Peace, peace, forbear;

Prin.
Your oath once broke, you force not to forswear.3
King. Despise me, when I break this oath of mine.
Prin. I will: and therefore keep it :-Rosaline,
What did the Russian whisper in your ear?

Ros. Madam, he swore that he did hold me dear
As precious eye-sight; and did value me
Above this world: adding thereto, moreover,
That he would wed me, or else die my lover.
Prin. God give thee joy of him! the noble lord
Most honourably doth uphold his word.

King. What mean you, madam? by my life, my troth,

I never swore this lady such an oath.

Ros. By heaven, you did; and to confirm it plain, You gave me this: but take it, sir, again.

King. My faith and this, the princess I did give;
I knew her by this jewel on her sleeve.

Prin. Pardon me, sir, this jewel did she wear;
And Lord Birón, I thank him, is my dear:-
What; will you have me, or your pearl again?
Biron. Neither of either; I remit both twain.
I see the trick on't; Here was a consent,
(Knowing aforehand of our merriment,)
To dash it like a Christmas comedy:

4

Some carry-tale, some please-man, some slight zany, 5
Some mumble-news, some trencher knight, some Dick,—
That smiles his cheek in years; and knows the trick
To make my lady laugh, when she's dispos'd,
Told our intents before: which once disclos'd,

3

•you force not to forswear.] You force not is the same with you make no difficulty. This is a very just observation. The crime which has been once committed, is committed again with less reluctJOHNSON.

ance.

5

· zany,] A zany is a buffoon, a merry Andrew.

6

his cheek in years;] In years, signifies, into wrinkles; but Mr. Malone reads "jeers," or gibes.

The ladies did change favours: and then we,
Following the signs, woo'd but the sign of she.
Now, to our perjury to add more terror,
We are again forsworn; in will, and error.
Much upon this it is:- And might not you,

[To BOYET.

Forestal our sport, to make us thus untrue?
Do not you know my lady's foot by the squire, 7
And laugh upon the apple of her eye?
And stand between her back, sir, and the fire,
Holding a trencher, jesting merrily?
You put our page out: Go, you are allow'd;
Die when you will, a smock shall be your shrowd.
You leer upon me, do you? there's an eye,
Wounds like a leaden sword.

Boyet.

Full merrily

8

Hath this brave manage, this career, been run.

Biron. Lo, he is tilting straight! Peace; I have done.

Enter COSTARD.

Welcome, pure wit! thou partest a fair fray.

Cost. O lord, sir, they would know,

Whether the three worthies shall come in, or no.

Biron. What, are there but three?

Cost.

No, sir; but it is vara fine,

And three times thrice is nine.

For every one pursents three.

Biron.

Cost. Not so, sir; under correction, sir; I hope, it is

not so:

You cannot beg us, sir, I can assure you, sir; we know what we know:

I hope, sir, three times thrice, sir,

7

Biron.

Is not nine.

by the squire,] From esquierre, French, a rule, or square. 8 Go, you are allow'd ;] i. e. you may say what you will.

9 You cannot beg us,] That is, we are not fools, or lunatics; our next relations cannot beg the wardship of our persons and fortunes.

Cost. Under correction, sir, we know whereuntil it doth amount.

Biron. By Jove, I always took three threes for nine. Cost. O Lord, sir, it were pity you should get your living by reckoning, sir.

Biron. How much is it?

Cost. O Lord, sir, the parties themselves, the actors, sir, will show, whereuntil it doth amount: for my own part, I am, as they say, but to parfect one man, - e'en one poor man; Pompion the great, sir.

Biron. Art thou one of the worthies?

Cost. It pleased them, to think me worthy of Pompion the great for mine own part, I know not the degree of the worthy; but I am to stand for him.

Biron. Go, bid them prepare.

Cost. We will turn it finely off, sir; we will take some [Exit COSTARD. King, Birón, they will shame us, let them not ap

care.

proach.

Biron. We are shame-proof, my lord, and 'tis some

policy,

To have one show worse than the king's and his company. King. I say, they shall not come.

Prin. Nay, my good lord, let me o'er-rule you now; That sport best pleases, that doth least know how; Where zeal strives to content, and the contents Die in the zeal of them which it presents, Their form confounded makes most form in mirth ; When great things labouring perish in their birth. Biron. A right description of our sport, my lord.

Enter ARMADO.

Arm. Anointed, I implore so much expence of thy royal sweet breath, as will utter a brace of words.

[ARMADO converses with the King, and delivers him a paper.

Prin. Doth this man serve God?

Biron. Why ask you ?

Prin. He speaks not like a man of God's making. Arm. That's all one, my fair, sweet, honey monarch : for, I protest, the school-master is exceeding fantastical; too, too vain; too, too vain: But we will put it, as they say, to fortuna della guerra. I wish you the peace of mind, most royal couplement !

[Exit ARMADO.

King. Here is like to be a good presence of worthies: He presents Hector of Troy; the swain, Pompey the great; the parish curate, Alexander; Armado's page, Hercules; the pedant, Judas Machabæus.

And if these four worthies in their first show thrive, These four will change habits, and present the other five. Biron. There is five in the first show.

King. You are deceiv'd, 'tis not so.

Biron. The pedant, the braggart, the hedge-priest, the fool and the boy :

Abate a throw at novum'; and the whole world again, Cannot prick out five such, take each one in his vein. King. The ship is under sail, and here she comes amain.

[Seats brought for the King, Princess, &c.

Boyet.

With libbard's head 2 on knee.

Biron. Well said, old mocker; I must needs be

friends with thee.

Cost. I Pompey am, Pompey surnam'd the big.

1 Abate a throw at novum:] Novum (or novem) appears to have

been some game at dice.

2 With libbard's head-] i. e. leopard's.

Dum. The great.

Cost. It is great, sir; - Pompey surnam'd the great ; That oft in field, with targe and shield, did make my foe

to sweat:

And, travelling along this coast, I here am come by chance; And lay my arms before the legs of this sweet lass of France.

If

your ladyship would say, Thanks, Pompey, I had done. Prin. Great thanks, great Pompey.

Cost. 'Tis not so much worth; but, I hope I was perfect: I made a little fault in, great.

Biron. My hat to a halfpenny, Pompey proves the best worthy.

Enter NATHANIEL arm'd, for Alexander.

Nath. When in the world I liv'd, I was the world's commander;

By east, west, north, and south, I spread my conquering might:

My 'scutcheon plain declares, that I am Alisander.

Boyet. Your nose says, no, you are not; for it stands

too right.3

Biron. Your nose smells, no, in this, most tendersmelling knight.

Prin. The conqueror is dismay'd: Proceed, good Alexander.

Nath. When in the world I liv'd, I was the world's commander.

Boyet. Most true, 'tis right; you were so, Alisander. Biron. Pompey the great,

Cost. Your servant, and Costárd. Biron. Take away the conqueror, take away Alisander. Cost. O, sir, [to NATH.] you have overthrown Alisander the conqueror! You will be scraped out of the

3 it stands too right.] It should be remembered, to relish this joke, that the head of Alexander was obliquely placed on his shoulders. STEEVENS.