Mar. Folly in fools bears not so strong a note, Enter BOYET. Prin. Here comes Boyet, and mirth is in his face. Boyet. O, I am stabb'd with laughter! Where's her grace? Prin. Thy news, Boyet? Boyet. Prepare, madam, prepare! Arm, wenches, arm! encounters mounted are Prin. Saint Dennis to saint Cupid! What are they, That charge their breath against us? say, scout, say. Boyet. Under the cool shade of a sycamore, I thought to close mine eyes some half an hour: That well by heart hath conn'd his embassage: For, quoth the king, an angel shalt thou see; I should have fear'd her, had she been a devil. With that all laugh'd, and clapp'd him on the shoulder; Making the bold wag by their praises bolder. One rubb'd his elbow, thus; and fleer'd, and swore, Cry'd, Via! we will do't, come what will come : Prin. But what, but what, come they to visit us? Prin. And will they so? the gallants shall be task'd:For, ladies, we will every one be mask'd ; And not a man of them shall have the grace, Despite of suit, to see a lady's face.Hold, Rosaline, this favour thou shalt wear; And then the king will court thee for his dear; Hold, take thou this, my sweet, and give me thine; So shall Birón take me for Rosaline.- And change you favours too; so shall your loves Ros. Come on then; wear the favours most in sight. Kath. But, in this changing, what is your intent? Prin. The effect of my intent is, to cross theirs: They do it but in mocking merriment; And mock for mock is only my intent. Ros. But shall we dance, if they desire us to't. And quite divorce his memory from his part. Prin. Therefore I do it; and, I make no doubt, The rest will ne'er come in, if he be out. There's no such sport, as sport by sport o'erthrown; To make theirs ours, and ours none but our own : So shall we stay, mocking intended game; And they, well mock'd, depart away with shame. [Trumpets sound within. Boyet. The trumpet sounds; be mask'd, the [The ladies mask. maskers come. Enter the King, BIRON, LONGAVILLE, and DuMAIN, in Russian habits, and masked; MOTH, Musicians and Attendants. Moth. All hail, the richest beauties on the earth! [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 Boyet. True; out, indeed. Moth. Out of your favours, heavenly spirits, touchsafe Not to behold Biron. Once to behold, rogue. Moth. Once to behold with your sun-beamed eyes, -with your sun-beamed eyes Boyet. They will not answer to that epithet; You were best call it, daughter-beamed eyes. Moth. They do not mark me, and that brings me. out. Biron. Is this your perfectness? be gone, you rogue. Ros. What would these strangers? know their If they do speak our language, 'tis our will Boyet. What would you with the princess? Biron. Nothing but peace, and gentle visitation. Ros. What would they, say they? Boyet. Nothing but peace, and gentle visitation. Ros. Why, that they have; and bid them so be gone. Boyet. She says, you have it, and you may be gone. 1 King. Say to her, we have measur'd many miles, To tread a measure with her on this grass. Boyet. They say, that they have measur'd many a mile, To tread a measure with you on this grass. Ros. It is not so: ask them, how many inches Boyet. If, to come hither you have measur'd miles, And many miles; the princess bids you tell, How many inches do fill up one mile. Biron. Tell her, we measure them by weary steps. Boyet. She hears herself. Ros. 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 so rich, so infinite, That we may do it still without accompt. Vouchsafe to show the sunshine of your face, That we, like savages, may worship it. Ros. My face is but a moon, and clouded too. |