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.

Dull. Come, Jaquenetta, away!

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150

[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, 160 being loose.

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

136. day-woman, primarily a dairymaid (ME. deye), whose business was with baking and poultry, as well as milk.. Jaquenetta was doubtless to be general provider to the fasters.

141. that's hereby, Jaquenetta's provincialism for 'that's as it may happen.' Armado understands it in the sense close by."

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

Moth. What shall some see?

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 patience as 170 another man; and therefore I can be quiet.

:

[Exeunt Moth and Costard.

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 was Samson so tempted, and he had an excellent strength; yet was Solomon so seduced, and he had 180 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 sonnet. vise, wit; write, pen; for I am for whole volumes in folio.

181. butt-shaft, a kind of unbarbed arrow used for shooting at butts.

184. passado, a thrust with the rapier or foil; used for sword

play' in general.

De- 190

[Exit.

185. duello, laws of duelling. proposed to substitute.

ACT II.

SCENE I. The same.

Enter the Princess of France, ROSALINE, Maria, KATHARINE, BOYET, Lords, and other Attendants.

Boyet. Now, madam, summon up your dear-
est 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,
Matchless Navarre; the plea of no less weight
Than Aquitaine, 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 judgement 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 outwear three years,

5. inheritor, possessor.

I. dearest, choicest, best.
16. chapmen, sellers.

ΤΟ

20

No woman may approach his silent court:
Therefore to 's 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 dispatch,
Importunes personal conference with his grace :
Haste, signify so much; while we attend,
Like humble-visaged suitors, his high will.

Boyet. Proud of employment, willingly I go. Prin. All pride is willing pride, and yours [Exit Boyet. Who are the votaries, my loving lords,

is so.

That are vow-fellows with this virtuous duke?
First Lord. 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 Jaques Falconbridge, solemnized

In Normandy, saw I this Longaville :

A man of sovereign parts he is esteem'd ;
Well fitted in the arts, glorious in arms:
Nothing becomes him ill that he would well.
The only soil of his fair virtue's gloss,
If virtue's gloss will stain with any soil,

Is a sharp wit match'd with too blunt a will;
Whose edge hath power to cut, whose will still

wills

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

30

40

50

28. bold of, confident of.

45. So F2. Qq, F1 omit 'the.'

Mar. They say so most that most his humours know.

Prin. Such short-lived 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 loved :

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 Alençon's once;
And much too little of that good I saw
Is my report to his great worthiness.

Ros. Another of these students at that time
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;
For every object that the one doth catch
The other turns to a mirth-moving jest,
Which his fair tongue, conceit's expositor,
Delivers in such apt and gracious words
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 garnished

With such bedecking ornaments of praise?

First Lord. Here comes Boyet.

Prin.

Re-enter BOYET.

Now, what admittance, lord?

бо

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80