Moth. How mean you, Sir? I pretty, and my saying apt? or I apt, and my saying pretty? Arm. Thou pretty, because little.

Moth. Little pretty, because little: Wherefore apt?

Arm. And therefore apt, because quick. Moth. Speak you this in my praise, master ? Arm. In thy condign praise.

Moth. I will praise an eel with the same praise.

Arm. What? that an eel is ingenious?
Moth. That an eel is quick.

Arm. I do say, thou art quick in answers:

Thou heatest my blood.

Moth. I am answer'd, Sir,
Arm. I love not to be crossed.

Moth. He speaks the mere contrary, crosses love not him.

[Aside. Arm. I have promised to study three years with the duke.

Moth. You may do it in an hour, Sir.
Arm, Impossible.

Moth. How many is one thrice told?

Arm, I am ill at reckoning, it fitteth the spirit of a tapster.

Arm. Is that one of the four complexions? Moth. As I have read, Sir; and the best of them too.

Arm. 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. Arm. My love is most immaculate white and red.

Moth. Most maculate thoughts, master, a masked under such colours.

Arm. Define, define, well-educated infant. Moth. My father's wit, and my mother's tongue, assist me!

Arm. Sweet invocation of a child; most pretty and pathetical!

Moth. If she be made of white and red,
Her faults will ne'er be known:
For blushing cheeks by faults are bred,
And fears by pale-white shown:
Then, if she fear, or be to blame,

By this you shall not know;

For still her cheeks possess the same,
Which native she doth owe.

A dangerous rhyme, master, against the reason of white and red.

Arm. Is there not a ballad, boy, of the King and the Beggar ?

Moth. The world was very guilty of such a ballad some three ages since: but, I think, now 'tis not to be found; or, if it were, it would neither serve for the writing, nor the tune.

Arm. 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. Arm. Sing, boy, my spirit grows heavy in

[Aside.

Moth. Why, Sir, is this such a piece of study? Now here is three studied, ere you'll thrice wink and how easy it is to put years to the word three, and study three years in two words, the dancing horse will tell you. Arm. A most fine figure! Moth. To prove you a cipher. Arm. 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.

Arm. 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 mau of good carriage, great carriage; for he carried the town-gates on his back, like a porter: and he was in love.

Arm. 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 ?Moth. A woman, master.

Arm. Of what complexion?

Moth. Of all the four, or the three, or the two; or one of the four.

Arm. Tell me precisely of what complexion? Moth. Of the sea-water green, Sir.

Moth. And that's great marvel, loving a light wench.

Arm. I say, sing.

Moth. Forbear till this company be past.

Enter DULL, COSTARD, and JAQUENETTA. Dull. Sir, the duke's pleasure is, that you keep Costard safe; and you must let him take no delight, nor no penance; but a' must fast three days a week: for this damsel, I must keep her at the park; she is allowed for the day-woman. † Fare you well.

Arm. I do betray myself with blushing.

Maid.

Jaq. Man.

Arm. I will visit thee at the lodge.
Jaq. That's hereby.

Arm. I know where it is situate.
Jaq. Lord, how wise you are!
Arm. I will tell thee wonders.
Jaq. With that face?
Arm. I love thee.
Jaq. So I heard you say.
Arm. And so farewell,

Jaq. Fair weather after you !
Dull. Come, Jaquenetta, away.

[Exeunt DULL and JAQUENETTA, Arm. Villain, thou shalt fast for thy offences, ere thou be pardoned.

Cost. Well, Sir, I hope, when I do it, I shall do it on a full stomach.

Arm. Thou shalt be heavily punished. Cost, I am more bound to you, than your fellows, for they are but lightly rewarded. Arm. Take away this villain; shut him up. Moth. Come, you transgressing slave; away. Cost. Let me not be pent up, Sir; I will fast being loose.

Moth. No, Sir; that were fast and loose : thou shalt to prison.

thither.

King. Hear me, dear lady; I have sworn an oath.

Prin. Our Lady help my lord! he'll be for

sworn.

King. Not for the world, fair madam, by my will.

Prin. Why, will shall break it will, and nothing else.

King. Your ladyship is ignorant what it is. Prin. Were my lord so, his ignorance were wise,

Where now his knowledge must prove igno

rance.

I hear, your grace hath sworn out house-keeping:

'Tis deadly sin to keep that oath, my lord,
And sin to break it:

But pardon me, I am too sudden-bold;
To teach a teacher ill beseemeth me.
Vouchsafe to read the purpose of my coming,
And suddenly resolve me in my suit.

[Gives a paper. King. Madam, I will, if suddenly I may. Prin. You will the sooner, that I were away;

For you'll prove perjur'd, if you make me stay. Biron. Did not I dance with you in Bra

Ros. Not till it leave the rider in the mire.
Biron. What time o' day?

Ros. The hour that fools should ask.
Biron. Now fair befall your mask!

Ros. Fair fall the face it covers !
Biron. And send you many lovers!
Ros. Amen, so you be none.

Biron. Nay, then will I be gone.

King. Madam, your father here doth intimate The payment of a hundred thousand crowns; Being but the one half of an entire sum, Disbursed by my father in his wars.

But say, that be, or we, (as neither have,)
Receiv'd that sum; yet there remains unpaid
A hundred thousand more; in surety of the

which,

One part of Aquitain is bound to us,
Although not valued to the money's worth.
If then the king your father will restore
But that one half which is unsatisfied,
We will give up our right in Aquitain,
And hold fair friendship with his majesty.
But that, it seems, be little purposeth,
For here he doth demand to have repaid
An hundred thousand crowns; and not
mands,

On payment of a hundred thousand crowns,
To have his title live in Aquitain;
Which we much rather bad depart withal,
And have the money by our father lent,
Than Aquitain so gelded as it is.

de

Dear princess, were not his requests so far From reason's yielding, your fair self should make

A yielding, 'gainst some reason, in my breast, And go well satisfied to France again.

Prin. You do the king my father too much

wrong,

And wrong the reputation of your name,

In so unseeming to confess receipt of that which hath so faithfully been paid. King. I do protest, I never heard of it;

• Whereas.

Or yield up Aquitain.

Prin. We arrest your word: Boyet, you can produce aquittances, For such a sum, from special officers Of Charles his father.

King. Satisfy me so.

Boyet. So please your grace, the packet is not come,

Where that and other specialties are bound:
To-morrow you shall have a sight of them.

King. It shall suffice me; at which inter view,

All liberal reason I will yield unto.
Mean time receive such welcome at my hand,
As honour, without breach of honour, may
Make tender of to thy true worthiness:
You may not come, fair princess, in my gates;
But here without you shall be so receiv'd,
As you shall deem yourself lodg'd in my heart,
Though so denied fair harbour in my house.
Your own good thoughts excuse me, and fare-
well:

To-morrow shall we visit you again.

Prin. Sweet health and fair desires consort your grace!

King. Thy own wish wish I thee in every place!

[Exeunt KING and his Train. Biron. Lady, I will commend you to my own heart.

Ros. 'Pray you, do my commendations; I would be glad to see it.

Biron. I would, you heard it groan.

Ros. Is the fool sick?
Biron. Sick at heart.

Ros. Alack, let it blood.

Biron. Would that do it good?

Ros. My physic says, 1.

Biron. Will you prick't with your eye?
Ros. No poynt, with my knife.
Biron. Now, God save thy life!
Ros. And your's from long living!
Biron. I cannot stay thanksgiving.

[Retiring.

Dum. Sir, I pray you, a word: What lady is

that same?

her name.

Boyet. She hath but one for herself; to desire that were a shame.

Long. Pray you, Sir, whose daughter?
Boyet. Her mother's I have heard.

Long. God's blessing on your beard!

Boyet. Good Sir, be not offended:

She is an heir of Falconbridge.

Long. Nay, my choler is ended. She is a most sweet lady.

Boyet. Not unlike, Sir; that may be. [Exit LONGAVILLE. Biron. What's her name, in the cap? Boyet. Katharine, by good hap. Biron. Is she wedded, or no? Boyet. To her will, Sir, or so? Biron. You are welcome, Sir; adieu ! Boyet. Farewell to me, Sir, and welcome to you. [Exit BIRON.-Ladies unmask. Mar. That last is Biron, the merry mad-cap lord;

Not a word with him but a jest.

Boyet. And every jest but a word.

Prin. It was well done of you to take him at

his word.

Boyet. I was as willing to grapple, as he was to board.

pressed,

Proud with his form, in his eye pride expressed, His tongue, all impatient to speak and not see, Did stumble with haste in his eye-sight to be; All senses to that sense did make their repair, To feel only looking on fairest of fair: Methought, all his senses were lock'd in his eye,

As jewels in crystal for some prince to buy; Who, tend'ring their own worth, from where they were glass'd,

Did point you to buy them, along as you pass'd.
His face's own margent did quote such amazes,
That all eyes saw his eyes enchanted with gazes:
I'll give you Aquitain, and all that is his,
An you give him for my sake but one loving
kiss.

Prin. Come, to our pavilion: Boyet is dispos'd

Boyet. But to speak that in words, which his eye hath disclos'd:

I only have made a mouth of his eye,
By adding a tongue which I know will not lie.
Ros. Thou art an old love-monger, and speak'st
skilfully.

Mar. He is Cupid's grandfather, and learns

news of him.

Ros. Then was Venus like her mother; for her father is but grim.

Boyet. Do you hear, my mad wenches?
Mar. No.

Boyet. What then, do you see?

Ros. Ay, our way to be gone. Boyet. You are too hard for me.

[Exeunt.

ACT III.

SCENE 1.-Another part of the same.

Enter ARMADO and MOTH.

Arm. Warble, child; make passionate my sense of hearing.

Moth. Concolinel[Singing. Arm. Sweet air!-Go, tenderness of years 4 take this key, give enlargement to the swain, bring him festinately hither; I must employ

him in a letter to my love.

Moth. Master will you win your love with a French brawl? ‡

A quibble several signified uninclosed lands.
+ Ilastily.
A kind of ance.

Arm. How mean'st thou? brawling in French? Moth. No, my complete master; but to jig off a tune at the tongue's end, canary to it with your feet, humour it with turning up your eyelids; sigh a note, and sing a note; sometime through the throat, as if you swallowed love with singing love; sometime through the nose, as if you snuffed up love by smelling love; with your hat penthouse-like, o'er the shop of your eyes; with your arms crossed on your thin belly-doublet, like a rabbit on a spit; or your hands in your pocket, like a man after the old painting; and keep not too long in one tune, but a suip and away: These are complements, these are bumours; these betray nice wenches-that would be betrayed without these; and make them men of note, (do you note, men ?) that most are affected to these.

Arm. How hast thou purchased this experience ?

Moth. By my penny of observation.
Arm. But 0,-but 0,-

Moth. -the hobby-borse is forgot.

Arm. Callest thou my love, hobby-horse? Moth. No, master; the hobby-horse is but a colt, and your love, perhaps, a hackney. But have you forgot your love?

Arm. Almost I had.

Moth. Negligent student! learn her by heart. Arm. By heart, and in heart, boy. Moth. And out of heart, master: all those three I will prove.

Arm. What wilt thou prove?

Moth. A man, if I live; and this, by, in, and without, upon the instant: By heart you love her, because your heart cannot come by her; in heart you love her, because your heart is in love with her; and out of heart you love her, being out of heart that you cannot enjoy her.

Arm. I am all these three.

Moth. And three times as much more, and yet nothing at all.

Arm. Fetch hither the swain; he must carry me a letter.

Moth. A message well sympathized; a horse to be ambassador for an ass!

Arm. Ha, ha! what sayest thou?

Moth. Marry, Sir, you must send the ass upon the horse, for he is very slow gaited: But

go.

Arm. The way is but short; away.

Moth. As swift as lead, Sir.

Arm. Thy meaning, pretty ingenious?

Is not lead a metal heavy, dull, and slow? Moth. Minimè, honest master; or rather, master, no,

Arm. I say, lead is slow.

Moth. You are too swift, + Sir, to say so: Is that lead slow which is fir'd from a gun? Arm. Sweet smoke of rhetoric!

He reputes me a canuon; and the bullet, that's

be:

of grace!

By thy favour, sweet welkin, I must sigh in thy

face: Most rude melancholy, valour gives thee place. My herald is return'd.

Re-enter MоTH and COSTARD. Moth. A wonder, master; here's a Costard broken in a shin.

Arm. Some enigma, some riddle: come,-thy V'envoy-begin.

Cost. No egma, no riddle, no l'envoy: no salve in the mail, Sir: O, Sir, plantain, a plain plantain; no l'envoy, no l'envoy, no salve, Sir, but a plantain !

Canary was the name of a sprightly dance. + Quick, ready. 1 A head. An old French term for concluding verses, which served either to convey the moral, or to address the poem to some person.