The mind shall banquet, though the body pine: Dum. My loving lord, Dumain is mortified; Biron. I can but say their proteftation over, (When I was wont to think no harm all night, King. Your oath is pass'd to pass away from these. Biron. Let me fay, no, my liege, an if you please ; I only fwore, to ftudy with your grace, And stay here in your court for three years' space. Long. You fwore to that, Biron, and to the rest. Biron. By yea and nay, fir, then I fwore in jeft.What is the end of study? let me know. King. Why, that to know, which elfe we should not know. Biron. Things hid and barr'd, you mean, from common fenfe? King. Ay, that is ftudy's god-like recompenfe. Biron. Biron. Come on then, I will fwear to study fo, Study knows that, which yet it doth not know: King. These be the stops that hinder ftudy quite, And train our intellects to vain delight. Biron. Why, all delights are vain; but that most vain, Which, with pain purchas'd, doth inherit pain : As, painfully to pore upon a book, To feek the light of truth; while truth the while Light, feeking light, doth light of light beguile : Who dazzling fo, that eye fhall be his heed, Study is like the heaven's glorious fun, That will not be deep fearch'd with faucy looks`; Shall have continual plodders ever won, Than thofe that walk, and wot not what they are. Too much to know, is, to know nought but fame ; King. How well he's read, to reason against reading! Dum. Proceeded well, to ftop all good proceeding! Long. He weeds the corn, and still lets grow the weeding. Biron. The fpring is near, when green geefe are a breeding. Long. Biron is like an envious fineaping frost, That bites the first-born infants of the fpring. Biron. Well, fay I am; why fhould proud fummer boast, Before the birds have any caufe to fing? Why should I joy in an abortive birth ? Than with a fnow in May's new-fangled fhows; So you, to study now it is too late, Climb o'er the house to unlock the little gate. King. Well, fit you out: go home, Biron; adieu ! Biron. No, my good lord; I have fworn 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. Give me the paper, let me read the fame ; And to the ftri&t'ft decrees I'll write my name. King. How well this yielding refcues thee from fhame! Biron. [Reads.] Item, That no woman fhall come within a mile of my court. And hath this been proclaim'd? Long. Long. Four days ago. Biron. Let's fee the penalty. [Reads.]-On pain of lofing her tongue. Long. Marry, that did I. Biron. Sweet lord, and why? Who devis'd this? Long. To fright them hence with that dread penalty. Biron. A dangerous law againft gentility! [Reads.] Item, If any man be feen to talk with a woman within the term of three years, he shall endure fuch publick fhame as the rest of the court can possibly devise. 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 cómplete majefty,About furrender-up of Aquitain To her decrepit, fick, and bed-rid father: Therefore this article is made in vain, Or vainly comes the admired princess hither. King. What fay you, lords? why, this was quite forgot. While it doth study to have what it would, King. We muft, of force, difpenfe with this decree ; Biron. Neceffity will make us all forfworn Three thousand times within this three years' space: For every man with his affects is born; Not by might mafter'd, but by special grace : [Subfcribes. So to the laws at large I write my name : And he, that breaks them in the least degree Stands in attainder of eternal fhame : Suggestions are to others, as to me; King. Ay, that there is: our court, you know, is haunted With a refined traveller of Spain ; A man in all the world's new fashion planted, For interim to our studies, fhall relate, Biron. Armado is a most illustrious wight, Enter DULL, with a letter, and COSTARD. Dull. Which is the duke's own person? Biron. This, fellow; What would'st ? Dull. I myself reprehend his own perfon, for I am his grace's tharborough: but I would fee his own person in feth and blood. |