Boyet. Do not curst wives hold that self-sove

reignty

Only for praise' sake, when they strive to be

Lords o'er their lords?

Το

Prin. Only for praise: and praise we may afford any lady that subdues a lord.

Enter COSTARD.

Prin. Here comes a member of the commonwealth. Cost. God dig-you den all! Pray you, which is the head lady?

Prin. Thou shalt know her, fellow, by the rest that have no heads.

Cost. Which is the greatest lady, the highest?
Prin. The thickest, and the tallest.

Cost. The thickest, and the tallest! it is so; truth is truth.

An your waist mistress, were as slender as my wit, One of these maids' girdles for your waist should be

fit.

Are not you the chief woman? you are the thickest

here.

Prin. What's your will, sir? what's your will? Cost. I have a letter from monsieur Biron, to one

lady Rosaline.

Prin. O, thy letter, thy letter; he's a good friend of mine:

Stand aside, good bearer.-Boyet, you can carve;
Break up this capon.

Boyet.

I am bound to serve.

This letter is mistook, it importeth none here;
It is writ to Jaquenetta.

Prin.

We will read it, I swear: Break the neck of the wax, and every one give

ear.

Boyet. [reads.] By heaven, that thou art fair, is most infallible; true, that thou art beauteous; truth itself, that thou art lovely: More fairer than fair, beautiful than beauteous, truer than truth itself, have commiseration on thy heroical vassal! The magnanimous and most illustrate king Cophetua 24 set eye upon the pernicious and indubitate beggar Zenelophon; and he it was that might rightly say, veni, vidi, vici; which to anatomize in the vulgar, (O base and obscure vulgar) videlicet, he came, saw, and overcame: he came, one; saw, two; overcame, three. Who came? the king? why did he come? to see; Why did he see? to overcome: To whom came he? to the beggar; What saw he? The beggar; Who overcame he? the beggar: The conclusion is victory; On whose side? the king's: the captive is enrich'd; On whose side? the beggar's; The catastrophe is a nuptial; On whose side? the king's?—no; on both in one, or one in both. I am the king; for so stands the comparison: thou the beggar; for so witnesseth thy lowliness. Shall I command thy love? I may : Shall I enforce thy love? I could: Shall I entreat thy love? I will. What shalt thou exchange for rags? robes; For tittles? titles; For thyself? me. Thus, expecting thy reply, I profane my lips on thy

foot, my eyes on thy picture, and my heart on thy

every part.

Thine, in the dearest design of industry,

DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO.

Thus dost thou hear the Nemean lion roar

'Gainst thee, thou lamb, that standest as his prey; Submissive fall his princely feet before,

And he from forage will incline to play:

But if thou strive, poor soul, what art thou then?

Food for his rage, repasture for his den.

Prin. What plume of feathers is he, that indited

this letter?

What vane? what weather-cock? Did you ever hear better?

Boyet. I am much deceived, but I remember the

style.

Prin. Else your memory is bad, going o'er it ere

while.

Boyet. This Armado is a Spaniard, that keeps here

in court;

A phantasm, a Monarcho 25; and one that makes

From my lord to my lady.

Prin. To whom shouldst thou give it?
Cost.
Prin. From which lord, to which lady?

Cost. From my lord Biron, a good master of mine, To a lady of France, that he call'd Rosaline.

Prin. Thou hast mistaken his letter. Come, lords,

away.

Here, sweet, put up this; 'twill be thine another day. [Exit Princess and Train.

Boyet. Who is the suitor? who is the suitor?

Ros.

Shall I teach you to know?

Why, she that bears the bow.

Boyet. Ay, my continent of beauty.

Ros.

Finely put on!

Boyet. My lady goes to kill horns; but, if thou

marry,

Hang me by the neck, if horns that year miscarry. Finely put off!

Ros. Well then, I am the shooter.

Boyet.

And who is your deer?

Ros. If we choose by the horns, yourself: come

near.

Finely put on, indeed!—

Mar. You still wrangle with her, Boyet, and she strikes at the brow.

Boyet. But she herself is hit lower: Have I hit her now?

Ros. Shall I come upon thee with an old saying, that was a man when king Pepin of France was a little boy, as touching the hit it?

Boyet. So I may answer thee with one as old, that was a woman when queen Guinever 26 of Britain was a little wench, as touching the hit it.