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James Boswell [1821], The plays and poems of William Shakspeare, with the corrections and illustrations of various commentators: comprehending A Life of the Poet, and an enlarged history of the stage, by the late Edmond Malone. With a new glossarial index (J. Deighton and Sons, Cambridge) [word count] [S10201].
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SCENE II. Another part of the Same. 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 self-same thing, dear imp4 note

.

Moth.

No, no; O lord, sir, no.

-- 297 --

Arm.

How canst thou part sadness and melancholy, my tender juvenal5 note
?

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 time6 note

, which we may name tough.

-- 298 --

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.

Moth.

I will praise an eel with the same praise.

Arm.

What? that an eel is ingenious* note?

Moth.

That an eel is quick.

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.

Moth.

He speaks the mere contrary, crosses love not him7 note?

[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 tapster8 note.

Moth.

You are a gentleman, and a gamester, sir.

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.

-- 299 --

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 you9 note













[unresolved image link]

.

-- 300 --

Arm.

A most fine figure!

Moth.

To prove you a cypher.

[Aside.

-- 301 --

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.

-- 302 --

Arm.

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

Moth.

Sampson, master: he was a man of good carriage, great carriage; for he carried the towngates on his back, like a porter: and he was in love.

Arm.

O well-knit Sampson! strong-jointed Sampson! I do excel thee in my rapier, as much as thou did'st me in carrying gates. I am in love too,—Who was Sampson'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 lovers2 note


: but to have a love of that colour, methinks, Sampson 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.

-- 303 --

Moth.

Most maculate thoughts3 note

, master, are masked under such colours.

Arm.

Define, define, well-educated infant.

Moth.

My father's wit, and my mother's tongue, assist me!

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 blushing4 note 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 owe5 note
.

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

Arm.

Is there not a ballad, boy, of the King and the Beggar6 note?

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.

-- 304 --

Arm.

I will have the subject newly writ o'er, that I may example my digression7 note





by some mighty precedent. Boy, I do love that country girl, that I took in the park with the rational hind Costard8 note


; she deserves well.

Moth.

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

[Aside.

Arm.

Sing, boy; my spirit grows heavy in love.

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'* note must fast three days a week: For this damsel, I must keep her at the park; she is allowed for the day-woman9 note. Fare you well.

-- 305 --

Arm.

I do betray myself with blushing.—Maid.

Jaq.

Man.

Arm.

I will visit thee at the lodge.

Jaq.

That's hereby1 note.

Arm.

I know where it is situate.

Jaq.

Lord, how wise you are!

Arm.

I will tell thee wonders.

Jaq.

With that* note face2 note?

Arm.

I love thee.

Jaq.

So I heard you say.

Arm.

And so farewell.

Jaq.

Fair weather after you!

Dull.

Come3 note, 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.

-- 306 --

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.

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 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 words4 note

; 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 affect5 note

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 Sampson was so tempted; and he had an excellent strength: yet was Solomon so seduced; and he had a very good

-- 307 --

wit. Cupid's butt-shaft6 note

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 turn7 note; 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, rapier8 note
! 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 sonneteer9 note

. Devise wit; write pen; for I am for whole volumes in folio.

[Exit.
Previous section

James Boswell [1821], The plays and poems of William Shakspeare, with the corrections and illustrations of various commentators: comprehending A Life of the Poet, and an enlarged history of the stage, by the late Edmond Malone. With a new glossarial index (J. Deighton and Sons, Cambridge) [word count] [S10201].
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