Cos. Not so, sir; under correction, sir; I hope, it

is not so:

You cannot beg us, sir,1 I can assure you, sir: we know what we know:

I hope, sir, three times thrice, sir,

Is not nine.

Bir. Cos. Under correction, sir, we know whereuntil it doth amount.

Bir. By Jove, I always took three threes for nine. Cos. O Lord, sir, it were pity you should get your living by reckoning, sir.

Bir. How much is it?

Cos. O Lord, sir, the parties themselves, the actors, sir, will show whereuntil it doth amount: for my own part, I am, as they say, but to parfect one man,-ev'n one poor man; Pompion the great,

sir.

Bir. Art thou one of the worthies?

Cos. It pleased 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.

Bir. Go, bid them prepare.

Cos. We will turn it finely off, sir; we will take

some care.

[Exit Costard. King. Biron, they will shame us; let them not

approach.

1 'We are not fools: our next relations cannot beg the wardship of our persons and fortunes.'-Johnson.

Bir. We are shame-proof, my lord; and 'tis some

policy

To have one show worse than the king's and his company.

King. I say, they shall not come.

Prin. Nay, my good lord, let me o'er-rule you

now;

That sport best pleases, that doth least know how :
Where zeal strives to content, and the contents
Die in the zeal of them which it presents,
Their form confounded makes most form in mirth;
When great things laboring perish in their birth.
Bir. A right description of our sport, my lord.

Enter ARMADO.

Arm. Anointed, I implore so much expense of thy royal sweet breath as will utter a brace of words. [Armado converses with the King, and delivers him a paper.]

Prin. Doth this man serve God?

Bir. Why ask you?

Prin. He speaks not like a man of God's making. Arm. That's all one, my fair, sweet, honey monarch; for, I protest, the schoolmaster is exceeding fantastical; too, too vain; too, too vain. But we will put it, as they say, to fortuna della guerra. I wish you the peace of mind, most royal couplement ! [Exit Armado. King. Here is like to be a good presence of worHe presents Hector of Troy; the swain,

thies.

Pompey the great; the parish curate, Alexander; Armado's page, Hercules; the pedant, Judas Machabæus.

And if these four worthies in their first show

thrive,

These four will change habits, and present the other

five.

Bir. There is five in the first show.

King. You are deceived; 'tis not so.

Bir. The pedant, the braggart, the hedge-priest, the fool, and the boy :

Abate a throw at novum; 1 and the whole world

again

Cannot prick out five such, take each one in his

vein.

King. The ship is under sail, and here she comes amain.2

[seats brought for the King, Princess, &c.

2 With vigor.

3 Alluding to the old heroic habits, which usually had a lion or leopard's head on the knees and shoulders.

Bir. Well said, old mocker! I must needs be friends with thee.

Cos. I Pompey am, Pompey surnamed the big,-' Dum. The great.

Cos. It is great, sir;- Pompey surnamed the

great;

That oft in field, with targe and shield, did make my foe to sweat:

And, travelling along this coast, I here am come by chance ;

And lay my arms before the legs of this sweet lass of France.'

If your ladyship would say Thanks, Pompey,' I had

done.

Prin. Great thanks, great Pompey.

Cos. "Tis not so much worth; but, I hope, I was perfect: I made a little fault in 'great.'

Bir. My hat to a halfpenny, Pompey proves the best worthy.

Enter SIR NATHANIEL armed, for Alexander.

Sir Nath. When in the world I lived, I was the world's commander;

By east, west, north, and south, I spread my conquering might:

My 'scutcheon plain declares, that I am Alisander.' Boy. Your nose says, no, you are not; for it stands too right.

Bir. Your nose smells, no, in this, most tendersmelling knight.

Prin. The conqueror is dismay'd. Proceed, good Alexander!

Sir Nath. When in the world I lived, I was the world's commander ;— '

Boy. Most true, 'tis right; you were so, Alisander. Bir. Pompey the great,

Cos. Your servant, and Costard.

Bir. Take away the conqueror; take away Alisander.

Cos. O, sir, [to Sir Nath.] you have overthrown Alisander the conqueror! You will be scraped out of the painted cloth for this: your lion, that holds his poll-axe sitting on a close-stool, will be given to A-jax: he will be the ninth worthy. A conqueror, and afeard to speak! run away for shame, Alisander. [Sir Nath. retires.] There, an 't shall please you: a foolish mild man; an honest man, look you, and soon dashed! He is a marvellous good neighbor, in sooth, and a very good bowler; but, for Alisander, alas, you see how 'tis ;- —a little o'erparted.1-But there are worthies a coming will speak their mind in some other sort.

Prin. Stand aside, good Pompey.

Enter HOLOFERNES armed, for Judas, and мOTп armed, for Hercules..

Hol. Great Hercules is presented by this imp, Whose club kill'd Cerberus, that three-headed

canus ;

1 The part allotted to him in this piece is too considerable.