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? 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 210 manner and form following. Now, sir, 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, sir? Cost. As it shall follow in my correction: and King. Will you hear this letter with attention? 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 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. 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. 204. taken with the manner (mainour), 'with the thing stolen upon him,' a legal phrase. There 220 230 is thus a threefold quibble upon the word. coloured melancholy, I did commend the blackoppressing 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 nourishment which is called supper: so much for the 240 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, 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, 250 that base minnow of thy mirth,' Cost. Me? King [reads]. that unlettered small - knowing soul,' Cost. Me? King [reads]. 'that shallow vassal,' Cost. Still me? · King [reads]. which, as I remember, hight Costard,' Cost. O, me! 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,— 260 262. continent canon, law enjoining continence. 264. passion, grieve. King [reads]. 'with a child of our grandmother Eve, a female; or, for thy more sweet understanding, a woman. Him I, as my ever-esteemed duty pricks me on, have sent to thee, to receive the meed of punishment, by thy sweet grace's 270 officer, Anthony Dull; a man of good repute, carriage, bearing, and estimation.' Dull. Me, an 't shall please you; I am Anthony Dull. 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. 280 DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO.' 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. 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. 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.' Cost. If it were, I deny her virginity: I was taken with a maid. 290 King. This 'maid' will not serve your turn, sir. 300 Cost. This maid will serve my turn, sir. King. Sir, I will pronounce your sentence: you shall 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. [Exeunt King, Longaville, and Dumain. Biron. I'll lay my head to any good man's hat, 310 These oaths and laws will prove an idle scorn. Sirrah, come on. 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! [Exeunt. 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. Moth. No, no; O Lord, sir, no. Arm. How canst thou part sadness and melan choly, my tender juvenal ? Moth. By a familiar demonstration of the working, my tough senior. 5. imp. youngster, boy. ΤΟ 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. 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 20 my saying apt? or I apt, and my saying pretty ? 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? Moth. I will praise an eel with the same praise. Moth. That an eel is quick. Arm. I do say thou art quick in answers: thou heatest my blood. 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 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 tapster. Moth. You are a gentleman and a gamester, sir. 36. crosses, coins, from the cross stamped upon the old penny. 30 40 نا writing |