With men like men, of strange inconstancy. When shall you see me write a thing in rhime? King. Soft; whither away so fast? A true man, or a thief, that gallops so? Enter JAQUENETTA, and COSTARD. Jaq. God bless the king! King. What present hast thou there? Cost. Some certain treason. King. What makes treason here? 510 590 The treason, and you, go in peace away together. Jaq. I beseech your grace, let this letter be read Our parson misdoubts it; it was treason, he said. King. Biron read it over. Where hadst thou it? Jaq. Of Costard. King. Where hadst thou it? [He reads the Letter. 539 Cost. Of Dun Adramadio, Dun Adramadio. King. How now! what is in you? why dost thou tear it? Biron. A toy, my liege, a toy; your grace needs not fear it. Fij Long. Long. It did move him to passion, and therefore let's hear it. Dum. It is Biron's writing, and here is his name. Biron. Ah, you whoreson loggerhead, you were born to do me shame. [To COST. Guilty my lord, guilty; I confess, I confess. King. What? 540 Biron. That you three fools lack'd me fool to make up the mess. He, he, and you, and you, my liege, and I, Are pick-purses in love, and we deserve to die. Biron. True true; we are four : Will these turtles be gone? King. Hence, sirs; away. Cost. Walk aside the true folk, and let the traitors stay. [Exeunt COSTARD, and JAQ. Biron. Sweet lords, sweet lovers, O let us embrace ! As true we are, as flesh and blood can be: 551 The sea will ebb and flow, heaven will shew his face Young blood doth not obey an old decree: We cannot cross the cause why we were born; Therefore, of all hands must we be forsworn. King. What, did these rent lines shew some love of thine ? Biron. Did they, quoth you? Who sees the heavenly Rosaline, That, like a rude and savage man of Inde, At the first opening of the gorgeous east, Bows Bows not his vassal head; and, strucken blind, 569 Kisses the base ground with obedient breast? What peremptory eagle-sighted eye Dares look upon the heaven of her brow, That is not blinded by her majesty ? King. What zeal, what fury hath inspir'd thee now? My love, her mistress, is a gracious moon; Do meet, as at a fair, in her fair cheek; 570 Where nothing wants, that want itself doth seek. Lend me the flourish of all gentle tongues Fye, painted rhetorick! O, she needs it not : To things of sale a seller's praise belongs; She passes praise; then praise too short doth A wither'd hermit, fivescore winters worn, And gives the crutch the cradle's infancy. A wife of such wood were felicity. O, who can give an oath? where is a book? Fiij 580 If that she learn not of her eye to look? No face is fair, that is not full so black. King. O paradox! Black is the badge of hell, 590 The hue of dungeons, and the scowl of night; And beauty's crest becomes the heavens well. Biron. Devils soonest tempt, resembling spirits of light. O, if in black my lady's brow be deckt, It mourns, that painting, and usurping hair, Should ravish doters with a false aspect; And therefore is she born to make black fair. Her favour turns the fashion of the days; 600 For native blood is counted painting now: And therefore red, that would avoid dispraise, Paints itself black, to imitate her brow. Dum. To look like her, are chimney-sweepers Long. And, since her time, are colliers counted bright. King. And Ethiops of their sweet complexion crack. Dum. Dark needs no candles now, for dark 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 dooms-day here. 610 King. No devil will fright thee then so much as .she. Dum. I never knew man hold vile stuff so dear. Long. Look, here's thy love; my foot and her face [Shewing his Shoe. see. Biron. O, if the streets were paved with thine eyes, Her feet were too much 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? Biroh. Nothing so sure; and thereby all forsworn. King. Then leave this chat; and, good Biron, now prove Our loving lawful, and our faith not torn. 620 Dum. Ay, marry, there;-some flattery for this evil. Long. O, some authority how to proceed; Some tricks, some quillets, how to cheat the devil. Dum. Some salve for perjury. Biron. O, 'tis more than need !— Have at you then, affection's men at arms: 630 And where that you have vow'd to study, lords, For |