Bir. O, I am yours, and all that I possess. Bir. I cannot give you less. Ros. Which of the visors was it, that you wore ? Bir. Where? when? what visor? why demand you this? Ros. There, then, that visor; that superfluous case, That hid the worse, and show'd the better face. King. We are descried: they'll mock us now downright. Dum. Let us confess, and turn it to a jest. Prin. Amazed, my lord? Why looks your highness sad? Ros. Help, hold his brows: he'll swoon! Why look you pale?— Sea-sick, I think, coming from Muscovy. Bir. Thus pour the stars down plagues for perjury. Can any face of brass hold longer out ?Here stand I, lady; dart thy skill at me ; Bruise me with scorn, confound me with a Thrust thy sharp wit quite through my ignorance; O! never will I trust to speeches penn'd, Nor to the motion of a school-boy's tongue; Nor never come in visor to my friend; 1 Nor woo in rhyme, like a blind harper's song: Taffeta phrases, silken terms precise, Three-piled hyperboles, spruce affection, Figures pedantical; these summer-flies Have blown me full of maggot ostentation. I do forswear them: and I here protest By this white glove, (how white the hand, God Henceforth my wooing mind shall be express'd Yet I have a trick Bir. They have the plague, and caught it of your eyes: Prin. No, they are free, that gave these tokens to us. Bir. Our states are forfeit; seek not to undo ùs. 3 In allusion to the inscription set on houses infected with the plague. Ros. It is not so; for how can this be true, That you stand forfeit, being those that sue? 1 Bir. Peace; for I will not have to do with you. Ros. Nor shall not, if I do as I intend. Bir. Speak for yourselves; my wit is at an end. King. Teach us, sweet madam, for our rude transgression Some fair excuse. Prin. The fairest is confession. Were you not here but even now, disguised? What did you whisper in your lady's ear? King. That more than all the world I did respect her. Prin. When she shall challenge this, you will reject her. King. Upon mine honor, no. Prin. Peace, peace, forbear; Your oath once broke, you force not to forswear. King. Despise me, when I break this oath of mine. Prin. I will; and therefore keep it :— :-Rosaline, What did the Russian whisper in your ear? Ros. Madam, he swore that he did hold me dear 1 How can those be liable to forfeiture that commence the process? 2 Make no difficulty. As precious eye-sight; and did value me King. What mean you, madam? By my life, my troth, I never swore this lady such an oath. Ros. By heaven, you did; and to confirm it plain, You gave me this: but take it, sir, again. King. My faith, and this, the princess I did give : I knew her by this jewel on her sleeve. 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? Bir. Neither of either; I remit both twain.— I see the trick on 't.-Here was a consent,1 (Knowing aforehand of our merriment) To dash it like a Christmas comedy: Some carry-tale, some please-man, some slight zany,2 Some mumble-news, some trencher-knight, some That smiles his cheek in jeers; and knows the trick Now, to our perjury to add more terror, [to Boyet. Forestal our sport, to make us thus untrue? 3 And laugh upon the apple of her eye? And stand between her back, sir, and the fire, Holding a trencher, jesting merrily? You put our page out: go, you are allow'd; 3 Die when you will, a smock shall be your shroud. You leer upon me, do you? there's an eye, Wounds like a leaden sword. Boy. Full merrily Hath this brave manage, this career, been run. Bir. Lo, he is tilting straight! Peace; I have done. Enter COSTARD. Welcome, pure wit! thou partest a fair fray. Whether the three worthies shall come in, or no. * Square, rule. You may say what you will; you are a licensed fool. |