Enter KING, LONGAVILLE, DUMAIN, BIRON, and 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. Were my lord so, his ignorance were wise, But pardon me, I am too sudden-bold; [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 once? Biron. I know, you did. 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. 2 Where-] Where is here used for whereas. 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. King. Madam, your father here doth intimate But say, that he, or we, (as neither have,) Although not valued to the money's worth. Which we much rather had depart withal, 3 Dear princess, were not his requests so far And go well satisfied to France again. Prin. You do the king my father too much wrong, 3 depart withal,] To depart and to part were anciently synonymous. And wrong the reputation of your name, Prin. We arrest your word: Boyet, you can produce acquittances, Boyet. So please your grace, the packet is not come, Where that and other specialties are bound; King. It shall suffice me: at which interview, Your own good thoughts excuse me, and farewell: Prin. Sweet health and fair desires consort your grace! King. Thy own wish wish I thee in every place! [Exeunt King and his Train. Biron. Lady, I will commend you to my own heart. Ros. 'Pray you, do my commendations; I would be glad to see it. Biron. I would, you heard it groan. Ros. Is the fool sick? Biron. Sick at the heart. Ros. Alack, let it blood. Biron. Would that do it good? Ros. My physick says, I. Biron. Will you prick't with your eye? Ros. And yours from long living! [Retiring. Dum. Sir, I pray you, a word: What lady is that same? Boyet. The heir of Alençon, Rosaline her name. Boyet. A woman sometimes, an you saw her in the light. Long. Perchance, light in the light: I desire her name. Boyet. She hath but one for herself; to desire that, were a shame. Long. Pray you, sir, whose daughter? Boyet. Not unlike, sir; that may be. [Exit LONG. Boyet. Katharine, by good hap. Biron. Is she wedded, or no? Boyet. To her will, sir, or so. Biron. You are welcome, sir; adieu! Boyet. Farewell to me, sir, and welcome to you. [Exit BIRON. · Ladies unmask. Mar. That last is Biron, the merry mad-cap lord; Not a word with him but a jest. 4 No poynt,] A negation borrowed from the French. Boyet. And wherefore not ships? Boyet. No sheep, sweet lamb, unless we feed on your lips. Mar. You sheep, and I pasture; Shall that finish the jest? Boyet. So you grant pasture for me. Mar. [Offering to kiss her. Not so, gentle beast; My lips are no common, though several they be. 5 Mar. Το my fortunes and me. Prin. Good wits will be jangling: but, gentles, agree. The civil war of wits were much better used On Navarre and his book-men; for here 'tis abused. Boyet. If my observation, (which very seldom lies,) By the heart's still rhetorick, disclosed with eyes, Deceive me not now, Navarre is infected. Prin. With what? Boyet. With that which we lovers entitle, affected. Prin. Your reason? Boyet. Why, all his behaviours did make their retire To the court of his eye, peeping thorough desire: His heart, like an agate, with your print impressed, Proud with his form, in his eye pride expressed: His tongue, all impatient to speak and not see*, Did stumble with haste in his eye-sight to be; 5 My lips are no common, though several they be.] A play on the word several, which, besides its ordinary signification of separate, distinct, likewise signifies in uninclosed lands, a certain portion of ground appropriated to either corn or meadow, adjoining the common field. 6 His tongue, all impatient to speak and not see,] Although the expression in the text is extremely odd, I take the sense of it to be that his tongue envied the quickness of his eyes, and strove to be as rapid in its utterance, as they in their perception. STEEVENS. |