cannot flout me out of my humour. Dost thou think I care for a satire or an epigram? No: if a man will be beaten with brains, a' shall wear nothing handsome about him. In brief, since I do purpose to marry, I will think nothing to any purpose that the world can say against it; and therefore never flout at me for what I have said against it; for man is a giddy thing, and this is my conclusion. For thy part, Claudio, I did think to have beaten thee; but in that thou art like to be my kinsman, live unbruised, and love my cousin. Claud. I had well hoped thou wouldst have denied Beatrice, that I might have cudgelled thee out of thy single life, to make thee a double-dealer; which, out of question, thou wilt be, if my cousin do not look exceeding narrowly to thee. Bene. Come, come, we are friends: let's have a dance ere we are married, that we may lighten our own hearts, and our Leon. We'll have dancing afterward. [wives' heels. Bene. First, of my word; therefore play, music. Prince, thou art sad; get thee a wife, get thee a wife: there is no staff more reverend than one tipped with horn. Enter a Messenger. Mess. My lord, your brother John is ta'en in flight, And brought with armed men back to Messina. Bene. Think not on him till to-morrow: I'll devise thee brave punishments for him. Strike up, pipers. [Dance. Exeunt. Enter Ferdinand, king of Navarre, Biron, Longaville, and King. Let fame, that all hunt after in their lives, The endeavour of this present breath may buy That honour which shall bate his scythe's keen edge, Therefore, brave conquerors, -for so you are, And the huge army of the world's desires,— That are recorded in this schedule here: Your oaths are pass'd; and now subscribe your names, If you are arm'd to do as sworn to do, Subscribe to your deep oaths, and keep it too. Long. I am resolved; 'tis but a three years' fast: The mind shall banquet, though the body pine: Fat paunches have lean pates; and dainty bits Make rich the ribs, but bankrupt quite the wits. Dum. My loving lord, Dumain is mortified: The grosser manner of these world's delights 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 recompence. Biron. Come on, then; I will swear to study so, To know the thing I am forbid to know: Study knows that which yet it doth not know: King. These be the stops that hinder study quite, Biron. Why, all delights are vain; but that most vain, Which, with pain purchased, doth inherit pain: To seek the light of truth; while truth the while Light, seeking light, doth light of light beguile : Who dazzling so, that eye shall be his heed, That will not be deep-search'd with saucy looks; Than those that walk and wot not what they are. King. How well he's read, to reason against reading! Long. He weeds the corn, and still lets grow the weeding. Biron. Dum. In reason nothing. Biror. Fit in his place and time. Something, then, in rhyme. King. 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, Why should I joy in any abortive birth? 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: Yet confident I'll keep what I have swore, 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 proclaimed? Long. Four days ago. Biron. Let's see the penalty. [Reads] 'on pain of losing her tongue.' Who devised 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 Aquitaine To her decrepit, sick, and bedrid father: Or vainly comes the admired princess hither. While it doth study to have what it would, 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: 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. Suggestions are to other as to me; But I believe, although I seem so loth, |