Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]

Take that for your fair lady.

Dum. Please it you, As much in private, and I'll bid adieu. [They converse apart. Kath. What, was your visor made without

[ask.

a tongue ? Long. I know the reason, lady, why you Kath. O, for your reason! quickly, sir; 1 long. [your mask, Long. You have a double tongue within And would afford my speechless visor half. Kath. Veal, quoth the Dutchman ;-Is not veal a calf?

Long. A calf, fair lady?
Kath.

No, a fair lord calf.
Long. Let's part the word.
Kath.

No, I'll not be your half: Take all, and wean it; it may prove an ox. Long. Look, how you butt yourself in these sharp mocks!

Will you give horns, chaste lady? do not so. Kath. Then die a calf, before your horns do grow. [I die. Long. One word in private with you, ere Kath. Bleat softly then, the butcher hears [They converse apart. Boyet. The tongues of mocking wenches are as keen

you cry.

As is the razor's edge invisible, Cutting a smaller hair than may be seen;

Above the sense of sense: so sensible Seemeth their conference; their conceits have wings, [swifter things. Fleeter than arrows, bullets, wind, thought, Ros. Not one word more, my maids; break off, break off. [pure scoff! Biron. By heaven, all dry-beaten with King. Farewell, mad wenches; you have simple wits.

[Exeunt King, Lords, MoтH, Music, and Attendants. Prin. Twenty adieus, my frozen Muscovites.

Are these the breed of wits so wonder'd at? Boyet. Tapers they are, with your sweet

breaths puff'd out. [gross; fat, fat. Ros. Well-liking wits they have; gross, Prin. O poverty in wit, kingly-poor flout! Will they not, think you, hang themselves to night?

Ros. O they were all in lamentable cases! The king was weeping-ripe for a good word. Prin. Birón did swear himself out of all suit. Mar. Dumain was at my service, and his sword;

[mute.
No point t, quoth I; my servant straight was
Kath. Lord Longaville said, I came o'er his
And trow you, what he call'd me? [heart;
Prin
Qualm, perhaps.

Kath. Yes, in good faith.
Prin.

Go, sickness as thou art! Ros. Well, better wits have worn plain

statute-caps.

But will you hear? the king is my love

sworn.

Prin. And quick Birón hath plighted faith

to me. [born. Kath. And Longaville was for my service Mar. Dumain is mine, as sure as bark on tree.

[ear : Boyet. Madam, and pretty mistresses, give Immediately they will again be here In their own shapes; for it can never be, They will digest this harsh indignity. Prin. Will they return?

Boyet. They will, they will, God knows; And leap for joy, though they are lame with blows: [repair, Therefore, change favours; and, when they Blow like sweet roses in this summer air. Prin. How blow? how blow? speak to be understood. [their bud: Boyet. Fair ladies, mask'd, are roses in Dismask'd, their damask sweet commixture shown,

Are angels vailing clouds, or roses blown. Prin. Avaunt, perplexity! What shall we do, If they return in their own shapes to woo? Ros. Good madam, if by me you'll be

advis'd,

[guis'd: Let's mock them still, as well known, as disLet us complain to them what fools were here, Disguis'd like Muscovites, in shapeless || gear; And wonder,what they were; and to what end Their shallow shows, and prologue vilely penn'd,

And their rough carriage so ridiculous,
Should be presented at our tent to us.

Boyet. Ladies, withdraw; the gallants are

at hand.

[land. Prin. Whip to our tents, as roes run over [Exeunt Princess, Ros. KATH. & MAR. Enter the King, BIRON, LONGAVILLE, and DUMAIN, in their proper habits. King. Fair sir, God save you! Where is the princess? [majesty, Boyet. Gone to her tent: Please it your Command me any service to her thither? King. That she vouchsafe me audience for

one word.

Boyet. I will; and so will she, I know, my lord. [Exit. Biron. This fellow pecks up wit, as pigeons peas;

Or ever, but in visors, show their faces ? This pert Birón was out of countenance quite. | And utters it again when God doth please:

*Falsify dice, lie.

A quibble on the French adverb of negation.
Features, countenances.

may be found among citizens.

Better wits

Uncouth.

He is wits' pedlar; and retails his wares
At wakes, and wassels *, meetings, markets,
fairs;
[know,
And we that sell by gross, the Lord doth
Have not the grace to grace it with such show.
This gallant pins the wenches on his sleeve;
Had he been Adam, he had tempted Eve:
He can carve too, and lisp: Why, this is he,
That kiss'd away his hand in courtesy;
This is the ape of form, monsieur the nice,
That, when he plays at tables, chides the dice
In honourable terms; nay, he can sing
A meant most meanly; and, in ushering,
Mend him who can the ladies call him, sweet;
The stairs, as he treads on them, kiss his feet:
This is the flower that smiles on every one,
To show his teeth as white as whales bone :
And consciences, that will not die in debt,
Pay him the due of honey-tongued Boyet.
King. A blister on his sweet tongue, with
my heart,

:

That put Armado's page out of his part!
Enter the Princess, usher'd by BOYET;
ROSALINE, MARIA, KATHARINE, and
Attendants.

Biron. See where it comes!-Behaviour, what wert thou,

[now?

Till this man show'd thee? and what art thou King. All hail, sweet madam, and fair time of day!

Prin. Fair, in all hail, is foul, as I conceive. King. Construe my speeches better, if you may. [leave. Prin. Then wish me better, I will give you King. We came to visit you; and purpose

now

To lead you to our court: vouchsafe it then. Prin. This field shall hold me; and so hold'

your vow:

Nor God, nor I, delight in perjur'd men. King. Rebuke me not for that which you provoke ;

The virtue of your eye must break my oath. Prin. You nick-name virtue : vice you should have spoke;

For virtue's office never breaks men's troth.
Now, by my maiden honour, yet as pure
As the unsullied lily, I protest,

A world of torments though I should endure,
I would not yield to be your house's guest:
So much I hate a breaking-cause to be
Of heavenly oaths, vow'd with integrity.
King. O, you have liv'd in desolation here,
Unseen, unvisited, much to our shame.
Prin. Not so, my lord; it is not so, I swear;
We have had pastimes here, and pleasant
A mess of Russians left us but of late. [game;
King. How, madam? Russians?

Prin.
Ay, in truth, my lord;
Trim gallants, full of courtship, and of state.
Ros. Madam, speak true:-It is not so, my
My lady, (to the manner of the days,) [lord;
In courtesy, gives undeserving praise.

We four, indeed, confronted here with four In Russian habit; here they stay'd an hour,

• Rustic merry-meetings.

And talk'd apace; and in that hour, my lord,
They did not bless us with one happy word.
I dare not call them fools; but this I think,
When they are thirsty, fools would fain have
drink.

Biron. This jest is dry to me-Fair, gentle

sweet, [greet Your wit makes wise things foolish; when we With eyes best seeing heaven's fiery eye, By light we lose light: Your capacity Is of that nature, that to your huge store Wise things seem foolish, and rich things but poor. [my eye,

Ros. This proves you wise and rich; for in Biron. I am a fool, and full of poverty. Ros. But that you take what doth to you

belong,

It were a fault to snatch words from my tongue. Biron. O, I am yours, and all that I possess.

Ros. All the fool mine?

Biron.
I cannot give you less.
Ros. Which of the visors was it,that you wore?
Biron. Where? when? what visor? why
demand you this?

[case, Ros. There, then, that visor; that superfluous That hid the worse, and show'd the better face. King. We are descried: they'll mock us

now downright.

Dum. Let us confess, and turn it to a jest. Prin. Amaz'd, my lord? Why looks your highness sad? [Why look you pale ?Ros. Help, hold his brows! he'll swoon! Sea-sick, I think, coming from Muscovy. Biron. Thus pour the stars down plagues

for perjury.

Can any face of brass hold longer out?Here stand I, lady; dart thy skill at me; Bruise me with scorn, confound me with a [rance; Thrust thy sharp wit quite through my ignoCut me to pieces with thy keen conceit; And I will wish thee never more to dance,

flout;

Nor never more in Russian habit wait. O! never will I trust to speeches penn'd,

Nor to the motion of a school boy's tongue; Nor never come in visor to my friend||;

Nor woo in rhyme, like a blind harper's song: Taffeta phrases, silken terms precise,

Three-pil'd hyperboles, spruce affectation, Figures pedantical; these summer-flies Have blown me full of maggot ostentation: I do forswear them and I here protest, By this white glove, (how white the hand, God knows!)

:

Henceforth my wooing mind shall be express'd
In russet yeas, and honest kersey noes:
And, to begin, wench,-so God help me, la !— }
My love to thee is sound, sans crack or flaw.
Ros. Sans SANS, I pray you
I have a trick

Biron.
Of the old rage:-bear with me, I am sick;
I'll leave it by degrees. Soft, let us see ;-
Write, Lord have mercy on us, on those three;
They are infected, in their hearts it lies; [eyes:
They have the plague, and caught it of your

The tenor in music. After the fashion of the times.

The tooth of the horse- whale, Mistress.

S

These lords are visited; you are not free,
For the Lord's tokens on you do I see.
Prin. No, they are free, that gave these
tokens to us.
[undo us.
Biron. Our states are forfeit, seek not to
Ros. It is not so; For how can this be true,
That you stand forfeit, being those that sue?
Biron. Peace; for I will not have to do'
with you.

Ros. Nor shall not, if I do as I intend. [end.
Biron Speak for yourselves, my wit is at an
King. Teach us, sweet madam, for our rude
Some fair excuse.
[transgression
The fairest is confession.
Were you not here, but even now, disguis'd?
King. Madam, I was.

Prin.

Prin. And were you well advis'd?
King. I was, fair inadam.
Prin.

swear.

[blocks in formation]

Welcome, pure wit! thou partest a fair fray.
Cost. O Lord, sir, they would know,
Whether the three worthies shall come in,or no.
Biron. What, are there but three?"
Cost.
No, sir; but it is vara fine,

For every one pursents three..
Biron. And three times thrice is nine.
Cost. Not so, sir; under correction, sir; I
hope, it is not so:

You cannot beg us, sir, I can assure you, sir;
we know what we know:
ope, sir, three times thrice, sir,—
Biron.
Is not nine.
Cost. Under correction, sir, we know where-
until it doth amount.
[for nine.
Biron. By Jove, I always took three threes
Cost. O Lord! sir, it were pity you should
get your living by reckoning, sir.
Biron. How much is it?

When you then were here,
What did you whisper in your lady's ear?
King. That more than all the world I did
respect her.
[will reject her. I
Prin. When she shall challenge this, you
King. Upon mine honour, no.
Prin.
Peace, peace, forbear;
Your oath once broke, you force not to for-
[of mine.
King. Despise me, when I break this oath
Prin. I will; and therefore keep it:-Rosaline,
What did the Russian whisper in your ear?
Ros. Madam, he swore that he did hold me
As precious eye-sight; and did value me [dear
Above this world adding thereto, moreover,
That he would wed me, or else die my lover.
Prin. God give thee joy of him! the noble
Most honourably doth uphold his word. [lord
King.What mean you,madam? by my life,my
I never swore this lady such an oath. [troth,
Ros. By heaven, you did; and to confirm it
You gave me this: but take it, sir, again. [plain,
King. My faith, and this, the princess I did
I knew her by this jewel on her sleeve. [give;

Cost. O Lord! sir, the parties themselves, the actors, sir, will show whereuntil it doth amount: for my own part, I am, as they say, but to parfect one man,-e'en one poor man ; Pompion the great, sir.

[ocr errors]

Biron. Art thou one of the worthies? Cost. It pleased them, to think me worthy of Pompion the great for mine own part, I know not the degree of the worthy; but 1 am to stand for him.

Biron. Go, bid them prepare.

Cost. We will turn it finely off, sir; we will take some care. [Exit CoSTARD. King. Birón, they will shame us, let them not approach. ['tis some policy Biron. We are shame-proof, my lord: and have one show worse than the king's and his King. I say, they shall not come. [company. Prin. Nay, my good lord, let me o'er-rule

you now;

[how:

That sport best pleases, that doth least know
Where zeal strives to content, and the contents
Die in the zeal of them which it presents,
Their form confounded makes most form in
mirth;
[birth.
When great things labouring perish in their
Biron. A right description of our sport,
my lord.

Prin. Pardon me,sir, this jewel did she wear;
And lord Birón, I thank him, is my dear :-
What; will you have me, or your pearl again?
Biron. Neither of either; Iremit both twain.-To
I see the trick on't;-Here was a consent,
(Knowing aforehand of our merriment,)
To dash it like a Christmas comedy: [zany ‡,
Some carry-tale, some please-man, some slight
Some mumble-news, some trencher-knight,
some Dick,-
[the trick
That smiles his cheek in years; and knows
To make my lady laugh, when she's dispos'd,-
Told our intents before: which once disclos'd,
The ladies did change favours; and then we,
Following the signs, woo'd but the sign of she.
Now, to our perjury to add more terror,
We are again forsworn; in will, and error.
Much upon this it is:-And might not you,
[To BOYET.
Forestal our sport, to make us thus untrue?
Do not you know my lady's foot by the squire §,
And laugh upon the apple of her eye?
And stand between her back, sir, and the fire,
Holding a trencher, jesting merrily?
Make no difficulty.

Enter ARMADO.

Arm. Anointed, I implore so much expense of thy royal sweet breath, as will utter a brace of words. [ARM, converses with the King, and delivers him a paper. Prin. Doth this man serve God? Biron. Why ask you? [making. Prin. He speaks not like a man of God's Arm. That's all one, my fair, sweet, honey

+ Conspiracy.

i Buffoon. $ Rule.

[merged small][ocr errors]

monarch: for, I protest, the school-master is
exceeding fantastical; too, too vain; too, too
vain: But we will put it, as they say, to for-
tuna della guerra. I wish you the peace of
mind, most royal couplement! [Exit ARM.
King. Here is like to be a good presence
of worthies: He presents Hector of Troy; the
swain, Pompey the great; the parish curate,
Alexander; Armado's page, Hercules; the
pedant, Judas Machabæus.
[thrive,
And if these four worthies in their first show
These four will change habits, and present the

other five.

Biron. There is five in the first show. King. You are deceiv'd, 'tis not so. Biron. The pedant, the braggart, the hedgepriest, the fool, and the boy:- [again, Abate a throw at novum *; and the whole world Cannot prickt out five such, take each one in his vein. [comes amain. King. The ship is under sail, and here she [Seats brought for the King, Prin. &c. Pageant of the Nine Worthies. Enter COSTARD armed, for Pompey. Cost. I Pompey am,— Boyet. Cost. 1 Pompey am,Boyet. With libbard's head on knee. Biron. Well said, old mocker; I must needs be friends with thee. [the big,Cost. I Pompey am, Pompey surnam❜d Dum. The great. [the great; Cost. It is great, sir;-Pompey surnam'd That oft in field, with targe and shield, did make my foe to sweat:

You lie, you are not he.

And, travelling along this coast, I here um come by chance;

And lay my arms before the legs of this sweet lass of France.

If

your ladyship would say, Thanks, Pom-
pey, I had done.

Prin. Great thanks, great Pompey.
Cost. 'Tis not so much worth; but, I hope,
I was perfect; I made a little fault in, great.
Biron. My hat to a halfpenny, Pompey
proves the best worthy.

Enter NATHANIEL armed, for Alexander.
Nath. When in the world 1 liv'd, I was
the world's commander;
By east, west, north, and south, I spread

my conquering might: [Alisander. My 'scutcheon plain declares, that I am Boyet. Your nose says, no, you are not; for it stands too right.

Biron. Your nose smells, no, in this, most tender-smelling knight.

Prin. The conqueror is dismay'd: proceed
good Alexander.

Nath. When in the world I liv'd, I was
the world's commander ;-
Boyet. Most true, 'tis right; you were so,
Biron. Pompey the great,- [Alisander.
Cost.
Your servant, and Costárd.
Biron. Take away the conqueror, take
away Alisander.

Cost. O, sir, [To NATH.] you have overthrown Alisander the conqueror! You will be scraped out of the painted cloth for this: your lion, that holds his poll-ax sitting on a close-stool, will be given to A-jax: he will be the ninth worthy. A conqueror, and afeard to speak! run away for shame, Alisander. [NATH. retires.] There, an't shall please you; a foolish mild man; an honest man, look you, and soon dash'd! He is a marvellous good neighbour, insooth; and a very good bowler: but, for Alisander, alas, you see, how 'tis ;-a little o'erparted:-But there are worthies a coming will speak their mind in some other sort. Prin. Stand aside, good Pompey. Enter HOLOFERNES armed, for Judas, and MOTH arm'd, for Hercules. Hol. Great Hercules is presented by this imp, [headed canus ; Whose club kill'd Cerberus, that threeAnd, when he was a babe, a child, a shrimp, Thus did he strangle serpents in his manus: Quoniam, he seemeth in minority; Ergo, I come with this apology. Keep some state in thy exit, and vanish. Hol. Judas 1 am,[Exit MOTH.

Dum. A Judas!

Hol. Not Iscariot, sir.

Judas I am, ycleped Machabæus.
Dum. Judas Machabæus clipt, is plain Judas.
Biron. A kissing traitor:-How art thon
Hol. Judas I am,- [prov'd Judas?
Dum. The more shame for you, Judas.
Hol. What mean you, sir?

Boyet. To make Judas hang himself.
Hol. Begin, sir; you are my elder.
Biron. Well follow'd: Judas was hang'd

on an elder.

Hol. I will not be put out of countenance.
Biron. Because thou hast no face.
Hol. What is this?

Boyet. A cittern head.

Dum. The head of a bodkin.
Biron. A death's face in a ring.

[seen.

Long, The face of an old Roman coin, scarce
Boyet. The pummel of Cæsar's falchion.
Dum. The carv'd-bone face on a flask I.
Biron, St. George's half-cheek in a brooch (..
Dum. Ay, and in a brooch, of lead.

drawer:

Biron. Ay, and worn in the cap of a tooth-
1. [countenance.
And now, forward; for we have put thee in
Hol. You have put me out of countenance.
Biron. False; we have given thee faces.
Hol. But you have out fac'd them all.
Biron. An thou wert a lion, we would do so,
Boyet. Therefore, as he is, an ass, let him go.
And so adieu, sweet Jude! nay, why dost thou
Dum. For the latter end of his name. [stay?
Biron. For the ass to the Jude; give it
him:-Jud-as, away.
(humble.

Hol. This is not generous, not gentle, not
Boyet. A light for monsieur Judas; it grows
dark, he may stumble." [been baited!
Prin. Alas, poor Machabæus, how hath he
1 Pick out,
A soldier's powder-horn.
An ornamental buckle for fastening hat-bands, &c.

A game with dice.

.

[blocks in formation]

Dum. That mint. Long.

That columbine.

Arm. Sweet lord Longaville,rein thy tongue. Long. I must rather give it the rein; for it runs against Hector.

Dum. Ay, and Hector's a greyhound.

Arm. The sweet war-man is dead and rotten; sweet chucks, beat not the bones of the buried: when he breathed, he was a manBut I will forward with my device: Sweet royalty, [to the Prin.] bestow on me the sense of hearing. [BIRON whispers Cosr. Prin. Speak, brave Hector; we are much delighted.

Arm. I do adore thy sweet grace's slipper. Boyet. Loves her by the foot.

Dum. He may not by the yard. [nibal,Arm. This Hector far surmounted HanCost. The party is gone, fellow Hector, she is gone; she is two months on her way. Arm. What meanest thou?

Cost. Faith, unless you play the honest Trojan, the poor wench is cast away: she's quick; the child brags in her belly already; 'tis yours. Arm. Dost thou infamonize me among potentates? thou shalt die.

Cost. Then shall Hector be whipp'd, for Jaquenetta that is quick by him; and hang'd, for Pompey that is dead by him.

Dum. Most rare Pompey!

Boyet. Renowned Pompey!

Dum. Hector will challenge him. Biron. Ay, if he have no more man's blood in's belly than will sup a flea.

Arm. By the north pole, I do challenge thee. Cost. I will not fight with a pole, like a northern mant; I'll slash; I'll do it by the sword: -I pray you, let me borrow my arms again. Dum. Room for the incensed worthies. Cost. I'll do it in my shirt.

Dum. Most resolute Pompey!

Moth. Master, let me take you a buttonhole lower. Do you not see, Pompey is uncasing for the combat? What mean you? you will lose your reputation.

Arm. Gentlemen, and soldiers, pardon me; I will not combat in my shirt.

Dum. You may not deny it; Pompey hath made the challenge.

Arm. Sweet bloods, I both may and will. Biron. What reason have you for't? Arm. The naked truth of it is, I have no shirt; I go wool wards for penance.

Boyet. True, and it was enjoin'd him in Rome for want of linen: since when, I'll be sworn, he wore none, but a dish-clout of Jaquenetta's; and that 'a wears next his heart, Enter MERCADE.

for a favour.

Mer. God save you, madam!
Prin. Welcome, Mercade;

But that thou interrupt'st our merriment, Mer. I am sorry, madam; for the news I bring,

Is heavy in my tongue. The king your fatherPrin. Dead, for my life.

Mer. Even so; my tale is told.

Biron. Worthies, away; the scene begins to cloud.

Arm. For mine own part, I breathe free breath: I have seen the day of wrong through the little hole of discretion, and I will right myself like a soldier. [Exeunt Worthies. King. How fares your majesty?

Prin. Boyet, prepare; I will away to-night. King. Madam, not so; I do beseech you, stay. [lords,

Prin. Prepare, Isay.-I thank you, gracious For all your fair endeavours; and entreat, Out of a new-sad soul, that you vouchsafe In your rich wisdom, to excuse, or hide, The liberal opposition of our spirits: If over boldly we have borne ourselves In the converse of breath, your gentleness Was guilty of it.-Farewell, worthy lord! A heavy heart bears not an humble tongue : Excuse me so, coming so short of thanks For my great suit so easily obtain'd,

King. The extreme parts of time extremely All causes to the purpose of his speed; [form And often, at his very loose, decides

Biron. Greater than great, great, great, That which long process could not arbitrate: great Pompey! Pompey the huge! Dum. Hector trembles.

And though the morning brow of progeny Forbid the smiling courtesy of love, The holy suit which fain it would convince; Yet, since love's argument was first on foot, Lance-men. + Até was the goddess of discord. † A clown. § Clothed in wool, without linen.

Biron. Pompey is mov'd:-More Ates, more Ates; stir them on! stir them on!

Free to excess.

« AnteriorContinuar »