Biron. Things hid and barr'd (you mean) from comTM mon fenfe. King. Ay, that is ftudy's god-like recompence. King. These be the ftops, 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 feek the light of truth; while truth the while Light, feeking light, doth light of light beguile; Who dazling fo, that eye fhall be his heed, (1) When I to faft exprefly am forbid.] This is the Reading of all the Copies in general; but I would fain ask our accurate Editors, if Biron ftudied where to get a good Dinner, at a time when he was forbid to faft, how was this ftudying to know what he was forbid to know? Common Senfe, and the whole Tenour of the Context require us to read, either as I have restored; or to make a Change in the laft Word of the Verfe, which will bring us to the fame Meaning; When I to faft exprefly am fore-bid; i, e. when I am enjoined beforehand to fast. H 3 Study Study is like the Heaven's glorious Sun, That will not be deep fearch'd with fawcy looks ; Save.bafe authority from others' books. Than thofe that walk and wot not what they are. King. How well he's read, to reafon against reading! Biron. Fit in his place and time. Dum. In reafon nothing. Biron. Something then in rhime. Long. Biron is like an envious fneaping froft, That bites the first-born infants of the fpring. Biron. Well; fay, I am; why fhould proud fummer boaft, Before the birds have any cause to fing? Why should I joy in an abortive birth? (2) (2) Why Should I joy in an abortive Birth? At Christmas I no more defire a Rofe, Thou wish a Snow in May's new-fangled Shows: At But like of each Thing, that in Seafon grows.] As the greatest part of this Scene (both what precedes and follows ;) is Arictly in Rhimes, either fucceffive, alternate, or triple; I am perfwaded, the Copyifts have made a flip here. For by making a Triplet of the three laft Lines quoted, Birth in the Clofe of the first Line is quite deftitute of any Rhime to it. Befides, what a difpleafing Identity of Sound recurs in the Middle and Clofe of this Verfe? Than wifh a Snow in May's new-fangled Shows : Again; new-fangled Shows feems to have very little Propriety. The Flowers are not new fangled; but the Earth is new-fangled by the Profufion and Variety of the Flowers, that spring on its Bofom in May, I have therefore ventured to fubftitute, Earth, in the Clofe At Christmas I no more defire a rofe, Than with a fhow in May's new-fangled earth: Climb o'er the house t'unlock the little gate. King. Well, fit you out-Go home, Biron: Adieu ! And 'bide the penance of each three years' day. King. How well this yielding refcues thee from fhame! Biron. Item, That no woman fhall come within a mile of my Court, Hath this been proclaimed ? Long. Four days ago. Biron. Let's fee the penalty. On pain of lofing her tongue : [reading. [reading. 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! (3) Items Close of the 3d Line, which referes the alternate Measure. It was very eafy for a negligent Tranfcriber to be deceived by the Rhime immediately preceding fo miftake the concluding Word in the fequent Line, and corrupt it into one that would chime with the other. (3) A dangerous Law against Gentility.] I have ventured to prefix the Name of Biron to this Line, it being evident, for two Reasons, that it, by fome Accident or other, flipt out of the printed Books. In the firft Place, Longaville confeffes, he had devis'd the Penalty: and why he should immediately arraign it as a dangerous Law, feems to be very inconfiftent. In the next place, it is much more natural for Biron to make this Reflexion, who is cavilling at every thing; and then for him to purfue his reading over the remaining Articles. As to the H 4 Word Item, [reading] If any man be feen to talk with 'a woman within the term of three years, he fhall endure fuch publick fhame as the reft of the Court can poffiby devife. This article, my liege, yourself muft break; For, well you know, here comes in embaffy To her decrepit, fick, and bed-rid father: Or vainly comes th' admired Princess hither. King. What fay you, lords? why, this was quite forgot Biron. So ftudy evermore is overshot; While it doth study to have what it would: It doth forget to do the thing it fhould: And when it hath the thing it hunteth most, 'Tis won, as towns with fire; fo won, fo loft. King. We muft of force difpenfe with this decree, She muft lie here on mere neceffity. Biron. Neceffity will make us all forfworn Three thousand times within this three years' space : For every man with his affects is born: Not by might mafter'd, but by fpecial grace. So to the laws at large I write my name, Suggestions are to others, as to me; Word Gentility, here, it does not fignify that Rank of People called, Gentry; but what the French exprefs by, gentil fe, i. e. ele gantia urbanitas. And then the Meaning is this. Such a law, for banishing Women from the Court, is dangerous, or injurious, to Politenefs, Urbanity, and the more refined Pleafures of Life. For Men without Women would turn brutal, and favage, in their Natures and Behaviour. But But is there no quick recreation granted? King. Ay, that there is; our Court, you know, is haunted A man in all the world's new fashion planted, For interim to our studies, shall relate Biron. Armado is a moft illuftrious wight, Enter Dull and Costard with a letter. Dull. Which is the King's own person? (4) Dull. I myself reprehend his own perfon, for I am his Grace's Tharborough: but I would fee his own perfon in flesh and blood. Biron. This is he. Dull. Signior Arme, Armecommends you. There's villany abroad; this letter will tell you more. Coft. Sir, the contempts thereof are as touching me. King. A letter from the magnificent Armado. (4) Dull. Which is the Duke's own Perfon ?] The King of Navarre is in feveral Paffages, thro' all the Copies, called the Duke? but as this muft have fprung rather from the Inadvertence of the Editors, than a Forgetfulness in the Poet, I have every where, to avoid Confufion, restored King to the Text. |