For he hath been five thousand years a boy.
Kath. Ay, and a shrewd unhappy gallows too.
Ros. You'll ne'er be friends with him; he kill'd

your sister.

Kath. He made her melancholy, sad, and heavy; And so she died: had she been light, like you, Of such a merry, nimble, stirring spirit, She might have been a grandam ere she died: And so may you; for a light heart lives long.

Ros. What's your dark meaning, mouse, of this

light word?

Kath. A light condition in a beauty dark.

Ros. We need more light to find your meaning

out.

Kath. You'll mar the light, by taking it in snuff; Therefore, I'll darkly end the argument.

Ros. Look, what you do, you do it still i' the

dark.

Kath. So do not you; for you are a light wench.
Ros. Indeed, I weigh not you; and therefore

light.

Kath. You weigh me not,-O, that's you care not

for me.

Ros. Great reason; for, Past cure is still past

care.

Prin. Well bandied both; a set of wit well

play'd.

But Rosaline, you have a favour too:

Who sent it? and what is it?

Ros.

I would, you knew:

An if my face were but as fair as yours,
My favour were as great; be witness this.

Nay, I have verses too, I thank Birón:

1

2

-mouse,] This was a term of endearment formerly.

- taking it in snuff;] Snuff is here used equivocally for

anger, and the snuf of a candle.

a set of wit - A term from tennis.

The numbers true; and, were the numb'ring too,
I were the fairest goddess on the ground:
I am compar'd to twenty thousand fairs.
O, he hath drawn my picture in his letter!

Prin. Any thing like?

Ros. Much, in the letters; nothing in the praise. Prin. Beauteous as ink; a good conclusion.

Kath. Fair as a text B in a copy-book.

Ros. 'Ware pencils! How? let me not die your

debtor,

My red dominical, my golden letter:

O, that your face were not so full of O's!

Kath. A pox of that jest! and beshrew all shrows!4 Prin. But what was sent to you from fair Dumain?

Kath. Madam, this glove.

Prin.

Did he not send you twain?

Kath. Yes, madam; and moreover,

Some thousand verses of a faithful lover:

A huge translation of hypocrisy,

Vilely compil'd, profound simplicity.

Mar. This, and these pearls, to me sent Longa

ville;

The letter is too long by half a mile.

Prin. I think no less: Dost thou not wish in heart, The chain were longer, and the letter short?

Mar. Ay, or I would these hands might never

part. Prin. We are wise girls, to mock our lovers so. Ros. They are worse fools to purchase mocking so. That same Birón I'll torture ere I go. O, that I knew he were but in by the week!5 How I would make him fawn, and beg, and seek;

* A pox of that jest! and beshrew all shrows!] "Por of that jest!" Mr. Theobald is scandalized at this language from a princess. But there needs no alarm the small pox only is alluded to; with which, it seems, Katharine was pitted; or, as it is quaintly expressed, "her face was full of O's."

5

in by the week!] An expression taken from hiring ser

And wait the season, and observe the times,
And spend his prodigal wits in bootless rhymes;
And shape his service wholly to my behests;
And make him proud to make me proud that jests!
So portent-like would I o'ersway his state,
That he should be my fool, and I his fate.

Prin. None are so surely caught, when they are

catch'd,

As wit turn'd fool: folly, in wisdom hatch'd, Hath wisdom's warrant, and the help of school; And wit's own grace to grace a learned fool.

Ros. The blood of youth burns not with such

excess,

As gravity's revolt to wantonness.

Mar. Folly in fools bears not so strong a note, As foolery in the wise, when wit doth dote; Since all the power thereof it doth apply, To prove, by wit, worth in simplicity.

Enter BOYET.

Prin. Here comes Boyet, and mirth is in his face.
Boyet. O, I am stabb'd with laughter! Where's

her grace?
Prin. Thy news, Boyet?
Boyet.
Prepare, madam, prepare!-
Arm, wenches, arm! encounters mounted are
Against your peace: Love doth approach disguis'd,
Armed in arguments; you'll be surpris'd:
Muster your wits; stand in your own defence;
Or hide your heads like cowards, and fly hence,
Prin. Saint Dennis to saint Cupid! What are

they,

That charge their breath against us? say, scout, say.

vants or artificers; meaning, I wish I was as sure of his service for any time limited, as if I had hired him.

• And make him proud to make me proud that jests!] The mean

§

Boyet. Under the cool shade of a sycamore, I thought to close mine eyes some half an hour: When, lo! to interrupt my purpos'd rest, Toward that shade I might behold addrest The king and his companions: warily I stole into a neighbour thicket by, And overheard what you shall overhear; That, by and by, disguis'd they will be here. Their herald is a pretty knavish page, That well by heart hath conn'd his embassage: Action, and accent, did they teach him there; Thus must you speak, and thus thy body bear: And ever and anon they made a doubt, Presence majestical would put him out; For, quoth the king, an angel shalt thou see; Yet fear not thou, but speak audaciously. The boy reply'd, An angel is not evil; I should have fear'd her, had she been a devil. With that all laugh'd, and clapp'd him on the

shoulder;

Making the bold wag by their praises bolder.
One rubb'd his elbow, thus; and fleer'd, and swore,
A better speech was never spoke before:
Another, with his finger and his thumb,
Cry'd, Via! we will do't, come what will come :
The third he caper'd, and cried, All goes well:
The fourth turn'd on the toe, and down he fell.
With that, they all did tumble on the ground,
With such a zealous laughter, so profound,
That in this spleen ridiculous appears,
To check their folly, passion's solemn tears.

Prin. But what, but what, come they to visit us ? Boyet. They do, they do; and are apparel'd thus, Like Muscovites, or Russians: as I guess,

ing of this obscure line seems to be, I would make him proud to flatter me who make a mock of his flattery.

7

- spleen ridiculous - Is, a ridiculous fit of laughter.

Their purpose is, to parle, to court, and dance:
And every one his love-feat will advance
Unto his several mistress; which they'll know
By favours several, which they did bestow.

Prin. And will they so? the gallants shall be

task'd:

For, ladies, we will every one be mask'd;
And not a man of them shall have the grace,
Despite of suit, to see a lady's face.-
Hold, Rosaline, this favour thou shalt wear;
And then the king will court thee for his dear;
Hold, take thou this, my sweet, and give me thine;
So shall Birón take me for Rosaline.-
And change you favours too; so shall your loves
Woo contrary, deceiv'd by these removes.

Ros. Come on then; wear the favours most in

sight.

Kath. But, in this changing, what is your intent?
Prin. The effect of my intent is, to cross theirs:

They do it but in mocking merriment;
And mock for mock is only my intent.
Their several counsels they unbosom shall
To loves mistook; and so be mock'd withal,
Upon the next occasion that we meet,
With visages display'd, to talk, and greet.
Ros. But shall we dance, if they desire us to't?
Prin. No; to the death, we will not move a

foot:

Nor to their penn'd speech render we no grace;
But, while 'tis spoke, each turn away her face.
Boyet. Why, that contempt will kill the speaker's
heart,

And quite divorce his memory from his part.
Prin. Therefore I do it; and, I make no doubt,
The rest will ne'er come in, if he be out.
There's no such sport, as sport by sport o'erthrown;
To make theirs ours, and ours none but our own: