And when it hath the thing it hunteth most, BIRON. Necessity will make us all forsworn Three thousand times within this three years' space; Not by might master'd, but by special grace: So to the laws at large I write my name: 150 [subscribes. And he that breaks them in the least degree Stands in attainder of eternal shame: Suggestions are to others as to me; But I believe, although I seem so loth, I am the last that last will keep his oath. But is there no quick recreation granted? KING. Ay, that there is. Our Court, you know, is haunted A man in all the World's new fashion planted, 5 A man of complements, whom Right and Wrong This child of Fancy," that Armado hight," For interim to our studies shall relate BIRON. Armado is a most illustrious wight, A man of fire-new words, Fashion's own knight. LONG. Costard the swain and he shall be our sport; And so to study three years is but short. Enter DULL with a letter, and COSTARD. DULL. Which is the Duke's own person? 161 170 180 ACT I Sc. I 1 lodge. 2 feelings. 5 accomplishments. 3 temptations. 6 fantastic. 7 is called. • lively. ACT I Sc. I DULL. I myself reprehend his own person, for I am his Grace's tharborough:1 but I would see his own person in flesh and blood. BIRON. This is he. DULL. Signior Arme-Arme-commends you. There's COST. Sir, the contempts thereof are as touching me. BIRON. How low soever the matter, I hope in God for 190 LONG. A high hope for a low having: God grant us patience! BIRON. To hear? or forbear laughing? LONG. To hear meekly, Sir, and to laugh moderately; or to forbear both. BIRON. Well, Sir, be it as the style shall give us cause COST. The matter is to me, Sir, as concerning Jaque- netta. 200 BIRON. In what manner? BIRON. For the following, Sir? COST. As it shall follow in my correction: and God defend the right! KING. Will you hear this letter with attention? BIRON. As we would hear an Oracle. 211 COST. Such is the simplicity of man to hearken after the flesh ! KING. Great Deputy, the welkin's Vicegerent, and sole Dominator of Navarre, my soul's Earth's God and body's fostering Patron COST. Not a word of Costard yet— KING. So it is— 1 thirdborough-peace-officer. 220 2 mainour (legal) in the act; with the plunder on him. COST. It may be so: but, if he say it is so, he is, in telling true, but so-so. KING. Peace! COST. -be to me, and every man that dares not fight! COST. of other men's secrets, I beseech you !-- COST. Me? KING. that unletter'd small-knowing soul COST. Me? KING. that shallow vassal— COST. Still me? KING. which, as I remember, hight Costard COST. O, me! 243 250 KING. sorted and consorted, contrary to thy establish'd Him KING. with a child of our grandmother Eve, a female; II : M 1 intricately bedded. 2 grieve. 85 260 ACT I Sc. I ACT I DULL. Me, an 't shall please you; I am Anthony Dull. Sc. I KING. For Jaquenetta-so is the weaker vessel call'd which I apprehended with the aforesaid Swain-I keep her as a vessel of thy Law's fury; and shall, at the least of thy sweet notice, bring her to trial. Thine, in all compliments of devoted and heart-burning heat of duty, DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO. BIRON. This is not so well as I look'd for, but the best that ever I heard. KING. Ay; the best for the worst. But, sirrah, what say you to this? COST. Sir, I confess the wench. KING. Did you hear the Proclamation? 271 COST. I do confess much of the hearing it, but little of the marking of it. KING. It was proclaim'd a year's imprisonment, to be taken with a wench. COST. I was taken with none, Sir: I was taken with a damosel. KING. Well, it was proclaim'd damosel. 280 COST. This was no damosel neither, Sir; she was a virgin. KING. This maid will not serve your turn, Sir. COST. This maid will serve my turn, Sir. KING. Sir, I will pronounce your sentence: you shall fast a week with bran and water. COST. I had rather pray a month with mutton and porridge. KING. And Don Armado shall be your keeper. My Lord Biron, see him deliver'd o'er: 290 And go we, Lords, to put in practice that Which each to other hath so strongly sworn. [Exeunt FERDINAND, LONGAVILLE, and DUMAIN. BIRON. I'll lay my head to any good man's hat, These oaths and laws will prove an idle scorn. COST. I suffer for the truth, Sir; for true it is I was and therefore, welcome the sour cup of Prosperity! Affliction may one day smile again; and till then, Sit thee down, Sorrow! [exeunt. ACT I SCENE II. The Same. Enter ARMADO and MOTH. ARM. Boy, what sign is it when a man of great spirit grows melancholy? MOTH. A great sign, Sir, that he will look sad. ARM. Why, sadness is one and the selfsame thing, dear MOTH. No, no; O Lord, Sir, no. ARM. How canst thou part sadness and melancholy, my tender Juvenal? MOTH. By a familiar demonstration of the working, my tough Senior. ARM. Why tough senior? why tough senior? ΙΟ MOTH. Why tender juvenal? why tender juvenal? MOTн. And I, tough Senior, as an appertinent title to ARM. Pretty and apt. MOTH. How mean you, Sir? I pretty, and my saying apt? or I apt, and my saying pretty? ARM. Thou pretty, because little. MOTH. Little pretty, because little. Wherefore apt? ARM. And therefore apt, because quick. MOTH. Speak you this in my praise, Master? ARM. In thy condign praise. MOTH. I will praise an eel with the same praise. ARM. What, that an eel is ingenious? MOTH. That an eel is quick. 20 ARM. I do say thou art quick in answers: thou heatest my blood. MOTH. I am answer'd, Sir. ARM. I love not to be cross'd. 30 1 youngster. |