I'll leave it by degrees. Soft, let us see ;— Prin. No, they are free, that gave these tokens to us. Biron. Peace; for I will not have to do with you. Some fair excuse. Prin. The fairest is confession. And were you all advis'd! When you then were here, What did you whisper in your lady's ear? King. That more than all the world I did respect her. Prin. When she shall challenge this, you will reject her. King. Upon mine honor, no. Prin. Peace, peace, forbear; Your oath once broke, you force not to forswear. King. Despise me when I break this oath of mine. Prin. I will; and therefore keep it :-Rosaline, What did the Russian whisper in your ear! Ros. Madam, he swore that he did hold me dear As precious eye-sight; and did value me Above this world: adding thereto, moreover, That he would wed me or else die my lover. Prin. God give thee joy of him! the noble lord Most honorably doth uphold his word. King. What mean you, madam? by my life, my troth, I never swore this lady such an oath. Ros. By heaven, you did; and to confirm it plain, You gave me this: but take it, sir, again. King. My faith, and this the princess, I did give; I knew her by this jewel on her sleeve. Prin. Pardon me, sir, this jewel did she wear; And lord Birón, I thank him, is my dear :What, will you have me, or your pearl again? Biron. Neither of either; I remit both twain.I see the trick on't ;-Here was a consent, (Knowing aforehand of our merriment,) To dash it like a Christmas comedy: Some carry tale, some please man, some slight zany,3 Some mumble-news, some trencher-knight, some That smiles his cheek in years; and knows the trick [To BOYET. You put our page out: Go, you are allow'd; Boyet. Full merrily Hath this brave manage, this career, been run. Biron. Lo, he is tilting straight! Peace; I have done. Cost. Not so, sir; under correction, sir; I hope, it is not so; You cannot beg us, sir, I can assure you, sir; we know what we know. I hope, sir, three times thrice, sir,- Biron. By Jove, I always took three threes for nine. Cost. O, Lord, sir, it were a pity you should get your living by reckoning, sir. Biron. How much is it? Cost. O, Lord, sir, the parties themselves, the actors, sir, will show whereuntil it doth amount: for my own part, I am, as they say, but to perfect one man,--e en one poor man; Pompion the great, sir. Biron. Art thou one of the worthes! Cost. It pleased them, to think me worthy of Pompion the great for mine own part, I know not the degree of the worthy: but I am to stand for him. Biron. Go bid them prepare. some care. Cost. We will turn it finely off, sir; we will take [Exit COSTARD. King. Birón, they will shame us, let them not approach. Biron. We are shame-proof, my lord; and 'tis some policy To have one show worse than the king's and his Arm. Anointed, I implore so much expense of thy royal sweet breath, as will utter a brace of words. [ARMADO Converses with the King, and delivers him a paper. Prin. Doth this man serve God? Prin. He speaks not like a man of God's making. Arm. That's all one, my fair, sweet, honey monarch: for, I protest, the schoolmaster is exceeding fantastical; too, too vain; too, too vain: But we will put it, as they say, to fortunate della guerra. I wish you the peace of mind, most royal couplement ! [Exit ARMADO. King. Here is like to be a good presence of worthies: He presents Hector of Trov; the swain, Pompey the great; the parish curate, Alexander; Armado's page, Hurcules; the pedant, Judas Machabæus: And if these four worthies in their first show thrive, These four will change habits, and present the other five. Biron. Well said, old mocker; I must needs be friends with thee. Cost. I Pompey am, Pompey surnam'd the big,— Dum. The great. Cost. It is great, sir:-Pompey surnem'd the great, That oft in field, with targe and shield, did make my foe to sweat: And, travelling along this coast, 1 here am come by chance; And lay my arms before the legs of this sweet lass of France. A game with dice. Prin. Great thanks, great Pompey. Cost. 'Tis not so much worth; but, I hope, I was perfect; I made a little fault in great. Biron. My hat to a halfpenny, Pompey proves the best worthy. Enter NATHANIEL arm'd, for Alexander. Nath. When in the world I liv'd, I was the world's commander, Py east, west, north, and south, I spread my conquering might: My'scutcheon piain declares, that I am Alisander. Boyet. Your nose says, no, you are not; for it stands too right. Biron. Your nose smells, no, in this, most tender smelling knight. Prin. The conqueror is dismay'd. Procced, good Alexander. Nath. When in the world I liv'd, I was the world's commander; - Boyet. Most true, 'tis right; you were so, Alisander. Biron. Pompey the great, Cost. Your servant, and Costard. Biron. Take away the conqueror, take away Allsander. Cost. O, sir, To NATH.] you have overthrown Alisander the conqueror! You will be scraped out of the painted cloth for this: your lion, that holds his poli-ax sitting on a close-stool, will be given to A-jax, he will be the ninth worthy. A conqueror, and afeared to speak! run away for shame, Alisander. NATH. retires). There, an't shall please you; a foolish mild man; an honest man, look you, and soon dash'd! He is a marvellous good neighbor, in sooth; and a very good bowler: but, for Alisander, alas, you see, how 'tis;- a little o'erparted:But there are worthies a coming will speak their mind in some other sort. Prin. Stand aside, good Pompey. Enter HOLOFERNES arm'd, and MоTH arm'd, for Hercules. Hol. Great Hercules is presented by this imp; Whose club kill'd Cerberus that three headed Dum. For the salt et vis tame. Hol. This is not generous, not gentle, not humble. Boy 1. A light for Monsieur Judas: it grows dark, he may stumble. Prin. Alas, poor Machabæus, how hath he been baited! [Exit HOLOFERNES. Enter ARMADO arm'd, for Hector. Biron. Hide thy head, Achilles; here comes Hector in arms. Dum. Though my mocks come home by me, I will now be merry. King. Hector was but a Trojan in respect of this. Dum. I think, Hector was not so clean timber'd. Boget. No; he is best indued in the small. Dum. He's a god or a painter; for he makes faces. Dum. A gilt nutmeg. Long. Stuck with cloves. Arm. Peace! The armipotent Mars, of lances the almighty, That mint. Dum. Ay, and Hector's a greyhound. Arm. The sweet war-man is dead and rotten; sweet chucks, beat not the bones of the buried: when he breath'd, he was a man.-But I will forward with my device: Sweet royalty, To the Princess.] bestow on me the sense of hearing. [BIRON whispers COSTARD. Prin. Speak, brave Hector; we are much delighted. Arm. I do adore thy sweet grace's slipper. Boyet. Loves her by the foot. Dum. He may not by the yard. Arm. This Hector für surmounted Hannibal.-Cost. The party is gone, fellow Hector, she is gone; she is two months on her way. Arm. What meanest thou? Cost. Faith, unless you play the honest Trojan, the poor wench is cast away: she's quick; the child brags in her belly already; 'tis yours. Arm. Dost thou infamomize me among potentates? thou shalt die. Cost. Then shall Hector be whipp'd, for Jacquenetta that is quick by him; and hanged, for Poinpey that is dead by him. Dum. Most rare Pompey! Boyet. Renowned Pompey! Bion. Greater than great, great, great, great Pompey! Pompey the huge! Dum. Hector trembles. Biron. Pompey is mov'd:-More Ates, more Ates; stir them on! stir them on! Dum. Hector will challenge him. Biron. Ay, if he have no more man's blood in's belly than will sup a flea. Arm. By the north pole, I do challenge thee. Cost. I will not fight with a pole, like a northern man; I'll slash; I'll do it by the sword:-I pray you, let me borrow my arms again. Dum. Room for the incensed worthies. Dum. Most resolute Pompey! Moth. Master, let me take you a button-hole lower. Do you not see, Pompey is uncasing for the combat? What mean you? you will lose your reputation. Arm. Gentlemen, and soldiers, pardon me: I will not combat in my shirt. Ate was the goddess of discord. Dum. You may not deny it: Pompey hath made the challenge. Arm. Sweet bloods, I both may and will. Boyet. True, and it was enjoin'd him in Rome for want of linen: since when, I'll be sworn, he wore none, but a dish-clout of Jacquenetta's and that 'a wears next his heart for a favor. Enter MERCADE. Mer. God save you, madam! Prin. Welcome, Mercade; But that thou interrupt st our merriment. cloud. Mer. Even so; my tale is told. Birgn. Worthies, away; the scene begins to Arm. For mine own part, I breathe free breath: I have seen the day of wrong through the little hole of discretion, and I will right myself like a [Exeunt Worthies. soldier. King. How fares your majesty? For all your fair endeavors; and entreat, King. The extreme parts of time extrelmey form That which long process could not arbitrate: The holy suit which fain it would convince; From what it purpos'd; since, to wail friends lost, Prin. I understand you not; my griets are double. And by these badges understand the king. To those that make us both,-fair ladies, you: Ros. We did not quotes them so. King. Now, at the latest minute of the hour, Grant us your loves. Prin. A time, methinks, too short Change not your offer made in heat of blood; King. If this, or more than this, I would deny, me? Ros. You must be purged too, your sins are rank; You are attaint with faults and perjury; Therefore, if you my favor mean to get, A twelvemonth you shall spend, and never rest, Dum. But what to me, my love! but what to me? With three-fold love I wish you all these threc. Dum. I'll serve thee true and faithfully till then. At the twelvemonth's end, Ros. Oft have I heard of you, my lord Birón, To weed this wormwood from your fruitful brain; It cannot be; it is impossible: Ros. Why, that's the way to choke a gibing spirit, Prin. We have receiv'd your letters, full of love; Whose influence is begot of that loose grace, Your favors, the embassadors of love; 7 Clothed in wool, without linen. Free to excess. Which shallow laughing hearers give to fools: Of him that hears it, never in the tongue • Regard. 1 Clothing. Arm. Sweet majesty, vouchsafe me,- Dum. The worthy knight of Troy. Arm. I will kiss thy royal finger and take leave: I am a votary; I have vowed to Jacquenetta to hold the plough for her sweet love three years. But, most esteemed greatness, will you hear the dialogue that the two learned men have compiled, in praise of the owl and the cuckoo? It should have followed in the end of our show. King. Call them forth quickly, we will do so. Enter. HOLOFERNES, NATHANIEL, MOTH, Cos- This side is Hiems, winter; this Ver, the spring; the one maintain'd by the owl, the other by the cuckoo. Ver, begin. SONG. I. Spring. When daisies pied, and violets blue, And lady smocks all silver-white, And cuckoo-buds of yellow hue, Do paint the meadows with delight, The cuckoo then, on every tree, Mocks married men, for thus sings he, Cuckoo, cuckoo,-O word of fear, II. When shepherds pipe on oaten straws, And maidens bleach their summer smocks Cuckoo, cuckoo,-O word of fear, Winter. When icicles hang by the wall, And Dick the shepherd blows his nail, And milk comes frozen home in pail, Tu-whit, to-who, a merry note, When all aloud the wind doth blow, And coughing drowns the parson's saw, Tu-whit, to-who, a merry note, Arm. The words of Mercury are harsh after the songs of Apollo. You that way; we, this way. & Scum. [Exeunt ■ Wild apples. LUKE OF VENICE. PERSONS REPRESENTED. PRINCE OF MOROCCO, Suitors to Portia. PRINCE OF ARRAGON,S ANTONIO, the Merchant of Venice BASSANIO, his Friend. SALANIO, SALARINO, Friends to Antonio and Bassanio. GRATIANO, LORENZO, in love with Jessica. SHYLOCK, a Jew. TUBAL, & Jew, his friend. LAUNCELOT GOBBо, a Clown, Servant to Shylock. Old GOBBO, Father to Launcelot. STEPHANO, Servants to Portia. PORTIA, a rich Heiress. NERISSA, her Waiting-Maid. Magnificoes of Venice, Officers of the Court of SCENE, partly at Venice, and partly at Belmont, the Seat of Portia, on the Continent. SCENE I-Venice. A Street. Ant. In sooth, I know not why I am so sad; And such a want-wit sadness makes of me, Salar. Your mind is tossing on the ocean; ACT I. That curt'sy to them, do them reverence, My wing, cooling my broth, And not bethink me straight of dangerous rocks? Is sad to think upon his merchandize. Because you are not merry: and 'twere as easy Nature hath framed strange fellows in her time: That they'll not show their teeth in way of smile, Enter BASSANIO, LORENZO, and GRATIANO. kinsman, Gratiano, and Lorenzo: Fare you well; If worthier friends had not prevented me. You grow exceeding strange: Must it be so? Antonio, We two will leave you: but, at dinner-time, Gra. You look not well, signior Antonio; Gra. Let me play the Fool: Ant. Believe me, no: I thank my fortune for it, Sit like his grandsire cut in alabaster? My ventures are not in one bottom trusted, Ant. Fye, fye! Sulan. Not in love neither? Then let's say, you are sad, 1 Ships of large burden. 154 2 Lowering. --- Sleep when he wakes? and creep into the jaundice |