With a refined traveller of Spain ; Biron. Armado is a most illustrious wight, And, so to study, three years is but short. more. Dull. Signior Arm-Arm-commends you. There's villainy abroad: this letter will tell you [ing me. Cost. Sir, the contempts thereof are as touchKing. A letter from the magnificent Armado. Biron. How long soever the matter, I hope in God for high words. [grant us patience! Lung. A high hope for a low heaven: God Biron. To hear, or forbear laughing? Long. To hear meekly, sir, and to laugh moderately; or to forbear both. Biron. Well, sir, be it as the style shall give us cause to climb in the merriness. Cost. The matter is to me, sir, as concerning Jaquenetta. The manner of it is, I was taken with the manner. Biron. In what manner? King. No words! Cost. of other men's secrets, I beseech you. King. [Reads.] So it is, besieged with sable-coloured melancholy, I did commend the black oppressing humour to the most wholesome physic of thy health-giving air; and, as 1 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 most obscene and preposterous event, that draweth from my snow-white pen the eboncoloured 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. [Reads.] "-that unlettered smallknowing soul,"Cost. Me. King. [Reads.] -"that shallow vessel,"Cost. Still me. King. [Reads.] "-which, as I remember, Cost. O, me. [hight Costard,"King. [Reads.] "-sorted and consorted, contrary to thy established proclaimed edict and continent canon, with-with,-O, withbut with this I passion to say wherewith,"Cost. With a wench. King. [Reads.] -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 estima- . tion." [Dull. Cost. In manner and form following, sir; Dull. Me, an''t please you: I am Antony all those three: I was seen with her in the King. [Reads.] "For Jaquenetta, (so is the manor house, sitting with her upon the form, weaker vessel called, which I apprehended with and taken following her into the park; which, the aforesaid swain,) I keep her as a vessel of put together, is, in manner and form following. thy law's fury; and shall, at the least of thy Now, sir, for the manner,-it is the manner of sweet notice, bring her to trial. Thine, in all a man to speak to a woman: for the form,-in compliments of devoted and heart-burning some form. Biron. For the following, sir? heat of duty, Cost. As it shall follow in my correction : and God defend the right! "Don Adriano de Armado." [tion? Biron. This is not so well as I looked for, but the best that ever I heard. King. Will you hear this letter with atten- King. [Reads.] "Great deputy, the welkin's vice-regent, and sole dominator of Navarre, my soul's earth's God, and body's fostering patron," Cost. Not a word of Costard yet. King. [Reads.] "So it is,—" King. Ay, the best for the worst.-But, sirrah, what say you to this? Cost. Sir, I confess the wench. 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 damosel. King. Well, it was proclaimed damosel. Cost. This was no damosel neither, sir: she was a virgin. [claimed virgin. 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. King. It is so varied too; for it was pro--crosses love not him. 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. [keeper.King. And Don Armado shall be your My lord Biron, see him delivered o'er :And go we, lords, to put in practice that Which each to other hath so strongly sworn. [Exeunt King, Longaville, and Dumain. Biron. I'll lay my head to any good man's hat, [scorn.These oaths and laws will prove an idle Sirrah, come on. Cost. I suffer for the truth, sir; for true it is, SCENE II.-Another part of the Park. Enter Armado and Moth. 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 selfsame 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 saying apt? Or I apt, and my saying pretty? Arm. Thou pretty, because little. Moth. Little pretty, because little. Where fore apt? Arm. And therefore apt, because quick. Moth. How many is one thrice told? Arm. I am ill at reckoning,-it fitteth the spirit of a tapster. [sir. Moth. You are a gentleman, and a gamester, 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's 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 :--who was Samson's love, my dear Moth? Moth. A woman, master. Arm. Tell me precisely of what complexion? 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 By this you shall not know; of white and red. A dangerous rhyme, master, against the reason [and the Beggar? Arm. Is there not a ballad, boy, of the King 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. [love. Arm. Sing, boy; my spirit grows heavy in 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. Dall. Sir, the duke's pleasure is, that you keep Costard 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.- Arm. I will visit thee at the lodge. Arm. I know where it is situate. Jag. Lord, how wise you are! [Maid. 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 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 forsworn, (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 clause will not serve my turn; the passado he respects not, the duello 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 manager is in love; yea, he loveth. Assist me, some extemporal god of rhyme, for I am sure I shall turn sonneteer. Devise, wit! write, pen! for I am for whole volumes in folio! [Exit. ACT II. SCENE I.-A part of the Park. A Pavilion and Tents at a distance. Enter the Princess of France, Rosaline, Maria, Katharine, Boyet, Lords, and other Attend[est spirits: ants. Boyet. Now, madam, summon up your dearConsider whom the king your father sends; To whom he sends; and what's his embassy: Yourself, held precious in the world's esteem, To parley with the sole inheritor Arm. I love thee. Of all perfections that a man may owe, 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, 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. Matchless Navarre; the plea of no less weight Prin. Good lord Boyet, my beauty, though Doth noise abroad, Navarre hath made a vow, is so. Who are the votaries, my loving lords, Between Lord Perigort and the beauteous heir He rather means to lodge you in the field, King. Fair princess, welcome to the court 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. my court. an oath. King. You shall be welcome, madam, to A man of sovereign parts he is esteem'd ; Well fitted in the arts, glorious in arms: Nothing becomes him ill, that he would well. The only soil of his fair virtue's gloss, (If virtue's gloss will stain with any soil,) Is a sharp wit match'd with too blunt a will; Whose edge hath power to cut, whose will still wills It should none spare that come within his Where now his knowledge must prove ignorPrin. Some merry mocking lord, belike; is't I hear your grace hath sworn-out house-keepso? [mours know.'Tis deadly sin to keep that oath, my lord, [ing: Mar. They say so most that most his hu- And sin to break it. Prin. Such short-liv'd wits Who are the rest? [power. do wither as But pardon me, I am too sudden-bold: [they grow. To teach a teacher ill beseemeth me. Kath. The young Dumain, a well accom- Vouchsafe to read the purpose of my coming, And suddenly resolve me in my suit. plish'd youth, [ill; Of all that virtue love for virtue lov'd: Ros. Another of these students at that time! [love, Prin. God bless my ladies! are they all in [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 Biron. I know you did. Ros. once? How needless was it, then, To ask the question! Ros. The hour that fools should ask. [mate The payment of a hundred thousand crowns; On payment of a hundred thousand crowns, A yielding, 'gainst some reason, in my breast, Prin. King. Satisfy me so. 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 interAll liberal reason I will yield unto. [view, Meantime, 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, in my gates; But here without you shall be so receiv'd, As you shall deem yourself lodg'd in my heart, Though so denied fair harbour in my house. Your own good thoughts excuse me, and fareTo-morrow shall we visit you again. [well: Prin. Sweet health and fair desires consort your grace! King. Thy own wish wish I thee in every [Exeunt King and his train. Biron. Lady, I will commend you to mine] [would be glad to see it. Ros. Pray you, do my commendations; I Biron. I would, you heard it groan. own heart. Ros. Is the fool sick? Biron. Sick at the heart. Ros. Alack! let it blood. [Exit. Long. I beseech you a word: what is she [in the light. in the white? Boyet. A woman sometimes, an' you saw her Long, Perchance, light in the light. I de sire her name. [sire that, were a shame. Boyet. Not unlike, sir; that may be. Biron. You are welcome, sir: adieu. Boyet. And wherefore not ships? No sheep, sweet lamb, unless we feed on your lips. [finish the jest? Mar. You sheep, and I pasture: shall that Boyet. So you grant pasture for me. [Offering to kiss her. Mar. Not so, gentle beast: My lips are no common, though several they Boyet. Belonging to whom? [be. Mar. Το my fortunes and me. Prin. Good wits will be jangling; but, gentles, agree: [place! This civil war of wits were much better used On Navarre and his book-men; for here 'tis abused. [dom lies,) Boyet. If my observation, (which very sel- [affected. |