A C T IV. A Pavilion in the Park near the Palace. Enter the Princefs, Rafaline, Maria, Katharine, Prin. W AS that the king, that purr'd his Against the steep uprifing of the hill? Bovet. I know not; but, I think, it was not he. Coft. Which is the greatest lady, the highest? Prin. The thickeft, and the taileft. [truth An your wait, miftrefs, were as flender as my wit, Geft. The thickett and the talleft! 'tis fo; truth is One of thefe maids' girdles for your waift fhould be fit. Are not you the chief woman? you are the thickest here. Prin. What's your will, fir? what's your will? Cojt. I have a letter from monfieur Biron, to one lady Rofaline. Prin. O, thy letter, thy letter; he's a good friend Stand afide, good bearer.-Boyet, you can carve; Well, lords, to-day we shall have our dispatch;. For. Pardon me, madam, for I meant not fo. O fhort-liv'd pride! Not fair? alack for woe! Prin. Nay, never paint me now; A giving hand, though foul, shall have fair praife. The poor deer's blood, that my heart means no ill. Only for praife' fake, when they strive to be Pria. Only for praife: and praise we may afford Enter Coflard. Boyet. I am bound to ferve.——— This letter is miftook, it importeth none here; is writ to Jaquenetta. Prin. We will read it, I swear: Break the neck of the wax, and every one give ear. Boyet. [Read] "By heaven, that thou art fair, "is moft infallible; true, that thou art beauteous; "truth itfelf, that thou art lovely: More fairer "than fair, beautiful than beauteous, truer than "truth itfelf, have commiferation on thy heroical "vaffal! The magnanimous and mott illuftrate 2 "king Cophetua fet eye upon the pernicious and indubitate beggar Zenciophon; and he it was "that might rightly fay, veni, vidi, vici; which "to anatomize in the vulgar, (O) base and obfcure "vulgar!) videlicet, he came, faw, and overcame: Who came? the king; Why did he come? to "He came, one; faw, two; overcame, three. "fee; Why did he fee? to overcome: To whom "came he? to the beggar; What faw he? the beggar; Whom overcame he? the beggar: The "conclufion is victory; On whofe fide? the king's: "the captive is enrich'd; On whofe fide? the "beggar's: The cataftrophe is a nuptial; on "whofe fide the king's-no; on both in one, the comparison: thou the beggar; for fo wit"neffeth thy lowlinefs. Shall I command thy "love? I may: Shall I enforce thy love? I could: "Shall I entreat thy love? I will. What fhalt "thou exchange for rags ? robes; For tittles? titles; or one in both. I am the king; for fo ftands For thyfelf? me. Thus, expecting thy reply, "I prophane my lips on thy foot, my eyes on thy "picture, and my heart on thy every part. "Thine, in the deareft defign of industry, "DON ADRIANO DE AKMADO." Pin. Here comes a member of the common- Thus doft thou hear the Nemean lion roar wealth. Cof. God dig-you-den all! Pray you, which is the head lady? P. Thou shalt know her, fellow, by the reft that have no heads. 'Gainit thee, thou lamb, that ftandeft as his prey; Submiffive fall his princely feet before, And he from forage will incline to play: That is, Open this letter. Our poet ufes this metaphor, as the French do their foulet, which fignifies both a young fowl and a love-letter. 2 Illuftrate for illuftrious. Prin. What plume of feathers is he, that in- Coff. Indeed, a' must shoot nearer, or he'll ne'er What vane? what weather-cock? Did you ever I the ftile. [while 2. Prin. Elfe your memory is bad, going o'er it ere Boyet. This Armado is a Spaniard, that keeps here in court; [fport A phantafm, a Monarcho, and one that makes To the prince, and his book-mates. Prin. Thou, fellow, a word: Who gave thee this letter? Coft. I told you, my lord. Prin. To whom shouldst thou give it? Caft. From my lord to my lady. Prin. From which lord to which lady? Coft. From my lord Biron, a good mafter of mine, To a lady of France, that he called Rofaline.. Prin. Thou haft mistaken his letter.. Come, Here, fweet, put up this; 'twill be thine another [marry, Boyet. My lady goes to kill horns; but, if thou Hang me by the neck, if horns that year mifcarry. Finely put on! [near. Rof. Well then, I am the shooter. Bovet. And who is your deer? Raj. If we chufe by horns, yourfelf; come not Finely put on, indeed! Mar. You ftill wrangle with her, Boyet, and fhe ftrikes at the brow. Boyet. But the herself is hit lower: Have I hit her now? Rof. Shall I come upon thee with an old faying, that was a man when king Pepin of France was a little boy, as touching the hit it? Boyet. So I may answer thee with one as old, that was a woman when queen Guinever of Britain was a little wench, as touching the hit it. Ref. Thou can't not hit it, hit it, hit it, [Singing. Boyet. An I cannot, cannot, cannot, An Icannot, another can. [Exeunt Rof. & Kat. Cf. By my troth, most pleasant! how both did fit it! Mar. A mark marvellous well fhot; for they both did hit it. hit the clout 4. Boyet. An if my hand be out, then, belike, Coft. She's too hard for you at pricks, fir ;- Boyet. I fear too much rubbing: Good night, my good owl. [Exeunt all but Coftard. Coft. By my foul, a fwain! a moft fimple clown! Lord, lord! how the ladies and I have put him down! [wit! Enter Dull, Holofernes 5, and Sir Nathaniel. Nath. Very reverend fport, truly; and done in the teftimony of a good confcience. Hol. The deer was, as you know, fanguis, in blood, ripe as a pomewater, who now hangeth like a jewel in the ear of Colo,-the sky, the welkin, the heaven; and anon falleth like a crab, on the face of Terra,-the foil, the land, the earth. Nath. Truly, mafter Holofernes, the epithets are fweetly varied, like a scholar at the leaft: But, fir, I affure ye, it was a buck of the first head. Hol. Sir Nathaniel, haud credo. Dull. 'Twas not a baud credo, 'twas a pricket. Hol. Moft barbarous intimation! yet a kind of infinuation, as it were, in via, in way, of explication; facere, as it were, replication; or, rather oftentare, to fhew, as it were, his inclination— after his undreffed, unpolished, uneducated, unpruned, untrained, or rather unletter'd, or, rathereft, unconfirmed fashion,-to infert again my baud credo for a deer. a Dull. I faid, the deer was not a baud credo; 'twas pricket 7. thou Hol. Twice fod fimplicity, bis cous! monfter ignorance, how deformed doft thou look ? Boyet. A mark! O, mark but that mark; A Nath. Sir, he hath never fed on the dainties that mark, fays my lady! [may be. are bred in a book; he hath not eat paper, as it ..Let the mark have a prick in't, to mete at, if it were; he hath not drunk ink: his intellect is not Mar. Wide of the bow hand! I' faith, your hand replenished; he is only an animal, only fenfible in is out. (the duller parts: 1 A pun upon the word file. 2. e. a little while ago. 3 Shooter here means fuitor. 4 i. e. the white mark at which archers took their aim. The pin was the wooden nail which upheld it. Dr. Warburton fays, that by Holofernes was defigned a particular character, a pedant and a fchoolmafter of our author's time, one John Florio, a teacher of the Italian tongue in London. • A species of apple. 7 A buck is the first year, a fawn; the fecond year, a pricket; the third year, a forell; the fourth year, a foare; the fifth year, a buck of the first head; the fixth year, a campeat buck. And And fuch barren plants are fet before us, that we thankful fhould be (Which we of tafte and feeling are) for those parts that do fructify in us more than he. For as it would ill become me to be vain, indifcreet, or a fool, gift is good in thofe in whom it is acute, and I am thankful for it. Nath. Sir, I praife the Lord for you; and fo may my parifhioners; for their fons are well tutor'd by you, and their daughters profit very greatly under you: you are a good member of the com So were there a patch fet on learning, to fee him monwealth. But, omne bene, say I; being of an old father's mind, What was a month old at Cain's birth, that's not Hol. Dictynna, good man Dull; Dictynna, good man Dull. Dall. What is Dictynna? to the moon. when Adam [five-fcore. And raught not to five weeks, when he came to The allufion holds in the exchange 3. Dull. 'Tis true, indeed; the collufion holds in the exchange. Hol. God comfort thy capacity! I fay the allufion holds in the exchange. Dull. And I say the pollufion holds in the exchange; for the moon is never but a month old: and I fay befide, that 'twas a pricket that the princefs kill'd. Hol. Mebercle, if their fons be ingenious, they hall want no inftruction: if their daughters be capable, I will put it to them: But, vir jupit, qui pauca loquitur: a foul feminine faluteth us. fon. Enter Jaquenetta, and Coflard. Jaq. God give you good-morrow, master par Hol. Mafter parfon,-quafi perfon. And if one fhould be pierc'd, which is the one? Coft. Marry, mafter school-mafter, he that is likeft to a hogfhead. Hol. Of piercing a hogfhead! a good luftre of conceit in a turf of earth; fire enough for a flint, pearl enough for a fwine: 'tis pretty; it is well. this letter: it was given me by Cottard, and fent Faq. Good mafter parfon, be so good as read me me from Don Armatho: I beseech you, read it. Hol. Faufte, precor gelida quando pecus omne fub umbra Ruminat,—and so forth. Ah, good old Mantuan 5 ! Hol. Sir Nathaniel, will you hear an extempo-Old Mantuan! old Mantuan! Who understandeth Chi non te vide, ci non te pregia. ral epitaph on the death of the deer? and, to hu-thee not, loves thee not,-Ut, re, ful, la, mi, fa.— mour the ignorant, I have call'd the deer the prin- Under pardon, fir, what are the contents? or, racefs kill'd, a pricket. ther as Horace fays in his-What, my foul, verfes ? Nath. Ay, fir, and very learned. Nath. Perge, good master Holofernes, perge; fo it fhall please you to abrogate fcurrility. Hol. I will fomething affect the letter; for it argues facility. The praifeful princefs piere'd and prick'd a pretty pleasing pricket; Hol. Let me hear a itaff, a ftanza, a verfe; Lege, domine. Some fay, a fore; but not a fore, 'till now made fore with frooting: [thicket; The dogs did yell; put L to fore, then forel jumps from Or pricket, fore, or eife forel, the people fall a booting. [fore L4!« If fore be fore, then L to fore makes fifty fores; O Of one fore I an hundred make, by adding but one more L. Nath. A rare talent! Nath. "If love make me forfworn, how fhall I "fwear to love? [vow'd! "Ah, never faith could hold, if not to beauty Though to myself forfworn, to thee I'll faithful 66 prove; "Those thoughts to me were oaks, to thee like "ofiers bowed. Study his biafs leaves, and makes his book thine [comprehend: "eyes; "Where all thofe pleasures live, that art would "If knowledge be the mark, to know thee fhalf Dull. If a talent be a claw, look how he claws "fuffice; [commend: him with a talent. "Well learned is that tongue, that well can thee Hol. This is a gift that I have, fimple, fimple; a" All ignorant that foul, that fees thee without foolish extravagant fpirit, full of forms, figures, "wonder; [admire) thapes, objects, ideas, apprehenfions, motions, re- "(Which is to me fome praife, that I thy parts volutions: these are begot in the ventricle of me-"Thy eye Jove's lightning bears, thy voice his dreadmory, nourished in the womb of pia mater, and «ful thunder, fire. delivered upon the mellowing of occafion: But the "Which, not to anger bent, is mufick, and fweet Patch here means a filly, foolish fellow. The term is fuppofed to have been adopted from a celebrated fool named Patch, and who wearing, perhaps in allution to his name, a party-colour'd drefs, all stage fools have ever fince been diftinguifh'd by a motley coat. 2 i. e. reach'd not. 3 i. e. the riddle is as good when I ufe the name of Adam, as when you use the name of Cain. 4 Alluding to L being the numeral for 50. 5 Baptifta Spagnolus (firnamed Mantuanus, from the place of his birth) was a writer of poems, who flourished towards the latter end of the 15th century. His Ederues were tranflated before the time of Shakspeare. 6 That is, "O Venice, Venice, he who has never feen thee, has thee not in elteem." "Celef, al "Celestial as thou art, oh pardon, love, this wrong, toiling in a pitch; pitch, that defiles; defile! "That fings the heaven's praife with fuch an earthly foul word. Well, Set thee down, forrow! for "tongue!" fo, they fay, the fool faid, and fo fay I, and I the Hol. You find not the apostrophes, and fo mifs fool. Well prov'd, wit! By the lord, this love the accent let me fupervife the canzonet. Here is as mad as Ajax: it kills fheep: it kills me, I a are only numbers ratified; but, for the elegancy, fheep: Well prov'd again on my fide! I will not facility, and golden cadence of poefy, caret. Ovi- love; if I do, hàng me; i' faith, I will not. O, dius Nafo was the man: and why, indeed, Nafo; but her eye, by this light, but for her eye, I but for fmelling out the odoriferous flowers of would not love her; yes, for her two eyes. Well, fancy the jerks of invention? Imitari, is nothing:I do nothing in the world but lie, and lie in my fo doth the hound his mafter, the ape his keeper, throat. By heaven, I do love : and it hath taught the tired horfe his rider. But damofella virgin, me to rhime, and to be melancholy; and here is was this directed to you? part of my rhime, and here my melancholy. Well, Jaq. Ay, fir, from one Monfieur Biron, one of the hath one o' my fonnets already; the clown the ftrange queen's lords. bore it, the fool fent it, and the lady hath it: fweet Hol. I will overglance the fuperfcript. "To clown, fweeter fool, fweeteft lady !—By the the fnow-white hand of the most beauteous lady world, I would not care a pin, if the other three “Rofaline." I will look again on the intellect of were in: Here comes one with a paper; God give the letter, for the nomination of the party writing him grace to groan! to the perfon written unto : "Your Ladyfhip's in all defired employment, "BIRON." Sir Nathaniel, this Biron is one of the votaries with King. Ay me! Enter the King. [He fands afide. Biron. [fde.] Shot, by heaven! -Proceed, the king and here he hath fram'd a letter to afweet Cupid; thou haft thump'd him with thy fequent of the stranger queen's, which, acciden-bird-bolt under the left pap:--I' faith, fecrets.--King. [Reads.]" So fweet a kifs the golden fun tally, or by the way of progrettion, hath mifcarry'd.-Trip and go, my fweet; deliver this paper into the royal hand of the king; it may concern much: Stay not thy compliment; I forgive thy duty; adieu. Jaq. Good Coftard, go with me.-Sir, God fave your life! Caft. Have with thee, my girl. [Exeunt Coff, and fog. Nath. Sir, you have done this in the fear of God, very religioufly: and, as a certain father faith Hol. Sir, tell not me of the father, I do fear colourable colours 2. But, to return to the veries; Did they pleafe you, Sir Nathaniel ? Nath. Marvellous well for the pen. "gives not "thew: "But do not love thy felf; then thou wilt keep My tears for glaffes, and still make me weep. " Hol. I do dine to-day at the father's of a certain pupil of mine; where if (being repatt) it fhall please you to gratify the table with a grace, I will, on my privilege I have with the parents of the" O queen of queens, how far doft thou excel ! aforefaid child or pupil, undertake your ben venu- "Nothought can think,nor tongue of mortal tell.— to; where I will prove thofe veries to be very How fhall the know my griefs? I'll drop the paper; unlearned, neither favouring of poetry, wit, nor Sweet leaves, fhade folly. Who is he comes here? invention: I befeech your fociety. Nath. And thank you too: for fociety (faith the text) is the happinets of life. [The King fieps afide. Enter Longaville. Bison. [Afide.] Now, in thy likenefs, one more fool appear! Hol. And, certes, the text moft infallibly con- What, Longaville! and reading! listen, ear. cludes it.-Sir, I do invite you too; [To Dull you thall not fay me, nay: pauca verba." Away; the gentles are at their game, and we will to our recreation. [Exeunt Biron. The king is hunting the deer: I am courfing myfelf: they have pitch'd a toil; I am Long. Ay me! I am forfworn. Bison. [Alde.} Why, he comes in like a perjure, wearing papers 3. Kirg. [de] In love, I hope; Sweet fellowthip in thame! Birar. [Ahde.] One drunk.rd loves another of the name. 2 That Tired here means attired, alluding to Banks's herfe, mentioned in a former note p. 1,50 is, fpecious appearances. 3 Convicted perjurers, when punithed, always wear on the breaft a paper expreffing the crime. Long. [Afide.] Am I the first, that have been perjur'd fo ?. Biren. [Afide.] I could put thee in comfort; Thou mak'st the triumviry, the corner-cap of fociety, Biran. [Afide.] O, rhimes are guards on wan- Disfigure not his flop. Long. This fame fhall go.-[He reads the fonnet. "(Gainft whom the world cannot hold ar- "Perfuade my heart to this falfe perjury? [ment. "Thou being a goddess, I forfwore not thee: "My vow was earthly, thou a heavenly love; "Thy grace being gain'd, cures all difgrace the way. Enter Dumain. Long. By whom thail I fend this ? itay. : -Company [Afide. Long. And I had mine! King. And I mine too, good Lord! [Afide. Biron. Amen, fo I had mine: Is not that a good word? [Afide. Dum. I would forget her; but a fever the Reigns in my blood, and will remembred be. Biron. A fever in your blood! why then incifion Would let her out in fawcers; Sweet mifprifion! [4fide. Dum. Once more I'll read the ode that I have Biron. Once more I'll mark how love can vary Dumain reads his fonnet. "On a day, (alack the day !) "Ne'er to pluck thee from thy thorn; "That I am forfworn for thee: "And deny himself for Jove, "Turning mortal for thy love.-" This will I fend; and fomething else more plain, For none offend, where all alike do dote. Long. Dumain, thy love is far from charity, That in love's grief defir'ft fociety: [coming forward. You may look pale, but I should blush, I know, To be o'er-heard, and taken napping fo. King. Come, fir, you blush; as his, your cafe is fuch; [coming forward. You chide at him, offending twice as much: You do not love Maria? Longaville Biron. An amber-colour'd raven was well noted. Did never fonnet for her fake compile ? Dum. As upright as the cedar. Her fhoulder is with child. Dum. As fair as day. [Afide. [Afide. Biron. Ay, as fome days; but then no fun muft shine. Dum. O that I had my wish! [Afide. Nor never lay'd his wreathed arms athwart I Slops are large and wide-knee'd breeches, the garb in fashion in our author's days, as we may bferve from old family pictures; but they are now worn only by boors and fea-faring men. liver was fuppofed to be the feat of love. 3 Corporal here means corporeal. 4 To cote, is to outstrip, to overpaís. Fafting here fignifies longing, wanting. M 2 The And |