, sweet welkin, I must sigh in thy face: Arm. Sweet air!-Go, tenderness of years; take Most rude melancholy, valour gives thee place. this key, give enlargement to the swain, bring him My herald is return'd. festinately hither; I must employ him in a letter to my love. Moth. Master, will you win your love with a French brawl ?3 Re-enter Moth and Costard. Moth. A wonder, master; here's a Costard broken in a shin.. (1) A quble, several signified unenclosed lands. (4) Cana was the name of a sprightly dance. Fcene I. LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST. Arm. Some enigma, some ..ddle: come,-thy rance; and, in lieu thereof, impose on thee nothing Moth. Do the wise think them other? is not Penvoy a salve? Arm. No, page: it is an epilogue or discourse to make plain Some obscure precedence that hath tofore been sain. I will example it: The fox, the ape, and the humble-bee, Were still at odds, being but three. There's the moral: Now the l'envoy. Moth. I will add the l'envoy: Say the moral| again. Arm. The fox, the ape, and the humble-bee, Now will I begin your moral, and do you follow The fox, the ape, and the humble-bee, Cost. The boy hath sold him a bargain, a goose, Sir, your pennyworth is good, an your goose be fat. 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 in a shin. Then call'd you for the l'envoy. Cost. True, and I for a plantain; Thus came Then the boy's fat l'envoy, the goose that you And he ended the market. Arm. But tell me; how was there a Costard broken in a shin? Moth. I will tell you sensibly. Cost. Thou hast no feeling of it, Moth; I will speak that l'envoy :— I, Costard, running out, that was safely within, Arm. We will talk no more of this matter. 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. Cost. My sweet ounce of man's flesh! my incony [Exit Moth. Jew!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 crowr.. I will never buy and sell out of this word. Enter Biron. Biron. O, my good knave Costard! exceedingly well met. Cost. Pray you, sir, how much carnation ribbon Cost. Marry, sir, half-penny farthing. 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, name, And Rosaline they call her: ask for her; Cost. Guerdon,-O sweet guerdon! better than remuneration; eleven-pence farthing better: Most sweet guerdon!-I will do it, sir, in print.-Guer[Exit. don-remuneration. Biron. O! And I, forsooth, in love! I, that have been love's whip; A very beadle to a humourous sigh; Arm. I give thee thy liberty, set thee from du-A woman, that is like a German clock, (1) An old French term for concluding verses, which served either to convey the moral, or to address the poem to some person. (2) Delightful. (3) Reward. (4) With the utmost exactness. (5) Hooded, veiled. (6) Petticoats. (7) The officers of the spiritual courts who serve citations. |