Their herald is a pretty knavifh page,
That well by heart hath conn'd his embassage:
Action, and accent, did they teach him there;
Thus must thou speak, and thus thy body bear:
And ever and anon they made a doubt,
Prefence majestical would put him out;
For, quoth the king, an angel shalt thou fee;
Yet fear not thou, but speak audaciously :
The boy reply'd, An angel is not evil;

I should have fear'd ber, bad she been a devil. [der ;
With that all laugh'd, and clapp'd him on the fhoul-
Making the bold wag by their praifes bolder.
One rubb'd his elbow, thus; and fleer'd, and fwore,
A better speech was never spoke before :
Another, with his finger and his thumb,
Cry'd, Via! we will do't, come what will come :
The third he caper'd, and cry'd, All goes well:
The fourth turn'd on the toe, and down he fell.
With that, they all did tumble'on the ground,
With fuch a zealous laughter, fo profound,
That in this fpleen ridiculous' appears,
To check their folly, paffion's folemn tears.

Prin. But what, but what, come they to vifit us?
Boyet. They do, they do; and are apparel'd thus,
Like Mufcovites, or Ruffians: as I guess,
Their purpofe is, to parle, to court, and dance:
And every one his love-feat will advance
Unto his feveral miftrefs; which they 'll know
By favours feveral, which they did bestow.

maskers come.

Boyet. The trumpet founds; be mafk'd, the [The ladies mask. Enter the King, Biron, Longaville, and Dumain, difguifed like Mufcovites; Moth with mufick, &c. Moth. "All hail, the richest beauties on the "earth!"

Boyet. Beauties no richer than rich taffata 2.
Moth. "A holy parcel of the faireft dames,
The ladies turn their backs to him.

" That ever turn'd their-backs-to mortal views.”
Biron. Their eyes, villain, their eyes.

Moth. "That ever turn'd their eyes to mortal ❝ views!

Out-"

Biron, Ouse to behold, rogue. Mith. "Once to behold with your fun-beamed "With your fun-beamed eyes---”

Boyet. They will not answer to that epithet; You were beft call it daughter-beamed eyes. Moth. They do not mark me, and that brings [rogue. Biron. Is this your perfectnefs? be gone, you Rof. What would these strangers? know their minds, Boyet:

me out.

If they do fpeak our language, 'tis our will
That fome plain man recount their purposes:

Prin. And will they fo the gallants fhall be Know what they would.

talk'd:

For, ladies, we will every one be mask'd ;
And not a man of them fhall have the grace,
Defpight of fuit, to fee a lady's face.----
Hold, Rofaline, this favour thou shalt wear;
And then the king will court thee for his dear:
Hold, take thou this, my fweet, and give me thine:
So fhall Biron take me for Rofaline.-

And change your favours too; fo fhall your loves
Woo contrary, deceiv'd by these removes. [fight.
Ref. Come on then; wear the favours moft in
Kath. But, in this changing, what is your intent
Pin. The effect of my intent is, to cross theirs :
They do it but in mocking merriment ;
And mock for mock is only my intent.
Their feveral counfels they unbofom shall
To loves miftook; and fo be mock'd withal,
Upon the next occafion that we meet,
With vifages difplay'd, to talk, and greet.

Rof. But fhall we dance, if they defire us to't?
Prin. No; to the death, we will not move a foot
Nor to their penn'd fpeech render we no grace;
But, while 'tis fpoke, each turn away her face.
Boyer, Why, that contempt will kill the fpeaker's
heart,

And quite divorce his memory from his part.
Prin. Therefore I do it; and, I make no doubt,
The reft will ne'er come in, if he be out.
There's no fuch (purt, as fport by iport o'erthrown
To make theirs ours, and ours none but our own:
So fhall we stay, mocking intended game; ?
And they, well mock'd, depart away with fhame.

:|

;|

Boyet. If, to come hither you have measur'd
And many miles: the princess bids you tell,
How many inches do fill up one mile.

[iteps.

Bion. Tell her, we meafure them by weary
Boyet. She hears herself.

Ref. How many weary steps,

Of many weary miles you have o'ergone,
Are number'd in the travel of one mile ?

Biron. We number nothing that we spend for you ;
Our duty is fo rich, fo infinite,

That we may do it still without accompt,
Vouchsafe to shew the funthine of your face,
That we, like favages, may worship it.

Rof. My face is but a moon, and clouded too.
King. Bleffed are clouds, to do as fuch clouds do!
Youchtafe, bright moon, and these thy ftars, to

thine

[Sound.' (Those clouds remov'd) upon our watery eyne。 =

* Spleen ridiculous is, a ridiculous fit, 2 i. e. the taffata masks they wore to conceal themselves.

Ref. Then cannot we be bought: And fo adieu;
Twice to your vifor, and half once to you!
King. If you deny to dance, let's hold more chat.
Rof. In private then.

King. I am best pleas'd with that.
Biran. White-handed mistress, one fweet word
with thee.
[three.
Prin. Honey, and milk, and fugar; there is
Eiron. Nay, then, two treys, (an if you grow
fo nice,)

Metheglin, wort, and malmfey:--Well run, dice!
There's half a dozen fweets.

Prin. Seventh fweet, adieu!

Since you can cog1, I'll play no more with you.
Biron. One word in fecret.

Prin. Let it not be sweet.

Biron. Thou griev'st my gall.
Prin. Gall? bitter.

Biron. Therefore meet.

Dum. Will you vouchsafe with me to change a
Mar. Name it.

As much in private, and I'll bid adieu. [tongue?)
Kath. What, was your vifor made without a
Long. I know the reafon, lady, why you ask.
Kath. O, for your reafon! quickly, fir; I long.
Long. You have a double tongue within your
mask,

And would afford my speechlefs vifor half. [a calf?
Kath. Veal, quoth the Dutchman ;-Is not veal

To cog, fignifics to falfify the dice, and metaphorically, to lye. 2 Woollen caps were enjoined by act of parliament, in the year 1571, the 13th of queen Elizabeth.-Probably the meaning is, "Better wits may be found among men of inferior or more humble rank.”

Difmask'd, their damask fweet commixture fhewn, King. Rebuke me not for that which you pro-
Are angels vailing clouds, or roses blown.

I

Priz. Avaunt perplexity! What shall we do,
If they return in their own shapes to woo?

Rǝf. Good madam, if by me you'll be advis'd,
Let's mock them ftill, as well known, as difguis'd:
Let us complain to them what fools were here,
Difguis'd like Mufcoviter, in fhapeless 2 gear;
And wonder, what they were; and to what end
Their fhallow fhows, and prologue vilely penn'd,
And their rough carriage fo ridiculous,
Should be prefented at our tent to us.

Bovet. Ladies, withdraw; the gallants are at hand.
Prin. Whip to our tents, as roes run o'er the land,
[Exeunt ladies.
Enter the King, Birm, Langaville, and Dumain, in
their own habits.
King. Fair fir, God fave you!
princess?
Boyet. Gone to her tent: Pleafe it your majefty,
Command me any fervice to her?

Where's the

voke ;

The virtue of your eye must break my oath.
Prin. You nick-name virtue; vice you should
have spoke;

For virtue's office never breaks men's troth,
Now, by my maiden honour, yet as pure
As the unfully'd lily, I proteft,

A world of torments though I should endure,
I would not yield to be your house's guest:
So much I hate a breaking caufe to be
Of heavenly oaths, vow'd with integrity.
King. O, you have liv'd in defolation here,

Unfeen, unvifited, much to our shame.
Prin. Not fo, my lord; it is not fo, I fwear;
We have had paftimes here, and pleasant game;
A mefs of Ruffians left us but of late.
King, How, madam? Ruffians?
Prin. Ay, in truth, my lord;

Trim gallants, full of courtship, and of state.
[word. Rof. Madam, fpeak true :-It is not fo, my lord;
My lady, (to the manner of these days)

King. That the vouchfafe me audience for one
Boyet. I will; and fo will fhe, I know, my In courtesy, gives undeferving praife.

lord.

[Exit. We four, indeed, confronted were with four
In Ruffian habit; here they stay'd an hour,
And talk'd apace; and in that hour, my lord,
They did not biefs us with one happy word.
I dare not call them fools; but this I think,
When they are thirsty, fools would fain have drink.
Biron. This jeft is dry to me.-Fair, gentle,
fweet,

Biron. This fellow picks up wit, as pigeons peas;
And utters again, when Jove doth please:
He is wit's pedlar: and retails his wares
At wakes, and waffels 3, meetings, markets, fairs;
And we that fell by grofs, the Lord doth know,
Have not the grace to grace it with fuch fhow.
This gallant pins the wenches on his fleeve;
Had he been Adam, he had tempted Eve :
He can carve too, and lifp: Why, this is he,
That kifs'd away his hand in courtefy;
This is the ape of form, monfieur the ffice,
That, when he plays at tables, chides the dice
In honourable terms; nay, he can fing
A mean + moft meanly; and, in ufhering,
Mend him who can: the ladies call him, fweet;
The stairs, as he treads on them, kifs his feet:
This is the flower5 that fmiles on every one,
To fhew his teeth as white as whale his bone: 6—
And confciences, that will not die in debt,
Pay him the due of honey-tongued Boyet. [heart,

King. A blifter on his fweet tongue, with my
That put Armado's page out of his part!
Enter the Princefs, Rofaline, Maria, Katharine,
Boyet, and attendants.

Biron. See, where it comes-Behaviour, what
wert thou,
[now?
'Till this mad man fhew'd thee? and what art thou
King. All hail, fweet madam, and fair time of day!
Prin. Fair, in all hail, is foul, as I conceive.
King. Conftrue my fpeeches better, if you may.
Prin. Then with me better, I will give you leave.
King. We came to vifit you; and purpose now
To lead you to our court: vouchfafe it then.
Pris. This field fhall hold me; and fo hold your

VOW:

Nor God, nor I, delight in perjur'd men.

2 i. e.

That is, letting thofe clouds which obfcured their brightnefs fink from before them. uncouth. 3 Waffels were meetings of rural mirth and intemperance. 4 The mean, in mufic, is the tenor. 5 That is, the flower or pink of courtesy. As white as whale's bone is a proverbial comparison in our ancient poets.

Can

Can any face of brass hold longer out ?—
Here ftand I, lady; dart thy skill at me;

Bruife me with fcorn, confound me with a flout;
Thruft thy fharp wit quite through my ignorance;
Cut me to pieces with thy keen conceit;
And I will wish thee never more to dance,
Nor never more in Ruffian habit wait.

O! never will I truft to speeches penn'd,

Nor to the motion of a school-boy's tongue;

Nor never come in vizor to my friend;

What did the Ruffian whisper in your ear?

Rof. Madam, he fwore, that he did hold me dear
As precious eye-fight; and did value me
Above this world: adding thereto, moreover,
That he would wed me, or elfe die my lover.
Prin. God give thee joy of him! the noble lord
Moft honourably doth uphold his word.

[troth, King. What mean you, madam? by my life, my I never swore this lady fuch an oath.

Rof. By heaven you did; and to confirm it plain,

Nor woo in rhime, like a blind harper's fong: You gave me this; but take it, fir, again. Taffata phrafes, filken terms precife,

I

Three-pil'd hyperboles, fpruce affectation, Figures pedantical; thefe fummer flies

Have blown me full of maggot oftentation:
I do forfwear them: and I here protest,

By this white glove, (how white the hand,
God knows!)

Henceforth my wooing mind fhall be exprefs'd

In ruffet yeas, and honest kersey noes;
And to begin, wench,-fo God help me, la!
My love to thee is found, fans crack or flaw,
Rof. Sans SANS 2, I pray you.
Biron. Yet I have a trick

King. My faith, and this, the princefs I did give: I knew her by this jewel on her fleeve.

Prin. Pardon me, fir, this jewel did the wear;
And lord Biron, I thank him, is my dear.--
What; will you have me, or your pearl again?

Biron. Neither of either; I remit both twain.-
I fee the trick on't ;-Here was a confent,
(Knowing aforehand of our merriment)
To dafh it like a Christmas comedy:
Same carry-tale,fome please-man, fome slight zany7,
Some mumble-news, fome trencher-knight, fome
Dick,-

That fmiles his cheek in years; and knows the trick
To make my lady laugh, when the's difpos'd,-
Told our intents before: which once difclos'd,
The ladies did change favours; and then we,
Following the figns, woo'd but the fign of the.
eyes:Now, to our perjury to add more terror,

Of the old rage;-bear with me, I am fick;
I'll leave it by degrees. Soft, let us fee ;—
Write, Lord have mercy on us 3, on those three;
They are infected, in their hearts it lies;
They have the plague, and caught it of your
Thefe lords are vifited; you are not free,
For the Lord's tokens on you do I fee.

[us.

Prin. No, they are free, that gave these tokens to
Biron. Our states are forfeit, feek not to undo us.
Ref. It is not fo; For how can this be true,
That you ftand forfeit, being those that fue +?

Biron. Peace; for I will not have to do with you.
Ref. Nor fhall not, if I do as I intend.

We are again forfworn; in will, and error 9.
Much upon this it is:-And might not you
[To Boyet
Foreftal our fport, to make us thus untrue?
Do not you know my lady's foot by the fquier 10,
And laugh upon the apple of her eye?

And ftand between her back, fir, and the fire,
Holding a trencher, jefting merrily?
You put our page out: Go, you are allow'd ;

Biron. Speak for yourselves, my wit is at an end. King. Teach us, fweet madam, for our rude tranf-Die when you will, a fmock thall be your throwd, Some fair excufe.

Prin. The faireft is confeffion.

[greffion

Were you not here, but even now, difguis'd?

King. Madam, I was.

Prin. And were you well advis'd?

King. I was, fair madam.

Prin. When you then were here,

What did you whisper in your lady's ear? [her.
King. That more than all the world I did refpect
Prin. When the fhall challenge this, you will
reject her.

King. Upon mine honour, no.

Prin. Peace, peace, forbear;

Your oath broke once, you force not to forfwear 5.
King. Defpife me, when I break this oath of mine.
Prin. I will; and therefore keep it ;-Rosaline,

You leer upon me, do you? there's an eye,
Wounds like a leaden fword,

1 A metaphor taken from the pile of velvet. 2 That is, without French words. 3 The infcrip tion put upon the doors of the houses infected with the plague. 4 Our author here puns upon the word fue, which fignifics to profecute by law, or to offer a petition. 5 That is, You make no diffi

8 In years

culty to forfwear. • That is, a confpiracy. 7 That is, a buffoon, a merry Andrew. fignifies, into wrinkles. 9 9 i. e. First in will, and afterwards in error. 10 From the French efquiere, a rule or fquare. The fenfe is nearly equivalent to the proverbial expreflion, he hath got the length of her foot; i. e. he hath humoured her fo long that he can perfuade her to what he pleales, 11 That is, You may fay what you will.

ΧΡΗ

Col. O Lord, fir, the parties themfelves, the actors, fir, will fhew where until it doth amount: for my own part, I am, as they fay, but to parfect one man in one poor man; Pompion the great, fir. B. Art thou one of the worthies?

Ceft. It pleafed them, to think me worthy of Pompion the great: for mine own part, I know not the degree of the worthy; but I am to ftand for him.

Biron. Go, bid them prepare.

[fome care." And, Colt. We will turn it finely off, fir, we will take Kirg. Biron, they will fhame us, let them not ap-" And [Exit Coftard.

proach.

Biron. We are shame-proof, my lord; and 'tis If your ladyfhip would fay, Thanks, Pompey, I had

Prin. Great thanks, great Pompey.

Coft. 'Tis not fo much worth; but, I hope, I was perfect: I made a little fault in, great.

Biron. My hat to a half-penny, Pompey proves the best worthy.

Nath.

Eater Nathaniel for Alexander.
When in the world I liv'd, I was the
world's commander;

There form confounded makes molt form in mirth;" By eaft, weft, north, and fouth, I fpread my When great things lat ouring perish in their birth.

Biron. A right def rip on of our sport, my lord.
Enter Armado.

Arm. Anointed, I implore fo much expence of]
thy royal fweet breath as will utter a brace of
words.
[Converfes apart with the King.

Pin. Doth this man ferve God?
Biron. Why atk you?

Prin. He fpeaks not like a man of God's making. Am. That's all one, my fair, sweet, honey monarch: for, I proteft, the school-mafter is exceeding fantaftical; too, too vain; too, too vain: But we will put it, as they fay, to fortuna della guerra. I wish you the peace of mind, most royal couplement!

conquering might:

"My 'fcutcheon plain deciares, that I am Alifander.” Boyet. Your nofe fays, no, you are not; for it stands

too right 5.

Biren. Your nofe fmells, no, in this moft tender-
fmelling knight.

Prin. The conqueror is difmay'd: Proceed, good
Alexander.

Nath. "When in the world I liv'd, I was the
world's commander:"-

[fander.

Boyet. Moit true, 'tis right; you were fo, Alifander. Biron. Pompey the great,Coft. Your fervant, and Coftard. Biron. Take away the conqueror, take away AliCoft. O, fir, you have overthrown Alifander the conqueror! [To Nath.] You will be fcraped out of the painted cloth for this: your lion, that holds his poll-ax fitting on a clofe-ftool, will be given to A-jax 7; he will then be the ninth worthy. A conqueror, and afeard to speak! run away for And if thefe four worthies in their first show thrive, shame, Alifander. [Exit Nath.] There, an 't shall Thefe four will change habits, and prefent the other please you! a foolish mild man, an honest man, Biron. There is five in the first show. [five. look you, and foon dafh'd! He is a marvellous King. You are deceiv'd, 'tis not fo. good neighbour in footh; and a very good bowler:

King. Here is like to be a good prefence of worthies: He prefents Hector of Troy; the fwain, Pompey the great; the parith curate, Alexander; Armado's page, Hercules; the pedant, Judas Macchabæus.

I Meaning, we are not fools; our next relations cannot beg the wardship of our perfons and fortunes. One of the legal tefts of a natural is to try whether he can number. 2 Novum was an old game at dice. 3 A phrafe ftill in ufe anong gardeners. 4 This alludes to the old heroic habits, which on the knees and fhoulders had ufually, by way of ornament, the refemblance of a leopard's or lion's head. 5 To relish this joke, the reader fhould recollect, that the head of Alexander was obliquely placed on his fhoulders. 6 Alluding to the arms given to the nine worthics in the old hiftory, 7 A paltry pun upon Ajax and a jakes.

but,