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Ros. Indeed, I weigh not you; and therefore light. [care not for me. Kath. You weigh me not-0, that's you Ros. Great reason; for, Past cure is still past care. [well play'd. Prin. Well bandied both; a set of wit But, Rosaline, you have a favour too: Who sent it? and what is it? Ros.

I would, you knew: An if my face were but as fair as yours, My favour were as great; be witness this. Nay, I have verses too, I thank Birón: [too, The numbers true; and, were the numb'ring I were the fairest goddess on the ground: I am compar'd to twenty thousand fairs. O, he hath drawn my picture in his letter!

Prin. Any thing like?

[praise.

Ros. Much, in the letters; nothing in the Prin. Beauteous as ink; a good conclusion. Kath. Fair as a text B in a copy-book. Ros. 'Ware pencils! How? let me not die your debtor,

My red dominical, my golden letter:

O, that your face were not so full of O's! Kath. A pox of that jest! and beshrew all shrows !

Prin. But what was sent to you from fair

Dumain?

mocking so.

That same Birón I'll torture ere I go.

O, that I knew he were but in by the week! How I would make him fawn, and beg, and seek;

And wait the season, and observe the times,
And spend his prodigal wits in bootless rhymes;
And shape his service wholly to my behests;
And make him proud to make me proud that
jests!
So portent-like would I o'ersway his state,
That he should be my fool, and I his fate.
Prin. None are so surely caught, when
they are catch'd,

As wit turn'd fool: folly, in wisdom hatch'd,
Hath wisdom's warrant, and the help of school;
And wit's own grace to grace a learned fool.

Ros. The blood of youth burns not with such As gravity's revolt to wantonness. [excess, Mar. Folly in fools bears not so strong

Enter BOYET.

Prin. Here comes Boyet, and mirth is in his face. [Where's her grace? Boyet. O, I am stabb'd with laughter! Prin. Thy news, Boyet?

Boyet. Prepare, madam, prepare!Arm, wenches, arm! encounters mounted are Against your peace: Love doth approach disguis'd, Armed in arguments; you'll be surpris'd : Muster your wits; stand in your own defence; Or hide your heads like cowards, and fly hence. Prin. Saint Dennis to saint Cupid! What [say.

are they,

That charge their breath against us? say, scout,
Boyet. Under the cool shade of a sycamore,
I thought to close mine eyes some half an hour:
When, lo! to interrupt my purpos'd rest,
Toward that shade I might behold addrest
The king and his companions: warily
I stole into a neighbour thicket by,
And overheard what you shall overhear;
That, by and by, disguis'd they will be here.
Their herald is a pretty knavish page,
That well by heart hath conn'd his embassage:
Action, and accent, did they teach him there;
Thus must thou speak, and thus thy body
And ever and anon they made a doubt, [bear:
Presence majestical would put him out;
For, quoth the king, an angel shalt thou see;
Yet fear not thou, but speak audaciously.
The boy reply'd, An angel is not evil;

I should have fear'd her, had she been a devil. With that all laugh'd, and clapp'd him on the shoulder;

Making the bold wag by their praises bolder. One rubb'd his elbow, thus; and fleer'd, and swore,

A better speech was never spoke before :
Another, with his finger and his thumb,
Cry'd, Via! we will dot, come what will

come:

The third he caper'd, and cried, All goes well:
The fourth turn'd on the toe, and down he fell.
With that, they all did tumble on the ground,
With such a zealous laughter, so profound,
That in this spleen ridiculous appears,
To check their folly, passion's solemn tears.
Prin. But what, but what, come they to
visit us ?
[thus,-
Boyet. They do, they do; and are apparell'd
Like Muscovites, or Russians: as I guess,
Their purpose is, to parle, to court, and dance:
And every one his love-feat will advance
Unto his several mistress; which they'll know
By favours several, which they did bestow.
Prin. And will they so? the gallants shall
be task'd:-

For, ladies, we will every one be mask'd;
And not a man of them shall have the grace,
Despite of suit, to see a lady's face.-
Hold, Rosaline, this favour thou shalt wear;
And then the king will court thee for his dear;
Hold, take thou this, my sweet, and give me
So shall Birón take me for Rosaline.- [thine;
And change you favours too; so shall your
loves

Woo contrary, deceiv'd by these removes.

Ros. Come on then; wear the favours most
in sight.
[intent?
Kath. But, in this changing, what is your
Prin. The effect of my intent is, to cross
theirs:

They do it but in mocking merriment;
And mock for mock is only my intent.
Their several counsels they unbosom shall
To loves mistook; and so be mock'd withal,
Upon the next occasion that we meet,
With visages display'd, to talk, and greet.
Ros. But shall we dance, if they desire us
to't?
[a foot:
Prin. No; to the death, we will not move
Nor to their penn'd speech render we no grace;
But, while 'tis spoke, each turn away her face.
Boyet. Why, that contempt will kill the

speaker's heart,

And quite divorce his memory from his part.
Prin. Therefore I do it; and, I make no
The rest will ne'er come in, if he be out. [doubt,
There's no such sport, as sport by sport o'er-
thrown;
[own:
To make theirs ours, and ours none but our
So shall we stay, mocking intended game;
And they, well mock'd, depart away with

shame. [Trumpets sound within. Boyet. The trumpet sounds; be mask'd, the maskers come. [The ladies mask. Enter the King, BIRON, LONGAVILLE, and DUMAIN, in Russian habits, and masked; MOTH, Musicians and Attendants.

Moth. All hail, the richest beauties on

the earth!

Boyet. Beauties no richer than rich taffata. Moth. A holy parcel of the fairest dames. [The Ladies turn their backs to him. That ever turn'd their-backs-to mortal views!

King. Say to her, we have measur'd many miles

To tread a measure with her on this grass. Boyet. They say, that they have measur'd many a mile,

To tread a measure with you on this grass.
Ros. It is not so: ask them, how many inches
Is in one mile: if they have ineasur'd many,
The measure then of one is easily told. [miles,
Boyet. If, to come hither you have measur'd
And many miles; the princess bids you tell,
How many inches do fill up one mile. [steps.
Biron, Tell her, we measure them by weary
Boyet. She hears herself.
Ros.

How many weary steps,

Of many weary miles you have o'ergone,
Are number'd in the travel of one mile?

clouds do!

Biron. We number nothing that we spend Our duty is so rich, so infinite, [for you; That we may do it still without accompt. Vouchsafe to show the sunshine of your face, That we, like savages, may worship it. [too. Ros. My face is but a moon, and clouded King. Blessed are clouds, to do as such [to shine Vouchsafe, bright moon, and these thy stars, (Those clouds remov'd,) upon our wat'ry eyne. Ros. O vain petitioner! beg a greater matter; Thou now request'st but moonshine in the [safe one change: King. Then, in our measure do but vouchThou bid'st me beg; this begging is not strange. Ros. Play, music, then nay, you must do it soon. [Music plays. Not yet;-no dance:-thus change I like the [thus estrang'd? King. Will you not dance? How come you Ros. You took the moon at full; but now [man. King. Yet still she is the moon, and I the

water.

moon.

she's chang'd.

mortal views! Out

Boyet. True; out, indeed.

Moth. Out of your favours, heavenly spirits, vouchsafe

Not to behold.

Biron. Once to behold, rogue.

Moth. Once to behold with your sunbeamed eyes,

-with your sun-beamed eyes

me out.

Boyet. They will not answer to that epithet; You were best call it, daughter-beamed eyes. Moth. They do not mark me, and that brings [you rogue. Biron. Is this your perfectness? be gone, Ros. What would these strangers? know their minds, Boyet:

If they do speak our language, 'tis our will That some plain man recount their purposes: Know what they would.

Boyet. What would you with the princess? Biron. Nothing but peace, and gentle visiRos. What would they, say they? [tation. Boyet. Nothing but peace, and gentle visitation. [so be gone. Ros. Why, that they have; and bid them Boyet. She says, you have it, and you may be gone.

Ros. Our ears vouchsafe it. King. But your legs should do it. Ros. Since you are strangers, and come here by chance, [dance. We'll not be nice take hands; -we will not King. Why take we hands then ! Ros.

Only to part friends :Court'sy, sweet hearts; and so the measure ends. [not nice. King. More measure of this measure; be Ros. We can afford no more at such a price. King. Prize you yourselves; What buys Ros. Your absence only. [your company ? King. That can never be. Ros. Then cannot we be bought and so

adieu;

Twice to your visor, and half once to you! King. If you deny to dance, let's hold more Ros. In private then. [chat. King. I am best pleas'd with that. [They converse apart. Biron. White-handed mistress, one sweet word with thee. [is three. Prin. Honey, and milk, and sugar; there Biron. Nay then, two treys, (an if you grow so nice,) [dice! Metheglin, wort, and malmsey;-Well run,

Long. A calf, fair lady?
Kath.

No, a fair lord calf.
Long. Let's part the word.
Kath.

No, I'll not be your half: Take all, and wean it; it may prove an ox. Long. Look, how you butt yourself in these sharp mocks!

Will you give horns, chaste lady? do not so. Kath. Then die a calf, before your horns do grow. [I die. Long. One word in private with you, ere Kath. Bleat softly then, the butcher hears you cry. [They converse apart. Boyet. The tongues of mocking wenches

are as keen

As is the razor's edge invisiblè, Cutting a smaller hair than may be seen; Above the sense of sense: so sensible Seemeth their conference; their conceits have wings, [swifter things. Fleeter than arrows, bullets, wind, thought, Ros. Not one word more, my maids; break off, break off. [pure scoff! Biron. By heaven, all dry-beaten with King. Farewell, mad wenches; you have simple wits.

[Exeunt King, Lords, МотH, Music, and Attendants.

Prin. Twenty adieus, my frozen Muscovites.

Are these the breed of wits so wonder'd at ? Boyet. Tapers they are, with your sweet breaths puff'd out. [gross; fat, fat. Ros. Well-liking wits they have; gross, Prin. O poverty in wit, kingly-poor flout! Will they not, think you, hang themselves to

night?

Or ever, but in visors, show their faces? This pert Birón was out of countenance quite.

• Falsify dice, lie.

may be found among citizens.

sword;

Ros. O! they were all in lamentable cases! The king was weeping-ripe for a good word. Prin. Birón did swear himself out of all suit. Mar. Dumain was at my service, and his [mute. No point +, quoth I; my servant straight was Kath. Lord Longaville said, I came o'er his And trow you, what he call'd_me? [heart; Prin. Qualm, perhaps. Kath. Yes, in good faith. Prin.

Go, sickness as thou art! Ros. Well, better wits have worn plain statute-caps I.

sworn.

tree.

But will you hear? the king is my love Prin. And quick Birón hath plighted faith to me. [born. Kath. And Longaville was for my service Mar. Dumain is mine, as sure as bark on [ear: Boyet. Madam, and pretty mistresses, give Immediately they will again be here In their own shapes; for it can never be, They will digest this harsh indignity. Prin. Will they return? Boyet. They will, they will, God knows; And leap for joy, though they are lame with blows: [repair, Therefore, change favours; and, when they Blow like sweet roses in this summer air. Prin. How blow? how blow? speak to be understood. [their bud: Boyet. Fair ladies, mask'd, are roses in Dismask'd, their damask sweet commixture shown, Are angels vailing clouds, or roses blown. Prin. Avaunt, perplexity! What shall wedo, If they return in their own shapes to woo? Ros. Good madam, if by me you'll be [guis'd:

advis'd,

at hand.

Let's mock them still, as well known, as dis-
Let us complain to them what fools were here,
Disguis'd like Muscovites, in shapeless || gear;
And wonder, what they were; and to what end
Their shallow shows, and prologue vilely
penn'd,
And their rough carriage so ridiculous,
Should be presented at our tent to us.
Boyet. Ladies, withdraw; the gallants are
[land.
Prin. Whip to our tents, as roes run over
[Exeunt Princess, Ros. KATH. & MAR.
Enter the King, BIRON, LONGAVILLE, and
DUMAIN, in their proper habits.
King. Fair sir, God save you! Where is
the princess?
[majesty,
Boyet. Gone to her tent: Please it your
Command me any service to her thither?
King. That she vouchsafe me audience for

one word.

I Better wits Uncouth.

He is wits' pedlar; and retails his wares
At wakes, and wassels, meetings, markets,
fairs;
[know,

And we that sell by gros, the Lord doth
Have not the grace to grace it with such show.
This gallant pins the wenches on his sleeve;
Had he been Adam, he had tempted Eve:
He can carve too, and lisp: Why, this is he,
That kiss'd away his hand in courtesy;
This is the ape of form, monsieur the nice,
That, when he plays at tables, chides the dice
In honourable terms; nay, he can sing
A meant most meanly; and, in ushering,
Mend hin whocan: the ladies call him, sweet;
The stairs, as he treads on them, kiss his feet:
This is the flower that smiles on every one,
To show his teeth as white as whales bone‡:
And consciences, that will not die in debt,
Pay him the die of honey-tongued Boyet.
King. A blister on his sweet tongue, with
my heart,

That put Armado's page ont of his part!
Enter the Princess, usher'd by BOYET;
ROSALINE, MARIA, KATHARINE, and
Attendants.

Biron. See where it comes!-Behaviour,

what wert thou,

[now? Till this man show'd thee? and what art thou King. All hail, sweet madam, and fair time

of day!

Prin. Fair, in all hail, is foul, as I conceive. King. Construe my speeches better, if you [leave. Prin. Then wish me better, I will give you King. We came to visit you; and purpose

may.

should have spoke;

For virtue's office never breaks men's troth.

Now, by my maiden honour, yet as pure
As the unsullied lily, I protest,

A world of torments though I should endure,
I would not yield to be your house's guest:

So much I hate a breaking-cause to be
Of heavenly oaths, vow'd with integrity.
King. O, you have liv'd in desolation here,
Unseen, unvisited, much to our shaine.
Prin. Not so, my lord; it is not so, I swear;
We have had pastimes here, and pleasant
A mess of Russians left us but of late. [game;
King. How, madam? Russians?
Prin.

Ay, in truth, my lord;
Trim gallants, full of courtship, and of state.
Ros. Madam, speak true: -It is not so, my
My lady, (to the inanner of the days +,) [lord;
In courtesy, gives undeserving praise.
We four, indeed, confronted here with four
In Russian habit: here they stay'd an hour,

• Rustic merry-meetings.

Biron. This jest is dry to me-Fair, gentle sweet, [greet Your wit makes wise things foolish; when we With eyes best seeing heaven's fiery eye, By light we lose light: Your capacity Is of that nature, that to your huge store Wise things seem foolish, and rich things but poor. [my eye,Ros. This proves you wise and rich; for in Biron. I am a fool, and full of poverty. Ros. But that you take what doth to you

belong,

It were a fault to snatch words from my tongue. Biron. O, I am yours, and all that I possess. Ros. All the fool mine?

for perjury.

Can any face of brass hold longer out?Here stand I, lady; dart thy skill at me; Bruise me with scorn, confound me with a flout; [rance; Thrust thy sharp wit quite through my ignoCut me to pieces with thy keen conceit; And I will wish thee never more to dance, Nor never more in Russian habit wait. O! never will I trust to speeches penn'd, Nor to the motion of a school boy's tongue; Nor never come in visor to my friend;

Nor woo in rhyme, like a blind harper's song: Taffeta phrases, silken terms precise, Three-pil'd hyperboles, spruce affectation, Figures pedantical; these summer-flies Have blown me full of maggot ostentation: I do forswear them and I here protest,

By this white glove, (how white the hand, God knows!)

Henceforth my wooing mind shall be express'd In russet yeas, and honest kersey noes: And, to begin, wench, -so God help me, la !My love to thee is sound, sans crack or flaw. Ros. Sans SANS, I pray you.

Biron.

Yet I have a trick

Of the old rage:-bear with me, I am sick; I'll leave it by degrees. Soft, let us see ;-Write, Lord have mercy on us, on those three; They are infected, in their hearts it lies; [eyes: They have the plague, and caught it of your

The tooth of the horse-whale. Mistress.

S

King. Madam, I was.

Prin. And were you well advis'd?

King. I was, fair inadam.
Prin.

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.
[will reject her.
Prin. When she shall challenge this, you
King. Upon mine honour, no.
Prin.
Peace, peace, forbear;
Your oath once broke, you force not to for-
[of mine.
King. Despise me, when I break this oath
Prin. I will; and therefore keep it:--Rosaline,
What did the Russian whisper in your ear?

swear.

Ros. Madam, he swore that he did hold me As precious eye-sight; and did value me [dear 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 Most honourably doth uphold his word. [lord King. What mean you, madam? by my life, my I never swore this lady such an oath. [troth, Ros. By heaven, you did; and to confirm it You gave me this: but take it, sir, again. [plain, King. My faith, and this, the princess I did I knew her by this jewel on her sleeve. [give; Prin. Pardon me, sir, this jewel did she wear; And lord Birón, I thank hini, is my dear:What; will you have me, or your pearl again? Biron. Neither of either; Iremit both twain.I see the trick on't;-Here was a consentt, (Knowing aforehand of our merriment,) To dash it like a Christmas comedy: [zany †, Some carry-tale, some please-man, some slight Some mumble-news, some trencher-knight, [the trick That smiles his cheek in years; and knows To make my lady laugh, when she's dispos'd,Told our intents before: which once disclos'd, The ladies did change favours; and then we, Following the signs, woo'd but the sign of she. Now, to our perjury to add more terror, We are again forsworn; in will, and error. Much upon this it is:-And might not you, [To BOYET. Forestal our sport, to make us thus untrue ? Do not you know my lady's foot by the squire §, And laugh upon the apple of her eye? And stand between her back, sir, and the fire, Holding a trencher, jesting merrily?

some Dick,一

* Make no difficulty.

Welcome, pure wit! thou partest a fair fray.
Cost. O Lord, sir, they would know,
Whether the three worthies shall come in, or no.
Biron. What, are there but three?
Cost.

No, sir; but it is vara fine,
For every one pursents three.
Biron. And three times thrice is nine.

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 ope, sir, three times thrice, sir,-
Biron.

Is not nine.

Cost. Under correction, sir, weknow whereuntil it doth amount. [for nine. Biron. By Jove, I always took three threes Cost. O Lord! sir, it were 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 parfect one man,-e'en one poor man; Pompion the great, sir.

Biron. Art thou one of the worthies ?

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.

not approach.

Cost. We will turn it finely off, sir; we will take some care. [Exit COSTARD. King. Birón, they will shame us, let them ['tis some policy Biron. We are shame-proof, my lord: and To have one show worse than the king's and his King. I say, they shall not come. [company. Prin. Nay, my good lord, let me o'er-rule [how: That sport best pleases, that doth least know Where zeal strives to content, and the contents Die in the zeal of them which it presents, Their form confounded makes most form in [birth. When great things labouring perish in their Biron. A right description of our sport, my lord.

vou now;

mirth;

Enter ARMADO.

Arm. Anointed, I implore so much expense of thy royal sweet breath, as will utter a brace of words. [ARM. converses with the King, and delivers him a paper.

Prin. Doth this man serve God?
Biron. Why ask you?
[making.
Prin. He speaks not like a man of God's
Arm. That's all one, my fair, sweet, honey