Imatges de pàgina
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and how easy it is to put 'years' to the word 56 'three,' and study three years in two words, the dancing horse will tell you.

Arm. A most fine figure!

Boy. To prove you a cipher.

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Arm. I will hereupon confess I am in love; and as it is base for a soldier to love, so am I in love with a base wench. If drawing my sword against the humour of affection would deliver 64 me from the reprobate thought of it, I would take Desire prisoner, and ransom him to any French courtier for a new devised curtsy. think scorn to sigh: methinks I should out- 68 swear Cupid. Comfort me, boy: what great men have been in love?

Boy. Hercules, master.

Arm. Most sweet Hercules! More authority, 72 dear boy, name more; and, sweet my child, let them be men of good repute and carriage.

Boy. Samson, master: he was a man of good carriage, great carriage, for he carried the town- 76 gates on his back like a porter; and he was in love.

Arm. O well-knit Samson! strong-jointed Samson! I do excel thee in my rapier as much as thou didst me in carrying gates. I am in love 80 too. Who was Samson's love, my dear Moth? Boy. A woman, master.

Arm. Of what complexion?

Boy. Of all the four, or the three, or the 84 two, or one of the four.

Arm. Tell me precisely of what complexion.

Boy. Of the sea-water green, sir.

58 dancing horse; cf. n.

64 humour of affection: caprice of being in love 68 think: think it

59 figure: illustration

83 complexion: disposition; cf. n.

Arm. Is that one of the four complexions? Boy. As I have read, sir; and the best of them too.

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Arm. Green indeed is the colour of lovers; but to have a love of that colour, methinks 92 Samson had small reason for it. He surely affected her for her wit.

Boy. It was so, sir, for she had a green wit. Arm. My love is most immaculate white and 96 red.

Boy. Most maculate thoughts, master, are masked under such colours.

Arm. Define, define, well-educated infant. Boy. My father's wit, and my mother's tongue, assist me!

Arm. Sweet invocation of a child; most pretty and pathetical!

Boy. If she be made of white and red,

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104

Her faults will ne'er be known,

For blushing cheeks by faults are bred,

And fears by pale white shown:

108

Then if she fear, or be to blame,

By this you shall not know,

For still her cheeks possess the same
Which native she doth owe.

A dangerous rime, master, against the reason of white and red.

Arm. Is there not a ballet, boy, of the King and the Beggar?

Boy. The world was very guilty of such a ballet some three ages since; but I think now

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112

116

104 pathetical: touching 115, 116 Cf. n.

118 ages: generations

'tis not to be found; or, if it were, it would neither serve for the writing nor the tune.

120

Arm. I will have that subject newly writ o'er, that I may example my digression by some mighty precedent. Boy, I do love that country girl that I took in the park with the rational 124 hind Costard: she deserves well.

Boy. [Aside.] To be whipped; and yet a better love than my master.

Arm. Sing, boy: my spirit grows heavy in 128 love.

Boy. And that's great marvel, loving a light wench.

Arm. I say, sing.

Boy. Forbear till this company be past.

Enter Clown [Costard], Constable [Dull],
and Wench [Jaquenetta].

132

Const. Sir, the duke's pleasure is, that you keep Costard safe: and you must suffer him to take no delight nor no penance, but a' must fast three 136 days a week. For this damsel, I must keep her at the park; she is allowed for the day-woman. Fare you well.

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Arm. I do betray myself with blushing. Maid! 140
Maid. [Jaq.] Man?

Arm. I will visit thee at the lodge.

Maid. That's hereby.

Arm. I know where it is situate.

Maid. Lord, how wise you are!
Arm. I will tell thee wonders.
Maid. With that face?

122 digression: deviation from my nature, i.e. debasement

124 rational: reasoning, i.e. not stupid 136 a': he 138 allowed: approved of

144

127 love: lover day-woman: dairy-woman

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Exeunt [Dull and Jaquenetta].

Arm. Villain, thou shalt fast for thy offences ere thou be pardoned.

Clow. Well, sir, I hope, when I do it, I shall do it on a full stomach.

Arm. Thou shalt be heavily punished.

Clow. I am more bound to you than your fellows, for they are but lightly rewarded.

Arm. Take away this villain: shut him up. Boy. Come, you transgressing slave: away! Clow. Let me not be pent up, sir: I will fast, being loose.

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160

Boy. No, sir; that were fast and loose: thou 164 shalt to prison.

Clow. Well, if ever I do see the merry days of desolation that I have seen, some shall see

Boy. What shall some see?

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Clow. Nay, nothing, Master Moth, but what they look upon. It is not for prisoners to be too silent in their words; and therefore I will say nothing: I thank God I have as little pa- 172 tience as another man, and therefore I can be quiet. Exit [Costard; also Moth]. Arm. I do affect the very ground, which is base, where her shoe, which is baser, guided by 176 her foot, which is basest, doth tread. I shall be forsworn, which is a great argument of false

164 fast and loose: cheating game of a sharper
167 desolation; cf. n.
175 affect: love

178 argument: proof

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hood, if I love. And how can that be true love which is falsely attempted? Love is a familiar; 180 Love is a devil: there is no evil angel but Love. Yet was Samson so tempted, and he had an excellent strength; yet was Solomon so seduced, and he had a very good wit. Cupid's butt-shaft 184 is too hard for Hercules' club, and therefore too much odds for a Spaniard's rapier. The first and second cause will not serve my turn; the passado he respects not, the duello he regards 188 not: his disgrace is to be called boy, but his glory is to subdue men. Adieu, valour! rust, rapier! be still, drum! for your manager is in love; yea, he loveth. Assist me some extemporal 192 god of rime, for I am sure I shall turn sonnet. Devise, wit; write, pen; for I am for whole volumes in folio.

180 familiar: familiar spirit, i.c. demon

184 butt-shaft: arrow, without barb, for shooting at butts (targets)
187 cause: cause of quarrel

188 passado: pass, or thrust, in fencing

191 manager: wielder of weapons

duello: duel

193 turn sonnet: grow into a sonnet(?), turn sonneteer(?)

Exit.

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