Katharine.
Prin.
Was that the king, that spurred his horse so hard
Against the steep uprising note of the hill?
Boyet note.
I know not; but I think it was not he.
Prin.
Whoe'er a' was, a' showed a mounting mind.
Well, lords, to-day we shall have our dispatch:
On note Saturday we will return to France.
Then, forester, my friend, where is the bush
That we must stand and play the murderer in?
For.
Hereby note, upon the edge of yonder coppice note;
A stand where you may make the fairest shoot.
Prin.
I thank my beauty, I am fair that shoot,
And thereupon thou speak'st the fairest shoot.
-- 130 --
For.
Pardon me, madam note, for I meant not so.
Prin.
What, what? first praise me, and again note say no?
O short-lived pride! Not fair? alack for woe!
For.
Yes, madam, fair.
Prin.
Nay, never paint me now:
Where fair is not, praise cannot mend the brow.
Here, good my glass, take this for telling true:
Fair payment for foul words is more than due.
For.
Nothing but fair is that which you inherit.
Prin.
See, see, my beauty will be saved by merit!
O heresy in fair note, fit for these days!
A giving hand, though foul, shall have fair note praise.
But come, the bow: now mercy goes to kill,
And shooting well is then accounted ill.
Thus will I save my credit in the shoot:
Not wounding, pity would not let me do't note;
If wounding, then it was to show my skill,
That more for praise than purpose meant to kill.
And, out of question, so it is sometimes,
Glory grows guilty of detested crimes,
When, for fame's sake, for praise note, an outward part,
We bend to that the working of the heart;
As I for praise alone now seek to spill
The poor deer's note blood, that note my heart means no ill.
Boyet.
Do not curst wives hold that self-sovereignty
Only for praise sake, when they strive to be
Lords o'er their lords?
Prin.
Only for praise: and praise we may afford
To any lady that subdues a note lord note.
Boyet.
Here comes a member of the commonwealth.
-- 131 --
Enter Costard.
Cost.
God dig-you-den all! Pray you, which is the
head lady?
Prin.
Thou shalt know her, fellow, by the rest that
have no heads.
Cost.
Which is the greatest lady, the highest?
Prin.
The thickest and the tallest.
Cost.
The thickest and the tallest! it is so; truth is truth.
An your waist, mistress, were as slender as my wit note,
One o' these maids' girdles for your waist note should be fit.
Are not you the chief woman? you are the thickest here.
Prin.
What's your will note, sir? what's your will?
Cost.
I have a letter from Monsieur Biron to one Lady Rosaline.
Prin.
O, thy letter, thy letter! he's a good friend of mine:
Stand aside, good bearer. Boyet, you can carve;
Break up this capon.
Boyet.
I am bound to serve.
This letter is mistook, it importeth none here;
It is writ to Jaquenetta.
Prin.
We will read it, I swear.
Break the neck of the wax, and every one give ear.
Boyet. [reads].
By heaven, that thou art fair, is most infallible;
true, that thou art beauteous; truth itself, that thou art lovely. More
fairer than fair, beautiful than beauteous, truer than truth itself, have
commiseration on thy heroical vassal! The magnanimous and most
illustrate note king Cophetua set eye upon the pernicious and indubitate
beggar Zenelophon note; and he it was that might rightly say, Veni, vidi,
vici; which to annothanize note in the vulgar,—O base and obscure vulgar!
—videlicet note, He came, saw note, and overcame: he came, one; saw note,
two; overcame note, three. Who came? the king: why did he come? to
see: why did he see? to overcome: to whom came he? to the beggar:
-- 132 --
what saw he? the beggar: who overcame he? note the beggar. The conclusion
is victory: on whose side? the king's note. The captive note is enriched:
on whose side? the beggar's. The catastrophe is a nuptial:
on whose side? the king's: no, on both in one, or one in both. I am
the king; for so stands the comparison: thou the beggar; for so witnesseth
thy lowliness. Shall I command thy love? I may: shall I
enforce thy love? I could: shall I entreat thy love? I will. What
shalt thou exchange for rags? robes; for tittles? titles; for thyself?
me. Thus, expecting thy reply, I profane my lips on thy foot, my
eyes on thy picture, and my heart on thy every part. Thine, in the
dearest design of industry,
Don Adriano note de Armado note.
Thus dost thou hear the Nemean lion roar
'Gainst thee, thou lamb, that standest as his prey.
Submissive fall his princely feet before,
And he from forage will incline to play:
But if thou strive, poor soul, what art thou then?
Food for his rage, repasture for his den.
Prin.
What plume of feathers note is he that indited this letter?
What vane? what weathercock? did you ever hear better?
Boyet.
I am much deceived but I remember the style.
Prin.
Else your memory is bad, going o'er it erewhile.
Boyet.
This Armado is a Spaniard, that keeps here in court;
A phantasime note, a Monarcho note, and one that makes sport
To the prince and his bookmates.
Prin.
Thou fellow, a word:
Who gave thee this letter?
Cost.
I told you; my lord.
Prin.
To whom shouldst thou give it?
Cost.
From my lord to my lady.
Prin.
From which lord to which lady?
Cost.
From my lord Biron, a good master of mine,
To a lady of France that he call'd Rosaline.
-- 133 --
Prin.
Thou hast mistaken his letter. Come, lords note, away.
[To Ros.]
Here, sweet, put up this: 'twill be thine another day.
[Exeunt note Princess and train.
Boyet.
Who is the suitor? who is the suitor note?
Ros.
Shall I teach you to know?
Boyet.
Ay, my continent of beauty.
Ros.
Why, she that bears the bow.
Finely put off!
Boyet.
My lady goes to kill horns; but, if thou marry,
Hang me by the neck, if horns that year miscarry.
Finely put on!
Ros.
Well, then, I am the shooter.
Boyet.
And who is your deer?
Ros.
If we choose by the note horns, yourself come not near.
Finely put on, indeed!
Mar.
You still wrangle with her, Boyet, and she strikes at the brow.
Boyet.
But she herself is hit lower: have I hit her now?
Ros.
Shall I come upon thee with an old saying, that
was a man when King Pepin of France was a little boy, as
touching the hit it?
Boyet.
So I may answer thee with one as old, that was
a woman when Queen Guinover of Britain was a little
wench, as touching the hit it.
Ros.
Thou canst not hit it, hit it, hit it,
note
Thou canst not hit it, my good man.
Boyet.
An note I cannot, cannot, cannot,
note
An I cannot, another can.
[Exeunt Ros. and Kath. note
Cost.
By my troth, most pleasant: how both did fit it!
Mar.
A mark marvellous well shot, for they both did hit it note.
-- 134 --
Boyet.
A mark! O, mark but that mark! A mark, says my lady!
Let the mark have a prick in't, to mete at, if it may be.
Mar.
Wide o' the bow-hand! i' faith, your hand is out.
Cost.
Indeed, a' must shoot nearer, or he'll ne'er hit the clout.
Boyet.
An if my hand be out, then belike your hand is in.
Cost.
Then will she get the upshoot by cleaving the pin note.
Mar.
Come, come, you talk greasily; your lips grow foul.
Cost.
She's too hard for you at pricks, sir: challenge her to bowl.
Boyet.
I fear too much rubbing. Good night, my good owl.
[Exeunt Boyet and Maria.
Cost.
By my soul, a swain! a most simple clown!
Lord, Lord, how the ladies and I have put him down!
O' my troth, most sweet jests! most incony vulgar wit!
When it comes so smoothly off, so obscenely, as it were, so fit.
Armado o' th' one note side,—O, a most dainty man!
To see him walk before a lady and to bear her fan!
note
To see him kiss his hand! and how most sweetly a' will swear!
And his page o' t' other note side, that handful of wit note!
Ah, heavens, it is a most note pathetical nit!
Sola, sola! note
[Shout within. note
[Exit Costard, running.
-- 135 --
Scene II.
The same.
Enter Holofernes, Sir Nathaniel, and Dull.
Nath.
Very reverend sport, truly; and done in the
testimony of a good conscience.
Hol. note
The deer was, as you know, sanguis, in blood note; ripe
as the note pomewater, who now hangeth like a jewel in the ear
of caelo, the sky, the welkin, the heaven; and anon falleth
like a crab on the face of terra, the soil, the land, the earth.
Nath.
Truly, Master Holofernes, the epithets are
sweetly varied, like a scholar at the least: but, sir, I assure
ye, it was a buck of the first head.
Hol.
Sir Nathaniel, haud credo.
Dull.
'Twas not a haud credo; 'twas a pricket.
Hol.
Most barbarous intimation! yet a kind of insinuation,
as it were, in via, in way, of explication; facere, as it
were, replication, or, rather, ostentare, to show, as it were,
his inclination, after his undressed, unpolished, uneducated,
unpruned, untrained, or, rather, unlettered, or, ratherest, unconfirmed
fashion, to insert again my haud credo for a deer.
Dull.
I said the deer was not a haud credo; 'twas a
pricket.
Hol.
Twice-sod simplicity, bis coctus!
O thou monster Ignorance, how deformed dost thou look!
Nath.
Sir, he hath never fed of the dainties that are bred in a book;
he hath not eat paper, as it were; he hath not drunk ink:
his intellect is not replenished; he is only an animal note, only
sensible in the duller parts:
note
And such barren plants are set before us, that we thankful should be,
Which we of taste and feeling are, for those note parts that do note fructify in us more than he.
-- 136 --
For as it would ill become me to be vain, indiscreet note, or a fool,
So were there a patch set on learning, to see note him in a school:
But omne bene, say I; being of an old father's mind,
Many can brook the weather that love not the wind.
Dull.
You two are book-men: can you tell me note by your wit
What was a month old at Cain's birth, that's not five weeks old as yet?
Hol.
Dictynna note, goodman Dull; Dictynna, goodman Dull.
Dull.
What is Dictynna note?
Nath.
A title note to Phœbe, to Luna, to the moon.
Hol.
The moon was a month old when Adam was no more,
And raught note not to five weeks when he came to five-score.
The allusion holds in the exchange.
Dull.
'Tis true indeed; the collusion holds in the exchange.
Hol.
God comfort thy capacity! I say, the allusion
holds in the exchange.
Dull.
And I say, the pollusion note holds in the exchange;
for the moon is never but a month old: and I say beside
that, 'twas a pricket that the princess killed.
Hol.
Sir Nathaniel, will you hear an extemporal epitaph note
on the death of the deer? And, to humour the ignorant note,
call I note the deer the princess killed a note pricket.
Nath.
Perge, good Master Holofernes, perge; so it
shall please you to abrogate scurrility note.
Hol.
I will something affect the letter, for it argues
facility.
-- 137 --
The preyful note princess pierced and prickd a pretty pleasing pricket;
Some say a sore; but not a sore, till now made sore with shooting.
The dogs did yell: put L note to sore, then sorel jumps note from thicket;
Or pricket sore, or else sorel; the people fall a-hooting.
If sore be sore, then L note to sore makes fifty sores one sorel note.
Of one sore I an hundred make by adding but one more L. note
Nath.
A rare talent!
Dull. [Aside]
If a talent be a claw, look how he claws
him with a talent.
Hol. note
This is a gift that I have, simple, simple; a foolish
extravagant spirit, full of forms, figures, shapes, objects,
ideas, apprehensions, motions, revolutions: these are begot
in the ventricle of memory, nourished in the womb of pia
mater note, and delivered upon the mellowing of occasion. But
the gift is good in those in whom note it is acute, and I am
thankful for it.
Nath.
Sir, I praise the Lord for you: and so may my note
parishioners; for their sons are well tutored by you, and
their daughters profit very greatly under you: you are a
good member of the commonwealth.
Hol.
Mehercle, if their sons be ingenuous note, they shall
want no instruction; if their daughters be capable, I will
put it to them: but vir sapit note qui pauca loquitur; a soul
feminine saluteth us.
Enter Jaquenetta and Costard.
Jaq.
God give you good morrow, master Parson note.
Hol.
Master Parson, quasi pers-on note. An if one
should be pierced, which is the one?
-- 138 --
Cost.
Marry, master schoolmaster, he that is likest note to
a hogshead.
Hol.
Piercing note a hogshead! a good lustre note of conceit in
a turf of earth; fire enough for a flint, pearl enough for a
swine: 'tis pretty; it is well. note
Jaq.
Good master Parson note, be so good as read me this
letter: it was given me by Costard, and sent me from Don
Armado: I beseech you, read it.
Hol.
Fauste, precor gelida quando pecus omne note sub
umbra Ruminat,—and so forth. Ah, good old Mantuan!
I may speak of thee as the traveller doth of Venice;
Venetia, Venetia,
Chi non ti vede non ti pretia note.
Old Mantuan, old Mantuan! who understandeth thee not,
loves thee not note. Ut, re, sol, la, mi, fa. Under pardon, sir,
what are the contents? or rather, as Horace says in his—
What, my soul, verses?
Nath.
Ay, sir, and very learned.
Hol.
Let me hear a staff, a stanze note, a verse; lege, domine.
Nath. [reads]
If love make me forsworn, how shall I swear to love?
Ah note, never faith could hold, if not to beauty vow'd!
Though to myself forsworn, to thee I'll faithful note prove;
Those thoughts to me were note oaks, to thee like osiers bow'd.
Study his bias leaves, and makes his book thine eyes,
Where all those pleasures live that art would note comprehend:
If knowledge be the mark, to know thee shall suffice;
Well learned is that tongue that well can thee commend;
All ignorant that soul that sees thee without wonder;
Which is to me some praise that I thy parts admire:
-- 139 --
Thy eye Jove's lightning bears note, thy voice his dreadful thunder,
Which, not to anger bent, is music and sweet fire.
Celestial as thou art, O, pardon love this note wrong,
That sings note heaven's praise with such an earthly tongue.
Hol.
You find not the apostrophas, and so miss the
accent: let me supervise the canzonet note. Here are only numbers
ratified; but, for the elegancy, facility, and golden
cadence of poesy, caret note. Ovidius Naso was the man: and
why, indeed, Naso, but for smelling out the odoriferous
flowers of fancy, the jerks of invention? Imitari note is nothing:
so doth the hound his master, the ape his keeper, the tired note
horse his rider. But, damosella virgin, was this directed
to you note?
Jaq.
Ay, sir, from one Monsieur Biron, one of the
strange queen's lords note.
Hol.
I will overglance the superscript: ‘To the snow-white
hand of the most beauteous Lady Rosaline.’ I will look
again on the intellect of the letter, for the nomination of
the party writing note to the person written unto: ‘Your ladyship's
in note all desired employment, Biron note.’ Sir Nathaniel note, this
Biron is one of the votaries with the king; and here he hath
framed a letter to a sequent of the stranger queen's, which
accidentally, or by the way of progression, hath miscarried.
Trip and go, my sweet; deliver this paper into the royal note
hand of the king: it may concern much. Stay not thy
compliment; I forgive thy duty: adieu. note
Jaq.
Good Costard, go with me. Sir, God save your life!
-- 140 --
Cost.
Have with thee, my girl.
[Exeunt note Cost. and Jaq.
Nath.
Sir, you have done this in the fear of God, very
religiously; and, as a certain father saith,—
Hol.
Sir, tell not me of the father; I do fear colourable
colours. But to return to the verses: did they please
you, Sir Nathaniel?
Nath.
Marvellous well for the pen.
Hol.
I do dine to-day at the father's of a certain pupil
of mine; where, if, before note repast note, it shall please you to
gratify the table with a grace, I will, on my privilege I
have with the parents of the foresaid child or note pupil, undertake
your ben venuto note; where I will prove those verses to
be very unlearned, neither savouring of poetry, wit, nor
invention: I beseech your society.
Nath.
And thank you too; for society, saith the text,
is the happiness of life.
Hol.
And, certes, the text most infallibly concludes
it. [To Dull] Sir, I do invite you too; you shall not say
me nay: pauca verba. Away! the gentles are at their game,
and we will to our recreation.
[Exeunt.
note
Scene III. [Footnote:
The same.
Enter Biron, with a paper.
Biron.
The king he note is hunting the deer; I am coursing
myself: they have pitched a toil; I am toiling in a pitch note,—
pitch that defiles: defile! a foul word. Well, set note thee
down, sorrow! for so they say the fool said, and so say I,
and I the fool note: well proved, wit! By the Lord, this love is
as mad as Ajax: it kills sheep; it kills me, I a sheep note: well
-- 141 --
proved again o' my side! I will not love: if I do, hang me;
i' faith, I will not. O, but her eye,—by this light, but for
her eye, I would not love her note; yes, for her two eyes. Well,
I do nothing in the world but lie, and lie in my throat. By
heaven, I do love: and it hath taught me to rhyme, and to
be melancholy note; and here is part of my rhyme, and here my
melancholy note. Well, she hath one o' my sonnets already: the
clown bore it, the fool sent it, and the lady hath it: sweet
clown, sweeter fool, sweetest lady! By the world, I would
not care a pin, if the other three were in. Here comes one
with a paper: God give him grace to groan!
[Stands aside. note
Enter the King, with a paper.
King.
Ay me!
Biron. [Aside]
Shot, by heaven! Proceed, sweet Cupid:
thou hast thumped him with thy bird-bolt under the left
pap. In faith, secrets!
King. [reads].
So sweet a kiss the golden sun gives not
To those fresh morning drops upon the rose,
As thy eye-beams, when their fresh rays have smote note
The night of dew note that on my cheeks down flows:
Nor shines the silver moon one half so bright
Through the transparent bosom of the deep,
As doth thy face through tears of mine give light;
Thou shinest in every tear that I do weep:
No drop but as a coach doth carry thee;
So ridest thou triumphing in my woe.
Do but behold the tears that swell in me,
And they thy glory through my grief will show:
But do not love thyself; then thou wilt note keep
My tears for glasses, and still make me weep.
O queen of queens! how far dost thou note excel,
No thought can think, nor tongue of mortal tell.
How shall she know my griefs? I'll drop the paper:—
-- 142 --
Sweet leaves, shade folly. Who is he comes here?
[Steps aside.
What, Longaville! and reading! listen, ear.
Biron.
Now, in thy likeness, one more fool appear!
Enter Longaville, with a paper.
Long.
Ay me, I am forsworn!
Biron.
Why, he comes in like a perjure note, wearing
papers.
King.
In love, I hope: sweet fellowship in shame!
Biron.
One drunkard loves another of the name.
Long.
Am I the first that have been perjured so?
Biron.
I could put thee in comfort. Not by two that I know:
Thou makest the triumviry note, the corner-cap of society,
The shape of Love's Tyburn that hangs up simplicity.
Long.
I fear these stubborn lines lack power to move.
O sweet Maria, empress of my love!
These numbers will I tear, and write in prose.
Biron.
O, rhymes are guards on wanton Cupid's hose:
Disfigure not his slop note.
Long.
This same shall go.
[Reads.
Did not the heavenly rhetoric of thine eye,
'Gainst whom the world cannot note hold argument,
Persuade my heart to this false perjury?
Vows for thee broke deserve note not punishment.
A woman I forswore; but I will prove,
Thou being a goddess, I forswore not thee:
My vow was earthly note, thou a heavenly love;
Thy grace being gain'd cures all disgrace in me.
Vows are but breath note, and breath a vapour is:
Then thou, fair sun, which on my earth dost note shine,
-- 143 --
Exhalest note this vapour-vow; in thee it is:
If broken then, note it is no fault of mine:
If by me broke, what fool is not so wise
To lose note an oath to win a paradise?
Biron.
This is the liver-vein, which makes flesh a deity,
A green goose a goddess: pure, pure idolatry note.
note
God amend us, God amend! note we are much out o' the way.
Long.
By whom shall I send this?—Company! stay.
[Steps aside.
Biron.
All hid, all hid, an old infant play.
Like a demigod here sit I in the sky,
And wretched fools' note secrets heedfully o'er-eye.
More sacks to the mill! O heavens, I have my wish!
Enter Dumain with a paper. note
Dumain transform'd! four woodcocks in a dish!
Dum.
O most divine Kate!
Biron.
O most profane coxcomb!
Dum.
By heaven, the wonder note in note a mortal eye!
Biron.
By earth, she is not, corporal note, there you lie.
Dum.
Her amber hairs note for foul hath note amber quoted note note.
Biron.
An amber-colour'd raven was well noted.
Dum.
As upright as the cedar.
note
Biron.
Stoop, I say;
Her shoulder is with child.
Dum.
As fair as day.
Biron.
Ay, as some days; but then no sun must shine.
Dum.
O that I had my wish!
Long.
And I had mine!
-- 144 --
King.
And I note mine too, good Lord!
Biron.
Amen, so I had mine: is not that a good word?
Dum.
I would forget her; but a fever she
Reigns in my blood, and will remember'd be.
Biron.
A fever in your blood! why, then incision
Would let her out in saucers: sweet misprision!
Dum.
Once more I'll read the ode that I have writ.
Biron.
Once more I'll mark how love can vary wit.
Dum. [reads note]
On a day—alack the day!—
Love, whose month is note ever May note,
Spied a blossom passing fair
Playing in the wanton air:
Through the velvet leaves the note wind,
All unseen, can note passage find;
That the lover note, sick to death,
Wish note himself the heaven's breath.
Air, quoth he, thy cheeks may blow note;
Air, note would I might triumph so!
But, alack note, my hand is note sworn
Ne'er to pluck thee from thy thorn note;
Vow, alack, for youth unmeet,
Youth so apt to pluck a sweet!
Do not call it sin in me,
That I am forsworn for thee note;
Thou note for whom Jove note would swear
Juno but an Ethiope were;
And deny himself for Jove,
Turning mortal for thy love.
-- 145 --
This will I send and something else more plain,
That shall express my true love's fasting note pain.
O, would the king, Biron, and Longaville,
Were lovers too! Ill, to example ill,
Would from my forehead wipe a perjured note;
For none offend where all alike do dote.
Long. [advancing].
Dumain, thy love is far from charity,
That in love's grief desirest society:
You may look pale, but I should blush, I know,
To be o'erheard note and taken napping so.
King [advancing].
Come, sir, you blush; note as his your case is such;
You chide note at him, offending twice as much;
You do not love Maria; note Longaville
Did never sonnet for her sake compile,
Nor never lay his wreathed arms athwart
His loving bosom, to keep down his heart.
I have been closely shrouded in this bush
And mark'd you both and for you both did blush:
I heard your guilty rhymes, observed your fashion,
Saw sighs reek from you, noted well your passion:
Ay note me! says one; O Jove! the other cries;
One, her note hairs were gold, crystal the other's eyes:
You would for paradise break faith and troth;
[To Long. note
And Jove, for your love, would infringe an oath.
To Dum. note
What will Biron say when that he shall hear
Faith note infringed, which such zeal note did swear?
How will he scorn! how will he spend his wit!
How will he triumph, leap note and laugh at it!
For all the wealth that ever I note did see,
I would not have him know so much by me.
-- 146 --
Biron.
Now step I forth to whip hypocrisy.
[Advancing. note
Ah, good my liege, I pray thee, pardon me!
Good heart, what grace hast thou, thus to reprove
These worms for loving, that art note most in love?
Your eyes do make no coaches; in note your tears
There is no certain princess that appears;
You'll not be perjured, 'tis a hateful thing;
Tush, none but minstrels like of sonneting!
But are you not ashamed? nay, are you not,
All three of you, to be thus much o'ershot?
You found his mote; the king your mote note did see;
But I a beam do find in each of three.
O, what a scene of foolery have I seen,
Of sighs, of groans, of sorrow and of teen!
O me, with what strict patience have I sat,
To see a king transformed to a gnat note!
To see great Hercules whipping a gig,
And profound Solomon to tune note a jig,
And Nestor play at push-pin with the boys,
And critic Timon laugh at idle toys note!
Where lies thy grief, O, tell me, good Dumain?
And, gentle Longaville, where lies thy pain?
And where my liege's? all about the breast:
A caudle note, ho!
King.
Too bitter is thy jest.
Are we betray'd thus to thy over-view?
Biron.
Not you to me, but I betray'd by you note:
I, that am honest; I, that hold it sin
To break the vow I am engaged in;
I am betray'd, by keeping company
With men like you, men of inconstancy note.
-- 147 --
When shall you see me write a thing in rhyme?
Or groan for love note? or spend a minute's time
In pruning me? When shall you hear that I
Will praise a hand, a foot, a face, an eye,
A gait, a state, a brow, a breast, a waist,
A leg, a limb? note—
King.
Soft! whither away so fast?
A true man or a thief that gallops so?
Biron.
I post from love: good lover, let me go.
Enter Jaquenetta and Costard.
note
Jaq.
God bless the king!
King.
What present note hast thou there?
Cost.
Some certain treason.
King.
What makes treason here?
Cost.
Nay, it makes nothing, sir.
King.
If it mar nothing neither,
The treason and you go in peace away note together.
Jaq.
I beseech your Grace, let this letter be read:
Our parson note misdoubts it; 'twas note treason, he said.
King.
Biron, read it over.
[Giving him the paper. note
Where hadst thou it?
Jaq.
Of Costard.
King.
Where hadst thou it?
Cost.
Of Dun Adramadio, Dun Adramadio.
[Biron tears the letter. note
King.
How now! what is in note you? why dost thou tear it?
Biron.
A toy, my liege, a toy: your Grace needs not fear it.
-- 148 --
Long.
It did move him to passion, and therefore let's hear it.
Dum.
It is Biron's writing, and here is his name.
[Gathering note up the pieces.
Biron. [To Costard]
Ah, you whoreson loggerhead! you were born to do me shame.
Guilty, my lord note, guilty! I confess, I confess.
King.
What?
Biron.
That you three fools lack'd me fool to make up the mess:
He, he, and you, and you note, my liege, and I,
Are pick-purses in love, and we deserve to die.
O, dismiss this audience, and I shall tell you more.
Dum.
Now the number is even.
Biron.
True, true; we are four.
Will these turtles be gone? note
King.
Hence, sirs; away!
Cost.
Walk aside the true folk, and let the traitors stay.
[Exeunt note Costard and Jaquenetta.
Biron.
Sweet lords, sweet lovers, O, let us embrace!
As true we are as flesh and blood can be:
The sea will ebb and flow, heaven show note his face;
Young blood doth not obey an old decree:
We cannot cross the cause why we were note born;
Therefore of all hands must we be forsworn.
King.
What, did these rent lines show some love of thine?
Biron.
Did they, quoth you note? Who sees the heavenly Rosaline,
That, like a rude and savage man of Inde,
At the first opening of the gorgeous east,
Bows not his vassal head and strucken note blind
Kisses the base ground with obedient breast?
-- 149 --
What peremptory eagle-sighted eye
Dares look upon the heaven of her brow,
That is not blinded by her majesty?
King.
What zeal, what fury hath inspired thee now?
My love, her mistress, is a gracious moon;
She an attending star, scarce seen a light.
Biron.
My eyes are then no eyes, nor I Biron:
O, but for my love, day would turn to night!
Of all complexions the cull'd sovereignty
Do meet, as at a fair, in her fair cheek;
Where several worthies make one dignity,
Where nothing wants that want itself doth seek.
Lend me the flourish of all gentle tongues,—
Fie, painted rhetoric! O, she needs it not:
To things of sale a seller's praise belongs,
She passes praise; then note praise too short doth blot.
A wither'd hermit, five-score winters worn,
Might shake off fifty, looking in her eye:
Beauty doth varnish age, as if new-born,
And gives the crutch the cradle's infancy:
O, 'tis the sun that maketh all things shine.
King.
By heaven, thy love is black as ebony.
Biron.
Is ebony like her? O wood note divine!
A wife of such wood were felicity.
O, who can give an oath? where is a book?
That I may swear beauty doth beauty lack,
If that she learn not of her eye to look:
No face is fair that is not full so black.
King.
O paradox! Black is note the badge of hell,
The hue of dungeons and the school note of night;
note
And beauty's crest note becomes the heavens well.
Biron.
Devils soonest tempt, resembling spirits of light.
-- 150 --
O, if in black my lady's brows note be deck'd,
It mourns that painting and note usurping note hair
Should ravish doters with a false aspect;
And therefore is she born to make black fair.
Her favour turns the fashion of the days note,
For native blood is counted painting now;
And therefore red, that would avoid dispraise,
Paints itself black, to imitate her brow.
Dum.
To look like her are chimney-sweepers black note.
Long.
And since her time are colliers counted bright.
King.
And Ethiopes of their sweet note complexion crack note.
Dum.
Dark needs no candles now, for dark is light.
Biron.
Your mistresses dare never come in rain,
For fear their note colours should be wash'd away.
King.
'Twere good, yours did; for, sir, to tell you plain,
I'll find a fairer face not wash'd to-day.
Biron.
I'll prove her fair, or talk till doomsday here.
King.
No devil will fright thee then so much as she.
Dum.
I never knew man hold vile stuff so dear.
Long.
Look, here's thy love: my foot and her face see.
Biron.
O, if the streets were paved with thine eyes,
Her feet were much too dainty for such tread!
Dum.
O vile! then, as she goes, what upward lies note
The street should see as she walk'd overhead.
King.
But what of this? are we not all in love?
Biron.
Nothing note so sure; and thereby all forsworn.
King.
Then leave this chat; and, good Biron, now prove
Our loving lawful, and our faith not torn.
Dum.
Ay, marry, there; some flattery for this evil.
Long.
O, some authority how to proceed;
Some tricks, some quillets, how to cheat the devil.
Dum.
Some salve for perjury.
-- 151 --
Biron.
'Tis note more than need.
Have at you, then, affection's men note at arms.
Consider what you first did swear unto,
To fast, to study, and to see no woman;
Flat treason 'gainst note the kingly state of youth.
Say, can you fast? your stomachs are too young;
And abstinence engenders maladies.
And where that you have vow'd to study, lords,
In that each of you have note forsworn his book,
Can you still dream and pore and thereon look?
note
For when would you, my Lord, or you, or you,
Have found the ground of study's excellence
Without the beauty of a woman's face?
From women's eyes this doctrine I derive;
They are the ground, the books, the academes
From whence doth spring the true Promethean fire.
Why, universal plodding prisons note up
The nimble spirits in the arteries,
As motion and long-during action tires
The sinewy note vigour of the traveller.
Now, for not looking on a woman's face,
You have in that forsworn the use of eyes
And study too, the causer of your vow;
For where is any author in the world
Teaches such beauty note as a woman's eye?
Learning is but an adjunct to ourself
And where we are our learning likewise is
Then when ourselves we see in ladies' eyes,
Do note we not likewise see our learning there?
O, we have made a vow to study, lords,
And in that vow we have forsworn our books.
For when would you, my liege, or you, or you,
-- 152 --
In leaden contemplation have found out
Such fiery numbers note as the prompting eyes
Of beauty's note tutors have enrich'd you with?
Other slow arts entirely keep the brain;
And therefore, finding barren practisers,
Scarce show a harvest of their heavy toil:
But love, first learned in a lady's eyes,
Lives not alone immured in the brain;
But, with the motion of all elements,
Courses as swift as thought in every power,
And gives to every power a double power,
Above their functions and their offices.
It adds a precious seeing to the eye;
A lover's eyes will gaze an eagle blind;
A lover's ear will hear the lowest sound,
When the suspicious head note of theft note is stopp'd:
Love's feeling is more soft and sensible
Than are the tender horns of cockled snails;
Love's tongue proves dainty Bacchus note gross in taste:
For valour note, is not Love a Hercules,
Still climbing trees in the Hesperides?
Subtle as Sphinx note; as sweet and musical
note
As bright Apollo's lute, strung with his hair;
And when Love speaks, the voice of all the gods note
Make note heaven note drowsy with the note harmony.
Never durst poet touch a pen to write
Until his ink were temper'd with Love's sighs note;
O, then his lines would ravish savage ears,
-- 153 --
And plant in tyrants mild humility note.
From women's eyes this doctrine I derive:
They sparkle still the right Promethean fire;
They are the books, the arts, the academes,
That show, contain and nourish all the world:
Else none at all in ought proves excellent.
Then fools you were these women to forswear;
Or keeping what is sworn, you will prove fools.
For wisdom's sake, a word that all men love;
Or for love's sake, a word that loves all men note;
Or for men's note sake, the authors note of these women note;
Or note women's note sake, by whom we men are men;
Let us note once lose our oaths to find ourselves,
Or else we lose note ourselves to keep our oaths.
It is religion to be thus forsworn,
For charity itself fulfils the law,
And who can sever love from charity?
King.
Saint Cupid, then! and, soldiers, to the field!
Biron.
Advance your standards note, and upon them, lords;
Pell-mell, down with them! but be first advised,
In conflict note that you get the sun of them.
Long.
Now to plain-dealing; lay these glozes by:
Shall we resolve to woo these girls of France?
King.
And win them too: therefore let us devise
Some entertainment for them in their tents.
Biron.
First, from the park let us conduct them thither;
Then homeward every man attach the hand
Of his fair mistress: in the afternoon
We will with some strange pastime solace them,
Such as the shortness of the time can shape;
For revels, dances, masks and merry hours
-- 154 --
Forerun fair Love, strewing her note way with flowers.
King.
Away, away! no time shall be omitted
That will betime note, and may by us be fitted.
Biron.
Allons! allons note! Sow'd cockle reap'd no corn;
And justice always whirls in equal measure:
Light wenches may prove plagues to men forsworn;
If so, our copper buys no better treasure.
[Exeunt.
note
William Aldis Wright [1863–1866], The works of William Shakespeare edited by William George Clark... and John Glover [and William Aldis Wright] (Macmillan and Co., London) [word count] [S10701].
