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When daizies pied, and violets blue,
  And lady-smocks all silver white,
And cuckow-buds of yellow hue,
  9 note


Do paint the meadows much-bedight;
The cuckow then on every Tree
Mocks married men; for thus sings he,
Cuckow!
  Cuckow! cuckow! O word of fear,
  Unpleasing to a married ear!

-- 287 --


When shepherds pipe on oaten straws,
  And merry larks are ploughmen's clocks:
When turtles tread, and rooks and daws;
  And maidens bleach their summer smocks;
The cuckow then on every tree
Mocks married men; for thus sings he,
Cuckow!
  Cuckow! cuckow! O word of fear,
  Unpleasing to a married ear!


When isicles hang by the wall,
  And Dick the shepherd blows his nail;
And Tom bears logs into the hall,
  And milk comes frozen home in pail;
When blood is nipt, and ways be foul,
Then nightly sings the staring owl
Tu-whit! to-whoo!
  A merry note,
  While greasie Jone doth keel the pot.

When all aloud the wind doth blow,
  And coughing drowns the Parson's saw;
And birds sit brooding in the snow,
  And Marian's nose looks red and raw;
When roasted crabs hiss in the bowl,
Then nightly sings the staring owl
Tu-whit! to-whoo!
  A merry note,
  While greasie Jone doth keel the pot.

Arm.
The words of Mercury
Are harsh after the Songs of Apollo:
You, that way; we, this way.
[Exeunt omnes.

-- --

noteLove's Labour lost.

[Footnote:

note

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-- 289 --

Alexander Pope [1747], The works of Shakespear in eight volumes. The Genuine Text (collated with all the former Editions, and then corrected and emended) is here settled: Being restored from the Blunders of the first Editors, and the Interpolations of the two Last: with A Comment and Notes, Critical and Explanatory. By Mr. Pope and Mr. Warburton (Printed for J. and P. Knapton, [and] S. Birt [etc.], London) [word count] [S11301].
To look up a word in a dictionary, select the word with your mouse and press 'd' on your keyboard.

Previous section

ACT V. SCENE I. The STREET. Enter Holofernes, Nathaniel and Dull.

Holofernes.

Satis, quod sufficit.

Nath.

I praise God for you, Sir, your reasons at dinner have been sharp and sententious; pleasant without scurrility, witty without affectation, audacious without impudency, learned without opinion, and strange without heresy: I did converse this quondam-day with a companion of the King's, who is entituled, nominated, or called, Don Adriano de Armado.

Hol.

Novi hominem, tanquam te. His humour is lofty, his discourse peremptory, his tongue filed, his eye ambitious, his gate majestical, and his general behaviour

-- 250 --

vain, ridiculous, and thrasonical. He is too piqued, too spruce, too affected, too odd, as it were; too peregrinate, as I may call it.

Nath.

A most singular and choice epithet.

[draws out his table-book.

Hol.

He draweth out the thread of his verbosity finer than the staple of his argument. I abhor such phanatical phantasms, such insociable and point-devise companions; such rackers of orthography, as do speak dout fine, when he should say doubt; det, when he should pronounce debt; d, e, b, t; not d, e, t: he clepeth a calf, cauf: half, hauf: neighbour vocatur nebour; neigh abbreviated ne: 1 notethis is abominable, which we would call abhominable: 2 noteit insinuateth me of (a) note Insanity: Ne intelligis, Domine, to make frantick, lunatick?

Nath.

Laus deo, bone, intelligo.

Hol.

(b) noteBone?—bone, for benè; Priscian a little scratch'd; 'twill serve.

SCENE II. Enter Armado, Moth and Costard.

Nath.

Videsne quis venit?

Hol.

Video, & gaudeo.

-- 251 --

Arm.

Chirra.

Hol.

Quare Chirra, not Sirrah?

Arm.

Men of Peace, well encountred.

Hol.

Most military Sir, salutation.

Moth.

They have been at a great feast of languages, and stole the scraps.

Cost.

O, they have liv'd long on the Alms-basket of words. I marvel, thy master hath not eaten thee for a word; for thou art not so long by the head as honorificabilitudinitatibus: thou art easier swallow'd than a flap-dragon.

Moth.

Peace, the peal begins.

Arm.

Monsieur, are you not letter'd?

Moth.

Yes, yes, he teaches boys the horn-book: What is A B spelt backward with a horn on his head?

Hol.

Ba, pueritia, with a horn added.

Moth.

Ba, most silly sheep, with a horn. You hear his learning.

Hol.

Quis, quis, thou consonant?

Moth.

The third of the five vowels, if you repeat them; or the fifth, if I.

Hol.

I will repeat them, a, e, I.—

Moth.

The sheep; the other two concludes it, 3 noteo, u.

Arm.

Now by the salt wave of the Mediterraneum, a sweet touch, a quick venew of wit; snip, snap, quick and home; it rejoiceth my intellect; true wit.

Moth.

Offer'd by a child to an old man: which is wit-old.

Hol.

What is the figure? what is the figure?

Moth.

Horns.

Hol.

Thou disputest like an infant; go, whip thy gigg.

Moth.

Lend me your horn to make one, and I will

-- 252 --

whip about your infamy circùm circà; a gigg of a cuckold's horn.

Cost.

An' I had but one penny in the world, thou shouldst have it to buy ginger-bread; hold, there is the very remuneration I had of thy master, thou half-penny purse of wit, thou pidgeon-egg of discretion. O, that the heav'ns were so pleased, that thou wert but my bastard! what a joyful father wouldst thou make me? go to, thou hast it ad dunghill; at the fingers' ends, as they say.

Hol.

Oh, I smell false latine, dunghill for unguem.

Arm.

Arts-man, præambula; we will be singled from the barbarous. Do you not educate youth at the charge-house on the top of the mountain?

Hol.

Or, Mons the hill.

Arm.

At your sweet pleasure, for the mountain.

Hol.

I do, sans question.

Arm.

Sir, it is the King's most sweet pleasure and affection, to congratulate the Princess at her Pavilion, in the posteriors of this day, which the rude multitude call the afternoon.

Hol.

The posterior of the day, most generous Sir, is liable, congruent, and measurable for the afternoon: the word is well cull'd, choice, sweet, and apt, I do assure you, Sir, I do assure.

Arm.

Sir, the King is a noble gentleman, and my familiar; I do assure you, my very good friend; for what is inward between us, let it pass—I do beseech thee, remember thy curtesie—I beseech thee, apparel thy head,—and among other importunate and most serious designs, and of great import indeed too—but let that pass:—for I must tell thee, it will please his Grace (by the world) sometime to lean upon my poor shoulder, and with his royal finger thus dally with my excrement, with my mustachio; but sweet heart, let that pass. By the world, I recount no fable; some certain special honours it pleaseth

-- 253 --

his Greatness to impart to Armado, a soldier, a man of travel, that hath seen the world; but let that pass —the very all of all is—but sweet heart, I do implore secrecy—that the King would have me present the Princess (sweet chuck) with some delightful ostentation, or show, or pageant, or antick, or fire-work. Now, understanding that the Curate and your sweet self are good at such eruptions, and sudden breaking out of mirth, (as it were) I have acquainted you withal, to the end to crave your assistance.

Hol.

Sir, you shall present before her the nine Worthies. Sir, as concerning some entertainment of time, some show in the posterior of this day, to be rendred by our assistants at the King's command, and this most gallant, illustrate and learned gentleman, before the Princess: I say, none so fit as to present the nine Worthies.

Nath.

Where will you find men worthy enough to present them?

Hol.

Joshua, your self; this gallant man, Judas Macabeus; this swain (because of his great limb or joint) shall pass Pompey the great; and the page, Hercules.

Arm.

Pardon, Sir, error: he is not quantity enough for that Worthy's thumb; he is not so big as the end of his club.

Hol.

Shall I have audience? he shall present Hercules in minority: his Enter and Exit shall be strangling a snake; and I will have an apology for that purpose.

Moth.

An excellent device: for if any of the audience hiss, you may cry; “well done, Hercules, now thou crushest the snake;” that is the way to make an offence gracious, tho' few have the grace to do it.

Arm.

For the rest of the Worthies,—

Hol.

I will play three my self.

-- 254 --

Moth.

Thrice-worthy gentleman!

Arm.

Shall I tell you a thing?

Hol.

We attend.

Arm.

We will have, if this fadge not, an Antick. I beseech you, follow.

Hol.

Via! good-man Dull, thou hast spoken no word all this while.

Dull.

Nor understood none neither, Sir.

Hol.

Allons; we will employ thee.

Dull.

I'll make one in a dance, or so: or I will play on the taber to the Worthies, and let them dance the hay.

Hol.

Most dull, honest, Dull, to our Sport away.

[Exeunt. SCENE III. Before the PRINCESS'S Pavilion. Enter Princess, and Ladies.

Prin.
Sweet hearts, we shall be rich ere we depart,
If Fairings come thus plentifully in.
A lady wall'd about with diamonds!—
Look you, what I have from the loving King.

Ros.
Madam, came nothing else along with That?

Prin.
Nothing but this? yes, as much love in rhyme,
As would be cram'd up in a sheet of paper,
Writ on both sides the leaf, margent and all;
That he was fain to seal on Cupid's name.

Ros.
That was the way to make his God-head wax,
For he hath been five thousand years a boy.

Cath.
Ay, and a shrewd unhappy gallows too.

Ros.
You'll ne'er be friends with him; he kill'd your sister.

Cath.
He made her melancholy, sad and heavy,
And so she died; had she been light, like you,
Of such a merry, nimble, stirring spirit,

-- 255 --


She might have been a grandam ere she dy'd.
And so may you; for a light heart lives long.

Ros.
What's your dark meaning, mouse, of this light word?

Cath.
A light condition, in a beauty dark.

Ros.
We need more light to find your meaning out.

Cath.
You'll marr the light, by taking it in snuff:
Therefore I'll darkly end the argument.

Ros.
Look, what you do; and do it still i'th' dark.

Cath.
So do not you, for you are a light wench.

Ros.
Indeed, I weigh not you; and therefore light.

Cath.
You weigh me not; O, that's, you care not for me.

Ros.
Great reason; for (a) note past Cure is still past Care.

Prin.
Well bandied both; a set of wit well play'd.
But, Rosaline, you have a Favour too:
Who sent it? and what is it?

Ros.
I would, you knew.
And if my face were but as fair as yours,
My favour were as great; be witness this.
Nay, I have Verses too, I thank Biron.
The numbers true, and were the numbring too,
I were the fairest Goddess on the ground.
I am compar'd to twenty thousand fairs.
O, he hath drawn my picture in his letter.

Prin.
Any thing like?

Ros.
Much in the letters, nothing in the praise.

Prin.
Beauteous as ink; a good conclusion.

Cath.
Fair as a text B in a copy-book.

Ros.
Ware pencils. How? let me not die your debter,
My red dominical, my golden letter.
O, that your face were not so full of Oes!

-- 256 --

Cath.
Pox of that jest, and I beshrew all shrews:

Prin.
But what was sent to you from fair Dumaine?

Cath.
Madam, this glove.

Prin.
Did he not send you twain?

Cath.
Yes, Madam; and moreover,
Some thousand verses of a faithful lover.
A huge translation of hypocrisie,
Vildly compil'd, profound simplicity.

Mar.
This, and these pearls, to me sent Longaville;
The letter is too long by half a mile.

Prin.
I think no less; dost thou not wish in heart,
The chain were longer, and the letter short?

Mar.
Ay, or I would these hands might never part.

Prin.
We are wise girls, to mock our lovers for't.

Ros.
They are worse fools to purchase mocking so.
That same Biron I'll torture, ere I go.
O, that I knew he were but in by th' week!
How I would make him fawn, and beg, and seek,
And wait the season, and observe the times,
And spend his prodigal wits in bootless rhimes,
And shape his service all to my behests,
And make him proud to make me proud with jests:
4 note




So portent-like would I o'er-sway his state,
That he should be my Fool, and I his Fate.

-- 257 --

Prin.
None are so surely caught, when they are catch'd,
As wit turn'd fool; folly, in wisdom hatch'd,
Hath wisdom's warrant, and the help of school;
And wit's own grace to grace a learned fool.

Ros.
The blood of youth burns not in such excess,
As gravity's revolt to wantonness.

Mar.
Folly in fools bears not so strong a note,
As fool'ry in the wise, when wit doth dote:
Since all the power thereof it doth apply,
To prove, by wit, worth in simplicity.
SCENE IV. Enter Boyet.

Prin.
Here comes Boyet, and mirth is in his face.

Boyet.
O, I am stab'd with laughter; where's her Grace?

Prin.
Thy news, Boyet?

Boyet.
Prepare, Madam, prepare.
Arm, wenches, arm; Encounters mounted are
Against your peace; love doth approach disguis'd,
Armed in arguments; you'll be surpriz'd.
Muster your wits, stand in your own defence,
Or hide your heads like cowards, and fly hence.

Prin.
Saint Dennis, to saint Cupid! what are they,
That charge their breath against us? say, scout, say.

Boyet.
Under the cool shade of a sycamore,
I thought to close mine eyes some half an hour;
When, lo! to interrupt my purpos'd Rest,
Toward that shade, I might behold, addrest
The King and his companions; warily
I stole into a neighbour thicket by;
And over-heard, what you shall over-hear:
That, by and by, disguis'd they will be here.
Their Herald is a pretty knavish Page,
That well by heart hath conn'd his embassage.

-- 258 --


Action and accent did they teach him there;
Thus must thou speak, and thus thy body bear;
And ever and anon they made a doubt,
Presence majestical would put him out:
For, quoth the King, an Angel shalt thou see;
Yet fear not thou, but speak audaciously.
The boy reply'd, an Angel is not evil;
I should have fear'd her, had she been a Devil.—
With that all laugh'd, and clap'd him on the shoulder,
Making the bold wag by their praises bolder.
One rubb'd his elbow thus, and fleer'd, and swore,
A better speech was never spoke before.
Another with his finger and his thumb,
Cry'd, via! we will do't, come what will come.
The third he caper'd and cry'd, all goes well:
The fourth turn'd on the toe, and down he fell.
With that they all did tumble on the ground,
With such a zealous laughter, so profound,
That in this spleen ridiculous appears,
To check their folly, passion's solemn tears.

Prin.
But what, but what, come they to visit us?

Boyet.
They do, they do; and are apparell'd thus,
5 noteLike Moscovites, or Russians, as I guess.
Their purpose is to parley, court and dance;
And every one his love-feat will advance
Unto his sev'ral mistress; which they'll know,
By Favours sev'ral, which they did bestow.

Prin.
And will they so? the gallants shall be taskt;
For, ladies, we will every one be maskt:
And not a man of them shall have the grace,
Despight of suite, to see a lady's face.

-- 259 --


Hold, Rosaline; this Favour thou shalt wear,
And then the King will court thee for his Dear:
Hold, take you this, my sweet, and give me thine;
So shall Biron take me for Rosaline,
And change your Favours too; so shall your Loves
Woo contrary, deceiv'd by these removes.

Ros.
Come on then, wear the Favours most in sight.

Cath.
But in this changing, what is your intent?

Prin.
Th' effect of my intent is to cross theirs;
They do it but in mocking merriment,
And mock for mock is only my intent.
Their several councils they unbosom shall
To loves mistook, and so be mockt withal,
Upon the next occasion that we meet,
With visages display'd, to talk and greet.

Ros.
But shall we dance, if they desire us to't?

Prin.
No; to the death, we will not move a foot;
Nor to their pen'd speech render we no grace:
But while 'tis spoke, each turn away her face.

Boyet.
Why, that contempt will kill the Speaker's heart,
And quite divorce his memory from his Part.

Prin.
Therefore I do it; and I make no doubt,
The rest will ne'er come in, if he be out.
There's no such Sport, as Sport by Sport o'erthrown,
To make theirs ours, and ours none but our own;
So shall we stay, mocking intended game;
And they, well mockt, depart away with shame.
[Sound.

Boyet.
The trumpet sounds; be maskt, the maskers come.
SCENE V. Enter the King, Biron, Longaville, Dumain, and Attendants, disguis'd like Moscovites; Moth with Musick, as for a masquerade.

Moth.
All hail, the richest beauties on the earth!

Boyet.
Beauties, no richer than rich taffata.

-- 260 --

Moth.
A holy parcel of the fairest dames,
That ever turn'd their backs to mortal views.
[The ladies turn their backs to him.

Biron.
Their eyes, villain, their eyes.

Moth.
That ever turn'd their eyes to mortal views.
Out—

Biron.
True; out, indeed.

Moth.
Out of your favours, heav'nly Spirits, vouchsafe
Not to behold

Biron.
Once to behold, rogue.

Moth.
Once to behold with your sun-beamed eyes—
With your sun-beamed eyes—

Boyet.
They will not answer to that epithete;
You were best call it daughter-beamed eyes.

Moth.
They do not mark me, and that brings me out.

Biron.
Is this your perfectness? be gone, you rogue.

Ros.
What would these strangers? know their minds, Boyet.
If they do speak our language, 'tis our Will
That some plain man recount their purposes.
Know, what they would.

Boyet.
What would you with the Princess?

Biron.
Nothing, but peace and gentle visitation.

Ros.
What would they, say they?

Boyet.
Nothing, but peace and gentle visitation.

Ros.
Why, That they have; and bid them so be gone.

Boyet.
She says, you have it; and you may be gone.

King.
Say to her, we have measur'd many miles,
To tread a measure with her on the grass.

Boyet.
They say, that they have measur'd many a mile,
To tread a measure with you on this grass.

Ros.
It is not so. Ask them, how many inches
Is in one mile: if they have measur'd many,
The measure then of one is easily told.

Boyet.
If to come hither you have measur'd miles,
And many miles; the Princess bids you tell,

-- 261 --


How many inches doth fill up one mile?

Bïron.
Tell her, we measure them by weary steps.

Boyet.
She hears herself.

Ros.
How many weary steps
Of many weary miles, you have o'ergone,
Are number'd in the travel of one mile?

Biron.
We number nothing that we spend for you;
Our duty is so rich, so infinite,
That we may do it still without accompt.
Vouchsafe to shew the sun-shine of your face,
That we (like savages) may worship it.

Ros.
My face is but a moon, and clouded too.

King.
Blessed are clouds, to do as such clouds do.
Vouchsafe, bright moon, and these thy stars, to shine
(Those clouds remov'd) upon our watery eyne.

Ros.
O vain petitioner, beg a greater matter;
Thou now request'st but moon-shine in the water.

King.
Then in our measure vouchsafe but one change;
Thou bid'st me beg, this begging is not strange.

Ros.
Play, musick, then; nay, you must do it soon.
Not yet? no dance? thus change I, like the moon.

King.
Will you not dance? how come you thus estrang'd?

Ros.
You took the moon at full, but now she's chang'd.

King.
Yet still she is the moon, and I the man.
The musick plays, vouchsafe some motion to it.

Ros.
Our ears vouchsafe it.

King.
But your legs should do it.

Ros.
Since you are strangers, and come here by chance,
We'll not be nice; take hands;—we will not dance.

King.
Why take you hands then!

Ros.
Only to part friends;
Curt'sie, sweet hearts, and so the measure ends.

King.
More measure of this measure; be not nice.

Ros.
We can afford no more at such a price.

-- 262 --

King.
Prize your selves then; what buys your company?

Ros.
Your absence only.

King.
That can never be.

Ros.
Then cannot we be bought; and so adieu;
Twice to your visor, and half once to you.

King.
If you deny to dance, let's hold more chat.

Ros.
In private then.

King.
I am best pleas'd with That.

Biron.
White-handed mistress, one sweet word with thee.

Prin.
Honey, and milk, and sugar, there is three.

Biron.
Nay then, two treys,; and if you grow so nice,
Methegline, wort, and malmsey;—well run, dice:
There's half a dozen sweets.

Prin.
Seventh sweet, adieu;
Since you can cog, I'll play no more with you.

Biron.
One word in secret.

Prin.
Let it not be sweet.

Biron.
Thou griev'st my gall.

Prin.
Gall? bitter—

Biron.
Therefore meet.

Dum.
Will you vouchsafe with me to change a word?

Mar.
Name it.

Dum.
Fair lady,—

Mar.
Say you so? fair lord:
Take that for your fair lady.

Dum.
Please it you;
As much in private; and I'll bid adieu.

Cath.
What, was your visor made without a tongue?

Long.
I know the reason, lady, why you ask.

Cath.
O, for your reason! quickly, Sir; I long.

Long.
You have a double tongue within your mask,
And would afford my speechless vizor half.

Cath.
Veal, quoth the Dutch man; is not veal calf?

-- 263 --

Long.
A calf, fair lady?

Cath.
No, a fair lord calf.

Long.
Let's part the word.

Cath.
No, I'll not be your half;
Take all, and wean it; it may prove an ox.

Long.
Look, how you butt your self in these sharp mocks!
Will you give horns, chaste lady? do not so.

Cath.
Then die a calf, before your horns do grow.

Long.
One word in private with you, ere I die.

Cath.
Bleat softly then, the butcher hears you cry.

Boyet.
The tongues of mocking wenches are as keen
    As is the razor's edge, invincible,
  Cutting a smaller hair than may be seen:
    Above the sense of sense, so sensible
Seemeth their conference, their conceits have wings;
Fleeter than arrows, bullets, wind, thought, swifter things.

Ros.
Not one word more, my maids; break off, break off.

Biron.
By heaven, all dry-beaten with pure scoff.—

King.
Farewel, mad wenches; you have simple wits.
[Exeunt King and Lords. SCENE VI.

Prin.
Twenty adieus, my frozen Muscovites.
Are these the Breed of wits so wondred at?

Boyet.
Tapers they are with your sweet breaths puft out.

Ros.
Well-liking wits they have; gross, gross; fat, fat.

Prin.
O poverty in wit, kingly poor flout!
Will they not (think you) hang themselves to night?
  Or ever, but in vizors, shew their faces?
This pert Biron was out of count'nance quite.

Ros.
O! they were all in lamentable cases.
The King was weeping-ripe for a good word.

-- 264 --

Prin.
Biron did swear himself out of all suit.

Mar.
Dumain was at my service, and his sword:
No, point, quoth I; my servant straight was mute.

Cath.
Lord Longaville said, I came o'er his heart;
And, trow you, what he call'd me?

Prin.
Qualm, perhaps.

Cath.
Yes, in good faith.

Prin.
Go, sickness as thou art!

Ros.
Well, better wits have worn plain statute-caps.
But will you hear? the King is my love sworn.

Prin.
And quick Biron hath plighted faith to me.

Cath.
And Longaville was for my service born.

Mar.
Dumain is mine, as sure as bark on tree.

Boyet.
Madam, and pretty mistresses, give ear:
Immediately they will again be here
In their own shapes; for it can never be,
They will digest this harsh indignity.

Prin.
Will they return?

Boyet.
They will, they will, God knows;
And leap for joy, though they are lame with blows:
Therefore, change Favours; and, when they repair,
Blow, like sweet roses, in this summer air.

Prin.
How, blow? how, blow? speak to be understood.

&wlquo;Boyet.
&wlquo;6 note





Fair ladies, maskt, are roses in the bud;
&wlquo;Or angels veil'd in clouds: are roses blown,
&wlquo;Dismaskt, their damask sweet Commixture shewn.&wrquo;

-- 265 --

Prin.
Avaunt, perplexity! what shall we do,
If they return in their own shapes to woo?

Ros.
Good Madam, if by me you'll be advis'd,
Let's mock them still, as well known, as disguis'd;
Let us complain to them what fools were here,
Disguis'd, like Moscovites, in * noteshapeless gear;
And wonder what they were, and to what end
Their shallow Shows, and Prologue vildly pen'd,
And their rough carriage so ridiculous,
Should be presented at our Tent to us.

Boyet.
Ladies, withdraw, the Gallants are at hand.

Prin.
Whip to our Tents, as roes run o'er the land.
[Exeunt. SCENE VII. Before the Princess's Pavilion. Enter the King, Biron, Longaville, and Dumain in their own habits; Boyet, meeting them.

King.
Fair Sir, God save you! Where's the Princess?

Boyet.
Gone to her Tent.
Please it your Majesty, command me any service to her?

King.
That she vouchsafe me audience for one word.

-- 266 --

Boyet.
I will; and so will she, I know my lord.
[Exit.

Biron.
This fellow picks up wit, as pidgeons peas;
And utters it again, when Jove doth please:
He is wit's pedlar, and retails his wares
At wakes and wassals, meetings, markets, fairs:
And we that sell by gross, the Lord doth know,
Have not the grace to grace it with such show.
This Gallant pins the wenches on his sleeve;
Had he been Adam, he had tempted Eve.
He can carve too, and lisp: why, this is he,
That kist away his hand in courtesie;
This is the ape of form, Monsieur the nice,
That, when he plays at tables, chides the dice
In honourable terms: nay, he can sing
A mean most mainly; and, in ushering,
Mend him who can; the ladies call him sweet;
The stairs, as he treads on them, kiss his feet.
7 noteThis is the flower, that smiles on every one,
To shew his teeth, as white as whale his bone.—

-- 267 --


And consciences, that will not die in debt,
Pay him the due of honey-tongued Boyet.

King.
A blister on his sweet tongue with my heart,
That put Armado's Page out of his Part!
SCENE VIII. Enter the Princess, Rosaline, Maria, Catharine, Boyet, and attendants.

Biron.
See, where it comes; 8 note
behaviour, what wert thou,
'Till this man shew'd thee? and what art thou now?

King.
All hail, sweet Madam, and fair time of day!

Prin.
Fair in all hail is foul, as I conceive.

King.
Construe my speeches better, if you may.

Prin.
Then wish me better, I will give you leave.

-- 268 --

King.
We come to visit you, and purpose now
  To lead you to our Court; vouchsafe it then.

Prin.
This field shall hold me, and so hold your vow:
  Nor God, nor I, delight in perjur'd men.

King.
Rebuke me not for That, which you provoke;
  9 note


The virtue of your eye must break my oath.

Prin.
You nick-name virtue; vice you should have spoke:
  For virtue's office never breaks mens troth.
Now, by my maiden honour, yet as pure
  As the unsully'd lilly, I protest,
A world of torments though I should endure,
  I would not yield to be your house's guest:
So much I hate a breaking cause to be
Of heav'nly oaths, vow'd with integrity.

King.
O, you have liv'd in desolation here,
  Unseen, unvisited, much to our shame.

Prin.
Not so, my lord; it is not so, I swear;
  We have had pastimes here, and pleasant game.
A mess of Russians left us but of late.

King.
How, Madam? Russians?

Prin.
Ay, in truth, my lord;
Trim gallants, full of courtship, and of state.

Ros.
Madam, speak true. It is not so, my lord:
My lady (to the manner of the days)
In courtesie gives undeserving praise.
We four, indeed, confronted were with four
In Russian habit: here they stay'd an hour,
And talk'd apace; and in that hour, my lord,
They did not bless us with one happy word.

-- 269 --


I dare not call them fools; but this I think,
When they are thirsty, fools would fain have drink.

Biron.
This jest is dry to me. Fair, gentle, sweet,
Your wit makes wise things foolish; when we greet
With eyes best seeing heaven's fiery eye,
By light we lose light; your capacity
Is of that nature, as to your huge store
Wise things seem foolish, and rich things but poor.

Ros.
This proves you wise and rich; for in my eye—

Biron.
I am a fool, and full of poverty.

Ros.
But that you take what doth to you belong,
It were a fault to snatch words from my tongue.

Biron.
O, I am yours, and all that I possess.

Ros.
All the fool mine?

Biron.
I cannot give you less.

Ros.
Which of the vizors was it, that you wore?

Biron.
Where? when? what vizor? why demand you this?

Ros.
There, then, that vizor, that superfluous Case,
That hid the worse, and shew'd the better face.

King.
We are descried; they'll mock us now downright.

Dum.
Let us confess, and turn it to a jest.

Prin.
Amaz'd, my lord? why looks your Highness sad?

Ros.
Help, hold his brows, he'll swoon: why look you pale?
Sea-sick, I think, coming from Muscovy.

Biron.
Thus pour the stars down plagues for Perjury.
  Can any face of brass hold longer out?
Here stand I, lady, dart thy skill at me;
  Bruise me with scorn, confound me with a flout,
Thrust thy sharp wit quite through my ignorance;
  Cut me to pieces with thy keen conceit;
And I will wish thee never more to dance,
  Nor never more in Russian habit wait.

-- 270 --


O! never will I trust to speeches pen'd,
  Nor to the motion of a school-boy's tongue;
Nor never come in vizor to my friend,
  Nor woo in rhime, like a blind harper's song.
Taffata-phrases, silken terms precise,
  Three pil'd hyperboles, spruce affectation,
Figures pedantical, these summer-flies,
  Have blown me full of maggot ostentation:
I do forswear them; and I here protest,
  By this white glove, (how white the hand, God knows!)
Henceforth my wooing mind shall be exprest
  In russet yeas, and honest kersie noes:
And to begin, wench, (so God help me, law!)
My love to thee is sound, sans crack or flaw.

Ros.
Sans, sans, I pray you.

Biron.
Yet I have a trick
Of the old rage: bear with me, I am sick.
I'll leave it by degrees: soft, let us see;
Write, Lord have mercy on us, on those three;
They are infected, in their hearts it lyes;
They have the plague, and caught it of your eyes:
These lords are visited, you are not free;
For the lord's tokens on you both I see.

Prin.
No, they are free, that gave these tokens to us.

Biron.
Our states are forfeit, seek not to undo us.

Ros.
It is not so; for how can this be true,
That you stand forfeit, being those that sue?

Biron.
Peace, for I will not have to do with you.

Ros.
Nor shall not, if I do as I intend.

Biron.
Speak for your selves, my wit is at an end.

King.
Teach us, sweet Madam, for our rude transgression
Some fair excuse.

Prin.
The fairest is confession.

-- 271 --


Were you not here, but even now, disguis'd?

King.
Madam, I was.

Prin.
And were you well advis'd?

King.
I was, fair Madam.

Prin.
When you then were here,
What did you whisper in your lady's ear?

King.
That more than all the world I did respect her.

Prin.
When she shall challenge this, you will reject her.

King.
Upon mine honour, no.

Prin.
Peace, peace, forbear:
Your oath once broke, you force not to forswear.

King.
Despise me, when I break this oath of mine.

Prin.
I will, and therefore keep it. Rosaline,
What did the Russian whisper in your ear?

Ros.
Madam, he swore, that he did hold me dear
As precious eye-sight; and did value me
Above this world; adding thereto, moreover,
That he would wed me, or else die my lover.

Prin.
God give thee joy of him! the noble lord
Most honourably doth uphold his word.

King.
What mean you, Madam? by my life, my troth,
I never swore this lady such an oath.

Ros.
By heav'n, you did; and to confirm it plain,
You gave me this: but take it, Sir, again.

King.
My faith, and this, to th' Princess I did give;
I knew her by this jewel on her sleeve.

Prin.
Pardon me, Sir, this jewel did she wear:
And lord Biron, I thank him, is my Dear.
What? will you have me; or your pearl again?

Biron.
Neither of either: I remit both twain.
I see the trick on't; here was a consent,
(Knowing aforehand of our merriment)
To dash it, like a Christmas comedy.
Some carry-tale, some please-man, some slight zany,

-- 272 --


Some mumble-news, some trencher-knight, some Dick,
That 1 note


smiles his cheek in years, and knows the trick
To make my lady laugh, when she's dispos'd,
Told our intents before; which once disclos'd,
The ladies did change Favours, and then we,
Following the signs, woo'd but the sign of she:
Now to our perjury to add more terror,
We are again forsworn; in will, and error.
Much upon this it is.—And might not You [To Boyet.
Forestal our sport, to make us thus untrue?
Do not you know my lady's foot by th' squier,
  And laugh upon the apple of her eye,
And stand between her back, Sir, and the fire,
  Holding a trencher, jesting merrily?
You put our Page out: 2 notego, you are allow'd;
Die when you will, a smock shall be your shrowd.
You leer upon me, do you? there's an eye,
Wounds like a leaden sword.

Boyet.
Full merrily
Hath this brave Manage, this Career, been run.

Biron.
Lo, he is tilting strait. Peace, I have done. Enter Costard.
Welcome, pure wit, thou partest a fair fray.

Cost.
O lord, Sir, they would know
Whether the three Worthies shall come in, or no.

-- 273 --

Biron.
What, are there but three?

Cost.
No, Sir, but it is vara fine;
For every one pursents three.

Biron.
And three times three is nine?

Cost.

Not so, Sir, under correction, Sir; I hope, it is not so.

You cannot beg us, Sir; I can assure you, Sir, we know what we know: I hope, three times thrice, Sir—

Biron.

Is not nine.

Cost.

Under correction, Sir, we know where until it doth amount.

Biron.

By Jove, I always took three threes for nine.

Cost.

O lord, Sir, it were pity you should get your living by reckoning, Sir.

Biron.

How much is it?

Cost.

O lord, Sir, the parties themselves, the actors, Sir, will shew whereuntil it doth amount; for my own part, I am, as they say, but to perfect one man in one poor man, Pompion the Great, Sir.

Biron.

Art thou one of the worthies?

Cost.

It pleased them to think me worthy of Pompion the Great: for mine own part, I know not the degree of the Worthy; but I am to stand for him.

Biron.

Go bid them prepare.

Cost.

We will turn it finely off, Sir, we will take some care.

King.

Biron, they will shame us; let them not approach.

[Exit Cost.

Biron.
We are shame-proof, my lord; and 'tis some policy
To have one Show worse than the King's and his Company.

King.
I say, they shall not come.

Prin.
Nay, my good lord, let me o'er-rule you now;
That sport best pleases, that doth least know how.
Where zeal strives to content, and the contents
Dies in the zeal of that which it presents;

-- 274 --


Their form, confounded, makes most form in mirth;
When great things, labouring, perish in their birth.

Biron.
A right description of our sport, my lord.
SCENE IX. Enter Armado.

Arm.

Anointed, I implore so much expence of thy royal sweet breath, as will utter a brace of words.

Prin.

Doth this man serve God?

Biron.

Why ask you?

Prin.

He speaks not like a man of God's making.

Arm.

That's all one, my fair, sweet, hony monarch; for, I protest, the schoolmaster is exceeding fantastical; too, too vain; too, too vain: but we will put it, as they say, to fortuna de la guerra. I wish you the peace of mind, most royal coupplement.

King.

Here is like to be a good presence of Worthies: he presents Hector of Troy; the swain, Pompey the Great; the parish-curate, Alexander; Armado's page, Hercules; the pedant, Judas Machabeus.


And if these four Worthies in their first Show thrive,
These four will change habits, and present the other five.

Biron.
There are five in the first Show.

King.
You are deceiv'd, 'tis not so.

Biron.
The pedant, the braggart, the hedge-priest, the fool, and the boy.
A bare throw at Novum, and the whole world again
Cannot prick out five such, take each one in's vein.

King.
The ship is under sail, and here she comes amain.
Enter Costard for Pompey.

Cost.
I Pompey am—

Boyet.
You lye, you are not he.

-- 275 --

Cost.
I Pompey am—

Boyet.
3 noteWith Libbard's head on knee.

Biron.

Well said, old mocker: I must needs be friends with thee.

Cost.

I Pompey am, Pompey surnam'd the Big.

Dum.

The Great.

Cost.
It is Great, Sir; Pompey, surnam'd the Great;
That oft in field, with targe and shield,
  Did make my foe to sweat:
And travelling along this coast, I here am come by chance;
And lay my arms before the legs of this sweet Lass of France.
If your ladyship would say, “thanks,—Pompey, I had done.

Prin.
Great thanks, great Pompey.

Cost.

'Tis not so much worth; but, I hope, I was perfect. I made a little fault in great.

Biron.

My hat to a half-penny, Pompey proves the best Worthy.

Enter Nathaniel for Alexander.

Nath.
When in the world I liv'd, I was the world's Commander;
By east, west, north and south, I spread my conquering might:
My 'Scutcheon plain declares, that I am Alisander.

Boyet.
Your nose says, no, you are not; for it stands too right.

Biron.
Your nose smells, no, in this, most tender smelling Knight.

Prin.
The Conqueror is dismaid: proceed, good Alexander.

Nath.
When in the world I liv'd, I was the world's Commander.

-- 276 --

Boyet.

Most true, 'tis right; you were so, Alisander.

Biron.

Pompey the Great,—

Cost.

Your servant, and Costard.

Biron.

Take away the Conqueror, take away Alisander.

Cost.

O Sir, you have overthrown Alisander the Conqueror. [to Nath.] You will be scraped out of the painted cloth for this; your lion, that holds the pollax sitting on a close-stool, will be given to A-jax; he will be then the ninth Worthy. A Conqueror, and afraid to speak? run away for shame, Alisander. There, an't shall please you; a foolish mild man; an honest man, look you, and soon dash'd. He is a marvellous good neighbour, insooth, and a very good bowler; but for Alisander, alas, you see, how 'tis a little o'er-parted: but there are Worthies a coming will speak their mind in some other sort.

Biron.

Stand aside, good Pompey.

Enter Holofernes for Judas, and Moth for Hercules.

Hol.
Great Hercules is presented by this imp,
  Whose club kill'd Cerberus, that three-headed canus;
And when he was a babe, a child, a shrimp,
  Thus did he strangle serpents in his manus:
Quoniam, he seemeth in minority;
Ergo, I come with this apology.—
Keep some state in thy Exit, and vanish.
[Exit Moth.

Hol.
Judas I am.

Dum.
A Judas!

Hol.
Not Iscariot, Sir;
Judas I am, ycleped Machabeus.

Dum.
Judas Machabeus clipt, is plain Judas.

Biron.
A kissing traitor. How art thou prov'd Judas?

Hol.
Judas I am.

Dum.
The more shame for you, Judas.

-- 277 --

Hol.
What mean you, Sir?

Boyet.
To make Judas hang himself.

Hol.
Begin, Sir, you are my elder.

Biron.
Well follow'd; Judas was hang'd on an Elder.

Hol.
I will not be put out of countenance.

Biron.
Because thou hast no face.

Hol.
What is this?

Boyet.
A cittern head.

Dum.
The head of a bodkin.

Biron.
A death's face in a ring.

Long.
The face of an old Roman coin, scarce seen.

Boyet.
The pummel of Cæsar's faulchion.

Dum.
The carv'd-bone face on a flask.

Biron.
St. George's half-cheek in a brooch.

Dum.
Ay, and in a brooch of lead.

Biron.
Ay, and worn in the cap of a tooth-drawer;
And now, forward; for we have put thee in countenance.

Hol.
You have put me out of countenance.

Biron.
False; we have given thee faces.

Hol.
But you have out-fac'd them all.

Biron.
An thou wert a lion, we would do so.

Boyet.
Therefore as he is an ass, let him go.
And so adieu, sweet Jude; nay, why dost thou stay?

Dum.
For the latter end of his name.

Biron.
For the Ass to the Jude; give it him. Jud-as, away.

Hol.
This is not generous, not gentle, not humble.

Boyet.
A light for monsieur Judas; it grows dark, he may stumble.

Prin.
Alas! poor Machabeus, how he hath been baited!
Enter Armado.

Biron.

Hide thy head, Achilles, here comes Hector in arms.

-- 278 --

Dum.

Tho' my mocks come home by me, I will now be merry.

King.

Hector was but a Trojan in respect of this.

Boyet.

But is this Hector?

King.

I think, Hector was not so clean-timber'd.

Long.

His leg is too big for Hector.

Dum.

More calf, certain.

Boyet.

No; he is best indu'd in the small.

Biron.

This can't be Hector.

Dum.

He's a God or a Painter, for he makes faces.

Arm.
The armipotent Mars, of launces the Almighty,
Gave Hector a gift,—

Dum.
A gilt nutmeg.

Biron.
A lemon.

Long.
Stuck with cloves.

Dum.
No, cloven.

Arm.
The armipotent Mars, of launces the Almighty,
  Gave Hector a gift, the heir of Ilion;
A man so breath'd, that certain he would fight ye
  From morn 'till night, out of his pavilion.
I am that Flower.

Dum.
That mint.

Long.
That cullambine.

Arm.
Sweet lord Longaville, rein thy tongue.

Long.

I must rather give it the rein; for it runs against Hector.

Dum.
Ay, and Hector's a grey-hound.

Arm.
The sweet War-man is dead and rotten;
Sweet chucks, beat not the bones of the bury'd:
But I will forward with my device;
Sweet Royalty, bestow on me the sense of hearing.

Prin.
Speak, brave Hector; we are much delighted,

Arm.
I do adore thy sweet Grace's slipper.

Boyet.
Loves her by the foot.

Dum.
He may not, by the yard.

Arm.
This Hector far surmounted Hannibal.

Cost.

The party is gone, fellow Hector, she is gone;

-- 279 --

she is two months on her way.

Arm.

What mean'st thou?

Cost.

Faith, unless you play the honest Trojan, the poor wench is cast away; she's quick, the child brags in her belly already. 'Tis yours.

Arm.

Dost thou infamonize me among Potentates? Thou shalt die.

Cost.

Then shall Hector be whipt for Jaquenetta, that is quick by him; and hang'd for Pompey, that is dead by him.

Dum.

Most rare Pompey!

Boyet.

Renowned Pompey!

Biron.

Greater than great, great, great, great Pompey! Pompey the huge!

Dum.

Hector trembles.

Biron.

Pompey is mov'd; more Ates, more Ates; stir them on, stir them on.

Dum.

Hector will challenge him.

Biron.

Ay, if he have no more man's blood in's belly than will sup a flea.

Arm.

By the north-pole, I do challenge thee.

Cost.

I will not fight with a pole, like a northern man: I'll slash; I'll do't by the Sword: I pray you, let me borrow my arms again.

Dum.

Room for the incensed Worthies.

Cost.

I'll do it in my shirt.

Dum.

Most resolute Pompey!

Moth.

Master, let me take you a button-hole lower. Do ye not see, Pompey is uncasing for the combat: what mean you? you will lose your reputation.

Arm.

Gentlemen, and soldiers, pardon me; I will not combat in my shirt.

Dum.

You may not deny it, Pompey hath made the challenge.

Arm.

Sweet bloods, I both may and will.

Biron.

What reason have you for't?

-- 280 --

Arm.

The naked truth of it is, I have no shirt; I go woolward for penance.

&wlquo;Boyet.

&wlquo;True, and 4 noteit was enjoin'd him in Rome for want of linnen; since when, I'll be sworn, he wore none but a dish-clout of Jaquenetta's, and that he wears next his heart for a Favour.&wrquo;

SCENE X. Enter Macard.

Mac.

God save you, Madam!

Prin.

Welcome, Macard, but that thou interruptest our merriment.

Mac.
I'm sorry, Madam, for the news I bring
Is heavy in my tongue. The King your father—

Prin.
Dead, for my life.

Mac.
Even so: my Tale is told.

Biron.
Worthies, away; the Scene begins to cloud.

Arm.

For my own part, I breathe free breath; 5 noteI have seen the day of right through the little hole of discretion, and I will right my self like a soldier.

[Exeunt Worthies.

-- 281 --

King.
How fares your Majesty?

Prin.
Boyet, prepare; I will away to night.

King.
Madam, not so; I do beseech you, stay.

Prin.
Prepare, I say.—I thank you, gracious lords,
For all your fair endeavours; and entreat,
Out of a new-sad soul, that you vouchsafe
In your rich wisdom to excuse, or hide,
The liberal opposition of our spirits;
If over-boldly we have borne our selves
In the converse of breath, your gentleness
Was guilty of it. Farewel, worthy lord;
An heavy heart bears not a (a) note nimble tongue:
Excuse me so, coming so short of thanks,
For my great Suit so easily obtain'd.

King.
The extreme part of time extremely forms
All causes to the purpose of his speed;
And often, at his very loose, decides
That, which long Process could not arbitrate.
And though the mourning brow of Progeny
Forbid the smiling courtesie of love,
The holy suit which fain it would convince;
Yet since love's argument was first on foot,
Let not the cloud of sorrow justle it
From what it purpos'd: Since, to wail friends lost,
Is not by much so wholesome, profitable,
As to rejoice at friends but newly found.

Prin.
I understand you not, my griefs are double.

Biron.
Honest plain words best pierce the ear of grief;
And by these badges understand the King,
For your fair sakes have we neglected time,
Play'd foul Play with our oaths: your beauty, ladies,
Hath much deform'd us, fashioning our humours
Even to th' opposed end of our intents;
And what in us hath seem'd ridiculous,

-- 282 --


As love is full of unbefitting strains,
All wanton as a child, skipping in vain,
Form'd by the eye, and therefore like the eye.
Full of straying shapes, of habits, and of forms,
Varying in subjects as the eye doth rowl,
To every varied object in his glance;
Which party-coated presence of loose love
Put on by us, if, in your heav'nly eyes,
Have misbecom'd our oaths and gravities;
Those heav'nly eyes, that look into these faults,
Suggested us to make them: therefore, ladies,
Our love being yours, the error that love makes
Is likewise yours. We to our selves prove false,
By being once false, for ever to be true
To those that make us both; fair ladies, you:
And even that falshood, in it self a sin,
Thus purifies it self, and turns to Grace.

Prin.
We have receiv'd your letters, full of love;
Your Favours, the embassadors of love:
And in our maiden council rated them
At courtship, pleasant jest, and courtesie:
As bumbast, and as lining to the time:
5 note



But more devout than this, (save our respects)
Have we not been; and therefore met your loves
In their own fashion, like a merriment.

Dum.
Our letters, Madam, shew'd much more than jest.

Long.
So did our looks.

Ros.
6 noteWe did not quote them so.

-- 283 --

King.
Now at the latest minute of the hour,
Grant us your loves.

Prin.
A time, methinks, too short,
To make a world-without-end bargain in;
No, no, my lord, your Grace is perjur'd much,
Full of dear guiltiness; and therefore, this—
If for my love (as there is no such cause)
You will do aught, this shall you do for me;
Your oath I will not trust; but go with speed
To some forlorn and naked Hermitage,
Remote from all the pleasures of the world;
There stay, until the twelve celestial Signs
Have brought about their annual reckoning.
If this austere insociable life
Change not your offer made in heat of blood;
If frosts, and fasts, hard lodging, and thin weeds
Nip not the gaudy blossoms of your love,
But that it bear this tryal, and last love;
Then, at the expiration of the year,
Come challenge me; challenge me, by these deserts;
And by this virgin palm, now kissing thine,
I will be thine; and 'till that instant shut
My woful self up in a mourning house,
Raining the tears of lamentation,
For the remembrance of my father's death.
If this thou do deny, let our hands part;
Neither intitled in the other's heart.

King.
If this, or more than this, I would deny,
  7 noteTo fetter up these powers of mine with rest;
The sudden hand of death close up mine eye!
  Hence, ever then, my heart is in thy breast.

-- 284 --

Biron.
8 note[And what to me, my love? and what to me?

Ros.
You must be purged too, your sins are rank,
Your are attaint with fault and perjury;
Therefore if you my favour mean to get,
A twelve-month shall you spend, and never rest,
But seek the weary beds of people sick.]

Dum.
But what to me, my love? but what to me?

Cath.
A wife!—a beard, fair health and honesty;
With three-fold love I wish you all these three.

Dum.
O, shall I say, I thank you, gentle wife?

Cath.
Not so, my lord, a twelve-month and a day,
I'll mark no words that smooth-fac'd wooers say.
Come, when the King doth to my lady come;
Then if I have much love, I'll give you some.

Dum.
I'll serve thee true and faithfully till then.

Cath.
Yet swear not, lest ye be forsworn again.

Long.
What says Maria?

Mar.
At the twelve-month's end,
I'll change my black gown for a faithful friend.

Long.
I'll stay with patience; but the time is long.

Mar.
The liker you; few taller are so young.

Biron.
Studies my lady? mistress, look on me,
Behold the window of my heart, mine eye,
What humble Suit attends thy answer there;
Impose some service on me for my love.

Ros.
Oft have I heard of you, my lord Biron,
Before I saw you; and the world's large tongue
Proclaims you for a man replete with mocks;
Full of comparisons and wounding flouts;
Which you on all estates will execute,
That lye within the mercy of your wit:
To weed this wormwood from your fruitful brain,

-- 285 --


And therewithal to win me, if you please,
(Without the which I am not to be won;)
You shall this twelve-month-term from day to day
Visit the speechless Sick, and still converse
With groaning wretches; and your task shall be,
With all the fierce endeavour of your wit,
T' enforce the pained Impotent to smile.

Biron.
To move wild laughter in the throat of death?
It cannot be, it is impossible:
Mirth cannot move a soul in agony.

Ros.
Why, that's the way to choak a gibing spirit,
Whose influence is begot of that loose grace,
Which shallow laughing hearers give to fools:
A jest's prosperity lies in the ear
Of him that hears it, never in the tongue
Of him that makes it: then, if sickly ears,
Deaft with the clamours of their own dear groans,
Will hear your idle scorns; continue then,
And I will have you, and that fault withal:
But if they will not, throw away that spirit;
And I shall find you empty of that fault,
Right joyful of your Reformation.

Biron.
A twelve-month? well; befall, what will befall,
I'll jest a twelve month in an Hospital.

Prin.
Ay, sweet my lord, and so I take my leave.
[To the King.

King.
No, Madam; we will bring you on your way.

Biron.
Our wooing doth not end like an old Play;
Jack hath not Jill; these ladies' courtesie
Might well have made our sport a Comedy.

King.
Come, Sir, it wants a twelve-month and a day,
And then 'twill end.

Biron.
That's too long for a Play.

-- 286 --

Enter Armado.

Arm.
Sweet Majesty, vouchsafe me—

Prin.
Was not that Hector?

Dum.
That worthy Knight of Troy.

Arm.

I will kiss thy royal finger, and take leave. I am a Votary; I have vow'd to Jaquenetta to hold the plough for her sweet love three years. But, most-esteem'd Greatness, will you hear the dialogue that the two learned men have compiled, in praise of the owl and the cuckow? it should have follow'd in the end of our Show.

King.

Call them forth quickly, we will do so.

Arm.
Holla! approach.— Enter all, for the Song.
This side is Hiems, Winter.
This Ver, the spring: the one maintain'd by the owl,
The other by the cuckow.
Ver, begin.

The SONG.

SPRING. WINTER. Act I. Scene I. page 195.
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Alexander Pope [1747], The works of Shakespear in eight volumes. The Genuine Text (collated with all the former Editions, and then corrected and emended) is here settled: Being restored from the Blunders of the first Editors, and the Interpolations of the two Last: with A Comment and Notes, Critical and Explanatory. By Mr. Pope and Mr. Warburton (Printed for J. and P. Knapton, [and] S. Birt [etc.], London) [word count] [S11301].
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