For he hath been five thousand years a boy. Kath. Ay, and a shrewd unhappy gallows too. Ros. You'll ne'er be friends with him; he kill'd your sister. Kath. He made her melancholy, sad, and heavy; She might have been a grandam ere she died: Kath. A light condition in a beauty dark. out. Kath. You'll mar the light, by taking it in snuff;" Therefore, I'll darkly end the argument. Ros. Look, what you do, you do it still i' the dark. Kath. So do not you; for you are a light wench. Ros. Indeed, I weigh not you; and therefore light. Kath. You weigh me not,-O, that's you care not for me. Ros. Great reason; for, Past cure is still past care. Prin. Well bandied both; a set of wit3 well play'd. But Rosaline, you have a favour too: Who sent it? and what is it? Ros. I would, you knew? An if my face were but as fair as yours, My favour were as great; be witness this. Nay, I have verses too, I thank Birón: T 2 mouse,] This was a term of endearment formerly. taking it in snuff;] Snuff is here used equivocally for anger, and the snuff of a candle. a set of wit-] A term from tennis. The numbers true; and, were the numb'ring too, O, he hath drawn my picture in his letter! Ros. Much, in the letters; nothing in the praise. Ros. 'Ware pencils! How? let me not die your debtor, My red dominical, my golden letter: Kath. A pox of that jest! and beshrew all shrows! Prin. Did he not send you twain? Kath. Yes, madam; and moreover, Some thousand verses of a faithful lover: Vilely compil'd, profound simplicity. Mar. This, and these pearls, to me sent Longaville; The letter is too long by half a mile. Prin. I think no less: Dost thou not wish in heart, The chain were longer, and the letter short? "Mar. Ay, or I would these hands might never part. Prin. We are wise girls, to mock our lovers so. Ros. They are worse fools to purchase mocking so. That same Birón I'll torture ere I go. O, that I knew he were but in by the week!5 jest!" A pox of that jest! and beshrew all shrows !] "Por of that Mr. Theobald is scandalized at this language from a princess. But there needs no alarm-the small pox only is alluded to; with which, it seems, Catharine was pitted; or, as it is quaintly expressed, "her face was full of O's." -in by the week!] An expression taken from hiring ser And wait the season, and observe the times, Prin. None are so surely caught, when they are catch'd, As wit turn'd fool: folly, in wisdom hatch'd, Ros. The blood of youth burns not with such excess, As gravity's revolt to wantonness. Mar. Folly in fools bears not so strong a note, As foolery in the wise, when wit doth dote; Since all the power thereof it doth apply, To prove, by wit, worth in simplicity. Enter BOYET. Prin. Here comes Boyet, and mirth is in his face. Boyet. O, I am stabb'd with laughter! Where's her grace? Prin. Thy news, Boyet? Boyet. Prepare, madam, prepare!— Arm, wenches, arm! encounters mounted are Against your peace: Love doth approach disguis'd, Armed in arguments; you'll be surpris'd: Muster your wits; stand in your own defence; Or hide your heads like cowards, and fly hence. Prin. Saint Dennis to saint Cupid! What are they, That charge their breath against us? say, scout, say. vants or artificers; meaning, I wish I was as sure of his service for any time limited, as if I had hired him. And make him proud to make me proud that jests!] The mean Boyet. Under the cool shade of a sycamore, That well by heart hath con'd his embassage: I should have fear'd her, had she been a devil. With that all laugh'd, and clapp'd him on the shoulder; Making the bold wag by their praises bolder. Prin. But what, but what, come they to visit us? Boyet. They do, they do; and are apparel'd thus,— Like Muscovites, or Russians: as I guess, ing of this obscure line seems to be, I would make him proud to flatter me who make a mock of his flattery. spleen ridiculous ] Is, a ridiculous fit of laughter. Their purpose is, to parle, to court, and dance: Unto his several mistress; which they'll know Prin. And will they so? the gallants shall be task'd: For, ladies, we will every one be mask'd; Hold, Rosaline, this favour thou shalt wear; And change your favours too; so shall your loves Ros. Come on then; wear the favours most in sight. Kath. But, in this changing, what is your intent? Prin. The effect of my intent is, to cross theirs: They do it but in mocking merriment ; And mock for mock is only my intent. Their several counsels they unbosom shall To loves mistook; and so be mock'd withal, Upon the next occasion that we meet, With visages display'd, to talk and greet. Ros. But shall we dance, if they desire us to't? Prin. No; to the death, we will not move a foot: Nor to their penn'd speech render we no grace: But, while 'tis spoke, each turn away her face. Boyet. Why, that contempt will kill the speaker's heart, S And quite divorce his memory from his part. Prin. Therefore I do it; and, I make no doubt, The rest will ne'er come in, if he be out. There's no such sport, as sport by sport o'erthrown; To make theirs ours, and ours none but our own: |