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

Bruise me with scorn, confound me with a flout;
Thrust thy sharp 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 Russian habit wait.
O! never will I trust to speeches penn'd,

Nor to the motion of a school-boy's tongue; Nor never come in visor to my friend;

Nor woo in rhime, like a blind harper's song: Taffata phrases, silken terms precise,

Three-pil'd' hyperboles, spruce affectation,
Figures pedantical; these sunimer flies

Have blown me full of maggot ostentation:
I do forswear them: and I here protest,
By this white glove, (how white the hand,
God knows!)

Henceforth my wooing mind shall be express'd

In russet yeas, and honest kersey noes:
And to begin, wench,-so God help me, la!-
My love to thee is sound, sans crack or flaw.
Ros. Sans SANS', I pray you.
Biron. Yet I have a trick

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

What did the Russian whisper in your ear?
Ros. Madam, he swore, that he did hold me dear
As precious eye-sight; and did value me
Above this world: adding thereto, moreover,
5 That he would wed me, or else die my lover.
Prin. God give thee joy of him! the noble lord
Most honourably doth uphold his word. [troth,
King. What mean you, madam? by my life, my
I never swore this lady such an oath.
Ros. By heaven you did; and to confirm it plain,
You gave me this; but take it, sir, again.

10

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

Prin. Pardon me, sir, this jewel did she wear; 15 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 see the trick on't;-Here was a consent", (Knowing aforehand of our merriment) 20 To dash it like a Christmas comedy: [zany', Some carry-tale, some please-man, some slight Some mumble-news, some trencher-knight, some

Dick,

[trick

That smiles his cheek in years; and knows the
25 To make my lady laugh, when she's dispos'd,-
Told our intents before: which once disclosed,
The ladies did change favours; and then we,
Following the signs, woo'd but the sign of she.
Now to our perjury to add more terror,
30 We are again forsworn; in will and error'.
Much upon this it is:-And might not you
[To Boyet.
Forestal our sport, to make us thus untrue?
Do not you know my lady's foot by the squier 10,
And laugh upon the apple of her eye?
And stand between her back, sir, and the fire,
Holding a trencher, jesting merrily?

35

[to us.
Prin. No, they are free, that gave these tokens
Biron. Our states are forfeit, seek not to undo us.
Ros. It is not so: For how can this be true,
That you stand forfeit, being those that sue?
Biron. Peace; for I will not haveto do with you.
Ros. Nor shall not, if I do as I intend.
Biron. Speak for yourselves, my wit is at an end.
King. Teach us, sweet madam, for our rude
Some fair excuse.
[transgression 40

Prin. The fairest is confession.
Were you not here, but even now, disguis'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 respect
Priu. When she shall challenge this, you will

reject her.

45

50

King. Upon mine honour, no.
Prin. Peace, peace, forbear;
Your oath broke once, you force not to forswear".
King. Despise me,when I break this oath of mine.
Prin. I will; and therefore keep it;-Rosaline, 55

You put our page out: Go, you are allow'd";
Die when you will, a smock shall be your shroud
You leer upon me, do you? there's an eye,
Wounds like a leaden sword.

The inscrip

4 Our author here puns upon the "That is, You make no dif

'A metaphor taken from the pile of velvet. 2 That is, without French words. tion put upon the doors of the houses infected with the plague. word sue, which signifies to prosecute by law, or to offer a petition. ficulty to forswear. That is, a conspiracy. "That is, a buffoon, or merry Andrew. In years signifies, into wrinkles. i. e. First in will, and afterwards in error, 10 From the French esquierre, a rule or square. The sense is nearly equivalent to the proverbial expression, he hath got the length of her foot; i. e. he hath humour'd her so long that he can persuade her to what he pleases. "That is, You may say what you will.

You

Cos. O Lord, sir, the parties themselves, the actors, sir, will shew whereuntil it doth amount: for my own part, I am, as they say, but to parfect one man in one poor man; Pompion the great, sir. 15 Biron. Art thou one of the worthies?

Cost. It pleased 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 stand for him.

Biron. Go bid them prepare. [some care.
Cost. We will turn it finely off, sir, we will take
King. Biron, they will shame us, let them not
approach.
[Exit Costard.

201

Biron. We are shame-proof, my lord: and 'tis 25 some policy

To have one show worse than the king's and his

company.

King. I say, they shall not come. [now;
Prin. Nay, my good lord, let me o'er-rule you 30
That sport best pleases, that doth least know how;
Where zeal strives to content, and the contents
Dies in the zeal of that which it presents,
There form confounded makes most form in mirth;
When great things labouring perish in their birth.
Biron. A right description of our sport,my lord.
Enter Armado.

35

Arm. Anointed, I implore so much expence of thy royal sweet breath as will utter a brace of words. [Converses apart with the king.40] Prin. Doth this man serve God? Biron. Why ask you? [ing. Prin. He speaks not like a man of God's mak-| Arm. That's all one,my fair, sweet, honey monarch: for, I protest, the school-master is exceed-45 ing fantastical; too, too vain; too, too vain: But we will put it as they say, to fortuna della guerra. I wish you the peace of mind, most royal couple

ment!

[again,

Biron. The pedant, the braggart, the hedge-priest, the fool, and the boy:

A bare throw at novum'; and the whole world Cannot prick out five such, take each one in his vein.

King. The ship is under sail, and here she comes amain. [Pageant of the Nine Worthies. Enter Costurd for Pompey.

Cost. "I Pompey am,"

Boyet. You lie, you are not he.

Cost. "I Pompey am,”

Boyet. With libbard's head on knee.

Biron. Well said, old mocker; I must needs be friends with thee.

[Big," Cost. "I Pompey am, Pompey surnam❜d the Dum. The great.

Cost. It is great, sir;-" Pompey surnam'd the great;

"That oft in field, with targe and shield, did make my foe to sweat;

"And, travelling along this coast, I here am come
by chance;

" And lay my arms before the legs of this sweet
lass of France."
[done.
If your ladyship would say, Thanks, Pompey, I had
Prin. Great thanks, great Pompey.
Cost. 'Tis not so 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.

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

By east, west, north, and south, I spread my conquering might:

[der." My 'scutcheon plain declares, that I am AlisanBoyet. Your nose says, no, you are not; for it stands too right'.

Biron. Your nose smells no, in this most tendersmelling knight.

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

Nath.

[sander.

When in the world I liv'd, I was the world's commander:"[der. Boyet. Most true, 'tis right; you were so AlisanBiron. Pompey the great,Cost. Your servant, and Costard. Biron. Take away the conqueror, take away AliCost. O, sir, you have overthrown Alisander the conqueror! [To Nath.] You will be scraped out of the painted cloth for this: your lion, that holds his poll-ax sitting on a close-stool, will be given to A-jax'; he will then be the ninth worthy. A conqueror, and afeard to speak! run away for shame, Alisander. [Exit Nath.] There, an't shall please you! a foolish mild man, an honest man, look you, and soon dash'd! He is a marvellous good neighbour in sooth; and a very good bowler:

4

Meaning, we are not fools; our next relations cannot beg the wardship of our persons and fortunes. One of the legal tests of a natural is to try whether he can number. 2 Novum was an old game at dice. 'A phrase still in use among gardeners. + This alludes to the old heroic habits, which on the knees and shoulders had usually, by way of ornament, the resemblance of a leopard's or lion's head. To relish this joke, the reader should recollect, that the head of Alexander was Alluding to the arms given to the nine worthies in the old hisA paltry pun upon Ajax and a jakes.

obliquely placed on his shoulders. tory.

6

but,

Dum. That mint.

Long. That columbine.

Arm. Sweet lord Longaville, rein thy tongue.
Long. I must rather give it the rein; for it

[Judas 20 runs against Hector.

Felder.

Biron. Well follow'd; Judas was hanged on an 25
Hol. I will not be put out of countenance.
Biron. Because thou hast no face.

Hol. What is this?

Boyet. A cittern' head.

Dum. The head of a bodkin.

Biron. A death's face in a ring.

30

[seen.

135

Long. The face of an old Roman coin, scarce
Boyet. The pummel of Cæsar's faulchion.
Dum. The carv'd-bone face on a flask2.
Biron, St. George's half-cheek in a brooch.
Dum. Ay, and in a brooch of lead.
Biron. Ay, and worn in the cap of a tooth-
drawer;
[tenance.
And now, forward; for we have put thee in coun-
Hol. You have put me out of countenance.
Biron. False; we have given thee faces.
Hol. But you have out-fac'd them all.
Biron. An thou wert a lion, we would do so.
Boyet. Therefore, as he is an ass, let him go.
And so adieu, sweet Jude! nay, why dost thou stay? 45
Dum. For the latter end of his name.

Biron. For the ass to the Jude; give it him:

Judas, away.

[ble.

Dum. Ay, and Hector's a greyhound.

Arm. The sweet war-man is dead and rotten; sweet chucks, beat not the bones of the buried: when he breath'd, he was a man-But I will forward with my device; [To the Princess} sweet royalty, bestow on me the sense of hearing.

Prin. Speak, brave Hector; we are much de lighted.

Arm. I do adore thy sweet grace's slipper.
Boyet. Loves her by the foot.

Dum. He may not by the yard.

Arm. "This Hector far surmounted Hannibal,-" Cost. The party is gone, fellow Hector, she is gone, she is two months on her way.

Arm. What mean'st thou ?

Cost. Faith, unless you play the honest Trojan, the poor wench is cast away: she's quick; the child brags in her belly already; 'tis yours.

Arm. Dost thou infamonize me among poten 40 tates? thou shalt die.

Hel. This is not generous, not gentle, not humBoyet. A light for monsieurJudas; it grows dark, 50 he may stumble.

Prin. Alas, poor Macchabæus, how he hath
been baited!

Enter Armado, for Hector.
Biron. Hide thy head, Achilles; here come:|55|
Hector in arms.

Dum. Though my mocks come home by me,
I will now be merry.

2

Cost. Then shall Hector be whipp'd, for Jaque-
netta that is quick by him; and hang`d, for Pom-
pey
that is dead by him.

Dum. Most rare Pompey!
Boyet. Renowned Pompey!

Biron. Greater than great, great, great, great
Pompey! Pompey the huge!

Dum. Hector trembles.

Biron. Pompey is mov'd:-More Ates, more Ates; stir them on, stir them on!

Dum. Hector will challenge him.

Biron. Ay, if he have no more man's blood in's belly than will sup a flea.

Arm. By the north pole, I do challenge thee. Cost. I will not fight with a pole, like a northern man: I'll slash; I'll do't by the sword:-I pray you, let me borrow my arms again.

Dum. Room for the incensed worthies.
Cost. I'll do it in my shirt.

[this.

King. Hector was but a Trojan' in respect of
Boyet. But is this Hector?

Dum. Ithink, Hector was not so clean timber'd.]
Long. His leg is too big for Hector.

Moth. Master,letme take you a button-hole lower.
Do you not see, Pompey is uncasing for the combat?

1A cittern was a musical instrument of the harp kind.

2 That is, a soldier's powder-horn.

A Trojan, in the time of Shakspeare, was a cant term for a thief. An orange stuck with cloves

Ate was the heathen goddess who incited blood

shed. "Meaning the weapons and armour which he wore in the character of Pompey.

What mean you? you will lose your reputation. Arm. Gentlemen, and soldiers, pardon me; I will not combat in my shirt.

Dum. You may not deny it; Pompey hath made the challenge.

I

Arm. Sweet bloods, I both may and will.
Biron. What reason have you for't?

Arm. The naked truth of it is, I have no shirt;
go
woolward' for penance.

Boyet. True, and it was enjoin'd him in Rome
for want of linen: since when, I'll be sworn, he
wore none, but a dish-clout of Jaquenetta's; and
that a' wears next his heart for a favour.
Enter Mercade.

Mer. God save you, madam!

Prin. Welcome, Mercade;

But that thou interrupt'st our merriment.
Mer. I am sorry, nadam; for the news I bring,
Is heavy in my tongue. The king your father-
Prin. Dead, for my life.

[cloud.

All wanton as a child, skipping, and vain;
Form'd by the ye, and, therefore, like the eye,
Full of straying shapes, of habits, and of forms,
Varying in subjects as the eye doth roll

5 To every varied object in his glance:
Which party-coated presence of loose love,
Put on by us, if, in your heavenly eyes,
Have misbecom'd our oaths and gravities,
Those heavenly eyes, that look into these faults,
10 Suggested us to make: Therefore, ladies,
Our love being yours, the error that love makes
Is likewise yours: we to ourselves prove false,
By being once false for ever to be true
To those that make us both, fair ladies, you;
15 And even that falshood, in itself a sin,
Thus purifies itself, and turns to grace.
Prin. We have receiv'd your letters, full of love;
Your favours, the ambassadors of love;
And, in our maiden council, rated them
At courtship, pleasant jest, and courtesy,
As bombast and as lining to the time:
But more devout than this, in our respects,
Have we not been; and therefore met your loves
In their own fashion, like a merriment. [than jest.
Dum. Our letters, madam, shew'd much more
Long. So did our looks.

20

Mer. Even so: my tale is told.
Biron. Worthies, away; the scene begins to
Arm. For mine own part, I breathe free breath:
I have seen the days of wrong through the little
hole of discretion, and I will right myself like a 25
soldier.
[Exeunt Worthies.

King. How fares your majesty?
Prin. Boyet, prepare; I will away to-night.
King. Madam, not so; I do beseech you, stay.
Prin. Prepare,Isay.-I thank you,gracious lords, 30
For all your fair endeavours; and entreat,
Out of a new-sad soul, that you vouchsafe
In your rich wisdom, to excuse, or hide,
The liberal' opposition of our spirits:
If over-boldly we have borne ourselves
In the converse of breath, your gentleness
Was guilty of it.-Farewell, worthy lord!
A heavy heart bears not an humble tongue:
Excuse me so, coming so short of thanks
For my great suit so easily obtain'd.

King. The extreme parts of time extremely forms
All causes to the purpose of his speed;
And often, at his very loose, decides
That which long process could not arbitrate:
And though the mourning brow of progeny
Forbid the smiling courtesy of love
The holy suit which fain it would convince;
Yet, since love's argument was first on foot,
Let not the cloud of sorrow justle it

Ros. We did not quote them so.
King. Now, at the latest minute of the hour,
Grant us your loves.

Prin. A time, methinks, too short

To make a world-without-end bargain in:
No,uo, my lord, your grace is perjur'd much,
Full of dear guiltiness; and therefore this,—
If for my love (as there is no such cause)
35 You will do aught, this shail you do for me:
Your oath I will not trust: but go with speed
To some forlorn and naked hermitage,
Remote from all the pleasures of the world;
There stay, until the twelve celestial signs
40 Have brought about their annual reckoning:
If this austere insociable life

Change not your offer made in heat of blood;
If frosts, and fasts, hard lodging, and thin weeds,
Nip not the gaudy blossoms of your love;
45 But that it bear this trial, and last love;
Then, at the expiration of the year,
Come challenge, chall ge me by these deserts,
And, by this virgin-palm, now kissing thine,
I will be thine: and till that instant, shut

From what it purpos'd; since, to wail friends lost, 50 My woeful self up in a mourning-house;

Is not by much so wholesome, profitable,
As to rejoice at friends but newly found.
Prin. Lunderstand you not, my griefs are double.
Biron. Honest plain words best pierce the ear of
And by these badges understand the king. [grief;-|55|
For your air sakes have we neglected time,
Play'dfoul play withour oaths; your beauty, ladies,
Hath much deform'd us, fashioning our humours
Even to the opposed end of our intents:
And what in us hath seem'd ridiculous,
As love is full of unbefitting strains;

Raining the tears of lamentation,

For the remembrance of my father's death.
it this thou do deny, let our hands part;
Neither intitled in the other's heart.

King. If this, or more than this, I would deny,
To flatter' up these powers of mine with rest,
The sudden hand of death close up mine eye!

Hence ever then my heart is in thy breast. Biron. And what to me, my love? and what to me? Ros. You must be purged too, your sins are rank; Your are attaint with fault and perjury:

1 To ფი woolward was a phrase appropriated to pilgrims and penitentiaries, and means, that he was clothed in woo', and not in linen.

to excess.

That is, tempted us. swell the garment, and thence used

to

Liberal here signifies, as has been remarked in other places, free 4 Bombast was a stuff of loose texture, and used formerly to signify bulk, or shew without sclidity. That is, to sooth. Therefore,

Therefore, if you my favour mean to get,
A twelve-month shall you spend, and never rest,
But seek the weary beds of people sick.
Dum. But what to me, my love? but what to

me?

10

[nesty: 5
Kath. A wife!-a beard, fair health, and ho-
With three-fold love I wish you all these three.
Dum. O, shall I say, I thank you, gentle wife?
Kath. Not so,my lord;--a twelve-month and a day
I'll mark no words that smooth-fac'd wooers say:
Come when the king doth to my lady come,
Then, if I have much love, I'll give you some.
Dum. I'll serve thee true and faithfully till then.
Kath. Yet swear not, lest you be forsworn again.
Long. What says Maria ?

Mar. At the twelve-month's end,
Tll change my black gown for a faithful friend.
Long. I'll stay with patience; but the time is long.
Mar. The liker you; few taller are so young.
Biron. Studies my lady? mistress, look on me,
Behold the window of my heart, mine eye,
What humble suit attends thy answer there;
Impose some service on me for thy love.

15

20

25

Arm. Sweet majesty, vouchsafe me,-
Prin. Was not that Hector?

Dum. That worthy knight of Troy.

Arm. I will kiss thy royal finger, and take leave: I am a votary; I have vow'd to Jaquenetta to hold the plough for her sweet love three year. But, most esteem'd greatness, will you hear the dialogue that the two learned men have compiled, in praise of the owl and the cuckow? it should have follow'd in the end of our show.

King. Call them forth quickly, we will do so,
Arm. Holloa! approach.-

Enter all for a song.

This side is Hiems; winter.

[owl,

This Ver, the spring; the one maintain❜d by the
The other by the cuckow.

Ver, begin.

SONG.

SPRING.

When daizies pied, and violets blue,

And lady-smocks all silver-white,

And cuckow-buds of yellow hue,

Do paint the meadows with delight,
The cuckow then, on every tree,
Mocks marry'd men, for thus sings he,
Cuckow;

30 Cuckow, cuckow,-O word of fear,
Unpleasing to a married ear!

Ros. Oft have I heard of you, my lord Biron,
Before I saw you, and the world's large tongue
Proclaims you for a man replete with mocks;
Full of comparisons, and wounding flouts;
Which you on all estates will execute,
That lie within the mercy of your wit:
To weed this wormwood from your faithful brain;
And therewithal, to win me, if you please,
(Without the which I am not to be won)
You shall this twelve-month term from day to day
Visit the speechless sick, and still converse
With groaning wretches; and your task shall be, 35
With all the fierce' endeavour of your wit,
To enforce the pained impotent to smile. [death?
Biron. To move wild laughter in the throat of
It cannot be; it is impossible:
Mirth cannot move a soul in agony.

Ros. Why, that's the way to choak a gibing spirit,
Whose influence is begot of that loose grace,
Which shallow laughing hearers give to fools:
A jest's prosperity lies in the ear

Of him that hears it, never in the tongue
Of him that makes it: then, if sickly ears,
Deaf'd with the clamours of their own dear' groans,
Will hear your idle scorns, continue then,
And I will have you, and that fault withal;
But, if they will not, throw away that spirit,
And I shall find you empty of that fault,
Right joyful of your reformation.

Biron. A twelve-month? well, befal what will
befal,

I'll jest a twelve-month in an hospital.
Prin. Ay, my sweet lord; and so I take my
leave.
[To the King.
King. No, madam; we will bring you on your

way.

[play;

40

145

50

155

Biron. Our wooing doth not end like an old 60
Jack hath not Jill: these ladies' courtesy
Might well have made our sport a comedy.
King. Come, sir, it wants a twelve-month and
And then 'twill end.
[a day,

When shepherds pipe on oaten straws,

And merry larks are plowmen's clocks,
When turtles tread, and rooks, and dares,

And maidens bleach their summer smocks,
The cuckow then, on every tree,
Mocks married men, for thus sings he,
Cuckow;

Cuckow, cuckow,-O word of fear,
Unpleasing to a married ear!

WINTER.

When icicles hang by the wall,

And Dick the shepherd blows his nail,
And Tom bears logs into the hall,

And milk comes frozen home in pail,
When blood is nipt, and ways be foul,
Then nightly sings the staring owl,
To-who;
Tu-whit, to-who, a merry note,
While greasy Joan doth keel the pot.
When all aloud the wind doth blow,

And coughing drowns the parson's sawʻ,
And birds sit brooding in the snow,

And Marian's nose looks red and raw,
When roasted crabs hiss in the bowl,
Then nightly sings the staring owl,
To-who;

Tu-whit, to-who, a merry note,
While greasy Joan doth keel the pot.

Arm. The words of Mercury are harsh after the
songs of Apollo. You, that way; we, this way.
[Exeunt omnes.

Fierce here means vehement, rapid. Dr. Johnson thinks, that dear should here, as in many other places, be dere, sad, odious. i. e. Scum the pot. The word is yet used in Ireland. i. e. his discourse. MIDSUMMER