This Gallant pins the wenches on his sleeve; This is the ape of form, Monfieur the nice, King. A blifter on his fweet tongue with my heart, That put Armado's Page out of his Part! Enter the Princefs, Rofaline, Maria, Catharine, Boyet, and attendants. Biron. See, where it comes; behaviour, what wert thou, 'Till this man fhew'd thee? and what art thou now? King: Rebuke me not for That, which you provoke ; For virtue's office never breaks mens' troth. A world of torments though I should endure, So much I hate a breaking cause to be King. How, Madam? Ruffians? Prin. Ay, in truth, my lord ; Trim gallants, full of courtship, and of state. We four, indeed, confronted were with four By light we lofe light; your capacity Is of that nature, as to your huge store Rof. But that you take what doth to you belong, Biron. I cannot give you lefs. Rof. Which of the vizors was it, that you wore ? Biron. Where? when? what vizor? why demand you this? Rof. There, then, that vizor, that fuperfluous Cafe, That hid the worse, and fhew'd the better face. King. We are defcried; they'll mock us now down right. Dum. Dum. Let us confefs, and turn it to a jest. Prin. Amaz'd, my lord? why looks your Highness fad? Rof. Help, hold his brows, he'll fwoon: why look you pale? Sea-fick, I think, coming from Muscovy. Biron. Thus pour the stars down plagues for Perjury. Can any face of brass hold longer out? Here ftand I, lady, dart thy skill at me ; Bruise me with fcorn, confound me with a flout, Thruft thy fharp wit quite through my ignorance; Cut me to pieces with thy keen conceit; And I will with thee never more to dance, Nor to the motion of a school-boy's tongue; Nor never come in vizor to my friend, Nor woo in rhime, like a blind harper's fong. Taffata-phrases, filken terms precise, Three-pil'd hyperboles, fprace affectation, Figures pedantical, thefe fummer-flies, Have blown me full of maggot oftentation: I do forfwear them; and I here proteft, By this white glove, (how white the hand, God knows!) Henceforth my wooing mind shall be exprest In ruffet yeas, and honest kerfie noës: Biron. Yet I have a trick Of the old rage: bear with me, I am fick. Write, Lord have mercy on us, on those three; They have the plague, and caught it of your eyes: Prin. No, they are free, that gave thefe tokens to us. L 3 Biron, Biron. Our ftates are forfeit, feek not to undo us. Raf. It is not fo; for how can this be true, That you ftand forfeit, being those that fue? Biron. Peace, for I will not have to do with you. Rof. Nor fhall not, if I do as I intend. Biron. Speak for your felves, my wit is at an end. King. Teach us, fweet Madam, for our rude tra greffion Some fair excufe. Prin. The fairest is confeffion. Were you not here, but even now, disguis'd? King. Madam, I was. Prin. And were you well advis'd? King. I was, fair Madam. Prin. When you then were here, What did you whisper in your lady's ear? King. That more than all the world I did refpect her Prin. When fhe fhall challenge this, you will re ject her. King. Upon mine honour, no. Prin. Peace, peace, forbear: Your oath once broke, you force not to forfwear. King. Defpife me, when I break this oath of mine Prin. I will, and therefore keep it. Rofaline, What did the Ruffian whifper in your ear? Rof. Madam, he fwore, that he did hold me dear As precious eye-fight; and did value me Above this world; adding thereto, moreover, That he would wed me, or elfe die my lover. Prin. God give thee joy of him! the noble lord Moft honourably doth uphold his word. I King. What mean you, Madam? by my life, my troth I never fwore this lady fuch an oath. Rof. By heav'n, you did; and to confirm it plain, You gave me this: but take it, Sir, again. King. My faith, and this, to th' Princess I did give; I knew her by this jewel on her sleeve. Prin Pardon me. Sir. this iewel did the wear : Love's Labour's loft. Biron. Neither of either: I remit both twain. 247 Come carry-tale, fome please-man, fome flight zany, You put our Page out: go, you are allow'd ; Boyet. Full merrily Hath this brave Manage, this Career, been run. Enter Coftard. Welcome, pure wit, thou parteft a fair fray. Whether the three Worthies fhall come in, or no. For every one pursents three, (37) That fmiles his Cheek in years.] Thus the whole Set of Impreffions: but I cannot for my Heart comprehend the Sense of this Phrase. I am perfuaded, I have reftor'd the Poet's Word and Meaning. Boyer's Character was That of a Fleerer, jeerer, mocker, carping Blade. La 4. Biron |