D. Pedro. Good morrow, Benedick. Why, what's the matter, That you have such a February face, So full of frost, of storm, and cloudiness? Claud. I think, he thinks upon the savage bull.Tush! fear not, man, we 'll tip thy horns with gold, And all Europa shall rejoice at thee, As once Europa did at lusty Jove, When he would play the noble beast in love. Bene. Bull Jove, sir, had an amiable low; Bene. It is no matter,-Then, you do not love me? man. Claud. And I'll be sworn upon 't, that he loves her; For here's a paper, written in his hand, A halting sonnet of his own pure brain, Fashion'd to Beatrice. Hero. And here's another, Writ in my cousin's hand, stol'n from her pocket, And some such strange bull leap'd your father's cow, Containing her affection unto Benedick. Re-enter ANTONIO, with the Ladies masked. Claud. For this I owe you: here come other reckonings. Which is the lady I must seize upon? Leon. This same is she, and I do give you her. Claud. Why, then she's mine.-Sweet, let me see your face. Leon. No, that you shall not, till you take her hand Before this friar, and swear to marry her. Claud. Give me your hand before this holy friar : I am your husband, if you like of me. Hero. And when I liv'd, I was your other wife: [Unmasking. And when you lov'd, you were my other husband. Claud. Another Hero? One Hero died belied'; but I do live, D. Pedro. The former Hero! Hero that is dead! When after that the holy rites are ended, And to the chapel let us presently. Bene. Soft and fair, friar.-Which is Beatrice? Beat. I answer to that name. [Unmasking.] What is your will? Bene. Do not you love me? 2 Why, no more than reason. Bene. Why, then, your uncle, and the prince, and Claudio, Have been deceived, for they swore you did. Troth, no more than reason. Beat. Why, then, my cousin, Margaret, and Ursula, Are much deceived; for they swore3, you did. Bene. They swore that you were almost sick for me. Beat. They swore that you were well-nigh dead for me. 1 defiled in fe. 2 No, no: in f. e. ↑ Dance: f. e. Bene. A miracle! here's our own hands against our hearts.—Come, I will have thee; but, by this light, I take thee for pity. Beat. I would not deny you;-but, by this good day, I yield upon great persuasion, and, partly, to save your life, for I was told you were in a consumption. Bene. Peace! I will stop your mouth. D. Pedro. How dost thou, Benedick, the married man ? Bene. I'll tell thee what, prince; a college of witcrackers cannot flout me out of my humour. Dost thou think I care for a satire, or an epigram? No: if a man will be beaten with brains, a' shall wear nothing handsome about him. In brief, since I do purpose to marry, I will think nothing to any purpose that the world can say against it; and therefore never flout at me for what I have said against it, for man is a giddy thing, and this is my conclusion.-For thy part, Claudio, I did think to have beaten thee; but, in that thou art like to be my kinsman, live unbruised, and love my cousin. Claud. I had well hoped, thou wouldst have denied Beatrice, that I might have cudgelled thee out of thy single life, to make thee a double dealer; which, out of question, thou wilt be, if my cousin do not look exceeding narrowly to thee. Bene. Come, come, we are friends.-Let's have a dance ere we are married, that we may lighten our own hearts, and our wives' heels. Leon. We'll have dancing afterward. Bene. First, of my word; therefore, play, music !— Prince, thou art sad; get thee a wife, get thee a wife: there is no staff more reverend than one tipped with horn. 3 Not in f. e. ▲ f. e. have: Troth no, no. 5 did swear: in f. e. 6 'Tis no such in f. e. SCENE I.-Navarre. A Park, with a Palace in it. That are recorded in this schedule here: [Showing it.1 Biron. I can but say their protestation over; '1 Not in f. e. 2 From the quarto, 1598. 1 But there are other strict observances ; King. Your oath is pass'd to pass away from these. I only swore to study with your grace, King. Why, that to know which else we should not know. Biron. Things hid and barr'd, you mean, from common sense? King. Ay, that is study's god-like recompense. King. These be the stops that hinder study quite, And train our intellects to vain delight. Biron. Why, all delights are vain; but' that most vain, To seek the light of truth; while truth the while Light, seeking light, doth light of light beguile. By fixing it upon a fairer eye; Who dazzling so, that eye shall be his heed, And give him light that it was blinded by. Study is like the heaven's glorious sun, 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, That give a name to every fixed star, Have no more profits of their shining 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 reason against reading! Dum. Proceeded well, to stop all good proceeding! Long. He weeds the corn, and still lets grow the weeding. Biron. The spring is near, when green geese are a breeding. Dum. How follows that? Biron. Fit in his place and time. Dum. In reason nothing. boast, Before the birds have any cause to sing? Why should I joy in any abortive birth? At Christmas I no more desire a rose, Than wish a snow in May's new-fangled shows; Climb o'er the house-top to unlock the gate.3 King. Well, set you out: go home, Biron: adieu ! Biron. No, my good lord; I have sworn to stay with you: And, though I have for barbarism spoke more, And bide the penance of each three years' day. Biron. [Reads.] Item, "That no woman shall come within a mile of my court."-Hath this been proclaim'd? Long. Four days ago. Biron. Let's see the penalty. [Reads.] "On pain of losing her tongue."-Who devis'd this penalty? Long. Marry, that did I. Biron. Long. To fright them penalty. Sweet lord, and why? hence with that dread Biron. A dangerous law against garrulity." [Reads.] Item, "If any man be seen to talk with a woman within the term of three years, he shall endure such public 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,— A maid of grace, and complete majesty,— About surrender up of Aquitain To her decrepit, sick, and bed-rid father: Therefore, this article is made in vain, Or vainly comes th' admired princess rather. King. What say you, lords? why, this was quite forgot. Biron. So study evermore is overshot: While it doth study to have what it would, It doth forget to do the thing it should; And when it hath the thing it hunteth most, King. We must of force dispense with this decree: She must lie here on mere necessity. Birön. 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 master'd, but by special grace. So to the laws at large I write my name; [Subscribes. King. Ay, that there is. Our court, you know, is haunted With a refined traveller of Spain; A man in all the world-new fashions flaunted,8 A man of complements, whom right and wrong For interim to our studies, shall relate In high-born words the worth of many a knight Biron. Armado is a most illustrious wight, A man of fire-new words, fashion's own knight. Enter DULL, with a letter, and COSTARD. Dull. Which is the duke's own person? Biron. This, fellow. What wouldst ? Dull. I myself reprehend his own person, for I am his grace's tharborough1o; but I would see his own person in flesh and blood. Biron. This is he. Dull. Signior Arm-Arm-commends you. There's villainy abroad: this letter will tell you more. Cost. Sir, the contempts thereof are as touching me. King. A letter from the magnificent Armado. Biron. How low soever the matter, I hope in God for high words. Long. A high hope for a low hearing11: God grant us patience! 1 From the quarto; the folio reads: and. 2 Snipping, or nipping. 3 Climb o'er the house to unlock the little gate: in f. e. what I have swore: in f. e. 5 gentility in f. e. 6 speak in f. e. 7 Temptations. 8 world's new fashions planted: in f. e. strel to tell me stories. 10 Third borough, a peace officer. 11 having: in f. e. 4 I'll keep 9 As a min Biron. To hear, or forbear hearing. Long. To hear meekly, sir, and to laugh moderately; or to forbear both. Biron. Well, sir, be it as the style shall give us cause to chime in in1 the merriness. Cost. The matter is to me, sir, as concerning Jaquenetta. The manner of it is, I was taken with the manner.2 Biron. In what manner? Cost. In manner and form following, sir; all those three: I was seen with her in the manor house, sitting with her upon the form, and taken following her into the park; which, put together, is, in manner and form following. Now, sir, for the manner,-it is the manner of a man to speak to a woman; for the form,-in some form. Biron. For the following, sir? Cost. As it shall follow in my correction; and God defend the right ! King. Will you hear this letter with attention? Cost. Such is the simplicity of man to hearken after the flesh. King. [Reads.] "Great deputy, the welkin's vicegerent, and sole dominator of Navarre, my soul's earth's God, and body's fostering patron,-" Cost. Not a word of Costard yet. King. "So it is,—" Cost. It may be so; but if he say it is so, he is, in telling true, but so, King, Peace! ment, by thy sweet grace's officer, Antony Dull, a man Biron. This is not so well as I looked for, but the best that ever I heard. King. Ay, the best for the worst.-But, sirrah, what say you to this? Cost. Sir, I confess the wench. King. Did you hear the proclamation? Cost. I do confess much of the hearing it, but little of the marking of it. King. It was proclaimed a year's imprisonment to be taken with a wench. Cost. I was taken with none, sir: I was taken with a damsel. King. Well, it was proclaimed damsel. Cost. This was no damsel neither, sir: she was a virgin. King. It is so varied, too, for it was proclaimed virgin. Cost. If it were, I deny her virginity: I was taken with a maid. King. This maid will not serve your turn, sir. Cost. -be to me, and every man that dares not shall fast a week with bran and water. fight. King. No words. Cost. of other men's secrets, I beseech you. King. "So it is, besieged with sable-coloured melancholy, I did commend the black-oppressing humour to the most wholesome physic of thy health-giving air; and, as I am a gentleman, betook myself to walk. The time when? About the sixth hour; when beasts most graze, birds best peck, and men sit down to that nourishment which is called supper. So much for the time when. Now for the ground which; which, I mean, I walked upon it is ycleped thy park. Then for the place where; where, I mean, I did encounter that obscene and most preposterous event, that draweth from my snow-white pen the ebon-coloured ink, which here thou viewest, beholdest, surveyest, or seest. But to the place, where:-it standeth north-north-east and by east from the west corner of thy curious-knotted garden3: there did I see that low-spirited swain, that base minnow of thy mirth," Cost. I had rather pray a month with mutton and porridge. King. And Don Armado shall be your keeper. [Exeunt KING, LONGAVILLE, and DUMAINE. Cost. I suffer for the truth, sir: for true it is, I was SCENE II.-ARMADO'S House in the Park. Moth. A great sign, sir, that he will look sad. Moth. No, no; O lord! sir, no. Arm. How canst thou part sadness and melancholy, my tender juvenal ? Moth. By a familiar demonstration of the working, my tough senior. Arm. Why tough senior? why tough senior? Moth. Why tender juvenal? why tender juvenal? Arm. I spoke it, tender juvenal, as a congruent epitheton appertaining to thy young days, which we may nominate tender. Moth. And I, tough senior, as an appertinent title to your old time, which we may name tough. Arm. Pretty, and apt. 1 climb in: in f. e. 2 The law French phrase, mainour, with the thing stolen in hand. 3 The fantastic figures in the beds of the formal gardens of the period. 4 vassal: in f. e. 5 f. e. give this speech to BIRon. Moth. How mean you, sir? I pretty, and my say- to have a love of that colour, methinks, Samson had ing apt; or I apt, and my saying pretty Arm. Thou pretty, because little. Arm. I have promised to study three years with the duke. Moth. You may do it in an hour, sir. 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. Why, sir, is this such a piece of study? Now, here is three studied ere you'll thrice wink; and how easy it is to put years to the word thrẻe, and study three years in two words, the dancing horse2 will tell you. Arm. A most fine figure! Moth. [Aside.] To prove you a cypher. small reason for it. He, surely, affected her for her wit. Moth. It was so, sir, for she had a green wit. Arm. My love is most immaculate white and red. Moth. Most maculate thoughts, master, are masked under such colours. Arm. Define, define, well-educated infant. Moth. My father's wit, and my mother's tongue, assist me ! Arm. Sweet invocation of a child; most pretty, and poetical3 ! Moth. If she be made of white and red, For blushing cheeks by faults are bred, By this you shall not know; A dangerous rhyme, master, against the reason of white and red. Arm. Is there not a ballad, boy, of the King and the Beggar ?5 Moth. The world was very guilty of such a ballad some three ages since, but, I think, now 't is not to be found; or, if it were, it would neither serve for the writing, nor the tune. Arm. I will have that subject newly writ o'er, that I may example my digression 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 whipped; and yet a better love than my master. Arm. Sing, boy: my spirit grows heavy in love. Moth. And that's great marvel, loving a light wench. Arm. I say, sing. Moth. Forbear, till this company be past. Arm. I will hereupon confess I am in love; and, as [Enter DULL, COSTARD, and JAQUENETTA. it is base for a soldier to love, so am I in love with a Dull. Sir, the duke's pleasure is, that you keep Cosbase wench. If drawing my sword against the humour tard safe: and you must let him take no delight, nor of affection would deliver me from the reprobate no penance; but a' must fast three days a week. For thought of it, I would take desire prisoner, and ransom him to any French courtier for a new devised courtesy. I think scorn to sigh: methinks, I should out-swear Cupid. Comfort me, boy. What great men have been in love? Moth. Hercules, master. Arm. Most sweet Hercules!-More authority, dear boy, name more; and, sweet my child, let them be men of good repute and carriage. 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. 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? Moth. Of all the four, or the three, or the two, or one of the four. Arm. Tell me precisely of what complexion. Arm. Is that one of the four complexions? Moth. As I have read, sir, and the best of them too. Arm. Green, indeed, is the colour of lovers; but this damsel, I must keep her at the park; she is Arm. I will visit thee at the lodge. Arm. I know where it is situate. Arm. I will tell thee wonders. Jaq. With that face? Jaq. So I heard you say. Jaq. Fair weather after you. [Exeunt DULL and JAQUENETtta. Arm. Villain, thou shalt fast for thy offences, ere thou be pardoned. Cost. Well, sir, I hope, when I do it, I shall do it on a full stomach. Arm. Thou shalt be heavily punished. Cost. I am more bound to you than your fellows, for they are but lightly rewarded. Arm. Take away this villain: shut him up. 1 Coins; so called from the crosses on them. 2 Bankes' horse, Marocco, exhibited in London about the close of the sixteenth century, and repeatedly alluded to in the writings of the time. He is said to have ascended St. Paul's steeple. Bankes took his horse to the continent, and both are said to have been burnt, at Rome, for witchcraft. 3 pathetical in f. e. 4 Possess. 5 It is printed in Vol. I., of Percy's Reliques. 6 Dey, or dairy. |