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Enter Coftard, Dull, Jaquenetta a Maid.

Dull. Sir, the King's pleasure is that you keep Coftard fafe, and you must let him take no delight, nor no penance; but he muft faft three days a week. For this damfel, I must keep her at the park, fhe is allow'd for the day-woman. Fare you well.

Arm. I do betray myfelf with blushing: maid,—— Jaq. Man,

Arm. I will visit thee at the lodge.

Jaq. That's here by.

Arm. I know, where it is fituate.

Jaq. Lord, how wife you are!
Arm. I will tell thee wonders.
Jaq. With that face?

Arm. I love thee,

faq. So I hear you say.

Arm. And fo farewel.

Jaq. Fair weather after you!

Dull. Come, Jaquenetta, away. (7)

[Exeunt Dull and Jaquenetta.

Arm. Villain, thou shalt faft for thy offence, ere thou be pardoned.

Coft. Well, Sir, I hope when I do it, I fhall do it on a full ftomach.

Arm. Thou shalt be heavily punish'd.

Coft. I am more bound to you, than your followers; for they are but lightly rewarded.

Arm. Take away this villain, shut him

up.

Math. Come, you tranfgreffing flave, away.

Coft. Let me not be pent up, Sir; I will faft, being loofe. Moth. No, Sir, that were faft and loofe; thou shalt to prison.

(7) Maid. Fair weather after you. Come Jaquenetta, away.] Thus all the printed copies: but the editors have been guilty of much inadvertence. They make Jaquenetta, and a maid enter: whereas Jaquenetta is the only maid intended by the poet, and who is committed to the cuftody of Dull, to be convey'd by him to the lodge in the park. This being the cafe, it is evident to demonstration, that-Fair weather after you -must be spoken by Jaquenetta; and then that Dull fays to her, come Jaquenetta, eway, as I have regulated the text.

Coft.

Coft. Well, if ever I do fee the merry days of desolation that I have seen, some shall see

Moth. What shall some fee?

Coft. Nay, nothing, mafter Moth, but what they look upon. It is not for prifoners to be filent in their words, and therefore I will fay nothing; I thank God, I have as little patience as another man, and therefore 1 can be quiet. [Exeunt Moth with Coftard. Arm. I do affect the very ground (which is bafe) where her fhoe (which is bafer) guided by her foot (which is bafeft) doth tread. I fhall be forfworn, which is a great argument of falfhood, if I love. And how can that be true love, which is falfly attempted? love is a familiar, love is a devil; there is no evil angel but love, yet Sampson was fo tempted, and he had an excellent ftrength; yet was Solomon fo feduced, and he had a very good wit. Cupid's but-fhaft is too hard for Hercules's club, and therefore too much odds for a Spaniard's rapier; the firft and second caufe will not serve my turn; the Paffado he refpects not, the Duello he regards not; his difgrace is to be called boy; but his glory is to fubdue men. Adieu, valour; ruft, rapier; be ftill, drum; for your manager is in love; yea, he loveth. Affift me, fome extemporal god of rhime, for I am fure, I shall turn fonneteer. Devife wit, write pen, for I am for whole volumes in folio. [Exeunt.

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SCENE, before the King of Navarre's Palace.

Enter the Princess of France, Rofaline, Maria, Catharine, Boyet, Lords and other Attendants.

N

BOYET.

OW, madam, fummon up your deareft fpirits;

To whom he fends, and what's his embaffy.

Yourself

Yourself, held precious in the world's esteem,
To parley with the fole inheritor

Of all perfections that a man may owe,
Matchlefs Navarre; the plea of no less weight
Than Aquitain, a dowry for a queen.
But now as prodigal of all dear grace,
As nature was in making graces dear,

When she did ftarve the general world befide, (8)
And prodigally gave them all to you.

Prin. Good Lord Boyet, my beauty, though but mean,
Needs not the painted flourish of your praife;
Beauty is bought by judgment of the eye,
Not utter'd by bafe fale of chapmen's tongues.
I am lefs proud to hear you tell my worth,
Than you much willing to be counted wife,
In spending thus your wit in praise of mine.
But now to task the tasker; good Boyet,
You are not ignorant, all-telling fame
Doth noife abroad, Navarre hath made a vow,
'Till painful ftudy fhall out-wear three years,
No woman may approach his filent court;
Therefore to us feems it a needful courfe,
Before we enter his forbidden gates,
To know his pleasure and in that behalf,
Bold of your worthinefs, we fingle you
As our beft moving fair folicitor.

Tell him, the daughrer of the King of France,
On ferious bufinefs, craving quick dispatch,
Importunes perfonal conference with his Grace.
Hafte, fignify fo much, while we attend,
Like humble-vifag'd fuitors, his high will.
Boyet. Proud of employment, willingly I go.
Prin. All pride is willing pride, and yours is fo;

Who are the votaries, my loving Lords,
That are vow-fellows with this virtuous King?
Lord. Longaville is one.

[Exit

(8) When he did ftarve the general world befide,] Catullus has compliment, much of this caft, to his Lefbia in his 87th epigram: quæ cum pulcherrima tota eft,

Tum omnibus una omnes furripuit Veneres.

Prin. Know you the man?

Mar. I knew him, madam, at a marriage feast,

Between Lord Perigort and the beauteous heir

Of Jaques Faulconbridge folemniz'd.

In Normandy faw I this Longaville,
A man of fovereign parts he is efteem'd ;
Well fitted in the arts, glorious in arms,
Nothing becomes him ill, that he would well.
The only foil of his fair virtue's glofs,
(If virtue's glofs will stain with any foil,)
Is a sharp wit, match'd with too blunt a will;
Whofe edge hath pow'r to cut, whofe will still wills
It should Ipare none, that come within his power.
Prin. Some merry-mocking Lord, belike; is't fo?
Mar. They fay fo moft, that most his humours know.
Prin. Such fhort-liv'd wits do wither as they grow.
Who are the reft?

Cath. The young Dumain, a well-accomplish'd youth, Of all that virtue love, for virtue lov❜d.

Most power to do most harm, least knowing ill;
For he hath wit to make an ill fhape good,
And shape to win grace, tho' he had no wit.
I faw him at the Duke Alanfon's once,
And much too little of that good I saw,
Is my report to his

great worthiness.

Rofa. Another of thefe ftudents at that time
Was there with him, as I have heard a truth;
Biron they call him; but a merrier man,
Within the limit of becoming mirth,
I never spent an hour's talk withal.
His eye begets occafion for his wit;
For every object, that the one doth catch,
The other turns to a mirth-moving jest;
Which his fair tongue (conceit's expofitor)
Delivers in fuch apt and gracious words,
That aged ears play truant at his tales;
And younger hearings are quite ravished;
So fweet and voluble is his difcourfe.

Prin. God bless my Ladies, are they all in love,
That every one her own hath garnished

With fuch bedecking ornaments of praise ?
Mar. Here comes Boyet.

Enter Boyet.

Prin. Now, what admittance, Lord ?

Boyet. Navarre had notice of your fair approach; And he and his competitors in oath

Were all addrest to meet you, gentle Lady,
Before I came: marry, thus much I've learnt,
He rather means to lodge you in the field,
Like one that comes here to befiege his Court,
Than feek a difpenfation for his oath,
To let you enter his unpeopled house.
Here comes Navarre.

Enter the King, Longaville, Dumain, Biron, and Attendants.

King. Fair Princefs, welcome to the Court of Na

varre.

Prin. Fair, I give you back again; and welcome I have not yet the roof of this Court is too high to be yours; and welcome to the wide fields, too base to be mine.

King. You fhall be welcome, Madam, to my Court. Prin. I will be welcome then; conduct me thither. King. Hear me, dear Lady, I have fworn an oath. Prin. Our Lady help my Lord; he'll be forfworn. King. Not for the world, fair Madam, by my will. Prin. Why, Will shall break its will, and nothing else, King. Your Ladyfhip is ignorant what it is.

Prin. Were my Lord fo, his ignorance were wife,
Where now his knowledge muft prove ignorance.
I hear, your Grace hath fworn out house-keeping;
"Tis deadly fin to keep that oath, my Lord;
And fin to break it.

But pardon me, I am too fudden bold :
To teach a teacher ill befeemeth me.

Vouchfafe to read the purpose of my coming,

And fuddenly refolve me in my suit.

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