SCENE I. NAVARRE. A PARK, WITH A PALACE IN IT. Ledge Enter the King, Biron, Longaville, and Dumain. Your oaths are past, and now subscribe your names; Bir. I can but say their protestation over. The which, I hope, is not enrolled there: King. Your oath is pass'd to pass away from these. Bir. Let me say no, my liege, an if you please; I only swore, to study with your grace, And stay here in your court for three years' space. Long. You swore to that, Biron, and to the rest. Bir. By yea and nay, sir, then I swore in jest.What is the end of study? let me know. King. Why, that to know, which else we should not know. Bir. Things, hid and barr'd, you mean, from common sense; King. Ay, that is study's godlike recompense. Bir. Come on then, I will swear to study so, To know the thing I am forbid to know: As thus-To study where I well may dine. When I to feast expressly am forbid; Or, study where to meet some mistress fine, When mistresses from common sense are hid: Or, having sworn too hard-a-keeping oath, Study to break it, and not break my troth. If study's gain be thus, and this be so, Study knows that, which yet it doth not know: Swear me to this, and I will ne'er say, no. King. These be the stops that hinder study quite, And train our intellects to vain delight. [vain, Bir. Why, all delights are vain; but that most Which, with pain purchas'd, doth inherit pain : As, painfully to pore upon a book, To seek the light of truth: while truth the while Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look: Light, seeking light, doth light of light beguile : So, ere you find where light in darkness lies, Your light grows dark by losing of your eyes. Study me how to please the eye indeed, By fixing it upon a fairer eye; 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! [ing! Dum. Proceeded well, to stop all good proceedLong. He weeds the corn, and still lets grow the weeding! Bir. The spring is near, when green geese are a breeding. Dum. How follows that? Biron. Fit in his place and time. Long. Biron is like an envious sneaping frost, That bites the first-born infants of the spring. Bir. Well, say I am; why should proud sumBefore the birds have any cause to sing? [mer boast, Why should I joy in an abortive birth? At Christmas I no more desire a rose 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! Bir. [reads.] Item, "That no woman shall come within a mile of my court." And hath this been proclaim'd? Long. Four days ago. Bir. Let's see the penalty. [reads.]—" "On pain of losing her tongue. Who devis'd this? Long. Marry, that did I. Bir. Sweet lord, and why? A maid of grace, and complete 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. Bir. So study evermore is overshot; 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 deShe must lie here on mere necessity. [cree; Bir. Necessity will make us all forsworn Three thousand times within this three years' space: For every man with his affects is born; Not by might master'd, but by special grace: If I break faith, this word shall speak for me,I am forsworn on mere necessity.So to the laws at large I write my name: [subscribes. And he that breaks them in the least degree, Stands in attainder of eternal shame : Suggestions are to others, as to me; But, I believe, although I seem so loth, I am the last that will last keep his oath, But there is no quick recreation granted? King. Ay, that there is: our court you know is haunted With a refined traveller of Spain; A man in all the world's new fashion planted, That hath a mint of phrases in his brain: One, whom the music of his own vain tongue Doth ravish, like enchanting harmony; A man of complements, whom right and wrong Have chose as umpire of their mutiny: This child of fancy, that Armado hight, For interim to our studies, shall relate, In high-born words, the worth of many a knight From tawny Spain, lost in the world's debate. How you delight, my lords, I know not, I; But I protest, I love to hear him lie, And I will use him for my minstrelsy. Bir. Armado is a most illustrious wight, A man of fire-new words, fashion's own knight. Long. Costard the swain, and he, shall be our sport; And so to study, three years is but short. Enter Dull, with a letter and Costard. Dull. I myself reprehend his own person, for 1 am his grace's tharborough but I would see his own person in flesh and blood. Biron. This is he. Bir. To hear? or fo, bear hearing? Long. To hear meekly, sir, and to laugh moderately; or to forbear both, Bir. Well, sir, be it as the style shall give us cause to climb in the merriness. Cost. The matter is to me, sir, as concerning Jaquenetta. The manner of it is, I was taken with the manner. Bir. In what manner? Cost. In manner and form following, sir; all those three: I was seen with her in the manorhouse, sitting with her upon the form, and taken following her into the park; which, put together, is, in manner and form following. Now, sir, for the manner, it is the manner of a man to speak to a woman: for the form,-in some form. Bir. For the following, sir? a female; or, for thy more sweet understanding, a woman. Him I (as my ever-esteemed duty pricks me on,) have sent to thee, to receive the meed of punishment, by thy sweet grace's officer, Antony Dull; a man of good repute, carriage, bearing, and estimation." [Dull. Dull. Me, an't shall please you; I am Antony King. "For Jaquenetta; (so is the weaker vessel called, which I apprehended with the aforesaid swain,) I keep her as a vessel of thy law's fury; and shall, at the least of thy sweet notice, bring her to trial.-Thine, in all compliments of devoted and heart-burning heat of duty, "DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO." Bir. This is not so well as I looked for, but the best that ever I heard. King. Ay, the best for the worst. But, sirrah, Cost. As it shall follow in my correction; and what say you to this? God defend the right! King. Will you hear this letter with attention? Cost. Such is the simplicity of man to hearken after the flesh. King. [reads.]" Great deputy, the welkin's vicegerent, and sole dominator of Navarre, my soul's earth's God, and body's fostering patron,—” Cost. Not a word of Costard yet. King. "So it is,-" Cost. Sir, I confess the wench. King. Did you hear the proclamation? Cost. I do confess much of the hearing it, bat little of the marking of it. King. It was proclaimed a year's imprisonment, to be taken with a wench. Cost. I was taken with none, sir, I was taken with a damosel. King. Well, it was proclaimed damosel. Cost. It may be so: but if he say it is so, he is, a virgin. in telling true, but so, so. King. Peace. Cost.-of other men's secrets, I beseech you. King. "So it is, besieged with sable-coloured melancholy, I did commend the black-oppressing humour to the most wholesome physic of thy healthgiving air; and, as I am a gentleman, betook myself to walk. The time when? About the sixth hour; when beasts most graze, birds best peck, and men sit down to that nourishment which is called supper. So much for the time when. Now for the ground which; which, I mean, I walked upon: it is ycleped thy park. Then for the place where; where, I mean, I did encounter that obscene and most preposterous event, that draweth from my snow-white pen the ebon-coloured ink, which here thou viewest, beholdest, surveyest, or seest: but to the place, where,-It standeth north-north-east and by east from the west corner of thy curiousknotted garden: there dil I see that low-spirited swain, that base minnow of thy mirth." Cost. Me. King." that unletter'd small-knowing soul," King. "that shallow vassal," Cost. Still me. King. It so varied too; for it was proclaimed, virgin. Cost. If it were, I deny her virginity; I was taken with a maid. King. This maid will not serve your turn, sir. Cost. This maid will serve my turn, sir. King. Sir, I will pronounce your sentence: You shall fast a week with bran and water. Cost. I had rather pray a month with mutton and porridge. King. And Don Armado shall be your keeper.— My lord Biron, see him deliver'd o'er.And go we, lords, to put in practice that, Which each to other hath so strongly sworn.— [exeunt King, Longaville, and Dumain. Bir. I'll lay my head to any good man's hat, These oaths and laws will prove an idle scorn.— Sirrah, come on. Cost. I suffer for the truth, sir: for true it is, I was taken with Jaquenetta, and Jaquenetta is a true girl; and therefore, Welcome the sour cup of prosperity! Affliction may one day smile again, and till then, Sit thee down, sorrow. [exeunt. SCENE II. ANOTHER PART OF THE SAME. Enter Armado and Moth. Ar. Boy, what sign is it, when a man of great spirit grows melancholy? Moth. A great sign, sir, that he will look sad. Ar. Why, sadness is one and the self same thing, dear imp. Moth. No, no; O lord, sir, no. Ar. How canst thou part sadness and melancholy, my tender juvenal? Moth. By a familiar demonstration of the working, my tough senior. Ar. Why tough senior? why tough senior? Moth. Why tender juvenal? why tender juvenal? Ar. 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. Ar. Pretty and apt. Moth. How mean you, sir? I pretty, and my Moth. A woman, master. Ar. Of what complexion? Moth. Of all the four, or the three, or the two; or one of the four. Ar. Tell me precisely of what complexion. Ar. Is that one of the four complexions? [too. Moth. As I have read, sir; and the best of them Ar. Green, indeed, is the colour of lovers: but to have a love of that colour, methinks, Samson had small reason for it. He, surely, affected her for her wit. Moth. It was so, sir; for she had a green wit. Moth. I will praise an eel with the same praise. masked under such colours. Moth. That an eel is quick. Ar. Define, define, well educated infant. Ar. I am ill at reckoning, it fitteth the spirit of A dangerous rhyme, master, against the reason of a tapster. Moth. You are a gentleman, and a gamester, sir. of a complete man. white and red. Ar. Is there not a ballad, boy, of the King and the Beggar? Moth. The world was very guilty of such a Moth. Then. I am sure you know how much ballad some three ages since: but, I think, now 'tis the gross sum of deuce-ace amounts to. Ar. 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. Ar. A most fine figure! Moth. To prove you a cypher. [aside. Ar. I will hereupon confess, I am in love: and, as it is base for a soldier to love, so am I in love with a base wench. If drawing my sword against the humour of affection would deliver me from the reprobate thought of it, I would take desire prisoner, and ransom him to any French courtier for a new-devised courtesy. I think scorn to sigh; methinks, I should out-swear Cupid. Comfort me, boy: What great men have been in love? Moth. Hercules, master. Ar. Most sweet Hercules!-More authority, dear boy, name, more; and, sweet my child, let them be men of good repute and carriage. Moth. Samson, master: he was a man of good carriage, great carriage; for he carried the town gates on his back, like a porter: and he was in love. Ar. O well-knit Samson! strong jointed Samson! I do excel thee in my rapier, as much as thou didst me in carrying gates. I am in love too.Who was Samson's love, my dear Moth? not to be found; or, if it were, it would neither serve for the writing, nor the tune. Ar. I will have the subject newly writ o'er, that I may example my digression by some mighty 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. Ar. Sing, boy; my spirit grows heavy in love. Moth. And that's great marvel, loving a light Ar. I say, sing. [wench. Ar. I do betray myself with blushing.—Maid. Ar. I will visit thee at the lodge. Ar. I know where it is situate. Jaq. So I heard you say. Jaq. Fair weather after you! Dull. Come, Jaquenetta, away. [exeunt Dull and Jaquenetta. Ar. 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. Ar. Thou shalt be heavily punished. tience as another man; and, therefore I can be Cost. I am more bound to you, than your fel- devil: there is no evil angel but love. Yet Sam lows, for they are but lightly rewarded. Ar. 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. son was so tempted: and he had an excellent strength; yet was Solomon so seduced; and he had a very good wit. Cupid's buttshaft is too hard for Hercules' club, and therefore too much odds for a Spaniard's rapier. The first and second Moth. No, sir; that were fast and loose: thou cause will not serve my turn; the passado he reshalt to prison. spects not, the duello he regards not: his disgrace Cost. Well, if ever I do see the merry days of is to be called boy; but his glory is, to subdue desolation that I have seen, some shall see— Moth. What shall some see? 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 sonnetteer. Devise wit; write pen; for I am for whole volumes in folio. [exit. ACT II. Cost. Nay, nothing, master Moth, but what they look upon. It is not for prisoners to be too silent in their words; and, therefore, I will say nothing: I thank God, I have as little pa SCENE I. ANOTHER PART OF THE SAME. A PAVILION AND TENTS AT A DISTANCE. Enter the Princess of France, Rosaline, Maria, Consider who the king your father sends; Of all perfections that a man may owe, (mean, Boy. Proud of employment, willingly I go. [exit. Prin. All pride is willing pride, and yours is so.- Who are the votaries, my loving lords, Mar. I know him, madam; at a marriage feast, Prin. Such short-liv'd wits do witner as they Who are the rest? [grow. Kath. The young Dumain, a well-accomplish'd Of all that virtue love for virtue lov'd: Ros. Another of these students at that time |