'Study me how to please the eye indeed,

By fixing it upon a fairer eye;

Who" dazzling so, that eye shall be "his heed,
And give him light that was it blinded by.
• Study is like the heaven's glorious fun,
That will not be deep fearch'd with fawcy looks
Small have continual plodders ever won,
Save base authority from others' books.
Thefe earthly godfathers of heaven's lights,
That give a name to every fixed star,
Have no more profit of their fhining nights,

Than those that walk and wot not what they are.
Too much to know, is, to know nought but fame;
And every godfather can give a name.

King. How well he's read, to reafon against reading! Dum. Proceeded well, to ftop all good proceeding! Long. He weeds the corn, and still lets grow the weeding. Biron. The fpring is near, when green geefe are a breeding. Dum. How follows that?

Biron. Fit in his place and time.

Dum. In reafon nothing.

Biron. Something then in rhime.

1 Study me]-Give me the ftudent, who feeks how.

m

dazzling fo,]-being thus dazzled.

his heed,]-guide, leading ftar.

"Your eyes are lode-stars."

MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, AI, S. 1. Hel. Study is like &c.]-Searching into the depths of science is like attempting minutely to examine the fun.

P to know nought but fame ;]-is rewarded only with empty reputation-the knowledge derived from the most extenfive reading refts folely upon the authority of writers, and mere bookworms may be justly faid to know nothing but fame, the reports, or relations of others.

9 can give a name. -as easily as these aftronomers do to the stars. Proceeded well, &c.]-A good proficient in the art of preventing all regular progrefs in fcience.

Long.

Long. Biron is like an envious 'fneaping froft,

That bites the first born 'infants of the spring.
Biron. Well, fay I am? why fhould proud fummer boast,
Before the birds have any caufe to fing?

Why should I joy in "an abortive birth?
At Christmas 1 no more defire a rose,

Than wish a snow in "May's new-fangled shows;
But like of each thing, that in season grows.
So you, to study now it is too late,

:}

That were to climb o'er the house t'unlock the gate.
King. Well, fit you out: go home, Biron; adieu!
Biron. No my good lord: I have fworn to stay with you:
And, though I have for barbarism spoke more,
Than for that angel knowledge you can fay,
Yet confident I'll keep what I have fwore,

And bide the penance of each three years' day.
Give me the paper, let me read the fame;
And to the strict'ft decrees I'll write my name.

King. How well this yielding refcues thee from fhame! Biron. Item, That no woman fhall come within a mile of my court. [Reading.] Hath this been proclaimed?

Long. Four days ago.

Biron. Let's fee the penalty.-on pain of lofing her tongue. -[Reading.] Who devis'd this penalty?

t

Long. Marry, that did I.

Biron. Sweet lord, and why?

Long. To fright them hence with that dread penalty.

* fneaping]-pinching, nipping.

"That may blow

"No fneaping winds."

infants of the fpring.]

an

WINTERS TALE, A& I, S. 2, Pol.

"The canker galls the infants of the spring."

HAMLET, Act I, S. 3. Laer.

prove abortive birth?]-buds that would

fo.

"May's new-fangled fhows ;]-May games, wherein the characters were fantaftically dreffed-in the month of May.

M m 4

Biron.

Biron. A dangerous law against gentility!

Item, [Reading.] If any man be feen to talk with a woman
within the term of three years, he shall endure fuch publick
Shame as the rest of the court can poffibly devife.—
This article, my liege, yourself must break;
For, well you know, here comes in embaffy
The French king's daughter, with yourself to fpeak,—
A maid of grace, and compleat majesty,-
About furrender-up of Aquitain

To her decrepit, fick, and bed-rid father:
Therefore this article is made in vain,

Or vainly comes the admired princess hither.
King. What fay you, lords? why, this was quite forgot.
Biron. So ftudy evermore is overshot;

While it doth ftudy to have what it would,
It doth forget to do the thing it should:
And when it hath the thing it hunteth most,
'Tis won, as towns with fire; fo won, fo loft.

King. We must, of force, dispense with this decree; She muft lye here on mere neceflity.

Biron. Neceffity will make us all forfworn

Three thoufand times within this three years fpace: For every man with his affects is born;

Ꮓ

Not by might mafter'd, but by fpecial grace:

If I break faith, this word fhall fpeak for me,

I am forfworn on mere neceffity.

So to the laws at large I write my name :

And he, that breaks them in the leaft degree,

Stands in attainder of eternal fhame:

Suggestions are to others, as to me;

Eut, I believe, although I seem so loth,

gentility-good breeding, politeness, derived from converfing

with the fofter sex.

affects]-affections, paffions.

Ylye]-refide.

a

Suggestions]-temptations.

I am the last that will last keep his oath.

But is there no quick recreation granted?

King. Ay, that there is: our court, you know, is haunted With a refined traveller of Spain;

A man in all the world's new fashion planted,

That hath a mint of phrases in his brain;
One, whom the mufick of his own vain tongue
Doth ravish, like inchanting harmony;

A man of complements, whom right and wrong
Have chofe as umpire of their mutiny:

This child of fancy, that Armado hight,

For interim to our ftudies, fhall relate,

In high-born words, the worth of many a knight

From tawny Spain, loft in the world's debate.
How you delight, my lords, I know not, I;
But, I proteft, I love to hear him lie,

f

And I will ufe him for my ' minstrelsy.

Biron. Armado is a moft illuftrious wight, A man of fire-new words, fafhion's own knight. Long. Coftard the swain, and he, fhall be our fport; And, fo to study, three years is but fhort.

Enter Dull, and Coftard, with a letter.

Dull. Which is the duke'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.

b quick recreation]-enlivening diversion.

A man of complements,]-deeply verfed in punctilios, or points of honour, and the ceremonial of quarrel.

child of fancy, that Armado hight,]—fantastical being, called Armado.

• in the world's debate.]-in the Crufades, in warfare, or any of the more busy scenes of life.

minstrely.]-fiddle. tharborough 1-third or headborough, conftable.

Biron. This is he.

Dull. Signior Arme,-Arme,-commends you. There's villainy abroad; this letter will tell you more.

Coft. Sir, the contempts thereof are as touching me. King. A letter from the magnificent Armado.

Biron. How low foever the matter, I hope in God for high words.

Long. A high hope for a low having: God grant us patience!

Biron. To hear? or forbear

Long. To hear meekly, fir,

or to forbear both.

hearing?

and to laugh moderately;

Biron. Well, Sir, be it as the stile shall give us cause to climb in the merrinefs.

Coft. The matter is to me, fir, as concerning Jaquenetta. The manner of it is, I was taken with the manner.

Biron. In what manner?

k

Caft. In manner and form following, fir; all thofe three: I was feen with her in the manor houfe, fitting with her upon the form, and taken following her into the park; which, put together, is, in manner and form following. Now, fir, for the manner, it is the manner of a man to speak to a woman: for the form,-in fome form.

Biron. For the following, fir?

Coft. As it fhall follow in my correction; And God defend the right!

King. Will you hear the letter with attention?

Biron. As we would hear an oracle.

Coft. Such is the fimplicity of man to hearken after the flefh.

King. [Reads.] Great deputy, the welkin's vice-gerent,

low having:]-paltry acquifition.

with the manner-in the manner-in the fact.

laughing.

and