The Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare

Ros. By heaven you did; and to confirm it plainYou gave me this: but take it, sir, again.

K. My faith, and this, the princess I did give: I knew her by this jewel on her sleeve.

Prin. Pardon me, sir, this jewel did she wear; And lord Birón, I thank him, is my dear:What; will you have me, or your pearl again? Biron. Neither of either; I remit both twain. I see the trick on't;-Here was a consent,1 (Knowing aforehand of our merriment), To dash it like a Christmas comedy: [zany,2 Some carry-tale, some please-man, some slight Some mumble-mews, some trencher-knight, some Dick,

That smiles his cheek in years; and knows the trick

Biron. Go, bid them prepare.
Cost. We will turn it finely off, sir; we will
take some care.
[Exit Costard.

King. Birón, they will shame us, let them
not approach.

Biron. We are shame-proof, my lord; and 'tis some policy,

To have one show worse than the king's and
his company.

King. I say, they shall not come. [now;
Prin. Nay, my good lord, let me o'er-rule you
That sport best pleases, that doth least know how;
Where zeal strives to content, and the contents
Die in the zeal of them which it presents,
Their form confounded makes most form in
mirth;
[birth.

Bir. A right description of our sport, my lord.
Enter Armado.

Arm. Anointed, I implore so much expense of thy royal sweet breath, as will utter a brace of words.

To make my lady laugh, when she's dispos'd-When great things labouring perish in their
Told our intents before: which once disclos'd,
The ladies did change favours; and then we,
Following the signs, woo'd but the sign of she.
Now, to our perjury to add more terror,
We are again forsworn; in will, and error.
Much upon this it is:-And might not you,
[To Boyet.
Forestall our sport, to make us thus untrue?
Do not you know my lady's foot by the squire,

And laugh upon the apple of her eye?
And stand between her back, sir, and the fire,
Holding a trencher, jesting merrily!
You leer upon me, do you? there's an eye,
Wounds like a leaden sword.

Boyet.
Full merrily
Hath this brave manage, this career, been run.
Biron. Lo, he is tilting straight! Peace; I
have done.

Enter Costard.

Welcome, pure wit! thou partest a fair fray.
Cost. O, sir, they would know,
Whether the three worthies shall come in, or no.
Biron. What, are there but three?
Cost.

No, sir; but it is vara fine,
For every one pursents three.
Biron.

And three times thrice is nine.

Cost. Not so, sir; under correction, sir; I hope, it is not so:

You cannot beg us, sir, I can assure you, sir; we know what we know:

Is not nine.

I hope, sir, three times thrice, sir,-
Biron.
Cost. Under correction, sir, we know where-
until it doth amount.

B. By Jove, I always took three threes for nine. Cost. O, sir, it were pity you should get your living by reckoning, sir.

Biron. How much is it?

Cost. O, sir, the parties themselves, the actors, sir, will show whereuntil it doth amount: for my own part, I am, as they say, but to parfect one man,-e'en one poor man; Pompion, the great, sir.

Biron. Art thou one of the worthies?

Cost. It pleased them, to think me worthy of Pompion the great: for mine own part, I know not the degree of the worthy: but I am to stand for him.

[Armado converses with the King, and de-
livers him a paper.

That's all one, my fair, sweet, honey monarch:
for, I protest, the schoolmaster is exceeding
fantastical; too, too vain; too, too vain: But
we will put it, as they say, to fortuna della
guerra. I wish you the peace of mind, most
royal couplement !
[Exit Armado.

King. Here is like to be a good presence of worthies: He presents Hector of Troy; the swain, Pompey the great; the parish curate, Alexander; Armado's page, Hercules; the pedant, Judas Machabæus:

And if these four worthies in their first show
thrive,
[other five.
These four will change habits, and present the
Biron. There is five in the first show.
King. You are deceiv'd, 'tis not so.
Biron. The pedant, the braggart, the hedge-
priest, the fool, and the boy:-

Abate a throw at novum1; and the whole world
again,

[vein. Cannot pick out five such, take each one in his King. The ship is under sail, and here she comes amain.

[Seats brought for the King, Princess, &c. Pageant of the Nine Worthies.

Enter Costard arm'd for Pompey.

Cost. I Pompey am,
Boyet.

You lie, you are not he.

Cost. I Pompey am,
Boyet.
Biron. Well said, old mocker; I must needs
be friends with thee.

With libbard's 2 head on knee.

C. I Pompey am, Pompey surnam'd the big,—
Dum. The great.
[great;

Cost. It is great, sir;-Pompey surnam❜d the That oft in field, with targe and shield, did make my foe to sweat:

And, travelling along this coast, I here am come
by chance;
[of France.
And lay my arms before the feet of this sweet lass
If your ladyship would say, Thanks Pompey, I
had done.

Prin. Great thanks, great Pompey. Cost. "Tis not so much worth; but, I hope, I was perfect: I made a little fault in great. Biron. My hat to a halfpenny, Pompey proves the best worthy.

Enter Nathaniel arm'd, for Alexander. Nath. When in the world I liv'd, I was the world's commander,

By east, west, north, and south, I spread my conquering might:

My 'scutcheon plain declares that I am Alisander,

Boyet. Your nose says, no, you are not; for it stands too right. [Alexander.

P. The conqueror is dismay'd. Proceed, good
Nath. When in the world I liv'd, I was the
world's commander;-

B. Most true, 'tis right; you were so, Alisander.
Biron. Pompey the great,-

Cost.
Your servant, and Costárd.
Biron. Take away the conqueror, take away
Alisander.

Cost. O, sir, [To Nath.] you have overthrown Alisander the conqueror! You will be scraped out of the painted cloth for this. A conqueror, and afear'd to speak! run away for shame, Alisander. [Nath. retires.] There, an't shall please you; a foolish mild man; an honest man, look you, and soon dash'd! He is a marvellous good neighbour, in sooth; and a very good bowler: but, for Alisander, alas, you see, how 'tis;-a little o'er-parted:-But there are worthies a-coming will speak their mind in some other sort.

Prin. Stand aside, good Pompey.

Enter Holofernes arm'd, and Moth arm'd, for

Hercules.

Boyet. A cittern head.

Dum. The head of a bodkin.

Biron. A death's face in a ring.

L. The face of an old Roman coin, scarce seen. Boyet. The pummel of Cæsar's faulchion. Dum. The carv'd-bone face on a flask. Biron. St George's half-cheek in a brooch. Dum. Ay, in a brooch of lead.

B. Ay, and worn in the cap of a tooth-drawer: And now, forward; for we have put thee in

countenance.

Hol. You have put me out of countenance. Biron. False; we have given thee faces. Hol. But you have out-fac'd them all.

1 Called.

Biron. An thou wert a lion, we would do so. Boyet. Therefore, as he is, an ass, let him go. [Exit Holofernes.

Enter Armado arm'd, for Hector. Biron. Hide thy head, Achilles; here comes Hector in arms.

Dum. Though my mocks come home by me, I will now be merry.

King. Hector was but a Trojan in respect of Boyet. But is this Hector? [this.

D. I think, Hector was not so clean-timber'd. Long. His leg is too big for Hector.

Dum. More calf, certain.

Boyet. No; he is best indued in the small.
Biron. This cannot be Hector.

Dum. He's a painter, for he makes faces.
A. The armipotent Mars, of lances the mighty,
Gave Hector a gift,—

Dum. A gilt nutmeg.
Biron. A lemon.

Long. Stuck with cloves.
Dum. No, cloven.
Arm. Peace!

The armipotent Mars, of lances the mighty,
Gave Hector a gift, the heir of Ilion; [yea
A man so breath'd, that certain he would fight,
From morn till night, out of his pavilion.
I am that flower,—
Dum.

That mint.

Long. That columbine. Arm. Sweet lord Longaville, rein thy tongue. Long. I must rather give it the rein; for it runs against Hector.

Dum. Ay, and Hector's a greyhound.

Arm. The sweet war-man is dead; sweet chucks, beat not the bones of the buried: when he breath'd, he was a man.-But I will forward with my device: Sweet royalty, [To the Princess.] bestow on me the sense of hearing.

[Bir. whispers Costard. P. Speak, brave Hector; we are much delighted. Arm. I do adore thy sweet grace's slipper. Boyet. Loves her by the foot.

Arm. This Hector far surmounted Hannibal.C. The party is gone, fellow Hector, she is gone. Arm. Dost thou infamonize me among potentates? thou shalt die.

Cost. Then shall Hector be hanged, for Pompey that is dead by him.

Dum. Most rare Pompey!

Boyet. Renowned Pompey!

Biron. Greater than great, great, great, great Pompey! Pompey the huge!

Dum. Hector trembles.

Biron. Pompey is moved.-More Ates,1 more Ates; stir them on! stir them on! Dum. Hector will challenge him.

Biron. Ay, if he have no more man's blood in him than will sup a flea.

Arm. By the north pole, I do challenge thee. Cos. I will not fight with a pole, like a northern man; I'll slash; I'll do it by the sword:-I pray you, let me borrow my arms again.

Dum. Room for the incensed worthies.
Cost. I'll do it in my shirt.

Dum. Most resolute Pompey.

1 The goddess of discord.

Arm. Gentlemen and soldiers, pardon me; I will not combat in my shirt.

Dum. You may not deny it, Pompey hath made the challenge.

Arm. Sweet bloods, I both may and will. Biron. What reason have you for't? Arm. The naked truth of it is, I have no shirt, I go woolward for penance.

Boyet. True, and it was enjoined him in Rome for want of linen,

Enter Mercade.

Mer. Heaven save you, madam!
Prin. Welcome, Mercade.

But that thou interrupt'st our merriment.
Mer. I am sorry, madam; for the news I bring,
Is heavy in my tongue. The king your father-
Prin. Dead, for my life.

Mer. Even so; my tale is told.

B. Worthies, away; the scene begins to cloud. A. For mine own part, I breathe free breath; I have seen the day of wrong through the little hole of discretion, and I will right myself like a soldier. [Exeunt Worthies.

King. How fares your majesty? Prin. Boyet, prepare; I will away to-night. King. Madam, not so; I do beseech you, stay. P. Prepare, I say.-I thank you,gracious lords, For all your fair endeavours; and entreat, Out of a new-sad soul, that you vouchsafe In your rich wisdom, to excuse or hide, The liberal1 opposition of our spirits: If over-boldly we have borne ourselves In the converse of breath, your gentleness Was guilty of it.-Farewell, worthy lord! A heavy heart bears not an humble tongue: Excuse me so, coming so short of thanks For my great suit so easily obtain'd.

King. The extreme parts of time extremely
All causes to the purpose of his speed; [form
And often, at his very loose, decides
That which long process could not arbitrate:
And though the morning brow of progeny
Forbid the smiling courtesy of love,
The holy suit which fain it would convince;
Yet, since love's argument was first on foot,
Let not the cloud of sorrow justle it
From what it purpos'd; since, to wail friends
lost,

Is not by much so wholesome, profitable,
As to rejoice at friends but newly found.

P. I understand you not, my griefs are double. Bir. Honest plain words best pierce the ear of grief:

And by these badges understand the king.
For your fair sakes have we neglected time,
Play'd foul play with our oaths; your beauty,
ladies,

Hath much deform'd us,fashioning our humours
Even to the opposed end of our intents:
And what in us hath seem'd ridiculous,-
As love is full of unbefitting strains;
All wanton as a child, skipping, and vain;
Form'd by the eye, and, therefore like the eye
Full of strange shapes, of habits, and of forms,
Varying in subjects as the eye doth roll
To every varied object in his glance:

1 Excessive.

Which party-coated presence of loose love
Put on by us, if, in your heavenly eyes
Have misbecom'd our oaths and gravities,
Those heavenly eyes, that look into these faults,
Suggested us to make: Therefore, ladies,
Our love being yours, the error that love makes
Is likewise yours: we to ourselves prove false,
By being once false for ever to be true
To those that make us both,-fair ladies, you:
And even that falsehood, in itself a sin,
Thus purifies itself, and turns to grace.

P. We have receiv'd your letters, full of love;
Your favours, the embassadors of love;
And, in our maiden council, rated them
At courtship, pleasant jest, and courtesy,
As bombast, and as lining to the time:
But more devout than this, in our respects,
Have we not been; and therefore met your loves
In their own fashion, like a merriment.
Dum. Our letters, madam, show'd much more
Long. So did our looks.
[than jest.

Ros. We did not quote1 them so. King. Now, at the latest minute of the hour, Grant us your loves.

Prin.

A time, methinks, too short
To make a world-without-end bargain in:
No, no, my lord, your grace is perjur'd much,
Full of dear guiltiness; and therefore this,-
If for my love (as there is no such cause)
You will do aught, this shall you do for me:
Your oath I will not trust; but go with speed
To some forlorn and naked hermitage,
Remote from all the pleasures of the world;
There stay, until the twelve celestial signs
Have brought about their annual reckoning;
If this austere insociable life

Change not your offer made in heat of blood,
If frosts, and fasts, hard lodging, and thinweeds,2
Nip not the gaudy blossoms of your love,
But that it bear this trial, and last love;
Then, at the expiration of the year,
Come challenge, challenge me by these deserts,
And, by this virgin palm, now kissing thine,
I will be thine; and, till that instant, shut
My woeful self up in a mourning house;
Raining the tears of lamentation,
For the remembrance of my father's death.
If this thou do deny, let our hands part;
Neither entitled in the other's heart.

King. If this, or more than this, I would deny,
To flatter up these powers of mine with rest,
The sudden hand of death close up mine eye!
Hence ever then my heart is in thy breast.
Bir. And what to me, my love? and what to me?
R. You must be purged too, your sins are rank;
You are attaints with faults and perjury;
Therefore, if you my favour mean to get,
A twelvemonth shall you spend, and never rest,
But seek the weary beds of people sick.

Dum. But what to me, my love? but what to me? K. A wife!-A beard, fair health, and honesty; With three-fold love I wish you all these three.

Dum. O, shall I say, I thank you, gentle wife? K. Not so, my lord;-a twelvemonth and a day I'll mark no words that smooth-fac'd wooers say: Come when the king doth to my lady come, Then, if I have much love, I'll give you some. 1 Regard. 2 Clothing.

8 Stained. M

D. I'll serve thee true and faithfully till then. K. Yet swear not, lest you be forsworn again. Long. What says Maria?

Mar. At the twelvemonth's end, I'll change my black gown for a faithful friend. L. I'll stay with patience; but the time is long. Mar. The liker you; few taller are so young. Bir. Studies, my lady? mistress, look on me. Behold the window of my heart, mine eye, What humble suit attends thy answer there; Impose some service on me for thy love.

Ros. Oft have I heard of you, my lord Birón, Before I saw you: and the world's large tongue Proclaims you for a man replete with mocks ; Full of comparisons and wounding flouts; Which you on all estates will execute, That lie within the mercy of your wit: To weed thiswormwood from your fruitful brain; And, therewithal, to win me, if you please, (Without the which I am not to be won,) You shall this twelvemonth term from dayto day Visit the speechless sick, and still converse With groaning wretches; and your task shall be, With all the fierce endeavour of your wit, To enforce the pained impotent to smile.

B. To move wild laughter in the throat of It cannot be; it is impossible: [death? Mirth cannot move a soul in agony. [spirit, Ros. Why, that's the way to choke a gibing Whose influence is begot of that loose grace, Which shallow laughing hearers give to fools: A jest's prosperity lies in the ear

Of him that hears it, never in the tongue
Of him that makes it; then, if sickly ears,
Deaf'd with the clamours of their own dear
groans,

Will hear your idle scorns, continue then,
And I will have you, and that fault withal;
But, if they will not, throw away that spirit,
And I shall find you empty of that fault,
Right joyful of your reformation.

Biron. A twelvemonth? well, befal what will I'll jest a twelvemonth in an hospital. [befal, Prin. Ay, sweet my lord: and so I take my leave. [To the King.

K. No, madam: we will bring you on your way. Bir. Our wooing doth not end like an old play; Jack hath not Jill: these ladies' courtesy Might well have made our sport a comedy. K. Come, sir, it wants a twelvemonth and a And then 'twill end. [day, Biron.

That's too long for a play.

Enter Armado.

Arm. Sweet majesty, vouchsafe me.Prin. Was not that Hector? Dum. The worthy knight of Troy. Arm. I will kiss thy royal finger and take leave: I am a votary; I have vowed to Jaquenetta to hold the plough for her sweet love three years. But, most esteemed greatness, will you

SALARINO,Friends to Antonio and Bassanio. PORTIA, a rich Heiress.

PRINCE OF ARRAGON,

BASSANIO, his Friend.

SALANIO,

Magnificoes of Venice, Officers of the Court of

NERISSA, her Waiting-Maid.

JESSICA, Daughter to Shylock.

TUBAL, a Jew, his Friend.

LAUNCELOT GOBBO, a Clown, Servant to Shylock. | Justice, Gaoler, Servants, and other Attendants.

SCENE.-Partly at Venice, and partly at Belmont, the seat of Portia, on the Continent.

Act First.

SCENE I.-VENICE. A STREET.
Enter Antonio, Salarino, and Salanio.
Ant. In sooth, I know not why I am so sad;
It wearies me; you say it wearies you;
But how I caught it, found it, or came by it,
What stuff 'tis made of, whereof it is born,
I am to learn ;

And such a want-wit sadness makes of me,
That I have much ado to know myself.

Salar. Your mind is tossing on the ocean;
There, where your argosies1 with portly sail,-
Like signiors and rich burghers of the flood,
Or, as it were, the pageants of the sea,-
Do overpeer the petty traffickers,
That court'sy to them, do them reverence,
As they fly by them with their woven wings.
Salan. Believe me, sir, had I such venture
forth

The better part of my affections would
Be with my hopes abroad. I should be still
Plucking the grass, to know where sits the wind;
Peering in maps, for ports, and piers, and roads;
And every object, that might make me fear
Misfortune to my ventures, out of doubt,
Would make me sad.

Salar.
My wind, cooling my broth,
Would blow me to an ague, when I thought
What harm a wind too great might do at sea.
I should not see the sandy hour-glass run,
But I should think of shallows and of flats;
And see my wealthy Andrew dock'd in sand,
Vailing her high-top lower than her ribs,
To kiss her burial. Should I go to church,
And see the holy edifice of stone,

And not bethink me straight of dangerous rocks?
Which touching but my gentle vessel's side,
Would scatter all her spices on the stream;
Enrobe the roaring waters with my silks;
And, in a word, but even now worth this,
And now worth nothing! Shall I have the
thought

To think on this; and shall I lack the thought, That such a thing, bechanc'd, would make me sad?

But, tell not me; I know Antonio
Is sad to think upon his merchandize.

Ant. Believe me, no: I thank my fortune for it,
My ventures are not in one bottom trusted,
Nor to one place; nor is my whole estate
Upon the fortune of this present year:
Therefore, my merchandize makes me not sad.
Salan. Why then you are in love.
Fie, fie!
Salan. Not in love neither? Then let's say,
you are sad,

Ant.

Because you are not merry: and 'twere as easy For you, to laugh, and leap, and say, you are merry,

Because you are not sad. Now, by two-headed
Janus,

Nature hath fram'd strange fellows in her time:
Some that will evermore peep through their eyes,
And laugh, like parrots, at a bag-piper;
And other of such vinegar aspect,
That they'll not show their teeth in way of smile,
Though Nestor swear the jest be laughable.

Enter Bassanio, Lorenzo, and Gratiano. Salan. Here comes Bassanio, your most noble Gratiano, and Lorenzo: Fare you well; [kinsman, We leave you now with better company. [merry,

Salar. I would have staid till I had made you If worthier friends had not prevented me. Ant. Your worth is very dear in my regard. I take it, your own business calls on you, And you embrace the occasion to depart. Salar. Good morrow, my good lords.

Bass. Good signiors both, when shall we laugh? Say, when?

You grow exceeding strange: Must it be so? Sular. We'll make our leisures to attend on

[Exeunt Salarino and Salanio. [yours. Lor. My lord Bassanio, since you have found Antonio,

We two will leave you: but, at dinner-time,
I pray you, have in mind where we must meet.

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