Arm. I do betray myself with blushing: maid,— Jaq. Man,

Arm. I will visit thee at the lodge.

Jaq. That's here by.

Arm. I know, where it is fituate.
Jaq. Lord, how wife you are!
Arm. I will tell thee wonders.
Jaq. With that face?

Arm. I love thee.

Jaq. So I heard you fay.
Arm. And fo farewel.

Jaq. Fair weather after you!

Dull. Come, Jaquenetta, away.

[Exeunt Dull and Jaquenetta.

Arm. Villain, thou fhalt faft for thy offence, ere thou be pardoned.

Coft. Well, Sir, I hope, when I do it, I fhall do it on a full ftomach.

Arm. Thou shalt be heavily punish'd.

Coft. I am more bound to you, than your followers; for they are but lightly rewarded.

Arm. Take away this villain, fhut him up. Moth. Come, you tranfgreffing flave, away. Coft. Let me not be pent up, Sir; I will faft, being loose.

Moth. No, Sir, that were faft and loofe; thou fhalt to prifon.

Coft. Well, if ever I do fee the merry days of defolation that I have seen, fome fhall fee

Moth. What fhall fome fee?

Coft. Nay, nothing, mafter Moth, but what they look upon. It is not for prifoners to be filent in their words, and therefore I will fay nothing; I thank God, I have as little patience as another man, and therefore I can be quiet. [Exeunt Moth and Coftard.

Arm. I do affect the very ground (which is base) where her fhoe (which is bafer) guided by her foot (which is bafeft) doth tread. I fhall be forfworn,

which is a great argument of falfhood, if I love. And how can that be true love, which is falfely attempted? love is a familiar, love is a devil; there is no evil angel but love, yet Sampfon was fo tempted, and he had an excellent ftrength; yet was Solomon fo feduced, and he had a very good wit. Cupid's but-fhaft is too hard for Hercules's club, and therefore too much odds for a Spaniard's rapier; the first and second cause will not ferve my turn; the Paffado he respects not, the Duello he regards not; his difgrace is to be call'd boy; but his glory is to fubdue Adieu, valour! ruft, rapier! be ftill, drum! for your manager is in love; yea, he loveth. Affift ine, fome extemporal God of rhime, for, I am fure, I fhall turn fonnetteer. Devife wit, write pen, for I am for whole volumes in folio.

men.

ACT II.

i

SCENE

[Exit.

1.

Before the King of Naverre's Palace.

Enter the Princess of France, Rofaline, Maria, Catharine, Boyet, Lords and other Attendants.

N

BOYET.

OW, Madam, fummon up your deareft fpirits ;
Confider, whom the King your father fends;
To whom he fends, and what's his embaffy.
Yourself, held precious in the world's efteem,.
To parley with the fole inheritor

Of all perfections that a man may owe,
Matchlefs Navarre; the plea, of no less weight
Than Aquitain, a dowry for a Queen.
Be now as prodigal of all dear grace,
As nature was in making graces dear,
When she did ftarve the general world befide,
And prodigally gave them all to you.

Prin. Good lord Boyet, my beauty, though but

mean,

Needs not the painted flourish of your praise;
Beauty is bought by judgment of the eye,
Not utter'd by bafe fale of chapmens' tongues.
I am lefs proud to hear you tell my worth,
Than you much willing to be counted wife,
In fpending thus your wit in praise of mine.
But now, to task the tasker; good Boyet,
You are not ignorant, all-telling fame
Doth noise abroad, Navarre hath made a vow,
'Till painful ftudy fhall out-wear three years,
No woman may approach his filent Court;
Therefore to us feems it a needful course,
Before we enter his forbidden gates,
To know his pleafure; and in that behalf,
Bold of your worthinefs, we fingle you
As our beft-moving fair folicitor.

Tell him, the daughter of the King of France,
On ferious bufinefs, craving quick dispatch,
Importunes perfonal conference with his Grace.
Hafte, fignify fo much, while we attend,
Like humble-visag'd fuitors, his high will.

Boyet Proud of employment, willingly I go. [Exit. Prin. All pride is willing pride, and yours is fo; Who are the votaries, my loving lords,

That are vow-fellows with this virtuous King?
Lord. Longaville is one.

Prin. Know ye the man?

Mar. I knew him, Madam, at a marriage-feast,
Between lord Perigort and the beauteous heir
Of Jaques Faulconbridge folemnized.

In Normandy faw I this Longaville,

A man of fovereign parts he is esteem'd;
Well fitted in the arts, glorious in arms,
Nothing becomes him ill, that he would well.
The only foil of his fair virtue's glofs,
(If virtue's glofs will ftain with any foil,)

Is a fharp wit, match'd with too blunt a will; Whole edge hath power to cut, whofe will ftill wills It should spare none, that come within his power.

Prin. Some merry-mocking lord, belike; is't fo? Mar. They fay fo moft, that moft his humours know.

Prin. Such fhort-liy'd wits do wither as they grow. Who are the reft?

Cath. The young Dumain, a well-accomplish'd youth, Of all that virtue love, for virtue lov'd.

Moft power to do moft harm, leaft knowing ill;
For he hath wit to make an ill fhape good,
And fhape to win grace, tho' he had no wit.
I faw him at the Duke Alanfon's once,
And much too little of that good I saw,
Is my report to his great worthiness.

Rof. Another of these students at that time
Was there with him, as I have heard a truth;
Biron they call him; but a merrier man,
Within the limit of becoming mirth,
I never spent an hour's talk withal.
His eye begets occafion for his wit;
For every object, that the one doth catch,
The other turns to a mirth-moving jeft;
Which his fair tongue (conceit's expofitor)
Delivers in fuch apt and gracious words,
That aged ears play truant at his tales;
And younger hearings are quite ravished;
So fweet and voluble is his discourse.

Prin. God blefs my ladies, are they all in love,
That every one her own hath garnished
With fuch bedecking ornaments of praise!
Mar. Here comes Boyet.

Enter Boyet.

Prin. Now, what admittance, Lord?

Boyet. Navarre had notice of your fair approach;,

And he and his competitors in oath

Were

Were all addreft to meet you, gentle lady,
Before I came: marry, thus much I've leamt,
He rather means to lodge you in the field,
Like one that comes here to besiege his Court,
Than feek a difpenfation for his oath,
To let you enter his unpeopled house.
Here comes Navarre.:

Enter the King, Longaville, Dumain, Biron, and

King. FA

AIR Princefs, welcome to the Court of
Navarre.

Prin. Fair, I give you back again; and welcome I have not yet: the roof of this Court is too high to be yours; and welcome to the wide fields, too base to be mine.

King. You shall be welcome, Madain, to my Court. Prin. I will be welcome then; condu&t me thither. King. Hear me, dear lady, I have fworn an oath. Prin. Our Lady help my lord! he'll be forfworn. King. Not for the world, fair Madam, by my will. Prin. Why, Will fhall break its will, and nothing elfe.

King. Your ladyship is ignorant what it is.

Prin. Were my Lord fo, his ignorance were wife,
Where now his knowledge muft prove ignorance.
I hear, your Grace hath fworn out house-keeping:
'Tis deadly fin to keep that oath, my Lord;
Not fin to break it.-

But pardon me, I am too fudden bold:
To teach a teacher ill befeemeth me.
Vouchsafe to read the purpose of my Coming,
And fuddenly refolve me in my fuit.

King. Madam, I will, if fuddenly I may.
Prin. You will the fooner, that I were away;
For you'll prove perjur'd, if you make me flay.