What is the end of ftudy? let me know? King. Why, that to know, which elfe we should not know. Biron. Things hid and barr'd (you mean) from common fenfe. King. Ay, that is ftudy's god-like recompence? King. Thefe be the flops, that hinder ftudy quite; Biron. Why, all delights are vain; but that most vain, Which, with pain purchas'd, doth inherit pain; As, painfully to pore upon a book, To feek the light of truth; while truth the while Light, feeking light, doth light of light beguile; Who dazzling fo, that eye fhall be his heed, That will not be deep fearch'd with faucy looks; (2) When I to fast exprefly am forbid.] This is the reading of all the copies in general; but I would fain afk our accurate editors, if Biren ftudied where to get a good dinner, at a time when he was forbid to faft, how was this ftudying to know what he was forbid to know? common fenfe, and the whole tenour of the context require us to read, either as I have reftor'd; or, to make a change in the last word of the verfe, which will bring us to the fame meaning; When I to fast exprefly am for-bid; i, e. when I am enjoin'd before-hand to fast. H 4 Small Small have continual plodders ever won, Than thofe 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! -Biron. Fit in his place and time. Eiron. Something then in rhime. Long. Biron is like an envious fneaping froft, Why fhould I joy in an abortive birth? (3) Than with a fnow in May's new-fangled earth: At Christmas I no more defire a role, wfangled fhows: Than wifh a fnow in May's new But like of each thing, that in feafon grows.] As the greateft part of this scene (both what precedes, and follows;) is strictly in rhymes, either fuccefive, alternate, or triple; I am perfuaded, the copyifts have made a flip here. For by making a triplet of the three laft lines quoted, bi th in the clofe of the firft line is quite deftitute of any rhyme to it. Befides, what a difpleafing identity of found recurs in the middle and clofe of this verfe? Than wifh a fnow in May's new-fangled shows. Again; new-fangled fhows feems to have very little propriety. The flowers are not new-fangled; but the earth is newfangled by the profufion and variety of the flowers, that fpring on its bofom in May. 1 have therefore ventur'd to fubftitute, earth, in the clofe of the third line, which reftores the alternate measure. It was very eafy for a neg ligent tranfcriber to be deceiv'd by the rhyme immediately preceding; fo, miftake the concluding word in the fequent line, and corrupt it into one that would chime with the other. So So you, to study now it is too late, Climb o'er the house t'unlock the little gate. King. Well, fit you out.-Go home, Biron: adieu! Biron. No, my good Lord, I've fworn to stay with you. And though I have for barbarifm fpoke more, Than for that angel knowledge you can say ; 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 ftrict'ft decrees I'll write my name. King How well this yielding refcues thee from shame! Biron. Item, That no woman fhall come within a mile of my court, Hath this been proclaimed ? Long. Four days ago. Biron. Let's fee the penalty. On pain of lofing her tongue: Who devis'd this penalty? Long. Marry, that did I. Biron. Sweet Lord, and why?` [reading.. [reading. Long. To fright them hence with that dread penalty.Biron. A dangerous law against gentility! (4) Item, [reading] If any man be feen to talk with a woman within the term of three years, he fhall endure fuch publick fhame as the reft of the court can possibly devife. This article, my liege, yourself muft break ; For, well you know, here comes in embaffy(4) A dangerous law against gentility.] I have ventur'd to prefix ́ the name of Biron to this line, it being evident, for two reafons, that it, by fome accident or other, flipt out of the printed books. In the first place, Longaville confeffes, he had devis'd the penalty: and why be fhould immediately arraign it as a dangerous law, feems to be very inconfiftent. In the next place it is much more natural for Biron to make this reflexion, who is cavilling at every thing; and then for him to pursue his reading over the remaining articles. As to the word gentility, here, it does not fignify that rank of people call'd, gentry zi but what the French exprefs by, gentileffes, i, e elegantia, urbanitas. And then the meaning is this. Such a law, for banishing women from the court, is dangerous, or injurious, to politeness, urbanity, and the more refin'd pleafures of life. brutal and favage, in their natures and behaviour. H 15. For men without women would-turn The The French King's daughter with yourself to fpeak, To her decrepit, fick, and bed-rid father: Or vainly comes th' admired Princefs 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; so won, so lost. King. We muft of force difpenfe with this decree, She muft lie here on mere neceffity. Biron. Neceffity will make us all forfworn Three thousand times within this three years space: For every man with his affects is born: Not by might mafter'd, but by special grace. So to the laws at large I write my name, And he, that breaks them in the least degree, Stands in attainder of eternal fhame. Suggeftions are to others, as to me; A man in all the world's new fashion planted, For interim to our studies, shall relate How How you delight, my Lords, I know not, I; Biren. Armado is a moit illuftrious wight, A man of fire-new words, fashion's own knight. Long. Coftard the fwain, and he, fhall be our sport; And, fo to ftudy, three years are but short. Enter Dull, and Coftard with a letter. Dull. Which is the King's own perfon? (5) Dull. I myself reprehend his own perfon, for I am his Grace's Tharborough: but I would fee his own perfon in flesh and blood. Biron. This is he. Dull. Signior Arme, Arme commends you. There's villany abroad; this letter will tell you more. Coft. Sir, the contempts thereof are as touching me, King. A letter from the magnificent Armado. Biren. How low foever the matter, I hope in God. for high words. Long. A high hope for a low having; God grant us patience! (6) Biron. (5) Dull, WE.ch is the Duke's own perfon?] The King of Naunre is in feveral paffages, thro' all the copies, call'd the Date: bit as t..is must have fprung rather from the inadvertence of the editors, than a forgetfulness in the poet, I have every where, to avoid confufion, re ftor'd King to the text. in heaven to untie the knot. (6) Abigh hope for a low heaven ;] A lau beaven, fure, is a very intricate matter to conceive. But our accurate esitors icem to forze the rule of Horace, whenever a moot point ftaggers them, diga. indice nodus; and where they cannot overcome a dificuby, they bring preceded, they thought, heaven of confequence must follow. As God grant us patience immedively But, I dare war:ant, I have retriev'd the poet's true reau.ng; and the them, it will be but a low acquifition at beft'. This cur poet calls Tho' you hope for high words, and should have a La Laving: and it is a fubftantive, which he ufes in feveral other paffages. meaning is this. Merry Wives of Windfor. Not by my confent, I promife you: the gentleman is of no having, he kept company with the wild Prince and Poinz. K, Henry |