Princess

1. Sweet hearts, we shall be rich ere we depart,
2. If fairings come thus plentifully in.
3. A lady wall’d about with diamonds!
4. Look you what I have from the loving King.

Rosaline

5. Madam, came nothing else along with that?

Princess

6. Nothing but this? Yes, as much love in rhyme
7. As would be cramm’d up in a sheet of paper,
8. Writ a’ both sides the leaf, margent and all,
9. That he was fain to seal on Cupid’s name.

Rosaline

10. That was the way to make his godhead wax,
11. For he hath been five thousand year a boy.

Katherine

12. Ay, and a shrewd unhappy gallows too.

Rosaline

13. You’ll ne’er be friends with him, ’a kill’d your sister.

Katherine

14. He made her melancholy, sad, and heavy,
15. And so she died. Had she been light, like you,
16. Of such a merry, nimble, stirring spirit,
17. She might ’a’ been a grandam ere she died.
18. And so may you; for a light heart lives long.

Rosaline

19. What’s your dark meaning, mouse, of this light word?

Katherine

20. A light condition in a beauty dark.

Rosaline

21. We need more light to find your meaning out.

Katherine

22. You’ll mar the light by taking it in snuff;
23. Therefore I’ll darkly end the argument.

Rosaline

24. Look what you do, you do it still i’ th’ dark.

Katherine

25. So do not you, for you are a light wench.

Rosaline

26. Indeed I weigh not you, and therefore light.

Katherine

27. You weigh me not? O, that’s you care not for me.

Rosaline

28. Great reason: for past care is still past cure.

Princess

29. Well bandied both, a set of wit well played.
30. But, Rosaline, you have a favor too?
31. Who sent it? And what is it?

Rosaline

32.                              I would you knew.
33. And if my face were but as fair as yours,
34. My favor were as great: be witness this.
35. Nay, I have verses too, I thank Berowne;
36. The numbers true, and, were the numb’ring too,
37. I were the fairest goddess on the ground.
38. I am compar’d to twenty thousand fairs.
39. O, he hath drawn my picture in his letter!

Princess

40. Any thing like?

Rosaline

41. Much in the letters, nothing in the praise.

Princess

42. Beauteous as ink—a good conclusion.

Katherine

43. Fair as a text B in a copy-book.

Rosaline

44. Ware pencils ho! Let me not die your debtor,
45. My red dominical, my golden letter:
46. O that your face were not so full of o’s!

Princess

47. A pox of that jest! And I beshrew all shrews.
48. But, Katherine, what was sent to you from fair Dumaine?

Katherine

49. Madam, this glove.

Princess

50.                    Did he not send you twain?

Katherine

51. Yes, madam, and moreover
52. Some thousand verses of a faithful lover.
53. A huge translation of hypocrisy,
54. Vildly compiled, profound simplicity.

Maria

55. This, and these pearls, to me sent Longaville.
56. The letter is too long by half a mile.

Princess

57. I think no less. Dost thou not wish in heart
58. The chain were longer and the letter short?

Maria

59. Ay, or I would these hands might never part.

Princess

60. We are wise girls to mock our lovers so.

Rosaline

61. They are worse fools to purchase mocking so.
62. That same Berowne I’ll torture ere I go.
63. O that I knew he were but in by th’ week!
64. How I would make him fawn, and beg, and seek,
65. And wait the season, and observe the times,
66. And spend his prodigal wits in bootless rhymes,
67. And shape his service wholly to my device,
68. And make him proud to make me proud that jests!
69. So pair-taunt-like would I o’ersway his state
70. That he should be my fool and I his fate.

Princess

71. None are so surely caught, when they are catch’d,
72. As wit turn’d fool; folly, in wisdom hatch’d,
73. Hath wisdom’s warrant and the help of school,
74. And wit’s own grace to grace a learned fool.

Rosaline

75. The blood of youth burns not with such excess
76. As gravity’s revolt to wantonness.

Maria

77. Folly in fools bears not so strong a note
78. As fool’ry in the wise, when wit doth dote,
79. Since all the power thereof it doth apply
80. To prove, by wit, worth in simplicity.

Princess

81. Here comes Boyet, and mirth is in his face.

Boyet

82. O, I am stabb’d with laughter! Where’s her Grace?

Princess

83. Thy news, Boyet?

Boyet

84.                  Prepare, madam, prepare!
85. Arm, wenches, arm! Encounters mounted are
86. Against your peace. Love doth approach disguis’d,
87. Armed in arguments—You’ll be surpris’d.
88. Muster your wits, stand in your own defense,
89. Or hide your heads like cowards, and fly hence.

Princess

90. Saint Denis to Saint Cupid! What are they
91. That charge their breath against us? Say, scout, say.

Boyet

92. Under the cool shade of a sycamore
93. I thought to close mine eyes some half an hour;
94. When lo, to interrupt my purpos’d rest,
95. Toward that shade I might behold address’d
96. The King and his companions. Warily
97. I stole into a neighbor thicket by,
98. And overheard what you shall overhear:
99. That by and by disguis’d they will be here.
100. Their herald is a pretty knavish page,
101. That well by heart hath conn’d his embassage.
102. Action and accent did they teach him there:
103. “Thus must thou speak,” and “thus thy body bear”;
104. And ever and anon they made a doubt
105. Presence majestical would put him out;
106. “For,” quoth the King, “an angel shalt thou see;
107. Yet fear not thou, but speak audaciously.”
108. The boy replied, “An angel is not evil;
109. I should have fear’d her had she been a devil.”
110. With that all laugh’d, and clapp’d him on the shoulder,
111. Making the bold wag by their praises bolder.
112. One rubb’d his elbow thus, and fleer’d, and swore
113. A better speech was never spoke before.
114. Another, with his finger and his thumb,
115. Cried, “Via! We will do’t, come what will come.”
116. The third he caper’d, and cried, “All goes well.”
117. The fourth turn’d on the toe, and down he fell.
118. With that they all did tumble on the ground,
119. With such a zealous laughter, so profound,
120. That in this spleen ridiculous appears,
121. To check their folly, passion’s solemn tears.

Princess

122. But what, but what, come they to visit us?

Boyet

123. They do, they do; and are apparell’d thus,
124. Like Muscovites or Russians, as I guess.
125. Their purpose is to parley, to court, and dance,
126. And every one his love-feat will advance
127. Unto his several mistress, which they’ll know
128. By favors several which they did bestow.

Princess

129. And will they so? The gallants shall be task’d:
130. For, ladies, we will every one be mask’d,
131. And not a man of them shall have the grace,
132. Despite of suit, to see a lady’s face.
133. Hold, Rosaline, this favor thou shalt wear,
134. And then the King will court thee for his dear.
135. Hold, take thou this, my sweet, and give me thine,
136. So shall Berowne take me for Rosaline.
137. And change you favors too, so shall your loves
138. Woo contrary, deceiv’d by these removes.

Rosaline

139. Come on then, wear the favors most in sight.

Katherine

140. But in this changing, what is your intent?

Princess

141. The effect of my intent is to cross theirs:
142. They do it but in mockery merriment,
143. And mock for mock is only my intent.
144. Their several counsels they unbosom shall
145. To loves mistook, and so be mock’d withal
146. Upon the next occasion that we meet,
147. With visages display’d, to talk and greet.

Rosaline

148. But shall we dance, if they desire us to’t?

Princess

149. No, to the death we will not move a foot,
150. Nor to their penn’d speech render we no grace,
151. But while ’tis spoke each turn away her face.

Boyet

152. Why, that contempt will kill the speaker’s heart,
153. And quite divorce his memory from his part.

Princess

154. Therefore I do it, and I make no doubt
155. The rest will ne’er come in, if he be out.
156. There’s no such sport as sport by sport o’erthrown,
157. To make theirs ours and ours none but our own;
158. So shall we stay, mocking intended game,
159. And they, well mock’d, depart away with shame.

Boyet

160. The trumpet sounds, be mask’d; the maskers come.

Moth

161. “All hail, the richest beauties on the earth!”—

Boyet

162. Beauties no richer than rich taffeta.

Moth

163. “A holy parcel of the fairest dames
0. The Ladies turn their backs to him.
164. That ever turn’d their—backs—to mortal views!”

Berowne

165. Their “eyes,” villain, their “eyes.”

Moth

166. “That ever turn’d their eyes to mortal views!
167. Out”—

Boyet

168. True, out indeed.

Moth

169. “Out of your favors, heavenly spirits, vouchsafe
170. Not to behold”—

Berowne

171. “Once to behold,” rogue.

Moth

172. “Once to behold with your sun-beamed eyes,
173. —with your sun-beamed eyes”—

Boyet

174. They will not answer to that epithet;
175. You were best call it “daughter-beamed eyes.”

Moth

176. They do not mark me, and that brings me out.

Berowne

177. Is this your perfectness? Be gone, you rogue!

Rosaline

178. What would these strangers? Know their minds, Boyet.
179. If they do speak our language, ’tis our will
180. That some plain man recount their purposes.
181. Know what they would.

Boyet

182.                       What would you with the Princess?

Berowne

183. Nothing but peace, and gentle visitation.

Rosaline

184. What would they, say they?

Boyet

185. Nothing but peace, and gentle visitation.

Rosaline

186. Why, that they have, and bid them so be gone.

Boyet

187. She says, you have it, and you may be gone.

King

188. Say to her we have measur’d many miles,
189. To tread a measure with her on this grass.

Boyet

190. They say that they have measur’d many a mile
191. To tread a measure with you on this grass.

Rosaline

192. It is not so. Ask them how many inches
193. Is in one mile: if they have measured many,
194. The measure then of one is eas’ly told.

Boyet

195. If to come hither you have measur’d miles,
196. And many miles, the Princess bids you tell
197. How many inches doth fill up one mile.

Berowne

198. Tell her, we measure them by weary steps.

Boyet

199. She hears herself.

Rosaline

200.                    How many weary steps
201. Of many weary miles you have o’ergone
202. Are numb’red in the travel of one mile?

Berowne

203. We number nothing that we spend for you;
204. Our duty is so rich, so infinite,
205. That we may do it still without accompt.
206. Vouchsafe to show the sunshine of your face,
207. That we (like savages) may worship it.

Rosaline

208. My face is but a moon, and clouded too.

King

209. Blessed are clouds, to do as such clouds do!
210. Vouchsafe, bright moon, and these thy stars, to shine
211. (Those clouds removed) upon our watery eyne.

Rosaline

212. O vain petitioner! Beg a greater matter,
213. Thou now requests but moonshine in the water.

King

214. Then in our measure do but vouchsafe one change.
215. Thou bid’st me beg; this begging is not strange.

Rosaline

216. Play, music, then! Nay, you must do it soon.
0. Music plays.
217. Not yet; no dance: thus change I like the moon.

King

218. Will you not dance? How come you thus estranged?

Rosaline

219. You took the moon at full, but now she’s changed.

King

220. Yet still she is the moon, and I the man.
221. The music plays, vouchsafe some motion to it.

Rosaline

222. Our ears vouchsafe it.

King

223.                        But your legs should do it.

Rosaline

224. Since you are strangers, and come here by chance,
225. We’ll not be nice; take hands. We will not dance.

King

226. Why take we hands then?

Rosaline

227.                         Only to part friends.
228. Curtsy, sweet hearts—and so the measure ends.

King

229. More measure of this measure; be not nice.

Rosaline

230. We can afford no more at such a price.

King

231. Price you yourselves; what buys your company?

Rosaline

232. Your absence only.

King

233.                    That can never be.

Rosaline

234. Then cannot we be bought; and so, adieu—
235. Twice to your visor, and half once to you.

King

236. If you deny to dance, let’s hold more chat.

Rosaline

237. In private then.

King

238.                  I am best pleas’d with that.

Berowne

239. White-handed mistress, one sweet word with thee.

Princess

240. Honey, and milk, and sugar: there is three.

Berowne

241. Nay then two treys, and if you grow so nice,
242. Metheglin, wort, and malmsey; well run, dice!
243. There’s half a dozen sweets.

Princess

244.                              Seventh sweet, adieu.
245. Since you can cog, I’ll play no more with you.

Berowne

246. One word in secret.

Princess

247.                     Let it not be sweet.

Berowne

248. Thou grievest my gall.

Princess

249.                        Gall! Bitter.

Berowne

250.               Therefore meet.

Dumaine

251. Will you vouchsafe with me to change a word?

Maria

252. Name it.

Dumaine

253.          Fair lady—

Maria

254.            Say you so? Fair lord—
255. Take that for your fair lady.

Dumaine

256.                               Please it you,
257. As much in private, and I’ll bid adieu.

Katherine

258. What, was your vizard made without a tongue?

Longaville

259. I know the reason, lady, why you ask.

Katherine

260. O for your reason! Quickly, sir, I long!

Longaville

261. You have a double tongue within your mask,
262. And would afford my speechless vizard half.

Katherine

263. “Veal,” quoth the Dutchman. Is not veal a calf?

Longaville

264. A calf, fair lady!

Katherine

265.                    No, a fair lord calf.

Longaville

266. Let’s part the word.

Katherine

267.                      No, I’ll not be your half.
268. Take all and wean it, it may prove an ox.

Longaville

269. Look how you butt yourself in these sharp mocks!
270. Will you give horns, chaste lady? Do not so.

Katherine

271. Then die a calf, before your horns do grow.

Longaville

272. One word in private with you ere I die.

Katherine

273. Bleat softly then, the butcher hears you cry.

Boyet

274. The tongues of mocking wenches are as keen
275. As is the razor’s edge invisible,
276. Cutting a smaller hair than may be seen;
277. Above the sense of sense, so sensible
278. Seemeth their conference, their conceits have wings
279. Fleeter than arrows, bullets, wind, thought, swifter things.

Rosaline

280. Not one word more, my maids, break off, break off.

Berowne

281. By heaven, all dry-beaten with pure scoff!

King

282. Farewell, mad wenches, you have simple wits.
0. Exeunt King, Lords, and Blackamoors.

Princess

283. Twenty adieus, my frozen Muscovits.
284. Are these the breed of wits so wondered at?

Boyet

285. Tapers they are, with your sweet breaths puff’d out.

Rosaline

286. Well-liking wits they have—gross gross, fat fat.

Princess

287. O poverty in wit, kingly-poor flout!
288. Will they not (think you) hang themselves tonight?
289. Or ever but in vizards show their faces?
290. This pert Berowne was out of count’nance quite.

Rosaline

291. They were all in lamentable cases!
292. The King was weeping-ripe for a good word.

Princess

293. Berowne did swear himself out of all suit.

Maria

294. Dumaine was at my service, and his sword:
295. “No point,” quoth I; my servant straight was mute.

Katherine

296. Lord Longaville said I came o’er his heart,
297. And trow you what he call’d me?

Princess

298.                                 Qualm, perhaps.

Katherine

299. Yes, in good faith.

Princess

300.                     Go, sickness as thou art!

Rosaline

301. Well, better wits have worn plain statute-caps.

     Nov 3, 2020 Miko From 1571 to 1597, males ages six and up (except those of high rank) were required to wear wool caps on Sundays and official holidays. One of the purposes for the law was to support the ailing wool industry.

302. But will you hear? The King is my love sworn.

Princess

303. And quick Berowne hath plighted faith to me.

Katherine

304. And Longaville was for my service born.

Maria

305. Dumaine is mine, as sure as bark on tree.

Boyet

306. Madam, and pretty mistresses, give ear:
307. Immediately they will again be here
308. In their own shapes; for it can never be
309. They will digest this harsh indignity.

Princess

310. Will they return?

Boyet

311.                   They will, they will, God knows,
312. And leap for joy, though they are lame with blows:
313. Therefore change favors, and when they repair,
314. Blow like sweet roses in this summer air.

Princess

315. How blow? How blow? Speak to be understood.

Boyet

316. Fair ladies mask’d are roses in their bud;
317. Dismask’d, their damask sweet commixture shown,
318. Are angels vailing clouds, or roses blown.

Princess

319. Avaunt, perplexity! What shall we do,
320. If they return in their own shapes to woo?

Rosaline

321. Good madam, if by me you’ll be advis’d,
322. Let’s mock them still, as well known as disguis’d.
323. Let us complain to them what fools were here,
324. Disguis’d like Muscovites, in shapeless gear;
325. And wonder what they were, and to what end
326. Their shallow shows and prologue vildly penn’d,
327. And their rough carriage so ridiculous,
328. Should be presented at our tent to us.

Boyet

329. Ladies, withdraw; the gallants are at hand.

Princess

330. Whip to our tents, as roes run o’er land.

King

331. Fair sir, God save you! Where’s the Princess?

Boyet

332. Gone to her tent. Please it your Majesty
333. Command me any service to her thither?

King

334. That she vouchsafe me audience for one word.

Boyet

335. I will, and so will she, I know, my lord.

Berowne

336. This fellow pecks up wit as pigeons pease,
337. And utters it again when God doth please.
338. He is wit’s pedlar, and retails his wares
339. At wakes and wassails, meetings, markets, fairs:
340. And we that sell by gross, the Lord doth know,
341. Have not the grace to grace it with such show.
342. This gallant pins the wenches on his sleeve;
343. Had he been Adam, he had tempted Eve.
344. ’A can carve too, and lisp; why, this is he
345. That kiss’d his hand away in courtesy;
346. This is the ape of form, monsieur the nice,
347. That when he plays at tables chides the dice
348. In honorable terms; nay, he can sing
349. A mean most meanly, and in ushering
350. Mend him who can. The ladies call him sweet;
351. The stairs as he treads on them kiss his feet.
352. This is the flow’r that smiles on every one,
353. To show his teeth as white as whale’s bone;
354. And consciences that will not die in debt
355. Pay him the due of honey-tongued Boyet.

King

356. A blister on his sweet tongue, with my heart,
357. That put Armado’s page out of his part!

Berowne

358. See where it comes! Behavior, what wert thou
359. Till this madman show’d thee? And what art thou now?

King

360. All hail, sweet madam, and fair time of day!

Princess

361. “Fair” in “all hail” is foul, as I conceive.

King

362. Conster my speeches better, if you may.

Princess

363. Then wish me better, I will give you leave.

King

364. We came to visit you, and purpose now
365. To lead you to our court; vouchsafe it then.

Princess

366. This field shall hold me, and so hold your vow:
367. Nor God, nor I, delights in perjur’d men.

King

368. Rebuke me not for that which you provoke:
369. The virtue of your eye must break my oath.

Princess

370. You nickname virtue; vice you should have spoke,
371. For virtue’s office never breaks men’s troth.
372. Now by my maiden honor, yet as pure
373. As the unsallied lily, I protest,
374. A world of torments though I should endure,
375. I would not yield to be your house’s guest:
376. So much I hate a breaking cause to be
377. Of heavenly oaths, vow’d with integrity.

King

378. O, you have liv’d in desolation here,
379. Unseen, unvisited, much to our shame.

Princess

380. Not so, my lord, it is not so, I swear;
381. We have had pastimes here and pleasant game,
382. A mess of Russians left us but of late.

King

383. How, madam? Russians?

Princess

384.                       Ay, in truth, my lord;
385. Trim gallants, full of courtship and of state.

Rosaline

386. Madam, speak true. It is not so, my lord.
387. My lady (to the manner of the days)
388. In courtesy gives undeserving praise.
389. We four indeed confronted were with four
390. In Russian habit; here they stay’d an hour,
391. And talk’d apace; and in that hour, my lord,
392. They did not bless us with one happy word.
393. I dare not call them fools; but this I think,
394. When they are thirsty, fools would fain have drink.

Berowne

395. This jest is dry to me. Gentle sweet,
396. Your wits makes wise things foolish. When we greet,
397. With eyes best seeing, heaven’s fiery eye,
398. By light we lose light; your capacity
399. Is of that nature that to your huge store
400. Wise things seem foolish, and rich things but poor.

Rosaline

401. This proves you wise and rich, for in my eye—

Berowne

402. I am a fool, and full of poverty.

Rosaline

403. But that you take what doth to you belong,
404. It were a fault to snatch words from my tongue.

Berowne

405. O, I am yours, and all that I possess!

Rosaline

406. All the fool mine?

Berowne

407.                    I cannot give you less.

Rosaline

408. Which of the vizards was it that you wore?

Berowne

409. Where? When? What vizard? Why demand you this?

Rosaline

410. There then, that vizard, that superfluous case,
411. That hid the worse, and show’d the better face.

King

0. Aside.
412. We were descried, they’ll mock us now downright.

Dumaine

0. Aside.
413. Let us confess and turn it to a jest.

Princess

414. Amaz’d, my lord? Why looks your Highness sad?

Rosaline

415. Help, hold his brows, he’ll sound! Why look you pale?
416. Sea-sick, I think, coming from Muscovy.

Berowne

417. Thus pour the stars down plagues for perjury.
418. Can any face of brass hold longer out?
419. Here stand I, lady, dart thy skill at me,
420. Bruise me with scorn, confound me with a flout,
421. Thrust thy sharp wit quite through my ignorance,
422. Cut me to pieces with thy keen conceit;
423. And I will wish thee never more to dance,
424. Nor never more in Russian habit wait.
425. O, never will I trust to speeches penn’d,
426. Nor to the motion of a schoolboy’s tongue,
427. Nor never come in vizard to my friend,
428. Nor woo in rhyme, like a blind harper’s song!
429. Taffeta phrases, silken terms precise,
430. Three-pil’d hyperboles, spruce affection,
431. Figures pedantical—these summer flies
432. Have blown me full of maggot ostentation.
433. I do forswear them, and I here protest,
434. By this white glove (how white the hand, God knows!),
435. Henceforth my wooing mind shall be express’d
436. In russet yeas and honest kersey noes.
437. And to begin, wench, so God help me law!
438. My love to thee is sound, sans crack or flaw.

Rosaline

439. Sans “sans,” I pray you.

Berowne

440.                          Yet I have a trick
441. Of the old rage. Bear with me, I am sick;
442. I’ll leave it by degrees. Soft, let us see—
443. Write “Lord have mercy on us” on those three:
444. They are infected, in their hearts it lies;
445. They have the plague, and caught it of your eyes.
446. These lords are visited; you are not free,
447. For the Lord’s tokens on you do I see.

Princess

448. No, they are free that gave these tokens to us.

Berowne

449. Our states are forfeit, seek not to undo us.

Rosaline

450. It is not so, for how can this be true,
451. That you stand forfeit, being those that sue?

Berowne

452. Peace, for I will not have to do with you.

Rosaline

453. Nor shall not, if I do as I intend.

Berowne

454. Speak for yourselves, my wit is at an end.

King

455. Teach us, sweet madam, for our rude transgression
456. Some fair excuse.

Princess

457.                   The fairest is confession.
458. Were not you here but even now, disguis’d?

King

459. Madam, I was.

Princess

460.               And were you well advis’d?

King

461. I was, fair madam.

Princess

462.                    When you then were here,
463. What did you whisper in your lady’s ear?

King

464. That more than all the world I did respect her.

Princess

465. When she shall challenge this, you will reject her.

King

466. Upon mine honor, no.

Princess

467.                      Peace, peace, forbear:
468. Your oath once broke, you force not to forswear.

King

469. Despise me when I break this oath of mine.

Princess

470. I will, and therefore keep it. Rosaline,
471. What did the Russian whisper in your ear?

Rosaline

472. Madam, he swore that he did hold me dear
473. As precious eyesight, and did value me
474. Above this world; adding thereto, moreover,
475. That he would wed me, or else die my lover.

Princess

476. God give thee joy of him! The noble lord
477. Most honorably doth uphold his word.

King

478. What mean you, madam? By my life, my troth,
479. I never swore this lady such an oath.

Rosaline

480. By heaven, you did; and to confirm it plain,
481. You gave me this: but take it, sir, again.

King

482. My faith and this the Princess I did give;
483. I knew her by this jewel on her sleeve.

Princess

484. Pardon me, sir, this jewel did she wear,
485. And Lord Berowne (I thank him) is my dear.
486. What? Will you have me, or your pearl again?

Berowne

487. Neither of either; I remit both twain.
488. I see the trick an’t; here was a consent,
489. Knowing aforehand of our merriment,
490. To dash it like a Christmas comedy.
491. Some carry-tale, some please-man, some slight zany,
492. Some mumble-news, some trencher-knight, some Dick,
493. That smiles his cheek in years and knows the trick
494. To make my lady laugh when she’s dispos’d,
495. Told our intents before; which once disclos’d,
496. The ladies did change favors; and then we,
497. Following the signs, woo’d but the sign of she.
498. Now, to our perjury to add more terror,
499. We are again forsworn, in will and error.
500. Much upon this ’tis;
0. To Boyet.
501.                      and might not you
502. Forestall our sport, to make us thus untrue?
503. Do not you know my lady’s foot by th’ squier,
504. And laugh upon the apple of her eye?
505. And stand between her back, sir, and the fire,
506. Holding a trencher, jesting merrily?
507. You put our page out. Go, you are allow’d;
508. Die when you will, a smock shall be your shroud.
509. You leer upon me, do you? There’s an eye
510. Wounds like a leaden sword.

Boyet

511.                             Full merrily
512. Hath this brave manage, this career, been run.

Berowne

513. Lo, he is tilting straight! Peace, I have done.
0. Enter Clown Costard.
514. Welcome, pure wit, thou part’st a fair fray.

Costard

515. O Lord, sir, they would know
516. Whether the three Worthies shall come in or no.

Berowne

517. What, are there but three?

Costard

518.                            No, sir, but it is vara fine,
519. For every one pursents three.

Berowne

520.                               And three times thrice is nine.

Costard

521. Not so, sir, under correction, sir, I hope it is not so.
522. You cannot beg us, sir, I can assure you, sir, we know what
523. we know.
524. I hope, sir, three times thrice, sir—

Berowne

525. Is not nine.

Costard

526. Under correction, sir, we know whereuntil it doth amount.

Berowne

527. By Jove, I always took three threes for nine.

Costard

528. O Lord, sir, it were pity you should get your living by
529. reck’ning, sir.

Berowne

530. How much is it?

Costard

531. O Lord, sir, the parties themselves, the actors, sir, will
532. show whereuntil it doth amount. For mine own part, I am, as
533. they say, but to parfect one man in one poor man, Pompion
534. the Great, sir.

Berowne

535. Art thou one of the Worthies?

Costard

536. It pleas’d them to think me worthy of Pompey the Great; for
537. mine own part, I know not the degree of the Worthy, but I am
538. to stand for him.

Berowne

539. Go bid them prepare.

Costard

540. We will turn it finely off, sir; we will take some care.

King

541. Berowne, they will shame us; let them not approach.

Berowne

542. We are shame-proof, my lord; and ’tis some policy
543. To have one show worse than the King’s and his company.

King

544. I say they shall not come.

Princess

545. Nay, my good lord, let me o’errule you now.
546. That sport best pleases that doth least know how:
547. Where zeal strives to content, and the contents
548. Dies in the zeal of that which it presents.
549. Their form confounded makes most form in mirth,
550. When great things laboring perish in their birth.

Berowne

551. A right description of our sport, my lord.

Armado

552. Anointed, I implore so much expense of thy royal sweet
553. breath as will utter a brace of words.

Princess

554. Doth this man serve God?

Berowne

555. Why ask you?

Princess

556. ’A speaks not like a man of God his making.

Armado

557. That is all one, my fair, sweet, honey monarch; for I
558. protest, the schoolmaster is exceeding fantastical, too too
559. vain, too too vain: but we will put it (as they say) to
560. fortuna de la guerra. I wish you the peace of mind, most
561. royal couplement.

King

562. Here is like to be a good presence of Worthies: he presents
563. Hector of Troy; the swain, Pompey the Great; the parish
564. curate, Alexander; Armado’s page, Hercules; the pedant,
565. Judas Machabeus;
566. And if these four Worthies in their first show thrive,
567. These four will change habits, and present the other five.

Berowne

568. There is five in the first show.

King

569. You are deceived, ’tis not so.

Berowne

570. The pedant, the braggart, the hedge-priest, the fool, and the boy:
571. Abate throw at novum, and the whole world again
572. Cannot pick out five such, take each one in his vein.

King