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Rof. It is not fo; for how can this be true,
That you stand forfeit, being those that fue?
Biron. Peace, for I will not have to do with you.
Rof. Nor fhall not, if I do as I intend.

Biron. Speak for yourselves, my wit is at an end. King. Teach us, fweet Madam, for our rude tranfgreffion Some fair excuse.

Prin. The fairest is confeffion.

Were you not here, but even now,: disguis'd?

King. Madam, I was.

Prin. And were you well advis'd?

King. I was, fair Madam.

Prin. When you then were here,

What did you whifper in your lady's ear?

King. That more than all the world I did refpect her. Prin. When the fhall challenge this, you will reject her. King. Upon mine honour, no.

Prin. Peace, peace, forbear:

Your oath once broke, you force not to forfwear. King. Defpife me, when I break this oath of mine. Prin. I will, and therefore keep it.

Refaline,
What did the Ruffian whisper in your ear?

Raf. Madam, he fwore, that he did hold me dear
As precious eye-fight; and did value me
Above this world; adding thereto, moreover,
That he would wed me, or else die my lover.

Prin. God give thee joy of him! the noble lord
Moft honourably doth uphold his word.

King. What mean you, Madam? by my life, my troth, I never fwore this lady fuch an oath.

Rof. By heav'n, you did; and to confirm it plain, You gave me this: but take it, Sir, again.

King. My faith, and this, to th' Princess I did give; I knew her by this jewel on her fleeve.

Prin. Pardon me, Sir, this jewel did she wear:
And lord Biron, I thank him, is my dear.
What? will you have me? or your pearl again?
Biron. Neither of either: I remit both twain.

I fee the trick on't; here was a confent, (Knowing aforehand of our merriment) To dash it, like a Christmas comedy.

Some carry-tale, fome pleafe-man, fome flight zany,
Some mumble-news, fome trencher-knight, fome Dick,
That fmiles his cheek in jeers, and knows the trick (37)
To make my lady laugh, when she's difpos'd,
Told our intents before; which once disclos'd,
The lacies did change favours, and then we,
Following the figns, woo'd but the fign of fhe:
Now to our perjury to add more terror,
We are again forfworn; in will, and error.
Much upon this it is.And might not you
Foreftal our fport, to make us thus untrue?
Do not you know my lady's foot by th' fquier,
And laugh upon the apple of her eye,
And ftand between her back, Sir, and the fire,
Holding a trencher, jefting merrily?
You put our Page out: go, you are allow'd;
Die when you will, a fmock fhall be your fhrow'd.
You leer upon me, do you there's an eye,
Wounds like a leaden fword.

Boyet. Full merrily

[To Boyet.

Hath this brave manage, this career, been run.

Biran. Lo, he is tilting trait. Peace, I have done,

Enter Coftard.

Welcome, pure wit, thou parteft a fair fray.
Coft. O Lord, Sir, they would know
Whether the three Worthies fhall come in, or no.
Biron. What are there but three?

Coft. No, Sir, but it is very fine;
For every one presents three.

(37) That fmiles his cheek in years.] Thus the whole Set of Impreffions but I cannot for my heart comprehend the Senfe of this Phrafe. I am perfuaded, I have restored the Poet's Word and Meaning. Boyer's Character was that of a Fleerer, jeerer, mocker, carping Blade.

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Biren. And three times three is nine?

Cft. Not fo, Sir, under correction, Sir; I hope, it is not fo.

You cannot beg us, Sir; I can affure you, Sir, we know what we know: I hope, three times thrice, Sir

Biron. Is not nine.

Coft. Under correction, Sir, we know where until it doth amount.

Biron. By Jove, I always took three threes for nine. Cof. O Lord, Sir, it were pity you should get your living by reckoning, Sir.

Bion. How much is it?

Ceft. O Lord, Sir, the parties themselves, the actors, Sir, will fhew where until it doth amount; for my own part, I am, as they fay, but to perfect one man in one poor man, Pompion the Great, Sir.

Biron. Art thou one of the worthies ?

Cost It pleafed them to think me worthy of Pompion the Great for mine own part, I know not the degree of the Worthy; but I am to stand for him,

Biren. Go bid them prepare.

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Coft. We will turn it finely off, Sir, we will take fome

care.

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King. Biron, they will fhame us; let them not approach. [Exit Ceft. Biron. We are fhame-proof, my lord; and 'tis fome policy To have one Show worfe than the King's and his Company. King. I fay, they fhall not come.

Prin. Nay, my good lord, let me o'er-rule you now;
That fport belt pleafes, that doth leaft know how..
Where zeal frives to content, and the contents
Dies in the zeal of that which it prefents;

Their form, confounded, makes moft form in mirth;
When great things, labouring, perifh in their birth.
Biron. A right defcription of our sport, my lord.

2.

Enter

Enter Armado.

Arm. Anointed, I implore fo much expence of thy royal sweet breath, as will utter a brace of words. Prin. Doth this man serve God?

Biron, Why afk you?

Prin. He fpeaks not like a man of God's making. Arm. That's all one, my fair, fweet, honey monarch; for, I proteft, the schoolmaster is exceeding fantastical; too, too vain; too, too vain: but we will put it, as they fay, to fortuna de la guerra. I wish you the peace of mind, moft royal coupplement.

King. Here is like to be a good prefence of Worthies; he prefents Hector of Troy; the fwain, Pompey the Great; the parish-curate, Alexander; Armado's page, Hercules; the pedant, Judas Machabeus.

And if these four Worthies in their firft Show thrive, Thefe four will change habits, and present the other five. Biron. There are five in the firft Show.

King. You are deceiv'd, 'tis not fo.

Biron. The pedant, the braggart, the hedge-prieft, the fool, and the boy.

A bare throw at Novum, and the whole world again. Cannot prick out five fuch, take each one in's vain. King. The fhip is under fail, and here she comes amain,

Enter Coftard for Pompey.

Coft. I Pompey am

Boyet. You lye, you are not he.

Coft. I Pompey am

Boyet. With Libbard's head on knee.

Biron. Well faid, old mocker: I muft needs be friends with thee.

Coft. I Pompey am, Pompey furnam'd the Big.
Dum, The Great.

Coft. It is Great, Sir; Pompey, Jurnam'd the Great ; That oft in field, with targe and field,

Did make my foe to fweat:

L 5

And

And travelling along this coaft, I here am come by chance; And lay my arms before the legs of this fweet Lafs of France. If your ladyship would fay," thanks,--Pompey," I had done. Prin, Great thanks, great Pompey.

Caft. "Tis not fo much worth; but, I hope, I was perfect. I made a little fault in great.

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Biron. My hat to a half-penny, Pompey proves the best Worthy.

Enter Nathaniel for Alexander.

Nath. When in the world I liv'd, I was the world's Commander;

By east, weft, north and fouth, I fpread my conquering might: My 'Scutcheon plain declares, that I am Alifander.

Boyet. Your nofe fays, no, you are not; for it ftands too right.

Biron. Your nofe fmells, no, in this, most tender fmelling Knight.

Prin.The Conqueror is difmaid: proceed,good Alexander. Nath. When in the world I liv'd, I was the world's Commander.

Boyet. Most true, 'tis right; you were fo, Alifander. Biron. Pompey the Great,

Coft. Your fervant, and Coftard.

Biron. Take away the Conqueror, take away Alifander. Coft. O Sir, you have overthrown Alifander the Conqueror. [to Nath.] You will be fcraped out of the painted cloth for this; your lion, that holds the poll-ax fitting on a clofe-ftool, will be given to Ajax; he will be then the ninth Worthy. A Conqueror, and afraid to fpeak? run away for fhame, Alifander. There, an't thall please you; a foolish mild man; an honeft man, look you, and foon dafh'd. He is a marvellous good neighbour, infooth, and a very good bowler; but for Alifander, alas, you fee, how 'tis a little o'er-parted : but there are Worthies a coming will speak their mind in fome other fort.

Biron. Stand afide, good Pompey.

Enter

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