Prin. Thy news, Boyet? Boyet. Prepare, madam, prepare! Arm, wenches, arm! encounters mounted are That charge their breath against us? say, scout, say. I thought to close mine eyes some half an hour; 90 That well by heart hath conn'd his embassage: Presence majestical would put him out; 'For,' quoth the king, 'an angel shalt thou see; Yet fear not thou, but speak audaciously.' The boy replied, 'An angel is not evil; I should have fear'd her had she been a devil.' Making the bold wag by their praises bolder: 109. rubb'd his elbow, a sign Cf. Jonson, of satisfaction. Barthol. Fair, iii. 1: Cokes. That again, good ballad man, that again [He sings the burden with him. Oh rare! I would fain rub my elbow now, but I dare not pull out my hand. 109. fleer'd, grinned. A better speech was never spoke before; To check their folly, passion's solemn tears. Boyet. They do, they do; and are apparell'd Like Muscovites or Russians, as I guess. Their purpose is to parle, to court and dance; Prin. And will they so? the gallants shall be task'd; For, ladies, we will every one be mask'd; And not a man of them shall have the grace, Hold, Rosaline, this favour thou shalt wear, And change you favours too; so shall your loves Ros. Come on, then; wear the favours most Kath. But in this changing what is your intent? 117. spleen ridiculous, paroxysm of laughter, the spleen being regarded as the seat of laughter, as well as of ill-humour. Boyet says that they laughed ΧΙΟ 120 130 till they shed the tears which, as properly belonging to grief, constituted a reproof. 122. parle, discourse. Prin. The effect of my intent is to cross theirs: They do it but in mocking merriment; And mock for mock is only my intent. Ros. But shall we dance, if they desire us to 't? Prin. No, to the death, we will not move a foot; Nor to their penn'd speech render we no grace, But while 'tis spoke each turn away her face. Boyet. Why, that contempt will kill the speaker's heart, And quite divorce his memory from his part. Prin. Therefore I do it; and I make no doubt The rest will ne'er come in, if he be out. There's no such sport as sport by sport o'erthrown, To make theirs ours and ours none but our own: So shall we stay, mocking intended game, And they, well mock'd, depart away with shame. [Trumpets sound within. Boyet. The trumpet sounds: be mask'd; the maskers come. [The Ladies mask. Enter Blackamoors with music; MOTH; the 140 150 Moth. All hail, the richest beauties on earth! the Boyet. Beauties no richer than rich taffeta. 159. taffeta, a rich smooth silken stuff; here, the taffeta marks, which alone were seen, 160 used also metaphorically of fine phrases (v. 406). 160. parcel, company, party. Biron. [Aside to Moth] Their eyes, villain, their eyes. Moth. That ever turn'd their eyes to mortal views! Out Boyet. True; out indeed. Moth. Out of your favours, heavenly spirits, vouchsafe Not to behold Biron. [Aside to Moth] Once to behold, rogue. Moth. Once to behold with your sun-beamed eyes, -with your sun-beamed eyes Boyet. They will not answer to that epithet; 170 You were best call it 'daughter-beamed eyes.' Moth. They do not mark me, and that brings me out. Biron. Is this your perfectness? be gone, you rogue! [Exit Moth. Ros. What would these strangers? know their minds, Boyet : If they do speak our language, 'tis our will Boyet. What would you with the princess? Boyet. Nothing but peace and gentle visitation. be gone. Boyet. She says, you have it, and you may be gone. King. Say to her, we have measured many miles To tread a measure with her on this grass. 185. measure, a stately dance. 180 Boyet. They say, that they have measured many a mile To tread a measure with you on this grass. Ros. It is not So. Ask them how many Is in one mile: if they have measured many, Boyet. If to come hither you have measured And many miles, the princess bids you tell How many inches doth fill up one mile. Biron. Tell her, we measure them by weary steps. Boyet. She hears herself. Ros. How many weary steps, Of many weary miles you have o'ergone, Are number'd in the travel of one mile? Biron. We number nothing that we spend for you: Our duty is so rich, so infinite, That we may do it still without accompt. Vouchsafe to show the sunshine of your face, Ros. My face is but a moon, and clouded too. Vouchsafe, bright moon, and these thy stars, to shine, Those clouds removed, upon our watery eyne. Ros. O vain petitioner! beg a greater matter; Thou now request'st but moonshine in the water. King. Then, in our measure do but vouchsafe one change; Thou bid'st me beg: this begging is not strange. Ros. Play, music, then! Nay, you must do [Music plays. it soon. 190 200 210 |