# Love's Labour's Lost (1925) Yale/Text/Act V

Notes originally placed at the bottom of each page appear below, following Act V. Where these notes gloss a word in the text, the gloss can also be found by hovering over the text.
Where these notes refer to an end note (cf. n. = confer notam; "consult note"), a link to the accompanying end note is provided from the Footnotes section. The end notes accompanying Act V begin on page 119 of the original volume.
Layout 2
ACT FIFTH
Scene One
[The King of Navarre's Park]
Enter the Pedant [Holofernes], the Curate [Nathaniel], and Dull.
Hol. Satis quod sufficit.
Nath. I praise God for you, sir: your reasons at dinner have been sharp and sententious; pleasant without scurrility, witty without affec- 4 tion, audacious without impudency, learned without opinion, and strange without heresy. I did converse this quondam day with a com- panion of the king's, who is intituled, nomi- 8 nated, or called, Don Adriano de Armado.
Hol. Novi hominem tanquam te: his humour is lofty, his discourse peremptory, his tongue filed, his eye ambitious, his gait majestical, and 2 his general behaviour vain, ridiculous, and thrasonical. He is too picked, too spruce, too affected, too odd, as it were, too peregrinate, as I may call it. 16
Nath. A most singular and choice epithet.
Draw out his table-book.
Hol. He draweth out the thread of his verbo- sity finer than the staple of his argument. I abhor such fanatical phantasimes, such insoci- 20 ​able and point-devise companions; such rackers of orthography, as to speak 'dout,' fine, when he should say 'doubt'; 'det,' when he should pro- nounce 'debt,'—d, e, b, t, not d, e, t: he clepeth a 24 calf, cauf; half, hauf; neighbour vocatur nebour, neigh abbreviated ne. This is abhominable, which he would call abominable,—it insinuateth me of insanie: ne intelligis, domine? To 28 make frantic, lunatic.
Nath. Laus Deo bene intelligo.
Hol. Bon, bon, fort bon! Priscian a little scratched; 'twill serve. 32
Enter Braggart [Armado], Boy [Moth, and Costard].
Nath. Videsne quis venit?
Hol. Video, et gaudeo.
Arm. [To Moth.] Chirrah!
Hol. Quare chirrah, not sirrah? 36
Arm. Men of peace, well encountered.
Hol. Most military sir, salutation.
Moth. [Aside to Costard.] They have been at a great feast of languages, and stolen the 40 scraps.
Cost. O! they have lived long on the alms- basket of words. I marvel thy master hath not eaten thee for a word; for thou art not so long 44 by the head as honorificabilitudinitatibus: thou art easier swallowed than a flap-dragon.
Moth. Peace! the peal begins.
​Arm. [To Holofernes.] Monsieur, are you 48 not lettered?
Moth. Yes, yes; he teaches boys the horn- book. What is a, b, spelt backward, with the horn on his head? 52
Hol. Ba, pueritia, with a horn added.
Moth. Ba! most silly sheep with a horn. You hear his learning.
Hol. Quis, quis, thou consonant? 56
Moth. The third of the five vowels, if you repeat them; or the fifth, if I.
Hol. I will repeat them,—a, e, i,—
Moth. The sheep; the other two concludes 60 it,—o, u.
Arm. Now, by the salt wave of the Mediter- raneum, a sweet touch, a quick venew of wit! snip, snap, quick and home! it rejoiceth my 64 intellect: true wit!
Moth. Offered by a child to an old man; which is wit-old.
Hol. What is the figure? what is the figure? 68
Moth. Horns.
Hol. Thou disputest like an infant; go, whip thy gig.
Moth. Lend me your horn to make one, and 72 I will whip about your infamy circum circa. A gig of a cuckold's horn.
Cost. An I had but one penny in the world, thou shouldst have it to buy gingerbread. Hold, 76 there is the very remuneration I had of thy master, thou halfpenny purse of wit, thou ​pigeon-egg of discretion. O, an the heavens were so pleased that thou wert but my bastard, what 80 a joyful father wouldst thou make me! Go to; thou hast it ad dunghill, at the fingers' ends, as they say.
Hol. O! I smell false Latin! dunghill for 84 unguem.
Arm. Arts-man, præambula: we will be singled from the barbarous. Do you not educate youth at the charge-house on the top of the 88 mountain?
Hol. Or mons, the hill.
Arm. At your sweet pleasure, for the moun- tain. 92
Hol. I do, sans question.
Arm. Sir, it is the king's most sweet pleasure and affection to congratulate the princess at her pavilion in the posteriors of this day, which the 96 rude multitude call the afternoon.
Hol. The posterior of the day, most gene- rous sir, is liable, congruent, and measurable for the afternoon: the word is well culled, 100 chose, sweet and apt, I do assure you, sir; I do assure.
Arm. Sir, the king is a noble gentleman, and my familiar, I do assure ye, very good friend. 104 For what is inward between us, let it pass: I do beseech thee, remember thy courtesy; I beseech thee, apparel thy head: and among other im- portunate and most serious designs, and of great 108 import indeed, too, but let that pass: for I must ​tell thee, it will please his Grace, by the world, sometime to lean upon my poor shoulder, and with his royal finger, thus dally with my excre- 112 ment, with my mustachio: but, sweet heart, let that pass. By the world, I recount no fable: some certain special honours it pleaseth his greatness to impart to Armado, a soldier, a man 116 of travel, that hath seen the world: but let that pass. The very all of all is, but, sweet heart, I do implore secrecy, that the king would have me present the princess, sweet chuck, with some 120 delightful ostentation, or show, or pageant, or antick, or fire-work. Now, understanding that the curate and your sweet self are good at such eruptions and sudden breaking out of mirth, as 124 it were, I have acquainted you withal, to the end to crave your assistance.
Hol. Sir, you shall present before her the Nine Worthies. Sir Nathaniel, as concerning 128 some entertainment of time, some show in the posterior of this day, to be rendered by our assistants, the king's command, and this most gallant, illustrate, and learned gentleman, 132 before the princess; I say, none so fit as to pre- sent the Nine Worthies.
Nath. Where will you find men worthy enough to present them? 136
Hol. Joshua, yourself; myself, or this gallant gentleman, Judas Maccabæus; this swain, be- cause of his great limb, or joint, shall pass Pompey the Great; the page, Hercules,— 140
Arm. Pardon, sir; error: he is not quantity ​enough for that Worthy's thumb: he is not so big as the end of his club.
Hol. Shall I have audience? he shall present 144 Hercules in minority: his enter and exit shall be strangling a snake; and I will have an apology for that purpose.
Moth. An excellent device! so, if any of 148 the audience hiss, you may cry, 'Well done, Hercules! now thou crushest the snake!' that is the way to make an offence gracious, though few have the grace to do it. 152
Arm. For the rest of the Worthies?—
Hol. I will play three myself.
Moth. Thrice-worthy gentleman!
Arm. Shall I tell you a thing? 156
Hol. We attend.
Arm. We will have, if this fadge not, an antick. I beseech you, follow.
Hol. Via, goodman Dull! thou hast spoken 160 no word all this while.
Dull. Nor understood none neither, sir.
Hol. Allons! we will employ thee.
Dull. I'll make one in a dance, or so; or I 164 will play on the tabor to the Worthies, and let them dance the hay.
Hol. Most dull, honest Dull, to our sport, away! Exeunt.
Scene Two
[The same. Before the Princess's Pavilion]
Enter the Ladies [i.e. Princess, Katharine, Rosaline, and Maria].
Prin. Sweet hearts, we shall be rich ere we depart, If fairings come thus plentifully in. A lady wall'd about with diamonds! Look you what I have from the loving king. 4
Ros. Madam, came nothing else along with that?
Prin. Nothing but this! yes, as much love in rime As would be cramm'd up in a sheet of paper, Writ o' both sides the leaf, margent and all, 8 That he was fain to seal on Cupid's name.
Ros. That was the way to make his godhead wax; For he hath been five thousand year a boy.
Kath. Ay, and a shrewd unhappy gallows too. 12
Ros. You'll ne'er be friends with him: a' kill'd your sister.
Kath. He made her melancholy, sad, and heavy; And so she died: had she been light, like you, Of such a merry, nimble, stirring spirit, 16 She might ha' been a grandam ere she died; And so may you, for a light heart lives long.
Ros. What's your dark meaning, mouse, of this light word?
Kath. A light condition in a beauty dark. 20
Ros. We need more light to find your meaning out.
Kath. You'll mar the light by taking it in snuff; ​Therefore, I'll darkly end the argument.
Ros. Look, what you do, you do it still i' the dark. 24
Kath. So do not you, for you are a light wench.
Ros. Indeed I weigh not you, and therefore light.
Kath. You weigh me not. O! that's you care not for me.
Ros. Great reason; for, 'past cure is still past care.' 28
Prin. Well bandied both; a set of wit well play'd. But Rosaline, you have a favour too: Who sent it? and what is it?
Ros. I would you knew: An if my face were but as fair as yours, 32 My favour were as great; be witness this. Nay, I have verses too, I thank Berowne: The numbers true; and, were the numb'ring too, I were the fairest goddess on the ground: 36 I am compar'd to twenty thousand fairs. O, he hath drawn my picture in his letter!
Prin. Anything like?
Ros. Much in the letters, nothing in the praise. 40
Prin. Beauteous as ink; a good conclusion.
Kath. Fair as a text B in a copy-book.
Ros. 'Ware pencils, ho! let me not die your debtor, My red dominical, my golden letter: 44 O, that your face were not so full of O's!
Prin. A pox of that jest! and I beshrew all shrows! But, Katharine, what was sent to you from fair Dumaine?
Kath. Madam, this glove.
Prin. Did he not send you twain? 48
​Kath. Yes, madam; and moreover, Some thousand verses of a faithful lover: A huge translation of hypocrisy, Vilely compil'd, profound simplicity.52
Mar. This, and these pearls to me sent Longaville: The letter is too long by half a mile.
Prin. I think no less. Dost thou not wish in heart The chain were longer and the letter short? 56
Mar. Ay, or I would these hands might never part.
Prin. We are wise girls to mock our lovers so.
Ros. They are worse fools to purchase mocking so. That same Berowne I'll torture ere I go. 60 O that I knew he were but in by the week! How I would make him fawn, and beg, and seek, And wait the season, and observe the times, And spend his prodigal wits in bootless rimes, 64 And shape his service wholly to my hests, And make him proud to make me proud that jests! So perttaunt-like would I o'ersway his state That he should be my fool, and I his fate. 68
Prin. None are so surely caught, when they are catch'd, As wit turn'd fool: folly, in wisdom hatch'd, Hath wisdom's warrant and the help of school And wit's own grace to grace a learned fool. 72
Ros. The blood of youth burns not with such excess As gravity’s revolt to wantonness.
Mar. Folly in fools bears not so strong a note As foolery in the wise, when wit doth dote; 76 Since all the power thereof it doth apply To prove, by wit, worth in simplicity.
Enter Boyet.
Prin. Here comes Boyet, and mirth is in his face.
Boyet. O, I am stabb'd with laughter! Where's her Grace? 80
Prin. Thy news, Boyet?
Boyet. Prepare, madam, prepare!— Arm, wenches, arm! encounters mounted are Against your peace: Love doth approach disguis'd, Armed in arguments; you'll be surpris'd: 84 Muster your wits; stand in your own defence; Or hide your heads like cowards, and fly hence.
Prin. Saint Denis to Saint Cupid! What are they That charge their breath against us? say, scout, say. 88
Boyet. Under the cool shade of a sycamore I thought to close mine eyes some half an hour, When, lo! to interrupt my purpos'd rest, Toward that shade I might behold addrest 92 The king and his companions: warily I stole into a neighbour thicket by, And overheard what you shall overhear; That, by and by, disguis'd they will be here. 96 Their herald is a pretty knavish page, That well by heart hath conn'd his embassage: Action and accent did they teach him there; 'Thus must thou speak, and thus thy body bear.' 100 And ever and anon they made a doubt Presence majestical would put him out; 'For,' quoth the king, 'an angel shalt thou see; Yet fear not thou, but speak audaciously.' 104 The boy replied, 'An angel is not evil; I should have fear'd her had she been a devil.' With that all laugh'd and clapp'd him on the shoulder, Making the bold wag by their praises bolder. 108 ​One rubb'd his elbow thus, and fleer'd, and swore A better speech was never spoke before; Another, with his finger and his thumb, Cry'd 'Via! we will do 't, come what will come'; 112 The third he caper'd and cried, 'All goes well'; The fourth turn'd on the toe, and down he fell. With that, they all did tumble on the ground, With such a zealous laughter, so profound, 116 That in this spleen ridiculous appears, To check their folly, passion's solemn tears.
Prin. But what, but what? come they to visit us?
Boyet. They do, they do; and are apparell'd thus, 120 Like Muscovites or Russians, as I guess. Their purpose is to parle, to court and dance; And every one his love-feat will advance Unto his several mistress, which they'll know 124 By favours several which they did bestow.
Prin. And will they so? the gallaats shall be task'd: For, ladies, we will every one be mask'd, And not a man of them shall have the grace, 128 Despite of suit, to see a lady's face. Hold, Rosaline, this favour thou shalt wear, And then the king will court thee for his dear: Hold, take thou this, my sweet, and give me thine, 132 So shall Berowne take me for Rosaline, And change you favours too; so shall your loves Woo contrary, deceiv'd by these removes.
Ros. Come on, then; wear the favours most in sight. 136
Kath. But in this changing what is your intent?
Prin. The effect of my intent is, to cross theirs: ​They do it but in mockery merriment; And mock for mock is only my intent. 140 Their several counsels they unbosom shall To loves mistook and so be mock'd withal Upon the next occasion that we meet, With visages display'd, to talk and greet. 144
Ros. But shall we dance, if they desire us to 't?
Prin. No, to the death, we will not move a foot: Nor to their penn'd speech render we no grace; But while 'tis spoke each turn away her face. 148
Boyet. Why, that contempt will kill the speaker's heart, And quite divorce his memory from his part.
Prin. Therefore I do it; and I make no doubt, The rest will ne'er come in, if he be out. 152 There's no such sport as sport by sport o'erthrown, To make theirs ours and ours none but our own: So shall we stay, mocking intended game, And they, well mock'd, depart away with shame. 156
Sound Trumpets.
Boyet. The trumpet sounds: be mask'd; the maskers come.
[The Ladies mask.]
Enter Blackamoors with music; the Boy [Moth] with a speech, and the rest of the Lords disguised.
Moth. 'All hail, the richest beauties on the earth!'
Boyet. Beauties no richer than rich taffeta.
Moth. 'A holy parcel of the fairest dames, 160 The Ladies turn their backs to him. That ever turn'd their—backs—to mortal views!'
Ber. 'Their eyes,' villain, 'their eyes.'
Moth. ‘That ever turn'd their eyes to mortal views! Out—' 164
​Boyet. True; 'out,' indeed.
Moth. 'Out of your favours, heavenly spirits, vouchsafe Not to behold'—
Ber. 'Once to behold,' rogue. 168
Moth. 'Once to behold with your sun-beamed eyes, —with your sun-beamed eyes'—
Boyet. They will not answer to that epithet; You were best call it 'daughter-beamed eyes.' 172
Moth. They do not mark me, and that brings me out.
Ber. Is this your perfectness? be gone, you rogue!
[Exit Moth.]
Ros. What would these strangers? know their minds, Boyet: If they do speak our language, 'tis our will 176 That some plain man recount their purposes: Know what they would.
Boyet. What would you with the princess?
Ber. Nothing but peace and gentle visitation. 180
Ros. What would they, say they?
Boyet. Nothing but peace and gentle visitation.
Ros. Why, that they have; and bid them so be gone.
Boyet. She says, you have it, and you may be gone. 184
King. Say to her, we have measur'd many miles, To tread a measure with her on this grass.
Boyet. They say that they have measur'd many a mile, To tread a measure with you on this grass. 188
Ros. It is not so. Ask them how many inches Is in one mile: if they have measur'd many, The measure then of one is easily told.
​Boyet. If to come hither you have measur'd miles, 192 And many miles, the princess bids you tell How many inches do fill up one mile.
Ber. Tell her we measure them by weary steps.
Boyet. She hears herself.
Ros. How many weary steps, 196 Of many weary miles you have o'ergone, Are number'd in the travel of one mile?
Ber. We number nothing that we spend for you: Our duty is so rich, so infinite, 200 That we may do it still without accompt. Vouchsafe to show the sunshine of your face, That we, like savages, may worship it.
Ros. My face is but a moon, and clouded too. 204
King. Blessed are clouds, to do as such clouds do! Vouchsafe, bright moon, and these thy stars, to shine, Those clouds remov'd, upon our wat'ry eyne.
Ros. O vain petitioner! beg a greater matter; 208 Thou now requests but moonshine in the water.
King. Then, in our measure vouchsafe but one change. Thou bid'st me beg; this begging is not strange.
Ros. Play, music, then! Nay, you must do it soon. 212 [Music plays.] Not yet! no dance! thus change I like the moon.
King. Will you not dance? How come you thus estrang'd?
Ros. You took the moon at full, but now she's chang'd.
King. Yet still she is the moon, and I the man. 216 The music plays; vouchsafe some motion to it. ​Ros. Our ears vouchsafe it.
King. But your legs should do it.
Ros. Since you are strangers, and come here by chance, We'll not be nice: take hands: we will not dance. 220
King. Why take we hands then?
Ros. Only to part friends. Curtsy, sweet hearts; and so the measure ends.
King. More measure of this measure: be not nice.
Ros. We can afford no more at such a price. 224
King. Prize you yourselves. What buys your company?
Ros. Your absence only.
King. That can never be.
Ros. Then cannot we be bought: and so, adieu; Twice to your visor, and half once to you! 228
King. If you deny to dance, let's hold more chat.
Ros. In private, then.
King. I am best pleas'd with that.
[They converse apart.]
Ber. White-handed mistress, one sweet word with thee.
Prin. Honey, and milk, and sugar; there are three. 232
Ber. Nay then, two treys, an if you grow so nice, Metheglin, wort, and malmsey: well run, dice! There's half a dozen sweets.
Prin. Seventh sweet, adieu: Since you can cog, I'll play no more with you. 236
Ber. One word in secret.
​Prin. Let it not be sweet.
Ber. Thou griev'st my gall.
Prin. Gall! bitter.
Ber. Therefore meet.
[They converse apart.]
Dum. Will you vouchsafe with me to change a word?
Mar. Name it.
Dum. Fair lady,—
Mar. Say you so? Fair lord! 240 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 vizard made without a tongue?
Long. I know the reason, lady, why you ask. 244
Kath. O for your reason; quickly, sir; I long.
Long. You have a double tongue within your mask, And would afford my speechless vizard half.
Kath. 'Veal,' quoth the Dutchman. Is not 'veal' a calf? 248
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. 252 Will you give horns, chaste lady? do not so.
Kath. Then die a calf, before your horns do grow.
Long. One word in private with you, ere I die.
​Kath. Bleat softly then; the butcher hears you cry. 256
[They converse apart.]
Boyet. The tongues of mocking wenches are as keen As is the razor's edge invisible, Cutting a smaller hair than may be seen, Above the sense of sense; so sensible 260 Seemeth their conference; their conceits have wings Fleeter than arrows, bullets, wind, thought, swifter things.
Ros. Not one word more, my maids: break off, break off.
Ber. By heaven, all dry-beaten with pure scoff! 264
King. Farewell, mad wenches: you have simple wits.
Exeunt [King and Lords].
Prin. Twenty adieus, my frozen Muscovits. Are these the breed of wits so wonder'd at?
Boyet. Tapers they are, with your sweet breaths puff'd out. 268
Ros. Well-liking wits they have; gross, gross; fat, fat.
Prin. O poverty in wit, kingly-poor flout! Will they not, think you, hang themselves to-night? Or ever, but in vizards, show their faces? 272 This pert Berowne was out of countenance quite.
Ros. They were all in lamentable cases. The king was weeping-ripe for a good word.
Prin. Berowne did swear himself out of all suit. 276
Mar. Dumaine was at my service, and his sword: 'No point,' quoth I: my servant straight was mute.
Kath. Lord Longaville said, I came o'er his heart; ​And trow you what he call'd me?
Prin. Qualm, perhaps. 280
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 Berowne hath plighted faith to me. 284
Kath. And Longaville was for my service born.
Mar. Dumaine is mine, as sure as bark on tree.
Boyet. Madam, and pretty mistresses, give ear: Immediately they will again be here 288 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: 292 Therefore change favours; and, when they repair, Blow like sweet roses in this summer air.
Prin. How blow? how blow? speak to be understood.
Boyet. Fair ladies, mask'd, are roses in their bud: 296 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? 300
Ros. Good madam, if by me you'll be advis'd, Let's mock them still, as well known as disguis'd. Let us complain to them what fools were here, Disguis'd like Muscovites, in shapeless gear; 304 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. 308
Boyet. Ladies, withdraw: the gallants are at hand.
Prin. Whip to your tents, as roes runs o'er land.
Exeunt [Princess, Ros., Kath., and Maria].
Enter the King and the rest [of the Lords].
King. Fair sir, God save you! Where is the princess?
Boyet. Gone to her tent. Please it your majesty, 312 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.
Ber. This fellow pecks up wit, as pigeons pease, 316 And utters it again when God doth please: He is wit's pedlar, and retails his wares At wakes and wassails, meetings, markets, fairs; And we that sell by gross, the Lord doth know, 320 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 324 That kiss'd his hand away 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 328 A mean 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, 332 To show his teeth as white as whales-bone; ​And consciences, that will not die in debt, Pay him the due of honey-tongu'd Boyet.
King. A blister on his sweet tongue, with my heart, 336 That put Armado's page out of his part!
Enter the Ladies [with Boyet].
Ber. See where it comes! Behaviour, what wert thou, Till this man show'd thee? and what art thou now?
King. All hail, sweet madam, and fair time of day! 340
Prin, 'Fair,' in 'all hail,' is foul, as I conceive.
King. Construe my speeches better, if you may.
Prin. Then wish me better: I will give you leave.
King. We came to visit you, and purpose now 344 To lead you to our court: vouchsafe it then.
Prin. This field shall hold me, and so hold your vow: Nor God, nor I, delights in perjur'd men.
King. Rebuke me not for that which you provoke: 348 The virtue of your eye must break my oath.
Prin. You nickname virtue; vice you should have spoke; For virtue's office never breaks men's troth. Now, by my maiden honour, yet as pure 352 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 356 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; 360 We have had pastimes here and pleasant game. ​A mess of Russians left us but of late.
King. How, madam! Russians?
Prin. Ay, in truth, my lord; Trim gallants, full of courtship and of state. 364
Ros. Madam, speak true. It is not so, my lord: My lady, to the manner of the days, In courtesy gives undeserving praise. We four, indeed, confronted were with four 368 In Russian habit: here they stay'd an hour, 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, 372 When they are thirsty, fools would fain have drink.
Ber. This jest is dry to me. Gentle sweet, Your wit makes wise things foolish: when we greet, With eyes best seeing, heaven's fiery eye, 376 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.
Ros. This proves you wise and rich, for in my eye— 380
Ber. 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.
Ber. O, I am yours, and all that I possess. 384
Ros. All the fool mine?
Ber. I cannot give you less.
Ros. Which of the vizards was it that you wore?
Ber. Where? when? what vizard? why demand you this?
Ros. There, then, that vizard; that superfluous case 388 ​That hid the worse, and show'd the better face.
King. We were 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? 392
Ros. Help! hold his brows! he'll sound. Why look you pale? Sea-sick, I think, coming from Muscovy.
Ber. Thus pour the stars down plagues for perjury. Can any face of brass hold longer out?— 396 Here stand I, lady; dart thy skill at me; Bruise me with scorn, confound me with a flout; Thrust thy sharp wit quite through my ignorance; Cut me to pieces with thy keen conceit; 400 And I will wish thee never more to dance, Nor never more in Russian habit wait. O, never will I trust to speeches penn'd, Nor to the motion of a schoolboy's tongue, 404 Nor never come in vizard to my friend, Nor woo in rime, like a blind harper's song. Taffeta phrases, silken terms precise, Three-pil'd hyperboles, spruce affectation, 408 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,— 412 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. 416
Ros. Sans 'sans,' I pray you.
Ber. Yet I have a trick 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; 420 They are infected, in their hearts it lies; They have the plague, and caught it of your eyes: These lords are visited; you are not free, For the Lord's tokens on you do I see. 424
Prin. No, they are free that gave these tokens to us.
Ber. Our states are forfeit: seek not to undo us.
Ros. It is not so. For how can this be true, That you stand forfeit, being those that sue? 428
Ber. Peace! for I will not have to do with you.
Ros. Nor shall not, if I do as I intend.
Ber. Speak for yourselves: my wit is at an end.
King. Teach us, sweet madam, for our rude transgression 432 Some fair excuse.
Prin. The fairest is confession. Were you not here, but even now, disguis'd?
King. Madam, I was.
Prin. And were you well advis'd?
King. I was, fair madam.
Prin. When you then were here, 436 What did you whisper in your lady's ear?
King. That more than all the world I did respect her.
Prin. When she shall challenge this, you will reject her.
​King. Upon mine honour, no.
Prin. Peace! peace! forbear; 440 Your oath once broke, you force not to forswear.
King. Despise me, when I break this oath of mine.
Prin. I will; and therefore keep it. Rosaline, What did the Russian whisper in your ear? 444
Ros. Madam, he swore that he did hold me dear As precious eyesight, and did value me Above this world; adding thereto, moreover, That he would wed me, or else die my lover. 448
Prin. God give thee joy of him! the noble lord Most honourably doth uphold his word.
King. What mean you, madam? by my life, my troth, I never swore this lady such an oath. 452
Ros. By heaven you did; and to confirm it plain, You gave me this: but take it, sir, again.
King. My faith and this the princess I did give: I knew her by this jewel on her sleeve. 456
Prin. Pardon me, sir, this jewel did she wear; And Lord Berowne, I thank him, is my dear. What, will you have me, or your pearl again?
Ber. Neither of either; I remit both twain. 460 I see the trick on 't: here was a consent, Knowing aforehand of our merriment, To dash it like a Christmas comedy. Some carry-tale, some please-man, some slight zany, 464 Some mumble-news, some trencher-knight, some Dick, That smiles his cheek in years, and knows the trick To make my lady laugh when she's dispos'd, ​Told our intents before; which once disclos'd, 468 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. 472 Much upon this it is: [To Boyet.] and might not you Forestall 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? 476 And stand between her back, sir, and the fire, Holding a trencher, jesting merrily? You put our page out: go, you are allow'd; Die when you will, a smock shall be your shroud. 480 You leer upon me, do you? there's an eye Wounds like a leaden sword.
Boyet. Full merrily Hath this brave manage, this career, been run.
Ber. Lo! he is tilting straight. Peace! I have done. 484
Enter Clown [i.e. Costard].
Welcome, pure wit! thou partest a fair fray.
Cost. O Lord, sir, they would know Whether the three Worthies shall come in or no.
Ber. What, are there but three?
Cost. No, sir; but it is vara fine, 488 For every one pursents three.
Ber. 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: ​I hope, sir, three times thrice, sir,—
Ber. Is not nine? 492
Cost. Under correction, sir, we know where- until it doth amount.
Ber. By Jove, I always took three threes for nine.
Cost. O Lord, sir! it were pity you should get 496 your living by reckoning, sir.
Ber. How much is it?
Cost. O Lord, sir! the parties themselves, the actors, sir, will show whereuntil it doth amount: 500 for mine own part, I am, as they say, but to par- fect one man in one poor man, Pompion the Great, sir.
Ber. Art thou one of the Worthies? 504
Cost. It pleased them to think me worthy of Pompey the Great: for mine own part, I know not the degree of the Worthy, but I am to stand for him. 508
Ber. Go, bid them prepare.
Cost. We will turn it finely off, sir; we will take some care. Exit.
King. Berowne, they will shame us; let them not approach.
Ber. We are shame-proof, my lord; and 'tis some policy 512 To have one show worse than the king's and his company.
King. I say they shall not come.
Prin. Nay, my good lord, let me o'errule you now. That sport best pleases that doth least know how; 516 Where zeal strives to content, and the contents Dies in the zeal of that which it presents; Their form confounded makes most form in mirth, ​When great things labouring perish in their birth. 520
Ber. A right description of our sport, my lord.
Enter Braggart [i.e. Armado].
Arm. Anointed, I implore so much expense of thy royal sweet breath as will utter a brace of words. 524
[Armado converses with the King, and delivers a paper to him.]
Prin. Doth this man serve God?
Ber. Why ask you?
Prin. A' speaks not like a man of God his making.
Arm. That is all one, my fair, sweet, honey 528 monarch; for, I protest, the schoolmaster is exceeding fantastical; too-too vain; too-too vain: but we will put it, as they say, to fortuna de la guerra. I wish you the peace of mind, 532 most royal couplement! Exit.
King. Here is like to be a good presence of Worthies. He presents Hector of Troy; the swain, Pompey the Great; the parish curate, 536 Alexander; Armado's page, Hercules; the pe- dant, Judas Maccabæus: And if these four Worthies in their first show thrive, These four will change habits and present the other five. 540
Ber. There is five in the first show.
King. You are deceived, 'tis not so.
Ber. The pedant, the braggart, the hedge- priest, the fool, and the boy:— 544 Abate throw at novum, and the whole world again ​Cannot pick out five such, take each one in his vein.
King. The ship is under sail, and here she comes amain.
Enter [Costard armed, for] Pompey.
Cost. 'I Pompey am,—'
Boyet. You lie, you are not he. 548
Cost. 'I Pompey am,—'
Boyet. With libbard's head on knee.
Ber. Well said, old mocker: I must needs be friends with thee.
Cost. 'I Pompey am, Pompey surnam'd the Big,—'
Dum. 'The Great.' 552
Cost. It is 'Great,' sir; 'Pompey surnam'd the Great; That oft in field, with targe and shield, did make my foe to sweat: And travelling along this coast, I here am come by chance, And lay my arms before the legs of this sweet lass of France. 556 If your ladyship would say, 'Thanks, Pompey,' 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.' 560
Ber. My hat to a halfpenny, Pompey proves the best Worthy.
Enter Curate [Nathaniel] for Alexander.
Nath. 'When in the world I liv'd, I was the world's commander; By east, west, north, and south, I spread my conquering might: 564 My scutcheon plain declares that I am Alisander,—'
Boyet. Your nose says, no, you are not; for it stands too right.
Ber. Your nose smells 'no,' in this, most tender-smelling knight.
Prin. The conqueror is dismay'd. Proceed, good Alexander. 568
Nath. 'When in the world I liv'd, I was the world's commander;—'
Boyet. Most true; 'tis right: you were so, Alisander.
Ber. Pompey the Great,—
Cost. Your servant, and Costard. 572
Ber. Take away the conqueror, take away Alisander.
Cost. [To Nathaniel.] O! sir, you have over- thrown Alisander the conqueror! You will be scraped out of the painted cloth for this: your 576 lion, that holds his poll-axe sitting on a close- stool, will be given to Ajax: he will be the ninth Worthy. A conqueror, and afeard to speak! run away for shame, Alisander! [Nathaniel 580 retires.] There, an 't shall please you: a foolish mild man; an honest man, look you, and soon dashed! He is a marvellous good neighbour, faith, and a very good bowler; but, for Alisan- 584 der,—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. 588
Enter Pedant [Holofernes] for Judas, and the Boy [Moth] for Hercules.
Hol. 'Great Hercules is presented by this imp, Whose club kill'd Cerberus, that three-headed canus; ​And, when he was a babe, a child, a shrimp, Thus did he strangle serpents in his manus. 592 Quoniam he seemeth in minority, Ergo I come with this apology.' Keep some state in thy exit, and vanish.— Exit Boy. 'Judas I am.—' 596
Dum. A Judas!
Hol. Not Iscariot, sir. 'Judas I am, ycleped Maccabæus.'
Dum. Judas Maccabæus clipt is plain Judas. 600
Ber. A kissing traitor. How art thou prov'd Judas?
Hol. 'Judas I am.—'
Dum. The more shame for you, Judas.
Hol. What mean you, sir? 604
Boyet. To make Judas hang himself.
Hol. Begin, sir; you are my elder.
Ber. Well follow'd: Judas was hanged on an elder.
Hol. I will not be put out of countenance. 608
Ber. Because thou hast no face.
Hol. What is this?
Boyet. A cittern-head.
Dum. The head of a bodkin. 612
Ber. A death's face in a ring.
Long. The face of an old Roman coin, scarce seen.
Boyet. The pommel of Cæsar's falchion.
Dum. The carved-bone face on a flask.616
Ber. Saint George's half-cheek in a brooch.
Dum. Ay, and in a brooch of lead.
Ber. Ay, and worn in the cap of a toothdrawer. ​And now forward; for we have put thee in countenance. 620
Hol. You have put me out of countenance.
Ber. False: we have given thee faces.
Hol. But you have outfaced them all.
Ber. An thou wert a lion, we would do so. 624
Boyet. Therefore, as he is an ass, let him go. And so adieu, sweet Jude! nay, why dost thou stay?
Dum. For the later end of his name.
Ber. For the ass to the Jude? give it him:—Jud-as, away! 628
Hol. This is not generous, not gentle, not humble.
Boyet. A light for Monsieur Judas! it grows dark, he may stumble. [Hol. retires.]
Prin. Alas! poor Maccabæus, how hath he been baited.
Enter Braggart [i.e. Armado, for Hector].
Ber. Hide thy head, Achilles: here comes 632 Hector in arms.
Dum. Though my mocks come home by me, I will now be merry.
King. Hector was but a Troyan in respect of 636 this.
Boyet. But is this Hector?
King. I think Hector was not so clean-tim- bered. 640
Long. His calf is too big for Hector's.
Dum. More calf, certain.
Boyet. No; he is best indued in the small.
Ber. This cannot be Hector. 644
Dum. He's a god or a painter; for he makes faces.
Arm. 'The armipotent Mars, of lances the almighty, Gave Hector a gift,—' 648
Dum. A gilt nutmeg.
Ber. A lemon.
Long. Stuck with cloves.
Dum. No, cloven. 652
Arm. Peace! 'The armipotent Mars, of lances the almighty, Gave Hector a gift, the heir of Ilion; A man so breath'd, that certain he would fight ye 656 From morn till night, out of his pavilion. I am that flower,—'
Dum. That mint.
Long. That columbine.
Arm. Sweet Lord Longaville, rein thy tongue.
Long. I must rather give it the rein, for it 660 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; 664 when he breathed, he was a man. But I will for- ward with my device. [To the Princess.] Sweet royalty, bestow on me the sense of hearing.
Berowne steps forth.
Prin. Speak, brave Hector; we are much de- 668 lighted.
Arm. I do adore thy sweet Grace's slipper.
Boyet. [Aside to Dumaine.] Loves her by the foot. 672
Dum. [Aside to Boyet.] He may not by the yard.
Arm. 'This Hector far surmounted Hannibal,—'
[Berowne returns with Costard.]
Cost. The party is gone; fellow Hector, she is 676 gone; she is two months on her way.
Arm. What meanest thou?
Cost. Faith, unless you play the honest Troy- an, the poor wench is cast away: she's quick; 680 the child brags in her belly already: 'tis yours.
Arm. Dost thou infamonize me among po- tentates? Thou shalt die.
Cost. Then shall Hector be whipped for Ja- 684 quenetta that is quick by him, and hanged for Pompey that is dead by him.
Dum. Most rare Pompey!
Boyet. Renowned Pompey! 688
Ber. Greater than great, great, great, great Pompey! Pompey the Huge!
Dum. Hector trembles.
Ber. Pompey is moved. More Ates, more 692 Ates! stir them on! stir them on!
Dum. Hector will challenge him.
Ber. Ay, if a' have no more man's blood in 's belly than will sup a flea. 696
Arm. By the north pole, I do challenge thee.
Cost. I will not fight with a pole, like a northern man: I'll slash; Ill do it by the sword. I bepray you, let me borrow my arms 700 again.
Dum. Room for the incensed Worthies!
Cost. I'll do it in my shirt.
Dum. Most resolute Pompey! 704
Moth. Master, let me take you a button-hole lower. Do you not see, Pompey is uncasing for ​the combat? What mean you? you will lose your reputation. 708
Arm. Gentlemen and soldiers, pardon me; I will not combat in my shirt.
Dum. You may not deny it; Pompey hath made the challenge. 712
Arm. Sweet bloods, I both may and will.
Ber. What reason have you for 't?
Arm. The naked truth of it is, I have no shirt. I go woolward for penance. 716
Boyet. True, and it was enjoined 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 for a favour. 720
Enter a Messenger, Monsieur Marcade.
Mar. God save you, madam!
Prin. Welcome, Marcade; But that thou interrupt'st our merriment.
Mar. I am sorry, madam; for the news I bring 724 Is heavy in my tongue. The king your father—
Prin. Dead, for my life!
Mar. Even so: my tale is told.
Ber. Worthies, away! The scene begins to 728 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 732 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. 736
Prin. Prepare, I say. I thank you, gracious lords, ​For all your fair endeavours; and entreat, Out of a new-sad soul, that you vouchsafe In your rich wisdom to excuse or hide 740 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! 744 A heavy heart bears not a humble tongue, Excuse me so, coming too short of thanks For my great suit so easily obtain'd.
King. The extreme parts, of time. extremely forms 748 All causes to the purpose of his speed, And often, at his very loose, decides That which long process could not arbitrate: And though the mourning brow of progeny 752 Forbid the smiling courtesy of love The holy suit which fain it would convince; Yet, since love's argument was first on foot, Let not the cloud of sorrow justle it 756 From what it purpos'd; since, to wail friends lost Is not by much so wholesome-profitable As to rejoice at friends but newly found.
Prin. I understand you not: my griefs are double. 760
Ber. Honest plain words best pierce the ear of grief; And by these badges understand the king. For your fair sakes have we neglected time, Play'd foul play with our oaths. Your beauty, ladies, 764 ​Hath much deform'd us, fashioning our humours Even to the opposed end of our intents; And what in us hath seem'd ridiculous,— As love is full of unbefitting strains; 768 All wanton as a child, skipping and vain; Form'd by the eye, and, therefore, like the eye, Full of straying shapes, of habits and of forms, Varying in subjects, as the eye doth roll 772 To every varied object in his glance:— Which parti-coated presence of loose love Put on by us, if, in your heavenly eyes, Have misbecom'd our oaths and gravities, 776 Those heavenly eyes, that look into these faults, Suggested us to make. Therefore, ladies, Our love being yours, the error that love makes Is likewise yours: we to ourselves prove false, 780 By being once false for ever to be true To those that make us both,—fair ladies, you: And even that falsehood, in itself a sin, Thus purifies itself and turns to grace. 784
Prin. We have receiv'd your letters full of love; Your favours, the embassadors of love; And, in our maiden council, rated them At courtship, pleasant jest, and courtesy, 788 As bombast and as lining to the time. But more devout than this in our respects Have we not been; and therefore met your loves In their own fashion, like a merriment. 792
Dum. Our letters, madam, show'd much more than jest.
Long. So did our looks.
​Ros. We did not quote them so.
King. Now, at the latest minute of the hour, Grant us your loves.
Prin. A time, methinks, too short 796 To make a world-without-end bargain in. No, no, my lord, your Grace is perjur'd much, Full of dear guiltiness; and therefore this: If for my love,—as there is no such cause,— 800 You will do aught, this shall you do for me: Your oath I will not trust; but go with speed To some forlorn and naked hermitage, Remote from all the pleasures of the world; 804 There stay, until the twelve celestial signs Have brought about the annual reckoning. If this austere insociable life Change not your offer made in heat of blood; 808 If frosts and fasts, hard lodging and thin weeds, Nip not the gaudy blossoms of your love, But that it bear this trial and last love; Then, at the expiration of the year, 812 Come challenge me, challenge me by these deserts, And, by this virgin palm now kissing thine, I will be thine; and, till that instant, shut My woful self up in a mourning house, 816 Raining the tears of lamentation For the remembrance of my father's death. If this thou do deny, let our hands part; Neither intitled in the other's heart. 820
King. If this, or more than this, I would deny, To flatter up these powers of mine with rest, The sudden hand of death close up mine eye! ​Hence ever then my heart is in thy breast. 824
Ber. And what to me, my love? and what to me?
Ros. You must be purged too, your sins are rack'd: You are attaint with faults and perjury; Therefore, if you my favour mean to get, 828 A twelvemonth shall you spend, and never rest, But seek the weary beds of people sick.
Dum. But what to me, my love? but what to me?
Kath. A wife! A beard, fair health, and honesty; 832 With three-fold love I wish you all these three.
Dum. O! shall I say, I thank you, gentle wife?
Kath. Not so, my lord. A twelvemonth and a day I'll mark no words that smooth-fac'd wooers say: 836 Come when the king doth to my lady come; Then, if I have much love, I'll give you some.
Dum. I'll serve thee true and faithfully till then.
Kath. Yet swear not, lest ye be forsworn again. 840
Long. What says Maria?
Mar. At the twelvemonth's end I'll change my black gown for a faithful friend.
Long. I'll stay with patience; but the time is long.
Mar. The liker you; few taller are so young. 844
Ber. Studies my lady? mistress, look on me. Behold the window of my heart, mine eye, What humble suit attends thy answer there; Impose some service on me for thy love. 848
Ros. Oft have I heard of you, my Lord Berowne, Before I saw you; and the world's large tongue Proclaims you for a man replete with mocks, Full of comparisons and wounding flouts, 852 ​Which you on all estates will execute That lie within the mercy of your wit: To weed this wormwood from your fruitful brain, And therewithal to win me, if you please,— 856 Without the which I am not to be won,— You shall this twelvemonth term, from day to day, Visit the speechless sick, and still converse With groaning wretches; and your task shall be 860 With all the fierce endeavour of your wit To enforce the pained impotent to smile.
Ber. To move wild laughter in the throat of death? It cannot be; it is impossible: 864 Mirth cannot move a soul in agony.
Ros. Why, that's the way to choke a gibing spirit, Whose influence is begot of that loose grace Which shallow laughing hearers give to fools. 868 A jest's prosperity lies in the ear Of him that hears it, never in the tongue Of him that makes it: then, if sickly ears, Deaf'd with the clamours of their own dear groans, 872 Will hear your idle scorns, continue then, And I will have you and that fault withal; But if they will not, throw away that spirit, And I shall find you empty of that fault, 876 Right joyful of your reformation.
Ber. A twelvemonth! well, befall what will befall, I'll jest a twelvemonth in an hospital.
Prin. [To the King.] Ay, sweet my lord; and so I take my leave. 880
King. No, madam; we will bring you on your way.
Ber. Our wooing doth not end like an old play; Jack hath not Jill; these ladies' courtesy ​Might well have made our sport a comedy. 884
King. Come, sir, it wants a twelvemonth and a day, And then 'twill end.
Ber. That's too long for a play.
Enter Braggart [Armado].
Arm. Sweet majesty, vouchsafe me,—
Prin. Was not that Hector? 888
Dum. The worthy knight of Troy.
Arm. I will kiss thy royal finger, and take leave. I am a votary; I have vowed to Jaque- netta to hold the plough for her sweet love three 892 year. But, most esteemed greatness, will you hear the dialogue that the two learned men have compiled in praise of the owl and the cuckoo? it should have followed in the end of our show. 896
King. Call them forth quickly; we will do so.
Arm. Holla! approach.
Enter all.
This side is Hiems, Winter; this Ver, the Spring; the one maintained by the owl, th' other by the 900 cuckoo. Ver, begin.
The Song.
[Spring.]
'When daisies pied and violets blue And lady-smocks all silver-white And cuckoo-buds of yellow hue 904 Do paint the meadows with delight, The cuckoo then, on every tree, Mocks married men; for thus sings he, Cuckoo; 908 ​Cuckoo, cuckoo: O, word of fear, Unpleasing to a married ear!
'When shepherds pipe on oaten straws, And merry larks are ploughmen's clocks, 912 When turtles tread, and rooks, and daws, And maidens bleach their summer smocks, The cuckoo then, on every tree, Mocks married men; for thus sings he, 916 Cuckoo; Cuckoo, cuckoo: O, word of fear, Unpleasing to a married ear!'
Winter.
'When icicles hang by the wall, 920 And Dick the shepherd blows his nail, And Tom bears logs into the hall, And milk comes frozen home in pail, When blood is nipp'd, and ways be foul, 924 Then nightly sings the staring owl, Tu-who; Tu-whit, tu-who—a merry note, While greasy Joan doth keel the pot. 928
'When all aloud the wind doth blow, And coughing drowns the parson's saw, And birds sit brooding in the snow, And Marian's nose looks red and raw, 932 When roasted crabs hiss in the bowl, Then nightly sings the staring owl, Tu-who; Tu-whit, tu-who—a merry note, 936 While greasy Joan doth keel the pot.'
Arm. The words of Mercury are harsh after the songs of Apollo. You, that way: we, this way. 940
Exeunt Omnes.
FINIS.
Footnotes to Act V
Scene One
​1 Satis quod sufficit: Enough is as good as a feast 2 reasons: arguments, discourse 4 affection: affectation 6 opinion: self-conceit strange: novel, original 10 Novi . . . te: I know the man as well as I know you 12 filed: polished 14 thrasonical: boastful picked: fastidious 15 peregrinate: traveled, foreign 19 staple: fiber ​21 point-devise: precise 22 fine: mincingly; cf. n. 24 clepeth: calls 25 vocatur: is called, pronounced 28 insanie: insanity ne . . . domine: do you understand, sir? 30 Laus . . . intelligo: God be praised, I understand well 31 Priscian; cf. n. 33 Videsne . . . venit: Do you see who comes? 34 Video, et gaudeo: I see and am pleased 36 Quare: why 45 honorifi- etc.; cf. n. 46 flap-dragon: a raisin set on fire in brandy ​50 horn-book: primer; cf. n. 53 pueritia: childishness, child 61 o, u: i.e. oh, you 63 venew: venue, sally 67 wit-old: i.e. wittol, cuckold 73 circum circa: round and round; cf. n. ​82 ad dunghill; cf. n. 86 Arts-man: professor of the liberal arts præambula: come forward 88 charge-house: schoolhouse; cf. n. 98 generous: well-born 99 liable: suitable 105 inward: private 106 remember . . . courtesy: put on your hat ​112 excrement: excrescence, hair on lip 120 chuck: a pet name 128 Nine Worthies; cf. n. 139 pass: pass for (?), surpass (?) ​145 Hercules in minority; cf. n. 158 fadge: succeed 159 antick: grotesque entertainment 160 Via: On your way! 165 tabor: a small drum ​166 hay: country dance
Scene Two
​2 fairings: presents, originally such as were bought at a fair 9 That: so that (there being no blank space left) 10 wax: grow (with quibble on sealing-wax) 12 shrewd . . . gallows: cunning, roguish knave 13 Cf. n. 20 condition: temperament 22 in snuff: in anger, ill (with pun on the snuff of a candle) ​26 weigh; cf. n. 30 favour: gift; also face 35 numbers: rhythm numb'ring: estimate 40 letters; cf. n. 42 text B; cf. n. 43 'Ware pencils; cf. n. 44 red dominical; cf. n. 45 O's: marks left by the smallpox 46 shrows: shrews ​51 translation of hypocrisy; cf. n. 61 in . . . week; cf. n. 65 hests: behests; cf. n. 67 perttaunt-like; cf. n. ​82 encounters: assailants 87 Saint Denis: patron saint of France 92 addrest: coming straight 96 by and by: soon 101 made a doubt: expressed fear 104 audaciously: boldly ​109 fleer'd: grinned 117 spleen ridiculous: ridiculous merriment 118 solemn: sober 121 Like Muscovites; cf. n. 126 task'd: given a task or problem 135 removes: exchanges ​154 theirs: their sport 155 intended game: the jest they intend 159 taffeta: i.e. the taffeta, or silk, masks ​186 measure: stately dance ​201 accompt: reckoning 207 eyne: eyes 209 requests: requestest 210 change: round or 'figure' in dancing 216 man: i.e. man in the moon ​225 Prize: set a price on 228 Twice: i.e. twice adieu 233 treys: threes 234 Metheglin: mead containing honey wort: sweet unfermented beer malmsey: a sweet wine 236 cog: cheat ​238 meet: fitting 243 tongue; cf. n. 248 Veal: i.e. well; cf. n. 250 part: divide; cf. n. ​260 sense of sense: i.e. perception sensible: sensitive 261 conference: conversation conceits: fancies 264 dry-beaten: cudgeled 269 Well-liking: plump 270 kingly-poor flout: a fling poor for a king 275 weeping-ripe for: ready to weep for want of 278 No point; cf. II. i. 188 ​280 Qualm: calm; cf. n. 282 statute-caps: woollen caps; cf. n. 290 digest: put up with, 'swallow' 297 commixture: complexion 298 vailing: letting fall blown: full blown ​310 runs: run 319 wakes: night festivals wassails: drinking bouts 324 can carve: knows the art of amorous glance and gesture 327 tables: backgammon 329 mean: tenor 333 whales-bone: whale's bone, walrus tusk ​339 man; cf. n. 350 nickname: misname ​362 mess; cf. IV. iii. 207 366 to the manner: after the fashion 374 dry: without savor (with pun on 'thirsty') ​393 sound: swoon 401 wish: invite 405 friend: mistress 406 blind harper; cf. n. 408 Three-pil'd: having three piles, superfine 414 russet: homespun, homely kersey: coarse woollen, plain ​420 'Lord have mercy'; cf. n. 423 visited: plague-smitten 424 Lord's tokens: cf. n. 426 states: estates 428 sue: equivocally for prosecute and entreat 435 well advis'd: in right mind ​441 force not: i.e. find it easy 461 consent: conspiracy 463 Christmas comedy: absurd burlesque 464 please-man: flatterer zany: clown 465 trencher-knight: serving-man, parasite 466 years: i.e. wrinkles, such as belong to years ​473 upon this: in this fashion 475 squire: square, rule 476 apple: pupil 479 allow'd: privileged to jest 483 manage: horsemanship career: swift encounter of knights 491 beg us: prove us fools; cf. n. ​502 Pompion: pumpkin 517, 518 Cf. n. ​521 our sport: i.e. the disguise as Muscovites 527 God his: God's 531 fortuna . . . guerra: the fortune of war 533 couplement: couple, pair 543 hedge-priest: poor, illiterate priest 545 Abate . . . novum: except for a rare throw of the dice; cf. n. ​549 libbard's: leopard's; cf. n. ​566 right: straight; cf. n. 576 painted cloth; cf. n. 577 lion . . . poll-axe; cf. n. 585 o'erparted: i.e. given a part too difficult for him 590 canus: canis, dog ​592 manus: hands 593 Quoniam: since 594 Ergo: therefore 601 A kissing traitor; cf. n. 607 elder; cf. n. 611 cittern: cithern, guitar 612 bodkin: small dagger 613 death's face: death's head 616 flask: powder flask 619 toothdrawer; cf. n. ​634 by: about, near 636 Troyan: Trojan, contemptible fellow 640 clean-timbered: well-built 643 small: small of the leg ​656 breath'd: endowed with breath, vigorous ​676 party: i.e. Jaquenetta 682 infamonize: infamize 692 Ates: mischief; cf. n. 699 northern man: countryman from the north, boor 705 take . . . lower: (1) help you to strip, (2) humiliate you ​716 woolward: i.e. with wool, instead of linen, next to the skin 732 hole of discretion; cf. n. ​741 liberal: over-free 743 converse of breath: conversation 745 humble: suited to the offering of thanks and apologies 748, 749 Cf. n. 750 loose: loosing, parting 754 convince: give proof of 760 double: excessive (?) 762 badges; cf. n. ​766 In a way quite opposite to our intentions 768 strains: impulses 774 parti-coated: motley-coated 778 Suggested: tempted 789 bombast: padding 790 devout: serious respects: reflections ​794 quote: cf. IV. iii. 87 799 dear: amiable 806 Completed the twelve months of the year 809 weeds: clothing 811 last: remain 820 intitled: having any right ​824 Cf. n. 825-830 Cf. n. 826 rack'd: i.e. unnaturally extended 843 stay: wait 844 liker; cf. n. 850 large: lavish 852 comparisons: personalities ​853 estates: ranks 865 agony: i.e. of death 872 dear: intense 874 withal: also 881 bring: attend ​899 Cf. n. 903 lady-smocks: cardamine pratensis, May-flower 904 cuckoo-buds: buttercups or cowslips ​913 turtles: turtle-doves 928 keel: cool by stirring 930 saw: maxim or wise talk 933 crabs: wild, sour apples bowl: i.e. wassail-bowl