Act 2, Scene 1
The King of Navarre's park. A pavilion and tents at a distance.
- [Enter the PRINCESS OF FRANCE, ROSALINE, MARIA, KATHARINE, BOYET, LORDS, and other Attendants.]
- Boyet
- 440 Now, madam, summon up your dearest spirits:
- 441 Consider who the king your father sends,
- 442 To whom he sends, and what's his embassy:
- 443 Yourself, held precious in the world's esteem,
- 444 To parley with the sole inheritor
- 445 Of all perfections that a man may owe,
- 446 Matchless Navarre; the plea of no less weight
- 447 Than Aquitaine, a dowry for a queen.
- 448 Be now as prodigal of all dear grace
- 449 As Nature was in making graces dear
- 450 When she did starve the general world beside,
- 451 And prodigally gave them all to you.
- Princess of France
- 452 Good Lord Boyet, my beauty, though but mean,
- 453 Needs not the painted flourish of your praise:
- 454 Beauty is bought by judgment of the eye,
- 455 Not utt'red by base sale of chapmen's tongues.
- 456 I am less proud to hear you tell my worth
- 457 Than you much willing to be counted wise
- 458 In spending your wit in the praise of mine.
- 459 But now to task the tasker: good Boyet,
- 460 You are not ignorant, all-telling fame
- 461 Doth noise abroad, Navarre hath made a vow,
- 462 Till painful study shall outwear three years,
- 463 No woman may approach his silent court:
- 464 Therefore to's seemeth it a needful course,
- 465 Before we enter his forbidden gates,
- 466 To know his pleasure; and in that behalf,
- 467 Bold of your worthiness, we single you
- 468 As our best-moving fair solicitor.
- 469 Tell him the daughter of the King of France,
- 470 On serious business, craving quick dispatch,
- 471 Importunes personal conference with his Grace.
- 472 Haste, signify so much; while we attend,
- 473 Like humble-visag'd suitors, his high will.
- Boyet
- 474 Proud of employment, willingly I go.
- Princess of France
- 475 All pride is willing pride, and yours is so.
- [Exit BOYET.]
- Princess of France
- 476 Who are the votaries, my loving lords,
- 477 That are vow-fellows with this virtuous duke?
- First Lord
- 478 Lord Longaville is one.
- Princess of France
- 479 Know you the man?
- Maria
- 480 I know him, madam: at a marriage feast,
- 481 Between Lord Perigort and the beauteous heir
- 482 Of Jaques Falconbridge, solemnized
- 483 In Normandy, saw I this Longaville.
- 484 A man of sovereign parts, he is esteem'd,
- 485 Well fitted in arts, glorious in arms:
- 486 Nothing becomes him ill that he would well.
- 487 The only soil of his fair virtue's gloss,—
- 488 If virtue's gloss will stain with any soil,—
- 489 Is a sharp wit match'd with too blunt a will;
- 490 Whose edge hath power to cut, whose will still wills
- 491 It should none spare that come within his power.
- Princess of France
- 492 Some merry mocking lord, belike; is't so?
- Maria
- 493 They say so most that most his humours know.
- Princess of France
- 494 Such short-liv'd wits do wither as they grow.
- 495 Who are the rest?
- Katharine
- 496 The young Dumain, a well-accomplish'd youth,
- 497 Of all that virtue love for virtue lov'd;
- 498 Most power to do most harm, least knowing ill,
- 499 For he hath wit to make an ill shape good,
- 500 And shape to win grace though he had no wit.
- 501 I saw him at the Duke Alencon's once;
- 502 And much too little of that good I saw
- 503 Is my report to his great worthiness.
- Rosaline
- 504 Another of these students at that time
- 505 Was there with him, if I have heard a truth:
- 506 Berowne they call him; but a merrier man,
- 507 Within the limit of becoming mirth,
- 508 I never spent an hour's talk withal.
- 509 His eye begets occasion for his wit,
- 510 For every object that the one doth catch
- 511 The other turns to a mirth-moving jest,
- 512 Which his fair tongue, conceit's expositor,
- 513 Delivers in such apt and gracious words
- 514 That aged ears play truant at his tales,
- 515 And younger hearings are quite ravished;
- 516 So sweet and voluble is his discourse.
- Princess of France
- 517 God bless my ladies! Are they all in love,
- 518 That every one her own hath garnished
- 519 With such bedecking ornaments of praise?
- First Lord
- 520 Here comes Boyet.
- [Re-enter BOYET.]
- Princess of France
- 521 Now, what admittance, lord?
- Boyet
- 522 Navarre had notice of your fair approach,
- 523 And he and his competitors in oath
- 524 Were all address'd to meet you, gentle lady,
- 525 Before I came. Marry, thus much I have learnt;
- 526 He rather means to lodge you in the field,
- 527 Like one that comes here to besiege his court,
- 528 Than seek a dispensation for his oath,
- 529 To let you enter his unpeeled house.
- 530 Here comes Navarre.
- [The LADIES mask.]
- [Enter KING, LONGAVILLE, DUMAINE, BEROWNE, and ATTENDANTS.]
- King of Navarre
- 531 Fair Princess, welcome to the court of Navarre.
- Princess of France
- 532 'Fair' I give you back again; and 'welcome' I have not yet: the
- 533 roof of this court is too high to be yours, and welcome to the
- 534 wide fields too base to be mine.
- King of Navarre
- 535 You shall be welcome, madam, to my court.
- Princess of France
- 536 I will be welcome then: conduct me thither.
- King of Navarre
- 537 Hear me, dear lady; I have sworn an oath.
- Princess of France
- 538 Our Lady help my lord! he'll be forsworn.
- King of Navarre
- 539 Not for the world, fair madam, by my will.
- Princess of France
- 540 Why, will shall break it; will, and nothing else.
- King of Navarre
- 541 Your ladyship is ignorant what it is.
- Princess of France
- 542 Were my lord so, his ignorance were wise,
- 543 Where now his knowledge must prove ignorance.
- 544 I hear your Grace hath sworn out house-keeping:
- 545 'Tis deadly sin to keep that oath, my lord,
- 546 And sin to break it.
- 547 But pardon me, I am too sudden bold:
- 548 To teach a teacher ill beseemeth me.
- 549 Vouchsafe to read the purpose of my coming,
- 550 And suddenly resolve me in my suit.
- [Gives a paper.]
- King of Navarre
- 551 Madam, I will, if suddenly I may.
- Princess of France
- 552 You will the sooner that I were away,
- 553 For you'll prove perjur'd if you make me stay.
- Berowne
- 554 Did not I dance with you in Brabant once?
- Rosaline
- 555 Did not I dance with you in Brabant once?
- Berowne
- 556 I know you did.
- Rosaline
- 557 How needless was it then
- 558 To ask the question!
- Berowne
- 559 You must not be so quick.
- Rosaline
- 560 'Tis long of you, that spur me with such questions.
- Berowne
- 561 Your wit's too hot, it speeds too fast, 'twill tire.
- Rosaline
- 562 Not till it leave the rider in the mire.
- Berowne
- 563 What time o' day?
- Rosaline
- 564 The hour that fools should ask.
- Berowne
- 565 Now fair befall your mask!
- Rosaline
- 566 Fair fall the face it covers!
- Berowne
- 567 And send you many lovers!
- Rosaline
- 568 Amen, so you be none.
- Berowne
- 569 Nay, then will I be gone.
- King of Navarre
- 570 Madam, your father here doth intimate
- 571 The payment of a hundred thousand crowns;
- 572 Being but the one half of an entire sum
- 573 Disbursed by my father in his wars.
- 574 But say that he or we,—as neither have,—
- 575 Receiv'd that sum, yet there remains unpaid
- 576 A hundred thousand more, in surety of the which,
- 577 One part of Aquitaine is bound to us,
- 578 Although not valued to the money's worth.
- 579 If then the King your father will restore
- 580 But that one half which is unsatisfied,
- 581 We will give up our right in Aquitaine,
- 582 And hold fair friendship with his majesty.
- 583 But that, it seems, he little purposeth,
- 584 For here he doth demand to have repaid
- 585 A hundred thousand crowns; and not demands,
- 586 On payment of a hundred thousand crowns,
- 587 To have his title live in Aquitaine;
- 588 Which we much rather had depart withal,
- 589 And have the money by our father lent,
- 590 Than Aquitaine so gelded as it is.
- 591 Dear Princess, were not his requests so far
- 592 From reason's yielding, your fair self should make
- 593 A yielding 'gainst some reason in my breast,
- 594 And go well satisfied to France again.
- Princess of France
- 595 You do the king my father too much wrong,
- 596 And wrong the reputation of your name,
- 597 In so unseeming to confess receipt
- 598 Of that which hath so faithfully been paid.
- King of Navarre
- 599 I do protest I never heard of it;
- 600 And, if you prove it, I'll repay it back
- 601 Or yield up Aquitaine.
- Princess of France
- 602 We arrest your word.
- 603 Boyet, you can produce acquittances
- 604 For such a sum from special officers
- 605 Of Charles his father.
- King of Navarre
- 606 Satisfy me so.
- Boyet
- 607 So please your Grace, the packet is not come,
- 608 Where that and other specialties are bound:
- 609 To-morrow you shall have a sight of them.
- King of Navarre
- 610 It shall suffice me; at which interview
- 611 All liberal reason I will yield unto.
- 612 Meantime receive such welcome at my hand
- 613 As honour, without breach of honour, may
- 614 Make tender of to thy true worthiness.
- 615 You may not come, fair Princess, in my gates;
- 616 But here without you shall be so receiv'd
- 617 As you shall deem yourself lodg'd in my heart,
- 618 Though so denied fair harbour in my house.
- 619 Your own good thoughts excuse me, and farewell:
- 620 To-morrow shall we visit you again.
- Princess of France
- 621 Sweet health and fair desires consort your Grace!
- King of Navarre
- 622 Thy own wish wish I thee in every place.
- [Exeunt KING and his Train.]
- Berowne
- 623 Lady, I will commend you to mine own heart.
- Rosaline
- 624 Pray you, do my commendations; I would be glad to see it.
- Berowne
- 625 I would you heard it groan.
- Rosaline
- 626 Is the fool sick?
- Berowne
- 627 Sick at the heart.
- Rosaline
- 628 Alack! let it blood.
- Berowne
- 629 Would that do it good?
- Rosaline
- 630 My physic says 'ay.'
- Berowne
- 631 Will you prick't with your eye?
- Rosaline
- 632 No point, with my knife.
- Berowne
- 633 Now, God save thy life!
- Rosaline
- 634 And yours from long living!
- Berowne
- 635 I cannot stay thanksgiving.
- [Retiring.]
- Dumaine
- 636 Sir, I pray you, a word: what lady is that same?
- Boyet
- 637 The heir of Alencon, Katharine her name.
- Dumaine
- 638 A gallant lady! Monsieur, fare you well.
- [Exit.]
- Longaville
- 639 I beseech you a word: what is she in the white?
- Boyet
- 640 A woman sometimes, an you saw her in the light.
- Longaville
- 641 Perchance light in the light. I desire her name.
- Boyet
- 642 She hath but one for herself; to desire that were a shame.
- Longaville
- 643 Pray you, sir, whose daughter?
- Boyet
- 644 Her mother's, I have heard.
- Longaville
- 645 God's blessing on your beard!
- Boyet
- 646 Good sir, be not offended.
- 647 She is an heir of Falconbridge.
- Longaville
- 648 Nay, my choler is ended.
- 649 She is a most sweet lady.
- Boyet
- 650 Not unlike, sir; that may be.
- [Exit LONGAVILLE.]
- Berowne
- 651 What's her name in the cap?
- Boyet
- 652 Rosaline, by good hap.
- Berowne
- 653 Is she wedded or no?
- Boyet
- 654 To her will, sir, or so.
- Berowne
- 655 You are welcome, sir. Adieu!
- Boyet
- 656 Farewell to me, sir, and welcome to you.
- [Exit BEROWNE.--LADIES unmask.]
- Maria
- 657 That last is Berowne, the merry mad-cap lord;
- 658 Not a word with him but a jest.
- Boyet
- 659 And every jest but a word.
- Princess of France
- 660 It was well done of you to take him at his word.
- Boyet
- 661 I was as willing to grapple as he was to board.
- Maria
- 662 Two hot sheeps, marry!
- Boyet
- 663 And wherefore not ships?
- 664 No sheep, sweet lamb, unless we feed on your lips.
- Maria
- 665 You sheep and I pasture: shall that finish the jest?
- Boyet
- 666 So you grant pasture for me.
- [Offering to kiss her.]
- Maria
- 667 Not so, gentle beast.
- 668 My lips are no common, though several they be.
- Boyet
- 669 Belonging to whom?
- Maria
- 670 To my fortunes and me.
- Princess of France
- 671 Good wits will be jangling; but, gentles, agree;
- 672 This civil war of wits were much better us'd
- 673 On Navarre and his book-men, for here 'tis abus'd.
- Boyet
- 674 If my observation,—which very seldom lies,
- 675 By the heart's still rhetoric disclosed with eyes,
- 676 Deceive me not now, Navarre is infected.
- Princess of France
- 677 With what?
- Boyet
- 678 With that which we lovers entitle affected.
- Princess of France
- 679 Your reason.
- Boyet
- 680 Why, all his behaviours did make their retire
- 681 To the court of his eye, peeping thorough desire;
- 682 His heart, like an agate, with your print impress'd,
- 683 Proud with his form, in his eye pride express'd;
- 684 His tongue, all impatient to speak and not see,
- 685 Did stumble with haste in his eyesight to be;
- 686 All senses to that sense did make their repair,
- 687 To feel only looking on fairest of fair.
- 688 Methought all his senses were lock'd in his eye,
- 689 As jewels in crystal for some prince to buy;
- 690 Who, tend'ring their own worth from where they were glass'd,
- 691 Did point you to buy them, along as you pass'd.
- 692 His face's own margent did quote such amazes
- 693 That all eyes saw his eyes enchanted with gazes.
- 694 I'll give you Aquitaine, and all that is his,
- 695 An you give him for my sake but one loving kiss.
- Princess of France
- 696 Come, to our pavilion: Boyet is dispos'd.
- Boyet
- 697 But to speak that in words which his eye hath disclos'd.
- 698 I only have made a mouth of his eye,
- 699 By adding a tongue which I know will not lie.
- Rosaline
- 700 Thou art an old love-monger, and speak'st skilfully.
- Maria
- 701 He is Cupid's grandfather, and learns news of him.
- Rosaline
- 702 Then was Venus like her mother; for her father is but grim.
- Boyet
- 703 Do you hear, my mad wenches?
- Maria
- 704 No.
- Boyet
- 705 What, then, do you see?
- Rosaline
- 706 Ay, our way to be gone.
- Boyet
- 707 You are too hard for me.
- [Exeunt.]