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He throws upon the gross world's baser slaves:
To love, to wealth, to pomp, I pine and die;
With all these living in philosophy.

Biron. I can but say their protestation over,
So much, dear liege, 1 have already sworn,
That is, To live and study here three years.
But there are other strict observances:
As, not to see a woman in that term;
Which, I hope well, is not enrolled there:
And, one day in a week to touch no food;
And but one meal on every day beside;
The which, I hope, is not enrolled there:
And then, to sleep but three hours in the night,
And not be seen to wink of all the day;
(When I was wont to think no harm all night,
And make a dark night too of half the day;)
Which, I hope well, is not enrolled there:
O, these are barren tasks, too hard to keep;
Not to see ladies-study-fast-not sleep.
King. Your oath is pass'd to pass away from
these.

Biron. 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 turee years' space.

Long. You swore to that, Biron, and to the

rest.

Biron. 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.

Biron. Things hid and barr'd, you mean, from
common sense?

King. Ay, that is study's godlike recompense.
Biron. 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.
Biron. Why, all delights are vain; but that
most vain,

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 be-
guile:

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;
Who dazzling so, that eye shall be his heed,
And give him light that was it blinded by.
Study is like the heaven's glorious sun,
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!

Long. He weeds the corn, and still lets grow the weeding.

Biron. The spring is near, when green geese
are a breeding.

Dum. How follows that?
Biron.

Fit in his place and time.

Dum. In reason nothing.
Biron.
Something then in rhyme.
Long. Biron is like an envious sneaping frost,
That bites the first-born infants of the spring.
Biron. Well, say I am; why should proud
summer boast,

Before the birds have any cause to sing 7
Why should I joy in an abortive birth?
At Christmas I no more desire a rose
Than wish a snow in May's new-fangled shows {
But like of each thing that in season grows.
So you, to study now it is too late,
Climb o'er the house to unlock the little gate.
King. Well, sit you out: go home, Biron;
adieu!

Biron. No, my good lord; I have sworn to
stay with you:

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!

Biron. [Reads.] Item, That no woman shall come within a mile of my court.-Hath this been proclaim'd?

Long. Four days ago.

Biron. Let's see the penalty. [Reads.] On pain of losing her tongue.-Who devis'd this penalty?

Long. Marry, that did I.

Biron. Sweet lord, and why?

Long. To fright them hence with that dread penalty.

Biron. A dangerous law against gentility. [Reads.] Item. If any man be seen to talk with a woman within the term of three years, he shall endure such public shame as the rest of the court can possibly devise.

This article, my liege, yourself must break;

For, well you know, here comes in embassy The French King's daughter, with yourself to speak,

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.

Biron. 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
decree;

She must lie here on mere necessity.
Biron. Necessity will make us all forsworn
Three thousand times within these three years'
Брасе;

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 loath,

Dum. Proceeded well, to stop all good pro-I am the last that will last keep his oath.

ceeding!

But, is there 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 musick of his own vain tongue
Doth ravish, like enchanting harmony;
A man of compliments, 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.

Biron. 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;

Aud, so to study, three years is but short.

Enter Dull, with a Letter, and Costard.
Dull. Which is the duke's own person?
Biron. This, fellow; What would'st?
Dull. I myself reprehend his own person, for
I am his grace's tharborough: but I would see
his own person in flesh and blood.

Biron. This is he.

Dull. Signior Arme-Arme-commends you. 'There's villany abroad; this letter will tell you

more.

Cost. Sir, the contempts thereof are as touching me.

King. A letter from the magnificent Armado. Biron. How low so ever the matter, I hope in God for high words.

Long. A high hope for a low having: God grant us patience!

Biron. To hear? or forbear hearing? Long. To hear meekly, sir, and to laugh derately; or to forbear both.

birds best peck, and men sit down to that nou. rishment which is called supper. So much for the time when: Now for the ground which! which, I mean, I walked upon: it is yeleped thy park. Then for the place where; where I mean, I did encounter that obscene and most prepos terous event, that draweth from my snow-white ren 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 curious-knotted garden: There did I see that low-spirited swain, that base minnow of thy mirth,

Cost. Me.

King-that unlettered small-knowing soul,
Cost. Me.

King.-that shallow vässal,
Cost. Still me.

King-which as I remember, hight Costard,
Cost. O me!

King-sorted and consorted, contrary to thy
established proclaimed edict and continent
canon, withwith,-O with-but with this 1
passion to say wherewith,
Cost. With a wench.

King-with a child of our grandmother Eve, 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. Me, an't shall please you; I am Antonv Dull.

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 no tice, bring her to trial. Thine, in all complimo-ments of devoted and heart-burning heat of duty, DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO. Biron. This is not so well as I looked for, but

Biron. 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.

Biron. lu what manner?

Cost. In manner and form following, sir; all those three: I was seen with her in the manor house, 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.

Biron. For the following, sir?
Cost. As it shall follow in my correction; And
God defend the right!

King. Will you hear this letter with attention?
Biron. As we would hear an oracle.
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,-

the best that ever I heard.

King. Ay, the best for the worst. But, sirrah, what say you to this?

Cost. Sir, I confess the wench.

King. Did you hear the proclamation? Cost. I do confess much of the hearing it, but little of the marking of it.

King. It was proclaimed a year's imprison ment, 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. This was no damosel neither, sir; she was a virgin.

King. It is 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.-.

Cost. It may be so: but if he say it is so, he And go we, lords, to put in practice that is, in telling true, but so, so.

King. Peace.

Which each to other hath so strongly sworn-
[Exeunt King, Longaville, and Dumain.
These oaths and laws will prove an idle

Cost. -be to me, and every man that dares Biron. I'll lay my head to any good man's hat,

not fight!

King. No words.

scorn.

Sirrah, come on.

Cost.of other men's secrets, I beseech you. King. So it is, besieged with sable-coloured Cost. I suffer for the truth, sir; for true it is, melancholy, I did commend the black-oppress-I was taken with Jaquenetta, and Jaquenetta ing humour to the most wholesome physick of is a true girl; and therefore, Welcome the sour thy health-giving air; and, as I am a gentle- cup of prosperity! Affliction may one day smile man, betook myself to walk. The time when ? again, and till then, Sit thee down, sorrow! About the sixth hour; when beasts most graze, [Exeunt.

SCENE II. Another part of the same.
Armado's House.

Enter Armado and Moth.

Arm. Boy, what sign is it, when a man of great spirit grows melancholy?

Moth. A great sign, sir, that he will look sad. Arm. Why sadness is one and the self-same thing, dear imp.

Moth. No, no; O lord, sir, no.

Arm. How canst thou part sadness and melancholy, my tender juvenal ?

Moth. By a familiar demonstration of the working, my tough senior.

Arm. Why tough senior? why tough senior? Moth. Why tender juvenal? why tender juvenal?

Arm. I spoke it, tender juvenal, as a congruent epitheton, appertaining to thy young days, which we may nominate tender.

Moth. And 1, tough senior, as an appertinent title to your old time, which we may name tough. Arm. Pretty, and apt.

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 apt7

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

Moth. I will praise an eel with the same praise.
Arm. What that an eel is ingenious 7
Moth. That an eel is quick.

Arm. I do say, thou art quick in answers;
Thon heatest my blood.

Moth. I am answered, sir.
Arm. I love not to be crossed.

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

Moth. You are a gentleman, and a gamester,

sir.

Arm. I confess both; they are both the varnish of a complete man.

Moth. Then, I am sure, you know how much the gross sum of deuce-ace amounts to.

Arm. It doth amount to one more than two.
Moth. Which the base vulgar do call three.
Arm. True.

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. [Aside.
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 then 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.

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 7 Moth. A woman, master.

Arm. Of what complexion 7

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.

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, are masked under such colours.

Arm. Define, define, well-educated infant. Moth. My father's wit, and my inother'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, 1 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 love. 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.
Ja7. Man.

Arm. I will visit thee at the lodge.
Jay. 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 ine not be pent up, sir; I will fast, being loose.

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

Cost. Well, if ever I do see the merry days of desolation that I have seen, some shall seeMoth. What shall some see ?

Boyet. Proud of employment, willingly 1 go.

[Exit. Prin. All pride is willing pride, and yours is so, Who are the votaries, my loving lords, That are vow-fellows with this virtuous duke ? 1 Lord. Longaville is one. Prin. Know you the man? Mar. I know him, madam; at a marriage feast, Between lord Perigort and the beauteous heir Of Jacques Falconbridge, solemnized In Norinandy, saw 1 this Longaville: Cost. Nay, nothing, master Moth, but what A man of sovereign parts he is esteem'd; they look upon. It is not for prisoners to be Well fitted in the arts, glorious in arms: too silent in their words; and, therefore, I will Nothing becomes him ill, that he would well. say nothing: I thank God, have as little pa-The only soil of his fair virtue's gloss tience as another man; and, therefore, I can be (If virtue's gloss will stain with any soil,) quiet. [Exeunt Moth and Costard. Is a sharp wit match'd with too blunt a will; Whose edge hath power to cut, whose will still

Arm. I do affect the very ground, which is base, where her shoe, which is baser, guided by her foot, which is basest, doth tread. I shall be forsworn (which is a great argument of falsehood,) if I love: And how can that be true love, which is falsely attempted? Love is a familiar: love is a devil: there is no evil angel but love. Yet Samson was so tempted: and he had an excellent strength: yet was Solomon so seduced; and he had a very good wit. Cupid's butt-shaft is too hard for Hercules' club, and therefore too much odds for a Spaniard's rapier. The first and second cause will not serve my turn; the passado he respects not, the duello he regards not: his disgrace is to be called boy; but his glory is to subdue 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 sonneteet. Devise, wit; write, pen; for 1 am for whole volumes in folio. Exit.

ACT II.

wills

It should none spare that come within his power.
Prin. Some merry mocking lord, belike; is't so?
Mar. They say so most, that most his humours

know.

Prin. Such short-liv'd wits do wither as they
grow,
Who are the rest?

Kath. The young Dumain, a well-accomplish'd
youth,
of all that virtue love for virtue lov'd;
Most power to do most harm, least knowing ill
For he hath wit to make an ill shape good,
And shape to win grace though he had no wit.
I saw him at the duke Alencon's once;
And much too little of that good I saw,
Is my report, to his great worthiness.
Was there with him: if I have heard a truth,
Biron they call him; but a merrier man,
Within the limit of becoming mirth,
I never spent an hour's talk withal:
His eye begets occasion for his wit;

Ros. Another of these students at that time

SCENE I. Another part of the same. A Pa- For every object that the one doth catch,

vilion and Tents at a distance.

Enter the Princess of France, Rosaline, Maria, Katharine, Boyet, Lords, and other Attendants.

Boyet. Now, madam, summon up your dearest
spirits;

Consider who the king your father sends;
To whom he sends; and what's his embassy:
Yourself, held precious in the world's esteem;
To parley with the sole inheritor

Of all perfections that a man may owe,
Matchiess Navarre; the plea of no less weight
Than Aquitain; a dowry for a queen.
Be now as prodigal of all dear grace,
As nature was in making graces dear,
When she did starve the general world beside.
And prodigally gave them all to you.

Prin. Good lord Boyet, my beauty, though but
mean,

Needs not the painted flourish of your praise;
Beauty is bought by judgment of the eye,
Not utter'd by base sale of chapmen's tongues;
I am less proud to hear you tell my worth,
Than you much willing to be counted wise
In spending your wit in the praise of mine.
But now to task the tasker,-Good Boyet,
You are not ignorant, all telling fame

Doth noise abroad, Navarre hath made a vow,
Till painful study shall out-wear three years,
No woman may approach his silent court:
Therefore to us seemeth it a needful course,
Before we enter his forbidden gates,
To know his pleasure; and in that behalf,
Bold of your worthiness, we single you
As our best-moving fair solicitor:

Tell him, the daughter of the king of France,
On serious business, craving quick despatch,"
Importunes personal conference with his grace.
Haste, signify so much; while we attend,
Like humbly-visag'd suitors, his high will.

The other turns to a mirth-moving jest;
Delivers in such apt and gracious words,
Which his fair tongue (conceit's expositor,)
That aged ears play truant at his tales,
And younger hearings are quite ravished:
So sweet and voluble is his discourse.
Prin. God bless my ladies; are they all in love;
That every one her own hath garnish'd
With such bedecking ornaments of praise?
Mar. Here comes Boyet.

[blocks in formation]

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 ignorance. 1 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.
Von chsafe 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 Brabant

once ?

Ros. Did not I dance with you in Brabant once ?

Biron. I know you did.
Ros.

To ask the question!
Biron.

How needless was it then

You must not be so quick.

Roe. 'Tis 'long of you that spur me with such questions.

Biron. Your wit's too hot, it speeds too fast, 'twill tire.

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 he, 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 y ur 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, he little purposeth.
For here he doth demand to have repaid

A hundred thousand crowns; and not demands,
On payment of a hundred thousand crowns,

To have his title live in Aquitain;

Which we much rather had depart withal,
And have the money by our father lent,
Than Aquitain so gelded as it is.

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;
And, if you prove it, I'll repay it back,
Or yield up Aquitain.

Prin.
We arrest your word:-
Boyet, you can produce acquittances,
For such a sum, from special officers'
Of Charles his father.
King.
Boyet. So please your grace, the packet is not

come,

Satisfy me 80.

Where that and other specialties are bound;
To morrow you shall have a sight of them.
King. It shall suffice me: at which interview,
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; 1
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 Physick says, I.

Biron. Will you prick't with your eye?
Ros. No point, with my knife.
Biron. Now, God save thy life!
Ros. And yours from long living!

Biron. I cannot stay thanksgiving [Retiring. Dum. Sir, I pray you, a word: What lady is that same ?

Boyet. The heir of Alencon, Rosaline her name. Dum. A gallant larly! Monsieur, fare you well.

[Erit.

Long. I beseech you a word; What is she in the white?

Boyet. A woman sometimes, an you saw her in the light.

Long. Perchance, light in the light: I desire her name.

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

Long. 'Pray you, sir, whose daughter 7
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.

[Erit Long.

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. [Erit 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.

Mar. Two hot sheeps, marry!

Boyet.

And wherefore not ships?

No sheep, sweet lamb, unless we feed on your lips. Mar. You sheep, and I pasture; Shall that

finish the jest?

Boyet. So you grant pasture for me.

[Offering to kiss her. Mar. Not so, gentle beast: My lips are no common, though several they be. Boyet. Belonging to whom? To my fortunes and me. Prin. Good wits will be jangling; but, gentles,

Mar.

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