Chapter IX: Act I: SCENE I. The king of Navarre’s park

_Enter_ FERDINAND, _king of_ NAVARRE, BIRON, LONGAVILLE, _and_ DUMAIN.

_King._ Let fame, that all hunt after in their lives, Live register’d upon our brazen tombs, And then grace us in the disgrace of death; When, spite of cormorant devouring Time, The endeavour of this present breath may buy 5 That honour which shall bate his scythe’s keen edge, And make us heirs of all eternity. Therefore, brave conquerors,—for so you are, That war against your own affections And the huge army of the world’s desires,— 10 Our late edict shall strongly stand in force: Navarre shall be the wonder of the world; Our court shall be a little Academe, Still and contemplative in living art. You three, Biron, Dumain, and Longaville, 15 Have sworn for three years’ term to live with me My fellow-scholars, and to keep those statutes That are recorded in this schedule here: Your oaths are pass’d; and now subscribe your names, That his own hand may strike his honour down 20 That violates the smallest branch herein: If you are arm’d to do as sworn to do, Subscribe to your deep oaths, and keep it too.

_Long._ I am resolved; ’tis but a three years’ fast: The mind shall banquet, though the body pine: 25 Fat paunches have lean pates; and dainty bits Make rich the ribs, but bankrupt quite the wits.

_Dum._ My loving lord, Dumain is mortified: The grosser manner of these world’s delights He throws upon the gross world’s baser slaves: 30 To love, to wealth, to pomp, I pine and die; With all these living in philosophy.

_Biron._ I can but say their protestation over; So much, dear liege, I have already sworn, That is, to live and study here three years. 35 But there are other strict observances; As, not to see a woman in that term, Which I hope well is not enrolled there; And one day in a week to touch no food, And but one meal on every day beside, 40 The which I hope is not enrolled there; And then, to sleep but three hours in the night, And not be seen to wink of all the day,— When I was wont to think no harm all night, And make a dark night too of half the day,— 45 Which I hope well is not enrolled there: O, these are barren tasks, too hard to keep, Not to see ladies, study, fast, not sleep!

_King._ Your oath is pass’d to pass away from these.

_Biron._ Let me say no, my liege, an if you please: 50 I only swore to study with your grace, And stay here in your court for three years’ space.

_Long._ You swore to that, Biron, and to the rest.

_Biron._ By yea and nay, sir, then I swore in jest. What is the end of study? let me know. 55

_King._ Why, that to know, which else we should not know.

_Biron._ Things hid and barr’d, you mean, from common sense?

_King._ Ay, that is study’s god-like recompense.

_Biron._ Come on, then; I will swear to study so, To know the thing I am forbid to know: 60 As thus,—to study where I well may dine, When I to feast expressly am forbid; Or study where to meet some mistress fine, When mistresses from common sense are hid; Or, having sworn too hard a keeping oath, 65 Study to break it, and not break my troth. If study’s gain be thus, and this be so, Study knows that which yet it doth not know: Swear me to this, and I will ne’er say no.

_King._ These be the stops that hinder study quite, 70 And train our intellects to vain delight.

_Biron._ Why, all delights are vain; but that most vain, Which, with pain purchased, doth inherit pain: As, painfully to pore upon a book To seek the light of truth; while truth the while 75 Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look: Light, seeking light, doth light of light beguile: So, ere you find where light in darkness lies, Your light grows dark by losing of your eyes. Study me how to please the eye indeed, 80 By fixing it upon a fairer eye; Who dazzling so, that eye shall be his heed, And give him light that it was blinded by. Study is like the heaven’s glorious sun, That will not be deep-search’d with saucy looks: 85 Small have continual plodders ever won, Save base authority from others’ books. These earthly godfathers of heaven’s lights, That give a name to every fixed star, Have no more profit of their shining nights 90 Than those that walk and wot not what they are. Too much to know, is to know nought but fame; And every godfather can give a name.

_King._ How well he’s read, to reason against reading!

_Dum._ Proceeded well, to stop all good proceeding! 95

_Long._ He weeds the corn, and still lets grow the weeding.

_Biron._ The spring is near, when green geese are a-breeding.

_Dum._ How follows that?

_Biron._ Fit in his place and time.

_Dum._ In reason nothing.

_Biron._ Something, then, in rhyme.

_King._ Biron is like an envious sneaping frost, 100
That bites the first-born infants of the spring.

_Biron._ Well, say I am; why should proud summer boast, Before the birds have any cause to sing? Why should I joy in any abortive birth? At Christmas I no more desire a rose 105 Than wish a snow in May’s new-fangled shows; But like of each thing that in season grows. So you, to study now it is too late, Climb o’er the house to unlock the little gate.

_King._ Well, sit you out: go home, Biron: adieu. 110

_Biron._ No, my good lord; I have sworn to stay with you: And though I have for barbarism spoke more Than for that angel knowledge you can say, Yet confident I’ll keep what I have swore, And bide the penance of each three years’ day. 115 Give me the paper; let me read the same; And to the strict’st decrees I’ll write my name.

_King._ How well this yielding rescues thee from shame!

_Biron_ [_reads_]. ‘Item, That no woman shall come within a mile of my court,’—Hath this been proclaimed? 120

_Long._ Four days ago.

_Biron._ Let’s see the penalty. [_Reads_] ‘on pain of losing her tongue.’ Who devised this penalty?

_Long._ Marry, that did I.

_Biron._ Sweet lord, and why? 125

_Long._ To fright them hence with that dread penalty.

_Biron._ A dangerous law against gentility!

[_Reads_] ‘Item, If any man be seen to talk with a woman within the term of three years, he shall endure such public shame as the rest of the court can possibly devise.’ 130

This article, my liege, yourself must break;
For well you know here comes in embassy
The French king’s daughter with yourself to speak,—
A maid of grace and complete majesty,—
About surrender up of Aquitaine 135
To her decrepit, sick, and bedrid father:
Therefore this article is made in vain,
Or vainly comes the admired princess hither.

_King._ What say you, lords? why, this was quite forgot.

_Biron._ So study evermore is overshot: 140 While it doth study to have what it would, It doth forget to do the thing it should; And when it hath the thing it hunteth most, ’Tis won as towns with fire, so won, so lost.

_King._ We must of force dispense with this decree; 145 She must lie here on mere necessity.

_Biron._ Necessity will make us all forsworn Three thousand times within this three years’ space; For every man with his affects is born, Not by might master’d, but by special grace: 150 If I break faith, this word shall speak for me, I am forsworn on ‘mere necessity.’ So to the laws at large I write my name: [_Subscribes_ And he that breaks them in the least degree Stands in attainder of eternal shame: 155 Suggestions are to other as to me; But I believe, although I seem so loth, I am the last that will last keep his oath. But is there no quick recreation granted?

_King._ Ay, that there is. Our court, you know, is haunted 160 With a refined traveller of Spain; A man in all the world’s new fashion planted, That hath a mint of phrases in his brain; One whom the music of his own vain tongue Doth ravish like enchanting harmony; 165 A man of complements, whom right and wrong Have chose as umpire of their mutiny: This child of fancy, that Armado hight, For interim to our studies, shall relate. In high-born words, the worth of many a knight 170 From tawny Spain, lost in the world’s debate. How you delight, my lords, I know not, I; But, I protest, I love to hear him lie, And I will use him for my minstrelsy.

_Biron._ Armado is a most illustrious wight. 175 A man of fire-new words, fashion’s own knight.

_Long._ Costard the swain and he shall be our sport; And, so to study, three years is but short.

_Enter_ DULL _with a letter, and_ COSTARD.

_Dull._ Which is the Duke’s own person?

_Biron._ This, fellow: what wouldst? 180

_Dull._ I myself reprehend his own person, for I am his Grace’s tharborough: but I would see his own person in flesh and blood.

_Biron._ This is he.

_Dull._ Signior Arme—Arme—commends you. There’s 185 villany abroad: this letter will tell you more.

_Cost._ Sir, the contempts thereof are as touching me.

_King._ A letter from the magnificent Armado.

_Biron._ How low soever the matter, I hope in God for high words. 190

_Long._ A high hope for a low heaven: God grant us patience!

_Biron._ To hear? or forbear laughing?

_Long._ To hear meekly, sir, and to laugh moderately; or to forbear both. 195

_Biron._ Well, sir, be it as the style shall give us cause to climb in the merriness.

_Cost._ The matter is to me, sir, as concerning Jaquenetta. The manner of it is, I was taken with the manner.

_Biron._ In what manner? 200

_Cost._ In manner and form following, sir; all those three: I was seen with her in the manor-house, sitting with her upon the form, and taken following her into the park; which, put together, is in manner and form following. Now, sir, for the manner,—it is the manner of a man to speak to 205 a woman: for the form,—in some form.

_Biron._ For the following, sir?

_Cost._ As it shall follow in my correction: and God defend the right!

_King._ Will you hear this letter with attention? 210

_Biron._ As we would hear an oracle.

_Cost._ Such is the simplicity of man to hearken after the flesh.

_King_ [_reads_]. ‘Great deputy, the welkin’s vicegerent, and sole dominator of Navarre, my soul’s earth’s god, and body’s fostering 215 patron.’—

_Cost._ Not a word of Costard yet.

_King_ [_reads_]. ‘So it is,’—

_Cost._ It may be so: but if he say it is so, he is, in telling true, but so. 220

_King._ Peace!

_Cost._ Be to me, and every man that dares not fight!

_King._ No words!

_Cost._ Of other men’s secrets, I beseech you.

_King_ [_reads_]. ‘So it is, besieged with sable-coloured 225 melancholy, I did commend the black-oppressing humour to the most wholesome physic of thy health-giving air; and, as I am a gentleman, betook myself to walk. The time when. About the sixth hour; when beasts most graze, birds best peck, and men sit down to that 229 nourishment which is called supper: so much for the time when. Now for the ground which; which, I mean, I walked upon: it is ycleped thy park. Then for the place where; where, I mean, I did encounter that obscene and most preposterous event, that draweth from my snow-white pen the ebon-coloured ink, which here thou viewest, beholdest, 234 surveyest, or seest: but to the place where,—it standeth north-north- east and by east from the west corner of thy curious-knotted garden: there did I see that low-spirited swain, that base minnow of thy mirth,’—

_Cost._ Me?

_King_ [_reads_]. ‘that unlettered small-knowing soul,’— 240

_Cost._ Me?

_King_ [_reads_]. ‘that shallow vassal,’—

_Cost._ Still me?

_King_ [_reads_]. ‘which, as I remember, hight Costard,’

_Cost._ O, me! 245

_King_ [_reads_]. ‘sorted and consorted, contrary to thy established proclaimed edict and continent canon, which with,—O, with— but with this I passion to say wherewith,’—

_Cost._ With a wench.

_King_ [_reads_] ‘with a child of our grandmother Eve, a female; 250 or, for thy more sweet understanding, a woman. Him I, as my everesteemed duty pricks me on, have sent to thee, to receive the meed of punishment, by thy sweet Grace’s officer, Anthony Dull; a man of good repute, carriage, bearing, and estimation.’

_Dull._ Me, an’t shall please you; I am Anthony Dull. 255

_King_ [_reads_]. ‘For Jaquenetta,—so is the weaker vessel called which I apprehended with the aforesaid swain,—I keep her as a vessel of thy law’s fury; and shall, at the least of thy sweet notice, bring her to trial. Thine, in all compliments of devoted and heart-burning heat of duty. DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO.’ 260

_Biron._ This is not so well as I looked for, but the best that ever I heard.

_King._ Ay, the best for the worst. But, sirrah, what say you to this?

_Cost._ Sir, I confess the wench. 265

_King._ Did you hear the proclamation?

_Cost._ I do confess much of the hearing it, but little of the marking of it.

_King._ It was proclaimed a year’s imprisonment, to be taken with a wench. 270

_Cost._ I was taken with none, sir: I was taken with a damsel.

_King._ Well, it was proclaimed damsel.

_Cost._ This was no damsel neither, sir; she was a virgin.

_King._ It is so varied too; for it was proclaimed virgin. 275

_Cost._ If it were, I deny her virginity: I was taken with a maid.

_King._ This maid will not serve your turn, sir.

_Cost._ This maid will serve my turn, sir.

_King._ Sir, I will pronounce your sentence: you shall 280 fast a week with bran and water.

_Cost._ I had rather pray a month with mutton and porridge.

_King._ And Don Armado shall be your keeper. My Lord Biron, see him deliver’d o’er: 285 And go we, lords, to put in practice that Which each to other hath so strongly sworn.

[_Exeunt King, Longaville, and Dumain._

_Biron._ I’ll lay my head to any good man’s hat, These oaths and laws will prove an idle scorn. Sirrah, come on. 290

_Cost._ I suffer for the truth, sir; for true it is, I was taken with Jaquenetta, and Jaquenetta is a true girl; and, therefore, welcome the sour cup of prosperity! Affliction may one day smile again; and till then, sit thee down, sorrow! 295

[_Exeunt._

~~~~~ Linenotes: _Love’s Labour’s Lost_, I, 1.

SCENE I. The king...park] See note (III).

Biron] F2 F3 F4. Berowne Qq F1 and passim.

3: _And...death_] Put in the margin as spurious by Pope.

13: _Academe_] Q2 F2. _Achademe_ Q1 F1. _Academy_ F3 F4.

18: _schedule_] _sedule_ Q1. _scedule_ Q2 Ff.

23: _oaths_] _oath_ Steevens. See note (IV).

_keep it too_] _keepe it to_ Qq F1 _keep them to_ F2. _keep
them too_ F3 F4.

27: _bankrupt quite_] _bancrout quite_ Q1. _bankerout_ Ff. _banquerout_ Q2. _quite_ restored by Pope, and again rejected by Theobald.

29: _these_] _this_ Collier MS.

31: _pomp_] _pome_ Q1.

62: _feast...forbid_] Theobald. _fast...forbid_ Qq Ff. _fast...fore-bid_ Theobald conj.

65: _hard a keeping_] _hard-a-keeping_ Hanmer.

67: _thus_] Qq Ff. _this_ Pope.

72: _Why,_] Pope. _Why?_ Qq Ff.

_but_] Q1. _and_ Ff Q2.

77: _of light_] Qq F1. om. F2 F3 F4.

83: _it was_] _was it_ Steevens.

87: _base_] _bare_ S. Walker conj.

_others’_] _other_ Rowe (ed. 1).

92: _nought but fame;_] _nought: but feign;_ Warburton. _nought but shame;_ Id. conj.

103: _any_] Qq Ff. _an_ Pope.

106: _in_] _on_ Capell.

_new-fangled_] _new-spangled_ Grey conj.

_shows_] F3 F4. _showes_ Qq F1 F2. _earth_ Theobald.
_mirth_ S. Walker conj. Malone supposes a line to be lost after
line 103.

108: _So you, to study_] _Go you to study_, Anon. conj. _But you’ll to study,_ Lettsom conj.

_to study_] _by study_ Collier MS.

109: _Climb o’er the house to unlock the little gate_] Q1 _That were to climb o’er the house to unlock the gate_ Ff Q2. _Climb o’er the house-top to unlock the gate_ Collier MS. _That were to climb the house o’er to unlock the gate_ Grant White.

110: _sit_] Qq F2 F3 F4. _fit_ F1. _set_ Malone conj. See note (V).

114: _I’ll keep what_] _I’ll keep to what_ Collier MS.

_swore_] F2 F3 F4. _sworne_ Qq F1.

117: _strict’st_] F2 F3 F4. _strictest_ Qq F1.

123: _this penalty?_] _this?_ Steevens, reading _On...this?_ as a verse.

127: Biron] Theobald. Qq Ff continue this line to Longaville.

_gentility_] _gentletie_ Q1. _garrulity_ Theobald conj.
_scurrility_ Staunton conj.

130: _can possibly_] Pope. _can possible_ Q1. _shall possibly_ Ff Q2.

136: _bedrid_] _bedred_ Q1.

138: _hither_] _rather_ Collier MS.

146: _She_] _We_ Capell.

147: _us all_] _us both_ Q2.

151: _speak_] Q1. _break_ Ff Q2. _plead_ Collier MS.

153: [Subscribes.] Subscribes and gives back the paper. Capell.

156: _Other_] Q1. _others_ Ff Q2.

158: _will last_] _last will_ S. Walker conj.

161: _refined_] Qq F1. _conceited_ F2 F3 F4.

162: _world’s_] _world’s_ Qq F1. _world_ F2 F3 F4.

_world’s...planted_] _world-new fashions flaunted_ Collier MS.

164: _One whom_] F2 F3 F4. _on who_ Q1. _one who_ F1 Q2.

176: _fire-new_] _fire, new_ F1.

178: _is_] _are_ Pope.

Enter......Costard] Malone. Enter a Constable with Costard with
a letter. Qq Ff.

179: _Duke’s_] Qq Ff. _King’s_ Theobald.

182: _tharborough_] _farborough_ Q1.

191: _heaven_] _having_ Theobald. _haven_ Jackson conj. _hearing_ Collier MS.

193: _laughing_] Capell. _hearing_ Qq Ff.

194: _and_] om. Rowe (ed. 2).

197: _climb_] F3 F4. _clime_ Qq F1 F2. _chime_ Collier MS.

199: _with the manner_] _with the manor_ Hanmer. _in the manner_ Warburton.

205: _it is_] Qq F1. _is_ F2 F3 F4. _in_ Rowe (ed. 2).

220: _true, but so_] _true: but so_ Qq Ff. _true, but so, so_ Hanmer.

237: _minnow_] Qq Ff. _minion_ or _minim_ Anon. conj.

239, 241, 243: _Me?...Me?...me?_] Ff Q2. _Mee?...Mee?...mee._ Q1. _Me...Me...me._ Hanmer.

242: _vassal_] _vessel_ Collier MS.

247: _which_] _with,_ Theobald.

251: _sweet_] Qq F1. om. F2 F3 F4.

252: _meed_] _need_ Warburton.

253: _thy_] Qq F1. _the_ F2 F3 F4.

257: _keep_] Qq F2 F3 F4. _keeper_ F1.

_vessel_] _vassal_ Theobald.

260: _Adriano_] Qq. _Adriana_ Ff.

271: _I...I_] _It...I_ F2.

272, 273, 274: _damsel_] Q1, except in line 241 _demsel. damosell_ Ff Q2.

287: [Exeunt...] Exeunt. F2 F3 F4. om. Qq F1.

288: _good man’s hat_] _man’s good hat_ Capell conj. _goodman’s hat_ Anon. conj.

290: Given to Constable in Collier MS.

293: _prosperity_] _prosperie_ Q1.

294: _till then, sit thee_] Q1. _untill then sit_ Ff Q2. _untill then set thee_ Collier MS. ~~~~~

SCENE II. _The same._

_Enter_ ARMADO _and_ MOTH.

_Arm._ Boy, what sign is it when a man of great spirit grows melancholy?

_Moth._ A great sign, sir, that he will look sad.

_Arm._ Why, sadness is one and the self-same thing, dear imp. 5

_Moth._ No, no; O Lord, sir, no.

_Arm._ How canst thou part sadness and melancholy, my tender juvenal?

_Moth._ By a familiar demonstration of the working, my tough senior. 10

_Arm._ Why tough senior? why tough senior?

_Moth._ Why tender juvenal? why tender juvenal?

_Arm._ I spoke it, tender juvenal, as a congruent epitheton appertaining to thy young days, which we may nominate tender. 15

_Moth._ And I, tough senior, as an appertinent title to your old time, which we may name tough.

_Arm._ Pretty and apt.

_Moth._ How mean you, sir? I pretty, and my saying apt? or I apt, and my saying pretty? 20

_Arm._ Thou pretty, because little.

_Moth._ Little pretty, because little. Wherefore apt?

_Arm._ And therefore apt, because quick.

_Moth._ Speak you this in my praise, master?

_Arm._ In thy condign praise. 25

_Moth._ I will praise an eel with the same praise.

_Arm._ What, that an eel is ingenious?

_Moth._ That an eel is quick.

_Arm._ I do say thou art quick in answers: thou heatest my blood. 30

_Moth._ I am answered, sir.

_Arm._ I love not to be crossed.

_Moth._ [_Aside_] He speaks the mere contrary; crosses love not him.

_Arm._ I have promised to study three years with the 35 Duke.

_Moth._ You may do it in an hour, sir.

_Arm._ Impossible.

_Moth._ How many is one thrice told?

_Arm._ I am ill at reckoning; it fitteth the spirit of a 40 tapster.

_Moth._ You are a gentleman and a gamester, sir.

_Arm._ I confess both: they are both the varnish of a complete man.

_Moth._ Then, I am sure, you know how much the gross 45 sum of deuce-ace amounts to.

_Arm._ It doth amount to one more than two.

_Moth._ Which the base vulgar do call three.

_Arm._ True.

_Moth._ Why, sir, is this such a piece of study? Now 50 here is three studied, ere ye’ll thrice wink: and how easy it is to put years to the word three, and study three years in two words, the dancing horse will tell you.

_Arm._ A most fine figure!

_Moth._ To prove you a cipher. 55

_Arm._ I will hereupon confess I am in love: and as it is base for a soldier to love, so am I in love with a base wench. If drawing my sword against the humour of affection would deliver me from the reprobate thought of it, I would take Desire prisoner, and ransom him to any French 60 courtier for a new-devised courtesy. I think scorn to sigh: methinks I should outswear Cupid. Comfort me, boy: what great men have been in love?

_Moth._ Hercules, master.

_Arm._ Most sweet Hercules! More authority, dear 65 boy, name more; and, sweet my child, let them be men of good repute and carriage.

_Moth._ Samson, master: he was a man of good carriage, great carriage, for he carried the town-gates on his back like a porter: and he was in love. 70

_Arm._ O well-knit Samson! strong-jointed Samson! I do excel thee in my rapier as much as thou didst me in carrying gates. I am in love too. Who was Samson’s love, my dear Moth?

_Moth._ A woman, master. 75

_Arm._ Of what complexion?

_Moth._ Of all the four, or the three, or the two, or one of the four.

_Arm._ Tell me precisely of what complexion.

_Moth._ Of the sea-water green, sir. 80

_Arm._ Is that one of the four complexions?

_Moth._ As I have read, sir; and the best of them too.

_Arm._ Green, indeed, is the colour of lovers; but to have a love of that colour, methinks Samson had small reason for it. He surely affected her for her wit. 85

_Moth._ It was so, sir; for she had a green wit.

_Arm._ My love is most immaculate white and red.

_Moth._ Most maculate thoughts, master, are masked under such colours.

_Arm._ Define, define, well-educated infant. 90

_Moth._ My father’s wit, and my mother’s tongue, assist me!

_Arm._ Sweet invocation of a child; most pretty and pathetical!

_Moth._ If she be made of white and red, 95
Her faults will ne’er be known;
For blushing cheeks by faults are bred,
And fears by pale white shown:
Then if she fear, or be to blame,
By this you shall not know; 100
For still her cheeks possess the same
Which native she doth owe.

A dangerous rhyme, master, against the reason of white and red.

_Arm._ Is there not a ballad, boy, of the King and the 105 Beggar?

_Moth._ The world was very guilty of such a ballad some three ages since: but, I think, now ’tis not to be found; or, if it were, it would neither serve for the writing nor the tune. 110

_Arm._ I will have that subject newly writ o’er, that I may example my digression by some mighty precedent. Boy, I do love that country girl that I took in the park with the rational hind Costard: she deserves well.

_Moth._ [_Aside_] To be whipped; and yet a better love 115 than my master.

_Arm._ Sing, boy; my spirit grows heavy in love.

_Moth._ And that’s great marvel, loving a light wench.

_Arm._ I say, sing.

_Moth._ Forbear till this company be past. 120

_Enter_ DULL, COSTARD, _and_ JAQUENETTA.

_Dull._ Sir, the duke’s pleasure is, that you keep Costard safe: and you must suffer him to take no delight nor no penance; but a’ must fast three days a week. For this damsel, I must keep her at the park: she is allowed for the day-woman. Fare you well. 125

_Arm._ I do betray myself with blushing. Maid.

_Jaq._ Man.

_Arm._ I will visit thee at the lodge.

_Jaq._ That’s hereby.

_Arm._ I know where it is situate. 130

_Jaq._ Lord, how wise you are!

_Arm._ I will tell thee wonders.

_Jaq._ With that face?

_Arm._ I love thee.

_Jaq._ So I heard you say. 135

_Arm._ And so, farewell.

_Jaq._ Fair weather after you!

_Dull._ Come, Jaquenetta, away!

[_Exeunt Dull and Jaquenetta._

_Arm._ Villain, thou shalt fast for thy offences ere thou be pardoned. 140

_Cost._ Well, sir, I hope, when I do it, I shall do it on a full stomach.

_Arm._ Thou shalt be heavily punished.

_Cost._ I am more bound to you than your fellows, for they are but lightly rewarded. 145

_Arm._ Take away this villain; shut him up.

_Moth._ Come, you transgressing slave; away!

_Cost._ Let me not be pent up, sir: I will fast, being loose.

_Moth._ No, sir; that were fast and loose: thou shalt to prison. 150

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

_Moth._ What shall some see?

_Cost._ Nay, nothing, Master Moth, but what they look upon. It is not for prisoners to be too silent in their words; 155 and therefore I will say nothing: I thank God I have as little patience as another man; and therefore I can be quiet.

[_Exeunt Moth and Costard._

_Arm._ I do affect the very ground, which is base, where her shoe, which is baser, guided by her foot, which is basest, doth tread. I shall be forsworn, which is a great argument 160 of falsehood, if I love. And how can that be true love which is falsely attempted? Love is a familiar; Love is a devil: there is no evil angel but Love. Yet was Samson so tempted, and he had an excellent strength; yet was Solomon so seduced, and he had a very good wit. Cupid’s 165 butt-shaft is too hard for Hercules’ club; and therefore too much odds for a Spaniard’s rapier. The first and second cause will not serve my turn; the passado he respects not, the duello he regards not: his disgrace is to be called boy; but his glory is to subdue men. Adieu, valour! rust, rapier! 170 be still, drum! for your manager is in love; yea, he loveth. Assist me some extemporal god of rhyme, for I am sure I shall turn sonnet. Devise, wit; write, pen; for I am for whole volumes in folio. [_Exit._

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

SCENE II.] SCENE III. Pope.

The same. Armado’s house. Pope. See note (III).

Enter Armado...] Enter Armado a Braggart... F2.

10, 11, 16: _senior_] _signeor_ Q1. _signeur_ F1.

13: _epitheton_] F2 F3 F4. _apethaton_ Q1. _apathaton._ F1 Q2.

22: _Little pretty_] _Little! pretty_ Theobald.

23: _apt_] om. Q2.

27: _ingenious_] Q1 F4. _ingenuous_ F1 Q2 F2 F3.

33: [Aside.] Hanmer.

_the mere contrary_] Qq F1. _the clean contrary_ F2 F3 F4.
_contrary_ Hanmer.

36: _Duke_] _King_ Theobald.

40: _fitteth_] Q1 _fits_ Ff Q2.

48: _do_] Q1. om. Ff Q2.

51: _here is_] Q1. _here’s_ Ff Q2.

_ye’ll_] _Yele_ Q1. _You’ll_ FF Q2.

51, 52: _it is_] _is it_ Warburton.

55: [Aside. Hanmer.

86: _green wit_] See note (VI).

87: _My_] _Me_ Q2.

88: _maculate_] Q1 _immaculate_ Ff Q2.

94: _pathetical_] _poetical_ Collier MS.

97: _blushing_] F2 F3 F4. _blush-in_ Qq F1.

107: _very guilty_] Qq Ff. _guilty_ Rowe.

114: _rational_] _irrational_ Hanmer.

115: [Aside.] Hanmer.

116: _master_] _master deserves_ Hanmer.

117: _love_] F2 F3 F4. _loue_ Qq. _ioue_ F1.

120: Enter...] Enter Clown, Constable, and Wench. Qq Ff. Enter C., D., J. and Maid. Rowe.

122: _suffer him to_] Q1. _let him_ Ff Q2.

123: _a’_] Q1. _hee_ F1 Q2. _he_ F2 F3 F4.

125: [Exit. Ff Q2. om. Q1.

133: _that_] Q1 F2 F3 F4. _what_ F1 Q2.

138: Dull.] Theobald. Clo. Qq F1. om. F2 F3 F4.

[Exeunt D. and J.] Exeunt. Qq Ff.

139: Arm.] Ar. Q1. Clo. F1. Brag. Q2. Con. F2 F3 F4.

148: _will fast_] _will be fast_ F2 F3 F4.

155: _not_] om. Q2.

_too_] Q1. om. Ff Q2.

_words_] _wards_ Johnson conj.

163: _was Samson_] _was Sampson_ Q1. _Sampson was_ Ff Q2.

165: _Solomon_] F3 F4. _Salomon_ Qq F1 F2.

169: _duello_] _duella._ Q1.

171: _manager_] _Armiger_ Collier MS.

173: _sonnet_] Ff Qq. _sonneteer_ Hanmer. _sonneter_ Capell. _a sonnet_ Amyot conj. _sonnet-maker_ Collier MS. _sonnets_ Grant White.

174: [Exit.] Q1. Exit Finis actus primus. F1 Q2. Finis actus primi. F2 F3 F4. ~~~~~