Shakespeare Portal

Act 5, Scene 2

The same. Before the Princess's pavilion.

  1. [Enter the PRINCESS, KATHARINE, ROSALINE and MARIA.]
  2. Princess of France
  3. 1720 Sweet hearts, we shall be rich ere we depart,
  4. 1721 If fairings come thus plentifully in.
  5. 1722 A lady wall'd about with diamonds!
  6. 1723 Look you what I have from the loving king.
  7. Rosaline
  8. 1724 Madam, came nothing else along with that?
  9. Princess of France
  10. 1725 Nothing but this! Yes, as much love in rime
  11. 1726 As would be cramm'd up in a sheet of paper
  12. 1727 Writ o' both sides the leaf, margent and all,
  13. 1728 That he was fain to seal on Cupid's name.
  14. Rosaline
  15. 1729 That was the way to make his godhead wax;
  16. 1730 For he hath been five thousand years a boy.
  17. Katharine
  18. 1731 Ay, and a shrewd unhappy gallows too.
  19. Rosaline
  20. 1732 You'll ne'er be friends with him: a' kill'd your sister.
  21. Katharine
  22. 1733 He made her melancholy, sad, and heavy;
  23. 1734 And so she died: had she been light, like you,
  24. 1735 Of such a merry, nimble, stirring spirit,
  25. 1736 She might ha' been a grandam ere she died;
  26. 1737 And so may you, for a light heart lives long.
  27. Rosaline
  28. 1738 What's your dark meaning, mouse, of this light word?
  29. Katharine
  30. 1739 A light condition in a beauty dark.
  31. Rosaline
  32. 1740 We need more light to find your meaning out.
  33. Katharine
  34. 1741 You'll mar the light by taking it in snuff;
  35. 1742 Therefore I'll darkly end the argument.
  36. Rosaline
  37. 1743 Look what you do, you do it still i' the dark.
  38. Katharine
  39. 1744 So do not you; for you are a light wench.
  40. Rosaline
  41. 1745 Indeed, I weigh not you; and therefore light.
  42. Katharine
  43. 1746 You weigh me not? O! that's you care not for me.
  44. Rosaline
  45. 1747 Great reason; for 'past cure is still past care.'
  46. Princess of France
  47. 1748 Well bandied both; a set of wit well play'd.
  48. 1749 But, Rosaline, you have a favour too:
  49. 1750 Who sent it? and what is it?
  50. Rosaline
  51. 1751 I would you knew.
  52. 1752 An if my face were but as fair as yours,
  53. 1753 My favour were as great: be witness this.
  54. 1754 Nay, I have verses too, I thank Berowne;
  55. 1755 The numbers true, and, were the numbering too,
  56. 1756 I were the fairest goddess on the ground:
  57. 1757 I am compar'd to twenty thousand fairs.
  58. 1758 O! he hath drawn my picture in his letter.
  59. Princess of France
  60. 1759 Anything like?
  61. Rosaline
  62. 1760 Much in the letters; nothing in the praise.
  63. Princess of France
  64. 1761 Beauteous as ink; a good conclusion.
  65. Katharine
  66. 1762 Fair as a text B in a copy-book.
  67. Rosaline
  68. 1763 'Ware pencils! how! let me not die your debtor,
  69. 1764 My red dominical, my golden letter:
  70. 1765 O, that your face were not so full of O's!
  71. Katharine
  72. 1766 A pox of that jest! and beshrew all shrows!
  73. Princess of France
  74. 1767 But, Katharine, what was sent to you from fair Dumaine?
  75. Katharine
  76. 1768 Madam, this glove.
  77. Princess of France
  78. 1769 Did he not send you twain?
  79. Katharine
  80. 1770 Yes, madam; and, moreover,
  81. 1771 Some thousand verses of a faithful lover;
  82. 1772 A huge translation of hypocrisy,
  83. 1773 Vilely compil'd, profound simplicity.
  84. Maria
  85. 1774 This, and these pearl, to me sent Longaville;
  86. 1775 The letter is too long by half a mile.
  87. Princess of France
  88. 1776 I think no less. Dost thou not wish in heart
  89. 1777 The chain were longer and the letter short?
  90. Maria
  91. 1778 Ay, or I would these hands might never part.
  92. Princess of France
  93. 1779 We are wise girls to mock our lovers so.
  94. Rosaline
  95. 1780 They are worse fools to purchase mocking so.
  96. 1781 That same Berowne I'll torture ere I go.
  97. 1782 O that I knew he were but in by th' week!
  98. 1783 How I would make him fawn, and beg, and seek,
  99. 1784 And wait the season, and observe the times,
  100. 1785 And spend his prodigal wits in bootless rimes,
  101. 1786 And shape his service wholly to my hests,
  102. 1787 And make him proud to make me proud that jests!
  103. 1788 So perttaunt-like would I o'ersway his state
  104. 1789 That he should be my fool, and I his fate.
  105. Princess of France
  106. 1790 None are so surely caught, when they are catch'd,
  107. 1791 As wit turn'd fool: folly, in wisdom hatch'd,
  108. 1792 Hath wisdom's warrant and the help of school
  109. 1793 And wit's own grace to grace a learned fool.
  110. Rosaline
  111. 1794 The blood of youth burns not with such excess
  112. 1795 As gravity's revolt to wantonness.
  113. Maria
  114. 1796 Folly in fools bears not so strong a note
  115. 1797 As fool'ry in the wise when wit doth dote;
  116. 1798 Since all the power thereof it doth apply
  117. 1799 To prove, by wit, worth in simplicity.
  118. [Enter BOYET.]
  119. Princess of France
  120. 1800 Here comes Boyet, and mirth is in his face.
  121. Boyet
  122. 1801 O! I am stabb'd with laughter! Where's her Grace?
  123. Princess of France
  124. 1802 Thy news, Boyet?
  125. Boyet
  126. 1803 Prepare, madam, prepare!—
  127. 1804 Arm, wenches, arm! encounters mounted are
  128. 1805 Against your peace: Love doth approach disguis'd,
  129. 1806 Armed in arguments; you'll be surpris'd:
  130. 1807 Muster your wits; stand in your own defence;
  131. 1808 Or hide your heads like cowards, and fly hence.
  132. Princess of France
  133. 1809 Saint Denis to Saint Cupid! What are they
  134. 1810 That charge their breath against us? Say, scout, say.
  135. Boyet
  136. 1811 Under the cool shade of a sycamore
  137. 1812 I thought to close mine eyes some half an hour;
  138. 1813 When, lo, to interrupt my purpos'd rest,
  139. 1814 Toward that shade I might behold addrest
  140. 1815 The king and his companions: warily
  141. 1816 I stole into a neighbour thicket by,
  142. 1817 And overheard what you shall overhear;
  143. 1818 That, by and by, disguis'd they will be here.
  144. 1819 Their herald is a pretty knavish page,
  145. 1820 That well by heart hath conn'd his embassage:
  146. 1821 Action and accent did they teach him there;
  147. 1822 'Thus must thou speak' and 'thus thy body bear,'
  148. 1823 And ever and anon they made a doubt
  149. 1824 Presence majestical would put him out;
  150. 1825 'For' quoth the King 'an angel shalt thou see;
  151. 1826 Yet fear not thou, but speak audaciously.'
  152. 1827 The boy replied 'An angel is not evil;
  153. 1828 I should have fear'd her had she been a devil.'
  154. 1829 With that all laugh'd, and clapp'd him on the shoulder,
  155. 1830 Making the bold wag by their praises bolder.
  156. 1831 One rubb'd his elbow, thus, and fleer'd, and swore
  157. 1832 A better speech was never spoke before.
  158. 1833 Another with his finger and his thumb
  159. 1834 Cried 'Via! we will do't, come what will come.'
  160. 1835 The third he caper'd, and cried 'All goes well.'
  161. 1836 The fourth turn'd on the toe, and down he fell.
  162. 1837 With that they all did tumble on the ground,
  163. 1838 With such a zealous laughter, so profound,
  164. 1839 That in this spleen ridiculous appears,
  165. 1840 To check their folly, passion's solemn tears.
  166. Princess of France
  167. 1841 But what, but what, come they to visit us?
  168. Boyet
  169. 1842 They do, they do, and are apparell'd thus,
  170. 1843 Like Muscovites or Russians, as I guess.
  171. 1844 Their purpose is to parley, court, and dance;
  172. 1845 And every one his love-feat will advance
  173. 1846 Unto his several mistress; which they'll know
  174. 1847 By favours several which they did bestow.
  175. Princess of France
  176. 1848 And will they so? The gallants shall be task'd:
  177. 1849 For, ladies, we will every one be mask'd;
  178. 1850 And not a man of them shall have the grace,
  179. 1851 Despite of suit, to see a lady's face.
  180. 1852 Hold, Rosaline, this favour thou shalt wear,
  181. 1853 And then the king will court thee for his dear;
  182. 1854 Hold, take thou this, my sweet, and give me thine,
  183. 1855 So shall Berowne take me for Rosaline.
  184. 1856 And change you favours too; so shall your loves
  185. 1857 Woo contrary, deceiv'd by these removes.
  186. Rosaline
  187. 1858 Come on, then, wear the favours most in sight.
  188. Katharine
  189. 1859 But, in this changing, what is your intent?
  190. Princess of France
  191. 1860 The effect of my intent is to cross theirs;
  192. 1861 They do it but in mocking merriment;
  193. 1862 And mock for mock is only my intent.
  194. 1863 Their several counsels they unbosom shall
  195. 1864 To loves mistook, and so be mock'd withal
  196. 1865 Upon the next occasion that we meet
  197. 1866 With visages display'd to talk and greet.
  198. Rosaline
  199. 1867 But shall we dance, if they desire us to't?
  200. Princess of France
  201. 1868 No, to the death, we will not move a foot,
  202. 1869 Nor to their penn'd speech render we no grace;
  203. 1870 But while 'tis spoke each turn away her face.
  204. Boyet
  205. 1871 Why, that contempt will kill the speaker's heart,
  206. 1872 And quite divorce his memory from his part.
  207. Princess of France
  208. 1873 Therefore I do it; and I make no doubt
  209. 1874 The rest will ne'er come in, if he be out.
  210. 1875 There's no such sport as sport by sport o'erthrown,
  211. 1876 To make theirs ours, and ours none but our own:
  212. 1877 So shall we stay, mocking intended game,
  213. 1878 And they well mock'd, depart away with shame.
  214. [Trumpet sounds within.]
  215. Boyet
  216. 1879 The trumpet sounds: be mask'd; the maskers come.
  217. [The LADIES mask.]
  218. [Enter BLACKAMOORS with music; MOTH, the KING, BEROWNE, LONGAVILLE, and DUMAINE in Russian habits, and masked.]
  219. Moth
  220. 1880 'All hail, the richest heauties on the earth!'
  221. Boyet
  222. 1881 Beauties no richer than rich taffeta.
  223. Moth
  224. 1882 'A holy parcel of the fairest dames
  225. [The LADIES turn their backs to him.]
  226. Moth
  227. 1883 That ever turn'd their—backs—to mortal views!
  228. Berowne
  229. 1884 'Their eyes,' villain, 'their eyes.'
  230. Moth
  231. 1885 'That ever turn'd their eyes to mortal views!
  232. 1886 Out'—
  233. Boyet
  234. 1887 True; 'out,' indeed.
  235. Moth
  236. 1888 'Out of your favours, heavenly spirits, vouchsafe
  237. 1889 Not to behold'—
  238. Berowne
  239. 1890 'Once to behold,' rogue.
  240. Moth
  241. 1891 'Once to behold with your sun-beamed eyes—with your
  242. 1892 sun-beamed eyes'—
  243. Boyet
  244. 1893 They will not answer to that epithet;
  245. 1894 You were best call it 'daughter-beamed eyes.'
  246. Moth
  247. 1895 They do not mark me, and that brings me out.
  248. Berowne
  249. 1896 Is this your perfectness? be gone, you rogue.
  250. [Exit MOTH.]
  251. Rosaline
  252. 1897 What would these strangers? Know their minds, Boyet.
  253. 1898 If they do speak our language, 'tis our will
  254. 1899 That some plain man recount their purposes:
  255. 1900 Know what they would.
  256. Boyet
  257. 1901 What would you with the princess?
  258. Berowne
  259. 1902 Nothing but peace and gentle visitation.
  260. Rosaline
  261. 1903 What would they, say they?
  262. Boyet
  263. 1904 Nothing but peace and gentle visitation.
  264. Rosaline
  265. 1905 Why, that they have; and bid them so be gone.
  266. Boyet
  267. 1906 She says you have it, and you may be gone.
  268. King of Navarre
  269. 1907 Say to her we have measur'd many miles
  270. 1908 To tread a measure with her on this grass.
  271. Boyet
  272. 1909 They say that they have measur'd many a mile
  273. 1910 To tread a measure with you on this grass.
  274. Rosaline
  275. 1911 It is not so. Ask them how many inches
  276. 1912 Is in one mile? If they have measured many,
  277. 1913 The measure then of one is easily told.
  278. Boyet
  279. 1914 If to come hither you have measur'd miles,
  280. 1915 And many miles, the Princess bids you tell
  281. 1916 How many inches doth fill up one mile.
  282. Berowne
  283. 1917 Tell her we measure them by weary steps.
  284. Boyet
  285. 1918 She hears herself.
  286. Rosaline
  287. 1919 How many weary steps
  288. 1920 Of many weary miles you have o'ergone
  289. 1921 Are number'd in the travel of one mile?
  290. Berowne
  291. 1922 We number nothing that we spend for you;
  292. 1923 Our duty is so rich, so infinite,
  293. 1924 That we may do it still without accompt.
  294. 1925 Vouchsafe to show the sunshine of your face,
  295. 1926 That we, like savages, may worship it.
  296. Rosaline
  297. 1927 My face is but a moon, and clouded too.
  298. King of Navarre
  299. 1928 Blessed are clouds, to do as such clouds do!
  300. 1929 Vouchsafe, bright moon, and these thy stars, to shine,
  301. 1930 Those clouds remov'd, upon our watery eyne.
  302. Rosaline
  303. 1931 O vain petitioner! beg a greater matter;
  304. 1932 Thou now requests'st but moonshine in the water.
  305. King of Navarre
  306. 1933 Then in our measure do but vouchsafe one change.
  307. 1934 Thou bid'st me beg; this begging is not strange.
  308. Rosaline
  309. 1935 Play, music, then! Nay, you must do it soon.
  310. [Music plays.]
  311. Rosaline
  312. 1936 Not yet! No dance! thus change I like the moon.
  313. King of Navarre
  314. 1937 Will you not dance? How come you thus estranged?
  315. Rosaline
  316. 1938 You took the moon at full; but now she's chang'd.
  317. King of Navarre
  318. 1939 Yet still she is the moon, and I the man.
  319. 1940 The music plays; vouchsafe some motion to it.
  320. Rosaline
  321. 1941 Our ears vouchsafe it.
  322. King of Navarre
  323. 1942 But your legs should do it.
  324. Rosaline
  325. 1943 Since you are strangers, and come here by chance,
  326. 1944 We'll not be nice: take hands; we will not dance.
  327. King of Navarre
  328. 1945 Why take we hands then?
  329. Rosaline
  330. 1946 Only to part friends.
  331. 1947 Curtsy, sweet hearts; and so the measure ends.
  332. King of Navarre
  333. 1948 More measure of this measure: be not nice.
  334. Rosaline
  335. 1949 We can afford no more at such a price.
  336. King of Navarre
  337. 1950 Price you yourselves? what buys your company?
  338. Rosaline
  339. 1951 Your absence only.
  340. King of Navarre
  341. 1952 That can never be.
  342. Rosaline
  343. 1953 Then cannot we be bought: and so adieu;
  344. 1954 Twice to your visor, and half once to you!
  345. King of Navarre
  346. 1955 If you deny to dance, let's hold more chat.
  347. Rosaline
  348. 1956 In private then.
  349. King of Navarre
  350. 1957 I am best pleas'd with that.
  351. [They converse apart.]
  352. Berowne
  353. 1958 White-handed mistress, one sweet word with thee.
  354. Princess of France
  355. 1959 Honey, and milk, and sugar; there is three.
  356. Berowne
  357. 1960 Nay, then, two treys, an if you grow so nice,
  358. 1961 Metheglin, wort, and malmsey: well run, dice!
  359. 1962 There's half a dozen sweets.
  360. Princess of France
  361. 1963 Seventh sweet, adieu:
  362. 1964 Since you can cog, I'll play no more with you.
  363. Berowne
  364. 1965 One word in secret.
  365. Princess of France
  366. 1966 Let it not be sweet.
  367. Berowne
  368. 1967 Thou griev'st my gall.
  369. Princess of France
  370. 1968 Gall! bitter.
  371. Berowne
  372. 1969 Therefore meet.
  373. [They converse apart.]
  374. Dumaine
  375. 1970 Will you vouchsafe with me to change a word?
  376. Maria
  377. 1971 Name it.
  378. Dumaine
  379. 1972 Fair lady,—
  380. Maria
  381. 1973 Say you so? Fair lord,
  382. 1974 Take that for your fair lady.
  383. Dumaine
  384. 1975 Please it you,
  385. 1976 As much in private, and I'll bid adieu.
  386. [They converse apart.]
  387. Katharine
  388. 1977 What, was your visord made without a tongue?
  389. Longaville
  390. 1978 I know the reason, lady, why you ask.
  391. Katharine
  392. 1979 O! for your reason! quickly, sir; I long.
  393. Longaville
  394. 1980 You have a double tongue within your mask,
  395. 1981 And would afford my speechless visor half.
  396. Katharine
  397. 1982 'Veal' quoth the Dutchman. Is not 'veal' a calf?
  398. Longaville
  399. 1983 A calf, fair lady!
  400. Katharine
  401. 1984 No, a fair lord calf.
  402. Longaville
  403. 1985 Let's part the word.
  404. Katharine
  405. 1986 No, I'll not be your half.
  406. 1987 Take all and wean it; it may prove an ox.
  407. Longaville
  408. 1988 Look how you butt yourself in these sharp mocks!
  409. 1989 Will you give horns, chaste lady? do not so.
  410. Katharine
  411. 1990 Then die a calf, before your horns do grow.
  412. Longaville
  413. 1991 One word in private with you ere I die.
  414. Katharine
  415. 1992 Bleat softly, then; the butcher hears you cry.
  416. [They converse apart.]
  417. Boyet
  418. 1993 The tongues of mocking wenches are as keen
  419. 1994 As is the razor's edge invisible,
  420. 1995 Cutting a smaller hair than may be seen,
  421. 1996 Above the sense of sense; so sensible
  422. 1997 Seemeth their conference; their conceits have wings,
  423. 1998 Fleeter than arrows, bullets, wind, thought, swifter things.
  424. Rosaline
  425. 1999 Not one word more, my maids; break off, break off.
  426. Berowne
  427. 2000 By heaven, all dry-beaten with pure scoff!
  428. King of Navarre
  429. 2001 Farewell, mad wenches; you have simple wits.
  430. Princess of France
  431. 2002 Twenty adieus, my frozen Muscovits.
  432. [Exeunt KING, LORDS, Music, and Attendants.]
  433. Princess of France
  434. 2003 Are these the breed of wits so wondered at?
  435. Boyet
  436. 2004 Tapers they are, with your sweet breaths puff'd out.
  437. Rosaline
  438. 2005 Well-liking wits they have; gross, gross; fat, fat.
  439. Princess of France
  440. 2006 O poverty in wit, kingly-poor flout!
  441. 2007 Will they not, think you, hang themselves to-night?
  442. 2008 Or ever, but in vizors, show their faces?
  443. 2009 This pert Berowne was out of countenance quite.
  444. Rosaline
  445. 2010 O! They were all in lamentable cases!
  446. 2011 The King was weeping-ripe for a good word.
  447. Princess of France
  448. 2012 Berowne did swear himself out of all suit.
  449. Maria
  450. 2013 Dumaine was at my service, and his sword:
  451. 2014 'No point' quoth I; my servant straight was mute.
  452. Katharine
  453. 2015 Lord Longaville said, I came o'er his heart;
  454. 2016 And trow you what he call'd me?
  455. Princess of France
  456. 2017 Qualm, perhaps.
  457. Katharine
  458. 2018 Yes, in good faith.
  459. Princess of France
  460. 2019 Go, sickness as thou art!
  461. Rosaline
  462. 2020 Well, better wits have worn plain statute-caps.
  463. 2021 But will you hear? The king is my love sworn.
  464. Princess of France
  465. 2022 And quick Berowne hath plighted faith to me.
  466. Katharine
  467. 2023 And Longaville was for my service born.
  468. Maria
  469. 2024 Dumaine is mine, as sure as bark on tree.
  470. Boyet
  471. 2025 Madam, and pretty mistresses, give ear:
  472. 2026 Immediately they will again be here
  473. 2027 In their own shapes; for it can never be
  474. 2028 They will digest this harsh indignity.
  475. Princess of France
  476. 2029 Will they return?
  477. Boyet
  478. 2030 They will, they will, God knows,
  479. 2031 And leap for joy, though they are lame with blows;
  480. 2032 Therefore, change favours; and, when they repair,
  481. 2033 Blow like sweet roses in this summer air.
  482. Princess of France
  483. 2034 How blow? how blow? Speak to be understood.
  484. Boyet
  485. 2035 Fair ladies mask'd are roses in their bud:
  486. 2036 Dismask'd, their damask sweet commixture shown,
  487. 2037 Are angels vailing clouds, or roses blown.
  488. Princess of France
  489. 2038 Avaunt, perplexity! What shall we do
  490. 2039 If they return in their own shapes to woo?
  491. Rosaline
  492. 2040 Good madam, if by me you'll be advis'd,
  493. 2041 Let's mock them still, as well known as disguis'd.
  494. 2042 Let us complain to them what fools were here,
  495. 2043 Disguis'd like Muscovites, in shapeless gear;
  496. 2044 And wonder what they were, and to what end
  497. 2045 Their shallow shows and prologue vilely penn'd,
  498. 2046 And their rough carriage so ridiculous,
  499. 2047 Should be presented at our tent to us.
  500. Boyet
  501. 2048 Ladies, withdraw: the gallants are at hand.
  502. Princess of France
  503. 2049 Whip to our tents, as roes run over land.
  504. [Exeunt PRINCESS, ROSALINE, KATHARINE, and MARIA.]
  505. [Re-enter the KING, BEROWNE, LONGAVILLE, and DUMAINE in their proper habits.]
  506. King of Navarre
  507. 2050 Fair sir, God save you! Where's the princess?
  508. Boyet
  509. 2051 Gone to her tent. Please it your Majesty
  510. 2052 Command me any service to her thither?
  511. King of Navarre
  512. 2053 That she vouchsafe me audience for one word.
  513. Boyet
  514. 2054 I will; and so will she, I know, my lord.
  515. [Exit.]
  516. Berowne
  517. 2055 This fellow pecks up wit as pigeons pease,
  518. 2056 And utters it again when God doth please:
  519. 2057 He is wit's pedlar, and retails his wares
  520. 2058 At wakes, and wassails, meetings, markets, fairs;
  521. 2059 And we that sell by gross, the Lord doth know,
  522. 2060 Have not the grace to grace it with such show.
  523. 2061 This gallant pins the wenches on his sleeve;
  524. 2062 Had he been Adam, he had tempted Eve:
  525. 2063 He can carve too, and lisp: why this is he
  526. 2064 That kiss'd his hand away in courtesy;
  527. 2065 This is the ape of form, monsieur the nice,
  528. 2066 That, when he plays at tables, chides the dice
  529. 2067 In honourable terms; nay, he can sing
  530. 2068 A mean most meanly; and in ushering
  531. 2069 Mend him who can: the ladies call him sweet;
  532. 2070 The stairs, as he treads on them, kiss his feet.
  533. 2071 This is the flower that smiles on every one,
  534. 2072 To show his teeth as white as whales-bone;
  535. 2073 And consciences that will not die in debt
  536. 2074 Pay him the due of honey-tongued Boyet.
  537. King of Navarre
  538. 2075 A blister on his sweet tongue, with my heart,
  539. 2076 That put Armado's page out of his part!
  540. [Re-enter the PRINCESS, ushered by BOYET; ROSALINE, MARIA, KATHARINE, and Attendants.]
  541. Berowne
  542. 2077 See where it comes! Behaviour, what wert thou,
  543. 2078 Till this man show'd thee? and what art thou now?
  544. King of Navarre
  545. 2079 All hail, sweet madam, and fair time of day!
  546. Princess of France
  547. 2080 'Fair' in 'all hail' is foul, as I conceive.
  548. King of Navarre
  549. 2081 Construe my speeches better, if you may.
  550. Princess of France
  551. 2082 Then wish me better: I will give you leave.
  552. King of Navarre
  553. 2083 We came to visit you, and purpose now
  554. 2084 To lead you to our court; vouchsafe it then.
  555. Princess of France
  556. 2085 This field shall hold me, and so hold your vow:
  557. 2086 Nor God, nor I, delights in perjur'd men.
  558. King of Navarre
  559. 2087 Rebuke me not for that which you provoke:
  560. 2088 The virtue of your eye must break my oath.
  561. Princess of France
  562. 2089 You nickname virtue: vice you should have spoke;
  563. 2090 For virtue's office never breaks men's troth.
  564. 2091 Now by my maiden honour, yet as pure
  565. 2092 As the unsullied lily, I protest,
  566. 2093 A world of torments though I should endure,
  567. 2094 I would not yield to be your house's guest;
  568. 2095 So much I hate a breaking cause to be
  569. 2096 Of heavenly oaths, vowed with integrity.
  570. King of Navarre
  571. 2097 O! you have liv'd in desolation here,
  572. 2098 Unseen, unvisited, much to our shame.
  573. Princess of France
  574. 2099 Not so, my lord; it is not so, I swear;
  575. 2100 We have had pastimes here, and pleasant game.
  576. 2101 A mess of Russians left us but of late.
  577. King of Navarre
  578. 2102 How, madam! Russians?
  579. Princess of France
  580. 2103 Ay, in truth, my lord;
  581. 2104 Trim gallants, full of courtship and of state.
  582. Rosaline
  583. 2105 Madam, speak true. It is not so, my lord:
  584. 2106 My lady, to the manner of the days,
  585. 2107 In courtesy gives undeserving praise.
  586. 2108 We four indeed confronted were with four
  587. 2109 In Russian habit: here they stay'd an hour,
  588. 2110 And talk'd apace; and in that hour, my lord,
  589. 2111 They did not bless us with one happy word.
  590. 2112 I dare not call them fools; but this I think,
  591. 2113 When they are thirsty, fools would fain have drink.
  592. Berowne
  593. 2114 This jest is dry to me. Fair gentle sweet,
  594. 2115 Your wit makes wise things foolish: when we greet,
  595. 2116 With eyes best seeing, heaven's fiery eye,
  596. 2117 By light we lose light: your capacity
  597. 2118 Is of that nature that to your huge store
  598. 2119 Wise things seem foolish and rich things but poor.
  599. Rosaline
  600. 2120 This proves you wise and rich, for in my eye-
  601. Berowne
  602. 2121 I am a fool, and full of poverty.
  603. Rosaline
  604. 2122 But that you take what doth to you belong,
  605. 2123 It were a fault to snatch words from my tongue.
  606. Berowne
  607. 2124 O! am yours, and all that I possess.
  608. Rosaline
  609. 2125 All the fool mine?
  610. Berowne
  611. 2126 I cannot give you less.
  612. Rosaline
  613. 2127 Which of the visors was it that you wore?
  614. Berowne
  615. 2128 Where? when? what visor? why demand you this?
  616. Rosaline
  617. 2129 There, then, that visor; that superfluous case
  618. 2130 That hid the worse, and show'd the better face.
  619. King of Navarre
  620. 2131 We are descried: they'll mock us now downright.
  621. Dumaine
  622. 2132 Let us confess, and turn it to a jest.
  623. Princess of France
  624. 2133 Amaz'd, my lord? Why looks your Highness sad?
  625. Rosaline
  626. 2134 Help! hold his brows! he'll swound. Why look you pale?
  627. 2135 Sea-sick, I think, coming from Muscovy.
  628. Berowne
  629. 2136 Thus pour the stars down plagues for perjury.
  630. 2137 Can any face of brass hold longer out?—
  631. 2138 Here stand I, lady; dart thy skill at me;
  632. 2139 Bruise me with scorn, confound me with a flout;
  633. 2140 Thrust thy sharp wit quite through my ignorance;
  634. 2141 Cut me to pieces with thy keen conceit;
  635. 2142 And I will wish thee never more to dance,
  636. 2143 Nor never more in Russian habit wait.
  637. 2144 O! never will I trust to speeches penn'd,
  638. 2145 Nor to the motion of a school-boy's tongue,
  639. 2146 Nor never come in visor to my friend,
  640. 2147 Nor woo in rime, like a blind harper's song.
  641. 2148 Taffeta phrases, silken terms precise,
  642. 2149 Three-pil'd hyperboles, spruce affectation,
  643. 2150 Figures pedantical; these summer-flies
  644. 2151 Have blown me full of maggot ostentation:
  645. 2152 I do forswear them; and I here protest,
  646. 2153 By this white glove,—how white the hand, God knows!—
  647. 2154 Henceforth my wooing mind shall be express'd
  648. 2155 In russet yeas, and honest kersey noes;
  649. 2156 And, to begin, wench,—so God help me, la!—
  650. 2157 My love to thee is sound, sans crack or flaw.
  651. Rosaline
  652. 2158 Sans 'sans,' I pray you.
  653. Berowne
  654. 2159 Yet I have a trick
  655. 2160 Of the old rage: bear with me, I am sick;
  656. 2161 I'll leave it by degrees. Soft! let us see:
  657. 2162 Write 'Lord have mercy on us' on those three;
  658. 2163 They are infected; in their hearts it lies;
  659. 2164 They have the plague, and caught it of your eyes:
  660. 2165 These lords are visited; you are not free,
  661. 2166 For the Lord's tokens on you do I see.
  662. Princess of France
  663. 2167 No, they are free that gave these tokens to us.
  664. Berowne
  665. 2168 Our states are forfeit; seek not to undo us.
  666. Rosaline
  667. 2169 It is not so. For how can this be true,
  668. 2170 That you stand forfeit, being those that sue?
  669. Berowne
  670. 2171 Peace! for I will not have to do with you.
  671. Rosaline
  672. 2172 Nor shall not, if I do as I intend.
  673. Berowne
  674. 2173 Speak for yourselves: my wit is at an end.
  675. King of Navarre
  676. 2174 Teach us, sweet madam, for our rude transgression
  677. 2175 Some fair excuse.
  678. Princess of France
  679. 2176 The fairest is confession.
  680. 2177 Were not you here but even now, disguis'd?
  681. King of Navarre
  682. 2178 Madam, I was.
  683. Princess of France
  684. 2179 And were you well advis'd?
  685. King of Navarre
  686. 2180 I was, fair madam.
  687. Princess of France
  688. 2181 When you then were here,
  689. 2182 What did you whisper in your lady's ear?
  690. King of Navarre
  691. 2183 That more than all the world I did respect her.
  692. Princess of France
  693. 2184 When she shall challenge this, you will reject her.
  694. King of Navarre
  695. 2185 Upon mine honour, no.
  696. Princess of France
  697. 2186 Peace! peace! forbear;
  698. 2187 Your oath once broke, you force not to forswear.
  699. King of Navarre
  700. 2188 Despise me when I break this oath of mine.
  701. Princess of France
  702. 2189 I will; and therefore keep it. Rosaline,
  703. 2190 What did the Russian whisper in your ear?
  704. Rosaline
  705. 2191 Madam, he swore that he did hold me dear
  706. 2192 As precious eyesight, and did value me
  707. 2193 Above this world; adding thereto, moreover,
  708. 2194 That he would wed me, or else die my lover.
  709. Princess of France
  710. 2195 God give thee joy of him! The noble lord
  711. 2196 Most honourably doth uphold his word.
  712. King of Navarre
  713. 2197 What mean you, madam? by my life, my troth,
  714. 2198 I never swore this lady such an oath.
  715. Rosaline
  716. 2199 By heaven, you did; and, to confirm it plain,
  717. 2200 You gave me this: but take it, sir, again.
  718. King of Navarre
  719. 2201 My faith and this the princess I did give;
  720. 2202 I knew her by this jewel on her sleeve.
  721. Princess of France
  722. 2203 Pardon me, sir, this jewel did she wear;
  723. 2204 And Lord Berowne, I thank him, is my dear.
  724. 2205 What, will you have me, or your pearl again?
  725. Berowne
  726. 2206 Neither of either; I remit both twain.
  727. 2207 I see the trick on't: here was a consent,
  728. 2208 Knowing aforehand of our merriment,
  729. 2209 To dash it like a Christmas comedy.
  730. 2210 Some carry-tale, some please-man, some slight zany,
  731. 2211 Some mumble-news, some trencher-knight, some Dick,
  732. 2212 That smiles his cheek in years, and knows the trick
  733. 2213 To make my lady laugh when she's dispos'd,
  734. 2214 Told our intents before; which once disclos'd,
  735. 2215 The ladies did change favours, and then we,
  736. 2216 Following the signs, woo'd but the sign of she.
  737. 2217 Now, to our perjury to add more terror,
  738. 2218 We are again forsworn, in will and error.
  739. 2219 Much upon this it is:
  740. [To BOYET.]
  741. Berowne
  742. 2220 and might not you
  743. 2221 Forestall our sport, to make us thus untrue?
  744. 2222 Do not you know my lady's foot by the squire,
  745. 2223 And laugh upon the apple of her eye?
  746. 2224 And stand between her back, sir, and the fire,
  747. 2225 Holding a trencher, jesting merrily?
  748. 2226 You put our page out: go, you are allow'd;
  749. 2227 Die when you will, a smock shall be your shroud.
  750. 2228 You leer upon me, do you? There's an eye
  751. 2229 Wounds like a leaden sword.
  752. Boyet
  753. 2230 Full merrily
  754. 2231 Hath this brave manage, this career, been run.
  755. Berowne
  756. 2232 Lo! he is tilting straight! Peace! I have done.
  757. [Enter COSTARD]
  758. Berowne
  759. 2233 Welcome, pure wit! thou part'st a fair fray.
  760. Costard
  761. 2234 O Lord, sir, they would know
  762. 2235 Whether the three Worthies shall come in or no?
  763. Costard
  764. 2236 BEROWNE. What, are there but three?
  765. Costard
  766. 2237 No, sir; but it is vara fine,
  767. 2238 For every one pursents three.
  768. Berowne
  769. 2239 And three times thrice is nine.
  770. Costard
  771. 2240 Not so, sir; under correction, sir,
  772. 2241 I hope it is not so.
  773. 2242 You cannot beg us, sir, I can assure you, sir; we know what we
  774. 2243 know:
  775. 2244 I hope, sir, three times thrice, sir,—
  776. Berowne
  777. 2245 Is not nine.
  778. Costard
  779. 2246 Under correction, sir, we know whereuntil it doth amount.
  780. Berowne
  781. 2247 By Jove, I always took three threes for nine.
  782. Costard
  783. 2248 O Lord, sir! it were pity you should get your living by
  784. 2249 reckoning, sir.
  785. Berowne
  786. 2250 How much is it?
  787. Costard
  788. 2251 O Lord, sir, the parties themselves, the actors, sir, will
  789. 2252 show whereuntil it doth amount: for mine own part, I am, as they
  790. 2253 say, but to parfect one man in one poor man, Pompion the Great,
  791. 2254 sir.
  792. Berowne
  793. 2255 Art thou one of the Worthies?
  794. Costard
  795. 2256 It pleased them to think me worthy of Pompion the Great;
  796. 2257 for mine own part, I know not the degree of the Worthy; but I am
  797. 2258 to stand for him.
  798. Berowne
  799. 2259 Go, bid them prepare.
  800. Costard
  801. 2260 We will turn it finely off, sir; we will take some care.
  802. [Exit COSTARD.]
  803. King of Navarre
  804. 2261 Berowne, they will shame us; let them not approach.
  805. Berowne
  806. 2262 We are shame-proof, my lord, and 'tis some policy
  807. 2263 To have one show worse than the king's and his company.
  808. King of Navarre
  809. 2264 I say they shall not come.
  810. Princess of France
  811. 2265 Nay, my good lord, let me o'errule you now.
  812. 2266 That sport best pleases that doth least know how;
  813. 2267 Where zeal strives to content, and the contents
  814. 2268 Die in the zeal of those which it presents;
  815. 2269 Their form confounded makes most form in mirth,
  816. 2270 When great things labouring perish in their birth.
  817. Berowne
  818. 2271 A right description of our sport, my lord.
  819. [Enter ARMADO.]
  820. Don Adriano de Armado
  821. 2272 Anointed, I implore so much expense of thy royal sweet
  822. 2273 breath as will utter a brace of words.
  823. [Converses apart with the KING, and delivers a paper to him.]
  824. Princess of France
  825. 2274 Doth this man serve God?
  826. Berowne
  827. 2275 Why ask you?
  828. Princess of France
  829. 2276 He speaks not like a man of God his making.
  830. Don Adriano de Armado
  831. 2277 That is all one, my fair, sweet, honey monarch; for, I
  832. 2278 protest, the schoolmaster is exceeding fantastical; too-too vain,
  833. 2279 too-too vain: but we will put it, as they say, to fortuna de la
  834. 2280 guerra. I wish you the peace of mind, most royal couplement!
  835. [Exit.]
  836. King of Navarre
  837. 2281 Here is like to be a good presence of Worthies. He presents
  838. 2282 Hector of Troy; the swain, Pompey the Great; the parish curate,
  839. 2283 Alexander; Armado's page, Hercules; the pedant, Judas
  840. 2284 Maccabaeus:
  841. 2285 And if these four Worthies in their first show thrive,
  842. 2286 These four will change habits and present the other five.
  843. Berowne
  844. 2287 There is five in the first show.
  845. King of Navarre
  846. 2288 You are deceived, 'tis not so.
  847. Berowne
  848. 2289 The pedant, the braggart, the hedge-priest, the fool, and
  849. 2290 the boy:—
  850. 2291 Abate throw at novum, and the whole world again
  851. 2292 Cannot pick out five such, take each one in his vein.
  852. King of Navarre
  853. 2293 The ship is under sail, and here she comes amain.
  854. [Enter COSTARD, armed for POMPEY.]
  855. Costard
  856. 2294 'I Pompey am'—
  857. Berowne
  858. 2295 You lie, you are not he.
  859. Costard
  860. 2296 'I Pompey am'—
  861. Boyet
  862. 2297 With libbard's head on knee.
  863. Berowne
  864. 2298 Well said, old mocker: I must needs be friends with thee.
  865. Costard
  866. 2299 'I Pompey am, Pompey surnam'd the Big'—
  867. Dumaine
  868. 2300 'The Great.'
  869. Costard
  870. 2301 It is 'Great,' sir; 'Pompey surnam'd the Great,
  871. 2302 That oft in field, with targe and shield, did make my foe to
  872. 2303 sweat:
  873. 2304 And travelling along this coast, I here am come by chance,
  874. 2305 And lay my arms before the legs of this sweet lass of France.
  875. 2306 If your ladyship would say 'Thanks, Pompey,' I had done.
  876. Princess of France
  877. 2307 Great thanks, great Pompey.
  878. Costard
  879. 2308 'Tis not so much worth; but I hope I was perfect.
  880. 2309 I made a little fault in 'Great.'
  881. Berowne
  882. 2310 My hat to a halfpenny, Pompey proves the best Worthy.
  883. [Enter SIR NATHANIEL armed, for ALEXANDER.]
  884. Sir Nathaniel
  885. 2311 'When in the world I liv'd, I was the world's commander;
  886. 2312 By east, west, north, and south, I spread my conquering might:
  887. 2313 My scutcheon plain declares that I am Alisander'—
  888. Boyet
  889. 2314 Your nose says, no, you are not; for it stands to right.
  890. Berowne
  891. 2315 Your nose smells 'no' in this, most tender-smelling knight.
  892. Princess of France
  893. 2316 The conqueror is dismay'd. Proceed, good Alexander.
  894. Sir Nathaniel
  895. 2317 'When in the world I liv'd, I was the world's commander;'—
  896. Boyet
  897. 2318 Most true; 'tis right, you were so, Alisander.
  898. Berowne
  899. 2319 Pompey the Great,—
  900. Costard
  901. 2320 Your servant, and Costard.
  902. Berowne
  903. 2321 Take away the conqueror, take away Alisander.
  904. [To Sir Nathaniel.]
  905. Costard
  906. 2322 O! sir, you have overthrown Alisander
  907. 2323 the conqueror! You will be scraped out of the painted cloth for
  908. 2324 this; your lion, that holds his poll-axe sitting on a
  909. 2325 close-stool, will be given to Ajax: he will be the ninth Worthy.
  910. 2326 A conqueror, and afeard to speak! Run away for shame, Alisander.
  911. [Nathaniel retires.]
  912. Costard
  913. 2327 There, an't shall please you: a foolish mild
  914. 2328 man; an honest man, look you, and soon dashed! He is a marvellous
  915. 2329 good neighbour, faith, and a very good bowler; but for
  916. 2330 Alisander,—alas! you see how 'tis—a little o'erparted. But
  917. 2331 there are Worthies a-coming will speak their mind in some other
  918. 2332 sort.
  919. Princess of France
  920. 2333 Stand aside, good Pompey.
  921. [Enter HOLOFERNES armed, for JUDAS; and MOTH armed, for HERCULES.]
  922. Holofernes
  923. 2334 'Great Hercules is presented by this imp,
  924. 2335 Whose club kill'd Cerberus, that three-headed canis;
  925. 2336 And when he was a babe, a child, a shrimp,
  926. 2337 Thus did he strangle serpents in his manus.
  927. 2338 Quoniam he seemeth in minority,
  928. 2339 Ergo I come with this apology.'
  929. 2340 Keep some state in thy exit, and vanish.—
  930. [MOTH retires.]
  931. Holofernes
  932. 2341 'Judas I am.'—
  933. Dumaine
  934. 2342 A Judas!
  935. Holofernes
  936. 2343 Not Iscariot, sir.
  937. 2344 'Judas I am, ycliped Maccabaeus.'
  938. Dumaine
  939. 2345 Judas Maccabaeus clipt is plain Judas.
  940. Berowne
  941. 2346 A kissing traitor. How art thou prov'd Judas?
  942. Holofernes
  943. 2347 'Judas I am.'—
  944. Dumaine
  945. 2348 The more shame for you, Judas.
  946. Holofernes
  947. 2349 What mean you, sir?
  948. Boyet
  949. 2350 To make Judas hang himself.
  950. Holofernes
  951. 2351 Begin, sir; you are my elder.
  952. Berowne
  953. 2352 Well follow'd: Judas was hanged on an elder.
  954. Holofernes
  955. 2353 I will not be put out of countenance.
  956. Berowne
  957. 2354 Because thou hast no face.
  958. Holofernes
  959. 2355 What is this?
  960. Boyet
  961. 2356 A cittern-head.
  962. Dumaine
  963. 2357 The head of a bodkin.
  964. Berowne
  965. 2358 A death's face in a ring.
  966. Longaville
  967. 2359 The face of an old Roman coin, scarce seen.
  968. Boyet
  969. 2360 The pommel of Caesar's falchion.
  970. Dumaine
  971. 2361 The carved-bone face on a flask.
  972. Berowne
  973. 2362 Saint George's half-cheek in a brooch.
  974. Dumaine
  975. 2363 Ay, and in a brooch of lead.
  976. Berowne
  977. 2364 Ay, and worn in the cap of a tooth-drawer.
  978. 2365 And now, forward; for we have put thee in countenance.
  979. Holofernes
  980. 2366 You have put me out of countenance.
  981. Berowne
  982. 2367 False: we have given thee faces.
  983. Holofernes
  984. 2368 But you have outfaced them all.
  985. Berowne
  986. 2369 An thou wert a lion we would do so.
  987. Boyet
  988. 2370 Therefore, as he is an ass, let him go.
  989. 2371 And so adieu, sweet Jude! nay, why dost thou stay?
  990. Dumaine
  991. 2372 For the latter end of his name.
  992. Berowne
  993. 2373 For the ass to the Jude? give it him:—Jud-as, away!
  994. Holofernes
  995. 2374 This is not generous, not gentle, not humble.
  996. Boyet
  997. 2375 A light for Monsieur Judas! It grows dark, he may stumble.
  998. Princess of France
  999. 2376 Alas! poor Maccabaeus, how hath he been baited.
  1000. [Enter ARMADO armed, for HECTOR.]
  1001. Berowne
  1002. 2377 Hide thy head, Achilles: here comes Hector in arms.
  1003. Dumaine
  1004. 2378 Though my mocks come home by me, I will now be merry.
  1005. King of Navarre
  1006. 2379 Hector was but a Troyan in respect of this.
  1007. Boyet
  1008. 2380 But is this Hector?
  1009. Dumaine
  1010. 2381 I think Hector was not so clean-timber'd.
  1011. Longaville
  1012. 2382 His leg is too big for Hector's.
  1013. Dumaine
  1014. 2383 More calf, certain.
  1015. Boyet
  1016. 2384 No; he is best indued in the small.
  1017. Berowne
  1018. 2385 This cannot be Hector.
  1019. Dumaine
  1020. 2386 He's a god or a painter; for he makes faces.
  1021. Don Adriano de Armado
  1022. 2387 'The armipotent Mars, of lances the almighty,
  1023. 2388 Gave Hector a gift,'—
  1024. Dumaine
  1025. 2389 A gilt nutmeg.
  1026. Berowne
  1027. 2390 A lemon.
  1028. Longaville
  1029. 2391 Stuck with cloves.
  1030. Dumaine
  1031. 2392 No, cloven.
  1032. Don Adriano de Armado
  1033. 2393 Peace!
  1034. 2394 'The armipotent Mars, of lances the almighty,
  1035. 2395 Gave Hector a gift, the heir of Ilion;
  1036. 2396 A man so breath'd that certain he would fight ye,
  1037. 2397 From morn till night, out of his pavilion.
  1038. 2398 I am that flower,'—
  1039. Dumaine
  1040. 2399 That mint.
  1041. Longaville
  1042. 2400 That columbine.
  1043. Don Adriano de Armado
  1044. 2401 Sweet Lord Longaville, rein thy tongue.
  1045. Longaville
  1046. 2402 I must rather give it the rein, for it runs against Hector.
  1047. Dumaine
  1048. 2403 Ay, and Hector's a greyhound.
  1049. Don Adriano de Armado
  1050. 2404 The sweet war-man is dead and rotten; sweet chucks, beat
  1051. 2405 not the bones of the buried; when he breathed, he was a man. But
  1052. 2406 I will forward with my device.
  1053. [To the PRINCESS.]
  1054. Don Adriano de Armado
  1055. 2407 Sweet royalty,
  1056. 2408 bestow on me the sense of hearing.
  1057. Princess of France
  1058. 2409 Speak, brave Hector; we are much delighted.
  1059. Don Adriano de Armado
  1060. 2410 I do adore thy sweet Grace's slipper.
  1061. [Aside to DUMAIN.]
  1062. Boyet
  1063. 2411 Loves her by the foot.
  1064. [Aside to BOYET.]
  1065. Dumaine
  1066. 2412 He may not by the yard.
  1067. Don Adriano de Armado
  1068. 2413 'This Hector far surmounted Hannibal,'—
  1069. Costard
  1070. 2414 The party is gone; fellow Hector, she is gone; she is two
  1071. 2415 months on her way.
  1072. Don Adriano de Armado
  1073. 2416 What meanest thou?
  1074. Costard
  1075. 2417 Faith, unless you play the honest Troyan, the poor wench
  1076. 2418 is cast away: she's quick; the child brags in her belly already;
  1077. 2419 'tis yours.
  1078. Don Adriano de Armado
  1079. 2420 Dost thou infamonize me among potentates? Thou shalt die.
  1080. Costard
  1081. 2421 Then shall Hector be whipped for Jaquenetta that is quick by
  1082. 2422 him, and hanged for Pompey that is dead by him.
  1083. Dumaine
  1084. 2423 Most rare Pompey!
  1085. Boyet
  1086. 2424 Renowned Pompey!
  1087. Berowne
  1088. 2425 Greater than great, great, great, great Pompey! Pompey the
  1089. 2426 Huge!
  1090. Dumaine
  1091. 2427 Hector trembles.
  1092. Berowne
  1093. 2428 Pompey is moved. More Ates, more Ates! Stir them on! stir
  1094. 2429 them on!
  1095. Dumaine
  1096. 2430 Hector will challenge him.
  1097. Berowne
  1098. 2431 Ay, if a' have no more man's blood in his belly than will
  1099. 2432 sup a flea.
  1100. Don Adriano de Armado
  1101. 2433 By the north pole, I do challenge thee.
  1102. Costard
  1103. 2434 I will not fight with a pole, like a northern man: I'll
  1104. 2435 slash; I'll do it by the sword. I bepray you, let me borrow my
  1105. 2436 arms again.
  1106. Dumaine
  1107. 2437 Room for the incensed Worthies!
  1108. Costard
  1109. 2438 I'll do it in my shirt.
  1110. Dumaine
  1111. 2439 Most resolute Pompey!
  1112. Moth
  1113. 2440 Master, let me take you a buttonhole lower. Do you not see
  1114. 2441 Pompey is uncasing for the combat? What mean you? You will lose
  1115. 2442 your reputation.
  1116. Don Adriano de Armado
  1117. 2443 Gentlemen and soldiers, pardon me; I will not combat in my shirt.
  1118. Dumaine
  1119. 2444 You may not deny it: Pompey hath made the challenge.
  1120. Don Adriano de Armado
  1121. 2445 Sweet bloods, I both may and will.
  1122. Berowne
  1123. 2446 What reason have you for 't?
  1124. Don Adriano de Armado
  1125. 2447 The naked truth of it is: I have no shirt; I go woolward
  1126. 2448 for penance.
  1127. Boyet
  1128. 2449 True, and it was enjoined him in Rome for want of linen;
  1129. 2450 since when, I'll be sworn, he wore none but a dish-clout of
  1130. 2451 Jaquenetta's, and that a' wears next his heart for a favour.
  1131. [Enter MONSIEUR MARCADE, a messenger.]
  1132. Marcade
  1133. 2452 God save you, madam!
  1134. Princess of France
  1135. 2453 Welcome, Marcade;
  1136. 2454 But that thou interrupt'st our merriment.
  1137. Marcade
  1138. 2455 I am sorry, madam; for the news I bring
  1139. 2456 Is heavy in my tongue. The king your father—
  1140. Princess of France
  1141. 2457 Dead, for my life!
  1142. Marcade
  1143. 2458 Even so: my tale is told.
  1144. Berowne
  1145. 2459 Worthies away! the scene begins to cloud.
  1146. Don Adriano de Armado
  1147. 2460 For mine own part, I breathe free breath. I have seen the
  1148. 2461 day of wrong through the little hole of discretion, and I will
  1149. 2462 right myself like a soldier.
  1150. [Exeunt WORTHIES.]
  1151. King of Navarre
  1152. 2463 How fares your Majesty?
  1153. Princess of France
  1154. 2464 Boyet, prepare: I will away to-night.
  1155. King of Navarre
  1156. 2465 Madam, not so: I do beseech you stay.
  1157. Princess of France
  1158. 2466 Prepare, I say. I thank you, gracious lords,
  1159. 2467 For all your fair endeavours; and entreat,
  1160. 2468 Out of a new-sad soul, that you vouchsafe
  1161. 2469 In your rich wisdom to excuse or hide
  1162. 2470 The liberal opposition of our spirits,
  1163. 2471 If over-boldly we have borne ourselves
  1164. 2472 In the converse of breath; your gentleness
  1165. 2473 Was guilty of it. Farewell, worthy lord!
  1166. 2474 A heavy heart bears not a nimble tongue.
  1167. 2475 Excuse me so, coming so short of thanks
  1168. 2476 For my great suit so easily obtain'd.
  1169. King of Navarre
  1170. 2477 The extreme parts of time extremely forms
  1171. 2478 All causes to the purpose of his speed,
  1172. 2479 And often at his very loose decides
  1173. 2480 That which long process could not arbitrate:
  1174. 2481 And though the mourning brow of progeny
  1175. 2482 Forbid the smiling courtesy of love
  1176. 2483 The holy suit which fain it would convince;
  1177. 2484 Yet, since love's argument was first on foot,
  1178. 2485 Let not the cloud of sorrow justle it
  1179. 2486 From what it purpos'd; since, to wail friends lost
  1180. 2487 Is not by much so wholesome-profitable
  1181. 2488 As to rejoice at friends but newly found.
  1182. Princess of France
  1183. 2489 I understand you not: my griefs are double.
  1184. Berowne
  1185. 2490 Honest plain words best pierce the ear of grief;
  1186. 2491 And by these badges understand the king.
  1187. 2492 For your fair sakes have we neglected time,
  1188. 2493 Play'd foul play with our oaths. Your beauty, ladies,
  1189. 2494 Hath much deform'd us, fashioning our humours
  1190. 2495 Even to the opposed end of our intents;
  1191. 2496 And what in us hath seem'd ridiculous,—
  1192. 2497 As love is full of unbefitting strains;
  1193. 2498 All wanton as a child, skipping and vain;
  1194. 2499 Form'd by the eye, and, therefore, like the eye,
  1195. 2500 Full of strange shapes, of habits and of forms,
  1196. 2501 Varying in subjects, as the eye doth roll
  1197. 2502 To every varied object in his glance:
  1198. 2503 Which parti-coated presence of loose love
  1199. 2504 Put on by us, if, in your heavenly eyes,
  1200. 2505 Have misbecom'd our oaths and gravities,
  1201. 2506 Those heavenly eyes that look into these faults
  1202. 2507 Suggested us to make. Therefore, ladies,
  1203. 2508 Our love being yours, the error that love makes
  1204. 2509 Is likewise yours: we to ourselves prove false,
  1205. 2510 By being once false for ever to be true
  1206. 2511 To those that make us both,—fair ladies, you:
  1207. 2512 And even that falsehood, in itself a sin,
  1208. 2513 Thus purifies itself and turns to grace.
  1209. Princess of France
  1210. 2514 We have receiv'd your letters, full of love;
  1211. 2515 Your favours, the ambassadors of love;
  1212. 2516 And, in our maiden council, rated them
  1213. 2517 At courtship, pleasant jest, and courtesy,
  1214. 2518 As bombast and as lining to the time;
  1215. 2519 But more devout than this in our respects
  1216. 2520 Have we not been; and therefore met your loves
  1217. 2521 In their own fashion, like a merriment.
  1218. Dumaine
  1219. 2522 Our letters, madam, show'd much more than jest.
  1220. Longaville
  1221. 2523 So did our looks.
  1222. Rosaline
  1223. 2524 We did not quote them so.
  1224. King of Navarre
  1225. 2525 Now, at the latest minute of the hour,
  1226. 2526 Grant us your loves.
  1227. Princess of France
  1228. 2527 A time, methinks, too short
  1229. 2528 To make a world-without-end bargain in.
  1230. 2529 No, no, my lord, your Grace is perjur'd much,
  1231. 2530 Full of dear guiltiness; and therefore this:
  1232. 2531 If for my love,—as there is no such cause,—
  1233. 2532 You will do aught, this shall you do for me:
  1234. 2533 Your oath I will not trust; but go with speed
  1235. 2534 To some forlorn and naked hermitage,
  1236. 2535 Remote from all the pleasures of the world;
  1237. 2536 There stay until the twelve celestial signs
  1238. 2537 Have brought about the annual reckoning.
  1239. 2538 If this austere insociable life
  1240. 2539 Change not your offer made in heat of blood,
  1241. 2540 If frosts and fasts, hard lodging and thin weeds,
  1242. 2541 Nip not the gaudy blossoms of your love,
  1243. 2542 But that it bear this trial, and last love,
  1244. 2543 Then, at the expiration of the year,
  1245. 2544 Come, challenge me, challenge me by these deserts;
  1246. 2545 And, by this virgin palm now kissing thine,
  1247. 2546 I will be thine; and, till that instant, shut
  1248. 2547 My woeful self up in a mournful house,
  1249. 2548 Raining the tears of lamentation
  1250. 2549 For the remembrance of my father's death.
  1251. 2550 If this thou do deny, let our hands part,
  1252. 2551 Neither intitled in the other's heart.
  1253. King of Navarre
  1254. 2552 If this, or more than this, I would deny,
  1255. 2553 To flatter up these powers of mine with rest,
  1256. 2554 The sudden hand of death close up mine eye!
  1257. 2555 Hence ever then my heart is in thy breast.
  1258. Berowne
  1259. 2556 And what to me, my love? and what to me?
  1260. Rosaline
  1261. 2557 You must he purged too, your sins are rack'd;
  1262. 2558 You are attaint with faults and perjury;
  1263. 2559 Therefore, if you my favour mean to get,
  1264. 2560 A twelvemonth shall you spend, and never rest,
  1265. 2561 But seek the weary beds of people sick.
  1266. Dumaine
  1267. 2562 But what to me, my love? but what to me?
  1268. Katharine
  1269. 2563 A wife! A beard, fair health, and honesty;
  1270. 2564 With three-fold love I wish you all these three.
  1271. Dumaine
  1272. 2565 O! shall I say I thank you, gentle wife?
  1273. Katharine
  1274. 2566 No so, my lord; a twelvemonth and a day
  1275. 2567 I'll mark no words that smooth-fac'd wooers say.
  1276. 2568 Come when the King doth to my lady come;
  1277. 2569 Then, if I have much love, I'll give you some.
  1278. Dumaine
  1279. 2570 I'll serve thee true and faithfully till then.
  1280. Katharine
  1281. 2571 Yet swear not, lest ye be forsworn again.
  1282. Longaville
  1283. 2572 What says Maria?
  1284. Maria
  1285. 2573 At the twelvemonth's end
  1286. 2574 I'll change my black gown for a faithful friend.
  1287. Longaville
  1288. 2575 I'll stay with patience; but the time is long.
  1289. Maria
  1290. 2576 The liker you; few taller are so young.
  1291. Berowne
  1292. 2577 Studies my lady? mistress, look on me;
  1293. 2578 Behold the window of my heart, mine eye,
  1294. 2579 What humble suit attends thy answer there.
  1295. 2580 Impose some service on me for thy love.
  1296. Rosaline
  1297. 2581 Oft have I heard of you, my Lord Berowne,
  1298. 2582 Before I saw you; and the world's large tongue
  1299. 2583 Proclaims you for a man replete with mocks;
  1300. 2584 Full of comparisons and wounding flouts,
  1301. 2585 Which you on all estates will execute
  1302. 2586 That lie within the mercy of your wit:
  1303. 2587 To weed this wormwood from your fruitful brain,
  1304. 2588 And therewithal to win me, if you please,—
  1305. 2589 Without the which I am not to be won,—
  1306. 2590 You shall this twelvemonth term, from day to day,
  1307. 2591 Visit the speechless sick, and still converse
  1308. 2592 With groaning wretches; and your task shall be,
  1309. 2593 With all the fierce endeavour of your wit
  1310. 2594 To enforce the pained impotent to smile.
  1311. Berowne
  1312. 2595 To move wild laughter in the throat of death?
  1313. 2596 It cannot be; it is impossible:
  1314. 2597 Mirth cannot move a soul in agony.
  1315. Rosaline
  1316. 2598 Why, that's the way to choke a gibing spirit,
  1317. 2599 Whose influence is begot of that loose grace
  1318. 2600 Which shallow laughing hearers give to fools.
  1319. 2601 A jest's prosperity lies in the ear
  1320. 2602 Of him that hears it, never in the tongue
  1321. 2603 Of him that makes it: then, if sickly ears,
  1322. 2604 Deaf'd with the clamours of their own dear groans,
  1323. 2605 Will hear your idle scorns, continue then,
  1324. 2606 And I will have you and that fault withal;
  1325. 2607 But if they will not, throw away that spirit,
  1326. 2608 And I shall find you empty of that fault,
  1327. 2609 Right joyful of your reformation.
  1328. Berowne
  1329. 2610 A twelvemonth! well, befall what will befall,
  1330. 2611 I'll jest a twelvemonth in an hospital.
  1331. [To the King.]
  1332. Princess of France
  1333. 2612 Ay, sweet my lord; and so I take my leave.
  1334. King of Navarre
  1335. 2613 No, madam; we will bring you on your way.
  1336. Berowne
  1337. 2614 Our wooing doth not end like an old play:
  1338. 2615 Jack hath not Jill; these ladies' courtesy
  1339. 2616 Might well have made our sport a comedy.
  1340. King of Navarre
  1341. 2617 Come, sir, it wants a twelvemonth and a day,
  1342. 2618 And then 'twill end.
  1343. Berowne
  1344. 2619 That's too long for a play.
  1345. [Enter ARMADO.]
  1346. Don Adriano de Armado
  1347. 2620 Sweet Majesty, vouchsafe me,—
  1348. Princess of France
  1349. 2621 Was not that not Hector?
  1350. Dumaine
  1351. 2622 The worthy knight of Troy.
  1352. Don Adriano de Armado
  1353. 2623 I will kiss thy royal finger, and take leave. I am a
  1354. 2624 votary: I have vowed to Jaquenetta to hold the plough for her
  1355. 2625 sweet love three yeasr. But, most esteemed greatness, will you
  1356. 2626 hear the dialogue that the two learned men have compiled in
  1357. 2627 praise of the owl and the cuckoo? It should have followed in the
  1358. 2628 end of our show.
  1359. King of Navarre
  1360. 2629 Call them forth quickly; we will do so.
  1361. Don Adriano de Armado
  1362. 2630 Holla! approach.
  1363. [Enter HOLOFERNES, NATHANIEL, MOTH, COSTARD, and others.]
  1364. Don Adriano de Armado
  1365. 2631 This side is Hiems, Winter; this Ver, the Spring; the one
  1366. 2632 maintained by the owl, the other by the cuckoo. Ver, begin.
  1367. [I.]
  1368. Spring (Ver)
  1369. 2633 When daisies pied and violets blue
  1370. 2634 And lady-smocks all silver-white
  1371. 2635 And cuckoo-buds of yellow hue
  1372. 2636 Do paint the meadows with delight,
  1373. 2637 The cuckoo then on every tree
  1374. 2638 Mocks married men, for thus sings he,
  1375. 2639 Cuckoo;
  1376. 2640 Cuckoo, cuckoo: O, word of fear,
  1377. 2641 Unpleasing to a married ear!
  1378. [II.]
  1379. Spring (Ver)
  1380. 2642 When shepherds pipe on oaten straws,
  1381. 2643 And merry larks are ploughmen's clocks,
  1382. 2644 When turtles tread, and rooks and daws,
  1383. 2645 And maidens bleach their summer smocks,
  1384. 2646 The cuckoo then, on every tree,
  1385. 2647 Mocks married men, for thus sings he:
  1386. 2648 Cuckoo;
  1387. 2649 Cuckoo, cuckoo: O, word of fear,
  1388. 2650 Unpleasing to a married ear!
  1389. [III.]
  1390. Winter (Hiems)
  1391. 2651 When icicles hang by the wall,
  1392. 2652 And Dick the shepherd blows his nail,
  1393. 2653 And Tom bears logs into the hall,
  1394. 2654 And milk comes frozen home in pail,
  1395. 2655 When blood is nipp'd, and ways be foul,
  1396. 2656 Then nightly sings the staring owl:
  1397. 2657 Tu-who;
  1398. 2658 Tu-whit, tu-who—a merry note,
  1399. 2659 While greasy Joan doth keel the pot.
  1400. [IV.]
  1401. Winter (Hiems)
  1402. 2660 When all aloud the wind doth blow,
  1403. 2661 And coughing drowns the parson's saw,
  1404. 2662 And birds sit brooding in the snow,
  1405. 2663 And Marian's nose looks red and raw,
  1406. 2664 When roasted crabs hiss in the bowl,
  1407. 2665 Then nightly sings the staring owl:
  1408. 2666 Tu-who;
  1409. 2667 Tu-whit, to-who—a merry note,
  1410. 2668 While greasy Joan doth keel the pot.
  1411. Don Adriano de Armado
  1412. 2669 The words of Mercury are harsh after the songs of Apollo.
  1413. 2670 You that way: we this way.
  1414. [Exeunt.]