Long. You swore to that, Biron, and to the rest.

Biron. By yea and nay, fir, then I fwore in jest...
What is the end of study? let me know. [know.

King. Why, that to know, which else we should not
Biron. Things hid and barr’d, you mean, from com-

mon 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:
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,
Study to break it, and not break

my

troth. if study's gain be thus, and this be fo, Study knows that, which yet it doth not know: Swear me to this, and I will ne'er fay, no.

King. These be the stops that hinder study 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 seek the light of truth; while truth the while
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,
By fixing it upon a fairer

eye;
Who dazzling so, that eye shall be his hced,

And give him light that was it blinded by. Study is like the heaven's glorious fun,

;

That will not be deep search'd with saucy looks; 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,

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! Long. He weeds the corn, and still lets grow the weeding.

[breeding Biron. The spring is near, when green geese are a Dum. How follows that? Biron. Fit in his place and time, Dum. In reason nothing. Biron. Something then in rhime.

Long. Biron is like an envious sneaping frost,
That bites the first-born infants of the spring. [boast,
Biron. Well, fay I am; why should proud summer

Before the birds have any cause to sing?
Why should I joy in an abortive birth?
At Christmas I no more desire a rose,
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 !
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.
Give me the paper, let me read the same;
And to the strict'st decrees I'll write my name.

King.How well thisyielding rescuesthee from shame!

Birón. [Reads.] Item, That no woman shall come within a mile of my court.And hath this been proclaimed ?

LONG. Four days ago.

Biron. Let's see the penalty.
[Reads.]—On pain of losing her tongue.
Who devis'd this ?

Long. Marry, that did I.
Biron. Sweet lord, and why ?
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 publick Jhame 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 complete majesty, About surrender-up of Aquitain

To her decrepit, sick, and bed-rid 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;
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 ; 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: 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 :

Suggestions are to others, 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

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 musick of his own vain tongue

Doth ravish, like enchanting harmony;
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

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 minstrelly.

Biron. Armado is a moft illustrious wight,
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 would'st ?

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.

Cost. This is he.

Dull. Signior Arme-Arme-commends you. There's villainy 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 foever the matter, I hope in God for high words.

(patience! Long. A high hope for a low having : God grant us Biron. To hear? or forbear hearing ?

Long. To hear meekly, sir, and to laugh moderately; or to forbear both.

Biron. Well, sir, be it as the stile shall give us cause to climb in the merriness.

Cost. The matter is to me, fir, as concerning Jaquenetta. The manner of it is, I was taken with the manner.

Biron. In what manner?

Cost. In manner and form following, fir; 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, fir, for the manner,--it is the manner of a man to speak to a woman : for the form,-in some form.

Biron. For the following, fir ?

Cost. As it shall follow in my correction ; And God defend the right!