the word is well cull'd, choice, fweet, and apt, I do affure you, Sir, I do affure. Arm. Sir, the King is a noble gentleman, and my familiar; I do affure you, my very good friend; for what is inward between us, let it pass-I do beseech thee, remember thy courtefy I befeech thee, apparel thy head,and among other importunate and moft serious designs, and of great import indeed too-but let that pafs: -for I must tell thee, it will please his Grace (by the world) fometime to lean upon my poor fhoulder, and with his royal finger thus dally with my excrement, with my muftachio; but, fweet heart, let that pass. By the world, I recount no fable; fome certain fpecial honours it pleaseth his Greatness to impart to Armado, a foldier, 'a man of travel, that hath feen the world; but let that pafs-the pafs the very all of all is-but, fweet heart, I do implore fecrecy that the King would have me prefent the Princefs (fweet chuck) with fome delightful oftentation, or fhow, or pageant, or antic, or fire-work. Now, understanding that the curate and your sweet felf are good at fuch eruptions, and fudden breaking out of mirth, (as it were,) I have acquainted you withal, to the end to crave your affiftance. Hol. Sir, you fall present before her the nine worthies. Sir, as concerning fome entertainment of time, fome show in the pofterior of this day, to be rendered by cur affistants at the King's command, and this moft gallant, illuftrate,. and learned gentleman, before the Princefs: I fay, none fo fit as to prefent the nine worthies. Nath. Where will you find men worthy enough to present them? Hol. Jofhua, yourself; this gallant man, Judas Mace cabeus; this fwain (because of his great limb or joint) fhall pafs Pompey the great; and the page, Hercules. Arm. Pardon, Sir, error: he is not quantity enough for that worthy's thumb; he is not fo big as the end of lis club. Hol. Shall I have audience? he fhall prefent Hercules in minority; his Enter and Exit fhall be ftrangling a fnake; and I will have an apology for that purpofe. Moth. An excellent device: for if any of the audience hifs hifs, you may cry; "Well done, Hercules, now thou Hol. I will play three myself. Hol. We attend. Arm. We will have, if this fadge not, an antic. I befeech you, follow. Hol. Via! good-man Dull, thou haft spoken no word all this while. Dull. Nor understood none neither, Sir. Hol. Allons; we will employ thee. Dull. I'll make one in a dance, or fo: or I will play on the tabor to the worthies, and let them dance the hay. Hol. Moft dull, honeft, Dull, to our fport away. [Exeunt. SCENE III. Before the Princess's pavilion. Enter Princess, and Ladies. Prin. Sweet hearts, we shall be rich ere we depart, If fairings come thus plentifully in. A lady wall'd about with diamonds! Look you, what I have from the loving King. Rof. Madam, came nothing elfe along with that? Prin. Nothing but this? yes, as much love in rhyme, As would be cramm'd up in a fheet of paper, Writ on both fides the leaf, margent and all; That he was fain to feal on Cupid's name. Rof. That was the way to make his godhead wax, For he hath been five thousand years a boy. Cath. Ay, and a fhrewd unhappy gallows too. Rof. You'll ne'er be friends with him; he kill'd your fifter. Cath. He made her melancholy, fad and heavy, She She might have been a grandam ere the dy❜d. And fo may you; for a light heart lives long. Rof. What's your dark meaning, moufe, of this light word? Cath. A light condition, in a beauty dark. Rof. We need more light to find your meaning out. Cath. You'll mar the light, by taking it in fnuff: Therefore I'll darkly end the argument. Rof. Look, what you do; and do it still i' th' dark. Rof. Great reafon; for paft cure is ftill paft care. Who fent it? and what is it? Rof. I would you knew. And if my face were but as fair as yours, The numbers true, and were the numb'ring too, Rof. Much in the letters, nothing in the praife. Rof. Ware pencils *. How? let me not die your debtor, My red dominical, my golden letter. O, that your face were not fo full of Oes! Cath. Pox of that jeft, and I befhrew all fhrews. Prin. But what was fent to you from fair Dumain? Cath. Madam, this glove. Prin. Did he not fend you twain? Cath. Yes, Madam; and moreover, Some thousand verses of a faithful lover. A huge tranflation of hypocrify, Vilely Meaning to check Catharine for her painting, pencil being a painting-brush. Vilely compil'd, profound fimplicity. Mar. This, and thefe pearls, to me fent Longaville; The letter is too long by half a mile. Prin. I think no lefs; doft thou not wish in heart, The chain were longer, and the letter short? Mar. Ay, or I would these hands might never part. Prin. We are wife girls, to mock our lovers for❜t. Rof. They are worse fools to purchase mocking fo. That fame Biron, I'll torture ere I go. O, that I knew he were but in by th' week! And make him proud to make me proud with jefts: * That he should be my fool, and I his fate +. Prin. None are fo furely caught, when they are catch'd, As wit turn'd fool; folly, in wisdom hatch'd, Hath wifdom's warrant, and the help of school; And wit's own grace to grace a learned fool. Rof. The blood of youth burns not in fuch excess, Mar. Folly in fools bears not so strong a note, Prin. Here comes Boyet, and mirth is in his face. Boyet. O, I am ftabb'd with laughter; where's her Grace? Prin. Thy news, Boyet? Boyet. Prepare, Madam, prepare. Arm, wenches, arm; encounters mounted are Against your peace; love doth approach difguis'd, Armed • Portents have been always look'd upon not only as the tokens and fignals, but the inftruments also of destiny. ↑ See vol. 1. p. 287. note 2. Armed in arguments; you'll be furpris'd. That well by heart hath conn'd his embassage. I fhould have fear'd her, had she been a devil.- Prin. But what, but what, come they to vifit us? Prin |