Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB
[graphic]

ACT I

Sc. II

MOTH [aside.] He speaks the mere contrary-crosses1
love not him.

ARM. I have promis'd to study three years with the
Duke.

MOTH. You may do it in an hour, Sir.

ARM. Impossible.

MOTH. How many is one thrice told?

ARM. I am ill at reckoning; it fitteth the spirit of a

tapster.

MOTH. You are a gentleman and a gamester, Sir.

ARM. I confess both: they are both the varnish of a complete man.

MOTH. Then, I am sure, you know how much the gross sum of deuce-ace amounts to.

ARM. It doth amount to one more than two.

MOTH. Which the base vulgar do call three.
ARM. True.

49

MOTH. Why, Sir, is this such a piece of study? Now here's three studied, ere ye'll 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!

MOTH [aside.] To prove you a cipher.

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 courtesy. I think scorn to sigh: methinks I should outswear Cupid. Comfort me, Boy: what great men have been in love?

MOTH. Hercules, Master.

[ocr errors]

ARM. Most sweet Hercules! More authority, dear Boy, name more; and, sweet my Child, let them be men of good repute and carriage.

69

MOTH. Samson, Master: he was a man of good carriage,

great carriage; for he carried the town-gates on his back like a porter: and he was in love.

1 money.

2 i.e. Banks's: a famous equine artist of the time.

8 curtsy.

ARM. O well-knit Samson! strong-jointed Samson! I do excel thee in my rapier as much as thou didst me in carrying gates. I am in love too. Who was Samson's love, my dear Moth?

MOTH. A woman, Master.

ARM. Of what complexion ?1

2

MOTн. Of all the four, or the three, or the two; or one

of the four.

ARM. Tell me precisely of what complexion.

MOTH. Of the sea-water green, Sir.

ARM. Is that one of the four complexions?

80

MOTH. 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 Samson had small
reason for it. He surely affected her for her wit.
MOTH. It was so, Sir: for she had a green wit.3
ARM. My love is most immaculate white and red.
MOTH. Most maculate thoughts, Master, are mask'd
under such colours.

ARM. Define, define, well-educated Infant.

91

MOTH. My father's wit and my mother's tongue assist me! ARM. Sweet Invocation of a Child; most pretty and pathetical!

MOTH. If she be made of white and red,

Her faults will ne'er be known;

For blushing cheeks by faults are bred,

And fears by pale-white shewn :

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."

[ocr errors]

A dangerous rhyme, Master, against the reason of
white and red.

ARM. Is there not a ballad, Boy, of the King and the
Beggar?

MOTH. 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.

III

ARM. I will have that subject newly writ o'er, that I may

1 temperament. 2 i.e. the sanguine, the phlegmatic, the choleric, and the
melancholy. 3 with a play on withe. 4 by nature. 5
possess. 89

ACT I

Sc. II

[graphic]

ACT I
Sc. II

example my digression1 by some mighty precedent. Boy, I do love that country girl that I took in the Park with the rational hind Costard; she deserves well. MOTH [aside.] To be whipp'd; and yet a better love than my master.

ARM. Sing, Boy; my spirit grows heavy in love.

MOTн. And that's great marvel, loving a light wench.

ARM. I say, sing.

MOTH. Forbear till this company be past.

Enter DULL, COSTARD, and JAQUENETTA.

DULL. Sir, the Duke's pleasure is, that you keep Costard
safe and you must suffer him to take 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.2 Fare you well.

ARM. [aside.] I do betray myself with blushing.-Maid!
JAQ. Man?

ARM. I will visit thee at the Lodge.

JAQ. That's hereby.3

ARM. I know where it is situate.

JAQ. Lord, how wise you are!

ARM. I will tell thee wonders.

JAQ. With that face?

ARM. I love thee.

JAQ. So I heard you say.

ARM. And so, farewell.

JAQ. Fair weather after you!

DULL. Come, Jaquenetta, away!

[Exeunt DULL and JAQUENETTA.

ARM. Villain, thou shalt fast for thy offences ere thou

be pardon'd.

141

COST. Well, Sir, I hope, when I do it, I shall do it on a full stomach.

ARM. Thou shalt be heavily punish'd.

COST. I am more bound to you than your followers, for

they are but lightly rewarded.

ARM. Take away this villain; shut him up.

MOTH. Come, you transgressing slave; away!

COST. Let me not be pent up, Sir: I will fast, being loose.

[graphic]
[blocks in formation]

MOTH. No, Sir; that were fast and loose: thou shalt ACT I to prison.

151

Cost. Well, if ever I do see the merry days of desolation that I have seen, some shall see

MOTH. What shall some see?

COST. Nay, nothing, Master Moth, but what they look
upon. It is not for prisoners to be too 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 argument of falsehood: if I love. And
how can that be true love which is falsely attempted?
Love is a familiar; Love is a Devil: there is no evil
Angel but Love. Yet was Samson so tempted-and
he had an excellent strength; yet was Solomon so
seduc'd-and he had a very good wit.
shaft1 is too hard for Hercules' club;

Cupid's buttand therefore The first and

too much odds for a Spaniard's rapier.
second cause2 will not serve my turn; the passado3 he
respects not, the duello he regards not: his disgrace is
to be call'd 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 rhyme, for I am sure I shall turn
sonneter. Devise, Wit; write, Pen! for I am for
whole volumes in folio.
[exit.

Sc. II

ACT II

SCENE I. The KING'S Park.

Enter the PRINCESS OF FRANCE, ROSALINE, MARIA, KATHARINE, BOYET, Lords, and other Attendants. BOYET. Now, Madam, summon up your clearest spirits: Consider who the King your father sends;

To whom he sends; and what his embassy:

[blocks in formation]

ACT II

Sc. I

Yourself, held precious in the World's esteem,
To parley with the sole inheritor1

Of all perfections that a man may owe,
Matchless Navarre; the plea of no less weight
Than Aquitain—-a dowry for a Queen.
Be now as prodigal of all dear grace,

As Nature was in making graces dear,

When she did starve the general World beside,
And prodigally gave them all to you.

PRIN. Good Lord Boyet, my beauty, though but

mean,

Needs not the painted flourish of your praise :
Beauty is bought by judgment of the eye,
Not utter'd by base tale of chapmen's2 tongues :
I am less proud to hear you tell my worth
Than you much willing to be counted wise
In spending your wit in the praise of mine.
But now to task the tasker: good Boyet,
You are not ignorant all-telling Fame
Doth noise abroad Navarre hath made a vow,
Till painful study shall outwear three years,
No woman may approach his silent Court:
Therefore to us seemeth it a needful course,
Before we enter his forbidden gates,

To know his pleasure; and in that behalf,
Bold of your worthiness, we single you
As our best-moving fair solicitor.
Tell him, the daughter of the King of France,
On serious business, craving quick dispatch,
Importunes personal conference with his Grace:
Haste, signify so much; while we attend,
Like humble-visag'd suitors, his high will.
BOYET. Proud of employment, willingly I go.
PRIN. All pride is willing pride, and your's is so.

ΤΟ

20

30

[Exit BOYET.

Who are the votaries, my loving Lords,
That are vow-fellows with this virtuous Duke?
FIRST LORD. Lord Longaville is one.

PRIN.

Know you

the man?

2 pedlars'.

MAR. I know him, Madam: at a marriage-feast,

1 owner.

40

« AnteriorContinuar »