Arm. Chirra! Hol. Quare Chirra, not sirrah? 5 Moth. They have been at a great feast of languages, and stolen the scraps. [To Costard aside. Cost. O, they have liv'd long on the alms-basket of words! I marvel, thy master hath not eaten thee for a word; for thou art not so long by the head as honorificabilitudinitatibus: thou art easier swai-10 lowed than a flap-dragon'. Moth. Peace, the peal begins. Arm. Monsieur, are you not letter'd? Moth. Yes, yes; he teaches boys the horn-book :| What is a, b, spelt backward, with a horn on his head? Hol. Ba, pueritia, with a horn added. Moth. Ba, most silly sheep, with a horn:-You hear his learning. Hol. Quis, quis, thou consonant? Moth. The third of the five vowels, if you repeat them; or the fifth, if I. Hol. I will repeat them, a, e, i.—— Moth. The sheep: the other two concludes it ;[ o, u3. Arm. Now, by the salt water of the Mediterranean, a sweet touch, a quick venew* of wit: snip, snap, quick and home; it rejoiceth my intellect: true wit. noon: the word is well cull'd, chose: sweet and apt, i do assure you, sir, I do assure. Arm. Sir, the king is a noble gentleman; and my familiar, I do assure you, very good friend:-For what is inward between us, let it pass:-I do beseech thee, rememberthy courtesy;—I beseech thee, apparel thy head:-and among other importunate and most serious designs,—and of great import indeed, too;-but let that pass :-for I must tell thee, it will please his grace (by the world) sometime to lean upon my poor shoulder; and with his royal finger, thus, dally with my excrement, with my mustachio; but, sweet heart, let that pass. By the world, I recount no fable: some certain special honours it pleaseth his greatness to impart to Armado, a soldier, a man of travel, that hath seen the world: but let that pass.The very all of all is,-but, sweet heart, I do implore secresy,-that the king would have me present 20the princess, sweet chuck, with some delightful ostentation, or show, or pageant, or antick,or firework. Now understanding that the curate, and your sweet self, are good at such eruptions, and sudden breakings out of mirth, as it were, I have acquainted you withal, to the end to crave your assistance. 15 25 Moth. Offered by a child to an old man; which 30 is wit-old. Hol. What is the figure? what is the figure? Hol. Thou disputest like an infant: go, whip thy gigg. Moth. Lend me your horn to make one, and I will whip about your infamy circùm circà; Agigg of a cuckold's horn! Hol. Sir, you shall present before her the nine worthies.--Sir Nathaniel, as concerning some entertainment of time, some show in the posterior of this day, to be render'd by our assistance,―atthe king's command; and this most gallant, illustrate, and learned gentleman,-before the princess; Isay, none so fit as to present the nine worthies, Nath. Where will you find men worthy enough 35 to present them? Cost. An I had but one penny in the world, thou shouldst have it to buy ginger-bread: hold, there is 40 the very remuneration I had of thy master, thou half-penny purse of wit, thou pigeon-egg of discretion. O, an the heavens were so pleased, that thou wert but my bastard! what a joy ful father wouldst thou make me? Go to; thou hast it ad dunghill, 45 at the fingers' ends, as they say. Hol. Oh, I smell false Latin; dungill for un quem. Arm. Arts-man, præambula; we will be singled Arm At your sweet pleasure, for the mountain Arm. Sir, it is the king's most sweet pleasure and 55 affection, to congratulate the princess at her pavilion, in the posteriors of this day; which the rude multitude call the afternoon. Hol. The posterior of the day, most generous sir, Hol. Joshua, yourself; myself, or this gallant gentleman, Judas Maccabæus; this swain, because of his great limb or joint, shall pass Pompey the great; the page, Hercules. Arm. Pardon, sir, error; he is not quantity enough for that worthy's thumb: he is not so big as the end of his club. Hol. Shall I have audience? he shall present Hercules in minority: his enter and exit shall be strangling a snake; and I will have an apology for that purpose. Moth. An excellent device! so if any of the audience hiss, you may cry, Well done, Hercules! now thou crushest the snake! that is the way to make an offence gracious; though few have the grace to do it. Arm. For the rest of the worthies? Arm. We will have, if this fadge' not, an antick. Hol, Via, goodman Dull! thou hast spoken no is liable, congruent, and measurable for the after-160 word all this while. 3 That is, the very offal, or refuse of words. 2 A flap-dragon is a small inflammable substance, which topers swallow in a glass of wine. By o, u, Moth would mean--Oh, you-i. e. You are the sheep still, either way; no matter which of us repeats them. A renew is the technical term at the fencing-school for a bout. Mr. Steevens supposes the charge-house to mean the free-school. Meaning, his beard. That is, suit not. An Italian ex lamation, signifying Courage! come on! 5 6 Dull. Before the Princess's Pavilion. [Exeunt. [part, Prin. Sweet hearts, we shall be rich ere we de- Ros. Madam, came nothing else along with that? Ros. That was the way to make his god-head wax'; Kath. Ay, and a shrewd unhappy gallows too. Kath. He made her melancholy, sad, and heavy; Mar. This, and these pearls, to me sent LongaThe letter is too long by half a mile. [so. Prin. I think no less; Dost thou not wishin heart, 15 The chain were longer, and the letter short? [part. Mar. Ay, or I would these hands might never. Prin. We are wise girls, to mock our lovers so. Ros. They are worse fools to purchase mocking That same Biron I'll torture ere I go. 200, that I knew he were but in. by the week! How I would make him fawn, and beg, and seek; And wait the season, and observe the times, And spend his prodigal wit in bootless himes; And shape his service all to my behests: 25 And make him proud to make me proud that jests! So portent-like would I o'ersway his state", That he should be my fool, and I his fate! [catch'd, Prin. None are so surely caught, when they are As wit turn'd fool: folly, in wisdom hatch'd, 30 Hath wisdom's warrant, and the help of school; And wit's own grace to grace a learned fool. Kath. A light condition in a beauty dark. [out. Ros. We need more light to find your meaning Kath. You'llmar the light, by taking it in snuff; 35 Therefore I'll darkly end the argument. Ros. Look what you do, you do it stilli' the dark. Ros. Great reason; for, Past cure is still past care. Ros. I would, you knew: Nay, I have verses too, I thank Biron: The numbers true; and, were the numb'ring too, I am compar'd to twenty thousand fairs. O, he hath drawn my picture in his letter! Ros. The blood of youth burns not with such Mar. Folly in fools bears not so strong a note, Prin. Here comes Boyet, and mirth is in his face. Boyet. Prepare, madam, prepare!— 50 Muster your wits; stand in your own defence; Ros. Much, in the letters; nothing in the praise. 55 I stole into a neighbour thicket by, Prin. Beauteous as ink: a good conclusion. Kath. Fair as a text B in a copy-book. 1 4 And overheard what you shall overhear; To war here signifies to grow. 2 Snuff is here used equivocally for anger, and the snuff of a candle. "Meaning "Ware painting." Alluding, perhaps, to the pits in her face, occasioned by the smallpox. This expression probably alludes to the practice of hiring servants or artificers by the week; and the meaning of the passage may be, I wish I was as sure of his service for any time limited, as if I had hired him. See note 4, p. 87, in Measure for Measure. The meaning is, I would be his fate or destiny, and like a portent, hang over and influence his fortunes. For portents were not only thought to forebode, but to influence. Their Their herald is a pretty knavish page, Prin. But what, but what, come they to visit us? Unto his several mistress; which they'll know 5 maskers come. Boyet. The trumpet sounds; be masked, the [The ladies mask. Enter the King, Biron, Longaville, and Dumain, disguised like Muscovites; Mothwithmusick, &c. Moth. "All hail, the richest beauties on the "earth!" Boyet. Beauties no richer than rich taffata 2. Moth. "Aholy 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 "Out-" " views! Moth. "Out of your favours, heavenly spirits, Biron. Once to behold, rogue. [eyes, Moth. "Once to behold with your sun-beamed "With your sun-beamed eyes" 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. me out. Biron. Is this your perfectness? begon, you If they do speak our language, 'tis our will Prin. And will they so the gallants shall be 30 Know what they would. task'd: 35 For, ladies, we will every one be mask'd; Ros. But shall we dance, if they desire us to't? heart. And quite divorce his memory from his part. Prin. Therefore I do it; and, I make no doubt, Boyet. What would you with the princess? To tread a measure with you on this grass. 50 [miles, Ros. How many weary steps, Of many weary miles you have o'ergone, [you; Biron. We number nothing that we spend for 55 Our duty is so rich, so infinite, 60 That we may do it still without accompt. Ros. My face is but a moon, and clouded too. shine (Those clouds remov'd) upon our watery eyne. Long. A calf, fair lady? 5 Take all, and wean it; it may prove an ox. Not yet; no dance:-thus change I like the moon. King. But your legs should do it. Ros. Since you are strangers, and come here by chance, · We'll not be nice: 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, Will you give horns, chaste lady? do not so. As is the razor's edge invisible, 15 Cutting a smaller hair than may be seen; 20 break off. Biron. By heaven, all dry-beaten with purescoff! King. Prize yourselves, then; what buys your 25 Prin. Twenty adieus, my rozen Muscovites.— Are these the breed of wits so wondered at? Boyet. Tapers they are, with your sweet breaths company? Ros. Your absence only. King. That can never be. Ros. Then cannot we be bought: and so adieu; Twice to your visor, and half once to you! you deny to dance, let's hold more King. If Ros. In private, then. [chat. King. I am best pleas'd with that. with thee. 30 three. 35 Prin. Honey, and milk, and sugar; there is Metheglin, wort, and malmsey :-well run, Prin. Seventh sweet, adieu! dice! 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 my gall. Prin. Gall? bitter. Biron. Therefore meet. puff'd out. [fat, fat. Prin. Biron did swear himself out of all suit. 45 [word? Dum. Will you vouchsafe with me to change a Dum. Fair lady, Mar. Say you so?-Fair lord, Take that for your fair lady. Dum. Please it you, 50 As much in private, and I'll bid adieu. [tongue? And would affordmy speechless visor half. [a calf?|60| 1 Το Kath. Yes, in good faith. Prin. Go, sickness, as thou art! Ros. Well, better wits have worn plain statute- But will you hear? the king is my love sworn. Boyet. They will, they will, God knows: Prin. How, blow? how, blow? speak to be Boyet. Fair ladies, mask'd, are roses in their bud; 2 cog, signifies to falsify the dice, and metaphorically, to lye. 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, Prin. Avaunt perplexity! What shall we do, Ros. Good madam, if by me you'll be advis'd, Boyet. Ladies,withdraw; the gallants are at hand.] King. Fair sir, God save you! Where's the King. Rebuke me not for that which you provoke; The virtue of your eye must break my oath. Prin. You nick-name virtue; vice you should have spoke; 5 princess? Boyet.Gone to her tent: Please it your majesty, 20 Command me any service to her? lord. 30 [word. 6 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 foolish,and rich things but poor. Ros. This proves you wise and rich; for in my eye, 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 Biron. I am a fool, and full of poverty. Biron. I cannot give you less. mand vou this? Ros. Which of the visors was it, that you were? Biron. Where? when? what visor? why de[case, Ros. There, then, that visor; that superfluous That hid the worse, and shew'd the better face. King. We are descry'd: they'll mock us now downright. Dum. Let us confess, and turn it to a jest. Prin. Amaz'd, my lord! Why looks your highness sad? Ros. Help, hold his brows! he'll swoon! Why Sea-sick, I think, coming from Muscovy. 2 i. c. The mean, in music, is That is, letting those clouds which obscured their brightness sink from before them. uncouth. 3 Wassels were meetings of rural mirth and intemperance. the tenor. "That is, the flower or pink of courtesy, As white as whale's bone is a proverbial Comparison in our ancient poets. Cau |