is light.

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.

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

Dum. I never knew man hold vile stuff so
dear.
my foot and her
[Showing his shoe.
were paved with

Long. Look, here's thy love
face see.
Biron. Oh! if the streets
thine eyes,

Her feet were much too dainty for such
tread !

Dum. O vile! then as she goes, what upward lies

The street should see as she walk'd over head.

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

Biron. Oh! nothing so sure; and thereby all forsworn.

King. Then leave this chat; and, good Birón now prove

Our loving lawful, and our faith not torn. Dum. Ay, marry, there;-some flattery for this evil.

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

Dam. Some salve for perjury.

Biron. Oh! 'tis more than need ?-
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;
And abstinence engenders maladies.

And where that you have vow'd to study, lords,
In that each of you hath forsworn his book:
Can you still dream, and pore, and thereon

look ?

For when would you, my lord, or you, or you,
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.

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,
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,
And where we are, our learning likewise is.
Then, when ourselves we see in ladies' eyes,
Do we not likewise see our learning there?
Oh! we have made a vow to study, lords;
And in that vow we have forsworn our books;
For when would you, my liege, or you, or
you,

In leaden contemplation, have found out
Such fiery numbers, as the prompting eyes
Of beauteous tutors have enrich'd you with?
Other slow arts entirely keep the brain;
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,
Courses as swift as thought in every power;

Law-chicano.

Above their functions and their offices. It adds a precious seeing to the eye; A lover's eyes will gaze an eagle blind; | 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:

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

Makes heaven drowsy with the harmony.
Never durst poet touch a pen to write,
Until his ink were temper'd with love's sighs;
Oh! then his lines would ravish savage ears,
Aud plant in tyrants mild humility.
From women's eyes this doctrine I derive:
They sparkle still the right Promethean fire;
They are the books, the arts, the academnes,
That show, contain, and nourish all the world;
Else, none at all in aught proves excellent :
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 wo-
men;

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 fors worn:
For charity itself fulfils the law;
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 advis'd, In conflict that you get the sun of them.

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;

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,
Fore-run fair Love, strewing her way with
flowers.

King. Away, away! no time shall be omitted, That will be time, and may by us be fitted. Biron. Allons! Allons!-Sow'd cockle reap'd no corn;

And justice always whirls in equal mea

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

Dull. Nor understood none neither, Sir.
Hol. Allons! we will employ thee.

Dull. I'll make one in a dance, or so; or I will play on the tabor to the worthies, and let them dance the hay.

Hol. Most dull, honest Dull, to our sport, away. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-Another part of the same.-Before the PRINCESS' Pavilion.

Enter the PRINCESS, KATHARINE, ROSALINE, and MARIA.

Prin. Sweet hearts, we shall be rich ere we depart,

If fairings come thus plentifully in:

A lady wall'd about with diamonds!-
Look you, what I have from the loving king.
Ros. Madain, came nothing else along with
that ?

Prin. Nothing but this? yes, as much love in ryhme,

As would be cramm'd up in a sheet of paper,
Writ on both sides the leaf, margent and ail:
That he was fain to seal on Cupid's name.
Ros. That was the way to make his god-head

Kath. You'll mar the light, by taking it in snuff;

Therefore, I'll darkly end the argument.

Ros. Look, what you do, you do it still i'the dark.

Kath. So do not you; for you are a light wench.

Ros. Indeed, I weigh not you; and therefore light.

Kath. You weigh me not-Oh! that's you care not for me.

Ros. Great reason; for, Past cure is still past care.

Prin. Well bandied both; a set of wit well play'd.

But Rosaline, you have a favour too:
Who sent it? and what is it?

Ros. I would, you knew:

An if my face were but as fair as your's,
My favour were as great; he witness this.
Nay, I have verses too, I thank Birón:
The numbers true; and, were the numb'ring
too,

I were the fairest goddess on the ground:
I am compar'd to twenty thousand fairs.
Oh! he hath drawn my picture in his letter !
Prin. Any thing like?

Ros. Much, in the letters; nothing in the praise.

Prin. Beauteous as ink; a good conclusion.
Kath. Fair as a text B in a copy-book.
Ros. 'Ware pencils! How? let me not die
your debtor,

My red dominical, my golden letter:
Oh! that your face were not so full of O's!
Kath. A pox of that just; and beshrew all
shrows !

Prin. But what was sent to you from fair Dumain?

Kath. Madain, this glove.

Prin. Did he not send you twain?
Kath. Yes, madam; and moreover,
Some thousand verses of a faithful lover:
A huge translation of hypocrisy.
Vilely compil'd, profound simplicity.

Mar. This, and these pearls, to me sent Longaville;

The letter is too long by half a mile. Prin. I think no less: Dost thou not wish in heart,

The chain were longer, and the letter short? Mar. Ay, or I would these hands might never part.

Prin. We are wise girls, to mock our lovers

80.

Ros. They are worse fools to purchase mocking so.

That same Birón I'll torture ere I go.
Oh! that I knew he were but in by the week!
How I would make him fawn, and beg, and
seek;

And wait the season, and observe the times,
And spend his prodigal wits in bootless rhymes:
And shape his service wholly to my bebests;
And make him proud to make me proud that
jests!

So portent-like would I o'ersway his state,
That he should be my fool, and I his fate.

Prin. None are so surely caught, when they

are catch'd,

As wit turn'd fool: folly, in wisdom hatch'd, Hath wisdom's warrant, and the help of school; And wit's own grace to grace a learned fool.

Ros. The blood of youth burns not with such

excess,

As gravity's revolt to wantonness.

Mar. Folly in fools bears not so strong a note,

As foolery in the wise, when wit doth dote ;
Eince all the power thereof it doth apply,
To prove, by wit, worth in simplicity.

Enter BOYET.

Prin. Here comes Boyet, and mirth is in his face.

Boyet. Oh! I am stabb'd with laughter I Where's her grace?

Prin. Thy news, Boyet?

Boyet. Prepare, madam, prepare !Arm, wenches, arm! encounters mounted are Against your peace: Love doth approach disguis'd,

Armed in arguments; you'll be surpris'd: Muster your wits; stand in your own defence; Or hide your heads like cowards, and fly bence.

Prin. Saint Dennis to saint Cupid! What are they,

That charge their breath against us? say, scout,

say.

Boyet. Under the cool shade of a sycamore,

I thought to close mine eyes some half au bour:

When, lo! to interrupt my purpos'd rest,
Toward that shade I might behold address'd
The king and his companions: warily

I stole into a neighbour thicket by,
And overheard what you shall overhear;
That, by and by, disguis'd they will be here.
Their herald is a pretty Lnavish page,
That well by heart hath coun'd his embassage:
Action, and accent, did they teach him there;
Thus must thou speak, and thus thy body
bear:

And ever and anon they made a doubt,
Presence majestical would put him out:
For, quoth the king, an angel shalt thou

see;

Yet fear not thou, but speak audaciously.
The boy replied, An angel is not evil;

I should have fear'd her, had she been a devil.

With that all laugh'd and clapp'd him on the

shoulder,

Making the bold wag by their praises bolder.
One rubb'd his elbow, thus ; and fleer'd and swore,
A better speech was never spoke before:
Another, with his finger and his thumb,

Cried, Via! we will do't, come what will come :
The third he caper'd, and cried, All goes well:
The fourth turn'd on the toe, and down he fell.
With that, they all did tumble on the ground,
With such a zealous laughter so profound,
That in this spleen ridiculous appears,
To check their folly, passion's solemn tears.
Prin. But what, but what, come they to visit
us ?

Boyet. They do, they do and are apparel'd

thus,

Like Moscovites, or Russians as I guess,
Their purpose is, to parle, to court, and dance :
And every one his love-feat will advance
Unto his several mistress; which they'll know
By favours several, which they did bestow.
Prin. And will they so? the gallants shall be
task'd :-

For ladies, we will every one be mask'd;
And not a man of them shall have the grace
Despite of suit, to see a lady's face.-
Hold, Rosaline, this favour thou shalt wear;
And then the king will court thee for his dear;
Hold, take thou this, my sweet, and give me
thine;

So shall Birón take me for Rosaline.-
And change you favours too; so shall your loves
Woo contrary, deceiv'd by these removes.

Ros. Come on then; wear the favours most in sight.

Kath. But, in this changing, what is your intent?

Prin. The effect of my intent is, to cross

their's:

They do it but in mocking merriment ;
And mock for mock is only my intent.
Their several counsels they unbosom shall
To loves mistook; and so be mock'd withal,
Upon the next occasion that we meet,
With visages display'd, to talk, and greet.

Ros. But shall we dance, if they desire us to't! Prin. No; to the death, we will not move a foot:

Nor to their penn'd speech render we no grace; But, while 'tis spoke, each turn away her face. Boyet. Why, that contempt will kill the speaker's heart,

And quite divorce his memory from his part. Prin. Therefore I do it; and I make no doubt, The rest will ne'er come in, if he be out. There's no such sport, as sport by sport o'er

thrown ;

To make their's our's, and our's none but our

own:

So shall we stay, mocking intended game; And they, well mock'd, depart away with shame. [Trumpets sound within. Boyet. The trumpet sounds; be mask'd, the maskers come. [The ladies mask.

Enter the KING, BIRON, LONGAVILLE, and DUMAIN, in Russian habits, and masked; MOTH, Musicians, and Attendants.

Moth. All hail, the richest beauties on the earth!

Boyet. Beauties no richer than rich taffata. Moth. A holy parcel of the fairest dames, [The ladies turn their backs to him. That ever turn'd their-bucks-to mortal views!

Biron. Their eyes, villain, their eyes. Moth. That ever turned their eyes to mortal views! Out

Boyet. True; out, indeed.

Moth. Out of your favours, heavenly spirits, vouchsafe

Not to behold

Biron. Once to behold, rogue.

Moth. Once to behold your sun-beamed eyes, -with your sun-beamed eyesBoyet. They will not answer to that epithet; You were best call it, daughter-beamed eyes. Moth. They do not mark me, and that brings me out.

Biron. Is this your perfectness ? be gone, you rogue.

Ros. What would these strangers ? know their minds, Boyet:

If they do speak our language, 'tis our will
That some plain man recount their purposes:
Know what they would.

Boyet. What would you with the princess? Biron. Nothing but peace, and gentle visitation.

Ros. What would they, say they?

Boyet. Nothing but peace and gentle vistation. Ros. Why, that they have; and bid them so be gone.

Boyet. She says, you have it, and you may be

gone.

King. Say to her, we have measur'd many miles, To tread a measure with her on this grass.

Boyet. They say, that they have measur'd many a mile,

To tread a measure with you on this grass,
Ros. It is not so: ask them, how many
inches

Is in one mile if they have measur'd many,
The measure then of one is easily told.

Boyet. If, to come hither you have measur'd

miles,

And many miles; the princess bids you tell,
How many inches do fill up one mile.
Biron. Tell her, we measure them by weary
steps.

Boyet. She hears herself.

Ros. How many weary steps,

Of many weary miles you have o'ergone,
Are number'd in the travel of one mile?
Biron. We number nothing that we spend for
you;

Our duty is so rich, so infinite,

That we may do it still without accompt.
Vouchsafe to show the sunshine of your face,
That we, like savages, may worship it.

Ros. My face is but a moon, and clouded too. King. Blessed are clouds, to do as such clouds do!

Vouchsafe, bright moon, and these thy stars to sbine

(Those clouds remov❜d,) upon our wat'ry eyne. Ros. O vain petitioner! beg a greater matter; Thou now request'st but moonshine in the water.

King. Then, in our measure, do but vouchsafe one change:

Thou bid'st me beg; this begging is not strange. Ros. Play, music, then: nay you must do it [Music plays. Not yet;-no dance :-thus change I like the

soon.

moon.

King. Will you not dance? How come you thus estrang'd?

Ros. You took the moon at full; but now she's chang'd.

King. Yet still she is the moon, and I the man The music plays; vouchsafe some motion to it. Ros. Our ears vouchsafe it.

King. But your legs should do it.

Ros. Since you are strangers and come here by chance,

We'll not be nice: take hands ;-we will not dance.

King. Why take we hands then?
Ros. Only to part friends :-

Court'sy, sweet hearts; and so the measure

ends

King. More measure of this measure; be not

nice.

Ros. We can afford no more at such a price. King. Prize you yourselves; What buys your

company?

Will they not, think you, hang themselves to night?

Or ever, but in visors, show their faces ? This pert Birón was out of countenance quite. Ros. Oh! they were all in lamentable cases! The king was weeping-ripe for a good word. Prin. Biron did swear himself out of all suit. Mar. Dumain was at my service, and his sword:

No point quoth I; and my servant straight was mute.

Kath. Lord Longaville said, I came o'er his heart;

And trow you, what he call'd me?
Prin. Qualm, perhaps.

Kath. Yes, in good faith.
Prin. Go, sickness as thou art !

Ros. Well, better wits have worn plain statute-caps. +

Biron. One word in secret.

Prin. Let it not be sweet.

Biron. Thou griev'st my gall. Prin. Gall? bitter.

Biron. Therefore meet.

[They converse apart.

Dum. Will you vouchsafe with me to change a word?

Mar. Name it.

Dum. Fair lady,

Mar. Say you so? Fair lord,

Take that for your fair lady.

Dum. Please it you,

As much in private, and I'll bid adieu.

[They converse apart. Kath. What was your visor made without a tongue ?

Long. I know the reason, lady, why you ask. Kath. Oh! for your reason! quickly, Sir; I long.

Long. You have a double tongue within your mask,

And would afford my speechless visor half.
Kath. Veal, quoth the Dutchman ;-Is not veal
a calf ?

Long. A calf, fair lady?
Kath. No, a fair lord calf.
Long. Let's part the word.

Kath. No, I'll not be your half:

Take all, and wean it; it may prove an ox. Long. Look, how you butt yourself in these sharp mocks !

Will you give horns, chaste lady? do not so. Kath. Then die a calf, before your horns do

grow.

Long. One word in private with you, ere I die.

Kath. Bleat softly hen, the butcher hears you cry. [They converse apart. Boyet. The tongues of mocking wenches are as keen

As is the razor's edge invisible, Cutting a smaller hair than may be seen; Above the sense of sense: so sensible Seemeth their conference; their conceits have wings,

Fleeter than arrows, bullets, wind, thought, swifter things.

Ros. Not one word more, my maids; break off, break off.

Biron. By heaven, all dry-beaten with pure scoff.

King. Farewell, mad wenches; you have simple wits.

Prin. And quick Birón hath plighted faith to

me

Kath. And Longaville was for my service born. Mar. Dumain is mine, as sure as bark on

tree.

Boyet. Madam, and pretty mistresses, give ear: Immediately they will again be here In their own shapes; for it can never be, They will digest this harsh indignity. Prin. Will they return?

Boyet. They will, they will, God knows; And leap for joy, though they are lame with blows:

Therefore change favours ; and when they repair,

Blow like sweet roses in the summer air. Prin. How blow? how blow speak to be un derstood.

Boyet. Fair ladies mask'd, are roses in their bud:

Dismask'd, their damask sweet conmixture shown,

Are angels veiling clouds, or roses blown.

Prin. Avaunt, perplexity! What shall we do, If they return in their own shapes to woo? Ros. Good madam, if by me you'll be advis'd,

Let's mock them still, as well known, as disguis'd:

Let us complain to them what fools were here,
Disguis'd like Muscovites, in shapeless ý gear;
And wonder, what they were; and to what end
Their shailow shows, and prologue vilely penn'd,
And their rough carriage so ridiculous,
Should be presented at our tent to us.

Boyet. Ladies, withdraw; the gallants are at band.

Prin. Whip to our tents, as roes run over land.

[Exeunt PRIN. ROS. KATH. and MARIA. Enter the KING, BIRON, LONGAVILLE, and DUMAIN, in their proper habits. King. Fair Sir, God save you! Where is the princess?

Boyet. Cone to her tent, Please it your majesty,

Command me any service to her thither? King. That she vouchsafe me audience for one word.

Boyet. I will; and so will she; I know, my lord. (Exit. Biron. This fellow pecks up wit, as pigeons

Falsify dice, lie.

wakes, and wassels, meetings, markets, fairs,

And we that sell by gross, the Lord doth know Have not the grace to grace it with such show.