Your oaths are past, and now subscribe your names ; Long. I am refolv'd; 'tis but a three years' faft: Dum. My loving lord, Dumain is mortify'd: Biron. I can but say their proteftation over, King. Your oath is past to pass away from these. What What is the end of study? let me know. Biron. Come on then, I will swear to study fo, To know the thing I am forbid to know : King. These be the stops that hinder study quite, Biron. Why, all delights are vain; but that most vain To feek the light of truth, while truth the while Light, seeking light, doth light of light beguile; By fixing it upon a fairer eye; } Study is like the heaven's glorious fun, That will not be deep search'd with saucy looks; Small have continual plodders ever won, Save base authority from others' books. These earthly godfathers of heaven's lights, VOL. II. M Have Have no more profit of their shining nights, Than those that walk, and wot not what they are. King. How well he's read, to reason against reading! Biron. Fit in his place and time. Dum. In reason nothing. Biron. Something then in rhyme. Long. Biron is like an envious sneaping froft, That bites the first-born infants of the spring. Biron. Well, say, Iam; why should proud summer boaft, Before the birds have any cause to fing? Why should I joy in an abortive birth? At christmas I no more defire a rose, But like of each thing that in season grows. King. Well, fit you out. Go home, Biron: adieu. And though I have for barbarism spoke more, Than for that angel knowledge you can say, Yet confident I'll keep what I have swore, And bide the penance of each three years' day. Give me the paper, let me read the fame, And to the strict'st decrees I'll write my name. King. How well this yielding refcues thee from shame! } Biron. Item, That no woman shall come within a mile of my court. [reading. Hath this been proclaimed? Long. Four days ago. Biron. Let's fee the penalty. On Biron. Sweet lord, and why? [reading. Long. To fright them hence with that dread penalty. Biron. A dangerous law against gentility! Item, [reading.] If any man be seen to talk with a woman within the term of three years, he shall endure such publick shame as the rest of the court can possibly devise. This article, my liege, yourself must break; For, well you know, here comes in embassy The French king's daughter, with yourself to speak, About furrender up of Aquitain To her decrepit, fick, and bedrid father : Or vainly comes th' admired princess hither. King. We must of force dispense with this decree, Biron. Necessity will make us all forsworn Three thousand times within this three years' space : For every man with his affects is born: Not by might mafter'd, but by special grace. If I break faith, this word shall speak for me, So to the laws at large I write my name; And he, that breaks them in the leaft degree, Stands in attainder of eternal shame. Suggestions are to others, as to me; M 2 But, But, I believe, although I seem so loath, King. Ay, that there is; our court, you know, is haunted A man in all the world's new fashions planted, For interim to our studies, shall relate How you delight, my lords, I know not, I; Biron. Armado is a most illustrious wight, Long. Coftard the swain, and he, shall be our sport; And, so to study, three years are but short. SCENE II. Enter Dull, and Coftard, with a letter. Dull. Which is the king's own person? Biron. This, fellow; what would'st? Dull. I myself reprehend his own person, for I am his grace's tharborough: but I would fee his own person in flesh and blood. Biron. This is he. Dull. Signior Arme, Arme, commends you. There's villany abroad; this letter will tell you more. Coft. Sir, the contempts thereof are as touching me. King. A letter from the magnificent Armado. |