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Bir. I can but say their protestation over. So much, dear liege, I have already sworn, That is, to live and study here three years. But there are other strict observances; As, not to see a woman in that term, Which I hope well is not enrolled there. And one day in a week to touch no food, And but one meal on every day beside, The which I hope is not enrolled there; And then, to sleep but three hours in the night, And not be seen to wink of all the day, When I was wont to think no harm all night And make a dark night too of half the day, Which I hope well is not enrolled there. O, these are barren tasks, too hard to keep, Not to see ladies, study, fast, not sleep! King. Your oath is pass'd to pass away from these.

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penalty?

Long. Marry, that did I.

Bir. Sweet lord, and why?

Long. To fright them hence with that dread penalty.

[Bir.] A dangerous law against gentility! [Reads.] Item, If any man be seen to talk {** with a woman within the term of three years, he shall endure such public shame as the rest of the court can possibly devise."

This article, my liege, yourself must break; For well you know here comes in embassy 1 The French king's daughter with yourself to speak

A maid of grace and complete majesty — About surrender up of Aquitaine

To her decrepit, sick, and bedrid father; Therefore this article is made in vain,

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physic of thy health-giving air; and, as I am [235 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 [240 the ground which; which, I mean, I walk'd upon it is ycleped thy park. Then for the place where; where, I mean, I did encounter that obscene and most preposterous event, that draweth from my snow-white pen the ebon- [245 coloured 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, [250 that base minnow of thy mirth,"

Cost. Me?

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King. [Reads.] That unlettered smallknowing soul,"

Cost. Me?

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Which, as I remember,

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King. [Reads.] "With a child of our grandmother Eve, a female; or, for thy more sweet understanding, a woman. Him I, as my everesteemed duty pricks me on, have sent to thee, to receive the meed of punishment, by thy sweet Grace's officer, Anthony Dull; a man of [270 good repute, carriage, bearing, and estimation." Dull. Me, an 't shall please you; I am Anthony Dull.

King. [Reads.] "For Jaquenetta, - so is the weaker vessel called which I apprehend- [276 ed with the aforesaid swain, — I keep her as a vessel of thy law's fury; and shall, at the least of thy sweet notice, bring her to trial. Thine, in all compliments of devoted and heartburning heat of duty,

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Moth. You may do it in an hour, sir. Arm. Impossible.

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.

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King. And Don Armado shall be your keeper. My Lord Biron, see him deliver'd o'er ; And go we, lords, to put in practice that

Which each to other hath so strongly sworn.

[Exeunt King, Longaville, and Dumain.] Bir. I'll lay my head to any good man's hat, 310 These oaths and laws will prove an idle scorn. Sirrah, come on.

Cost. I suffer for the truth, sir; for true it is, I was taken with Jaquenetta, and Jaquenetta is a true girl; and therefore welcome the sour cup of prosperity! Affliction may one day [315 smile again; and till then, sit thee down, sorrow! [Exeunt.

Moth. How many is one thrice told? Arm. I am ill at reckoning; it fitteth the spirit of a tapster.

Moth. You are a gentleman and a gamester, sir?

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 is three studied, ere ye'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. To prove you a cipher.

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-devis'd courtesy. I [“ think scorn to sigh; methinks I should outswear Cupid. Comfort me, boy: what great men have been in love?

Moth. Hercules, master.

Arm. Most sweet Hercules! More author ity, 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. Of what complexion?

Moth. Of all the four, or the three, or the two, or one of the four.

Arm. Tell me precisely of what complexion. Moth. Of the sea-water green, sir.

Arm. Is that one of the four complexions? Moth. As I have read, sir; and the best of them too.

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 and red.

Moth. Most maculate thoughts, master, are mask'd under such colours.

Arm. Define, define, well-educated infant. Moth. My father's wit and my mother's [16 tongue, assist me!

Arm. Sweet invocation of a child; most pretty and pathetical!