LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST'. ACT I. SCENE I. The king of Navarre's park. Enter FERDINAND, king of NAVARRE, BIRON, LONGAVILLE, and King. Let fame, that all hunt after in their lives, Live register'd upon our brazen tombs, And then grace us in the disgrace of death; When, spite of cormorant devouring Time, The endeavour of this present breath may buy That honour which shall bate his scythe's keen edge, Therefore, brave conquerors,--for so you are, And the huge army of the world's desires,— Have sworn for three years' term to live with me 5 ΙΟ 15 My fellow-scholars, and to keep those statutes Your oaths are pass'd; and now subscribe your names, That violates the smallest branch herein: If you are arm'd to do as sworn to do, Subscribe to your deep oaths, and keep it too. Long. I am resolved; 'tis but a three years' fast: Biron. I can but say their protestation over; Which I hope well is not enrolled there: King. Your oath is pass'd to pass away from these. 18. schedule] sedule Q scedule Q2 Ff. 23. oaths] oath Steevens. See note (IV). keep it too] keepe it to Qq F keep them to F2. keep them too F3 F4. 27. bankrupt quite】 bancrout quite 29. these this Collier MS. 20 23 30 35 40 45 Biron. Let me say no, my liege, an if you please: I only swore to study with your grace, 50 And stay here in your court for three years' space. Long. You swore to that, Biron, and to the rest. Biron. By yea and nay, sir, then I swore in jest. What is the end of study? let me know. King. Why, that to know, which else we should not know. Biron. Things hid and barr'd, you mean, from common King. Ay, that is study's god-like recompense. To know the thing I am forbid to know: When mistresses from common sense are hid; 55 69 65 If study's gain be thus, and this be so, Study knows that which yet it doth not know: Swear me to this, and I will ne'er say no. King. These be the stops that hinder study quite, 70 And train our intellects to vain delight. Biron. Why, all delights are vain; but that most vain, Which, with pain purchased, doth inherit pain: As, painfully to pore upon a book To seek the light of truth; while truth the while Light, seeking light, doth light of light beguile: Who dazzling so, that eye shall be his heed, And give him light that it was blinded by. Study is like the heaven's glorious sun, That will not be deep-search'd with saucy looks: Small have continual plodders ever won, Save base authority from others' books. These earthly godfathers of heaven's lights, That give a name to every fixed star, Have no more profit of their shining nights Than those that walk and wot not what they are. King. How well he's read, to reason against reading! weeding. Biron. The spring is near, when green geese are a- King. Biron is like an envious sneaping frost, That bites the first-born infants of the spring. Biron. Well, say I am; why should proud summer boast, Before the birds have any cause to sing? Why should I joy in any abortive birth? At Christmas I no more desire a rose Than wish a snow in May's new-fangled shows; But like of each thing that in season grows. 83. it was] was it Steevens. 87. base] bare S. Walker conj. others'] other Rowe (ed. 1). 92. nought but fame;] nought: but feign; Warburton. nought but shame; Id. conj. 103. any] Qq Ff. an Pope. 106. in] on Capell. Grey conj. shows] F3 F4. showes Qq F2 F2 earth Theobald. mirth S. Walker conj. Malone supposes a line to be lost after line 103. 85 90 95 100 105 So you, to study now it is too late, Climb o'er the house to unlock the little gate. King. Well, sit you out: go home, Biron: adieu. Than for that angel knowledge you can say, And bide the penance of each three years' day. Give me the paper; let me read the same; King. How well this yielding rescues thee from shame! Biron. Let's see the penalty. [Reads] 'on pain of Biron. Sweet lord, and why? 110 115 120 125 Long. To fright them hence with that dread penalty. [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 The French king's daughter with yourself to speak,- 108. So you, to study] Go you to study, Anon. conj. But you'll to study, Lettsom conj. to study] by study Collier MS. 109. Climb o'er the house to unlock the little gate] Qr That were to climb o'er the house to unlock the gate Ff Q2. Climb o'er the house-top to unlock the gate Collier MS. That were to climb the house o'er to unlock the gate Grant White. 110. sit] Qq F2 F3 F4. fit Fr. set Malone conj. See note (v). 114. I'll keep what] I'll keep to 130 |