Biron. Things hid and barr'd, you mean,
from common sense?
[pense.
King. Ay, that is study's god-like recom-
Biron. Come on, then; I will swear to study
To know the thing I am forbid to know: [so,
As thus, to study where I well may dine,

When I to feast expressly am forbid ;
Or study where to meet some mistress fine,
When mistresses from common sense are
hid;

Or, having sworn too hard-a-keeping oath,
Study to break it, and not break my troth.
If study's gain be thus, and this be so,
Study knows that which yet it doth not know:
Swear me to this, and I will ne'er say no.

King. These be the stops that hinder study
And train our intellects to vain delight. [quite,
Biron. Why, all delights are vain; but that
most vain,

Which, with pain purchas'd, doth inherit pain:
As, painfully to pore upon a book [while
To seek the light of truth: while truth the
Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look:
Light, seeking light, doth light of light|
beguile :

At Christmas I no more desire a rose [shows;
Than wish a snow in May's new-fangled
But like of each thing that in season grows.
So you, to study now it is too late,
Climb o'er the house to unlock the little gate.
King. Well, sit you out: go home, Biron :
adieu !

Biron. No, my good lord, I have sworn to
stay with you:

And though I have for barbarism spoke more
Than for that angel knowledge you can say,
Yet confident I'll keep to what I swore,

And bide the penance of each three years'
day.

Give me the paper,-let me read the same;
And to the strict'st decrees I'll write my name.
King. How well this yielding rescues thee

from shame!

Biron. A dangerous law against gentility! lies,[Reads.] "Item, If any man be seen to talk with a woman within the term of three years, he shall endure such public shame as the rest of the court can possibly devise."— This article, my liege, yourself must break;

So, ere you find where light in darkness
Your light grows dark by losing of your eyes.
Study me how to please the eye indeed,
By fixing it upon a fairer eye;
Who dazzling so, that eye shall be his heed,
And give him light that it was blinded by.
Study is like the heaven's glorious sun,

That will not be deep-searched with saucy
looks:

Small have continual plodders ever won,

Save base authority from others' books.
These earthly godfathers of heaven's lights,
That give a name to every fixed star,
Have no more profit of their shining nights
Than those that walk, and wot not what
they are.
[fame;
Too much to know, is to know nought but
And every godfather can give a name.
King. How well he's read, to reason against
reading!
[ceeding!
Dum. Proceeded well, to stop all good pro-
Long. He weeds the corn, and still lets grow
the weeding.

Biron. The spring is near, when green
geese are a breeding.
Dum. How follows that?
Biron.
Fit in his place and time.
Dum. In reason nothing.
Biron.
Something, then, in rhyme.
King. Biron is like an envious sneaping
frost,
[spring.
That bites the first-born infants of the
Biron. Well, say I am; why should proud
summer boast

Before the birds have any cause to sing?
Why should I joy in an abortive birth?

For well you know, here comes in embassy The French king's daughter with yourself to speak,

A maid of grace and complete majesty,— About surrender up of Aquitain

To her decrepit, sick, and bed-rid father:
Therefore this article is made in vain,

Or vainly comes th' admired princess hither.
King. What say you, lords? why, this was

quite forgot.

Biron. So study evermore is overshot :
While it doth study to have what it would,
It doth forget to do the thing it should;
And when it hath the thing it hunteth most,
'Tis won, as towns with fire; so won, so lost.

King. We must of force dispense with this
She must lie here on mere necessity. [decree;
Biron. Necessity will make us all forsworn
Three thousand times within this three years'
For every man with his affects is born, [space;
Not by might master'd, but by special grace:
If I break faith this word shall speak for me,
I am forsworn on mere necessity.-
So to the laws at large I write my name :

[Subscribes. And he that breaks them in the least degree Stands in attainder of eternal shame :

Suggestions are to others, as to me;
But I believe, although I seem so loth,
I am the last that will last keep his oath.
But is there no quick recreation granted?

King. Ay, that there is. Our court, you know, is haunted

With a refined traveller of Spain;

A man in all the world's new fashion planted,
That hath a mint of phrases in his brain;
One, whom the music of his own vain tongue
Doth ravish like enchanting harmony;
A man of compliments, whom right and wrong
Have chose as umpire of their mutiny :
This child of fancy, that Armado hight,

For interim to our studies, shall relate,
In high-born words, the worth of many a knight
From tawny Spain, lost in the world's debate.
How you delight, my lords, I know not, I;
But, I protest, I love to hear him lie,
And I will use him for my minstrelsy.

Biron. Armado is a most illustrious wight,
A man of fire-new words, fashion's own knight.
Long. Costard the swain, and he, shall be
our sport;

And, so to study, three years is but short.

Enter Dull, with a letter, and Costard. Dall. Which is the duke's own person? Biron. This, fellow what wouldst ? Dull. I myself reprehend his own person, for I am his grace's tharborough: but I would see his own person in flesh and blood. Biron. This is he.

Dall. Signior Arm-Arm-commends you. There's villainy abroad: this letter will tell you

inore.

[ing me. Cast. Sir, the contempts thereof are as touchKing. A letter from the magnificent Armado. Biron. How long soever the matter, I hope in God for high words. [grant us patience! Long. A high hope for a low heaven: God Biron. To hear, or forbear laughing? Long. To hear meekly, sir, and to laugh moderately; or to forbear both.

Biron. Well, sir, be it as the style shall give us cause to climb in the merriness. Cest. The matter is to me, sir, as concerning Jaquenetta. The manner of it is, I was

taken with the manner.

Biron. In what manner?

[tion?

Cost. It may be so; but if he say it is so, he is, in telling true, but so. King. Peace! Cost. -be to me, and every man that dares not fight.

King. No words!

Cost. of other men's secrets, I beseech you. King, [Reads.] "So it is, besieged with sable-coloured melancholy, I did commend the black oppressing humour to the most wholesome physic of thy health-giving air; and, as I am a gentleman, betook myself to walk. The time when? About the sixth hour; when beasts most graze, birds best peck, and men sit down to that nourishment which is called supper; so much for the time when. Now for the ground which; which, I mean, I walked upon: it is ycleped thy park. Then for the place where; where, I mean, I did encounter that most obscene and preposterous event, that draweth from my snow-white pen the eboncoloured ink, which here thou viewest, beholdest, surveyest, or seest: but to the place, where,-it standeth north-north-east and by east from the west corner of thy curious-knotted garden: there did I see that low-spirited swain, that base minnow of thy mirth,"- Cost. Me. King. [Reads.] "-that unlettered smallknowing soul,"Cost. Me. -"that shallow vessel,"

King. [Reads.] Cost. Still me. King. [Reads.] "which, as I remember, Cost. O, me. [hight Costard," King. [Reads.] "-sorted and consorted, contrary to thy established proclaimed edict and continent canon, with-with-O, with but with this I passion to say wherewith,"Cost. With a wench.

King. [Reads.] "-with a child of our grandmother Eve, a female; or, for thy more sweet understanding, a woman. Him Í (as my ever-esteemed duty pricks me on) have sent to thee, to receive the meed of punishment, by thy sweet grace's officer, Antony Dull; a man of good repute, carriage, bearing, and estimation."

[Dull.

"Don Adriano de Armado." Biron. This is not so well as I looked for, but the best that ever I heard.

Cost. In manner and form following, sir; Dull. Me, an''t please you: I am Antony all those three: I was seen with her in the King. [Reads.] "For Jaquenetta, (so is the manor house, sitting with her upon the form, weaker vessel called, which I apprehended with and taken following her into the park; which, the aforesaid swain,) I keep her as a vessel of put together, is, in manner and form following. thy law's fury; and shall, at the least of thy Now, sir, for the manner, it is the manner of sweet notice, bring her to trial. Thine, in all a man to speak to a woman: for the form,-in compliments of devoted and heart-burning some form. Biron. For the following, sir? heat of duty, Cost. As it shall follow in my correction: and God defend the right! King, Will you hear this letter with attenBiron. As we would hear an oracle. Cost. Such is the simplicity of man to hearken after the flesh. King. [Reads.] Great deputy, the welkin's vice-regent, and sole dominator of Navarre, my soul's earth's God, and body's fostering patron, Cost. Not a word of Costard yet. King. [Reads.] "So it is,-"

King. Ay, the best for the worst.-But, sirrah, what say you to this?

Cost. Sir, I confess the wench.

King. Did you hear the proclamation?
Cost. I do confess much of the hearing it,

but little of the marking of it.

King. It was proclaimed a year's imprisonment to be taken with a wench.

Cost. I was taken with none, sir: I was taken with a damosel.

King. Well, it was proclaimed damosel. Cost. This was no damosel neither, sir: she was a virgin. [claimed virgin.

Arm. I do say thou art quick in answers: thou heatest my blood.

Moth. I am answered, sir.
Arm. I love not to be crossed.

King. It is so varied too; for it was pro--crosses love not him. Cost. If it were, I deny her virginity: I was taken with a maid.

King. This maid will not serve your turn, sir. Cost. This maid will serve my turn, sir. King. Sir, I will pronounce your sentence: you shall fast a week with bran and water. Cost. I had rather pray a month with mutton and porridge. [keeper.King And Don Armado shall be your My lord Biron, see him delivered o'er :And go we, lords, to put in practice that Which each to other hath so strongly sworn. [Exeunt King, Longaville, and Dumain. Biron. I'll lay my head to any good man's hat, [scorn

These oaths and laws will prove an idle Sirrah, come on.

Cost. I suffer for the truth, sir; for true it is,
I was taken with Jaquenetta, and Jaquenetta is
a true girl; and, therefore, Welcome the sour
cup of prosperity! Affliction may one day
smile again; and till then, Sit thee down, sor-
row!
[Exeunt.

SCENE II.-Another part of the Park.
Before Armado's House.
Enter Armado and Moth.

Arm. Boy, what sign is it, when a man of great spirit grows melancholy?

Moth. A great sign, sir, that he will look sad. Arm. Why, sadness is one and the selfsame thing, dear imp.

Moth. No, no; O lord! sir, no. Arm. How canst 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. Moth. How mean you, sir? I pretty, and my saying apt? Or I apt, and my saying pretty? Arm. Thou pretty, because little. Moth. Little pretty, because little. Wherefore apt?

Arm. And therefore apt, because quick.
Moth. Speak you this in my praise, master?
Arm. In thy condign praise. [praise.
Moth. I will praise an eel with the same
Arm. What, that an eel is ingenious?
Moth. That an eel is quick.

Moth. [Aside.] He speaks the mere contrary,
[with the duke.
Arm. I have promised to study three years
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.
[sir.
Moth. You are a gentleman, and a gamester,
Arm. I confess both: they are both the
varnish 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's 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. [Aside.] To prove you a cypher.

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.
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.
[masked under such colours.
Moth. Most maculate thoughts, master, are
Arm. Define, define, well-educated infant.
Moth. My father's wit, and my mother's
tongue, assist me! [pretty and pathetical!
Arm. Sweet invocation of a child; most
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.

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

Cost. Well, if ever I do see the merry days of desolation that I have seen, some shall seeMoth. 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. 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. 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 was Samson so tempted,

A dangerous rhyme, master, against the reason of white and red. and the Beggar? Arm. Is there not a ballad, boy, of the King Moth. The world was very guilty of such a ballad some three ages since: but, I think, and he had an excellent strength; yet was now 'tis not to be found; or, if it were, it Solomon so seduced, and he had a very good would neither serve for the writing nor the tune. wit. Cupid's butt-shaft is too hard for HerArm. I will have that subject newly writ cules' club; and therefore too much odds for o'er, that I may example my digression by a Spaniard's rapier. The first and second clause some mighty precedent. Boy, I do love that will not serve my turn; the passado he recountry girl, that I took in the park with the rational hind Costard: she deserves well. Moth. [Aside.] To be whipped; and yet a better love than my master. [love. Arm. Sing, boy; my spirit grows heavy in 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.-
Jaq. Man.

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

Arm. I know where it is situate.

[Maid.

spects not, the duello he regards not: his dis-
grace is to be called boy; but his glory is, to
subdue men. Adieu, valour! rust, rapier! be
still, drum! for your manager 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.

ACT II.

SCENE I.-A part of the Park. A Pavilion and Tents at a distance.

Enter the Princess of France, Rosaline, Maria, Katharine, Boyet, Lords, and other Attend[est spirits:

ants.

Boyet. Now, madam, summon up your dearConsider whom 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

Arm. I love thee. Of all perfections that a man may owe,

Jaq. Lord, how wise you are!
Arm. I will tell thee wonders.
Zaq. With that face?
Jag. So I heard you say.
Arm. And so farewell.
Jag. Fair weather after you!
Dalt 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. Come, you transgressing slave; away! Cost. Let me not be pent up, sir: I will fast, being loose.

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

ΙΟ

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 seem'th 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,
Importunes personal conference with his grace:
Haste, signify so much; while we attend,
Like humble-visag'd suitors, his high will.
Boyet. Proud of employment, willingly I go.
Prin. All pride is willing pride, and yours
is so.-
[Exit Boyet.

Who are the votaries, my loving lords,
That are vow-fellows with this virtuous duke?
I Lord. Longaville is one.
Prin..
Know you the man?
Mar. I know him, madam : at a marriage
feast,

Between Lord Perigort and the beauteous heir
Of Jacques Faulconbridge, solemnized,
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
[power.
It should none spare that come within his
Prin. Some merry mocking lord, belike; is't
so?
[mours know.
Mar. They say so most that most his hu-
Prin. Such short-liv'd wits do wither as
Who are the rest?
they grow.
Kath. The young Dumain, a well accom-
plish'd youth,

[ill;

Of all that virtue love for virtue lov'd:
Most power to do most harm, least knowing
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.

[love,
Prin. God bless my ladies! are they all in
That every one her own hath garnished
With such bedecking ornaments of praise?

1 Lord. Here comes Boyet.
Re-enter Boyet.

Prin.
Now, what admittance, lord?
Boyet. Navarre had notice of your fair ap-
And he and his competitors in oath, [proach;
Were all address'd to meet you, gentle lady,
Before I came. Marry, thus much I have

learnt,

He rather means to lodge you in the field,
Like one that comes here to besiege his court,
Than seek a dispensation for his oath,
To let you enter his unpeopled house.
Here comes Navarre. [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 wide fields too base to be mine.
King. You shall be welcome, madam, to
my court.

Prin. I will be welcome, then
King. Hear me, dear lady,

an oath.

I

[thither. conduct me have sworn [sworn. he'll be for

Prin. Our lady help my lord!
King. Not for the world, fair madam, by
my will.
[nothing else.

Prin. Why, will shall break it; will, and
King. Your ladyship is ignorant what it is.
Prin. Were my lord so, his ignorance were

wise,

[ance. Where now his knowledge must prove ignorI hear your grace hath sworn-out house-keep'Tis deadly sin to keep that oath, my lord, [ing: 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,
And suddenly resolve me in my suit.
[Gives a paper.

King. Madam, I will, if suddenly I may.
Prin. You will the sooner, that I were away;
For you'll prove perjur'd, if you make me stay.
Biron. Did not I dance with you in Brabant
[once?
Ros. Did not I dance with you in Brabant
Biron. I know you did.

Ros.

once?

How needless was it, then,

To ask the question!
Biron.

You must not be so quick.
Ros. "Tis long of you, that spur me with
such questions.
['twill tire.
Biron. Your wit's too hot, it speeds too fast,
Res. Not till it leave the rider in the mire.
Biron. What time o' day?

Ros. The hour that fools should ask.
Biron. Now fair befall your mask!
Ros. Fair fall the face it covers!
Biron. And send you many lovers!
Ros. Amen, so you be none.
Biron. Nay, then I will be gone.
King. Madam, your father here doth inti-

[mate