Biron. O, this afternoon. Cost. Well, I will do it, sir: Fare you well. Cost. I shall know, sir, when I have done it. Biron. Why, villain, thou must know first. Cost. I will come to your worship to-morrow morning. Biron. It must be done this afternoon. Hark slave, it is but this; The princess comes to hunt here in the park, When tongues speak sweetly, then they name her naine, And Rosaline they call her: ask for her; And to her white hand see thou do commend This seal'd-up counsel. There's thy guerdon*; go. [Gives him money. Cost. Guerdon,-O sweet guerdon! better than remuneration; eleven-pence farthing better: Most sweet guerdon!-I will do it, sir, in printt.-Guerdon-remuneration. [Exit. Biron. O! And I, forsooth, in love! I, that have been love's whip; A very beadle to a humorous sigh; A critick; nay, a night-watch constable; Than whom no mortal so magnificent! This whimpledt, whining, purbliud, wayward boy; Of trotting paritors,-O my little heart!- • Reward. + With the utmost exactness. Hooded, veiled. The officers of the spiritual courts who serve ci tations. And wear his colours like a tumbler's hoop? Well, I will love, write, sigh, pray, sue, and groan; [Exit, ACT IV. SCENE 1. Another part of the same. Enter the Princess, Rosaline, Maria, Katharine, Boyet, Lords, attendants, and a Forester. Prin. Was that the king, that spurr'd his horse so hard Against the steep uprising of the hill? Boyet. I know not; but, I think, it was not he. Prin. Whoe'er he was, he show'd a mounting mind. Well, lords, to day we shall have our despatch; Prin. I thank my beauty, I am fair that shoot, And thereupon thou speak'st, the fairest shoot. For. Pardon me, madam, for I meant not so. Prin. What, what? first praise me, and again say, no? O short-liv'd pride! Not fair? alack for woe! For. Yea, madam, fair. Prin. Nay, never paint me now; Where fair is not, praise cannot mend the brow. Here, good my glass, take this for telling true; [Giving him money. A giving hand, though foul, shall have fair praise.- When, for fame's sake, for praise, an outward part, The poor deer's blood, that my heart means no ill. Prin. Only for praise: and praise we may afford To any lady that subdues a lord. Enter Costard. Prin. Here comes a member of the commonwealth. Cost. God dig-you-den* all! Pray you, which is the head lady? God give you good even. Prin. Thou shalt know her, fellow, by the rest that have no heads. Cost. Which is the greatest lady, the highest? Cost. The thickest, and the tallest! it is so? truth An your waist, mistresst, were as slender as my wit, One of these maids' girdles for your waist should be fit. Are not you the chief woman? you are the thickest here. Prin. What's your will, sir? what's your will? Cost. I have a letter from monsieur Biron, to one lady Rosaline. Prin. O, thy letter, thy letter; he's a good friend Stand aside, good bearer.-Boyet, you can carve; I am bound to serve. Boyet. Prin, We will read it, I swear: Break the neck of the wax, and every one give ear. Boyet. [Reads.] By heaven, that thou art fair, is most infallible; true, that thou art beauteous; truth itself, that thou art lovely: More fairer than fair, beautiful than beauteous; truer than truth itself, have commiseration on thy heroical vassal! The magnanimous and most illustrateľ king Cophetua set eye upon the pernicious and indubitate beggar Zenelophon; and he it was that might rightly say, veni, vidi, vici; which to anatomize in the vulgar ( O base and obscure vulgar!), videlicet, he came, saw, and overcame: he came, one; saw, two; overcame, three. Who came? the king? Why did he come? to see; Why did he see? lo overcome: To whom came he? to the beggar; What saw he? the beggar; Who overcame he? the beg gar: The conclusion is victory; On whose side? the tillustrious. * Open this letter. king's: the captive is enrich'd; On whose side? the beggar's; The catastrophe is a nuptial; On whose side? the king's?-no, on both in one, or one in both. I am the king; for so stands the comparison: thou the beggar; for so witnesseth thy lowliness. Shall I command thy love? Imay: Shall I enforce thy love? I could: Shall I entreat thy love? I will. What shalt thou exchange for rags? robes; For tittles, titles: For thyself, me. Thus, expecting thy reply, I profane my lips on thy foot, my eyes on thy picture, and my heart on thy every part. Thine, in the dearest design of industry. Thus dost thou hear the Nemean lion roar 'Gainst thee, thou lamb, that standest as his prey; Submissive fall his princely feet before, And he from forage will iucline to play: But if thou strive, poor soul, what art thou then? Food for his rage, repasture for his den. Prin. What plume of feathers is he, that indited this letter? What vane? what weather cock? did you ever hear better? Boyet. I am much deceived, but I remember the style. Prin, Else your memory is bad, going o'er it ere. while*. Boyet. This Armado is a Spaniard, that keeps here in court; A phantasm, a Monarcho, and one that makes sport To the prince, and his book-mates. Prin. Who gave thee this letter? Cost. Thou, fellow, a word: I told you; my lord. From my lord to my lady. Prin. To whom should'st thou give it? Prin. From which lord, to which lady? |