Dramatis Perfonæ. FERDINAND, King of Navarre. Biron, Longaville, Dumain, Boyet, three Lords, attending upon the King in his retirement. Macard,} Lords, attending upon the Princess of France. Don Adriano de Armádo, a fantastical Spaniard. Nathaniel, a Curate. Dull, a Conftable. Holofernes, a Schoolmaster. Coftard, a Clown. Moth, Page to Don Adriano de Armado. Officers, and others, Attendants upon the King and Princefs. SCENE, the King of Navarre's Palace, and the Country near it. LOVE'S LABOUR'S Loft. A C T I. SCENE, The Palace. Enter the King, Biron, Longaville and Dumain L KING. ET Fame, that all hunt after in their lives, And then grace us in the difgrace of death: Therefore, brave conquerors! for fo you are, Your oaths are past, and now subscribe your names: H 3 That That his own hand may ftrike his honour down, If you are arm'd to do, as fworn to do, Dum. My loving Lord, Dumain is mortify'd: Biron. I can but fay their proteftation over, So much (dear Liege) I have already fworn, That is, to live and study here three years: But there are other strict obfervances; As, not to fee a woman in that term, Which, I hope well, is not enrolled there. And one day in a week to touch no food, And but one meal on every day befide; The which, I hope, is not enrolled there. And then to fleep but three hours in the night, And not be seen to wink of all the day; (When I was wont to think no harm all night, (1) And make a dark night too of half the day ;) Which, I hope well, is not enrolled there. O, these are barren tasks, too hard to keep; Not to fee Ladies, ftudy, faft, not sleep. King. Your oath is pafs'd to pafs away from thefe. Biron. Let me fay, no, my Liege, an if you please; I only fwore to ftudy with your Grace, And stay here in your court for three years space. Long. You fwore to that, Biron, and to the reft. Biron. By yea and nay, Sir, then I swore in jeft. (1) When I was wont to think no harm all night,] i. e. When I was ufed to fleep all night long, without once waking. The Latines have a proverbial expreflion very nigh to the fenfe of our author's thought here: Qui bene dormit, nihil mali cogitat, What |