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! 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 sonneteer. Devise wit; write pen; for I am for whole volumes in folio. [Exit. ACT II. A pa SCENE I-Another part of the same. vilion and tents at a distance. Enter the Princess of France, Rosaline, Maria, Katharine, Boyet, Lords, and other attendants. Boyet. Now, madam, summon up your dearest! spirits: Consider who the king your father sends; Of all perfections that a man may owe, Prin. Good lord Boyet, my beauty, though but mean, Needs not the painted flourish of your praise; (1) Best. Than you much willing to be counted wise Tell him, the daughter of the king of France, That are vow-fellows with this virtuous duke? Prin. Know you the man? Mar. I know him, madam; at a marriage feast, Between lord Perigort and the beauteous heir Of Jaques Falconbridge solemnized, In Normandy saw I this Longaville : A man of sovereign parts he is esteem'd ; Well fitted in the arts, glorious in arms: Nothing becomes him ill, that he would well. The only soil of his fair virtue's gloss, (If virtue's gloss will stain with any soil,) Is a sharp wit match'd with too blunt a will; Whose edge hath power to cut, whose will still wills It should none spare that come within his power. Prin. Some merry mocking lord, belike; is't so? Mar. They say so most, that most his humours know. Prin. Such short-liv'd wits do wither as they Kath. The young Dumain, a well-accomplished youth, Of all that virtue love for virtue lov'd: Most power to do most harm, least knowing ill; Ros. Another of these students at that time Prin. God bless my ladies! are they all in love; That every one her own hath garnished With such bedecking ornaments of praise? Prin. Re-enter Boyet. Now, what admittance, lord? Boyet. Navarre had notice of your fair approach; And he, and his competitors' in oath, Were all address'd2 to meet you, gentle lady, Before I came. Marry, thus much I have learnt, He rather means to lodge you in the field (Like one that comes here to besiege his court,) (2) Prepared. (1) Confederates. Than seek a dispensation for his oath, [The ladies mask. Enter King, Longaville, Dumain, Biron, and attendants. King. Fair princess, welcome to the court of Navarre. Prin. Fair, I give you back again; and, wek come I have not yet: the roof of this court is too high to be yours; and welcome to the wild fields too base to be mine. King. You shall be welcome, madam, to my court. Prin. I will be welcome then; conduct me thither. King. Hear me, dear lady; I have sworn an oath. Prin. Our lady help my lord! he'll be forsworn. King. Not for the world, fair madam, by my will. Prin. Why, will shall break it; will, and nothing else. King. Your ladyship is ignorant what it is. Prin. Were my lord so, his ignorance were wise. But pardon me, I am too sudden-bold; [Gives a paper. King. Madam, I will, if suddenly I may. Prin. You will the sooner, that I were away; For you'll prove perjur'd, if you make me stay. Biron. Did not I dance with you in Brabant once? Ros. Did not I dance with you in Brabant once? (1) Whereas. Biron. I know, you did. To ask the question! Biron. How needless was it then You must not be so quick. Ros. 'Tis 'long of you that spur me with such questions. Biron. Your wit's too hot, it speeds too fast, Ros. Not till it leaves the rider in the mire. Ros. The hour that fools should ask. Biron. Nay, then will I be gone. King, Madam, your father here doth intimate, The payment of a hundred thousand crowns; Being but the one half of an entire sum, Disbursed by my father in his wars. But say, that he, or we (as neither have,) Receiv'd that sum; yet there remains unpaid A hundred thousand more; in surety of the which, Although not valued to the money's worth. Which we much rather bad depart! withal, Dear princess, were not his requests so far |