Enter Thisbe. Hip. Methinks, she should not use a long one, for such a Pyramus: I hope she will be brief. Dem. A mote will turn the balance, which Pyramus, which Thisbe is the better. Lys. She hath spied him already with those sweet eyes. Dem. And thus she moans, videlicet.- "O, Pyramus, arise, "Speak, speak. Quite dumb? "Must cover thy sweet eyes. "These yellow cowslip cheeks, "Come, come, to me, " "Since you have shore "With shears his thread of silk. "Tongue, not a word:"Come, trusty sword; "Come, blade, my breast imbrue: "And farewell, friends ;"Thus Thisbe ends: Adieu, adieu, adieu." [Dies. T. Moonshine and lion are left to bury the dead. Dem. Ay, and wall too. Bot. No, I assure you; the wall is down that parted their fathers. Will it please you to see the epilogue, or to hear a Bergomask dance, between two of our company? The. No epilogue, I pray you; for your play needs no excuse. Never excuse; for when the players are all dead, there need none to be blamed. Marry, if he that writ it, had play'd Pyramus and hanged himself in Thisbe's garter, it would have been a fine tragedy: and so it is, truly; and very notably discharged. But come, your Bergomask: let your epilogue alone. [Here a dance of Clowns. The iron tongue of midnight hath told twelve:Lovers, to bed; 'tis almost fairy time. I fear we shall outsleep the coming morn, As much as we this night have overwatch'd. This palpable gross play hath well beguil'd The heavy gait of night.-Sweet friends, to bed.A fortnight hold we this solemnity, In nightly revels, and new jolity. SCENE II. Enter Puck. Puck. Now the hungry lion roars, And the wolf behowls the moon; Whilst the heavy ploughman snores, All with weary task fordone.1 Now the wasted brands do glow, [Exeunt. Whilst the scritch-owl, scritching loud, 1 Overcome. Puts the wretch, that lies in woe, That the graves, all gaping wide, By the triple Hecat's team, From the presence of the sun, Following darkness like a dream, Now are frolick; not a mouse Shall disturb this hallow'd house: I am sent, with broom, before, To sweep the dust behind the door. Enter Oberon and Titania, with their Train. Ob. Through this house give glimmering light, By the dead and drowsy fire: Every elf, and fairy sprite, Hop as light as bird from brier; And his ditty, after me, Sing, and dance it trippingly. Tita. First, rehearse this song by rote: SONG, AND DANCE. Obe. Now, until the break of day, And the blots of nature's hand Shall upon their children be. Make no stay: [Exeunt Oberon, Titania, and Train. Puck. If we shadows have offended, Think but this, (and all is mended,) Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue, Else the Puck a liar call. So, good night unto you all. Give me your hands, if we be friends, Act First. SCENE I. SCENE.-Navarre. NAVARRE. A PARK, WITH A PALACE IN IT. Enter the King, Biron, Longaville, & Dumain. King. Let fame, that all hunt after in their Live register'd upon our brazen tombs, [lives, And then grace us in the disgrace of death; When, spite of cormorant devouring time, The endeavour of this present breath may buy That honour, which shall bate his scythe's keen And make us heirs of all eternity. [edge, Therefore, brave conquerors:-for so you are, That war against your own affections, And the huge army of the world's desires,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, Birón, Dumain, and Longaville, 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 past, and now subscribe your names; That his own hand may strike his honour down, 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. But there are other strict observances: As, not to see a woman in that term; K. Your oath is pass'd to pass away from these. 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. When I to feast expressly am forbid; When mistresses from common sense are hid: K. These be the stops that hinder study quite, And train our intellects to vain delight. Biron. Why, all delights are vain; but that most vain, Which, with pain purchas'd, doth inherit pain: As. painfully to pore upon a book, To seek the light of truth; while truth the while 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, By fixing it upon a fairer eye; Who dazzling so, that eye shall be his heed, And give him light that was it blinded by. Study is like the heaven's glorious sun, That will not be deep-search'd with saucy looks; 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, Than those that walk, and wot not what they are. Too much to know, is, to know nought but fame; Biron. The spring is near, when green geese Fit in his place and time. Dum. In reason nothing. Before the birds have any cause to sing? Climb o'er the house t' unlock the little gate. 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. 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.And hath this been proclaim'd? Long. Four days ago. Biron. Let's see the penalty. [Reads. On pain of losing her tongue.— Who devis'd this? Long. Marry, that did I. Biron. Sweet lord, and why? [penalty. Long. To fright them hence with that dread 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 publick shame as the rest of the court can possibly devise. 1 Nipping. 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 Aquitain To her decrepit, sick, and bed-rid 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; 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 She must be here on mere necessity. [decree; Biron. Necessity will make us all forsworn, Three thousand times within this three years' space; For every man with his affects is born; Suggestions are to others, as to me; King. Ay, that there is: our court, you know, For interim to our studies, shall relate, In high-born words, the worth of many a knight 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, 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 would'st? Dull. I myself reprehend his own person, for I am his grace's tharborough3: but I would see his own person in flesh and blood. Biron. This is he. Biron. How low soever the matter I hope for high words. Long. A high hope for a low heaven: Heaven grant us patience! Biron. To hear? or forbear hearing? Long. To hear meekly, sir, and to laugh moderately; or to forbear both. Biron. Well, sir, be it as the style shall give us cause to climb in the merriness. King. For Jaquenetta, (so is the weaker vessel called, which I apprehend with the aforesaid), 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. Biron. This is the best that ever I heard. King. Ay, the best for the worst. But, sirrah, what say you to this? Did you hear the procla Cost. I do confess much of the hearing it, but little of the marking of it. Cost. The matter is to me, sir, as concerning King. Will you hear this letter with attention? King. [Reads.] Great Deputy, the welkin's vicegerent, and sole dominator of Navarre, my body's fostering patron, Cost. Not a word of Costard yet. King. Sir, I will pronounce your sentence; You shall 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.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. Cost. It may be so: but if he say it is so, he Sirrah, come on. is, in telling true, but so, so. King. Peace! Cost. I suffer for the truth, sir; for true it is. Jaquenetta is a true girl; and therefore, Wel Cost.-be to me, and every man that dares come the sour cup of prosperity: Affliction may not fight! King. No words. one day smile again, and till then, sit thee down, [Exeunt. sorrow! SCENE II.-ARMADO'S HOUSE. 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. Moth. No, no, sir, no. Cost.of other men's secrets, I beseech you. King. So it is, besieged with sable coloured melancholy, I did commend the black oppressing humour to the most wholesome physick 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 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 most preposterous event, that draweth from my snow-white pen the eben-col-working, my tough senior. oured ink, which here thou viewest, beholdest, 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. Arm. How canst thou part sadness and melancholy, my tender juvenal?1 Moth. By a familiar demonstration of the Arm. Why tough senior? why tough senior? M. 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. Moth. And I, tough senior, as an appertinent title to your old time, which we may name King. that unletter'd small-knowing soul. tough. King.-that shallow vassal. Cost. Still me. King. which, as I remember, hight Costard, King.sorted and consorted, contrary to thy established proclaimed edict and canon, withwith,-Owith-a child of our grandmother Eve, a female, or, for thy more sweet understanding, a woman. Him I (as my ever esteemed duty pricks me on) have sent to thee, to receive the meed of punishment, by thy sweet grace's officer, Antony Dull; a man of good repute, carriage, bearing, and estimation. Dull. Me, an't shall please you; I am Antony Dali Arm. Pretty and apt. Moth. How mean you, sir? I pretty, and my saying apt? or, I apt, and my saying pretty? Arm. Thou pretty because little. Moth. Little pretty, because little: Wherefore Arm. And therefore apt, because quick. Moth. I will praise an eel with the same praise. Arm. I do say, thou art quick in answers: Moth. I am answered, sir. Arm. I love not to be crossed. Moth. He speaks the mere contrary, crosses love not him. [Aside. Arm. I have promised to study three years with the duke. Moth. You may do it in an hour, sir. A Moth. How many is one thrice told? Arm. I an ill at reckoning, it fitteth the spirit of a tapster. M. 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 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 here is three studied, ere you'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. [Aside. 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 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 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. M. My father's wit, and my mother's tongue assist ine! Arm. Sweet invocation of a child; most pretty, and pathetical! Moth. If she be made of white and red, For blushing cheeks by faults are bred, A dangerous rhyme, master, against the reason of white and red. Arm. Is there not a ballad, boy, of the King and the 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. Arm. I will have the 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. To be whipped; and yet a better love than my master. [Aside. Arm. Sing, boy; my spirit grows heavy in love. Moth. And that's great marvel, loving a light woman. Arm. I say sing. Moth. Forbear till this company be past. Enter Dull, Costard, and Jaquenetta. Dull. Sir, the duke's pleasure is, that you keep Costard safe: and you must let him 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.2 Fare you well. A. I do betray myself with blushing.—Maid. Arm, I will visit thee at the lodge. Arm. I know where it is situate. Arm. I will tell thee wonders. Arm. I love thee. Jaq. So I heard you say. Jaq. Fair weather after you! [Exeunt Dull and Jaquenetta. Arm. Villain, thou shalt fast for thy offences, ere thou be pardoned. 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. 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. Cost. Weil, if ever I do see the merry days of desolation that I have seen, some shall see2 Dairy woman. 1 Own. |