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 Samson was 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 cause will not serve my turn; the passado he respects not, the duello he regards not. His disgrace 3 is to be called boy; but his glory is to subdue men. Adieu, valor! 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. Another part of the same. A Pavilion and Tents at a distance. Enter the Princess of France, ROSALINE, MARIA, KATHARINE, BOYET, Lords, and other Attendants. Boyet. Now, madam, summon up your dearest spirits. Consider who the king your father sends; 1 Love. 2 A kind of arrow used for shooting at butts with. The butt was the place on which the mark to be shot at was placed. 3 See notes on the last act of As You Like It, also note to Romeo and Juliet, Act ii. Sc. 4. 4 Best. Yourself, held precious in the world's esteem, Of all perfections that a man may owe, Prin. Good lord Boyet, my beauty, though but mean, Tell him the daughter of the king of France, Prin. Mar. I know him, madam. yours is so. Know you the man? At a marriage feast, 1 i. e. confident of it. Between lord Perigort and the beauteous heir Prin. Some merry mocking lord, belike; is't so? Mar. They say so most, that most his humors know. Prin. Such short-lived wits do wither as they grow. Who are the rest? Kath. The young Dumain, a well-accomplished youth, Of all that virtue love for virtue loved; Most power to do most harm, least knowing ill; Ros. Another of these students at that time Prin. God bless my ladies! are they all in love, With such bedecking ornaments of praise? Mar. Here comes Boyet. Prin. Re-enter BoYET. Now, what admittance, lord? To let you enter his unpeopled house. [The ladies mask. Enter KING, LONGAVILLE, DUMAIN, BIRON, and Attendants. King. Fair princess, welcome to the court of Navarre. 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 wild fields too base to be mine. King. You shall be welcome, madam, to my court. Prin. I will be welcome then; conduct me thither. King. Hear me, dear lady; I have sworn an oath. Prin. Our lady help my lord! He'll be forsworn. King. Not for the world, fair madam, by my will. Prin. Why, will shall break it; will, and nothing else. King. Your ladyship is ignorant what it is. Prin. Were my lord so, his ignorance were wise, Where now his knowledge must prove ignorance. I hear your grace has sworn-out house-keeping. 'Tis deadly sin to keep that oath, my lord, And sin to break it. But pardon me, I am too sudden-bold; To teach a teacher ill beseemeth me. Vouchsafe to read the purpose of my coming, Prin. You will the sooner, that I were away; Ros. To ask the question! Biron. How needless was it then You must not be so quick. Ros. 'Tis 'long of you that spur me with such questions. Biron. Your wit's too hot; it speeds too fast; 'twill tire. Ros. Not till it leave the rider in the mire. Biron. What time o' day? Ros. The hour that fools should ask. Biron. Now fair befall your mask! King. Madam, your father here doth intimate But say, that he, or we, (as neither have,) Received that sum; yet there remains unpaid A hundred thousand more; in surety of the which, One part of Aquitain is bound to us, Although not valued to the money's worth. A hundred thousand crowns; and not demands, |