Arm. How can'st thou part sadness and melancholy, my tender juvenal ?.

Moth. By a familiar demonstration of the working, my tough senior.

Arm. Why tough senior? why tough senior? Moth. Why tender juvenal? why tender juvenal ?

Arm. I spoke it, tender juvenal, as a congruent epitheton, appertaining to thy young days, which we may nominate tender.

Moth. And I, tough senior, as an appertinent title to your old time, which we may name tough.

Arm. Pretty, and apt.

Arm. Is that one of the four complexions ? Moth. As I have read, Sir; and the best of them too.

Arm. Green, indeed, is the colour of lovers: but to have a love of that colour, methinks, Samson had small reason for it. He, surely, affected her for her wit.

Moth. It was so, Sir; for she had a green wit.
Arm. My love is most immaculate white and

red.

Moth. Most maculate thoughts, master, an masked under such colours.

Arm. Define, define, well-educated infant.
Moth. My father's wit, and my mother's

Moth. How mean you, Sir? I pretty, and my tongue, assist me!

saying apt? or I apt, and my saying pretty?

Arm. Thou pretty, because little.

Moth. Little pretty, because little: Where

fore apt ?

Arm. And therefore apt, because quick,
Moth. Speak you this in my praise, master ?
Arm. In thy condign praise.

Moth. I will praise an eel with the same

praise.

Arm. What? that an eel is ingenious?
Moth. That an eel is quick.

Arm. I do say, thou art quick in answers:

Thou heatest my blood.

Moth. I am answer'd, Sir,

Arm. I love not to be crossed.

Moth. He speaks the mere contrary, crosses ⚫ love not him.

[Aside.

Arm. I have promised to study three years with the duke.

Moth. You may do it in an hour, Sir.
Arm. Impossible.

Moth. How many is one thrice told ?
Arm. I am ill at reckoning, it fitteth the spirit
of a tapster.

Moth. You are a gentleman, and a gamester, Sir.

Arm. Sweet invocation of a child; most pretty and pathetical!

Moth. If she be made of white and red,
Her faults will ne'er be known:
For blushing cheeks by faults are bred,
And fears by pale-white shown:
Then, if she fear, or be to blame,
By this you shall not know;

For still her cheeks possess the same,
Which native she doth owe..

A dangerous rhyme, master, against the reason
of white and red.

Arm. Is there not a ballad, boy, of the King and the Beggar ?

Moth. The world was very guilty of such a ballad some three ages since: but, I think, now 'tis not to be found; or, if it were, it would neither serve for the writing, nor the tune.

Arm. I will have the subject newly writ o'er, that I may example my digression by some mighty precedent. Boy, I do love that country girl, that I took in the park with the rational hind Costard; she deserves well.

Moth. To be whipped; and yet a better love than my master. [Aside.

Arm. Sing, boy, my spirit grows heavy in

Arm. I confess both; they are both the var-love. nish of a complete man.

Moth. Then, I am sure, you know how much the gross sum of deuce-ace amounts to.

Arm. It doth amount to one more than two.
Moth. Which the base vulgar do call, three.
Arm. True.

Moth. Why, Sir, is this such a piece of study ? Now here is three studied, ere you'll thrice wink: and how easy it is to put years to the word three, and study three years in two words, the dancing horse will tell you.

Arm. A most fine figure !

Moth. To prove you a cipher.

[Aside. Arm. I will hereupon confess, I am in love: and, as it is base for a soldier to love, so am I in love with a base wench. If drawing my sword against the humour of affection would deliver me from the reprobate thought of it, I would take desire prisoner, and ransom him to any French courtier for a new devised courtesy. I think scorn to sigh; methinks, I should out-swear Cupid. Comfort me, boy: What great men have been in love ?

Moth. Hercules, master.

Arm. Most sweet Hercules!-More authority, dear boy, name more; and, sweet my child, let them be men of good repute and carriage.

Moth. Samson, master: he was a man of good carriage, great carriage; for he carried the town-gates on his back, like a porter: and he was in love.

Arm. O well-knit Samson ! strong-jointed Samson! I do excel thee in my rapier, as much as thou didst me in carrying gates. I am in love too, Who was Samson's love, my dear Moth ?Moth. A woman, master.

Arm. Of what complexion?

Moth. Of all the four, or the three, or the

two; or one of the four.

Arm. Tell me precisely of what complexion?
Moth. Of the sea-water green, Sir.

• Young man.

1 The name of a coin once current.

Moth. And that's great marvel, loving a light wench.

Arm. I say, sing.

Moth. Forbear till this company be past.

Enter DULL, COSTARD, and JAQUENETTA.

Dull. Sir, the duke's pleasure is, that you keep Costard safe; and you must let him take no delight, nor no penance; but a' must fast three days a week for this damsel, I must keep her at the park; she is allowed for the day-woman. Fare you well.

Arm. I do betray myself with blushing.Maid.

Jag. Man.

Arm. I will visit thee at the lodge.
Jaq. That's hereby.

Arm. I know where it is situate.
Jaq. Lord, how wise you are!
Arm. I will tell thee wonders.
Jaq. With that face f

Arm. I love thee.

Jaq. So I heard you say.
Arm. And so farewell,

Jaq. Fair weather after you !
Dull. Come, Jaquenetta, away.

[Exeunt DULL and JAQUENETTA,

Arm. Villain, thou shalt fast for thy offences, ere thou be pardoned.

Cost. Well, Sir, I hope, when I do it, I shall do it on a full stomach.

Arm. Thou shalt be heavily punished.

Cost. I am more bound to you, than your
fellows, for they are but lightly rewarded.
Arm. Take away this villain; shut him up.
Moth. Cothe, you transgressing slave; away.
Cost. Let me not be pent up, Sir; I will fast

being loose.

Moth. No, Sir; that were fast and loose : thou shalt to prison.

Cost. Well, if ever I do see the merry days of Prin. All pride is willing pride, and your's desolation that I have seen, some shall see

Moth. What shall some see ?

Cost. Nay, nothing, master Moth, but what they look upon. It is not for prisoners to be too silent in their words: and therefore, I will say nothing: I thank God, I have as little patience as another man; and, therefore, I can be quiet.

[Exeunt MoTH and COSTARD.

is so.

Between lord Perigort and the beauteous heir
Of Jaques Falconbridge solémnized,
In Normandy saw I this Longaville :
A man of sovereign parts he is esteem'd;
Well fitted in the arts, glorious in arms:
Nothing becomes him ill, that he would well.
The only soil of his fair virtue's gloss,
(If virtue's gloss will stain with any soil,)
Is a sharp wit match'd with too blunt a will;
Whose edge hath power to cut, whose will still
wills

Arm. I do affect the very ground, which is base, where her shoe, which is baser, guided by her foot, which is basest, doth tread. I shall be forsworn, (which is a great argument of falsehood,) if I love: And how can that be true love, which is falsely attempted? Love is a familiar: love is a devil: there is no evil angel but love. Yet Samson was so tempted and he had an excellent strength: yet was Solomon so seduced: and he had a very good wit. Cupid's butt- It should none spare that come within his shaft is too hard for Hercules' club, and therefore too much odds for a Spaniard's rapier. The first and second cause will not serve my turn; the passado he respects not, the duello he regards not: his disgrace is to be called boy; but his glory is, to subdue men. Adieu, valour ! rust, rapier! be still, drum! for your inanager is in love; yea, he loveth. Assist me some extemporal god of rhyme, for, I am sure, I shall turn sonneteer. Devise wit; write pen; for I am for whole volumes in folio. [Exit.

Boyet. Now, madam, summon up your dear-
est spirits:

Consider who the king your father sends;
To whom he sends; and what's his embassy:
Yourself held precious in the world's esteem;
To parley with the sole inheritor

Of all perfections that a man may owe,
Matchless Navarre; the plea of no less weight
Than Aquitain; a dowry for a queen.
Be now as prodigal of all dear grace,
As nature was in making graces dear,
When she did starve the general world beside,
And prodigally gave them all to you.

Prin. Good lord Boyet, my beauty, though

but mean,

Needs not the painted flourish of your praise;
Beauty is bought by judgment of the eye,
Not utter'd by base sale of chapmen's tongues :
I am less proud to hear you tell my worth,
Than you much willing to be counted wise
In spending your wit in the praise of mine.
But now to task the tasker, -Good Boyet,
You are not ignorant, all-telling fame
Doth noise abroad, Navarre hath made a vow,
Till painful study shall out-wear three years,
No woman may approach his silent court:
Therefore to us seemeth it a needful course,
Before we enter his forbidden gates,
To know his pleasure; and in that behalf,
Bold of your worthiness, we single you
As our best-moving fair solicitor:

Tell him, the daughter of the king of France
On serious business, craving quick despatch,
Impórtunes personal conference with his grace.
Haste, signify so much; while we attend,
Like humbly-visag'd suitors, his high will.
Boyet. Proud of employment, willingly I go.

power.

Prin. Some merry mocking lord, belike; is't so ?

Mar. They say so most, that most his humours know.

Prin. Such short-liv'd wits do wither as they
grow.

Who are the rest?
Kath. The young Dumain, a well-accom-
plish'd youth,

Of all that virtue love for virtue ov'd:
Most power to do most barm, least knowing
ill;

For he hath wit to make an ill shape good,
And shape to win grace though he had no wit.
I saw him at the duke Alençon's once;
And much too little of that good I saw,
Is my report, to his great worthiness.

Ros. Another of these students at that time,
Was there with him: if I have heard a truth,
Biron they call him; but a merrier man,
Within the limit of becoming mirth,
I never spent an hour's talk withal:
His eye begets occasion for his wit;
For every object that the one doth catch,
The other turns to a mirth-moving jest;
Which his fair tongue (conceit's expositor,)
Delivers in such apt and gracious words,
That aged ears play truant at his tales,
And younger hearings are quite ravished;
So sweet and voluble is his discourse.

Prin. God bless my ladies! are they all in

love;

That every one her own hath garnished
With such bedecking ornaments of praise ?
Mar. Here comes Boyet.

King. Fair princess, welcome to the court of
Navarre.

Prin. Fair, I give you back again; and, wolcome I have not yet the roof of this court is too high to be your's; and welcome to the wild King. You shall be welcome, madam, to my court.

fields too base to be mine. [Exit.

• Love. † Arrow to shoot at butts with,

1 Best.

• Confederates.

† Prepared.

again.

Arm. The fox, the ape, and the humble-bee,
Were still at odds, being but three:
Moth. Until the goose came out of door,
And stay'd the odds by adding four.
Now will I begin your moral, and do you follow
with my l'envoy.

The fox, the ape, and the humble-bee,
Were still at odds, being but three;
Arm. Until the goose came out of door,
Staying the odds by adding four.

Moth. A good l'envoy, ending in the goose;
Would you desire more f

Cost. The boy hath sold him a bargain, a
goose, that's flat:-
fat.-

Sir, your pennyworth is good, an your goose be

To sell a bargain well, is as cunning as fast and loose:

Let me see a fat l'envoy; ay, that's a fat goose. Arm. Come hither, come hither: How did this argument begin?

Moth. By saying that a Costard was broken in a shin.

Then call'd you for the l'envoy.

Cost. True and I for a plaintain: Thus came your argument in;

Then the boy's fat l'envoy, the goose that you bought;

And he ended the market.

Arm. But tell me, how was there a Costard

broken in a shin ?

Moth. I will tell you sensibly.
Cost. Thou hast no feeling of it, Moth; I will

speak that l'envoy:

I, Costard, running out, that was safely within,
Fell over the threshold, and broke my shin.

Arm. We will talk no more of this matter.
Cost. Till there be more matter in the shin.
Arm. Sirrah Costard, I will enfranchise thee.
Cost. Oh! marry me to one Frances:-1 smell
some l'envoy, some goose, in this.

Arm. By my sweet soul, I mean, setting thee at liberty, enfreedoming thy person! thou wert immured, restrained, captivated, bound.

Cost. True, true; and now you will be my purgation, and let me loose.

Arm. I give thee thy liberty, set thee from durance; and, in lieu thereof, impose on thee nothing but this: Bear this significant to the country maid Jaquenetta: there is remuneration; [Giving him money.] for the best ward of mine honour, is, rewarding my dependants. Moth, follow. [Exit. Moth. Like the sequel, I.-Signior Costard, adieu. Cost. My sweet ounce of man's flesh! my incony Jew![Erit Мотн.

Now will I look to his remuneration. Remu

neration! Oh! that's the Latin word for three farthings: three farthings-remuneration.-What's the price of this inkle? a penny:-No, I'll give you a remuneration why, it carries it.Remuneration!-why, it is a fairer name than French crown. I will never buy and sell out of this word.

• Delightful.

Enter BIRON.

Biron. O my good knave Costard! exceedingly well met.

Cost. Pray you, Sir, how much carnation sih
bon may a man buy for a remuneration ?
Biron. What is a remuneration ?
Cost. Marry, Sir, halfpenny farthing.
Biron. Oh! why then, three-farthings-worth
of silk.

Bost. I thank your worship: God be with you I
Ciron. O stay, slave; I must employ thee:
As thou wilt win my favour, good my knave,
Do one thing for me that I shall entreat.

Cost. When would you have it done, Sir?
Biron. Oh! this afternoon.

Cost. Well, I will do it, Sir: Fare you well.
Biron. Oh! thou knowest not what it is.
Cost. I shall know, Sir, when I have done it.
Biron. Why, villain, thou must know first.
Cost. I will come to your worship to-morrow

morning.

Biron. It must be done this afternoon. Hark, slave, it is but this ;

The princess comes to hunt here in the park,
And in her train there is a gentle lady;

When tongues speak sweetly, then they name her

name, And Rosaline they call her: ask for her; And to her white hand see thou do commend This seal'd-up counsel. There's thy guerdon; + [Gives him money.

go.

Cost. Guerdon,-O sweet guerdon! better
than remuneration; elevenpence farthing better:
Most sweet guerdon!-I will do it, Sir, in print.t
-Guerdon-remuneration. -Guerdon-
[Eait.

Biron. O!-And I, forsooth, in love! 1, that
have been love's whip;
A very beadle to a humorous sigh ;
A critic; nay, a night-watch constable:
A domineering pedant o'er the boy,
Than whom no mortal so magnificent!

This wimpled, wining, purbliud, wayward boy;
This senior-junior, giant-dwarf, Dan Cupid;
Regent of love-rhyines, lord of folded arms,
The anointed sovereign of sighs and groans,
Liege of all loiterers and malcontents,
Dread prince of plackets, § king of codpieces,
Sole imperator, and great general

Of trotting paritors, ||-O my little heart!-
And I to be a corporal of his field,
And wear his colours like a tumbler's hoop !
What? 1! I love! I sue! I seek a wife!
A woman, that is like a German clock,
Still a repairing; ever out of frame;
And never going aright, being a watch,
But being watch'd that it may still go right?
Nay, to be perjur'd, which is worst of all;
And, among three, to love the worst of all;
A whitely wanton with a velvet brow,
with two pitch balls stuck in her face for eyes;
Ay, and by heaven, one that will do the deed,
Though Argus were her eunuch and her guard:
And I to sigh for her! to watch for her!
To pray for her! Go to; it is a plague
That Cupid will impose for my neglect
Of his almighty dreadful little might.
Well, I will love, write, sigh, pray, sue, and
Some men must love my lady, and some Joau.

ACT IV.

[groan;

Exit.