Welcome to PhiloLogic  
   home |  the ARTFL project |  download |  documentation |  sample databases |   
George Sewell [1723–5], The works of Shakespear in six [seven] volumes. Collated and Corrected by the former Editions, By Mr. Pope ([Vol. 7] Printed by J. Darby, for A. Bettesworth [and] F. Fayram [etc.], London) [word count] [S11101].
To look up a word in a dictionary, select the word with your mouse and press 'd' on your keyboard.

Previous section

Next section

†††SCENE V. Enter the King, Biron, Longaville, Dumain, and attendants, disguis'd like Muscovites. Moth with Musick, as for a masquerade.

Moth.

All hail the richest beauties on the earth.

Biron.

Beauties no richer than rich taffata.

Moth.

A holy parcel of the fairest dames that ever turn'd their back to mortal views.

[The ladies turn their backs to him.

-- 154 --

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 spirit, vouchsafe not to behold.

Biron.

Once to behold, rogue.

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

Biron.
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.

Rosa.
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.

Rosa.
What would they, say they?

Boyet.
Nothing but peace and gentle visitation.

Rosa.
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 they have measur'd many a mile,
To tread a measure with you on the grass.

Rosa.
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,
How many inches doth fill up one mile?

-- 155 --

Biron.
Tell her we measure them by weary steps.

Boyet.
She hears her self.

Rosa.
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 sunshine of your face,
That we (like savages) may worship it.

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

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

Rosa.
O vain petitioner, beg a greater matter;
Thou now requests 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.

Rosa.
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?

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

King.
Yet still she is the moon, and I the man.

Rosa.
The musick plays, vouchsafe some motion to it:
Our ears vouchsafe it.

King.
But your legs should do it.

Rosa.
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!

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

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

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

-- 156 --

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

Rosa.
Your absence only.

King.
That can never be.

Rosa.
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.

Rosa.
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.

Kath.
What, was your vizard made without a tongue?

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

Kath.
O for your reason, quickly Sir, I long.

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

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

Long.
A calf, fair lady?

-- 157 --

Kath.
No, a fair lord calf.

Long.
Let's part the word.

Kath.
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.

Kath.
Then die a calf before your horns do grow.

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

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

Boyet.
The tongue of mocking wenches are as keen
  As is the razor's edge invisible,
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.

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

Biron.
By heav'n all dry beaten with pure scoff.

King.
Farewell, mad wenches, you have simple wits.
[Exeunt.
Previous section

Next section


George Sewell [1723–5], The works of Shakespear in six [seven] volumes. Collated and Corrected by the former Editions, By Mr. Pope ([Vol. 7] Printed by J. Darby, for A. Bettesworth [and] F. Fayram [etc.], London) [word count] [S11101].
Powered by PhiloLogic