Unless you can find sport in their intents, The. I will hear that play; Hip. He says, they can do nothing in this kind. Our sport shall be, to take what they mistake: Noble respect takes it in might, not merit. I read as much, as from the rattling tongue Enter Philostrate. Philost. So please your grace, the prologue is The. Let him approach. [Flourish of trumpets. Prol. If we offend, it is with our good will. We do not come as minding to content you, We are not here. That you should here repent you, The. This fellow doth not stand upon points. Lys. He hath rid his prologue, like a rough colt, he knows not the stop. A good moral, my lord: It is not enough to speak, but to speak true. Hip. Indeed he hath played on this prologue, like a child on a recorder; a sound, but not in government. The. His speech was like a tangled chain; nothing impaired, but all disordered. Who is next? Enter Pyramus and Thisbe, Wall, Moonshine, and Lion, as in dumb show. Prol. 'Gentles, perchance, you wonder at this show; 'But wonder on, till truth make all things plain. "This man is Pyramus, if you would know; "This beauteous lady Thisby is, certáin. "This man, with lime and rough-cast, doth present 'Wall, that vile wall which did these lovers sunder: 'And through wall's chink, poor souls, they are content This man, with lantern, dog, and bush of thorn, 'Presenteth moonshine: for, if you will know, 'By moonshine did these lovers think no scorn To meet at Ninus' tomb, there, there to woo. And finds his trusty Thisby's mantle slain: 'His dagger drew, and died. For all the rest, 'Let Lion, Moonshine, Wall, and lovers twain, 'At large discourse, while here they do remain.' [Exeunt Prol. Thisbe, Lion, and Moonshine, Wall. In this same interlude, it doth befall, This loam, this rough-cast, and this stone, doth That I am that same wall; the truth is so: Dem. It is the wittiest partition that ever I heard discourse, my lord. The. Pyramus draws near the wall; silence! Enter Pyramus. Pyr. O grim-look'd night! O night with hue so "O night, which ever art, when day is not! 'I fear my Thisby's promise is forgot!- Thou wall, O wall, O sweet and lovely wall, eyne. this! 'But what see I? No Thisby do I see. O wicked wall, through whom I see no bliss; Curst be thy stones for thus deceiving me! The. The wall, methinks, being sensible, should curse again. Pyr. No, in truth, sir, he should not. Deceiving me, is Thisby's cue: she is to enter now, and I am to spy her through the wall. You shall see, it will fall pat as I told you:-Yonder she comes. Enter Thisbe. This. 'O wall, full often hast thou heard my moans, "For parting my fair Pyramus and me: 'My cherry lips have often kiss'd thy stones; "Thy stones with lime and hair knit up in thee.' Pyr. 'I see a voice; now will I to the chink, 'To spy an I can hear my Thisby's face. "Thisby!' This. 'My love! thou art my love, I think.' (3) Called. Mercade, France. Don Adriano de Armado, a fantastical Spaniard. Jaquenetta, a country wench. Sir Nathaniel, a curate. Holofernes, a schoolmaster. Dull, a constable. Costard, a clown. Moth, page to Armado. ACT I. And, one day in a week to touch no food; SCENE I.-Navarre. A park, with a palace in it. Enter the King, Biron, Longaville, Dumain. King. LET fame, that all hunt after in their lives, Live register'd upon our brazen tombs, And make us heirs of all eternity. Therefore, brave conquerors!--for so you are, Biron. I can but say their protestation over, (When I was wont to think no harm all night, I King. Your oath is pass'd to pass away from these. Biron. Let me say no, my liege, an if you please; only swore, to study with your grace, And stay here in your court for three 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 god-like 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 like of truth; while truth the while Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look: Light, seeking light, doth light of light beguile: So, ere you find where light in darkness lies, Your light grows dark by losing of your eyes. (1) Dishonestly treacherously. LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST. Study me how to please the eye indeed, By fixing it upon a fairer eye; That will not be deep-search'd with saucy looks; Save base authority from others' books. These earthly godfathers of heaven's lights, That gave a name to every fixed star, Have no more profit of their shining nights, Than those that walk, and wot not what they are. King. How well he's read, to reason against Dum. Proceeded well, to stop all good pro- Long. He weeds the corn, and still lets grow the Fit in his place and time. Dum. In reason nothing. Before the birds have any cause to sing? Than wish a snow in May's new-fangled shows;2 And, though I have for barbarism spoke more, And 'bide the penance of each three years' day. Biron. [Reads. Item, That no woman shall Four days ago. 159 Therefore this article is made in vain, While it doth study to have what it would, She must lie3 here on mere necessity. Biron. Necessity will make us all forsworn Three thousand times within this three years' space : For every man with his affects is born; Not by might master'd, but by special grace: I And he that breaks them in the least degree, [Subscribes. Stands in attainder of eternal shame : I Suggestions are to others, as to me; But, I believe, although I seem so loth, But is there no quick recreation granted: am the last that will last keep his oath. 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: In high-born words, the worth of many a knight Biron. Armado is a most illustrious wight, Enter Dull, with a letter, and Costard. Biron. Let's see the penalty. Long. Marry, that did I. Biron. A dangerous law against gentility. 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: (1) Nipping. (3) Reside. (2) Games, sports. 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. Long. A high hope for a low having: God grant Biron. To hear? or forbear hearing? Long. To hear meckly, sir, and to laugh moderately; or to forbear both. Biron. Well, sir, be it as the style shall give us cause to climb in the merriness. (5) Lively, sprightly. Cost. The matter is to me, sir, as concerning swain,) I keep her as a vessel of thy law's fury; Jaquenetta. The manner of it is, I was taken and shall, at the least of thy sweet notice, bring her to trial. Thine, in all compliments of devoted and heart-burning heat of duty, with the manner.1 Biron. In what manner? DON ADRIÁNO DE ARMADO. Biron. This is not so well as I looked for, but 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 the best that ever I heard. following her into the park; which, put together, is, in manner and form following. Now, sir, for King. Ay, the best for the worst. But, sirrah, the manner,-it is the manner of a man to speak what say you to this? 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? 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 Custard yet. King. So it is, Cost. Sir, I confess the wench. King. Did you hear the proclamation? little of the marking of it. Cost. I do confess much of the hearing it, but King. It was proclaimed a year's imprisonment, 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 Cost. It may be so: but if he say it is so, he is, taken with a maid." in telling true, but so, so. be to me, and every man that dares King. Peace. Cost. not fight! King. No words. King. This maid will not serve your turn, sir. Cost. I had rather pray a month with mutton and porridge. King. And Don Armado shall be your keeper.- Which each to other hath so strongly sworn. [Exeunt King, Longaville, and Dumain. Biron. I'll lay my head to any good man's hat, These oaths and laws will prove an idle scorn. -Sirrah, come on. Cost. of other men's secrets, I beseech you. King, So it is, besieged with sable-coloured melancholy, I did commend the black-oppressing humour to the most wholesome physic of thy health-My giving air; and, as I am a gentleman, betook myself to walk. The time when? About the sixth hour; when beasts most graze, birds best peck, and men sit down to that nourishment which is called supper. So much for the time when. Now for the ground which; which, I mean, I walked' it is ycleped thy park. Then for the place where; where, most preposterous event, that draweth from my snow-white pen 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, mean, Cost. Me. : I did encounter that obscene and King. that unletter'd small-knowing soul, King. that shallow vassal, Cost. Still me. King sorted and consorted, contrary to thy established proclaimed edict and continent canon, with-with-O with-but with this I 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 Antony Dull. King. For Jaquenetta (so is the weaker vessel called, which I apprehended with the aforesaid (1) In the fact. (2) A young man. Cost. I suffer for the truth, sir: for true it is, I was taken with Jaquenetta, and Jaquenetta is a prosperity! Affliction may one day smile again, true girl; and therefore, Welcome the sour cup of and till then, Sit thee down, sorrow! [Exeunt. SCENE II.-Another part of the same. Arma- 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 ?2 Moth. By a familiar demonstration of the work ing, 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 I, 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 Moth. Little pretty, because little: Wherefore apt? Moth. I will praise an eel with the same praise. Moth. That an eel is quick. Arm. I do say, thou art quick in answers: Thou heatest my blood. Moth. "I am answered, sir. Arm. I love not to be crossed. Moth. He speaks the mere contrary, crosses1 Moth. You may do it in an hour, sir. 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. If she be made of white and red, For blushing cheeks by faults are bred, For still her cheeks possess the same, 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 spirits grow heavy in love. Moth. And that's great marvel, loving a light Moth. Why, sir, is this such a piece of study? Arm. A most fine figure! [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 them be men of good repute and carriage. Moth. Samson, master: he was a man of good carriage, great carriage; for he carried the towngates 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. 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 mother's tongue, assist me! Arm. Sweet invocation of a child; most pretty, and pathetical! (1) The name of a coin once current. Arm. I say, sing. Moth. Forbear till this company be past. Enter Dull, Costard, and Jaquenetta. Arm. I will visit thee at the lodge. Arm. I know where it is situate. [Exeunt Dull and Jaquenetta. Arm. Villain, thou shalt fast for thy offences, jere 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 prisen. Cost. Well, if ever I do see the merry days of desolation that I have seen, some shall seeMoth. 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 another man; and, therefore, I can be quiet. [Ereunt Moth and Costard. Arm. I do affects the very ground, which is base, (3) Transgression. (4) Dairy-woman. (5) Love. |