Between lord Perigort and the beauteous heir Prin. Some merry mocking lord, belike; is't so? Mar. They say so most, that most his humors know. Prin. Such short-lived wits do wither as they grow. Who are the rest? Kath. The young Dumain, a well-accomplished youth, Of all that virtue love for virtue loved; Most power to do most harm, least knowing ill Ros. Another of these students at that time Prin. God bless my ladies! are they all in love, With such bedecking ornaments of praise? Mar. Here comes Boyet. Prin Re-enter BoYET. Now, what admittance, lord? Boyet. Navarre had notice of your fair approach ; And he, and his competitors' in oath, Were all addressed 2 to meet you, gentle lady, To let you enter his unpeopled house. [The ladies mask. Enter KING, LONGAVILLE, DUMAIN, BIRON, and Attendants. . King. Fair princess, welcome to the court of Navarre. Prin. Fair, I give you back again; and, welcome I have not yet. The roof of this court is too high to be yours; and welcome to the wild fields too base to be mine. King. You shall be welcome, madam, to my court. Prin. I will be welcome then; conduct me thither. King. Hear me, dear lady; I have sworn an oath. Prin. Our lady help my lord! He'll be forsworn. King. Not for the world, fair madam, by my will. Prin. Why, will shall break it; will, and nothing else. King. Your ladyship is ignorant what it is. Prin. Were my lord so, his ignorance were ivise, Where now his knowledge must prove ignorance. I hear your grace has sworn-out house-keeping. 'Tis deadly sin to keep that oath, my lord, And sin to break it. But pardon me, I am too sudden-bold; To teach a teacher ill beseemeth me. Vouchsafe to read the purpose of my coming, [Gives a paper. King. Madam, I will, if suddenly I may. Prin. You will the sooner, that I were away; For you'll prove perjured, if you make me stay. Biron. Did not I dance with you in Brabant once? Ros. Did not I dance with you in Brabant once? Biron. know you did. Ros. To ask the question! Biron. How needless was it then You must not be so quick. Ros. 'Tis 'long of you that spur me with such questions. Biron. Your wit's too hot; it speeds too fast; 'twill tire. Ros. Not till it leave the rider in the mire. Biron. What time o' day? Ros. The hour that fools should ask. King. Madam, your father here doth intimate But say, that he, or we, (as neither have,) Although not valued to the money's worth. To have his title live in Aquitain; Which we much rather had depart1 withal, Dear princess, were not his requests so far From reason's yielding, your fair self should make Prin. You do the king my father too much wrong, And wrong the reputation of your name, In so unseeming to confess receipt Of that which hath so faithfully been paid. Prin. We arrest your word.— King. Satisfy me so. Boyet. So please your grace, the packet is not come, Where that and other specialties are bound. To-morrow you shall have a sight of them. King. It shall suffice me; at which interview, Mean time, receive such welcome at my hand, As you shall deem yourself lodged in my heart, Prin. Sweet health and fair desires consort you. grace! King. Thy own wish wish I thee in every place! [Exeunt King and his Train 1 To depart and to part were anciently synonymous. Biron. Lady, I will commend you to my own heart. Ros. 'Pray you, do my commendations; I would be glad to see it. Biron. I would you heard it groan. Ros. Is the fool sick? Biron. Sick at the heart. Ros. Alack, let it blood. Biron. Would that do it good? Biron. Will you prick't with your eye? Ros. No point, with my knife. [Retiring. Dum. Sir, I pray you, a word. What lady is that same? Boyet. The heir of Alençon, Rosaline her name. Dum. A gallant lady! Monsieur, fare you well. Exit Long. I beseech you, a word. What is she in the white? Boyet. A woman sometimes, an you saw her in the light. Long. Perchance, light in the light. I desire her name. Boyet. She hath but one for herself; to desire that, were a shame. Long. Pray you, sir, whose daughter? Boyet. Not unlike, sir; that may be. [Exit LONG. 1 The old spelling of the affirmative particle ay is here retained for the sake of the rhyme. 2 Point, in French, is an adverb of negation, but, if properly spoken, is not sounded like the English word. A quibble was, however, intended. |