Ros. Great reason; for, Past cure is still past care.(77) Prin. Well bandied both; a set of wit well play'd.— But, Rosaline, you have a favour too: Who sent it? and what is it? Ros. I would you knew: An if my face were but as fair as yours, The numbers true; and, were the numbering too, Ros. Much in the letters; nothing in the praise. Ros. 'Ware pencils, ho! (79) let me not die your debtor, My red dominical, my golden letter: O that your face were not so full of O's! Kath.(80) A pox of that jest! and I beshrew all shrows. Kath. Madam, 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. O that I knew he were but in by the week! And wait the season, and observe the times, And spend his prodigal wits in bootless rhymes, 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 learnèd fool. Ros. The blood of youth burns not with such excess As gravity's revolt to wantonness. (84) Mar. Folly in fools bears not so strong a note As foolery in the wise, when wit doth dote; Since all the power thereof it doth apply To prove, by wit, worth in simplicity. Prin. Here comes Boyet, and mirth is in his face. Enter BOYET. Boyet. O, I am stabb'd with laughter! Where's her grace? Prin. Thy news, Boyet? Boyet. Prepare, madam, prepare!— Arm, wenches, arm! encounters(85) mounted are Prin. Saint Denis to Saint Cupid! What are they I thought to close mine eyes some half an hour; I stole into a neighbour thicket by, That well by heart hath conn'd his embassage: Action and accent did they teach him there; 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." One rubb'd his elbow, thus, and fleer'd, and swore Another, with his finger and his thumb, Cried, "Via! we will do't, come what will come;" Prin. But what, but what, come they to visit us? Boyet. They do, they do; and are apparell'd thus,Like Muscovites or Russians, as I guess. Their purpose is, to parle, to court, and dance; And every one his love-suit(86) 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; Hold, Rosaline, this favour thou shalt wear, 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. Prin. The effect of my intent is, to cross theirs : They do it but in mocking merriment; And mock for mock is only my intent. 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(87) 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 There's no such sport as sport by sport o'erthrown; [Trumpets sound within. Boyet. The trumpet sounds: be mask'd; the maskers [The Ladies mask. come. Enter Blackamoors with music; MOTH; the King, BIRON, LONGA VILLE, and DUMAIN, in Russian habits, and masked. Moth. All hail, the richest beauties on the earth!— [The Ladies turn their backs to him. That ever turn'd their-backs-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 with your sun-beamèd eyes, Boyet. They will not answer to that epithet; You were best call it "daughter-beamèd eyes.' Moth. They do not mark me, and that brings me out. Biron. Is this your perfectness? be gone, you rogue! [Exit Moth. Boyet. What would you with the princess? Boyet. Nothing but peace and gentle visitation. grass. Boyet. They say, that they have measur'd many a mile To tread a measure with Ros. It is not so. you on this grass. 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. 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 shineThose clouds remov'd-upon our watery eyne. |