And the issue, there create,

Meet me all by break of day. Ever shall be fortunate.

[Excunt OBERON, TITANIA, and Train, So shall all the couples three

Puck. If we sluadows hare offended, Ever true in loving be:

Think but this, (and all is nended,) And the blots of nature's hand

That you hare but slumber'd here, Shall not in their issue stand;

While these visions did appear. Never mole, hare-lip, nor scar,

And this weak and idle theme, Nor mark prodigious,* such as are

No more yielding but a dream, Despised in nativity,

Gentles, do not reprehend; Shall upon their children be.

If you pardon, we will mend. With this field-dew consecrate,

And, us I'm an honest Puck, Every fairy take his gait;t

If we have unearned luck And each several chamber bless,

Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue, Through this palace with sweet peace :

We will make amends ere iong : E’er shall it in safety rest,

Else the Puk a liar call.
And the owner of it blest.

So, good night unto you all.
Trip away;

Give me your hands, if we be friends,
Make no stay;

And Robin shall restore amends. (Exit Portentous.

+ Wa

} Lords, attending on the King.

FERDINAND, King of Navarre.

Moth, Page to Armado.
BIRON,

A Forester.
LONGAVILLE,
DUMAIN,

PRINCESS OF FRANCE.
BOYET,

Lords, attending on the Princess ROSALINE, Ladies, attending on the Princ MERCADE, 'of France,

KATHARINE,
DON ADRIANDO DE ARMADÓ, a fantastical
Spaniard.

JAQUENETTA, a Country Wench.
SIR NATHANIEL, a Curate.

Officers, and Others, Attendants on the King HOLOFERNES, a Schoolmaster.

and Princess. boll, a Constable. COSTARD, a Clown.

Scene, Navarre.

>
cess.

ACT I.

But there are other strict observances : SCENE I.–Navarre.- A Park, with a Palace As, not to see a woman in that term; in it.

Which, I hope well, is not enrolled there:

And, one day in a week to touch no food; Enter the KING, BIRON, LONGAVILLE, and And' but one meal on every day beside; DUMAIN.

The which, I hope, is not enrolled there : King. Let fame, that all hunt after in their And then, to sleep but three hours in the night, lives,

And not be seen to wink of all the day; Live register'd upon our brazen tombs, (When I was wont to think no harm all night, And then grace us in the disgrace of death ; And make a dark night too of half the day ;) When, spite of cormorant devouring time, Which, I hope well, is not enrolled there! The endeavour of this present breath may buy o, these are barren tasks, too hard to keep; That honour, which shall bate his scythe's Not to see ladies, study, fast, not sleep. keen edge,

King. Your oath is pass'd to pass away And make us heirs of all eternity.

from these. Therefore, brave conquerors !- for so you are, Biron. Let me say no, my liege, an if you That war against your own affections,

I only swore, to study with your grace, (please; And the huge army of the world's desires, And stay here in your court for three years' Our late edict shall strongly stand in force:

space. Navarre shall be the wonder of the world; Long. You swore to that, Biron, and to the Our court shall be a little Academe,

rest. Still and contemplative in living art.

Biron. By yea and nay, Sir, then I swore You three, Birón, Dumain, and Longaville,

in jest. Have sworn for three years' term to live with What is the end of study ? let me know. me,

King. Why, that to know, which else we My fellow-scholars, and to keep those statutes,

should not know. That are recorded in this schedule here:

Biron. Things hid and barr’d, you mean, Your oaths are past, and now subscribe your

from common sense? names;

King. Ay, that is study's god-like recomThat his own hand may strike his honour down,

pense. That violates the smallest branch herein: Biron. Come on then, I will swear to study If you are arm'd to do, as sworn to do, To know the thing I am forbid to know: [so: Subscribe to your deep oath, and keep it too. As thus-To study where I well may dine, Long. I ani resolv'd: 'tis but a three years' When I to feast expressly am forbid; fast;

Or, study where to meet some mistress fine, The mind shall banquet, though the body pine:

When mistresses from common sense are hid: Fat paunches have lean pates; and dainty bits Or, having sworn too hard-a-keeping oath, Make rich the ribs, but bank’rout quite the Study to break it, and not break my troth. wits.

If study's gain bé thus, and this be so, Dum. My loving lord, Dumain is mortified; Study knows that, which yet it doth not know: The grosser manner of these world's delights' Swear me to this, and I will ne'er say, no. He throws upon the gross world's baser slaves: King. These be the stops that hinder study To love, to wealth, to pomp, I pine and die;

quite, With all these living in philosophy.

And train our intellects to vain delight. Giron. I can but say their protestation over, Biron. Why, all delights are vain; but that So much, dear liege, I have already sworn,

most vain, That is, To live and study here three years. Which, with pain purchas'd, doth inherit paias

2

.

As, painfully to pore upon a book, (while | This article, my liege, yourself must break;

To seak the light of truth ; while truth the For, well you know, here comes in embassy
Doth falsely" blind the eyesight of his look : The French king's daughter, with yourself to
Light, seeking light, doth light of light be-

speak,-
guile :

A maid of grace, and complete majesty,
So, ere you find where light in darkness lies, About surrender-up of Aquitain
Your light grows dark by losing of your eyes. To her decrepit, sick, and bed-rid father:
Study me how to please the eye indeed, Therefore this article is made in vain,
By fixing it upon a fairer eye;.

Or vainly comes the admired princess hither.
Who dazzling so, that eye shall be his heed, King. What say you, lords ? why, this was
And give him light that was it blinded by:

quite forgot. Study is like the heaven's glorious sun,

Biron. So study evermore is overshot ; That will not be deep-search'd with saucy While it doth study to have what it would, Jooks;

It doth forget to do the thing it should :
Small have continual plodders ever won, And when it hath the thing it hunteth most,

Save base authority from others' books. 'Tis won, as towns with fire ; so won, so lost.
These earthly godfathers of heaven's lights, King. We must, of force, dispense with this
That give a name to every fixed star,

decree;
Have no more profit of their shining nights, She must lie* here on mere necessity.
Than those that walk, and wot not what Biron. Necessity will make us all forsworn
they are.

[fame; Three thousand times within this three Too much to know, is, to know nought but

years' space : And every godfather can give a name. For every man with his affects is born ; King. How well' he's read, to reason against Not by mightmaster'd, but by special grace: reading !

If I break faith, this word shall speak for me, Dum. Proceeded well, to stop all good pro- I am forsworn on mere necessity.-ceeding!

So to the laws at large I write my name : Long. He weeds the corn, and still lets grow

[Subscribes. the weeding,

And he, that breaks them in the least degree, Biron. The spring is near, when green geese Stands in attainder of eternal shame: are a breeding.

Suggestionst are to others, as to me ; Dum. How follows that?

But, I believe, although I seem so loath, Biron. Fit in his place and time.

I am the last that will last keep his oath. Dum. In reason nothing.

But is there no quickt recreation granted ? Biron. Something then in rhyme.

King. Ay, that there is : our court, you
Long. Biron is like an envious sneapingt know, is haunted
frost,

With a refined traveller of Spain;
That bites the first-born infants of the spring. A man in all the world's new fashion planted,
Biron. Well, say I am; why should proud That hath a mint of phrases in his brain :
summer boast,

One, whom the music of his own vain tongue
Before the birds have any cause to sing ?

Doth ravish, like enchanting harmony;
Why should I joy in an abortive birth ? A man of complements, whom right and wrong
AtČhristmas I no more desire a rose (shows; Have chose as umpire of their mutiny:
Than wish a snow in May's new fangled This child of fancy, that Armado hight,
But like of each thing, that in season grows.

For interim to our studies, shall relate,
So you, to study now it is too late,

In high-born words, the worth of many a knight Climb o'er the house to unlock the little gate. From tawny Spain, lost in the world's deKing. Well, sit you out: go home, Biron;

bate. adieu!

How you delight, my lords, I know not, I;
Biron. No, my good lord; I have sworn to But, I protest, I love to hear him lie,
stay with you:

And I will use him for my ininstrelsy.
And, though I have for barbarism spoke more, Biron. Armado is a most illustrious wight,

Than for that angel knowledge you can say, A man of fire-new words, fashion's own knight.
Yet confident I'll keep what I have swore, Long. Costard the swain, and he, shall be
And bide the penance of each three years' day.

our sport;
Give me the paper, let me read the same; And, so to study, three years is but short.
And to the strict'st decrees I'll write my name.
King. How well this yielding rescues thee

Enter Dull, with a letter, and CoSTARD. ,
from shame!

Dull. Which is the duke's own person ? Biron. [Reads] Item, That no woman shall Biron. This, fellow ; What would'st? come within a mile of my court.

Dull. I myself reprehend his own person, And hath this been proclaim'd ?

for I am his grace's tharborough :// but I would Long. Four days ago. Biron. Let's see the penalty.

see his own person in flesh and blood.

Biron. This is he. [Reads On pain of losing her tongue.

Dull. Signior Arme-Arme-commends you. Who devis'd this?

There's villany abroad ; this letter will tell Long. Marry, that did I.

you more. Biron. Sweet lord, and why?

Cost. Sir, the contempts thereof are as touchLong. To fright them hence with that dread ing me. penalty.

King. A letter from the magnificent Armado. Biron. A dangerous law against gentility. Biron. How low soever the matter, I hope [Reads.] Item, If any man be seen to talk in God for high words. with a woman within the term of three yeurs, he shall endure such public shame as the rest of the grant us patience!

Long. A high hope for a low having : And catert can possibly devise.• Dishonestly, treacherously.

* Reside. + Temptations. # Lively, sprigtiuly. + Nipping Gama, porta

Called Ibu Third-borough, a peace-odver.

Biron. To hear? or forbear hearing ?

Dull. Me, an't shall ploase you; I am Antony Long. To hear meekly, Sir, and to laugh 10- Dull. derately; or to forbear both.

King. For Jaquenetta, ( so is the weaker vesse Biron. Well, Sir, be it as the style shall give called, which I apprehended with the aforesaid us cause to climb to the merriness.

sicuin,) I keep her as a vessel of thy law's fury; Cost. The matter is to me, Sir, as concerning and shall, at the leust of thy sweet notice, bring Jaquenetta. The manner of it is, I was taken her to trial. Thine, in all compliments of devoted with the manner.*

and heart-burning heat of duty, Biron. In what manner?

DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO. Cost. In manner and form following, Sir; all Biron. This is not so well as I looked for, those three: I was seen with her in the manor but the best that ever I heard. house, sitting with her upon the form, and taken King. Ay, the best for the worst. But, sirrah, following her into the park ; which, put toge- what say you to this ? ther, is, in manner and form following. Now, Cost. Sir, I confess the wench. Sir, for the manner,-it is the manner

of a man King. Did you hear the proclamation ? 10 speak to a woman : for the form,-in some Cost. I do confess much of the hearing it, form.

but little of the marking of it. Biron. For the following, Sir?

King. It was proclaimed a year's imprisonCost. As it shall follow in my correction; And ment, to be taken with a wench. God defend the right!

Cost. I was taken with none, Sir, I was taken King. Will you hear this letter with atten- with a damosel. tion ?

King. Well, it was proclaimed damosel. Biron. As we would hear an oracle.

Cost. This was no damosel neither, Sir; she Cost. Such is the simplicity of man to hearken was a virgin. after the flesh.

King. It is so varied too; for it was proKing. [Reads.) Greut deputy, the welkin's claimed, virgin. cicegerent, and sole dominator of Navarre, my Cost. If it were, I deny her virginity; I was

I soul's earth's God, and body's fostering patron,- taken with a maid. Cost. Not a word of Costard yet.

King. This maid will not serve your turn, Sir. King. So it is,

Cost. This maid will serve my turn, Sir. Cost. It may be so: but if he say it is so, he King. Sir, I will pronounce your sentence; is, in telling true, but so, so.

Yon shall fast a week with bran and water. King. Peace.

Cost. I had rather pray a inonth with njutton Cost.-be to me, and every man that dares and porridge. not fight!

King. And Don Armado shall be your keeper. King. No words.

-My lord Biron see him deliver'd o'er.Cost. of other men's secrets, I beseech you. And go we, lords, to put in practice that

King. So it is, besieged with sable-coloured Which' each' to 'other hath so strongly melancholy, I did commend the black-oppressing humour to the most wholesome physic of thy {Exeunt KING, LONGAVILLE, and DUNAIN. health-giving air ; and, as I am a gentlemun, be- Biron. I'll lay my head to any good man's took myself to walk. The time when? About the

hat,

[scorn.sixth hour ; uhen beasts most graze, birds best These oaths and laws will prove an idle peck, und men sit down to that nourishment which Sirrah, come on. is called supper. So much for the time when : Cost. I suffer for the truth, Sir: for true it is, Now for the ground which; which, I mean, I I was taken with Jaquenetta, and Jaquenetta walked upon: it is ycleped thy park. Then for is a true girl; and therefore, Welcome the sour the place where ; where, I meun, I did encounter cup of prosperity! Aliction may one day smile that obscene and most preposterous event, that again, and till then, Sit thee down, sorrow! draueth from my snow white pen the ebon-coloured

[Exeunt. ink, which here thou viewest, beholdest, surveyest, or seest : But to the place, where,- It standeth SCENE 11.- Another part of the same.-ARnorth-north-east and by cast from the west corner

MADO's House. of thy curious-knotted garden: There did I see

Enter ARMADO und Moth. that low-spirited swain, thut base minnow of thy mirth,

Arm. Boy, what sign is it, when a man of Cost. Me.

great spirit grows melancholy? King. --that unletter'd small-knowing soul, Moth. A great sign, Sir, that he will look sad. Cost. Me.

Arm. Why, sadness is one and the self-same King. —that shallow cassal,

thing, dear imp. Cost. Still me.

Moth. No, no; O lord, Sir, no. King. -- which, as I remember, hight Costard, Arm. How canst thou part sadness and meCost. () me!

lancholy, my tender juvenal ?* King. -sorted und consorted, contrary to thy Moth. By a familiar demonstration of the established proclaimed edict and continent" canon, working, my tough senior. with-with-0 with—but with this I passion to Arm. Why tough senior ? why tough senior? say wherewith.

Moth. Why tender juvepal? why tender juCost. With a wench.

venal ? King. —with a child of our grandmother Eve, Arm. I spoke it, tender juvenal, as a cona female ; or, for thy more sweet understunding, gruent epitheton, appertaining to thy your a woman. Him 1(as my ever-esteemed duty days, which we may nominate tender. pricks me ol) huve sont to thee, to receive the Moth. And I, tough senior, as an appert speed of punishment, by thy sweet grace's officer, nent title to your old time, which we mar aant antony Dull; a man of good repute, carriage, tough. bearing, and estimation,

Årm. Pretty, and apt.
In the fact

+ Young man

Sworn.

L

fore apt?

Moth. How mean you, Sir? I pretty, and my Samson had small reason for it. He, surely, saying apt? or I apt, and my saying pretty? affected her for her wit. Arm. Thou pretty, because little.

Moth. It was so, Sir; for she had a green wit. Moth. Little preity, because little: Where- Arm. My love is most immaculate white and

red. Arm. And therefore apt, because quick. Moth. Most maculate thoughts, master, artMoth. Speak you this in my praise, master? masked under such colours. Arm. In thy condign praise.

Arm. Define, define, well-educated infant. Moth. I will praise an eel with the same Moth. My father's wit, and my mother's. praise.

tongue, assist me! Arm. What? that an eel is ingenious ? Arm. Sweet invocation of a child; most Moth. That an eel is quick.

pretty and pathetical! Arm. I do say, thou art quick in answers : Moth. If she be made of white and red, Thou heatest my blood.

Her faults will ne'er be known; Moth. I am answered, Sir.

For blushing cheeks by faults are bred, Arm. I love not to be crossed.

And fears by pale-white shown: Moth. He speaks the mere contrary, crosses Then, if she fear, or be to blame, love not him.

[Aside. By this you shall not know; Arm. I have promised to study three years

For still her cheeks possess the same, with the duke.

Which native she doth owe. Moth. You may do it in an hour, Sir. A dangerous rhyme, master, against the reason Arm. Impossible.

of white and red. Moth. How many is one thrice told ?

Arm. Is there not a ballad, boy, of the King Arm. I am ill at reckoning, it fitteth the spirit and the Beggar? of a tapster.

Moth. The world was very guilty of such a Moth. You are a gentleman, and a gamester, ballad some three ages since: but, I think, Sir.

now 'tis not be found ; or, if it were, it would Arm. I confess both; they are both the var- neither serve for the writing, nor the tune. nish of a complete man.

Arm. I will have the subject newly writ o'er, Moth. Then, I am sure, you know how much that I may example my digressiont by some the gross sum of deuce-ace amounts to. mighty precedent. Boy, I do love that country

Arm. It doth amount to one more than two. girl, that I took in the park with the rational
Moth. Which the base vulgar do call, three. hind Costard; she deserves well.
Arm. True.

Moth. To be whipped ; and yet a better love Moth. Why, Sir, is this such a piece of study? than my master.

[4side. Now here is three studied, ere you'll thrice Arm. Sing, boy; my spirit grows heavy in wink: and how easy it is to put years to the love. word three, and study three years in two words, Moth. And that's great marvel, loving a light the dancing horse will tell you.

wench. Arm. A most fine figure!

Arm. I say, sing. Moth. To prove you a cypher. [Aside. Moth. Forbear till this company be past. Arm. I will hereupon confess, I am in love:

Enter DULL, COSTARD, and JAQUENETTA. and, as it is base for a soldier to love, so am I in love with a base wench. If drawing my

Dull. Sir, the duke's pleasure is, that you sword against the humour of affection would keep Costard safe : and you must let him deliver me from the reprobate thought of it, I take no delight, nor no penance; but a' must would take desire prisoner, and ransom him to fast three days a week: for this damsel, I must any French courtier for a new devised cour- keep her at the park; she is allowed for the tesy. I think scorn to sigh; methinks, I should day-woman. Fare you well. out-swear Cupid. Comfort me, boy: Wbat

Arm. I do betray myself with blushing... great men have been in love?

Maid. Moth. Hercules, master.

Jaq. Man. Arm. Most sweet Hercules !-More authori- Arm. I will visit thee at the lodge. ty, dear boy, name more; and, sweet my child,

Jaq. That's hereby. let them be men of good repute and carriage.

Arm. I know where it is situate. Moth. Samson, master : he was a man of Jaq. Lord, how wise you are ! good carriage, great carriage; for he carried Arm. I will tell thee wonders. the town-gates on his back, like a porter: and Jaq. With that face? he was in love.

Arm. I love thee. Arm. ( well-knit Samson! strong-jointed

Juq. So I heard you say. Samson! I do excel thee in my rapier, as

Arm. And so farewell. much as thou didst me in carrying gates. I am

Jaq. Fair weather after you ! in love too,-Who was Samson's love, my

Dúll. Come, Jaquenetta, away. dear Moth?

(Exeunt Dull and JAQUENETTA. Moth. A woman, master.

Arm. Villain, thou shalt fast for thy offences, Arm. Of what complexion?

ere thou be pardoned. Moth. Of all the four, or the three, or the two;

Cost. Well, Sir, I hope, when I do it, I shall or one of the four.

do it on a full stomach. Arm. Tell me precisely of what complexion ?

Arm. Thou shalt be heavily punished. Moth. Of the sea-water green, Sir.

Cost. I am more bound to you, than your Arm. Is that one of the four complexions ? fellows, for they are but lightly rewarded. noth. As I have read, Sir; and the best of

Arm. Take away this villain'; slut him up. them too.

Moth. Come, you transgressing slave; away. Arm. Green, indeed, is the colour of lovers : Cost. Let me not be pent up, Sir; I will face but to have a love of that colour, methinks, being loose.

Of which she is naturally possessed.
The name of a coin cace current

+ Transgression.

Davy.woman