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; though few have the grace to do it. Arm. For the rest of the worthies? Arm. We will have, if this fadge' not, an antick. I beseech you, follow. 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. Before the Princess's 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. 5 Suit. 6 Courage. Ros. Madam, came nothing else along with that? As would be cramm'd up in a sheet of paper, Ros. That was the way to make his god-head wax7; For he hath been five thousand years a boy. Kath. He made her melancholy, sad, and heavy; She might have been a grandam ere she died: Kath. A light condition in a beauty dark. .out. 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 girl. Ros. Indeed, I weigh not you; and therefore light. Kath. You weigh me not-O, 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: 7 Grow. Formerly a term of endearment. 9 In anger. An if my face were but as fair as yours, The numbers true; and, were the numb'ring too, O, he hath drawn my picture in his letter! Ros. Much, in the letters; nothing in the praise. Ros. 'Ware pencils! How? let me not die your debtor, My red dominical, my golden letter: O, that your face were not so full of O's! Kath. A plague of that jest! and beshrew all shrows! Prin. But what was sent to you from fair Dumain? 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? part. Prin. We are wise girls, to mock our lovers so. Ros. They are worse fools to purchase mocking So. That same Birón I'll torture ere I go. O, 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, Prin. None are so surely caught, when they are catch'd, As wit turn'd fool: folly, in wisdom hatch'd, Mar. Folly in fools bears not so strong a note, Enter BOYET. Prin. Here comes Boyet, and mirth is in his face. Boyet. O, I am stabb'd with laughter! Where's her grace? Prin. Thy news, Boyet? Prepare, madam, prepare!Arm, my girls, 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; That charge their breath against us? say, scout, say. Their herald is a pretty knavish page, I should have fear'd her, had she been a devil. Making the bold wag by their praises bolder. Cry'd, Via! we will do't, come what will come; 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 Muscovites, 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 Prin. And will they so? the gallants shall be task'd: For, ladies, we will every one be mask'd; |