SCENE I.-Navarre. A Park, with a Palace in it. keen And make us heirs of all eternity. Long. I am resolv'd: 'tis but a three years' fast; The grosser manner of these world's delights Biron. I can but say their protestation over, King. Your oath is pass'd to pass away from these. King. Why, that to know, which else we should not know. Biron. Things hid and barr'd, you mean, from common sense? King. Ay, that is study's god-like recompense. Biron. Come on then, I will swear to study so, When mistresses from common sense are hid: King. These be the stops that hinder study quite, And train our intellects to vain delight. Biron. Why, all delights are vain; but that most Which, with pain purchas'd, doth inherit pain: To seck the light of truth; while truth the while Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look: Light, seeking light, doth light of light beguile : By fixing it upon a fairer eye; And give him light that was it blinded by. That will not be deep-search'd with saucy looks; Small have continual plodders ever won, Save base authority from others' books. These earthly godfathers of heaven's lights, That give a name to every fixed star, Have no more profit of their shining nights, Than those that walk, and wot not what they are. Too much to know, is, to know nought but fame; And every godfather can give a name. King. How well he's read, to reason against reading! Dum. Proceeded well, to stop all good proceeding! Long. He weeds the corn, and still let's grow the weeding. Biron. The spring is near, when green geese are a breeding. Fit in his place and time. Dum. How follows that? Before the birds have any cause to sing? Than wish a snow in May's new-fangled shows; And, though I have for barbarism spoke more, Than for that angel knowledge you can say, Yet confident I'll keep what I have swore, And bide the penance of each three years' day. Give me the paper, let me read the same; And to the strict'st decrees I'll write my name. King. How well this yielding rescues thee from shame! Biron. A dangerous law against gentility. [Reads.] Item, If any man be seen to talk with a woman within the term of three years, he shall endure such publick shame as the rest of the court can possibly devise This article, my liege, yourself must break; For, well you know, here comes in embassy The French king's daughter, with yourself to speak, A maid of grace, and cómplete majesty, — About surrender-up of Aquitain To her decrepit, sick, and bed-rid father: Therefore this article is made in vain, Or vainly comes the admired princess hither. King. What say you, lords? why, this was quite forgot. Biron. So study evermore is overshoot; While it doth study to have what it would, It doth forget to do the thing it should: And when it hath the thing it hunteth most, 'Tis won, as towns with fire; so won, so lost. King. We must, of force, dispense with this decree; She must be here on mere necessity. Biron. If I break faith, this word shall speak for me, I am forsworn on mere necessity. [Subscribes. And he, that breaks them in the least degree, Stands in attainder of perpetual shame : Suggestions are to others, as to me; With a refined traveller of Spain; For interim to our studies, shall relate, Biron. Armado is a most illustrious wight, And, so to study, three years is but short. King. Then go we, lords, to put in practice that Which each to other hath so strongly sworn. ——— [Exeunt KING, LONGAVILLE, and Dumain. Arm. Boy, what sign is it when a man of great spirit grows melancholy? Moth. A great sign, sir, that he will look sad. Arm. Sweet invocation of a child; most pretty, and pathetical! Moth. If she be made of white and red, Arm. Why, sadness is one and the self-same A dangerous rhyme, master, against the reason of thing, dear imp. Moth. No, no, sir, no. Arm. How canst thou part sadness and melancholy, my tender juvenal ? 4 Moth. By a familiar demonstration of the working, my tough senior. Arm. Why tough senior? why tough senior? Moth. Why tender juvenal? why tender juvenal? Arm. I spoke it, tender juvenal, as a congruent epitheton, appertaining to thy young days, which we may nominate tender. Moth. And I, tough senior, as an appertinent title to your old time, which we may name tough. Arm. Pretty and apt. Moth. How mean you, sir? I pretty, and my saying apt? or, I apt, and my saying pretty? Arm. Thou pretty, because little. Moth. I will praise an eel with the same praise. Moth. That an eel is quick. white and red. Arm. Is there not a ballad, boy, of the King and the Beggar? Moth. The world was very guilty of such a ballad some three ages since: but, I think, now 'tis not to be found; or, if it were, it would neither serve for the writing nor the tune. that I may example my digression by some mighty Arm. I will have the subject newly writ o'er, precedent. Boy, I do love that country girl, that I took in the park with the rational hind, Costard; she deserves well. Moth. To be whipped; and yet a better love than my master. [Aside. Arm. Sing, boy; my spirit grows heavy in love. Moth. And that's great marvel, loving a light woman. Arm. I say sing. Moth. Forbear till this company be past, Enter DULL, COSTARD, and JAQUENETTA. Arm. I do say, thou art quick in answers: Thou nor no penance; but a' must fast three days a-week: heatest my blood. Moth. I am answered, sir. Arm. Ive not to be crossed. Moth. He speaks the mere contrary, crosses not him. For this damsel, I must keep her at the park; she is allowed for the day-woman. 7 Fare you well. Arm. I do betray myself with blushing. - Maid. Jaq. Man. Arm. I will visit thee at the lodge. love [Aside. Jaq. That's hereby. Arm. I know where it is situate. Arm. I have promised to study three years with the duke. Moth. You may do it in an hour, sir. Moth. How many is one thrice told? Arm. I am ill at reckoning, it fitteth the spirit of a tapster. Moth. You are a gentleman, and a gamester, sir. Arm. I confess both; they are both the varnish of a complete man. Moth. Then, I am sure you know how much the gross sum of deuce-ace amounts to. Arm. It doth amount to one more than two. Moth. Why, sir, is this such a piece of study? Now here is three studied, ere you'll thrice wink : and how easy it is to put years to the word three, and study three years in two words, the dancing horse will tell you. Arm. A most fine figure! [Aside. Arm. I will hereupon confess, I am in love: and my love is most immaculate white and red. Moth. Most maculate thoughts, master, are masked under such colours. Arm. Define, define, well-educated infant. Moth. My father's wit, and my mother's tongue assist me! Jaq. How wise you are! Arm. I will tell thee wonders. Jaq. With that face? Jaq. So I heard you say. [Exeunt DULL and JAQUENETTA. Arm. Villain, thou shalt fast for thy offences, ere thou be pardoned. Cost. Well, sir, I hope, when I do it, I shall do it on a full stomach. Arm. Thou shalt be heavily punished. Cost. I am more bound to you, than your fellows, for they are but lightly rewarded. Arm. Take away this villain; shut him up. Moth. Come, you transgressing slave; away. Cost. Let me not be pent up, sir; I will fast, being loose. Moth. No, sir, that were fast and loose: thou shalt to prison. Cost. Well, if ever I do see the merry days of desolation that I have seen, some shall see — Moth. What shall some see? Cost. Nay, nothing, master Moth, but what they look upon. It is not for prisoners to be too silent 6 Of which she is naturally possessed. 7 Dairy-woman. in their words; and, therefore, I will say nothing I have as little patience as another man; and therefore I can be quiet. [Exeunt MoтH and COSTARD. Arm. I do affect the very ground, which is base, where her shoe, which is baser, guided by her foot, which is basest, doth tread. I shall be forsworn, (which is a great argument of falsehood,) if I love: And how can that be true love, which is falsely attempted? Cupid's butt-shaft 9 is too hard for Hercules' club, and therefore too much odds for a | Spaniard's rapier. The first and second cause will not serve my turn; the passado he respects not, the duello he regards not: his disgrace is to be called boy; but his glory is to subdue men. Adieu, valour! rust, rapier! be still, drum! for your manager is in love; yea, he loveth. Assist me, some extemporal god of rhyme, for, I am sure, I shall turn sonneteer. Devise, wit; write, pen; for I am for whole volumes in folio. [Exit. ACT II. SCENE I. A Pavilion, and Tents at a distance. Consider who the king your father sends; Of all perfections that a man may owe, Prin. Good lord Boyet, my beauty, though but mean, Needs not the painted flourish of your praise; Tell him, the daughter of the king of France, Boyet. Proud of employment, willingly I go. [Exit. Prin. All pride is willing pride, and yours is so.Who are the votaries, my loving lords, That are vow-fellows with this virtuous duke? 1 Lord. Longaville is one. Prin. Know you the man? Mar. I know him, madam; at a marriage feast, Between lord Perigort and the beauteous heir Of Jaques Falconbridge solémnized, In Normandy saw I this Longaville : A man of sovereign parts he is esteem'd ; Well fitted in the arts, glorious in arms: | Nothing becomes him ill, that he would well. Prin. Some merry mocking lord, belike; is't so? Mar. They say so most, that most his humours know. Prin. Such short-liv'd wits do wither as they grow. Who are the rest? Kath. The young Dumain, a well-accomplish'd youth, Of all that virtue love for virtue lov'd: Ros. Another of these students at that time I never spent an hour's talk withal: Prin. Heaven bless my ladies! are they all in love; |