Prin. Saint Dennis to saint Cupid! What are

they,

That charge their breath against us? say, scout, say.

Boy. Under the cool shade of a sycamore,

I thought to close mine eyes some half an hour:
When, lo! to interrupt my purpos'd rest,
Toward that shade I might behold addrest
The king and his companions: warily
I stole into a neighbour-thicket by,
And overhear'd what you shall overhear;
That, by and by, disguis'd they will be here.
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 devil.
With that all laugh'd, and clapp'd him on the

shoulder;

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?

Boy. 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.

Prin. And will they so? the gallants shall be task'd:

For, ladies, we will every one be mask'd;
And not a man of them shall have the grace,
Despite 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 Birón take me for Rosaline.

And change you favours too; so shall your loves
Woo contrary, deceiv'd by these removes.

Rosa. 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.

Rosa. 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.
Boy. Why, that contempt will kill the speaker's
heart,

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; So shall we stay, mocking intended game;

And they, well mock'd, depart away with shame. [Trumpets sound within. Boy. The trumpet sounds; be mask'd, the mask[The ladies mask.

ers come,

Enter the King, Biron, Longaville, and Dumain, in Russian habits, and masked; Moth, Musicians, and Attendants.

Moth. All hail, the richest beauties on the earth! Boy. Beauties no richer than rich taffata.

Moth. A holy parcel of the fairest dames,

[The ladies turn their backs to him.

That ever turn'd their-backs—to mortal views!

Biron. Their eyes, villain, their eyes.

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

Boy. True; out, indeed.

Moth. Out of your favours, heavenly spirits, vouchsafe

Not to behold

Biron. Once to behold, rogue.

Moth. Once to behold with your sun-beamed eyes, -with your sun-beamed eyes—

Boy. They will not answer to that epithet; You were best call it, daughter-beamed eyes. Moth. They do not mark me, and that brings me out.

Biron. Is this your perfectness? be gone, you

rogue.

Rosa. What would these strangers? know their minds, Boyet:

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

Boy. What would you with the princess?
Biron. Nothing but peace, and gentle visitation.
Rosa. What would they, say they?

Boy. Nothing but peace, and gentle visitation.
Rosa. Why, that they have; and bid them so be

gone.

Boy. She says, you have it, and you may be

gone.

King. Say to her, we have measur'd many miles, To tread a measure with her on this grass.

Boy. They say, that they have measur'd many a

mile,

To tread a measure with

you on this

grass.

many inches

Rosa. It is not so: ask them, how

Is in one mile: if they have measur'd many,

The measure then of one is easily told.

Boy. If, to come hither you have measur'd miles, And many miles; the princess bids you tell,

How many inches do fill up one mile.

Biron. Tell her, we measure them by weary

steps.

Boy. She hears herself.

Rosa.

How many weary steps,

Of many weary miles you have o'ergone,

Are number'd in the travel of one mile?

Biron. We number nothing that we spend for

you;

Our duty is so rich, so infinite,

That we may do it still without accompt.

Vouchsafe to show the sunshine of

your face, That we, like savages, may worship it.

Rosa. 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 wat'ry eyne.

Rosa. 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. Rosa. Play, musick, then: nay, you must do it [Musick plays. Not yet;-no dance:-thus change I like the moon. King. Will you not dance? How come you thus

soon.

estrang'd?

Rosa. You took the moon at full; but now she's chang'd.

King. Yet still she is the moon, and I the man. The musick plays; vouchsafe some motion to it.