Act V, Scene IV — A room in LEONATO’S house…

Act V, Scene IV — A room in LEONATO’S house

Enter LEONATO, ANTONIO, BENEDICK, BEATRICE, MARGARET, URSULA, FRIAR FRANCIS, and HERO.

Friar. Did I not tell you she was innocent?

Leon. So are the prince and Claudio, who accused her Upon the error that you heard debated: But Margaret was in some fault for this, Although against her will, as it appears 5 In the true course of all the question.

Ant. Well, I am glad that all things sort so well.

Bene. And so am I, being else by faith enforced To call young Claudio to a reckoning for it.

Leon. Well, daughter, and you gentlewomen all, 10 Withdraw into a chamber by yourselves, And when I send for you, come hither mask’d. [Exeunt Ladies. The prince and Claudio promised by this hour To visit me. You know your office, brother: You must be father to your brother’s daughter, 15 And give her to young Claudio.

Ant. Which I will do with confirm’d countenance.

Bene. Friar, I must entreat your pains, I think.

Friar. To do what, signior?

Bene. To bind me, or undo me; one of them. 20 Signior Leonato, truth it is, good signior, Your niece regards me with an eye of favour.

Leon. That eye my daughter lent her: ’tis most true.

Bene. And I do with an eye of love requite her.

Leon. The sight whereof I think you had from me, 25 From Claudio, and the prince: but what’s your will?

Bene. Your answer, sir, is enigmatical: But, for my will, my will is, your good will May stand with ours, this day to be conjoin’d In the state of honourable marriage: 30 In which, good friar, I shall desire your help.

Leon. My heart is with your liking.

Friar. And my help. Here comes the prince and Claudio.

Enter DON PEDRO and CLAUDIO, and two or three others.

D. Pedro. Good morrow to this fair assembly.

Leon. Good morrow, prince; good morrow, Claudio: 35 We here attend you. Are you yet determin’d To-day to marry with my brother’s daughter?

Claud. I’ll hold my mind, were she an Ethiope.

Leon. Call her forth, brother; here’s the friar ready. [Exit Antonio. D. Pedro. Good morrow, Benedick. Why, what’s the matter, 40 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; 45 As once Europa did at lusty Jove, When he would play the noble beast in love.

Bene. Bull Jove, sir, had an amiable low; And some such strange bull leap’d your father’s cow, And got a calf in that same noble feat 50 Much like to you, for you have just his bleat.

Claud. For this I owe you: here comes other reckonings.

Re-enter ANTONIO, with the Ladies masked.

Which is the lady I must seize upon?

Ant. This same is she, and I do give you her.

Claud. Why, then she’s mine. Sweet, let me see your face. 55

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 lived, I was your other wife: 60 [Unmasking. And when you loved, you were my other husband.

Claud. Another Hero!

Hero. Nothing certainer: One Hero died defiled; but I do live, And surely as I live, I am a maid.

D. Pedro. The former Hero! Hero that is dead! 65

Leon. She died, my lord, but whiles her slander lived.

Friar. All this amazement can I qualify; When after that the holy rites are ended, I’ll tell you largely of fair Hero’s death: Meantime let wonder seem familiar, 70 And to the chapel let us presently.

Bene. Soft and fair, friar. Which is Beatrice?

Beat. [Unmasking] I answer to that name. What is your will?

Bene. Do not you love me?

Beat. Why, no; no more than reason.

Bene. Why, then your uncle, and the prince, and Claudio 75 Have been deceived; they swore you did.

Beat. Do not you love me?

Bene. Troth, no; no more than reason.

Beat. Why, then my cousin, Margaret, and Ursula Are much deceived; for they did swear you did.

Bene. They swore that you were almost sick for me. 80

Beat. They swore that you were well-nigh dead for me.

Bene. ’Tis no such matter. Then you do not love me?

Beat. No, truly, but in friendly recompense.

Leon. Come, cousin, I am sure you love the gentleman.

Claud. And I’ll be sworn upon’t that he loves her; 85 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, stolen from her pocket, Containing her affection unto Benedick. 90

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, 95 for I was told you were in a consumption.

Bene. Peace! I will stop your mouth. [Kissing her.

D. Pedro. How dost thou, Benedick, the married man?

Bene. I’ll tell thee what, prince; a college of wit-crackers cannot flout me out of my humour. Dost thou think I care 100 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 105 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, 110 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. 115

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.

Enter a Messenger.

Mess. My lord, your brother John is ta’en in flight, 120 And brought with armed men back to Messina.

Bene. Think not on him till to-morrow: I’ll devise thee brave punishments for him. Strike up, pipers. [Dance.

[Exeunt.

~~~~~ Linenotes: Much Ado About Nothing, V. 4.

Act V, Scene IV — ] SCENE IX. Pope

...Margaret] om. Reed (1793).

7: sort] sorts Q.

10: you] Q F1. yong F2. young F3 F4.

12: [Exeunt Ladies.] Q Ff (after line 16). Capell (after line 17). Dyce (after line 14).

23: Leon.] Q F1. Old. F2 F3 F4. Ant. Rowe.

30: In the] Q F1. I’th F2 F3 F4.

state] estate Johnson.

31: friar,] om. F3 F4.

33: Here...Claudio] Q. omitted in Ff.

34: SCENE X. Pope.

and...others] and...other. Q. with attendants. Ff.

45: all Europa] Q F1 F2. so all Europe F3 F4. _all our Europe_ Steevens conj.

50: And got] Q F3 F4. A got F1 F2.

52: SCENE XI. Pope.

comes] Q Ff. come Rowe.

Re-enter...] Enter brother, Hero, Beatrice, Margaret, Ursula. Q Ff.

54: This line is given to Leonato in Q Ff, to Antonio first by Theobald.

58: hand: before......friar,] Pope. hand before...friar, Q Ff.

60: [Unmasking.] Rowe.

63: defiled] Q. om. Ff. belied Collier MS.

69: you] thee F3 F4.

74: Why, no] Why F3 F4. No Steevens.

75, 76: Printed as Prose in Ff.

76: they swore] Q Ff. for they did swear Hanmer. for they swore Capell.

77: Troth] om. Steevens.

79: did swear] swore Collier MS.

80: that] Q. om. Ff.

81: that] Q. om. Ff.

82: such] Q. om. Ff.

94: not] yet Theobald, now Hanmer.

96: I was told] Q F1 F2 as I told F3 F4 as I was told Rowe.

97: Given to Leonato in Q Ff, corrected by Theobald.

[Kissing her.] Theobald.

99: wit-crackers] witte-crackers Q F1 F2. witty-crackers F3 F4.

102: a’] a Q Ff, Collier. he Rowe.

103: purpose] propose Reed (1803).

105: what] Q F3 F4. om. F1 F2.

112: do] no F4.

116: afterward] Q F2. afterwards F2 F3 F4.

117: play,] Pope. play Q Ff.

118: there is no] No S. Walker conj., making a verse.

122: thee] the, F4. ~~~~~

NOTES.

NOTE I.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ. Rowe and Pope included in the list of Dramatis Personæ, ‘Innogen, wife to Leonato.’ At the beginning of the first scene the Quarto and the Folios have, ‘Enter Leonato Governour of Messina, Innogen his wife, &c.’ and at the beginning of Act II. Sc. I, ‘Enter Leonato, his brother, his wife, &c.’ But as no reference is made to such a character throughout the play, Theobald was doubtless right in striking the name out. The author probably, as Theobald observed, had designed such a character in his first sketch, and afterwards saw reason to omit it. It is impossible to conceive that Hero’s mother should have been present during the scenes in which the happiness and honour of her daughter were at issue, without taking a part, or being once referred to.

NOTE II.

I. 1. 124. The punctuation which we have adopted seems to be the only one which will make sense of this passage without altering the text. We must suppose that, during the ‘skirmish of wit’ between Benedick and Beatrice, from line 96 to 123, Don Pedro and Leonato have been talking apart and making arrangements for the visit of the Prince and his friends, the one pressing his hospitable offers and the other, according to the manners of the time, making a show of reluctance to accept them.

NOTE III.

I. 1. 182, 183. Johnson was not satisfied with his own conjecture, and supposed something to be omitted relating to Hero’s consent or to Claudio’s marriage; ‘something which Claudio and Pedro concur in wishing.’

NOTE IV.

I. 2. 1. We take this opportunity of reminding the reader that when no authority is given for the place of the scene, we generally follow the words of Capell. He, however, more frequently expands than alters the directions given by Pope. At the beginning of the next scene he puts, unnecessarily, ‘Another room in Leonato’s house.’ The stage was left vacant for an instant, but there is nothing to indicate a change of place.

NOTE V.

II. 1. 1. Mr Spedding, in The Gentleman’s Magazine, June 1850, proposed to rearrange the Acts thus:

Act II. to begin at what is now Act I. Sc. 2, Act III. . . . . . . . . . . . . Act II. Sc. 3, Act IV. . . . . . . . . . . . . Act III. Sc. 4,

V. remaining as it is

We have not felt ourselves at liberty in such cases as this to desert the authority of the Folio.

NOTE VI.

II. 1. Scene, a hall in Leonato’s house. It may be doubted whether the author did not intend this scene to take place in the garden rather than within doors. The banquet, of which Don John speaks, line 150, would naturally occupy the hall or great chamber. Don Pedro at the close of the scene says, ‘Go in with me, &c.’ If the dance, at line 135, were intended to be performed before the spectators, the stage might be supposed to represent a smooth lawn as well as the floor of a hall. On the other hand, the word ‘entering,’ at line 70, rather points to the scene as being within doors.

NOTE VII.

II. 1. 67. The conjecture of the MS. corrector of Mr Collier’s Folio, which seems to have suggested itself independently to Capell (Notes, Vol. II. p. 121), is supported by a passage in Marston’s Insatiate Countesse, Act II. (Vol. III. p. 125, ed. Halliwell):

‘Thinke of me as of the man Whose dancing dayes you see are not yet done.

Len. Yet you sinke a pace, sir.’

NOTE VIII.

II. 1. 87. Mr Halliwell mentions that Mar. is altered to Mask. in the third Folio. This is not the case in Capell’s copy of it.

NOTE IX.

II. 1. 218. In the copy before us of Theobald’s first edition, which belonged to Warburton, the latter has written ‘Mr Warburton’ after the note in which the reading ‘impassable,’ adopted by Theobald, is suggested and recommended, thus claiming it as his own. We have accepted his authority in this and other instances.

NOTE X.

II. 1. 237. bring you the length of Prester John’s foot: fetch you a hair off the great Cham’s beard. Though ‘of’ and ‘off’ are frequently interchanged in the old copies, yet, as in this place both Quarto and Folios are consistent in reading ‘of’ in the first clause and ‘off’ in the second, we follow them.

NOTE XI.

II. 1. 284. The old copies here give us no help in determining whether Beatrice is meant to cry, ‘Heigh-ho for a husband,’ or merely, ‘Heigh-ho,’ and wish for a husband. Most editors seem by their punctuation to adopt the latter view. We follow Staunton in taking the former. It probably was the burden of a song. At all events it was so well-known as to be almost proverbial. It is again alluded to III. 4. 48.

NOTE XII.

II. 2. 39. The substitution of ‘Borachio’ for ‘Claudio’ does not relieve the difficulty here. Hero’s supposed offence would not be enhanced by calling one lover by the name of the other. The word ‘term,’ moreover, is not the one which would be used to signify the calling a person by his own proper name. It is not clearly explained how Margaret could, consistently with the ‘just and virtuous’ character which Borachio claims for her in the fifth act, lend herself to the villain’s plot. Perhaps the author meant that Borachio should persuade her to play, as children say, at being Hero and Claudio.

NOTE XIII.

II. 3. 27–30. wise, or I’ll none; virtuous, or I’ll never cheapen her; fair, or I’ll never look on her. Pope erroneously remarks, ‘these words added out of the edition of 1623.’ They are found in the Quarto, all the Folios, and Rowe. Warburton enhances the blunder by including the next clause also, ‘mild, or come not near me.’

NOTE XIV.

II. 3. 81. We have adhered to the old stage direction in this place, because it is not certain that any musicians accompanied Balthasar. The direction of the Quarto at line 38, ‘Enter Balthasar with musicke,’ may only mean that the singer had a lute with him. In the direction of the Folios, at line 33, only ‘Jacke Wilson’ is mentioned.

NOTE XV.

II. 3. 225. Mr Halliwell says that we ought to change ‘dinner’ to ‘supper’ here and at line 235, in order to make the action consistent, as we find from line 34 that it is evening: ‘How still the evening is, &c.’ Such inaccuracies are characteristic of Shakespeare, and this cannot well have been due to the printer or copier.

NOTE XVI.

III. 3. 10. George Seacole. For ‘George’ Mr Halliwell reads ‘Francis.’ But ‘Francis Seacole,’ mentioned III. 5. 52, is the sexton, and, as it would appear, town-clerk also, too high a functionary to be employed as a common watchman. If the same person had been intended, the error would have been analogous to that in the Merry Wives of Windsor, where Master Page is christened ‘Thomas’ in one place and ‘George’ in another.

NOTE XVII.

III. 3. 115, 116. Here Rowe, contrary to his custom, does not alter ‘a’ into ‘he.’ We do not in all cases notice these perpetually recurring variations.

NOTE XVIII.

III. 3. 119. Mr Halliwell says that he has found ‘raine’ for ‘vaine’ in one copy of the first Folio.

NOTE XIX.

III. 4. 8, 17. The recurrence of this phrase makes it almost certain that the omission of ‘it’ is not a printer’s error, but an authentic instance of the omission of the third personal pronoun. So the first, or second, is omitted in III. 4. 51; ‘What means the fool, trow?’ For other instances, see Sidney Walker’s Criticisms, Vol. I. p. 77 sqq. And compare note XI, Measure for Measure.

NOTE XX.

III. 4. 29. say, ‘saving your reverence, a husband.’ The Quarto and Folios punctuate thus: say, saving your reverence a husband. Modern editions have say, saving your reverence, ‘a husband.’ But surely Margaret means that Hero was so prudish as to think that the mere mention of the word ‘husband’ required an apology.

NOTE XXI.

IV. 1. 154–157. Hear me...mark’d. This commencement of the Friar’s speech comes at the bottom of page, sig. G. i. (r) of the Quarto. The type appears to have been accidentally dislocated, and the passage was then set up as prose. The Folio follows the Quarto except that it puts a full stop instead of a comma after ‘markt.’ Some words were probably lost in the operation, giving the Friar’s reason for remaining silent, viz. that he might find out the truth. The whole passage would therefore stand as follows:

Hear me a little; for I have only been Silent so long and given way unto This course of fortune . . . . . By noting of the lady I have mark’d, &c.

The usual punctuation:

And given way unto this course of fortune, By noting of the lady: I have mark’d, &c.

makes but indifferent sense.

‘I have only been silent’ may mean ‘I alone have been silent.’

NOTE XXII.

IV. 2. 1. The Quarto and Folios agree, with slight differences of spelling, in the stage direction given in the note. The Town Clerk is clearly the same functionary as the Sexton mentioned in the second line.

The first speech is given in the Quarto and Folios to ‘Keeper’—a misprint for ‘Kemp’—the name of the famous actor who played Dogberry. All the other speeches of Dogberry throughout the scene, except two, are given to ‘Kemp,’ those of Verges to ‘Cowley’ or ‘Couley.’ Both Willam Kempt (i. e. Kempe or Kemp) and Richard Cowley are mentioned in the list of the ‘Principall Actors’ prefixed to the first Folio. The speech of Dogberry, line 4, is assigned to ‘Andrew,’ which is supposed to be a nickname of Kemp, who so often played the part of ‘Merry Andrew.’ That in lines 14, 15, is given in the Quarto to ‘Ke.’ and in the Folios to ‘Kee.’ or Keep.,’ a repetition of the error in line 1. The retention of these names in the successive printed copies, as well as that of ‘Jack Wilson’ in a former scene, shows the extreme carelessness with which the original MS. had been revised for the press in the first instance, and supplies a measure of the editorial care to which the several Folios were submitted. All that is known about these actors is collected in a volume edited by Mr Collier for the Shakespeare Society.

NOTE XXIII.

IV. 2. 63, 64. Verg. Let them be in the hands. Con. Off coxcomb! The reading of the Quarto is ‘Couley. Let them be in the hands of coxcombe.’ In the Folio, ‘Sex.’ is substituted for ‘Couley,’ without materially improving the sense. The first words may be a corruption of a stage direction [Let them bind them] or [Let them bind their hands].

NOTE XXIV.

V. 1. 143. We have introduced the words ‘[Aside to Claudio]’, because it appears from what Don Pedro says, line 149, ‘What, a feast, a feast?’ and, from the tone of his banter through the rest of the dialogue, that he had not overheard more than Claudio’s reply about ‘good cheer.’

NOTE XXV.

V. 2. 1. Scene, Leonato’s garden. It is clear from line 83, where Ursula says, ‘Yonder’s old coil at home,’ that the scene is not supposed to take place in Leonato’s house, but out of doors. We have therefore, in this case, deserted our usual authorities, Pope and Capell.

NOTE XXVI.

V. 2. 42. The same construction, i.e. the non-repetition of the preposition, is found in Marston’s Fawne, Act I. Sc. 2: (Vol. II. p. 24, ed. Halliwell), “With the same stratagem we still are caught.”

LOVE’S LABOUR’S LOST.

Dramatis Personæ

FERDINAND, king of Navarre. BIRON, lord attending on the King. LONGAVILLE, ” ” ” DUMAIN, ” ” ” BOYET, lord attending on the Princess of France. Mercade, ” ” ” DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO, a fantastical Spaniard. SIR NATHANIEL, a curate. HOLOFERNES, a schoolmaster. DULL, a constable. COSTARD, a clown. MOTH[2], page to Armado. A Forester.

The PRINCESS of France. ROSALINE, lady attending on the Princess. MARIA, ” ” ” KATHARINE, ” ” ” JAQUENETTA, a country wench.

Lords, Attendants, &c.

SCENE—Navarre.

~~~~~ Footnotes:

1: DRAMATIS PERSONÆ] first given by Rowe. See note (I)

2: MOTH] MOTE. Grant White conj. ~~~~~

LOVE’S LABOUR’S LOST[3].

~~~~~ Footnote:

3: See note (II). ~~~~~

Act I, Scene I — The king of Navarre’s park

Enter FERDINAND, king of NAVARRE, BIRON, LONGAVILLE, and DUMAIN.

King. Let fame, that all hunt after in their lives, Live register’d upon our brazen tombs, And then grace us in the disgrace of death; When, spite of cormorant devouring Time, The endeavour of this present breath may buy 5 That honour which shall bate his scythe’s keen edge, And make us heirs of all eternity. Therefore, brave conquerors,—for so you are, That war against your own affections And the huge army of the world’s desires,— 10 Our late edict shall strongly stand in force: Navarre shall be the wonder of the world; Our court shall be a little Academe, Still and contemplative in living art. You three, Biron, Dumain, and Longaville, 15 Have sworn for three years’ term to live with me My fellow-scholars, and to keep those statutes That are recorded in this schedule here: Your oaths are pass’d; and now subscribe your names, That his own hand may strike his honour down 20 That violates the smallest branch herein: If you are arm’d to do as sworn to do, Subscribe to your deep oaths, and keep it too.

Long. I am resolved; ’tis but a three years’ fast: The mind shall banquet, though the body pine: 25 Fat paunches have lean pates; and dainty bits Make rich the ribs, but bankrupt quite the wits.

Dum. My loving lord, Dumain is mortified: The grosser manner of these world’s delights He throws upon the gross world’s baser slaves: 30 To love, to wealth, to pomp, I pine and die; With all these living in philosophy.

Biron. I can but say their protestation over; So much, dear liege, I have already sworn, That is, to live and study here three years. 35 But there are other strict observances; As, not to see 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 beside, 40 The which I hope is not enrolled there; And then, to sleep 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, And make a dark night too of half the day,— 45 Which I hope well is not enrolled there: O, these are barren tasks, too hard to keep, Not to see ladies, study, fast, not sleep!

King. Your oath is pass’d to pass away from these.

Biron. Let me say no, my liege, an if you please: 50 I only swore to study with your grace, And stay here in your court for three years’ space.

Long. You swore to that, Biron, and to the rest.

Biron. By yea and nay, sir, then I swore in jest. What is the end of study? let me know. 55

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.

Biron. Come on, then; I will swear to study so, To know the thing I am forbid to know: 60 As thus,—to study where I well may dine, When I to feast expressly am forbid; Or study where to meet some mistress fine, When mistresses from common sense are hid; Or, having sworn too hard a keeping oath, 65 Study to break it, and not break my troth. If study’s gain be thus, and this be so, Study knows that which yet it doth not know: Swear me to this, and I will ne’er say no.

King. These be the stops that hinder study quite, 70 And train our intellects to vain delight.

Biron. Why, all delights are vain; but that most vain, Which, with pain purchased, doth inherit pain: As, painfully to pore upon a book To seek the light of truth; while truth the while 75 Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look: Light, seeking light, doth light of light beguile: So, ere you find where light in darkness lies, Your light grows dark by losing of your eyes. Study me how to please the eye indeed, 80 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: 85 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 profit of their shining nights 90 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! 95

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.

Biron. Something, then, in rhyme.

King. Biron is like an envious sneaping frost, 100 That bites the first-born infants of the spring.

Biron. Well, say I am; why should proud summer 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 105 Than wish a snow in May’s new-fangled shows; But like of each thing that in season grows. So you, to study now it is too late, Climb o’er the house to unlock the little gate.

King. Well, sit you out: go home, Biron: adieu. 110

Biron. No, my good lord; I have sworn to stay with you: And though I have for barbarism spoke more Than for that angel knowledge you can say, Yet confident I’ll keep what I have swore, And bide the penance of each three years’ day. 115 Give me the paper; let me read the same; And to the strict’st decrees I’ll write my name.

King. How well this yielding rescues thee from shame!

Biron [reads]. ‘Item, That no woman shall come within a mile of my court,’—Hath this been proclaimed? 120

Long. Four days ago.

Biron. Let’s see the penalty. [Reads] ‘on pain of losing her tongue.’ Who devised this penalty?

Long. Marry, that did I.

Biron. Sweet lord, and why? 125

Long. To fright them hence with that dread penalty.

Biron. A dangerous law against gentility!

[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.’ 130

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 Aquitaine 135 To her decrepit, sick, and bedrid father: Therefore this article is made in vain, Or vainly comes the admired princess hither.

King. What say you, lords? why, this was quite forgot.

Biron. So study evermore is overshot: 140 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, ’Tis won as towns with fire, so won, so lost.

King. We must of force dispense with this decree; 145 She must lie here on mere necessity.

Biron. 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: 150 If I break faith, this word shall speak for me, I am forsworn on ‘mere necessity.’ So to the laws at large I write my name: [Subscribes And he that breaks them in the least degree Stands in attainder of eternal shame: 155 Suggestions are to other as to me; But I believe, although I seem so loth, I am the last that will last keep his oath. But is there no quick recreation granted?

King. Ay, that there is. Our court, you know, is haunted 160 With a refined traveller of Spain; A man in all the world’s new fashion planted, That hath a mint of phrases in his brain; One whom the music of his own vain tongue Doth ravish like enchanting harmony; 165 A man of complements, whom right and wrong Have chose as umpire of their mutiny: This child of fancy, that Armado hight, For interim to our studies, shall relate. In high-born words, the worth of many a knight 170 From tawny Spain, lost in the world’s debate. How you delight, my lords, I know not, I; But, I protest, I love to hear him lie, And I will use him for my minstrelsy.

Biron. Armado is a most illustrious wight. 175 A man of fire-new words, fashion’s own knight.

Long. Costard the swain and he shall be our sport; And, so to study, three years is but short.

Enter DULL with a letter, and COSTARD.

Dull. Which is the Duke’s own person?

Biron. This, fellow: what wouldst? 180

Dull. I myself reprehend his own person, for I am his Grace’s tharborough: but I would see his own person in flesh and blood.

Biron. This is he.

Dull. Signior Arme—Arme—commends you. There’s 185 villany 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. 190

Long. A high hope for a low heaven: God grant us patience!

Biron. To hear? or forbear laughing?

Long. To hear meekly, sir, and to laugh moderately; or to forbear both. 195

Biron. Well, sir, be it as the style shall give us cause to climb in the merriness.

Cost. The matter is to me, sir, as concerning Jaquenetta. The manner of it is, I was taken with the manner.

Biron. In what manner? 200

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 205 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? 210

Biron. As we would hear an oracle.

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 215 patron.’—

Cost. Not a word of Costard yet.

King [reads]. ‘So it is,’—

Cost. It may be so: but if he say it is so, he is, in telling true, but so. 220

King. Peace!

Cost. Be to me, and every man that dares not fight!

King. No words!

Cost. Of other men’s secrets, I beseech you.

King [reads]. ‘So it is, besieged with sable-coloured 225 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 229 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, 234 surveyest, or seest: but to the place where,—it standeth north-north- east and by east from the west corner of thy curious-knotted garden: there did I see that low-spirited swain, that base minnow of thy mirth,’—

Cost. Me?

King [reads]. ‘that unlettered small-knowing soul,’— 240

Cost. Me?

King [reads]. ‘that shallow vassal,’—

Cost. Still me?

King [reads]. ‘which, as I remember, hight Costard,’

Cost. O, me! 245

King [reads]. ‘sorted and consorted, contrary to thy established proclaimed edict and continent canon, which with,—O, with— but with this I passion to say wherewith,’—

Cost. With a wench.

King [reads] ‘with a child of our grandmother Eve, a female; 250 or, for thy more sweet understanding, a woman. Him I, as my everesteemed duty pricks me on, have sent to thee, to receive the meed of punishment, by thy sweet Grace’s officer, Anthony Dull; a man of good repute, carriage, bearing, and estimation.’

Dull. Me, an’t shall please you; I am Anthony Dull. 255

King [reads]. ‘For Jaquenetta,—so is the weaker vessel called which I apprehended with the aforesaid swain,—I keep her as a vessel of thy law’s fury; and shall, at the least of thy sweet notice, bring her to trial. Thine, in all compliments of devoted and heart-burning heat of duty. DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO.’ 260

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. 265

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. 270

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. 275

Cost. If it were, I deny her virginity: I was taken with a maid.

King. This maid will not serve your turn, sir.

Cost. This maid will serve my turn, sir.

King. Sir, I will pronounce your sentence: you shall 280 fast a week with bran and water.

Cost. I had rather pray a month with mutton and porridge.

King. And Don Armado shall be your keeper. My Lord Biron, see him deliver’d o’er: 285 And go we, lords, to put in practice that Which each to other hath so strongly sworn.

[Exeunt King, Longaville, and Dumain.

Biron. I’ll lay my head to any good man’s hat, These oaths and laws will prove an idle scorn. Sirrah, come on. 290

Cost. I suffer for the truth, sir; for true it is, I was taken with Jaquenetta, and Jaquenetta is a true girl; and, therefore, welcome the sour cup of prosperity! Affliction may one day smile again; and till then, sit thee down, sorrow! 295

[Exeunt.

~~~~~ Linenotes: Love’s Labour’s Lost, I, 1.

Act I, Scene I — The king...park] See note (III)

Biron] F2 F3 F4. Berowne Qq F1 and passim.

3: And...death] Put in the margin as spurious by Pope.

13: Academe] Q2 F2. Achademe Q1 F1. Academy F3 F4.

18: schedule] sedule Q1. scedule Q2 Ff.

23: oaths] oath Steevens. See note (IV).

keep it too] keepe it to Qq F1 keep them to F2. keep them too F3 F4.

27: bankrupt quite] bancrout quite Q1. bankerout Ff. banquerout Q2. quite restored by Pope, and again rejected by Theobald.

29: these] this Collier MS.

31: pomp] pome Q1.

62: feast...forbid] Theobald. fast...forbid Qq Ff. fast...fore-bid Theobald conj.

65: hard a keeping] hard-a-keeping Hanmer.

67: thus] Qq Ff. this Pope.

72: Why,] Pope. Why? Qq Ff.

but] Q1. and Ff Q2.

77: of light] Qq F1. om. F2 F3 F4.

83: it was] was it Steevens.

87: base] bare S. Walker conj.

others’] other Rowe (ed. 1).

92: nought but fame;] nought: but feign; Warburton. nought but shame; Id. conj.

103: any] Qq Ff. an Pope.

106: in] on Capell.

new-fangled] new-spangled Grey conj.

shows] F3 F4. showes Qq F1 F2. earth Theobald. mirth S. Walker conj. Malone supposes a line to be lost after line 103.

108: So you, to study] Go you to study, Anon. conj. But you’ll to study, Lettsom conj.

to study] by study Collier MS.

109: Climb o’er the house to unlock the little gate] Q1 That were to climb o’er the house to unlock the gate Ff Q2. Climb o’er the house-top to unlock the gate Collier MS. That were to climb the house o’er to unlock the gate Grant White.

110: sit] Qq F2 F3 F4. fit F1. set Malone conj. See note (V).

114: I’ll keep what] I’ll keep to what Collier MS.

swore] F2 F3 F4. sworne Qq F1.

117: strict’st] F2 F3 F4. strictest Qq F1.

123: this penalty?] this? Steevens, reading On...this? as a verse.

127: Biron] Theobald. Qq Ff continue this line to Longaville.

gentility] gentletie Q1. garrulity Theobald conj. scurrility Staunton conj.

130: can possibly] Pope. can possible Q1. shall possibly Ff Q2.

136: bedrid] bedred Q1.

138: hither] rather Collier MS.

146: She] We Capell.

147: us all] us both Q2.

151: speak] Q1. break Ff Q2. plead Collier MS.

153: [Subscribes.] Subscribes and gives back the paper. Capell.

156: Other] Q1. others Ff Q2.

158: will last] last will S. Walker conj.

161: refined] Qq F1. conceited F2 F3 F4.

162: world’s] world’s Qq F1. world F2 F3 F4.

world’s...planted] world-new fashions flaunted Collier MS.

164: One whom] F2 F3 F4. on who Q1. one who F1 Q2.

176: fire-new] fire, new F1.

178: is] are Pope.

Enter......Costard] Malone. Enter a Constable with Costard with a letter. Qq Ff.

179: Duke’s] Qq Ff. King’s Theobald.

182: tharborough] farborough Q1.

191: heaven] having Theobald. haven Jackson conj. hearing Collier MS.

193: laughing] Capell. hearing Qq Ff.

194: and] om. Rowe (ed. 2).

197: climb] F3 F4. clime Qq F1 F2. chime Collier MS.

199: with the manner] with the manor Hanmer. in the manner Warburton.

205: it is] Qq F1. is F2 F3 F4. in Rowe (ed. 2).

220: true, but so] true: but so Qq Ff. true, but so, so Hanmer.

237: minnow] Qq Ff. minion or minim Anon. conj.

239, 241, 243: Me?...Me?...me?] Ff Q2. Mee?...Mee?...mee. Q1. Me...Me...me. Hanmer.

242: vassal] vessel Collier MS.

247: which] with, Theobald.

251: sweet] Qq F1. om. F2 F3 F4.

252: meed] need Warburton.

253: thy] Qq F1. the F2 F3 F4.

257: keep] Qq F2 F3 F4. keeper F1.

vessel] vassal Theobald.

260: Adriano] Qq. Adriana Ff.

271: I...I] It...I F2.

272, 273, 274: damsel] Q1, except in line 241 demsel. damosell Ff Q2.

287: [Exeunt...] Exeunt. F2 F3 F4. om. Qq F1.

288: good man’s hat] man’s good hat Capell conj. goodman’s hat Anon. conj.

290: Given to Constable in Collier MS.

293: prosperity] prosperie Q1.

294: till then, sit thee] Q1. untill then sit Ff Q2. untill then set thee Collier MS. ~~~~~

Act I, Scene II — The same.

Enter ARMADO and MOTH.

Arm. Boy, what sign is it when a man of great spirit grows melancholy?

Moth. A great sign, sir, that he will look sad.

Arm. Why, sadness is one and the self-same thing, dear imp. 5

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. 10

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. 15

Moth. And I, tough senior, as an appertinent title to your old time, which we may name tough.

Arm. Pretty and apt.

Moth. How mean you, sir? I pretty, and my saying apt? or I apt, and my saying pretty? 20

Arm. Thou pretty, because little.

Moth. Little pretty, because little. Wherefore apt?

Arm. And therefore apt, because quick.

Moth. Speak you this in my praise, master?

Arm. In thy condign praise. 25

Moth. I will praise an eel with the same praise.

Arm. What, that an eel is ingenious?

Moth. That an eel is quick.

Arm. I do say thou art quick in answers: thou heatest my blood. 30

Moth. I am answered, sir.

Arm. I love not to be crossed.

Moth. [Aside] He speaks the mere contrary; crosses love not him.

Arm. I have promised to study three years with the 35 Duke.

Moth. You may do it in an hour, sir.

Arm. Impossible.

Moth. How many is one thrice told?

Arm. I am ill at reckoning; it fitteth the spirit of a 40 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 45 sum of deuce-ace amounts to.

Arm. It doth amount to one more than two.

Moth. Which the base vulgar do call three.

Arm. True.

Moth. Why, sir, is this such a piece of study? Now 50 here is three studied, ere ye’ll thrice wink: and how easy it is to put years to the word three, and study three years in two words, the dancing horse will tell you.

Arm. A most fine figure!

Moth. To prove you a cipher. 55

Arm. I will hereupon confess I am in love: and as it is base for a soldier to love, so am I in love with a base wench. If drawing my sword against the humour of affection would deliver me from the reprobate thought of it, I would take Desire prisoner, and ransom him to any French 60 courtier for a new-devised courtesy. I think scorn to sigh: methinks I should outswear Cupid. Comfort me, boy: what great men have been in love?

Moth. Hercules, master.

Arm. Most sweet Hercules! More authority, dear 65 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. 70

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. 75

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.

Moth. Of the sea-water green, sir. 80

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 to have a love of that colour, methinks Samson had small reason for it. He surely affected her for her wit. 85

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. 90

Moth. My father’s wit, and my mother’s tongue, assist me!

Arm. Sweet invocation of a child; most pretty and pathetical!

Moth. If she be made of white and red, 95 Her faults will ne’er be known; For blushing cheeks by faults are bred, And fears by pale white shown: Then if she fear, or be to blame, By this you shall not know; 100 For still her cheeks possess the same Which native she doth owe.

A dangerous rhyme, master, against the reason of white and red.

Arm. Is there not a ballad, boy, of the King and the 105 Beggar?

Moth. The world was very guilty of such a ballad some three ages since: but, I think, now ’tis not to be found; or, if it were, it would neither serve for the writing nor the tune. 110

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 115 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. 120

Enter DULL, COSTARD, and JAQUENETTA.

Dull. Sir, the duke’s pleasure is, that you keep Costard safe: and you must suffer him to take no delight nor no penance; but a’ must fast three days a week. For this damsel, I must keep her at the park: she is allowed for the day-woman. Fare you well. 125

Arm. I do betray myself with blushing. Maid.

Jaq. Man.

Arm. I will visit thee at the lodge.

Jaq. That’s hereby.

Arm. I know where it is situate. 130

Jaq. Lord, how wise you are!

Arm. I will tell thee wonders.

Jaq. With that face?

Arm. I love thee.

Jaq. So I heard you say. 135

Arm. And so, farewell.

Jaq. Fair weather after you!

Dull. Come, Jaquenetta, away!

[Exeunt Dull and Jaquenetta.

Arm. Villain, thou shalt fast for thy offences ere thou be pardoned. 140

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. 145

Arm. Take away this villain; shut him up.

Moth. Come, you transgressing slave; away!

Cost. Let me not be pent up, sir: I will fast, being loose.

Moth. No, sir; that were fast and loose: thou shalt to prison. 150

Cost. Well, if ever I do see the merry days of desolation that I have seen, some shall see.

Moth. What shall some see?

Cost. Nay, nothing, Master Moth, but what they look upon. It is not for prisoners to be too silent in their words; 155 and therefore I will say nothing: I thank God I have as little patience as another man; and therefore I can be quiet.

[Exeunt Moth and Costard.

Arm. I do affect the very ground, which is base, where her shoe, which is baser, guided by her foot, which is basest, doth tread. I shall be forsworn, which is a great argument 160 of falsehood, if I love. And how can that be true love which is falsely attempted? Love is a familiar; Love is a devil: there is no evil angel but Love. Yet was Samson so tempted, and he had an excellent strength; yet was Solomon so seduced, and he had a very good wit. Cupid’s 165 butt-shaft is too hard for Hercules’ club; and therefore too much odds for a Spaniard’s rapier. The first and second cause will not serve my turn; the passado he respects not, the duello he regards not: his disgrace is to be called boy; but his glory is to subdue men. Adieu, valour! rust, rapier! 170 be still, drum! for your manager is in love; yea, he loveth. Assist me some extemporal god of rhyme, for I am sure I shall turn sonnet. Devise, wit; write, pen; for I am for whole volumes in folio. [Exit.

~~~~~ Linenotes: Love’s Labour’s Lost, I, 2.

Act I, Scene II — ] SCENE III. Pope

The same. Armado’s house. Pope. See note (III).

Enter Armado...] Enter Armado a Braggart... F2.

10, 11, 16: senior] signeor Q1. signeur F1.

13: epitheton] F2 F3 F4. apethaton Q1. apathaton. F1 Q2.

22: Little pretty] Little! pretty Theobald.

23: apt] om. Q2.

27: ingenious] Q1 F4. ingenuous F1 Q2 F2 F3.

33: [Aside.] Hanmer.

the mere contrary] Qq F1. the clean contrary F2 F3 F4. contrary Hanmer.

36: Duke] King Theobald.

40: fitteth] Q1 fits Ff Q2.

48: do] Q1. om. Ff Q2.

51: here is] Q1. here’s Ff Q2.

ye’ll] Yele Q1. You’ll FF Q2.

51, 52: it is] is it Warburton.

55: [Aside. Hanmer.

86: green wit] See note (VI).

87: My] Me Q2.

88: maculate] Q1 immaculate Ff Q2.

94: pathetical] poetical Collier MS.

97: blushing] F2 F3 F4. blush-in Qq F1.

107: very guilty] Qq Ff. guilty Rowe.

114: rational] irrational Hanmer.

115: [Aside.] Hanmer.

116: master] master deserves Hanmer.

117: love] F2 F3 F4. loue Qq. ioue F1.

120: Enter...] Enter Clown, Constable, and Wench. Qq Ff. Enter C., D., J. and Maid. Rowe.

122: suffer him to] Q1. let him Ff Q2.

123: a’] Q1. hee F1 Q2. he F2 F3 F4.

125: [Exit. Ff Q2. om. Q1.

133: that] Q1 F2 F3 F4. what F1 Q2.

138: Dull.] Theobald. Clo. Qq F1. om. F2 F3 F4.

[Exeunt D. and J.] Exeunt. Qq Ff.

139: Arm.] Ar. Q1. Clo. F1. Brag. Q2. Con. F2 F3 F4.

148: will fast] will be fast F2 F3 F4.

155: not] om. Q2.

too] Q1. om. Ff Q2.

words] wards Johnson conj.

163: was Samson] was Sampson Q1. Sampson was Ff Q2.

165: Solomon] F3 F4. Salomon Qq F1 F2.

169: duello] duella. Q1.

171: manager] Armiger Collier MS.

173: sonnet] Ff Qq. sonneteer Hanmer. sonneter Capell. a sonnet Amyot conj. sonnet-maker Collier MS. sonnets Grant White.

174: [Exit.] Q1. Exit Finis actus primus. F1 Q2. Finis actus primi. F2 F3 F4. ~~~~~

Act II, Scene I — The same.

Enter the Princess of France, ROSALINE, MARIA, KATHARINE, BOYET, Lords, and other Attendants.

Boyet. Now, madam, summon up your dearest spirits: Consider who the king your father sends; To whom he sends; and what’s his embassy: Yourself, held precious in the world’s esteem, To parley with the sole inheritor 5 Of all perfections that a man may owe, Matchless Navarre; the plea of no less weight Than Aquitaine, a dowry for a queen. Be now as prodigal of all dear grace. As Nature was in making graces dear, 10 When she did starve the general world beside, 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 judgement of the eye, Not utter’d by base sale of chapmen’s tongues: I am less proud to hear you tell my worth Than you much willing to be counted wise In spending your wit in the praise of mine. But now to task the tasker: good Boyet, 20 You are not ignorant, all-telling fame Doth noise abroad, Navarre hath made a vow, Till painful study shall outwear three years, No woman may approach his silent court: Therefore to’s seemeth it a needful course, 25 Before we enter his forbidden gates, To know his pleasure; and in that behalf, Bold of your worthiness, we single you As our best-moving fair solicitor. Tell him, the daughter of the King of France, 30 On serious business, craving quick dispatch, Importunes personal conference with his Grace: Haste, signify so much; while we attend, Like humble-visaged suitors, his high will.

Boyet. Proud of employment, willingly I go. 35

Prin. All pride is willing pride, and yours is so. [Exit Boyet. Who are the votaries, my loving lords, That are vow-fellows with this virtuous duke?

First Lord. Lord Longaville is one.

Prin. Know you the man?

Mar. I know him, madam: at a marriage-feast, 40 Between Lord Perigort and the beauteous heir Of Jaques Falconbridge, solemnized In Normandy, saw I this Longaville: A man of sovereign parts he is esteem’d; Well fitted in arts, glorious in arms: 45 Nothing becomes him ill that he would well. The only soil of his fair virtue’s gloss, If virtue’s gloss will stain with any soil, Is a sharp wit match’d with too blunt a will; Whose edge hath power to cut, whose will still wills 50 It should none spare that come within his power.

Prin. Some merry mocking lord, belike; is’t so?

Mar. They say so most that most his humours know.

Prin. Such short-lived wits do wither as they grow. Who are the rest? 55

Kath. The young Dumain, a well-accomplish’d youth, Of all that virtue love for virtue loved: Most power to do most harm, least knowing ill; For he hath wit to make an ill shape good, And shape to win grace, though he had no wit. 60 I saw him at the Duke Alençon’s once; And much too little of that good I saw Is my report to his great worthiness.

Ros. Another of these students at that time Was there with him, if I have heard a truth. 65 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 occasion for his wit; For every object that the one doth catch, 70 The other turns to a mirth-moving jest, Which his fair tongue, conceit’s expositor, Delivers in such apt and gracious words, That aged ears play truant at his tales, And younger hearings are quite ravished; 75 So sweet and voluble is his discourse.

Prin. God bless my ladies! are they all in love, That every one her own hath garnished With such bedecking ornaments of praise?

First Lord. Here comes Boyet.

Re-enter BOYET.

Prin. Now, what admittance, lord? 80

Boyet. Navarre had notice of your fair approach; And he and his competitors in oath Were all address’d to meet you, gentle lady, Before I came. Marry, thus much I have learnt: He rather means to lodge you in the field, 85 Like one that comes here to besiege his court, Than seek a dispensation for his oath, To let you enter his unpeeled house. Here comes Navarre.

Enter King, LONGAVILLE, DUMAIN, BIRON, and Attendants.

King. Fair princess, welcome to the court of Navarre. 90

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, madam, to my court.

Prin. I will be welcome, then: conduct me thither. 95

King. Hear me, dear lady; I have sworn an oath.

Prin. Our Lady help my lord! he’ll be forsworn.

King. Not for the world, fair madam, by my will.

Prin. Why, will shall break it; will, and nothing else.

King. Your ladyship is ignorant what it is. 100

Prin. Were my lord so, his ignorance were wise, Where now his knowledge must prove ignorance. I hear your grace hath sworn out house-keeping: ’Tis deadly sin to keep that oath, my lord, And sin to break it. 105 But pardon me, I am too sudden-bold: To teach a teacher ill beseemeth me. Vouchsafe to read the purpose of my coming, And suddenly resolve me in my suit.

King. Madam, I will, if suddenly I may. 110

Prin. You will the sooner, that I were away; For you’ll prove perjured, if you make me stay.

Biron. Did not I dance with you in Brabant once?

Ros. Did not I dance with you in Brabant once?

Biron. I know you did. 115

Ros. How needless was it, then, to ask the question!

Biron. You must not be so quick.

Ros. ’Tis ’long of you that spur me with such questions.

Biron. Your wit’s too hot, it speeds too fast, ’twill tire.

Ros. Not till it leave the rider in the mire. 120

Biron. What time o’ day?

Ros. The hour that fools should ask.

Biron. Now fair befall your mask!

Ros. Fair fall the face it covers!

Biron. And send you many lovers! 125

Ros. Amen, so you be none.

Biron. Nay, then will I be gone.

King. Madam, your father here doth intimate The payment of a hundred thousand crowns; Being but the one half of an entire sum 130 Disbursed by my father in his wars. But say that he or we, as neither have, Received that sum, yet there remains unpaid A hundred thousand more; in surety of the which, One part of Aquitaine is bound to us, 135 Although not valued to the money’s worth. If, then, the king your father will restore But that one-half which is unsatisfied, We will give up our right in Aquitaine, And hold fair friendship with his Majesty. 140 But that, it seems, he little purposeth, For here he doth demand to have repaid A hundred thousand crowns; and not demands, On payment of a hundred thousand crowns, To have his title live in Aquitaine; 145 Which we much rather had depart withal, And have the money by our father lent, Than Aquitaine so gelded as it is. Dear princess, were not his requests so far From reason’s yielding, your fair self should make 150 A yielding, ’gainst some reason, in my breast, And go well satisfied to France again.

Prin. You do the king my father too much wrong, And wrong the reputation of your name, In so unseeming to confess receipt 155 Of that which hath so faithfully been paid.

King. I do protest I never heard of it; And if you prove it, I’ll repay it back, Or yield up Aquitaine.

Prin. We arrest your word. Boyet, you can produce acquittances 160 For such a sum from special officers Of Charles his father.

King. Satisfy me so.

Boyet. So please your Grace, the packet is not come, Where that and other specialties are bound: To-morrow you shall have a sight of them. 165

King. It shall suffice me: at which interview All liberal reason I will yield unto. Meantime receive such welcome at my hand As honour, without breach of honour, may Make tender of to thy true worthiness: 170 You may not come, fair princess, in my gates; But here without you shall be so received As you shall deem yourself lodged in my heart, Though so denied fair harbour in my house. Your own good thoughts excuse me, and farewell: 175 To-morrow shall we visit you again.

Prin. Sweet health and fair desires consort your Grace!

King. Thy own wish wish I thee in every place!

[Exit.

Biron. Lady, I will commend you to mine own heart.

Ros. Pray you, do my commendations; I would be 180 glad to see it.

Biron. I would you heard it groan.

Ros. Is the fool sick?

Biron. Sick at the heart.

Ros. Alack, let it blood. 185

Biron. Would that do it good?

Ros. My physic says ‘ay’.

Biron. Will you prick’t with your eye?

Ros. No point, with my knife.

Biron. Now, God save thy life! 190

Ros. And yours from long living!

Biron. I cannot stay thanksgiving. [Retiring.

Dum. Sir, I pray you, a word: what lady is that same?

Boyet. The heir of Alençon, Katharine her name.

Dum. A gallant lady. Monsieur, fare you well. [Exit. 195

Long. I beseech you a word: what is she in the white?

Boyet. A woman sometimes, an you saw her in the light.

Long. Perchance light in the light. I desire her name.

Boyet. She hath but one for herself; to desire that were a shame.

Long. Pray you, sir, whose daughter? 200

Boyet. Her mother’s, I have heard.

Long. God’s blessing on your beard!

Boyet. Good sir, be not offended. She is an heir of Falconbridge.

Long. Nay, my choler is ended. 205 She is a most sweet lady.

Boyet. Not unlike, sir, that may be. [Exit Long.

Biron. What’s her name in the cap?

Boyet. Rosaline, by good hap.

Biron. Is she wedded or no? 210

Boyet. To her will, sir, or so.

Biron. You are welcome, sir: adieu.

Boyet. Farewell to me, sir, and welcome to you.

[Exit Biron.

Mar. That last is Biron, the merry mad-cap lord: Not a word with him but a jest.

Boyet. And every jest but a word. 215

Prin. It was well done of you to take him at his word.

Boyet. I was as willing to grapple as he was to board.

Mar. Two hot sheeps, marry.

Boyet. And wherefore not ships? No sheep, sweet lamb, unless we feed on your lips.

Mar. You sheep, and I pasture: shall that finish the jest? 220

Boyet. So you grant pasture for me. [Offering to kiss her.

Mar. Not so, gentle beast: My lips are no common, though several they be.

Boyet. Belonging to whom?

Mar. To my fortunes and me.

Prin. Good wits will be jangling; but, gentles, agree: This civil war of wits were much better used 225 On Navarre and his book-men; for here ’tis abused.

Boyet. If my observation, which very seldom lies, By the heart’s still rhetoric disclosed with eyes, Deceive me not now, Navarre is infected.

Prin. With what? 230

Boyet. With that which we lovers entitle affected.

Prin. Your reason?

Boyet. Why, all his behaviours did make their retire To the court of his eye, peeping thorough desire: His heart, like an agate, with your print impress’d, 235 Proud with his form, in his eye pride express’d: His tongue, all impatient to speak and not see, Did stumble with haste in his eyesight to be; All senses to that sense did make their repair, To feel only looking on fairest of fair: 240 Methought all his senses were lock’d in his eye, As jewels in crystal for some prince to buy; Who, tendering their own worth from where they were glass’d, Did point you to buy them, along as you pass’d: His face’s own margent did quote such amazes, 245 That all eyes saw his eyes enchanted with gazes. I’ll give you Aquitaine, and all that is his, An you give him for my sake but one loving kiss.

Prin. Come to our pavilion: Boyet is disposed.

Boyet. But to speak that in words which his eye hath disclosed. 250 I only have made a mouth of his eye, By adding a tongue which I know will not lie.

Ros. Thou art an old love-monger, and speakest skilfully.

Mar. He is Cupid’s grandfather, and learns news of him.

Ros. Then was Venus like her mother; for her father is but grim. 255

Boyet. Do you hear, my mad wenches?

Mar. No.

Boyet. What then, do you see?

Ros. Ay, our way to be gone.

Boyet. You are too hard for me.

[Exeunt.

~~~~~ Linenotes: Love’s Labour’s Lost, II, 1.

II. ] om. Q1. Actus secunda F1 F2. Actus secundus. Q2 F3 F4

Enter...] Rowe. Enter the Princesse of France with three attending Ladies and three Lords. Qq Ff.

1: dearest] clearest Collier MS.

2: who] Qq F1. whom F2 F3 F4.

13: Prin.] F2 F3 F4. Queen. Qq F1.

Lord] L. Qq Ff.

beauty, though] thought Q2.

19: your wit in the praise] Qq F1. thus your wit in praise F2 F3 F4.

21: You ...] Prin. You ... F1 Q2.

25: to ’s seemeth] Qq Ff. to us seemeth Rowe (ed. 2). to us seems Pope.

32: Importunes] Importuous Q1.

34: visaged] Ff Q2. visage Q1.

36: [Exit B.] Dyce. Exit. Q1 F1 (after line 34).

37, 38: Printed as prose in Qq Ff. First as verse by Rowe (ed. 2).

39: First Lord. Lord Longaville] Capell. Lor. Longavill. Qq Ff.

you] ye Warburton.

40: Mar.] Rowe. 1 Lady. Qq Ff. Lord. Hanmer.

I know] I knew F2 F3 F4.

40–43: madam: at...solemnized In] Capell. madam at...solemnized. In Qq Ff.

43: In Normandy,] Mar. In Normandy Hanmer.

44: of sovereign parts] Ff Q2. of soveraigne peerelsse Q1. of— sovereign, peerless Malone conj. a sovereign pearl Steevens conj. of his sovereign peerless Jackson conj.

45: Well fitted in arts] Qq F1. Well fitted in the arts F2 F3 F4. In arts well fitted Grant White conj.

47, 48: gloss...gloss] glose ...glose Q1.

51: none spare] spare none Rowe (ed. 2).

52: merry mocking] merry-mocking Rowe.

55: Who...rest?] omitted by Rowe (ed. 1).

58: power to do most] powerful to do Hanmer.

60: he] she F1 Q2.

61: Alençon’s] _Alansoes _ Qq F1. Alanzoes F2 F3 F4. Alanson’s Rowe.

64: these] the Q2.

65: if] Q1. as Ff Q2.

if...a truth] as...a youth Theobald conj.

69: his wit] Qq F1. wit F2 F3 F4.

76: voluble] valuable Rowe (ed. 2).

80: First Lord.] Lord. Q1. Ma. Ff Q2.

84: much] om. F2 F3 F4.

88: unpeeled] Q1. unpeopled Ff Q2. See note (VII).

89: [The Ladies mask. Capell.

90: SCENE II. Pope.

King.] Navar. Qq Ff.

...and Attendants] Rowe. om. Qq Ff.

93: wide] wild Reed (ed. 1803).

99: it; will] Capell. it will, Qq Ff. it’s will, Rowe (ed. 2).

105: And sin] Not sin Hanmer.

105, 106: And...sudden-bold] As one line in Q1.

114: Ros.] Rosa. Ff Q2. Kather. Q1. See note (VIII).

115–117: As two verses ending then,...quick. in Capell.

116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126: Ros.] Rosa, Ff Q3. Kath. Q1.

129: a] one Rowe (ed. 1)

134: the which] which Capell.

138: unsatisfied] but satisfied Q2.

142: repaid] repaie F1 Q2.

143: A] Q1. An Ff Q2.

demands] remembers Rowe.

144: On] Theobald. One Qq Ff.

a] Q1 F1 F2 F3. an Q2 F4.

147: father] fathers Q2.

158: And if] An if Delius conj.

167: I will] Q1. would I Ff Q2.

171: in] Ff Q2. within Q1.

174: fair] Q1. farther Ff Q2. free Collier MS.

176: shall we] Q1. we shall Ff Q2.

178: [Exit.] Qq Ff. [Exeunt King and his train. Capell.

179: mine own] Q2. my none Q1. my own Ff. my Capell.

179, 182, 184, 186, 188, 190: Biron.] Ber. Q1. Boy. Ff Q2.

180: Pray] _Now, pray _ Capell, reading as verse.

183–192: Put in the margin as spurious by Pope.

183: fool] foole Q1. soule F1 Q2 F2. soul F3 F4.

189: No point,] No poynt, (in italics) Qq Ff. No, (rom.) point, (ital.) Capell.

192: Biron.] Ber. Qq F1. Bir. F2 F3 F4.

[Retiring.] Capell. [Exit. Qq Ff.

Enter Dumaine. Qq Ff.

194: Katharine] Singer (Capell conj.). Rosalin Qq Ff.

195: Enter Longavile. F2 F3 F4.

197: sometimes] sometime Q2.

an] and Q1. if Ff Q2.

197–203: A woman......offended.] Put in the margin by Pope.

202: on your] Qq. a your Ff.

205: Nay, my choler is ended] omitted by Pope.

207: Enter Berowne. Qq Ff.

208–226: What’s ... abused] Put in the margin by Pope.

209: Rosaline] Singer (Anon. N. and Q. conj.). Katherine Qq Ff.

212: You] Ff Q2. O you Q1. See note (IX).

213: [Exit Biron.] Q1. [Exit. Ff Q2. [The Ladies unmask. Capell.

218: Mar. Two hot sheeps, marry. Boyet. And...ships?] Rowe (ed. 2). Lady Ka. Two hot sheepes marie. Bo. And...shipps? Q1. La. Ma. Two hot sheeps marie: And wherefore not ships? Ff Q2. See note (VIII).

221: [Offering...] Capell.

224: but, gentles, agree] Theobald. but gentles agree Qq Ff.

227, 229: Punctuated as in Theobald, observation (which...eyes. Deceave... Q1. observation (which...eyes) Deceive Ff Q2.

230–252: Prin. With-what?...lie.] Put in the margin by Pope.

233: did] Q1. doc Ff Q2.

their] the Q2.

234: thorough] through Q2.

240: feel only] feed on by Jackson conj.

243: where] Q1. whence Ff Q2.

244: point you] Q1. point out Ff Q2.

245: quote] Q2. coate Q1 F1 F2. coat F3 F4.

247: and] om. Q2.

249: disposed.] disposed— Warburton. ~~~~~

Act III, Scene I — The same.

Enter ARMADO and MOTH.

Arm. Warble, child; make passionate my sense of hearing.

Moth. Concolinel. [Singing.

Arm. Sweet air! Go, tenderness of years; take this key, give enlargement to the swain, bring him festinately 5 hither: I must employ him in a letter to my love.

Moth. Master, will you win your love with a French brawl?

Arm. How meanest thou? brawling in French?

Moth. No, my complete master: but to jig off a tune at 10 the tongue’s end, canary to it with your feet, humour it with turning up your eyelids, sigh a note and sing a note, sometime through the throat, as if you swallowed love with singing love, sometime through the nose, as if you snuffed up love by smelling love; with your hat penthouse-like o’er the 15 shop of your eyes; with your arms crossed on your thin-belly doublet, like a rabbit on a spit; or your hands in your pocket, like a man after the old painting; and keep not too long in one tune, but a snip and away. These are complements, these are humours; these betray nice wenches, that 20 would be betrayed without these; and make them men of note—do you note me?—that most are affected to these.

Arm. How hast thou purchased this experience?

Moth. By my penny of observation.

Arm. But O,—but O,— 25

Moth. ‘The hobby-horse is forgot.’

Arm. Callest thou my love ‘hobby-horse’?

Moth. No, master; the hobby-horse is but a colt, and your love perhaps a hackney. But have you forgot your love? 30

Arm. Almost I had.

Moth. Negligent student! learn her by heart.

Arm. By heart and in heart, boy.

Moth. And out of heart, master: all those three I will prove. 35

Arm. What wilt thou prove?

Moth. A man, if I live; and this, by, in, and without, upon the instant: by heart you love her, because your heart cannot come by her; in heart you love her, because your heart is in love with her; and out of heart you love her, 40 being out of heart that you cannot enjoy her.

Arm. I am all these three.

Moth. And three times as much more, and yet nothing at all.

Arm. Fetch hither the swain: he must carry me a letter. 45

Moth. A message well sympathized; a horse to be ambassador for an ass.

Arm. Ha, ha! what sayest thou?

Moth. Marry, sir, you must send the ass upon the horse, for he is very slow-gaited. But I go. 50

Arm. The way is but short: away!

Moth. As swift as lead, sir.

Arm. The meaning, pretty ingenious? Is not lead a metal heavy, dull, and slow?

Moth. Minimè, honest master; or rather, master, no. 55

Arm. I say lead is slow.

Moth. You are too swift, sir, to say so: Is that lead slow which is fired from a gun?

Arm. Sweet smoke of rhetoric! He reputes me a cannon; and the bullet, that’s he: I shoot thee at the swain.

Moth. Thump, then, and I flee. [Exit. 60

Arm. A most acute juvenal; volable and free of grace! By thy favour, sweet welkin, I must sigh in thy face: Most rude melancholy, valour gives thee place. My herald is return’d.

Re-enter MOTH with COSTARD.

Moth. A wonder, master! here’s a Costard broken in a shin. 65

Arm. Some enigma, some riddle: come, thy l’envoy; begin.

Cost. No egma, no riddle, no l’envoy; no salve in the mail, sir: O, sir, plantain, a plain plantain! no l’envoy, no l’envoy; no salve, sir, but a plantain!

Arm. By virtue, thou enforcest laughter; thy silly 70 thought my spleen; the heaving of my lungs provokes me to ridiculous smiling. O, pardon me, my stars! Doth the inconsiderate take salve for l’envoy, and the word l’envoy for a salve?

Moth. Do the wise think them other? is not l’envoy a salve? 75

Arm. No, page: it is an epilogue or discourse, to make plain Some obscure precedence that hath tofore been sain. I will example it: The fox, the ape, and the humble-bee, Were still at odds, being but three. 80 There’s the moral. Now the l’envoy.

Moth. I will add the l’envoy. Say the moral again.

Arm. The fox, the ape, the humble-bee, Were still at odds, being but three.

Moth. Until the goose came out of door, 85 And stay’d the odds by adding four. Now will I begin your moral, and do you follow with my l’envoy. The fox, the ape, and the humble-bee, Were still at odds, being but three. 90

Arm. Until the goose came out of door, Staying the odds by adding four.

Moth. A good l’envoy, ending in the goose: would you desire more?

Cost. The boy hath sold him a bargain, a goose, that’s flat. 95 Sir, your pennyworth is good, an your goose be fat. To sell a bargain well is as cunning as fast and loose: Let me see; a fat l’envoy; ay, that’s a fat goose.

Arm. Come hither, come hither. How did this argument begin?

Moth. By saying that a Costard was broken in a shin. 100 Then call’d you for the l’envoy.

Cost. True, and I for a plantain: thus came your argument in; Then the boy’s fat l’envoy, the goose that you bought; And he ended the market.

Arm. But tell me; how was there a Costard broken in 105 a shin?

Moth. I will tell you sensibly.

Cost. Thou hast no feeling of it, Moth: I will speak that l’envoy: I Costard, running out, that was safely within, 110 Fell over the threshold, and broke my shin.

Arm. We will talk no more of this matter.

Cost. Till there be more matter in the shin.

Arm. Sirrah Costard, I will enfranchise thee.

Cost. O, marry me to one Frances: I smell some 115 l’envoy, some goose, in this.

Arm. By my sweet soul, I mean setting thee at liberty, enfreedoming thy person: thou wert immured, restrained, captivated, bound.

Cost. True, true; and now you will be my purgation, 120 and let me loose.

Arm. I give thee thy liberty, set thee from durance; and, in lieu thereof, impose on thee nothing but this: bear this significant [giving a letter] to the country maid Jaquenetta: there is remuneration; for the best ward of mine 125 honour is rewarding my dependents. Moth, follow. [Exit.

Moth. Like the sequel, I. Signior Costard, adieu.

Cost. My sweet ounce of man’s flesh! my incony Jew!

[Exit Moth.

Now will I look to his remuneration. Remuneration! O, that’s the Latin word for three farthings: three farthings— 130 remuneration.—‘What’s the price of this inkle?’—‘One penny.’—‘No, I’ll give you a remuneration:’ why, it carries it. Remuneration! why, it is a fairer name than French crown. I will never buy and sell out of this word.

Enter BIRON.

Biron. O, my good knave Costard! exceedingly well met. 135

Cost. Pray you, sir, how much carnation ribbon may a man buy for a remuneration?

Biron. What is a remuneration?

Cost. Marry, sir, halfpenny farthing.

Biron. Why, then, three-farthing worth of silk. 140

Cost. I thank your worship: God be wi’ you!

Biron. Stay, slave; I must employ thee: As thou wilt win my favour, good my knave, Do one thing for me that I shall entreat.

Cost. When would you have it done, sir? 145

Biron. This afternoon.

Cost. Well, I will do it, sir: fare you well.

Biron. Thou knowest not what it is.

Cost. I shall know, sir, when I have done it.

Biron. Why, villain, thou must know first. 150

Cost. I will come to your worship to-morrow morning.

Biron. It must be done this afternoon. Hark, slave, it is but this: The princess comes to hunt here in the park, And in her train there is a gentle lady; 155 When tongues speak sweetly, then they name her name, And Rosaline they call her: ask for her; And to her white hand see thou do commend This seal’d-up counsel. There’s thy guerdon; go.

[Giving him a shilling.

Cost. Gardon, O sweet gardon! better than remuneration, 160 a ’leven-pence farthing better: most sweet gardon! I will do it, sir, in print. Gardon! Remuneration! [Exit.

Biron. And I, forsooth, in love! I, that have been love’s whip; A very beadle to a humorous sigh; 165 A critic, nay, a night-watch constable; A domineering pedant o’er the boy; Than whom no mortal so magnificent! This wimpled, whining, purblind, wayward boy; This senior-junior, giant-dwarf, Dan Cupid; 170 Regent of love-rhymes, lord of folded arms, The anointed sovereign of sighs and groans, Liege of all loiterers and malcontents, Dread prince of plackets, king of codpieces, Sole imperator and great general 175 Of trotting ’paritors:—O my little heart!— And I to be a corporal of his field, And wear his colours like a tumbler’s hoop! What! I love! I sue! I seek a wife! A woman, that is like a German clock, 180 Still a-repairing, ever out of frame, And never going aright, being a watch, But being watch’d that it may still go right! Nay, to be perjured, which is worst of all; And, among three, to love the worst of all; 185 A wightly wanton with a velvet brow, With two pitch-balls stuck in her face for eyes; Ay, and, by heaven, one that will do the deed, Though Argus were her eunuch and her guard: And I to sigh for her! to watch for her! 190 To pray for her! Go to; it is a plague That Cupid will impose for my neglect Of his almighty dreadful little might. Well, I will love, write, sigh, pray, sue and groan: Some men must love my lady, and some Joan. [Exit. 195

~~~~~ Linenotes: Love’s Labour’s Lost, III, 1.

Act III, Scene I — ] Rowe. SCENE II. Capell, following Theobald, who continues Act I

Enter Armado and Moth.] Enter Braggart and his boy. Q1. Enter Braggart and Boy: Song. Ff Q2.

7: Master] Q1. om. Ff Q2.

11: your] Q1. the Ff Q2.

12: eyelids] Q1. eye Ff Q2.

sometime] something Rowe (ed. 1). sometimes Pope.

13: as if] Theobald. if Qq Ff.

singing love, sometime] Theobald. singing love sometime Q1. singing, love sometime Ff Q2.

14: through the nose] F2 F3 F4. through: nose Qq F1.

16, 17: thin-belly] F3 F4. thinbellies Q1. thinbellie F1 Q2. thinebelly F2.

thin-belly doublet] thin belly-doublet Steevens. thin belly’s doublet Collier.

19 complements] ’complishments Hanmer.

21: them men of note—do you note me?—that] Hanmer. them men of note: do you note men that Qq Ff. the men of note: do you note men, that Theobald. them men of note (do you note men?) that Malone.

24: penny] Hanmer. penne Q1 F1 F2. pen Q2 F3 F4. paine Collier MS. ken Becket conj.

37: and this,] Theobald, (and this) Qq Ff.

without] out of Pope.

38, 39: by heart...by her] omitted by Rowe.

45: Arm.] Boy. Q2.

46: message] messenger Collier MS.

53: The] Q1. Thy Ff Q.

ingenious] ingenuous Q2.

57: so] so, so soon Johnson conj.

60: flee] fly Rowe.

61: volable] Q1. voluble Ff Q2.

free] fair Collier MS.

63: Most rude] moist-eyed Collier MS.

65: SCENE II. Pope.

65–121: Moth. A wonder...loose] Put in the margin by Pope.

66: come, thy] Qq F1. no F2 F3 F4.

66, 67: l’envoy; begin] Capell. lenvoy begin Qq Ff.

67, 68: in the mail] in thee male Qq F1. in the male F2 F3 F4. in the vale Johnson conj. in the matter Capell. à the mal Becket conj. in them all Knight (Tyrwhitt conj.).

68: O,] Q1 F3 F4. Or F1 Q2 F2.

plain] pline Q1.

69: no salve] Qq F1. or salve F2 F3 F4.

71: my lungs] thy lungs Edd. conj.

73: word] Qq F1. world F2 F3 F4.

76: page] Moth Rowe (ed. 1).

77: sain] saine Q1. faine F1 Q2 F2. fain F3 F4.

78–86: I will...four] omitted in Ff Q2.

86, 92: adding] making Collier MS.

91: Arm.] Qq F1 Pag. F2 F3 F4.

101: the] a F3 F4.

110: I Costard] Costard Warburton.

114: Sirrah Costard] Marry, Costard Knight conj. _Sirrah Costard, marry,_ Collier MS.

118: immured] F2 F3 F4. emured Qq F1.

121: loose] be loose Collier MS.

122: set thee from] set thee free from Collier MS.

126: honour] Q1. honours Ff Q2.

128: Jew] jewel Warburton.

131: inkle] yncle Qq Ff.

One penny] i. d. Qq F1 F2. i. de. F3 F4. Five farthings Rowe (ed. 1). A penny Rowe (ed. 2).

132, 133: carries it. Remuneration!] Theobald, carries it remuneration Qq F1 F2. carries it’s remuneration F3 F4.

133: French] Q1. a French Ff Q2.

135: SCENE III. Pope.

138: What] O what Q1.

140: three-farthing worth] Q1. three farthings worth Ff Q2.

140, 142, 146, 148, 163: Each of these lines begins with O in Qq Ff. See note (IX).

143: win] om. Q2.

150: know] know it F3 F4.

154: princess] princes Q2.

159: [Giving ...shilling] Edd.

161: a ’leven-pence] a levenpence Qq Ff. elevenpence Rowe.

162: in print] in point Anon. conj. ap. Halliwell.

Gardon] Qq F1. guerdon F2 F3 F4.

163–168: Q1 prints as three lines ending whip...constable...magnificent; Ff Q2 as six lines ending love...whip...criticke...constable...boy...magnificent.

165: a humorous] an amorous Hanmer.

168: so] more Rowe.

169: wimpled] whimp’ring Hanmer.

170: senior-junior] Hanmer (Anon. conj. apud Theobald), signior Junios Qq Ff. signior Juno’s Rowe (ed. 2). signior Junio Pope. Signior Julio’s Upton conj.

dwarf] dwarfe F1.

Dan] Q1. Don Ff Q2.

177: field] file Theobald (Warburton).

179: What! I love! I sue!] What? I love! I sue! what? Hanmer. What? what? I love! I sue! Johnson. What? I! I love! I sue! Malone (Tyrwhitt conj.).

180: German clock] F2 F3 F4. Jermane Cloake Q1. _Germane Cloake_ F1. Germaine Cloake Q2.

182: aright] right Capell.

being a] Qq F1. being but F2 F3 F4.

186: wightly] Edd. whitley Qq F1 F2. whitely F3 F4. witty Collier MS. whiteless Porson conj. See note (X).

194: sue and groan] F2 F3 F4. shue, grone Q1 F1. sue grone Q2. sue, watch, groan Lettsom conj. ~~~~~

Act IV, Scene I — The same.

Enter the Princess, and her train, a Forester, BOYET, ROSALINE, MARIA, and KATHARINE.

Prin. Was that the king, that spurred his horse so hard Against the steep uprising of the hill?

Boyet. I know not; but I think it was not he.

Prin. Whoe’er a’ was, a’ showed a mounting mind. Well, lords, to-day we shall have our dispatch: 5 On Saturday we will return to France. Then, forester, my friend, where is the bush That we must stand and play the murderer in?

For. Hereby, upon the edge of yonder coppice; A stand where you may make the fairest shoot. 10

Prin. I thank my beauty, I am fair that shoot, And thereupon thou speak’st the fairest shoot.

For. Pardon me, madam, for I meant not so.

Prin. What, what? first praise me, and again say no? O short-lived pride! Not fair? alack for woe! 15

For. Yes, madam, fair.

Prin. Nay, never paint me now: Where fair is not, praise cannot mend the brow. Here, good my glass, take this for telling true: Fair payment for foul words is more than due.

For. Nothing but fair is that which you inherit. 20

Prin. See, see, my beauty will be saved by merit! O heresy in fair, fit for these days! A giving hand, though foul, shall have fair praise. But come, the bow: now mercy goes to kill, And shooting well is then accounted ill. 25 Thus will I save my credit in the shoot: Not wounding, pity would not let me do’t; If wounding, then it was to show my skill, That more for praise than purpose meant to kill. And, out of question, so it is sometimes, 30 Glory grows guilty of detested crimes, When, for fame’s sake, for praise, an outward part, We bend to that the working of the heart; As I for praise alone now seek to spill The poor deer’s blood, that my heart means no ill. 35

Boyet. Do not curst wives hold that self-sovereignty Only for praise sake, when they strive to be Lords o’er their lords?

Prin. Only for praise: and praise we may afford To any lady that subdues a lord. 40

Boyet. Here comes a member of the commonwealth.

Enter COSTARD.

Cost. God dig-you-den all! Pray you, which is the head lady?

Prin. Thou shalt know her, fellow, by the rest that have no heads. 45

Cost. Which is the greatest lady, the highest?

Prin. The thickest and the tallest.

Cost. The thickest and the tallest! it is so; truth is truth. An your waist, mistress, were as slender as my wit, One o’ these maids’ girdles for your waist should be fit. 50 Are not you the chief woman? you are the thickest here.

Prin. What’s your will, sir? what’s your will?

Cost. I have a letter from Monsieur Biron to one Lady Rosaline.

Prin. O, thy letter, thy letter! he’s a good friend of mine: Stand aside, good bearer. Boyet, you can carve; 55 Break up this capon.

Boyet. I am bound to serve. This letter is mistook, it importeth none here; It is writ to Jaquenetta.

Prin. We will read it, I swear. Break the neck of the wax, and every one give ear.

Boyet [reads]. By heaven, that thou art fair, is most infallible; 60 true, that thou art beauteous; truth itself, that thou art lovely. More fairer than fair, beautiful than beauteous, truer than truth itself, have commiseration on thy heroical vassal! The magnanimous and most illustrate king Cophetua set eye upon the pernicious and indubitate beggar Zenelophon; and he it was that might rightly say, Veni, vidi, 65 vici; which to annothanize in the vulgar,—O base and obscure vulgar!—videlicet, He came, saw, and overcame: he came, one; saw, two; overcame, three. Who came? the king: why did he come? to see: why did he see? to overcome: to whom came he? to the beggar: what saw he? the beggar: who overcame he? the beggar. The conclusion 70 is victory: on whose side? the king’s. The captive is enriched: on whose side? the beggar’s. The catastrophe is a nuptial: on whose side? the king’s: no, on both in one, or one in both. I am the king; for so stands the comparison: thou the beggar; for so witnesseth thy lowliness. Shall I command thy love? I may: shall I 75 enforce thy love? I could: shall I entreat thy love? I will. What shalt thou exchange for rags? robes; for tittles? titles; for thyself? me. Thus, expecting thy reply, I profane my lips on thy foot, my eyes on thy picture, and my heart on thy every part. Thine, in the dearest design of industry, DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO. 80

Thus dost thou hear the Nemean lion roar ’Gainst thee, thou lamb, that standest as his prey. Submissive fall his princely feet before, And he from forage will incline to play: But if thou strive, poor soul, what art thou then? 85 Food for his rage, repasture for his den.

Prin. What plume of feathers is he that indited this letter? What vane? what weathercock? did you ever hear better?

Boyet. I am much deceived but I remember the style.

Prin. Else your memory is bad, going o’er it erewhile. 90

Boyet. This Armado is a Spaniard, that keeps here in court; A phantasime, a Monarcho, and one that makes sport To the prince and his bookmates.

Prin. Thou fellow, a word: Who gave thee this letter?

Cost. I told you; my lord.

Prin. To whom shouldst thou give it?

Cost. From my lord to my lady. 95

Prin. From which lord to which lady?

Cost. From my lord Biron, a good master of mine, To a lady of France that he call’d Rosaline.

Prin. Thou hast mistaken his letter. Come, lords, away.

[To Ros.] Here, sweet, put up this: ’twill be thine another 100 day. [Exeunt Princess and train.

Boyet. Who is the suitor? who is the suitor?

Ros. Shall I teach you to know?

Boyet. Ay, my continent of beauty.

Ros. Why, she that bears the bow. Finely put off!

Boyet. My lady goes to kill horns; but, if thou marry, Hang me by the neck, if horns that year miscarry. 105 Finely put on!

Ros. Well, then, I am the shooter.

Boyet. And who is your deer?

Ros. If we choose by the horns, yourself come not near. Finely put on, indeed!

Mar. You still wrangle with her, Boyet, and she strikes at the brow. 110

Boyet. But she herself is hit lower: have I hit her now?

Ros. Shall I come upon thee with an old saying, that was a man when King Pepin of France was a little boy, as touching the hit it?

Boyet. So I may answer thee with one as old, that was 115 a woman when Queen Guinover of Britain was a little wench, as touching the hit it.

Ros. Thou canst not hit it, hit it, hit it, Thou canst not hit it, my good man.

Boyet. An I cannot, cannot, cannot, 120 An I cannot, another can.

[Exeunt Ros. and Kath.

Cost. By my troth, most pleasant: how both did fit it!

Mar. A mark marvellous well shot, for they both did hit it.

Boyet. A mark! O, mark but that mark! A mark, says my lady! Let the mark have a prick in’t, to mete at, if it may be. 125

Mar. Wide o’ the bow-hand! i’ faith, your hand is out.

Cost. Indeed, a’ must shoot nearer, or he’ll ne’er hit the clout.

Boyet. An if my hand be out, then belike your hand is in.

Cost. Then will she get the upshoot by cleaving the pin.

Mar. Come, come, you talk greasily; your lips grow foul. 130

Cost. She’s too hard for you at pricks, sir: challenge her to bowl.

Boyet. I fear too much rubbing. Good night, my good owl. [ Exeunt Boyet and Maria.

Cost. By my soul, a swain! a most simple clown! Lord, Lord, how the ladies and I have put him down! O’ my troth, most sweet jests! most incony vulgar wit! 135 When it comes so smoothly off, so obscenely, as it were, so fit. Armado o’ th’ one side,—O, a most dainty man! To see him walk before a lady and to bear her fan! To see him kiss his hand! and how most sweetly a’ will swear! And his page o’ t’ other side, that handful of wit! 140 Ah, heavens, it is a most pathetical nit! Sola, sola! [Shout-within.

[Exit Costard, running.

~~~~~ Linenotes: Love’s Labour’s Lost, IV, 1.

IV. ] ACT III. Theobald

enter...] Enter the Princesse, a Forrester, her Ladyes, and her Lordes. Qq Ff.

2: uprising] unrising F2 F3 F4.

3: Boy.] Ff Q2. For. Q2.

6: on] ore Q1.

9: Hereby] Hardby Hanmer.

coppice] copse S. Walker conj.

11–40: I thank...lord] Put in the margin by Pope.

13: madam] om. F3 F4.

14: and again] Q1 and then again F1 Q2. then again F2 F3 F4.

22: fair] faith Collier MS.

23: fair] the F3 F4.

27: do’t] doote Q1.

32: for praise] to praise F2 F3 F4.

35: deer’s] Deere F2.

that] tho’ Warburton conj.

40: a] her Rowe.

42–52: God...will] Put in the margin by Pope.

49, 50: your waist...my wit...your waist] my waste...your wit...my waste Warburton.

49: my wit] your wit Johnson conj.

64: illustrate] illustrious Q2.

65: Zenelophon] Penelophon Collier.

66: annothanize] Qq F1. anatomize F2 F3 F4. annotanize Knight.

67: videlicet] is Capell.

saw] F2 F3 F4. see Qq F1.

saw] Rowe. see Qq Ff.

68: overcame] Q2 F3 F4. covercame Q1 F1 F2.

70: who overcame he?] Qq Ff. who overcame him? Rowe (ed. 1). whom overcame he? Hanmer.

71: the king’s] Q2 F3 F4. the king Q1 F1.

captive] captivitie Q2.

80: Adriano] Q2. Adriana Q1 Ff. Armado] F2 F3 F4. Armatho Qq F1.

87: feathers] feather F2 F3 F4.

92: phantasime] Qq F1. phantasme F2 F3 F4. phantasma Capell conj.

Monarcho] monorcho Q2.

Monarcho] mammuccio Hanmer. {Transcriber's Note: this linenote has been copied here from the original book's ADDENDA.}

99: lords] ladies Johnson conj.

100: Exeunt...] Exeunt. Ff Q2. om. Q1.

101–142: Who is... sola.] Put in the margin by Pope.

101: suitor...suitor] Steevens (Farmer conj.). shooter Qq Ff.

108: the] om. F2 F3 F4.

119: [Exit. Q1.

120: An] And Q1. om. Ff Q2.

121: [Exeunt R. and K.] Capell. [Exit. Ff. Q2.

123: hit it] F4. hit Qq F1 F2 F3.

129: pin] F2 F3 F4. is in Qq F1.

137: Armado o’ th’ one] Rowe (ed. 2). Armatho ath toothen Q1. Armathor ath to the F1 Q2. Armado ath to F2 F3 F4. Armado o’ th’ to Grant White.

139: After this line Collier MS. inserts Looking babies in her eyes his passion to declare.

140: o’ t’ other] at other Qq Ff.

of wit] of small wit Collier MS.

141: a most] F2 F3 F4. most Qq F1.

142: [Shout within.] F4. Shot within. Q1. Shoote within. F1. Shoote with him. Q2. Showte within. F2. ~~~~~

Act IV, Scene II — The same.

Enter HOLOFERNES, SIR NATHANIEL, and DULL.

Nath. Very reverend sport, truly; and done in the testimony of a good conscience.

Hol. The deer was, as you know, sanguis, in blood; ripe as the pomewater, who now hangeth like a jewel in the ear of caelo, the sky, the welkin, the heaven; and anon falleth 5 like a crab on the face of terra, the soil, the land, the earth.

Nath. Truly, Master Holofernes, the epithets are sweetly varied, like a scholar at the least: but, sir, I assure ye, it was a buck of the first head.

Hol. Sir Nathaniel, haud credo. 10

Dull. ’Twas not a haud credo; ’twas a pricket.

Hol. Most barbarous intimation! yet a kind of insinuation, as it were, in via, in way, of explication; facere, as it were, replication, or, rather, ostentare, to show, as it were, his inclination, after his undressed, unpolished, uneducated, 15 unpruned, untrained, or, rather, unlettered, or, ratherest, unconfirmed fashion, to insert again my haud credo for a deer.

Dull. I said the deer was not a haud credo; ’twas a pricket.

Hol. Twice-sod simplicity, bis coctus! 20 O thou monster Ignorance, how deformed dost thou look!

Nath. Sir, he hath never fed of the dainties that are bred in a book; he hath not eat paper, as it were; he hath not drunk ink: his intellect is not replenished; he is only an animal, only sensible in the duller parts: 25 And such barren plants are set before us, that we thankful should be, Which we of taste and feeling are, for those parts that do fructify in us more than he. For as it would ill become me to be vain, indiscreet, or a fool, So were there a patch set on learning, to see him in a school: But omne bene, say I; being of an old father’s mind, 30 Many can brook the weather that love not the wind.

Dull. You two are book-men: can you tell me by your wit What was a month old at Cain’s birth, that’s not five weeks old as yet?

Hol. Dictynna, goodman Dull; Dictynna, goodman Dull.

Dull. What is Dictynna? 35

Nath. A title to Phœbe, to Luna, to the moon.

Hol. The moon was a month old when Adam was no more, And raught not to five weeks when he came to five-score. The allusion holds in the exchange.

Dull. ’Tis true indeed; the collusion holds in the exchange. 40

Hol. God comfort thy capacity! I say, the allusion holds in the exchange.

Dull. And I say, the pollusion holds in the exchange; for the moon is never but a month old: and I say beside 45 that, ’twas a pricket that the princess killed.

Hol. Sir Nathaniel, will you hear an extemporal epitaph on the death of the deer? And, to humour the ignorant, call I the deer the princess killed a pricket.

Nath. Perge, good Master Holofernes, perge; so it 50 shall please you to abrogate scurrility.

Hol. I will something affect the letter, for it argues facility.

The preyful princess pierced and prickd a pretty pleasing pricket; 54 Some say a sore; but not a sore, till now made sore with shooting. The dogs did yell: put L to sore, then sorel jumps from thicket; Or pricket sore, or else sorel; the people fall a-hooting. If sore be sore, then L to sore makes fifty sores one sorel. Of one sore I an hundred make by adding but one more L.

Nath. A rare talent! 60

Dull. [Aside] If a talent be a claw, look how he claws him with a talent.

Hol. This is a gift that I have, simple, simple; a foolish extravagant spirit, full of forms, figures, shapes, objects, ideas, apprehensions, motions, revolutions: these are begot 65 in the ventricle of memory, nourished in the womb of pia mater, and delivered upon the mellowing of occasion. But the gift is good in those in whom it is acute, and I am thankful for it.

Nath. Sir, I praise the Lord for you: and so may my 70 parishioners; for their sons are well tutored by you, and their daughters profit very greatly under you: you are a good member of the commonwealth.

Hol. Mehercle, if their sons be ingenuous, they shall want no instruction; if their daughters be capable, I will 75 put it to them: but vir sapit qui pauca loquitur; a soul feminine saluteth us.

Enter JAQUENETTA and COSTARD.

Jaq. God give you good morrow, master Parson.

Hol. Master Parson, quasi pers-on. An if one should be pierced, which is the one? 80

Cost. Marry, master schoolmaster, he that is likest to a hogshead.

Hol. Piercing a hogshead! a good lustre of conceit in a turf of earth; fire enough for a flint, pearl enough for a swine: ’tis pretty; it is well. 85

Jaq. Good master Parson, be so good as read me this letter: it was given me by Costard, and sent me from Don Armado: I beseech you, read it.

Hol. Fauste, precor gelida quando pecus omne sub umbra Ruminat,—and so forth. Ah, good old Mantuan! 90 I may speak of thee as the traveller doth of Venice; Venetia, Venetia, Chi non ti vede non ti pretia. Old Mantuan, old Mantuan! who understandeth thee not, loves thee not. Ut, re, sol, la, mi, fa. Under pardon, sir, 95 what are the contents? or rather, as Horace says in his— What, my soul, verses?

Nath. Ay, sir, and very learned.

Hol. Let me hear a staff, a stanze, a verse; lege, domine.

Nath. [reads]

If love make me forsworn, how shall I swear to love? 100 Ah, never faith could hold, if not to beauty vow’d! Though to myself forsworn, to thee I’ll faithful prove; Those thoughts to me were oaks, to thee like osiers bow’d. Study his bias leaves, and makes his book thine eyes, Where all those pleasures live that art would comprehend: 105 If knowledge be the mark, to know thee shall suffice; Well learned is that tongue that well can thee commend; All ignorant that soul that sees thee without wonder; Which is to me some praise that I thy parts admire: Thy eye Jove’s lightning bears, thy voice his dreadful thunder, 110 Which, not to anger bent, is music and sweet fire. Celestial as thou art, O, pardon love this wrong, That sings heaven’s praise with such an earthly tongue.

Hol. You find not the apostrophas, and so miss the accent: let me supervise the canzonet. Here are only numbers 115 ratified; but, for the elegancy, facility, and golden cadence of poesy, caret. Ovidius Naso was the man: and why, indeed, Naso, but for smelling out the odoriferous flowers of fancy, the jerks of invention? Imitari is nothing: so doth the hound his master, the ape his keeper, the tired 120 horse his rider. But, damosella virgin, was this directed to you?

Jaq. Ay, sir, from one Monsieur Biron, one of the strange queen’s lords.

Hol. I will overglance the superscript: ‘To the snow-white 125 hand of the most beauteous Lady Rosaline.’ I will look again on the intellect of the letter, for the nomination of the party writing to the person written unto: ‘Your ladyship’s in all desired employment, BIRON.’ Sir Nathaniel, this Biron is one of the votaries with the king; and here he hath 130 framed a letter to a sequent of the stranger queen’s, which accidentally, or by the way of progression, hath miscarried. Trip and go, my sweet; deliver this paper into the royal hand of the king: it may concern much. Stay not thy compliment; I forgive thy duty: adieu. 135

Jaq. Good Costard, go with me. Sir, God save your life!

Cost. Have with thee, my girl. [Exeunt Cost. and Jaq.

Nath. Sir, you have done this in the fear of God, very religiously; and, as a certain father saith,—

Hol. Sir, tell not me of the father; I do fear colourable 140 colours. But to return to the verses: did they please you, Sir Nathaniel?

Nath. Marvellous well for the pen.

Hol. I do dine to-day at the father’s of a certain pupil of mine; where, if, before repast, it shall please you to 145 gratify the table with a grace, I will, on my privilege I have with the parents of the foresaid child or pupil, undertake your ben venuto; where I will prove those verses to be very unlearned, neither savouring of poetry, wit, nor invention: I beseech your society. 150

Nath. And thank you too; for society, saith the text, is the happiness of life.

Hol. And, certes, the text most infallibly concludes it. [To Dull] Sir, I do invite you too; you shall not say me nay: pauca verba. Away! the gentles are at their game, 155 and we will to our recreation. [Exeunt.

~~~~~ Linenotes: Love’s Labour’s Lost, IV, 2.

3: Hol.] Ped. Qq Ff.

sanguis, in blood] in sanguis, blood Capell.

4: the] Q1. a Ff Q2.

24: animal] animal, not to think Collier MS.

26, 27: Printed as prose in Qq Ff, first as verse by Hanmer.

27: Which we of taste and feeling are, for those...] See note (XI).

do] Q1 Ff. om. Q2.

28: indiscreet] indistreell Q1.

29: see] set Collier MS.

32: me] Q1. om. Ff Q2.

34: Dictynna] Rowe. Dictisima Q1 F1 F2 F3. Dictissima Q2 F4. Doctissime...Dictynna Collier MS.

35: Dictynna] Dictinna F2 F3 F4. Dictima Qq F1.

36: title] tittle F2.

38: raught] rought Q1. wrought Ff Q2.

44: pollusion] Q2 F3 F4. polusion Q1 F1 F2. pollution Rowe (ed. 2).

47: epitaph] epigram Capell conj. MS.

48: ignorant] ignorault Q1.

49: call I] Edd. call’d Qq Ff. I have call’d Rowe. I will call Singer. I call Collier MS.

a] the Q2.

51: scurrility] squirilitie Q1.

54: preyful] prayfull Qq F1. praysfull F2.

54–59: Printed as twelve lines in Qq Ff.

56, 58: L] ell Qq Ff.

56: jumps] jumpt Pope.

58: one sorel] Edd. o sorell Q1. O sorell Q2 Ff. of sorel Warburton. O sore L Capell.

63: Hol.] Nath. Qq Ff. See note (XII).

66, 67: pia mater] Rowe. primater Qq Ff.

68: in whom] whom Q1.

70: my] our Rowe (ed. I).

74: ingenuou] Q2 F3 F4. ingenous Q1. ingennous F1 F2. ingenious Capell.

76: sapit] Q2 F2 F3 F4. sapis Q1 F1.

78: parson] F2 F3 F4. person Qq F1.

79: pers-on] pers-one Steevens.

79–85: Put in the margin by Pope.

81: likest] Ff Q2. liklest Q1.

83: Piercing] Edd. Of persing Qq Ff. See note (XVII).

lustre] cluster F3 F4.

86: Parson] Qq Ff.

89: Fauste, precor gelida quando pecus omne] F2 F3 F4. Facile precor gellida quando pecas omnia Q1 F1. Facile precor gleida quando peccas omnia Q2.

92, 93: Venetia,.....ti.....ti pretia] Edd. (from Florio’s ‘Second Frutes.’) Vinegia...te...ei non te pregia Theobald. Vemchie, vencha, que non te vnde, que non te perreche Q1 F1. Vemchie, vencha...perroche Q2. Vemchie, vencha...piaech F2 F3 F4, Rowe, Pope.

95: loves thee not] Q1. om. Ff Q2.

99: stanze] F1 Q2. stauze Q1. stanza F2 F3 F4.

101: Ah] O ‘Passionate Pilgrim.’

102: faithful] constant Ib.

103: were] like Ib.

105: would] can Ib.

110: bears] seems Ib.

112: pardon love this] do not love that Ib.

113: That sings] To sing Ib. That sings the S. Walker conj.

115: canzonet] Theobald. cangenet Qq Ff.

115–122: Here...you] Theobald continues to Holofernes. In Qq Ff they are given to Nathaniel.

117: caret] carent Nicholson conj.

119: invention? imitari] Theobald. invention imitarie Qq Ff. invention? imitating Collier MS.

120: tired] tyred Qq Ff. try’d Theobald. ’tired Capell. trained Heath conj.

123, 124: one of the strange queen’s lords] to one of the strange queen’s ladies Theobald.

125–129: I will...Biron] given to Nathaniel in Qq Ff. See note (XII).

128: writing] Rowe. written Qq Ff.

129: in] it Q2.

Sir Nathaniel] Capell. Sir Holofernes Qq Ff. om. Theobald.

129–135: Given to Dull by Rowe.

133: royal] om. Ff Q2.

137: [Exeunt...] Exit. Qq Ff.

145: before] Q1. being Ff Q2.

repast] request Heath conj.

147: or] Qq F1 F2. and F3 F4.

148: ben venuto] Rowe (ed. 2). bien venuto Q1 F2 F3 F4. bien vonuto F1 Q2. bien venu too Edd conj. ~~~~~

Act IV, Scene III — The same.

Enter BIRON, with a paper.

Biron. The king he is hunting the deer; I am coursing myself: they have pitched a toil; I am toiling in a pitch,— pitch that defiles: defile! a foul word. Well, set thee down, sorrow! for so they say the fool said, and so say I, and I the fool: well proved, wit! By the Lord, this love is 5 as mad as Ajax: it kills sheep; it kills me, I a sheep: well proved again o’ my side! I will not love: if I do, hang me; i’ faith, I will not. O, but her eye,—by this light, but for her eye, I would not love her; yes, for her two eyes. Well, I do nothing in the world but lie, and lie in my throat. By 10 heaven, I do love: and it hath taught me to rhyme, and to be melancholy; and here is part of my rhyme, and here my melancholy. Well, she hath one o’ my sonnets already: the clown bore it, the fool sent it, and the lady hath it: sweet clown, sweeter fool, sweetest lady! By the world, I would 15 not care a pin, if the other three were in. Here comes one with a paper: God give him grace to groan! [Stands aside.

Enter the King, with a paper.

King. Ay me!

Biron. [Aside] Shot, by heaven! Proceed, sweet Cupid: thou hast thumped him with thy bird-bolt under the left 20 pap. In faith, secrets!

King [reads].

So sweet a kiss the golden sun gives not To those fresh morning drops upon the rose, As thy eye-beams, when their fresh rays have smote The night of dew that on my cheeks down flows: 25 Nor shines the silver moon one half so bright Through the transparent bosom of the deep, As doth thy face through tears of mine give light; Thou shinest in every tear that I do weep: No drop but as a coach doth carry thee; 30 So ridest thou triumphing in my woe. Do but behold the tears that swell in me, And they thy glory through my grief will show: But do not love thyself; then thou wilt keep My tears for glasses, and still make me weep. 35 O queen of queens! how far dost thou excel, No thought can think, nor tongue of mortal tell.

How shall she know my griefs? I’ll drop the paper:— Sweet leaves, shade folly. Who is he comes here? [Steps aside. What, Longaville! and reading! Listen, ear. 40

Biron. Now, in thy likeness, one more fool appear!

Enter LONGAVILLE, with a paper.

Long. Ay me, I am forsworn!

Biron. Why, he comes in like a perjure, wearing papers.

King. In love, I hope: sweet fellowship in shame! 45

Biron. One drunkard loves another of the name.

Long. Am I the first that have been perjured so?

Biron. I could put thee in comfort. Not by two that I know: Thou makest the triumviry, the corner-cap of society. The shape of Love’s Tyburn that hangs up simplicity. 50

Long. I fear these stubborn lines lack power to move. O sweet Maria, empress of my love! These numbers will I tear, and write in prose.

Biron. O, rhymes are guards on wanton Cupid’s hose: Disfigure not his slop.

Long. This same shall go. [Reads. 55

Did not the heavenly rhetoric of thine eye, ’Gainst whom the world cannot hold argument, Persuade my heart to this false perjury? Vows for thee broke deserve not punishment. A woman I forswore; but I will prove, 60 Thou being a goddess, I forswore not thee: My vow was earthly, thou a heavenly love; Thy grace being gain’d cures all disgrace in me. Vows are but breath, and breath a vapour is: Then thou, fair sun, which on my earth dost shine, 65 Exhalest this vapour-vow; in thee it is: If broken then, it is no fault of mine: If by me broke, what fool is not so wise To lose an oath to win a paradise?

Biron. This is the liver-vein, which makes flesh a deity, 70 A green goose a goddess: pure, pure idolatry. God amend us, God amend! we are much out o’ the way.

Long. By whom shall I send this?—Company! stay.

[Steps aside.

Biron. All hid, all hid, an old infant play. Like a demigod here sit I in the sky, 75 And wretched fools’ secrets heedfully o’er-eye. More sacks to the mill! O heavens, I have my wish!

Enter DUMAIN with a paper.

Dumain transform’d! four woodcocks in a dish!

Dum. O most divine Kate!

Biron. O most profane coxcomb! 80

Dum. By heaven, the wonder in a mortal eye!

Biron. By earth, she is not, corporal, there you lie.

Dum. Her amber hairs for foul hath amber quoted.

Biron. An amber-colour’d raven was well noted.

Dum. As upright as the cedar.

Biron. Stoop, I say; 85 Her shoulder is with child.

Dum. As fair as day.

Biron. Ay, as some days; but then no sun must shine.

Dum. O that I had my wish!

Long. And I had mine!

King. And I mine too, good Lord!

Biron. Amen, so I had mine: is not that a good word? 90

Dum. I would forget her; but a fever she Reigns in my blood, and will remember’d be.

Biron. A fever in your blood! why, then incision Would let her out in saucers: sweet misprision!

Dum. Once more I’ll read the ode that I have writ. 95

Biron. Once more I’ll mark how love can vary wit.

Dum. [reads]

On a day—alack the day!— Love, whose month is ever May, Spied a blossom passing fair Playing in the wanton air: 100 Through the velvet leaves the wind, All unseen, can passage find; That the lover, sick to death, Wish himself the heaven’s breath. Air, quoth he, thy cheeks may blow; 105 Air, would I might triumph so! But, alack, my hand is sworn Ne’er to pluck thee from thy thorn; Vow, alack, for youth unmeet, Youth so apt to pluck a sweet! 110 Do not call it sin in me, That I am forsworn for thee; Thou for whom Jove would swear Juno but an Ethiope were; And deny himself for Jove, 115 Turning mortal for thy love. This will I send and something else more plain, That shall express my true love’s fasting pain. O, would the king, Biron, and Longaville, Were lovers too! Ill, to example ill, 120 Would from my forehead wipe a perjured note; For none offend where all alike do dote.

Long. [advancing]. Dumain, thy love is far from charity, That in love’s grief desirest society: You may look pale, but I should blush, I know, 125 To be o’erheard and taken napping so.

King [advancing]. Come, sir, you blush; as his your case is such; You chide at him, offending twice as much; You do not love Maria; Longaville Did never sonnet for her sake compile, 130 Nor never lay his wreathed arms athwart His loving bosom, to keep down his heart. I have been closely shrouded in this bush And mark’d you both and for you both did blush: I heard your guilty rhymes, observed your fashion, 135 Saw sighs reek from you, noted well your passion: Ay me! says one; O Jove! the other cries; One, her hairs were gold, crystal the other’s eyes: You would for paradise break faith and troth; [To Long. And Jove, for your love, would infringe an oath. [To Dum. 140 What will Biron say when that he shall hear Faith infringed, which such zeal did swear? How will he scorn! how will he spend his wit! How will he triumph, leap and laugh at it! For all the wealth that ever I did see, 145 I would not have him know so much by me.

Biron. Now step I forth to whip hypocrisy. [Advancing. Ah, good my liege, I pray thee, pardon me! Good heart, what grace hast thou, thus to reprove These worms for loving, that art most in love? 150 Your eyes do make no coaches; in your tears There is no certain princess that appears; You’ll not be perjured, ’tis a hateful thing; Tush, none but minstrels like of sonneting! But are you not ashamed? nay, are you not, 155 All three of you, to be thus much o’ershot? You found his mote; the king your mote did see; But I a beam do find in each of three. O, what a scene of foolery have I seen, Of sighs, of groans, of sorrow and of teen! 160 O me, with what strict patience have I sat, To see a king transformed to a gnat! To see great Hercules whipping a gig, And profound Solomon to tune a jig, And Nestor play at push-pin with the boys, 165 And critic Timon laugh at idle toys! Where lies thy grief, O, tell me, good Dumain? And, gentle Longaville, where lies thy pain? And where my liege’s? all about the breast: A caudle, ho!

King. Too bitter is thy jest. 170 Are we betray’d thus to thy over-view?

Biron. Not you to me, but I betray’d by you: I, that am honest; I, that hold it sin To break the vow I am engaged in; I am betray’d, by keeping company 175 With men like you, men of inconstancy. When shall you see me write a thing in rhyme? Or groan for love? or spend a minute’s time In pruning me? When shall you hear that I Will praise a hand, a foot, a face, an eye, 180 A gait, a state, a brow, a breast, a waist, A leg, a limb?—

King. Soft! whither away so fast? A true man or a thief that gallops so?

Biron. I post from love: good lover, let me go.

Enter JAQUENETTA and COSTARD.

Jaq. God bless the king!

King. What present hast thou there? 185

Cost. Some certain treason.

King. What makes treason here?

Cost. Nay, it makes nothing, sir.

King. If it mar nothing neither, The treason and you go in peace away together.

Jaq. I beseech your Grace, let this letter be read: Our parson misdoubts it; ’twas treason, he said. 190

King. Biron, read it over. [Giving him the paper. Where hadst thou it?

Jaq. Of Costard.

King. Where hadst thou it?

Cost. Of Dun Adramadio, Dun Adramadio. 195

[Biron tears the letter.

King. How now! what is in you? why dost thou tear it?

Biron. A toy, my liege, a toy: your Grace needs not fear it.

Long. It did move him to passion, and therefore let’s hear it.

Dum. It is Biron’s writing, and here is his name.

[Gathering up the pieces.

Biron. [To Costard] Ah, you whoreson loggerhead! you were born to do me shame. 200 Guilty, my lord, guilty! I confess, I confess.

King. What?

Biron. That you three fools lack’d me fool to make up the mess: He, he, and you, and you, my liege, and I, Are pick-purses in love, and we deserve to die. 205 O, dismiss this audience, and I shall tell you more.

Dum. Now the number is even.

Biron. True, true; we are four. Will these turtles be gone?

King. Hence, sirs; away!

Cost. Walk aside the true folk, and let the traitors stay.

[Exeunt Costard and Jaquenetta.

Biron. Sweet lords, sweet lovers, O, let us embrace! 210 As true we are as flesh and blood can be: The sea will ebb and flow, heaven show his face; Young blood doth not obey an old decree: We cannot cross the cause why we were born; Therefore of all hands must we be forsworn. 215

King. What, did these rent lines show some love of thine?

Biron. Did they, quoth you? Who sees the heavenly Rosaline, That, like a rude and savage man of Inde, At the first opening of the gorgeous east, Bows not his vassal head and strucken blind 220 Kisses the base ground with obedient breast? What peremptory eagle-sighted eye Dares look upon the heaven of her brow, That is not blinded by her majesty?

King. What zeal, what fury hath inspired thee now? 225 My love, her mistress, is a gracious moon; She an attending star, scarce seen a light.

Biron. My eyes are then no eyes, nor I Biron: O, but for my love, day would turn to night! Of all complexions the cull’d sovereignty 230 Do meet, as at a fair, in her fair cheek; Where several worthies make one dignity, Where nothing wants that want itself doth seek. Lend me the flourish of all gentle tongues,— Fie, painted rhetoric! O, she needs it not: 235 To things of sale a seller’s praise belongs, She passes praise; then praise too short doth blot. A wither’d hermit, five-score winters worn, Might shake off fifty, looking in her eye: Beauty doth varnish age, as if new-born, 240 And gives the crutch the cradle’s infancy: O, ’tis the sun that maketh all things shine.

King. By heaven, thy love is black as ebony.

Biron. Is ebony like her? O wood divine! A wife of such wood were felicity. 245 O, who can give an oath? where is a book? That I may swear beauty doth beauty lack, If that she learn not of her eye to look: No face is fair that is not full so black.

King. O paradox! Black is the badge of hell, 250 The hue of dungeons and the school of night; And beauty’s crest becomes the heavens well.

Biron. Devils soonest tempt, resembling spirits of light. O, if in black my lady’s brows be deck’d, It mourns that painting and usurping hair 255 Should ravish doters with a false aspect; And therefore is she born to make black fair. Her favour turns the fashion of the days, For native blood is counted painting now; And therefore red, that would avoid dispraise, 260 Paints itself black, to imitate her brow.

Dum. To look like her are chimney-sweepers black.

Long. And since her time are colliers counted bright.

King. And Ethiopes of their sweet complexion crack.

Dum. Dark needs no candles now, for dark is light. 265

Biron. Your mistresses dare never come in rain, For fear their colours should be wash’d away.

King. ’Twere good, yours did; for, sir, to tell you plain, I ’ll find a fairer face not wash’d to-day.

Biron. I’ll prove her fair, or talk till doomsday here. 270

King. No devil will fright thee then so much as she.

Dum. I never knew man hold vile stuff so dear.

Long. Look, here’s thy love: my foot and her face see.

Biron. O, if the streets were paved with thine eyes, Her feet were much too dainty for such tread! 275

Dum. O vile! then, as she goes, what upward lies The street should see as she walk’d overhead.

King. But what of this? are we not all in love?

Biron. Nothing so sure; and thereby all forsworn.

King. Then leave this chat; and, good Biron, now prove 280 Our loving lawful, and our faith not torn.

Dum. Ay, marry, there; some flattery for this evil.

Long. O, some authority how to proceed; Some tricks, some quillets, how to cheat the devil.

Dum. Some salve for perjury.

Biron. ’Tis more than need. 285 Have at you, then, affection’s men at arms. Consider what you first did swear unto, To fast, to study, and to see no woman; Flat treason ’gainst the kingly state of youth. Say, can you fast? your stomachs are too young; 290 And abstinence engenders maladies. And where that you have vow’d to study, lords, In that each of you have forsworn his book, Can you still dream and pore and thereon look? For when would you, my Lord, or you, or you, 295 Have found the ground of study’s excellence Without the beauty of a woman’s face? From women’s eyes this doctrine I derive; They are the ground, the books, the academes From whence doth spring the true Promethean fire. 300 Why, universal plodding prisons up The nimble spirits in the arteries, As motion and long-during action tires The sinewy vigour of the traveller. Now, for not looking on a woman’s face, 305 You have in that forsworn the use of eyes And study too, the causer of your vow; For where is any author in the world Teaches such beauty as a woman’s eye? Learning is but an adjunct to ourself 310 And where we are our learning likewise is Then when ourselves we see in ladies’ eyes. Do we not likewise see our learning there? O, we have made a vow to study, lords, And in that vow we have forsworn our books 315 For when would you, my liege, or you, or you, In leaden contemplation have found out Such fiery numbers as the prompting eyes Of beauty’s tutors have enrich’d you with? Other slow arts entirely keep the brain; 320 And therefore, finding barren practisers, Scarce show a harvest of their heavy toil: But love, first learned in a lady’s eyes, Lives not alone immured in the brain; But, with the motion of all elements, 325 Courses as swift as thought in every power, And gives to every power a double power, Above their functions and their offices. It adds a precious seeing to the eye; A lover’s eyes will gaze an eagle blind; 330 A lover’s ear will hear the lowest sound, When the suspicious head of theft is stopp’d: Love’s feeling is more soft and sensible Than are the tender horns of cockled snails; Love’s tongue proves dainty Bacchus gross in taste: 335 For valour, is not Love a Hercules, Still climbing trees in the Hesperides? Subtle as Sphinx; as sweet and musical As bright Apollo’s lute, strung with his hair; And when Love speaks, the voice of all the gods 340 Make heaven drowsy with the harmony. Never durst poet touch a pen to write Until his ink were temper’d with Love’s sighs; O, then his lines would ravish savage ears, And plant in tyrants mild humility. 345 From women’s eyes this doctrine I derive: They sparkle still the right Promethean fire; They are the books, the arts, the academes, That show, contain and nourish all the world: Else none at all in ought proves excellent. 350 Then fools you were these women to forswear; Or keeping what is sworn, you will prove fools. For wisdom’s sake, a word that all men love; Or for love’s sake, a word that loves all men; Or for men’s sake, the authors of these women; 355 Or women’s sake, by whom we men are men; Let us once lose our oaths to find ourselves, Or else we lose ourselves to keep our oaths. It is religion to be thus forsworn, For charity itself fulfils the law, 360 And who can sever love from charity?

King. Saint Cupid, then! and, soldiers, to the field!

Biron. Advance your standards, and upon them, lords; Pell-mell, down with them! but be first advised, In conflict that you get the sun of them. 365

Long. Now to plain-dealing; lay these glozes by: Shall we resolve to woo these girls of France?

King. And win them too: therefore let us devise Some entertainment for them in their tents.

Biron. First, from the park let us conduct them thither; 370 Then homeward every man attach the hand Of his fair mistress: in the afternoon We will with some strange pastime solace them, Such as the shortness of the time can shape; For revels, dances, masks and merry hours 375 Forerun fair Love, strewing her way with flowers.

King. Away, away! no time shall be omitted That will betime, and may by us be fitted.

Biron. Allons! allons! Sow’d cockle reap’d no corn; And justice always whirls in equal measure: 380 Light wenches may prove plagues to men forsworn; If so, our copper buys no better treasure. [Exeunt.

~~~~~ Linenotes: Love’s Labour’s Lost, IV, 3.

Act IV, Scene III — ] SCENE IV. Pope. ACT IV. Capell

1: he] om. Rowe (ed. 2).

2: a pitch] pitch Hanmer.

3: set] Qq Ff. sit Hanmer.

5: and I the fool] and ay the fool Grant White, am I the fool Anon. conj.

6: I a sheep] ay a sheep Grant White.

9: love her] love Rowe (ed. 2).

12, 13: melancholy] mallichollie Qq Ff.

17: [Stands aside.] [retiring. Capell, and at line 21 [Gets up into a tree. id.

24: smote] smot Qq Ff.

25: night of dew] Qq Ff. dew of night Singer (Musgrave conj.).

34: wilt] will Q1.

36: dost thou] Qq Ff. thou dost Singer (Collier MS.).

43: perjure] perjurd F2.

49: triumviry] Rowe (ed. 2). triumphery Qq F1 F2. triumphry F3 F4. triumvirate Rowe (ed. 1).

55: slop] Theobald. shop Qq Ff. shape Egerton MS.

57: cannot] could not ‘Passionate Pilgrim.’

59: deserve] deserves Q2.

62: earthly] earthy F3 F4.

64: Vows are but breath] My vow was breath ‘Passionate Pilgrim.’

65: which on my earth dost] that on this earth doth Ib.

66: Exhalest] Exhale Ib.

67: If broken then,] Q1 Ff. If broken, then Q2 ‘Passionate Pilgrim.’

69: lose] F4. loose Qq F1 F2 F3. breake ‘Passionate Pilgrim.’

71: idolatry] ydotarie Q1.

72: God amend!] God amend us! Collier MS.

[Enter Dumaine. Qq Ff.

76: fools’] souls’ S. Walker conj.

77: [Enter Dumaine, with a paper.] Dyce.

81: wonder] woonder Q1.

in] Q1. of Ff Q2.

82: not, corporal] but corporal Theobald. most corporal Collier MS.

83: hairs] hair Capell conj.

for foul...quoted] fourfold...coated] Jackson conj.

hath] have Rowe.

quoted] coted Qq Ff.

85, 86: Stoop...child. As one line in Qq Ff. Corrected by Theobald.

89: I] Johnson. om. Qq Ff.

97: [reads] reads his sonnet Qq Ff.

98: month is ever May] Q1. month is every May Ff Q2. every month is May Anon conj.

is] was ‘England’s Helicon.’

101: velvet leaves the] velvet, leaves the Qq F1 F2 F3. velvet leaves, the F4.

102: can] ’gan Theobald, gan ‘England’s Helicon’ and ‘the Passionate Pilgrim.’

103 lover] shepheard ‘England’s Helicon.’

104: Wish] Qq F1. wish’d F2 F3 F4. ‘Passionate Pilgrim.’

105: may blow] to blow F3 F4.

106: Air.] Ah! Johnson conj.

107: alack] alas ‘Passionate Pilgrim,’ and ‘England’s Helicon.’

is] hath Ib.

108: thorn] Rowe (ed. 2) (from ‘England’s Helicon’), throne Qq Ff, ‘Passionate Pilgrim.’

111, 112: Do...thee] om. ‘Passionate Pilgrim,’ and ‘England’s Helicon.’

113: Thou] Thee Singer.

whom Jove] whom ev’n Jove Rowe (ed. 2). whose love Jove S. Walker conj. (withdrawn). whom great Jove Collier MS.

118: fasting] fest’ring Theobald conj. lasting Capell.

126: o’erheard] ore-hard Q1.

127: you blush;] do, blush; Capell conj. blush you: Collier MS. your blush: S. Walker conj.

128: chide] chid F2.

129: Maria:] Maria? Qq F1 F2. Maria, F3 F4.

137: Ay] Ah Rowe (ed. 1).

138: One, her] One her Q1. On her F1 Q2. Her F2 F3 F4. One’s S. Walker conj.

139: [To Long.] Johnson.

140: [To Dum.] Johnson.

142: Faith] Qq F1. A faith F2 F3 F4. Of faith or Faith so, or Such faith S. Walker conj. Faiths Delius conj. See note (XIII).

zeal] a zeal F2.

144: leap] geap Warburton.

145: I] eye Capell conj.

147: [Advancing.] Coming from his tree. Capell.

150: art] Qq F1. are F2 F3 F4.

151: coaches; in] Hanmer. coaches in Rowe (ed. 2). couches in Qq Ff. loaches in Grey conj.

157: mote...mote] Rowe. moth...moth Qq Ff.

162: gnat] knot Theobald. sot Johnson conj. knott Collins conj. quat Becket conj.

164: to tune] Q1. tuning Ff Q2.

166: toys] toyles Q2.

170: caudle] Q1. candle Ff Q2.

172: to me...by you] Capell. by me...to you Qq Ff. by me...by you Theobald.

176: men like you, men of inconstancy] Dyce (S. Walker conj.). men like men of inconstancy Qq F1. men, like men of strange inconstancy F2 F3 F4 (strang F2). vane-like men of strange inconstancy Hanmer (Warburton). moon-like men of strange inconstancy Steevens (Mason conj.). men, like men of such inconstancy Tieck conj. men-like women of inconstancy Collier conj. men like you, men all inconstancy Lettsom conj. men like women for inconstancy Anon. conj.

178: love] Love Q1. (Duke of Devonshire’s copy). Ione Q1. Ioane Qq F1 F2. Joan F3 F4. See note (XIV).

179–182: In pruning......limb?] Printed as prose in Qq Ff, corrected by Rowe (ed. 2).

185: present] presentment Singer. peasant Collier MS.

[Offering a paper. Capell.

188: away] om. F2 F3 F4.

190: parson] person Qq Ff.

’twas] Q1. it was Ff Q2.

191: [Giving...paper.] Capell. [He reads the letter. Qq Ff.

195: [Biron...letter.] Capell.

196: is in] Qq F1 F2. mean F3 F4.

199: [Gathering...] Capell.

201: lord] liege Capell (corrected in MS.).

204: and you, and you] and you Reed (1803).

207, 208: True...gone?] Printed as one line in Qq Ff.

209: [Exeunt...] Exit. F2. om. Q1 F1.

212: show] shew Q1. will shew Ff Q2.

214: were] Q1 F3 F4. are F1 Q2 F2.

217: quoth you] om. Capell.

220: strucken] F4. strooken Qq F1 F2 F3.

237: then] and Capell.

244: wood] Rowe (ed. 1). word Qq Ff. See note (XV).

250: Black is] Black as F3 F4.

251: school] F3 F4. schoole Qq F1. F2. scowl Theobald (Warburton). stole Hanmer (Theobald conj.). soul Thirlby conj. soil Dyce conj. shade Collier MS. scroll, shroud, or seal Halliwell conj. suit Edd. conj. See note (XVI).

252: Given to Biron by Hanmer.

crest] dress Hanmer. crete Warburton. craye Edwards conj. cresset Becket conj. best Collier MS.

254: brows] brow F4.

255: and] F4. om. Qq F1. an F2 F3.

usurping] usurped Hanmer.

258: the days] these days Collier MS.

262: black] blake Q1.

264: crack] Q2 F3 F4. crake Q1 F1 F2.

sweet] swart Anon. conj.

267: their] her Q2.

276: lies] lyes? Qq Ff.

279: Nothing] F2 F3 F4. O nothing Qq F1. See note (IX).

285: ’Tis] S. Walker conj. O Id. conj. O tis Qq Ff. See note (XVII).

286: affection’s men] affections men Qq F1 F2. affections, men F3 F4.

289: ’gainst] against Q2.

293: have] hath Rowe (ed. 2).

295: See note (XVIII).

301: prisons] Theobald. poysons Qq Ff.

304: sinewy] sinnowy Qq Ff.

309: beauty] duty Warburton. learning Collier MS.

312, 313: eyes, Do] F2 F3 F4. eyes With our selves Do Qq F1.

318: numbers] notions Hanmer.

319: beauty’s] beautis Q1. beauties Ff. Q2. beauteous Hanmer.

332: head] hand Griffith conj. heed Anon. conj.

theft] thrift Theobald.

335: dainty Bacchus] F2 F3 F4. dainty, Bacchus Qq. F1.

336: valour] savour Theobald. flavour Griffith conj.

338: Sphinx] a Sphinx F3 F4.

339: This line printed twice in F2.

340: speaks,......gods] speaks (the voice of all) the gods Tyrwhitt conj.

340, 341: the voice......heaven] the voice makes all the gods Of heaven Farmer conj.

341: Make] Makes Hanmer. Mark, Theobald (Warburton). Wakes drowsy heaven Becket conj. Wakes heaven, drowsy Jackson conj. See note (XIX).

the] its Steevens conj.

343: sighs] tears Griffith conj.

345: humility] humanity Griffith conj.

354: that loves all men] that moves all men Hanmer. all women love Warburton. that joyes all men Heath conj. that leads all men Mason conj.

355: men’s] man’s Anon. conj.

authors] Capell. author Qq Ff.

women] words Farmer conj.

356: Or] For Warburton conj. transposing lines 355, 356.

women’s] womans F4.

357: Let us] F2 F3 F4. Lets us Q1. Let’s F1 Q2.

357, 358: lose...lose] F4. loose...loose Qq F1 F2 F3.

363: standards] standars Q1.

365: conflict] conflish F2.

376: her] his Capell conj.

378: betime] Rowe (ed. 2) be time Qq Ff. betide Staunton conj.

379: Allons! allons] Theobald (Warburton). Alone, alone Qq Ff. ~~~~~

Act V, Scene I — The same.

Enter HOLOFERNES, SIR 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 affection, audacious without impudency, learned without opinion, and strange without heresy. I did converse 5 this quondam day with a companion of the king’s, who is intituled, nominated, 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 his general behaviour vain, ridiculous, 10 and thrasonical. He is too picked, too spruce, too affected, too odd, as it were, too peregrinate, as I may call it.

Nath. A most singular and choice epithet.

[Draws out his table-book.

Hol. He draweth out the thread of his verbosity finer than the staple of his argument. I abhor such fanatical 15 phantasimes, such insociable and point-devise companions; such rackers of orthography, as to speak dout, fine, when he should say doubt; det, when he should pronounce debt, —d, e, b, t, not d, e, t: he clepeth a calf, cauf; half, hauf; neighbour vocatur nebour; neigh abbreviated ne. This is 20 abhominable,—which he would call abbominable: it insinuateth me of insanie: ne intelligis, domine? to make frantic, lunatic.

Nath. Laus Deo, bene intelligo.

Hol. Bon, bon, fort bon, Priscian! a little scratched, 25 ’twill serve.

Nath. Videsne quis venit?

Hol. Video, et gaudeo.

Enter ARMADO, MOTH, and COSTARD.

Arm. Chirrah! [To Moth.

Hol. Quare chirrah, not sirrah? 30

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 scraps.

Cost. O, they have lived long on the alms-basket of 35 words. I marvel thy master hath not eaten thee for a word; for thou art not so long by the head as honorificabi- litudinitatibus: thou art easier swallowed than a flap-dragon.

Moth. Peace! the peal begins.

Arm. [To Hol.] Monsieur, are you not lettered? 40

Moth. Yes, yes; he teaches boys the horn-book. What is a, b, spelt backward, with the horn on his head?

Hol. Ba, pueritia, with a horn added.

Moth. Ba, most silly sheep with a horn. You hear his learning. 45

Hol. Quis, quis, thou consonant?

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 it,—o, u. 50

Arm. Now, by the salt wave of the Mediterraneum, a sweet touch, a quick venue of wit,—snip, snap, quick and home! it rejoiceth my 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? 55

Moth. Horns.

Hol. Thou disputest like an infant: go, whip thy gig.

Moth. Lend me your horn to make one, and 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 60 shouldst have it to buy gingerbread: hold, 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 a joyful father wouldst thou make me! Go to; thou hast it 65 ad dunghill, at the fingers’ ends, as they say.

Hol. O, I smell false Latin; dunghill for unguem.

Arm. Arts-man, preambulate, we will be singuled from the barbarous. Do you not educate youth at the charge-house on the top of the mountain? 70

Hol. Or mons, the hill.

Arm. At your sweet pleasure, for the mountain.

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 75 posteriors of this day, which the rude multitude call the afternoon.

Hol. The posterior of the day, most generous sir, is liable, congruent and measurable for the afternoon: the word is well culled, chose, sweet and apt, I do assure you, 80 sir, I do assure.

Arm. Sir, the king is a noble gentleman, and my familiar, I do assure ye, very good friend: for what is inward between us, let it pass. I do beseech thee, remember thy courtesy; I beseech thee, apparel thy head: and among 85 other important and most serious designs, and of great 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 excrement, with my mustachio; but, sweet heart, let 90 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 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 95 the princess, sweet chuck, with some delightful ostentation, or show, or pageant, or antique, or firework. Now, understanding that the curate and your sweet self are good at such eruptions and sudden breaking out of mirth, as it were, I have acquainted you withal, to the end to crave 100 your assistance.

Hol. Sir, you shall present before her the Nine Worthies. Sir, as concerning some entertainment of time, some show in the posterior of this day, to be rendered by our assistants, at the king’s command, and this most gallant, illustrate, 105 and learned gentleman, before the princess; I say none so fit as to present the Nine Worthies.

Nath. Where will you find men worthy enough to present them?

Hol. Joshua, yourself; myself and this gallant gentleman, 110 Judas Maccabæus; this swain, because of his great limb or joint, shall pass Pompey the Great; the page, Hercules,—

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 Hercules 115 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 the audience hiss, you may cry, “Well done, Hercules! now thou crushest the snake!” that is the way to make an offence gracious, 120 though few have the grace to do it.

Arm. For the rest of the Worthies?—

Hol. I will play three myself.

Moth. Thrice-worthy gentleman!

Arm. Shall I tell you a thing? 125

Hol. We attend.

Arm. We will have, if this fadge not, an antique. I beseech you, follow.

Hol. Via, goodman Dull! thou hast spoken no word all this while. 130

Dull. Nor understood none neither, sir.

Hol. Allons! we will employ thee.

Dull. I’ll make one in a dance, or so; or I will play On the tabor to the Worthies, and let them dance the hay.

Hol. Most dull, honest Dull! To our sport, away! 135

[Exeunt.

~~~~~ Linenotes: Love’s Labour’s Lost, V, 1.

V. ] Actus Quartus Ff Q2

1: quod] Rowe. quid Qq Ff.

2: sir] om. Q2.

4: affection] Qq F1. affectation F2 F3 F4.

8: hominem] F3 F4. hominum Qq F1 F2.

tanquam] tanquem Rowe.

11: picked] piqued Becket conj.

13: [Draws...] F3 F4. Draw... Qq F1 F2.

17: orthography] ortagriphie Q1 F1. ortographie Q2. ortagriphy F2. ortagraphy F3 F4.

21: he] we F3 F4.

abbominable] Q1. abhominable F1 F2. abominable F3 F4.

22: me] Qq Ff. to me Hanmer. men Farmer conj. one Collier MS.

insanie] Theobald (Warburton conj.). infamie Qq Ff. insanity Warburton. insanire S. Walker conj. insania Collier MS.

ne] nonne Johnson conj.

22: make] be mad Johnson conj. wax Dyce conj.

24: bene] bone Theobald.

25: Bon, bon, fort bon, Priscian!] Edd. bome boon for boon prescian; Qq Ff. Bone?—bone for bene; Priscian Theobald. See note (XX).

scratched] scratcht Qq F1. scarch F2 F3. search F4. scratch Pope.

26: SCENE II. Pope.

34: stolen] stole F2 F3 F4.

the] om. Q2.

47: third] Theobald. last Qq Ff.

51: wave] wane Q1.

57: disputest] F4. disputes Qq F1. disputes’t F2 F3.

59: circum circa] Theobald. unum cita Qq Ff. manu cita Anon. conj.

66, 67: dunghill...dunghill] dungil...dunghel Qq F1 F2 F3. dunghil...dunghel F4.

68: preambulate] Edd. preambulat Qq Ff. prœambula Theobald.

singuled] Q1. singled Ff Q2.

70: charge-house] church-house Theobald conj. large house Collier MS.

74: most] om. Q2.

80: chose] Qq F2. choise F2. choice F3 F4.

you] om. Q2.

83: very] my very Rowe.

84: remember] refrain Capell. remember not Malone.

thy] my Jackson conj.

86: important] importunt Q1. importunate Ff Q2.

95: secrecy] F2 F3 F4. secretie Q1. secrecie F1 Q2. secretly Rowe.

99: breaking out] breakings-out Capell.

103: Sir] Rowe. Sir Holofernes Qq Ff. Sir [To Nathaniel.] Hanmer. Sir Nathaniel Capell.

104: rendered] rended Q1.

assistants] Qq Ff. assistance Heath conj.

105: at] om. Qq F1. at F2 F3 F4.

106: gentleman] gentleman’s Capell conj.

110: myself and] om. Rowe. myself or Capell. myself David Nicholson conj. See note (XXI).

gentleman] man Theobald.

112: pass] pass for Capell. pass as Edd. conj.

the page] and the page Rowe.

121: do] know Hanmer.

127: antique. I beseech you] antick, I beseech you, to Collier MS.

132: Allons] alone Qq Ff.

133, 134: Printed as verse first by Dyce (S. Walker conj.).

133: or I will] or will F3 F4. ~~~~~