LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST. ACT I. SCENE I.-Navarre.-A Park, with a Palace in it. Enter the KING, BIRON, LONGAVILLE, and King. Let fame, that all hunt after in their lives, live register'd upon our brazen tombs, A ad then grace us in the disgrace of death; And make us heirs of all eternity. Therefore, brave conquerors!-for so you are, And the huge army of the world's desires,— Your oaths are past, and now subscribe your names; Subscribe to your deep oath, and keep it too. To love, to wealth, to pomp, I pine and die; Biron. I can but say their protestation over, King. Your oath is pass'd to pass away from these. Biron. Let me say no, my liege, an if you please; I only swore, to study with your grace, And stay here in your court for three years' space. Long. You swore to that, Biron, and to the rest. Biron. By yea and nay, Sir, then I swore in jest.What is the end of study? Let me know. King. Why, that to know, which else we should not know. Biron. Things hid and barr'd, you mean, from common sense? King. Ay, that is study's god-like recompence. Or, study where to meet some mistress fine, Study knows that, which yet it doth not know: 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 purshased, doth inherit pain: To seek the light of truth; while truth the while Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look: Who dazzling so, that eye shall be his heed, That will not be deep search'd with saucy looks; 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. Biron. The spring is near, when green geese are a breeding. Dum. How follows that? Biron. Fit in his place and time. Biron. Something then in rhyme. Long. Biron is like an envious sneaping frost, Before the birds have any cause to sing? Than wish a snow in May's new-fangled shows +; 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, • Nipping. Give me the paper, let me read the same; Biron. [Reads.] Item, That no woman shall come within a mile of my court. And hath this been proclaim'd? Long. Four days ago. Biron. Let's see the penalty. [Reads.]-On pain of losing her tongue. Who devised this? Long. Marry, that did I. Biron. Sweet lord, and why? penalty. with that dread Biron. A dangerous law against gentility. [Reeds.] Item, If any man be seen to talk with a woman within the term of three years, he shall endure such public shame 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 majesty,- To her decripit, sick, and bed-rid father: 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, And when it hath the thing it hunteth most, cree; She must lie here on mere necessity. Biron. Necessity will make us all forsworn Three thousand 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 : • Reside. [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, For interim to our studies, shall relate, Biron. Armado is a most 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 wouldst? 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. Biron. 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 soever the matter, I hope in God for high words. Long. A high hope for a low having: God grant ns patience! Biron. To hear, or forbear hearing? Temptations. + Lively. Si. e. Third-borough, a peace-officer. 1 Called. |