Rof. We need more light to find your meaning out. Rof. Look, what you do; and do it ftill i'th' dark. Rof. Indeed, I weigh not you; and therefore light. Cath. You weigh me not; O, that's, you care not for me. Rof. Great reafon; for paft Cure is ftill paft Care. (33) Prin. Well bandied both; a set of wit well play'd. But, Rofaline, you have a Favour too: Who fent it? and what is it? Rof. I would, you knew. And if my face were but as fair as yours, The numbers true; and were the numbring too, O, he hath drawn my picture in his letter. Rof. Much in the letters, nothing in the praife. Cath. Fair as a text B in a copy-book. Rof. Ware pencils. How? let me not die your debter, My red dominical, my golden letter. O, that your face were not fo full of Oes! Cath. Pox of that jeft, and I beshrew all fhrews: (34) (33)- for paft Care is still past Cure.] The Transposition which I have made in the two Words, Care and Cure, is by the Direction of the ingenious Dr. Thirbly. The Reason speaks for it felf. (34) Prin. Pox of that jest, and I besbrew all Shrews. As the Princess has behav'd with great Decency all along hitherto, there is no Reason to be affign'd why he should start all at once into this course Dialect. But I am perfwaded, the Editors only have made her go out of Character. In short, Rofaline and Catharine are rallying one another without Referve; and to Catharine this fiift Line certainly belong'd, and therefore I have ventur'd once more to put her in Poffeffion of it. Prin Prin. But what was fent to you from fair Dumaine ? Prin. Did he not send you twain? Mar. This, and thefe pearls, to me fent Longaville; The letter is too long by half a mile. Prin. I think no lefs; doft thou not wifh in heart, The chain were longer, and the letter fhort? Mar. Ay, or I would thefe hands might never part. Prin. We are wife girls, to mock our lovers for't. Rof. They are worse fools to purchase mocking fo. That fame Biron I'll torture, ere I go. O, that I knew he were but in by th' week! How I would make him fawn, and beg, and feek, And make him proud to make me proud with jefts: Prin. None are fo furely caught, when they are catch'd, As wit turn'd fool; folly, in wisdom hatch'd, Hath wifdom's warrant, and the help of school; Rof. The blood of youth burns not in fuch excess, (35) So pertaunt like would I o'erfway his State,] If the Editors are acquainted with this Word, and can account for the Meaning of it, their Industry has been more fuccessful than mine, for I can no where trace it. So pedant like, as I have ventur'd to replace in the Text, makes very good Sense, i. c. in fuch lordly, controlling, manner would I bear Myself over him, &c. What Biron says of a Pedant, towards the Conclufion of the 2d A&t, countenances this Conjecture. A domineering Pedant o'er the boy, Mar Mar. Folly in fools bears not fo ftrong a note, Prin. Here comes Boyet, and mirth is in his face. Boyet. O, I am stab'd with laughter; where's her Grace? Prin. Thy news, Boyet? Boyet. Prepare, Madam, prepare. Arm, wenches, arm; Encounters mounted are I thought to close mine eyes fome half an hour; That well by heart hath conn'd his embaffage. I fhould have fear'd her, had fhe been a Devil. One rubb'd his elbow thus, and fleer'd, and swore, Ano Another with his finger and his thumb, Cry'd, via! we will do't, come what will come. To check their folly, paffion's folemn tears. Prin. But what, but what, come they to vifit us ? Boyet. They do, they do; and are apparell'd thus, Like Mofcovites, or Ruffians, as I guess. Their purpofe is to parley, court and dance; Prin. And will they fo? the gallants shall be taskt; Hold, Rofaline; this Favour thou fhalt wear, And change your Favours too; fo fhall your Loves Rof. Come on then, wear the Favours moft in fight. Cath. But in this changing, what is your intent? Prin. Th' effect of my intent is to cross theirs ; They do it but in mocking merriment, And mock for mock is only my intent. Their feveral councils they unbofom shall To loves miftook, and fo be mockt withal, Upon the next occafion that we meet, With vifages-difplay'd, to talk and greet. Rof. But fhall we dance, if they defire us to't! Prin. No; to the death, we will not move a foot; Nor to their pen'd speech render we no grace: heart, And LovE's Labour's loft. I quite divorce his memory from his Part. 237 ere's no fuch Sport, as Sport by Sport o'erthrown; make theirs ours, and ours none but our own; hall we ftay, mocking intended game; they, well mockt, depart away with fhame. [Sound. Boyet. The trumpet founds; be maskt, the maskers come. er the King, Biron, Longaville, Dumain, and attendants, difguis'd like Mofcovites; Moth with Mufick, as for a masquerade. Moth. All hail, the richeft beauties on the earth! at ever turn'd their backs to mortal views. [The ladies turn their backs to him. Biron. Their eyes, villain, their eyes. Moth. That ever turn'd their eyes to mortal views. t Biron. True; out, indeed. Moth. Out of your favours, heav'nly Spirits, vouchsafe -t to behold. Biron. Once to behold, rogue. Moth. Once to behold with your fun-beamed eyes ith your fun-beamed eyes Boyet. They will not answer to that epithete; ou were beft call it daughter-beamed eyes. Moth. They do not mark me, and that brings me out. (36) Biron. Beauties, no richer than rich Taffata.] i. e. The ffata Masks they wore to conceal Themfelves. All the Edirs concur to give this Line to Biron; but, furely, very abrdly for he's One of the zealous Admirers, and hardly would ake such an Inference. Boyet is fneering at the Parade of eir Address, is in the fecret of the Ladies' Stratagem, and akes himself Sport at the Absurdity of their Proëm, in comimenting their Beauty, when they were mask'd. It therefore omes from him with the utmost Propriety. Biron. |