Imagens das páginas
PDF
ePub

Their herald is a pretty knavish page,
That well by heart hath conn'd his embassage:
Action, and accent, did they teach him there;
Thus must thou speak, and thus thy body bear:
And ever and anon they made a doubt,
Presence majestical would put him out;
For, quoth the king, an angel shalt thou see;
Yet fear not thou, but speak audaciously:
The boy reply'd, An angel is not evil;
I should have fear'd her, had she been a decil. [der;
With that all laugh'd, and clapp'd him on the shoul-
Making the bold wag by their praises bolder.
One rubb'd his elbow, thus; and fleer'd, and swore,
A better speech was never spoke before:
Another, with his finger and his thumb,
Cry'd, Via! we will do't, come what will come :
The third he caper'd, and cry'd, All goes well:
The fourth turn'd on the toe, and down he fell.
With that, they all did tumble on the ground,
With such a zealous laughter, so profound,
That in this spleen ridiculous' appears,
To check their folly, passion's solemn tears.

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,
Their purpose is, to parle, to court, and dance:
And every one his love-feat will advance

Unto his several mistress; which they'll know
By favours several, which they did bestow.

5

maskers come.

Boyet. The trumpet sounds; he masked, the [The ladies mask. Enter the King, Biron, Longaville, and Dumain, disguised like Muscovites; Moth with musick, &c. Moth. "All hail, the richest beauties on the "earth!"

Boyet. Beauties no richer than rich taffata 2. Moth. "A holy parcel of the fairest dames, [The ladies turn their backs to him, 10"That ever turn'd their backs to mortal views." Biron. Their eyes, villian, their eyes.

15

20

25

Moth. "That ever turn'd their eyes to mortal "views!

"Out-"

[blocks in formation]

Moth." Once to behold with your sun-beamed "With your sun-beamed eyes

me out.

Boyet. They will not answer to that epithet; You were best call it daughter-beamed eyes. Moth. They do not mark me, and that brings [rogue. Biron. Is this your perfectness? begon, you Ros. What would these strangers? know thar minds, Boyet;

If they do speak our language, 'tis our will
That some plain man recount their purposes:

Prin. And will they so? the gallants shall be 30 Know what they would.

task'd:

35

Boyet. What would you with the princess?
Biron. Nothing but peace and gentle visitation.
Ros. What would they, say they?
Boyet. Nothing but peace and gentle visitation.
Ros. Why, that they have; and bid them so
be gone.
[gone.
Boyet. She says, you have it, and you may be
King. Say to her, we have measur'd many miles,
To tread a measure with her on this grass.
Boyet. They say, that they have measur'd many
a mile,
To tread a measure with you on this grass.
Ros. It is not so: Ask them, how many inches
Is in one mile: if they have measur'd many,
45 The measure then of one is easily told. [miles,
Boyet. If, to come hither you have measur'd
And many miles; the princess bids you tell,
How many inches do fill up one mile. [steps.
Biron. Tell her, we measure them by weary
Boyet. She hears herself.

For, ladies, we will every one be mask'd;
And not a man of them shall have the grace,
Despight of suit, to see a lady's face.-
Hold, Rosaline, this favour thou shalt wear;
And then the king will court thee for his dear:
Hold, take thou this, my sweet, and give me thine:
So shall Biron take me for Rosaline.-
And change your favours too; so shall your loves
Woo contrary, deceiv'd by these removes. [sight. 40
Ros. Come on then; wear the favours most in
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 task, and greet.

Ros. But shall we dance, if they desire us to't? |50|
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.

[blocks in formation]

55

60

Ros. How many weary steps,

Of many weary miles you have o'ergone,
Are number'd in the travel of one mile?

[you;

Biron. We number nothing that we spend for

Our duty is so rich, so infinite,

That we may do it still without accompt.
Vouchsafe to shew the sunshine of your face,
That we, like savages, may worship it.

Ros. My face is but a moon, and clouded too. King. Blessed are clouds, to do as such clouds do! Vouchsafe, bright moon, and these thy stars, to

shine

(Those clouds remov'd) upon our watery eyne.

• Spleen ridiculous is, a ridiculous fit. i, e. the taffata masks they wore to conceal themselves,

Ros.

Ros. O vain petitioner! beg a greater matter; Thou now request'st but moon-shine in the water. King. Then in our measure do but vouchsafe

one change:

Thou bid'st me beg; this begging is not strange. Ros. Play, music, then: Nay, you must do it

soon.

Long. A calf, fair lady!
Kath. No, a fair lord calf.
Long. Let's part the word.
Kuth. No, I'll not be your half:

5 Take all, and wean it; it may prove an ox.
Long. Look, how you butt yourself in these
sharp mocks!

Not yet:- -no dance:—thus change I like the moon.
King. Will you not dance? How come you thus
estrang'd?
[chang'd. 10
Ros. You took the moon at full; but now she's
King. Yet still she is the moon, and I the man.
The music plays; vouchsafe some motion to it.
Ros. Our ears vouchsafe it.

King. Put your legs should do it.

Ros. Since you are strangers, and come here by chance,

We'll not benice: take hands;-we will not dance. King. Why take you hands then?

Ros. Only to part friends:--

Court'sy, sweet hearts; and so this measure ends. King. More measure of this measure; be not

nice.

Ros. We can afford no more at such a price.

15

20

Will you give horus, chaste lady? do not so. Kath. Then die a calf before your horns do grow. Long. One word in private with you, ere I die. Kath. Beatsoftly then, the butcher hears you cry. Boyet. The tongues of mocking wenches are as keen

As is the razor's edge invisible, Cutting a smaller hair than may be seen;

Above the sense of sense; so sensible Seemeth their conference; their conceits have [things. Fleeter than arrows, bullets, wind, thought, swifter Ros. Not one word more, my maids ; break off,

wings,

break off.

Biron. By heaven, all dry-beaten with pure scoff! King. Farewel, mad wenches! you have simple wits. [Exeunt king and lords.

King. Prize yourselves, then; what buys your 25 Prin. Twenty adieus, my frozen Muscovites.—

[blocks in formation]

30

[three. 35
Prin. Honey, and milk, and sugar; there is
Biron. Nay, then, two treys, (an if you grow
so nice,)

Metheglin, wort, and malmsey ;-well run, dice!
There's half a dozen sweets.

Prin. Seventh sweet, adieu!

Since you can cog', I'll play no more with you.
Biron. One word in secret..

Prin. Let it not be sweet."

Biron. Thou griev'st any gall.

Prin. Gali? bitter.

Biron. Therefore meet.

[blocks in formation]

Ros. Well-liking wits they have; gross, gross;
Prin. O poverty in wit, kingly-poor flout!
Will they not, think you, hang themselves to-night?
Or ever, but in visors, shew their faces?
This pert Biron was out of countenance quite.
Ros. O they were all in lamentable cases!
The king was weeping-ripe for a good word.

Prin. Biron did swear himself out of all suit.
Mar. Dumain was at my service, and his sword:
No point, quoth I; my servant strait was mutė.
Kath. Lord Longaville said, I came o'er his heart,
40 And trow you, what he call'd me?
Prin. Quaim, perhaps.

45

[word

[blocks in formation]

Kath. Yes, in good faith.

Prin. Go, sickness, as thou art!

Ros. Well, better wits have worn plain statutecaps 2.

But will you hear? the king is my love sworn.
Prin. And quick Biron hath plighted faith to me.
Kath. And Longaville was for my service born.
Mar. Dumain is mine, as sure as bark on tree.
Boyet. Madam, and pretty mistresses, give ear :
Immediately they will again be here

In their own shapes; for it can never be,
They will digest this harsh indignity.
Prin. Will they return?

Boyet. They will, they will, God knows:
And leap for joy, though they are lame with blows:
Therefore, change favours: and when they repair,
Blow like sweet roses in this summer air.

Prin. How, blow? how, blow? speak to be understood.

Boyet. Fair ladies, mask'd, are roses in their bud;

To cog, signifies to falsify the dice, and metaphorically, to lue. 2 Woollen caps were enjoined by act of parliament, in the year 1571, the 13th of Queen Elizabeth.-Probably the meaning is, Better wits may be found among men of inferior or more humble rank.”

Dismask'd,

Dismask'd, their damask sweet commixture shewn,]
Are angels vailing' clouds, or roses blown.

Prin. Avaunt perplexity! What shall we do,
If they return in their own shapes to woo?

Ros. Good madam, if by me you'll be advis'd,
Let's mock them still,as well known as disguis'd:
Let us complain to them what fools were here,
Disguis'd, like Muscovites, in shapeless' gear;
And wonder, what they were; and to what end
Their shallow shows, and prologue vilely penn'd,
And their rough carriage so ridiculous,
Should be presented at out tent to us.

5

Boyet. Ladies,withdraw; the gallants are at hand.
Prin. Whip to our tents, as roes run o'er the land.
[Exeunt ladies. 15
Enter the King, Biron, Longacille, and Dumain,
in their own habits.

[ocr errors]

King. Fair sir, God save you! Where's the

princess?

lord.

[blocks in formation]

The virtue of your eye must break my oath, Prin. You nick-name virtue; vice you should have spoke;

For virtue's office never breaks men's troth, Now by my maiden honour, yet as pure

As the unsully'd lily, I protest,

A world of torments though I should endure,
10 I would not yield to be your house's guest:
So much I hate a breaking cause to be
Of heavenly oaths, vow'd with integrity.
King. O, you have liv'd in desolation here,
Unseen, unvisited, much to our shame..
Prin. Not so, my lord; it is not so, I swear;
We have had pastimes here, and pleasant game
A mess of Russians left us but of late.
King. How, madam? Russians?
Prin. Ay, in truth, my lord;
Trim gallants, full of courtship, and of state.
Ros. Madam, speak true:-It is not so,my lord;
My lady, (to the manner of these days)
in courtesy, gives undeserving praise.
We four, indeed, confronted were with four
In Russian habit: here they stay'd an hour,
And talk'd apace; and in that hour, my lord,
They did not bless us with one happy word.
I dare not call them fools; but this I think,
When they are thirsty, fools would fain have drink.
30 Biron. This jest is dry to me.-Fair, gentle,
sweet,

Boyet.Gone to her tent: Please it your majesty, 20
Command me any service to her? [word.
King. That she vouchsafe me audience for one
Boyet. I will: and so will she, I know, my
[Exii.
Biron. This fellow picks up wit, as pigeons peas; 25
And utters it again when Jove doth please:
He is wit's pedlar; and retails his wares
At wakes, and wassels', meetings, markets, fairs;
And we that sell by gross, the Lord doth know,
Have not the grace to grace it with such show.
This gallant pins the wenches on his sleeve;
Had he been Adam, he had tempted Eve:
He can carve, too, and lisp: Why, this is he,
That kiss'd away his hand in courtesy;
This is the ape of form, monsieur the nice,
That, when he plays at tables, chides the dice
In honourable terms; nay, he can sing
A mean most meanly; and, in ushering,
Mend him who can: the ladies call him sweet;
The stairs, as he treads on them, kiss his feet:
This is the flower that smiles on every one,
To shew his teeth as white as whale his bone: “–
And consciences, that will not die in debt,
Pay him the due of honey-tongued Boyet. [heart,
King. A blister on his sweet tongue, with my 45
That put Armado's page out of is part!
Enter the Princess, Rosaline, Maria, Katharine,
Boyet, and attendants.

Your wit makes wise things foolish: when we
greet

With eyes best seeing heaven's fiery eye,
35 By light we lose light: Your capacity
Is of that nature, that to your huge store
Wise things seem toolish,and rich things but poor.
Ros. This proves you wise and rich; for in my

40

Biron. See, where it comes!-Behaviour, what
wert thou,
[now 50
Till this mad man shew'd thee? and what art thou
King. All hail, sweet madam, and fair time of day!
Prin. Fair, in all hail, is foul, as I conceive.
King. Construe my speeches better, if you may.
Prin. Then wish me better, I will give you leave. 55
King. We came to visit you; and purpose now

To lead you to our court: vouchsafe it then.
Prin. This field shall hold me; and so hold your

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

Ros. Help, hold his brows! he'll swoon! Why
look you pale

Sea-sick, I think, coming from Muscovy.
Biron. Thus pour the stars down plagues for
perjury.

2 i. c. The mean, in music, is

That is, letting those clouds which obscured their brightness sink from before them. uncouth.. Wassels were meetings of rural mirth and intemperance. the tenor. That is, the flower or pint of courtesy. As white as whale's bone is a proverbial comparison in our ancient poets.

Can

Can any face of brass hold longer out?Here stand I, lady; dart thy skill at me;

Bruise me with scorn, confound me with a flout; Thrust thy sharp wit quite through my ignorance; Cut me to pieces with thy keen conceit; And I will wish thee never more to dance,

Nor never more in Russian habit wait. O! never will I trust to speeches penn'd,

Nor to the motion of a school-boy's tongue; Nor never come in visor to my friend;

Nor woo in rhime, like a blind harper's song: Taffata phrases, silken terms precise,

Three-pil'd hyperboles, spruce affectation, Figures pedantical; these summer flies

Have blown me full of maggot ostentation:
I do forswear them: and I here protest,
By this white glove, (how white the hand,
God knows!)

Henceforth my wooing mind shall be express'd
In russet yeas, and honest kersey noes:
And to begin, wench,-so God help me, la!—
My love to thee is sound, sans crack or flaw.
Ros. Sans SANS', I pray you.
Biron. Yet I have a trick

Of the old rage:-bear with me, I am sick;
I'll leave it by degrees. Soft, let us see;—
Write, Lord have mercy on us on those three;
They are infected, in their hearts it lies;
They have the plague, and caught it of your eyes:
These lords are visited; you are not free,
For the Lord's tokens on you do I see.

5

10

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. [troth,
King. What mean you, madam? by my life, my
I never swore this lady such an oath.

Ros. By heaven you did; and to confirm it plain,
You g
u 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; 15 And lord Biron, 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) 20 To dash it like a Christmas comedy: [zany', Some carry-tale, some please-man, some slight Some mumble-news, some trencher-knight, some

Dick,

[trick That smiles his cheek in years; and knows the 25 To make my lady laugh, when she's dispos'd,Told our intents before: which once disclosed, 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, 30 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 squier 1o, And laugh upon the apple of her eye?" And stand between her back, sir, and the fire,

35

[to us.
Prin. No, they are free, that gave these tokens
Biron. Our states are forfeit, seek not to undo us.
Ros. It is not so: For how can this be true,
That you stand forfeit, being those that sue *?
Biron. Peace; for I will not haveto do with you.
Ros. Nor shall not, if I do as I intend.
Biron. Speak for yourselves, my wit is at an end.
King. Teach us, sweet madam, for our rude
Some fair excuse.
[transgression 40

Prin. The fairest is confession.
Were you not here, but even now, disguis'd?

King. Madam, I was.

Prin. And were you well advis'd?

King. I was, fair madam.

Prin. When you then were here,

What did you whisper in your lady's ear? [her.

[ocr errors]

King. That more than all the world I did respect

Prin. When she shall challenge this, you will

reject her.

45

|წი

King. Upon mine honour, no.
Prin. Peace, peace, forbear;
Your oath broke once, you force not to forswear'.
King. Despise me,when I break this oath of mine.
Prin. I will; and therefore keep it;-Rosaline;|53|

Holding a trencher, jesting merrily?

You put our page out: Go, you are allow'd"; Die when you will, a smock shall be your shroud. You leer upon me, do you? there's an eye, Wounds like a leaden sword.

[blocks in formation]

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 very fine,

For every one pursents three.

Biron. And three times three is nine. Cost. Not so, sir; under correction, sir; I hope, it is not so:

"That is, without French words.

'The inscrip

* Our author here puns upon the

* In years

1 A metaphor taken from the pile of velvet. tion put upon the doors of the houses infected with the plague. word sue, which signifies to prosecute by law, or to offer a petition. "That is, You make no difficulty to forswear. "That is, a conspiracy. "That is, a buffoon, or merry Andrew. signifies, into wrinkles. i. e. First in will, and afterwards in error. 10 From the French esquierre, a rule or square. The sense is nearly equivalent to the proverbial expression, he hath got the length of her foot; i. e. he hath humour'd her so long that he can persuade her to what be pleases. "That is, You may say what you will.

You

[blocks in formation]

Biron. Go bid them prepare. [some care.
Cost. We will turn it finely off, sir, we will take
King. Biron, they will shame us, let them not
approach.
[Exit Costard.
Biron. We are shame-proof, my lord: and 'tis 25
some policy

To have one show worse than the king's and his
company.

King. I say, they shall not come. [now;
Prin. Nay, my good lord, let me o'er-rule you 30
That sport best pleases, that doth least know how;
Where zeal strives to content, and the contents
Dies in the zeal of that which it presents,
There 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.

35

Arm. Anointed, I implore so much expence of thy royal sweet breath as will utter a brace of words. [Converses apart with the king.40 Prin. Doth this man serve God? Biron. Why ask you?

[ing.

Prin. He speaks not like a man of God's makArm. That's all one,my fair, sweet, honey monarch: for, I protest, the school-master is exceed-45 ing 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 couple

ment!

King. Here is like to be a good presence of 50 worthies: He presents Hector of Troy; the swain, Pompey the great; the parish curate, Alexander; Armado's page, Hercules; the pedant, JudasMacchabæus..

And if these four worthies in their first show thrive, 55
These four will change habits, and present the other
Biron. There is five in the first show. [five.
King. You are deceiv'd, 'tis not so.

1

3

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

And, travelling along this coast, I here am co.ne
by chance;

"And lay my arms before the legs of this sweet
lass of France."
[done.
If your ladyship would say, Thanks, Pompey, I had
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 half-penny, Pompey proves the best worthy.

[ocr errors]

Enter Nathaniel 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:

[der." "My 'scutcheon plain declares, that I am AlisanBoyet. Your nose says, no, you are not; for it stands too rights.

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:"

[der. Boyet. Most true, 'tis right; you were so AlisanBiron. Pompey the great,

[ocr errors]

Cost. Your servant, and Costard. [sander. Biron. Take away the conqueror, take away AliCost. O, sir, you have overthrown Alisander the conqueror! [To Nath.] You will be scraped out of the painted cloth for this: your lion, that holds his poll-ax sitting on a close-stool, will be given to A-jax'; he will then be the ninth worthy. A conqueror, and afeard to speak! run away for shame, Alisander. [Exit Nath.] There, an't shall please you! a foolish mild man, an honest man, look you, and soon dash'd! He is a marvellous good neighbour in sooth; and a very good bowler:

Meaning, we are not fools; our next relations cannot beg the wardship of our persons and fortunes. One of the legal tests of a natural is to try whether he can number. 2 Novum was an old game at dice. A phrase still in use among gardeners. This alludes to the old heroic habits, which on the knees and shoulders had usually, by way of ornament, the resemblance of a leopard's or lion's head. To relish this joke, the reader should recollect, that the head of Alexander was obliquely placed on his shoulders. Alluding to the arts given to the nine worthies in the old hisA paltry pun upon Ajax and a jakes,

tory.

but,

« AnteriorContinuar »