Chapter XV: Act IV: ACT III. Theobald

enter...] Enter the Princesse, a Forrester, her Ladyes, and her
Lordes. Qq Ff.

2: _uprising_] _unrising_ F2 F3 F4.

3: Boy.] Ff Q2. For. Q2.

6: _on_] _ore_ Q1.

9: _Hereby_] _Hardby_ Hanmer.

_coppice_] _copse_ S. Walker conj.

11–40: _I thank...lord_] Put in the margin by Pope.

13: _madam_] om. F3 F4.

14: _and again_] Q1 _and then again_ F1 Q2. _then again_ F2 F3 F4.

22: _fair_] _faith_ Collier MS.

23: _fair_] _the_ F3 F4.

27: _do’t_] _doote_ Q1.

32: _for praise_] _to praise_ F2 F3 F4.

35: _deer’s_] _Deere_ F2.

_that_] _tho’_ Warburton conj.

40: _a_] _her_ Rowe.

42–52: _God...will_] Put in the margin by Pope.

49, 50: _your waist...my wit...your waist_] _my waste...your wit...my waste_ Warburton.

49: _my wit_] _your wit_ Johnson conj.

64: _illustrate_] _illustrious_ Q2.

65: _Zenelophon_] _Penelophon_ Collier.

66: _annothanize_] Qq F1. _anatomize_ F2 F3 F4. _annotanize_ Knight.

67: _videlicet_] _is_ Capell.

_saw_] F2 F3 F4. _see_ Qq F1.

_saw_] Rowe. _see_ Qq Ff.

68: _overcame_] Q2 F3 F4. _covercame_ Q1 F1 F2.

70: _who overcame he?_] Qq Ff. _who overcame him?_ Rowe (ed. 1). _whom overcame he?_ Hanmer.

71: _the king’s_] Q2 F3 F4. _the king_ Q1 F1.

_captive_] _captivitie_ Q2.

80: _Adriano_] Q2. _Adriana_ Q1 Ff. _Armado_] F2 F3 F4. _Armatho_ Qq F1.

87: _feathers_] _feather_ F2 F3 F4.

92: _phantasime_] Qq F1. _phantasme_ F2 F3 F4. _phantasma_ Capell conj.

_Monarcho_] _monorcho_ Q2.

_Monarcho_] _mammuccio_ Hanmer. {Transcriber's Note: this
linenote has been copied here from the original book's ADDENDA.}

99: _lords_] _ladies_ Johnson conj.

100: Exeunt...] Exeunt. Ff Q2. om. Q1.

101–142: _Who is... sola._] Put in the margin by Pope.

101: _suitor...suitor_] Steevens (Farmer conj.). _shooter_ Qq Ff.

108: _the_] om. F2 F3 F4.

119: [Exit. Q1.

120: _An_] _And_ Q1. om. Ff Q2.

121: [Exeunt R. and K.] Capell. [Exit. Ff. Q2.

123: _hit it_] F4. _hit_ Qq F1 F2 F3.

129: _pin_] F2 F3 F4. _is in_ Qq F1.

137: _Armado o’ th’ one_] Rowe (ed. 2). _Armatho ath toothen_ Q1. _Armathor ath to the_ F1 Q2. _Armado ath to_ F2 F3 F4. _Armado o’ th’ to_ Grant White.

139: After this line Collier MS. inserts _Looking babies in her eyes his passion to declare._

140: _o’ t’ other_] _at other_ Qq Ff.

_of wit_] _of small wit_ Collier MS.

141: _a most_] F2 F3 F4. _most_ Qq F1.

142: [Shout within.] F4. Shot within. Q1. Shoote within. F1. Shoote with him. Q2. Showte within. F2. ~~~~~

SCENE II. _The same._

_Enter_ HOLOFERNES, SIR NATHANIEL, _and_ DULL.

_Nath._ Very reverend sport, truly; and done in the testimony of a good conscience.

_Hol._ The deer was, as you know, sanguis, in blood; ripe as the pomewater, who now hangeth like a jewel in the ear of caelo, the sky, the welkin, the heaven; and anon falleth 5 like a crab on the face of terra, the soil, the land, the earth.

_Nath._ Truly, Master Holofernes, the epithets are sweetly varied, like a scholar at the least: but, sir, I assure ye, it was a buck of the first head.

_Hol._ Sir Nathaniel, haud credo. 10

_Dull._ ’Twas not a haud credo; ’twas a pricket.

_Hol._ Most barbarous intimation! yet a kind of insinuation, as it were, in via, in way, of explication; facere, as it were, replication, or, rather, ostentare, to show, as it were, his inclination, after his undressed, unpolished, uneducated, 15 unpruned, untrained, or, rather, unlettered, or, ratherest, unconfirmed fashion, to insert again my haud credo for a deer.

_Dull._ I said the deer was not a haud credo; ’twas a pricket.

_Hol._ Twice-sod simplicity, bis coctus! 20 O thou monster Ignorance, how deformed dost thou look!

_Nath._ Sir, he hath never fed of the dainties that are bred in a book; he hath not eat paper, as it were; he hath not drunk ink: his intellect is not replenished; he is only an animal, only sensible in the duller parts: 25 And such barren plants are set before us, that we thankful should be, Which we of taste and feeling are, for those parts that do fructify in us more than he. For as it would ill become me to be vain, indiscreet, or a fool, So were there a patch set on learning, to see him in a school: But omne bene, say I; being of an old father’s mind, 30 Many can brook the weather that love not the wind.

_Dull._ You two are book-men: can you tell me by your wit What was a month old at Cain’s birth, that’s not five weeks old as yet?

_Hol._ Dictynna, goodman Dull; Dictynna, goodman Dull.

_Dull._ What is Dictynna? 35

_Nath._ A title to Phœbe, to Luna, to the moon.

_Hol._ The moon was a month old when Adam was no more, And raught not to five weeks when he came to five-score. The allusion holds in the exchange.

_Dull._ ’Tis true indeed; the collusion holds in the exchange. 40

_Hol._ God comfort thy capacity! I say, the allusion holds in the exchange.

_Dull._ And I say, the pollusion holds in the exchange; for the moon is never but a month old: and I say beside 45 that, ’twas a pricket that the princess killed.

_Hol._ Sir Nathaniel, will you hear an extemporal epitaph on the death of the deer? And, to humour the ignorant, call I the deer the princess killed a pricket.

_Nath._ Perge, good Master Holofernes, perge; so it 50 shall please you to abrogate scurrility.

_Hol._ I will something affect the letter, for it argues facility.

The preyful princess pierced and prickd a pretty pleasing pricket; 54 Some say a sore; but not a sore, till now made sore with shooting. The dogs did yell: put L to sore, then sorel jumps from thicket; Or pricket sore, or else sorel; the people fall a-hooting. If sore be sore, then L to sore makes fifty sores one sorel. Of one sore I an hundred make by adding but one more L.

_Nath._ A rare talent! 60

_Dull._ [_Aside_] If a talent be a claw, look how he claws him with a talent.

_Hol._ This is a gift that I have, simple, simple; a foolish extravagant spirit, full of forms, figures, shapes, objects, ideas, apprehensions, motions, revolutions: these are begot 65 in the ventricle of memory, nourished in the womb of pia mater, and delivered upon the mellowing of occasion. But the gift is good in those in whom it is acute, and I am thankful for it.

_Nath._ Sir, I praise the Lord for you: and so may my 70 parishioners; for their sons are well tutored by you, and their daughters profit very greatly under you: you are a good member of the commonwealth.

_Hol._ Mehercle, if their sons be ingenuous, they shall want no instruction; if their daughters be capable, I will 75 put it to them: but vir sapit qui pauca loquitur; a soul feminine saluteth us.

_Enter_ JAQUENETTA _and_ COSTARD.

_Jaq._ God give you good morrow, master Parson.

_Hol._ Master Parson, quasi pers-on. An if one should be pierced, which is the one? 80

_Cost._ Marry, master schoolmaster, he that is likest to a hogshead.

_Hol._ Piercing a hogshead! a good lustre of conceit in a turf of earth; fire enough for a flint, pearl enough for a swine: ’tis pretty; it is well. 85

_Jaq._ Good master Parson, be so good as read me this letter: it was given me by Costard, and sent me from Don Armado: I beseech you, read it.

_Hol._ Fauste, precor gelida quando pecus omne sub umbra Ruminat,—and so forth. Ah, good old Mantuan! 90 I may speak of thee as the traveller doth of Venice; Venetia, Venetia, Chi non ti vede non ti pretia. Old Mantuan, old Mantuan! who understandeth thee not, loves thee not. Ut, re, sol, la, mi, fa. Under pardon, sir, 95 what are the contents? or rather, as Horace says in his— What, my soul, verses?

_Nath._ Ay, sir, and very learned.

_Hol._ Let me hear a staff, a stanze, a verse; lege, domine.

_Nath._ [_reads_]

If love make me forsworn, how shall I swear to love? 100 Ah, never faith could hold, if not to beauty vow’d! Though to myself forsworn, to thee I’ll faithful prove; Those thoughts to me were oaks, to thee like osiers bow’d. Study his bias leaves, and makes his book thine eyes, Where all those pleasures live that art would comprehend: 105 If knowledge be the mark, to know thee shall suffice; Well learned is that tongue that well can thee commend; All ignorant that soul that sees thee without wonder; Which is to me some praise that I thy parts admire: Thy eye Jove’s lightning bears, thy voice his dreadful thunder, 110 Which, not to anger bent, is music and sweet fire. Celestial as thou art, O, pardon love this wrong, That sings heaven’s praise with such an earthly tongue.

_Hol._ You find not the apostrophas, and so miss the accent: let me supervise the canzonet. Here are only numbers 115 ratified; but, for the elegancy, facility, and golden cadence of poesy, caret. Ovidius Naso was the man: and why, indeed, Naso, but for smelling out the odoriferous flowers of fancy, the jerks of invention? Imitari is nothing: so doth the hound his master, the ape his keeper, the tired 120 horse his rider. But, damosella virgin, was this directed to you?

_Jaq._ Ay, sir, from one Monsieur Biron, one of the strange queen’s lords.

_Hol._ I will overglance the superscript: ‘To the snow-white 125 hand of the most beauteous Lady Rosaline.’ I will look again on the intellect of the letter, for the nomination of the party writing to the person written unto: ‘Your ladyship’s in all desired employment, BIRON.’ Sir Nathaniel, this Biron is one of the votaries with the king; and here he hath 130 framed a letter to a sequent of the stranger queen’s, which accidentally, or by the way of progression, hath miscarried. Trip and go, my sweet; deliver this paper into the royal hand of the king: it may concern much. Stay not thy compliment; I forgive thy duty: adieu. 135

_Jaq._ Good Costard, go with me. Sir, God save your life!

_Cost._ Have with thee, my girl. [_Exeunt Cost. and Jaq._

_Nath._ Sir, you have done this in the fear of God, very religiously; and, as a certain father saith,—

_Hol._ Sir, tell not me of the father; I do fear colourable 140 colours. But to return to the verses: did they please you, Sir Nathaniel?

_Nath._ Marvellous well for the pen.

_Hol._ I do dine to-day at the father’s of a certain pupil of mine; where, if, before repast, it shall please you to 145 gratify the table with a grace, I will, on my privilege I have with the parents of the foresaid child or pupil, undertake your ben venuto; where I will prove those verses to be very unlearned, neither savouring of poetry, wit, nor invention: I beseech your society. 150

_Nath._ And thank you too; for society, saith the text, is the happiness of life.

_Hol._ And, certes, the text most infallibly concludes it. [_To Dull_] Sir, I do invite you too; you shall not say me nay: pauca verba. Away! the gentles are at their game, 155 and we will to our recreation. [_Exeunt._

~~~~~ Linenotes: _Love’s Labour’s Lost_, IV, 2.

3: Hol.] Ped. Qq Ff.

_sanguis, in blood_] _in sanguis, blood_ Capell.

4: _the_] Q1. _a_ Ff Q2.

24: _animal_] _animal, not to think_ Collier MS.

26, 27: Printed as prose in Qq Ff, first as verse by Hanmer.

27: _Which we of taste and feeling are, for those..._] See note (XI).

_do_] Q1 Ff. om. Q2.

28: _indiscreet_] _indistreell_ Q1.

29: _see_] _set_ Collier MS.

32: _me_] Q1. om. Ff Q2.

34: _Dictynna_] Rowe. _Dictisima_ Q1 F1 F2 F3. _Dictissima_ Q2 F4. _Doctissime...Dictynna_ Collier MS.

35: _Dictynna_] _Dictinna_ F2 F3 F4. _Dictima_ Qq F1.

36: _title_] _tittle_ F2.

38: _raught_] _rought_ Q1. _wrought_ Ff Q2.

44: _pollusion_] Q2 F3 F4. _polusion_ Q1 F1 F2. _pollution_ Rowe (ed. 2).

47: _epitaph_] _epigram_ Capell conj. MS.

48: _ignorant_] _ignorault_ Q1.

49: _call I_] Edd. _call’d_ Qq Ff. _I have call’d_ Rowe. _I will call_ Singer. _I call_ Collier MS.

_a_] _the_ Q2.

51: _scurrility_] _squirilitie_ Q1.

54: _preyful_] _prayfull_ Qq F1. _praysfull_ F2.

54–59: Printed as twelve lines in Qq Ff.

56, 58: _L_] _ell_ Qq Ff.

56: _jumps_] _jumpt_ Pope.

58: _one sorel_] Edd. _o sorell_ Q1. _O sorell_ Q2 Ff. _of sorel_ Warburton. _O sore L_ Capell.

63: Hol.] Nath. Qq Ff. See note (XII).

66, 67: _pia mater_] Rowe. _primater_ Qq Ff.

68: _in whom_] _whom_ Q1.

70: _my_] _our_ Rowe (ed. I).

74: _ingenuou_] Q2 F3 F4. _ingenous_ Q1. _ingennous_ F1 F2. _ingenious_ Capell.

76: _sapit_] Q2 F2 F3 F4. _sapis_ Q1 F1.

78: _parson_] F2 F3 F4. _person_ Qq F1.

79: _pers-on_] _pers-one_ Steevens.

79–85: Put in the margin by Pope.

81: _likest_] Ff Q2. _liklest_ Q1.

83: _Piercing_] Edd. _Of persing_ Qq Ff. See note (XVII).

_lustre_] _cluster_ F3 F4.

86: _Parson_] Qq Ff.

89: _Fauste, precor gelida quando pecus omne_] F2 F3 F4. _Facile precor gellida quando pecas omnia_ Q1 F1. _Facile precor gleida quando peccas omnia_ Q2.

92, 93: _Venetia,.....ti.....ti pretia_] Edd. (from Florio’s ‘Second Frutes.’) _Vinegia...te...ei non te pregia_ Theobald. _Vemchie, vencha, que non te vnde, que non te perreche_ Q1 F1. _Vemchie, vencha...perroche_ Q2. _Vemchie, vencha...piaech_ F2 F3 F4, Rowe, Pope.

95: _loves thee not_] Q1. om. Ff Q2.

99: _stanze_] F1 Q2. _stauze_ Q1. _stanza_ F2 F3 F4.

101: _Ah_] _O_ ‘Passionate Pilgrim.’

102: _faithful_] _constant_ Ib.

103: _were_] _like_ Ib.

105: _would_] _can_ Ib.

110: _bears_] _seems_ Ib.

112: _pardon love this_] _do not love that_ Ib.

113: _That sings_] _To sing_ Ib. _That sings the_ S. Walker conj.

115: _canzonet_] Theobald. _cangenet_ Qq Ff.

115–122: _Here...you_] Theobald continues to Holofernes. In Qq Ff they are given to Nathaniel.

117: _caret_] _carent_ Nicholson conj.

119: _invention? imitari_] Theobald. _invention imitarie_ Qq Ff. _invention? imitating_ Collier MS.

120: _tired_] _tyred_ Qq Ff. _try’d_ Theobald. _’tired_ Capell. _trained_ Heath conj.

123, 124: _one of the strange queen’s lords_] _to one of the strange queen’s ladies_ Theobald.

125–129: _I will...Biron_] given to Nathaniel in Qq Ff. See note (XII).

128: _writing_] Rowe. _written_ Qq Ff.

129: _in_] _it_ Q2.

_Sir Nathaniel_] Capell. _Sir Holofernes_ Qq Ff. om. Theobald.

129–135: Given to Dull by Rowe.

133: _royal_] om. Ff Q2.

137: [Exeunt...] _Exit._ Qq Ff.

145: _before_] Q1. _being_ Ff Q2.

_repast_] _request_ Heath conj.

147: _or_] Qq F1 F2. _and_ F3 F4.

148: _ben venuto_] Rowe (ed. 2). _bien venuto_ Q1 F2 F3 F4. _bien vonuto_ F1 Q2. _bien venu too_ Edd conj. ~~~~~

SCENE III. _The same._

_Enter_ BIRON, _with a paper_.

_Biron._ The king he is hunting the deer; I am coursing myself: they have pitched a toil; I am toiling in a pitch,— pitch that defiles: defile! a foul word. Well, set thee down, sorrow! for so they say the fool said, and so say I, and I the fool: well proved, wit! By the Lord, this love is 5 as mad as Ajax: it kills sheep; it kills me, I a sheep: well proved again o’ my side! I will not love: if I do, hang me; i’ faith, I will not. O, but her eye,—by this light, but for her eye, I would not love her; yes, for her two eyes. Well, I do nothing in the world but lie, and lie in my throat. By 10 heaven, I do love: and it hath taught me to rhyme, and to be melancholy; and here is part of my rhyme, and here my melancholy. Well, she hath one o’ my sonnets already: the clown bore it, the fool sent it, and the lady hath it: sweet clown, sweeter fool, sweetest lady! By the world, I would 15 not care a pin, if the other three were in. Here comes one with a paper: God give him grace to groan! [_Stands aside._

_Enter the_ King, _with a paper_.

_King._ Ay me!

_Biron._ [_Aside_] Shot, by heaven! Proceed, sweet Cupid: thou hast thumped him with thy bird-bolt under the left 20 pap. In faith, secrets!

_King_ [_reads_].

So sweet a kiss the golden sun gives not To those fresh morning drops upon the rose, As thy eye-beams, when their fresh rays have smote The night of dew that on my cheeks down flows: 25 Nor shines the silver moon one half so bright Through the transparent bosom of the deep, As doth thy face through tears of mine give light; Thou shinest in every tear that I do weep: No drop but as a coach doth carry thee; 30 So ridest thou triumphing in my woe. Do but behold the tears that swell in me, And they thy glory through my grief will show: But do not love thyself; then thou wilt keep My tears for glasses, and still make me weep. 35 O queen of queens! how far dost thou excel, No thought can think, nor tongue of mortal tell.

How shall she know my griefs? I’ll drop the paper:— Sweet leaves, shade folly. Who is he comes here? [_Steps aside._ What, Longaville! and reading! Listen, ear. 40

_Biron._ Now, in thy likeness, one more fool appear!

_Enter_ LONGAVILLE, _with a paper_.

_Long._ Ay me, I am forsworn!

_Biron._ Why, he comes in like a perjure, wearing papers.

_King._ In love, I hope: sweet fellowship in shame! 45

_Biron._ One drunkard loves another of the name.

_Long._ Am I the first that have been perjured so?

_Biron._ I could put thee in comfort. Not by two that I know: Thou makest the triumviry, the corner-cap of society. The shape of Love’s Tyburn that hangs up simplicity. 50

_Long._ I fear these stubborn lines lack power to move. O sweet Maria, empress of my love! These numbers will I tear, and write in prose.

_Biron._ O, rhymes are guards on wanton Cupid’s hose: Disfigure not his slop.

_Long._ This same shall go. [_Reads._ 55

Did not the heavenly rhetoric of thine eye, ’Gainst whom the world cannot hold argument, Persuade my heart to this false perjury? Vows for thee broke deserve not punishment. A woman I forswore; but I will prove, 60 Thou being a goddess, I forswore not thee: My vow was earthly, thou a heavenly love; Thy grace being gain’d cures all disgrace in me. Vows are but breath, and breath a vapour is: Then thou, fair sun, which on my earth dost shine, 65 Exhalest this vapour-vow; in thee it is: If broken then, it is no fault of mine: If by me broke, what fool is not so wise To lose an oath to win a paradise?

_Biron._ This is the liver-vein, which makes flesh a deity, 70 A green goose a goddess: pure, pure idolatry. God amend us, God amend! we are much out o’ the way.

_Long._ By whom shall I send this?—Company! stay.

[_Steps aside._

_Biron._ All hid, all hid, an old infant play. Like a demigod here sit I in the sky, 75 And wretched fools’ secrets heedfully o’er-eye. More sacks to the mill! O heavens, I have my wish!

_Enter_ DUMAIN _with a paper_.

Dumain transform’d! four woodcocks in a dish!

_Dum._ O most divine Kate!

_Biron._ O most profane coxcomb! 80

_Dum._ By heaven, the wonder in a mortal eye!

_Biron._ By earth, she is not, corporal, there you lie.

_Dum._ Her amber hairs for foul hath amber quoted.

_Biron._ An amber-colour’d raven was well noted.

_Dum._ As upright as the cedar.

_Biron._ Stoop, I say; 85 Her shoulder is with child.

_Dum._ As fair as day.

_Biron._ Ay, as some days; but then no sun must shine.

_Dum._ O that I had my wish!

_Long._ And I had mine!

_King._ And I mine too, good Lord!

_Biron._ Amen, so I had mine: is not that a good word? 90

_Dum._ I would forget her; but a fever she Reigns in my blood, and will remember’d be.

_Biron._ A fever in your blood! why, then incision Would let her out in saucers: sweet misprision!

_Dum._ Once more I’ll read the ode that I have writ. 95

_Biron._ Once more I’ll mark how love can vary wit.

_Dum._ [_reads_]

On a day—alack the day!— Love, whose month is ever May, Spied a blossom passing fair Playing in the wanton air: 100 Through the velvet leaves the wind, All unseen, can passage find; That the lover, sick to death, Wish himself the heaven’s breath. Air, quoth he, thy cheeks may blow; 105 Air, would I might triumph so! But, alack, my hand is sworn Ne’er to pluck thee from thy thorn; Vow, alack, for youth unmeet, Youth so apt to pluck a sweet! 110 Do not call it sin in me, That I am forsworn for thee; Thou for whom Jove would swear Juno but an Ethiope were; And deny himself for Jove, 115 Turning mortal for thy love. This will I send and something else more plain, That shall express my true love’s fasting pain. O, would the king, Biron, and Longaville, Were lovers too! Ill, to example ill, 120 Would from my forehead wipe a perjured note; For none offend where all alike do dote.

_Long._ [_advancing_]. Dumain, thy love is far from charity, That in love’s grief desirest society: You may look pale, but I should blush, I know, 125 To be o’erheard and taken napping so.

_King_ [_advancing_]. Come, sir, you blush; as his your case is such; You chide at him, offending twice as much; You do not love Maria; Longaville Did never sonnet for her sake compile, 130 Nor never lay his wreathed arms athwart His loving bosom, to keep down his heart. I have been closely shrouded in this bush And mark’d you both and for you both did blush: I heard your guilty rhymes, observed your fashion, 135 Saw sighs reek from you, noted well your passion: Ay me! says one; O Jove! the other cries; One, her hairs were gold, crystal the other’s eyes: You would for paradise break faith and troth; [_To Long._ And Jove, for your love, would infringe an oath. [_To Dum._ 140 What will Biron say when that he shall hear Faith infringed, which such zeal did swear? How will he scorn! how will he spend his wit! How will he triumph, leap and laugh at it! For all the wealth that ever I did see, 145 I would not have him know so much by me.

_Biron._ Now step I forth to whip hypocrisy. [_Advancing._ Ah, good my liege, I pray thee, pardon me! Good heart, what grace hast thou, thus to reprove These worms for loving, that art most in love? 150 Your eyes do make no coaches; in your tears There is no certain princess that appears; You’ll not be perjured, ’tis a hateful thing; Tush, none but minstrels like of sonneting! But are you not ashamed? nay, are you not, 155 All three of you, to be thus much o’ershot? You found his mote; the king your mote did see; But I a beam do find in each of three. O, what a scene of foolery have I seen, Of sighs, of groans, of sorrow and of teen! 160 O me, with what strict patience have I sat, To see a king transformed to a gnat! To see great Hercules whipping a gig, And profound Solomon to tune a jig, And Nestor play at push-pin with the boys, 165 And critic Timon laugh at idle toys! Where lies thy grief, O, tell me, good Dumain? And, gentle Longaville, where lies thy pain? And where my liege’s? all about the breast: A caudle, ho!

_King._ Too bitter is thy jest. 170 Are we betray’d thus to thy over-view?

_Biron._ Not you to me, but I betray’d by you: I, that am honest; I, that hold it sin To break the vow I am engaged in; I am betray’d, by keeping company 175 With men like you, men of inconstancy. When shall you see me write a thing in rhyme? Or groan for love? or spend a minute’s time In pruning me? When shall you hear that I Will praise a hand, a foot, a face, an eye, 180 A gait, a state, a brow, a breast, a waist, A leg, a limb?—

_King._ Soft! whither away so fast? A true man or a thief that gallops so?

_Biron._ I post from love: good lover, let me go.

_Enter_ JAQUENETTA _and_ COSTARD.

_Jaq._ God bless the king!

_King._ What present hast thou there? 185

_Cost._ Some certain treason.

_King._ What makes treason here?

_Cost._ Nay, it makes nothing, sir.

_King._ If it mar nothing neither, The treason and you go in peace away together.

_Jaq._ I beseech your Grace, let this letter be read: Our parson misdoubts it; ’twas treason, he said. 190

_King._ Biron, read it over. [_Giving him the paper._ Where hadst thou it?

_Jaq._ Of Costard.

_King._ Where hadst thou it?

_Cost._ Of Dun Adramadio, Dun Adramadio. 195

[_Biron tears the letter._

_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.

_Long._ It did move him to passion, and therefore let’s hear it.

_Dum._ It is Biron’s writing, and here is his name.

[_Gathering up the pieces._

_Biron._ [_To Costard_] Ah, you whoreson loggerhead! you were born to do me shame. 200 Guilty, my lord, guilty! I confess, I confess.

_King._ What?

_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. 205 O, dismiss this audience, and I shall tell you more.

_Dum._ Now the number is even.

_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 Jaquenetta._

_Biron._ Sweet lords, sweet lovers, O, let us embrace! 210 As true we are as flesh and blood can be: The sea will ebb and flow, heaven show 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. 215

_King._ What, did these rent lines show 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 not his vassal head and strucken blind 220 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 inspired thee now? 225 My love, her mistress, is a gracious moon; She an attending star, scarce seen a light.

_Biron._ My eyes are then no eyes, nor I Biron: O, but for my love, day would turn to night! Of all complexions the cull’d sovereignty 230 Do meet, as at a fair, in her fair cheek; Where several worthies make one dignity, Where nothing wants that want itself doth seek. Lend me the flourish of all gentle tongues,— Fie, painted rhetoric! O, she needs it not: 235 To things of sale a seller’s praise belongs, She passes praise; then praise too short doth blot. A wither’d hermit, five-score winters worn, Might shake off fifty, looking in her eye: Beauty doth varnish age, as if new-born, 240 And gives the crutch the cradle’s infancy: O, ’tis the sun that maketh all things shine.

_King._ By heaven, thy love is black as ebony.

_Biron._ Is ebony like her? O wood divine!
A wife of such wood were felicity. 245
O, who can give an oath? where is a book?
That I may swear beauty doth beauty lack,
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, 250 The hue of dungeons and the school 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 brows be deck’d, It mourns that painting and usurping hair 255 Should ravish doters with a false aspect; And therefore is she born to make black fair. Her favour turns the fashion of the days, For native blood is counted painting now; And therefore red, that would avoid dispraise, 260 Paints itself black, to imitate her brow.

_Dum._ To look like her are chimney-sweepers black.

_Long._ And since her time are colliers counted bright.

_King._ And Ethiopes of their sweet complexion crack.

_Dum._ Dark needs no candles now, for dark is light. 265

_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 doomsday here. 270

_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 see.

_Biron._ O, if the streets were paved with thine eyes, Her feet were much too dainty for such tread! 275

_Dum._ O vile! then, as she goes, what upward lies The street should see as she walk’d overhead.

_King._ But what of this? are we not all in love?

_Biron._ Nothing so sure; and thereby all forsworn.

_King._ Then leave this chat; and, good Biron, now prove 280 Our loving lawful, and our faith not torn.

_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._ ’Tis more than need. 285 Have at you, then, affection’s men at arms. Consider what you first did swear unto, To fast, to study, and to see no woman; Flat treason ’gainst the kingly state of youth. Say, can you fast? your stomachs are too young; 290 And abstinence engenders maladies. And where that you have vow’d to study, lords, In that each of you have forsworn his book, Can you still dream and pore and thereon look? For when would you, my Lord, or you, or you, 295 Have found the ground of study’s excellence Without the beauty of a woman’s face? From women’s eyes this doctrine I derive; They are the ground, the books, the academes From whence doth spring the true Promethean fire. 300 Why, universal plodding prisons up The nimble spirits in the arteries, As motion and long-during action tires The sinewy vigour of the traveller. Now, for not looking on a woman’s face, 305 You have in that forsworn the use of eyes And study too, the causer of your vow; For where is any author in the world Teaches such beauty as a woman’s eye? Learning is but an adjunct to ourself 310 And where we are our learning likewise is Then when ourselves we see in ladies’ eyes. Do we not likewise see our learning there? O, we have made a vow to study, lords, And in that vow we have forsworn our books 315 For when would you, my liege, or you, or you, In leaden contemplation have found out Such fiery numbers as the prompting eyes Of beauty’s tutors have enrich’d you with? Other slow arts entirely keep the brain; 320 And therefore, finding barren practisers, Scarce show a harvest of their heavy toil: But love, first learned in a lady’s eyes, Lives not alone immured in the brain; But, with the motion of all elements, 325 Courses as swift as thought in every power, And gives to every power a double power, Above their functions and their offices. It adds a precious seeing to the eye; A lover’s eyes will gaze an eagle blind; 330 A lover’s ear will hear the lowest sound, When the suspicious head of theft is stopp’d: Love’s feeling is more soft and sensible Than are the tender horns of cockled snails; Love’s tongue proves dainty Bacchus gross in taste: 335 For valour, is not Love a Hercules, Still climbing trees in the Hesperides? Subtle as Sphinx; as sweet and musical As bright Apollo’s lute, strung with his hair; And when Love speaks, the voice of all the gods 340 Make heaven drowsy with the harmony. Never durst poet touch a pen to write Until his ink were temper’d with Love’s sighs; O, then his lines would ravish savage ears, And plant in tyrants mild humility. 345 From women’s eyes this doctrine I derive: They sparkle still the right Promethean fire; They are the books, the arts, the academes, That show, contain and nourish all the world: Else none at all in ought proves excellent. 350 Then fools you were these women to forswear; Or keeping what is sworn, you will prove fools. For wisdom’s sake, a word that all men love; Or for love’s sake, a word that loves all men; Or for men’s sake, the authors of these women; 355 Or women’s sake, by whom we men are men; Let us once lose our oaths to find ourselves, Or else we lose ourselves to keep our oaths. It is religion to be thus forsworn, For charity itself fulfils the law, 360 And who can sever love from charity?

_King._ Saint Cupid, then! and, soldiers, to the field!

_Biron._ Advance your standards, and upon them, lords; Pell-mell, down with them! but be first advised, In conflict that you get the sun of them. 365

_Long._ Now to plain-dealing; lay these glozes by: Shall we resolve to woo these girls of France?

_King._ And win them too: therefore let us devise Some entertainment for them in their tents.

_Biron._ First, from the park let us conduct them thither; 370 Then homeward every man attach the hand Of his fair mistress: in the afternoon We will with some strange pastime solace them, Such as the shortness of the time can shape; For revels, dances, masks and merry hours 375 Forerun fair Love, strewing her way with flowers.

_King._ Away, away! no time shall be omitted That will betime, and may by us be fitted.

_Biron._ Allons! allons! Sow’d cockle reap’d no corn; And justice always whirls in equal measure: 380 Light wenches may prove plagues to men forsworn; If so, our copper buys no better treasure. [_Exeunt._

~~~~~ Linenotes: _Love’s Labour’s Lost_, IV, 3.

SCENE III.] SCENE IV. Pope. ACT IV. Capell.

1: _he_] om. Rowe (ed. 2).

2: _a pitch_] _pitch_ Hanmer.

3: _set_] Qq Ff. _sit_ Hanmer.

5: _and I the fool_] _and ay the fool_ Grant White, _am I the fool_ Anon. conj.

6: _I a sheep_] _ay a sheep_ Grant White.

9: _love her_] _love_ Rowe (ed. 2).

12, 13: _melancholy_] _mallichollie_ Qq Ff.

17: [Stands aside.] [retiring. Capell, and at line 21 [Gets up into a tree. id.

24: _smote_] _smot_ Qq Ff.

25: _night of dew_] Qq Ff. _dew of night_ Singer (Musgrave conj.).

34: _wilt_] _will_ Q1.

36: _dost thou_] Qq Ff. _thou dost_ Singer (Collier MS.).

43: _perjure_] _perjurd_ F2.

49: _triumviry_] Rowe (ed. 2). _triumphery_ Qq F1 F2. _triumphry_ F3 F4. _triumvirate_ Rowe (ed. 1).

55: _slop_] Theobald. _shop_ Qq Ff. _shape_ Egerton MS.

57: _cannot_] _could not_ ‘Passionate Pilgrim.’

59: _deserve_] _deserves_ Q2.

62: _earthly_] _earthy_ F3 F4.

64: _Vows are but breath_] _My vow was breath_ ‘Passionate Pilgrim.’

65: _which on my earth dost_] _that on this earth doth_ Ib.

66: _Exhalest_] _Exhale_ Ib.

67: _If broken then,_] Q1 Ff. _If broken, then_ Q2 ‘Passionate Pilgrim.’

69: _lose_] F4. _loose_ Qq F1 F2 F3. _breake_ ‘Passionate Pilgrim.’

71: _idolatry_] _ydotarie_ Q1.

72: _God amend!_] _God amend us!_ Collier MS.

[Enter Dumaine. Qq Ff.

76: _fools’_] _souls’_ S. Walker conj.

77: [Enter Dumaine, with a paper.] Dyce.

81: _wonder_] _woonder_ Q1.

_in_] Q1. _of_ Ff Q2.

82: _not, corporal_] _but corporal_ Theobald. _most corporal_ Collier MS.

83: _hairs_] _hair_ Capell conj.

_for foul...quoted_] _fourfold...coated_] Jackson conj.

_hath_] _have_ Rowe.

_quoted_] _coted_ Qq Ff.

85, 86: _Stoop...child._ As one line in Qq Ff. Corrected by Theobald.

89: _I_] Johnson. om. Qq Ff.

97: [reads] reads his sonnet Qq Ff.

98: _month is ever May_] Q1. _month is every May_ Ff Q2. _every month is May_ Anon conj.

_is_] _was_ ‘England’s Helicon.’

101: _velvet leaves the_] _velvet, leaves the_ Qq F1 F2 F3. _velvet leaves, the_ F4.

102: _can_] _’gan_ Theobald, _gan_ ‘England’s Helicon’ and ‘the Passionate Pilgrim.’

103 _lover_] _shepheard_ ‘England’s Helicon.’

104: _Wish_] Qq F1. _wish’d_ F2 F3 F4. ‘Passionate Pilgrim.’

105: _may blow_] _to blow_ F3 F4.

106: _Air._] _Ah!_ Johnson conj.

107: _alack_] _alas_ ‘Passionate Pilgrim,’ and ‘England’s Helicon.’

_is_] _hath_ Ib.

108: _thorn_] Rowe (ed. 2) (from ‘England’s Helicon’), _throne_ Qq Ff, ‘Passionate Pilgrim.’

111, 112: _Do...thee_] om. ‘Passionate Pilgrim,’ and ‘England’s Helicon.’

113: _Thou_] _Thee_ Singer.

_whom Jove_] _whom ev’n Jove_ Rowe (ed. 2). _whose love Jove_
S. Walker conj. (withdrawn). _whom great Jove_ Collier MS.

118: _fasting_] _fest’ring_ Theobald conj. _lasting_ Capell.

126: _o’erheard_] _ore-hard_ Q1.

127: _you blush;_] _do, blush;_ Capell conj. _blush you:_ Collier MS. _your blush:_ S. Walker conj.

128: _chide_] _chid_ F2.

129: _Maria:_] _Maria?_ Qq F1 F2. _Maria,_ F3 F4.

137: _Ay_] _Ah_ Rowe (ed. 1).

138: _One, her_] _One her_ Q1. _On her_ F1 Q2. _Her_ F2 F3 F4. _One’s_ S. Walker conj.

139: [To Long.] Johnson.

140: [To Dum.] Johnson.

142: _Faith_] Qq F1. _A faith_ F2 F3 F4. _Of faith_ or _Faith so,_ or _Such faith_ S. Walker conj. _Faiths_ Delius conj. See note (XIII).

_zeal_] _a zeal_ F2.

144: _leap_] _geap_ Warburton.

145: _I_] _eye_ Capell conj.

147: [Advancing.] Coming from his tree. Capell.

150: _art_] Qq F1. _are_ F2 F3 F4.

151: _coaches; in_] Hanmer. _coaches in_ Rowe (ed. 2). _couches in_ Qq Ff. _loaches in_ Grey conj.

157: _mote...mote_] Rowe. _moth...moth_ Qq Ff.

162: _gnat_] _knot_ Theobald. _sot_ Johnson conj. _knott_ Collins conj. _quat_ Becket conj.

164: _to tune_] Q1. _tuning_ Ff Q2.

166: _toys_] _toyles_ Q2.

170: _caudle_] Q1. _candle_ Ff Q2.

172: _to me...by you_] Capell. _by me...to you_ Qq Ff. _by me...by you_ Theobald.

176: _men like you, men of inconstancy_] Dyce (S. Walker conj.). _men like men of inconstancy_ Qq F1. _men, like men of strange inconstancy_ F2 F3 F4 (_strang_ F2). _vane-like men of strange inconstancy_ Hanmer (Warburton). _moon-like men of strange inconstancy_ Steevens (Mason conj.). _men, like men of such inconstancy_ Tieck conj. _men-like women of inconstancy_ Collier conj. _men like you, men all inconstancy_ Lettsom conj. _men like women for inconstancy_ Anon. conj.

178: _love_] _Love_ Q1. (Duke of Devonshire’s copy). _Ione_ Q1. _Ioane_ Qq F1 F2. _Joan_ F3 F4. See note (XIV).

179–182: _In pruning......limb?_] Printed as prose in Qq Ff, corrected by Rowe (ed. 2).

185: _present_] _presentment_ Singer. _peasant_ Collier MS.

[Offering a paper. Capell.

188: _away_] om. F2 F3 F4.

190: _parson_] _person_ Qq Ff.

_’twas_] Q1. _it was_ Ff Q2.

191: [Giving...paper.] Capell. [He reads the letter. Qq Ff.

195: [Biron...letter.] Capell.

196: _is in_] Qq F1 F2. _mean_ F3 F4.

199: [Gathering...] Capell.

201: _lord_] _liege_ Capell (corrected in MS.).

204: _and you, and you_] _and you_ Reed (1803).

207, 208: _True...gone?_] Printed as one line in Qq Ff.

209: [Exeunt...] Exit. F2. om. Q1 F1.

212: _show_] _shew_ Q1. _will shew_ Ff Q2.

214: _were_] Q1 F3 F4. _are_ F1 Q2 F2.

217: _quoth you_] om. Capell.

220: _strucken_] F4. _strooken_ Qq F1 F2 F3.

237: _then_] _and_ Capell.

244: _wood_] Rowe (ed. 1). _word_ Qq Ff. See note (XV).

250: _Black is_] _Black as_ F3 F4.

251: _school_] F3 F4. _schoole_ Qq F1. F2. _scowl_ Theobald (Warburton). _stole_ Hanmer (Theobald conj.). _soul_ Thirlby conj. _soil_ Dyce conj. _shade_ Collier MS. _scroll, shroud,_ or _seal_ Halliwell conj. _suit_ Edd. conj. See note (XVI).

252: Given to Biron by Hanmer.

_crest_] _dress_ Hanmer. _crete_ Warburton. _craye_ Edwards
conj. _cresset_ Becket conj. _best_ Collier MS.

254: _brows_] _brow_ F4.

255: _and_] F4. om. Qq F1. _an_ F2 F3.

_usurping_] _usurped_ Hanmer.

258: _the days_] _these days_ Collier MS.

262: _black_] _blake_ Q1.

264: _crack_] Q2 F3 F4. _crake_ Q1 F1 F2.

_sweet_] _swart_ Anon. conj.

267: _their_] _her_ Q2.

276: _lies_] _lyes?_ Qq Ff.

279: _Nothing_] F2 F3 F4. _O nothing_ Qq F1. See note (IX).

285: _’Tis_] S. Walker conj. _O_ Id. conj. _O tis_ Qq Ff. See note (XVII).

286: _affection’s men_] _affections men_ Qq F1 F2. _affections, men_ F3 F4.

289: _’gainst_] _against_ Q2.

293: _have_] _hath_ Rowe (ed. 2).

295: See note (XVIII).

301: _prisons_] Theobald. _poysons_ Qq Ff.

304: _sinewy_] _sinnowy_ Qq Ff.

309: _beauty_] _duty_ Warburton. _learning_ Collier MS.

312, 313: _eyes, Do_] F2 F3 F4. _eyes With our selves Do_ Qq F1.

318: _numbers_] _notions_ Hanmer.

319: _beauty’s_] _beautis_ Q1. _beauties_ Ff. Q2. _beauteous_ Hanmer.

332: _head_] _hand_ Griffith conj. _heed_ Anon. conj.

_theft_] _thrift_ Theobald.

335: _dainty Bacchus_] F2 F3 F4. _dainty, Bacchus_ Qq. F1.

336: _valour_] _savour_ Theobald. _flavour_ Griffith conj.

338: _Sphinx_] _a Sphinx_ F3 F4.

339: This line printed twice in F2.

340: _speaks,......gods_] _speaks (the voice of all) the gods_ Tyrwhitt conj.

340, 341: _the voice......heaven_] _the voice makes all the gods Of heaven_ Farmer conj.

341: _Make_] _Makes_ Hanmer. _Mark,_ Theobald (Warburton). _Wakes drowsy heaven_ Becket conj. _Wakes heaven, drowsy_ Jackson conj. See note (XIX).

_the_] _its_ Steevens conj.

343: _sighs_] _tears_ Griffith conj.

345: _humility_] _humanity_ Griffith conj.

354: _that loves all men_] _that moves all men_ Hanmer. _all women love_ Warburton. _that joyes all men_ Heath conj. _that leads all men_ Mason conj.

355: _men’s_] _man’s_ Anon. conj.

_authors_] Capell. _author_ Qq Ff.

_women_] _words_ Farmer conj.

356: _Or_] _For_ Warburton conj. transposing lines 355, 356.

_women’s_] _womans_ F4.

357: _Let us_] F2 F3 F4. _Lets us_ Q1. _Let’s_ F1 Q2.

357, 358: _lose...lose_] F4. _loose...loose_ Qq F1 F2 F3.

363: _standards_] _standars_ Q1.

365: _conflict_] _conflish_ F2.

376: _her_] _his_ Capell conj.

378: _betime_] Rowe (ed. 2) _be time_ Qq Ff. _betide_ Staunton conj.

379: _Allons! allons_] Theobald (Warburton). _Alone, alone_ Qq Ff. ~~~~~