Moth.
Arm.
Boy, what sign is it, when a man of great spirit
grows melancholy?
Mot.
A great sign, sir, that he will look sad.
Arm.
Why, sadness is one and the self same thing, dear imp.
Mot.
No, no; o lord, sir, no.
Arm.
How canst thou part sadness and melancholy,
my tender juvenal note?14Q0190
Mot.
By a familiar demonstration of the working,
my tough signior.
Arm.
Why tough signior? why tough signior?
Mot.
Why tender juvenal? why tender juvenal?
Arm.
I spoke it, tender juvenal, as a congruent epitheton note, note
appertaining to thy young days, which we may
nominate, tender.
Mot.
And I, tough signior, as an appertinent title
to your old time, which we may name, tough.
Arm.
Pretty, and apt.
Mot.
How mean you, sir? I pretty, and my saying
apt? or I apt, and my saying pretty?
Arm.
Thou pretty, because little.
Mot.
Little pretty, because little: Wherefore apt?
Arm.
And therefore apt, because quick.
Mot.
Speak you this in my praise, master?
Arm.
In thy condign praise.
Mot.
I will praise an eel with the same praise.
Arm.
What? that an eel is ingenious note?
Mot.
That an eel is quick.
Arm.
I do say, thou art quick in answers: Thou
-- 14 --
heat'st my blood.
Mot.
I am answer'd, sir.
Arm.
I love not to be crost.
&clquo;Mot.
&clquo;He speaks the meer contrary note, crosses love not him.&crquo;
Arm.
I have promised to study three years with the duke.
Mot.
You may do it in an hour, sir.
Arm.
Impossible.
Mot.
How many is one thrice told?
Arm.
I am ill at reck'ning, it fitteth the note spirit of a tapster.
Mot.
You are a gentleman, and a gamester, sir:
Arm.
I confess both; they are both the varnish of
a compleat man.
Mot.
Then, I am sure, you know how much the
gross sum of deux-ace amounts to.
Arm.
It doth amount to one more than two.
Mot.
Which the base vulgar do note call, three.
Arm.
True.
Mot.
Why, sir, is this such a piece of study? Now
here is note three study'd, ere you'll note thrice wink: and how
easy it is, to put years to the word three, and study three
years in two words, the dancing horse will tell you.
Arm.
A most fine figure!
&clquo;Mot.
&clquo;To prove you a cypher.&crquo;
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 devis'd court'sy. note I think scorn
to sigh; methinks, I should out-swear Cupid. Comfort
me, boy; What great men have been in love?
Mot.
Hercules, master.
-- 15 --
Arm.
Most sweet Hercules!—More authority, dear
boy, name more; and, sweet my child, let them be
men of good repute and carriage.
Mot.
Sampson, master: he was a man of good carriage,
great carriage; for he carry'd the town-gates 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?
Mot.
A woman, master.
Arm.
Of what complexion?
Mot.
Of all the four, or the three, or the two; or
one of the four.
Arm.
Tell me precisely, of what complexion?
Mot.
Of the sea-water green, sir.
Arm.
Is that one of the four complexions?
Mot.
As I have read, sir; and the best of them too.
Arm.
Green, indeed, is the colour of lovers: but to
have a love of that colour, methinks, Sampson had small
reason for it. He, surely, affected her for her wit.
Mot.
It was so, sir; for she had a green wit.
Arm.
My love note is most immaculate white and red.
Mot.
Most maculate thoughts, note master, are mask'd
under such colours.
Arm.
Define, define, well-educated infant.
Mot.
My father's wit, and my mother's tongue, assist me!
Arm.
Sweet invocation of a child; most pretty, and pathetical!
Mot.
If she be made of white and red,
Her faults will ne'er be known;
For blushing note cheeks by faults are bred,
And fears by pale-white shown:
-- 16 --
Then, if she fear, or be to blame,
By this you shall not know;
For still her cheeks possess the same,
Which native she doth owe.
A dangerous rime, master, against the reason of white
and red.
Arm.
Is there not a ballad, boy,14Q0191 of the king and the beggar?
Mot.
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.
Arm.
I will have that subject newly writ o'er, that
I may example my digression by some mighty precedent.
Boy, I do love that country girl, that I took
in the park with the irrational hind, Costard; she deserves
well.
&clquo;Mot.
&clquo;To be whip'd; and yet a better love than my master.&crquo;
Arm.
Sing, boy; my spirit grows heavy in love.
Mot.
And that's great marvel, loving a light wench.
Arm.
I say, sing.
Mot.
Forbear, 'till this company be past.
Enter Dull, Costard, and Jaquenetta.
Dul.
Sir, the duke's pleasure is, that you keep Costard
safe: and you must suffer him to take note no delight,
nor no penance; but a' must fast three days a week:
For this damsel, I must keep her at the park; she is
allow'd for the day-woman. Fare you well.
Arm.
I do betray myself with blushing.—Maid.
Jaq.
Man.
Arm.
I wil visit thee at the lodge.
Jaq.
That's hereby.
Arm.
I know where it is situate.
-- 17 --
Jaq.
Lord, how wise you are!
Arm.
I will tell thee wonders.
Jaq.
With that face? note
Arm.
I love thee.
Jaq.
So I heard you say.
Arm.
And so farewel.
Jaq.
Fair weather after you!
Dul. note
Come note, Jaquenetta, away.
[Exeunt Dull, and Jaquenetta.
Arm.
Villain, thou shalt fast for thy offences, ere
thou be pardoned.
Cos.
Well, sir, I hope, when I do it, I shall do it
on a full stomack.
Arm.
Thou shalt be heavily punished.
Cos.
I am more bound to you than your followers, note
for they are but lightly rewarded.
Arm.
Take note away this villain; shut him up.
Mot.
Come, you transgressing slave; away.
Cos.
Let me not be pent up, sir; I will fast note, being loose.
Mot.
No, sir; that were fast and loose: thou shalt to
prison.
Cos.
Well, if ever I do see the merry days of desolation
that I have seen, some shall see—
Mot.
What shall some see?
Cos.
Nay, nothing, master Moth, but what they look
upon. It is not note for prisoners to be too note silent in their
words; and, therefore, I will say nothing: I thank God,
I have as little patience as another man; and, therefore,
I can be quiet.
[Exeunt Moth, and Costard.
Arm.
I do affect the very ground, which is base,
where her shoe, which is baser, guided by her foot, which
is basest, doth tread. I shall be forsworn (which is a great
-- 18 --
argument of falshood) if I love: And how can that be
true love, which is falsly attempted? Love is a familiar;
love is a devil: there is no evil angel, but love. Yet Sampson
was note so tempted; and he had an excellent strength:
yet was Solomon so seduced; and he had a note very good wit:
Cupid's but-shaft 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 turn; 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, rapier; be still, drum; for your manager is in
love; yea, he loveth. Assist me, some extemporal god of
rime, for, I am sure, I shall turn sonneter. Devise, wit;
write, pen; for I am for whole volumes in folio.
[Exit.
Edward Capell [1767], Mr William Shakespeare his comedies, histories, and tragedies, set out by himself in quarto, or by the Players his Fellows in folio, and now faithfully republish'd from those Editions in ten Volumes octavo; with an introduction: Whereunto will be added, in some other Volumes, notes, critical and explanatory, and a Body of Various Readings entire (Printed by Dryden Leach, for J. and R. Tonson [etc.], London) [word count] [S10601].
