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. 60 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. 88 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, 100 104 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 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 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], 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. Arm. I do betray myself with blushing. Maid! 140 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! 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 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. 156 160 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? 168 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 178 argument: proof ने 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) 188 passado: pass, or thrust, in fencing 191 manager: wielder of weapons duello: duel 193 turn sonnet: grow into a sonnet(?), turn sonneteer(?) Exit. |