Imatges de pàgina
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ACT SECOND

Scene One

[The King of Navarre's Park. A Pavilion and Tents at a distance]

Enter the Princess of France, with three attending Ladies [Rosaline, Maria, Katharine,] and three Lords [Boyet and attending Lords].

Boyet. Now, madam, summon up your dearest spirits:

Consider whom the king your father sends,
To whom he sends, and what's his embassy:
Yourself, held precious in the world's esteem,
To parley with the sole inheritor

Of all perfections that a man may owe,
Matchless Navarre; the plea of no less weight
Than Aquitaine, a dowry for a queen.
Be now as prodigal of all dear grace
As Nature was in making graces dear,

When she did starve the general world beside,
And prodigally gave them all to you.

12

Prin. Good Lord Boyet, my beauty, though but

mean,

Needs not the painted flourish of your praise:
Beauty is bought by judgment of the eye,
Not utter'd by base sale of chapmen's tongues.
I am less proud to hear you tell my worth
Than you much willing to be counted wise
In spending your wit in the praise of mine.
But now to task the tasker: good Boyet,
You are not ignorant, all-telling fame

1 dearest: best 16 utter'd: sold

7 Navarre: King of Navarre chapmen's: shopmen's

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Doth noise abroad, Navarre hath made a vow,
Till painful study shall outwear three years,
No woman may approach his silent court:
Therefore to's seemeth it a needful course,
Before we enter his forbidden gates,

To know his pleasure; and in that behalf,
Bold of your worthiness, we single you
As our best-moving fair solicitor.

Tell him, the daughter of the King of France,
On serious business, craving quick dispatch,
Importunes personal conference with his Grace.
Haste, signify so much; while we attend,
Like humble-visag'd suitors, his high will.

Boyet. Proud of employment, willingly I go.

24

28

32

Exit Boyet.

Prin. All pride is willing pride, and yours is so. 36 Who are the votaries, my loving lords,

That are vow-fellows with this virtuous duke?

[A] Lord. Longaville is one.

Prin.

Know you the man?

1. Lad. [Maria]. I know him, madam: at a marriage feast,

Between Lord Perigort and the beauteous heir
Of Jacques Falconbridge solemnized,

In Normandy saw I this Longaville.

A man of sovereign parts he is esteem'd;
Well fitted in the arts, glorious in arms:
Nothing becomes him ill that he would well.
The only soil of his fair virtue's gloss,-
If virtue's gloss will stain with any soil,-
Is a sharp wit match'd with too blunt a will;

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40

44

48

28 Bold: confident 33 attend: await

41 Lord Perigort; cf. n.

49 blunt: harsh

Whose edge hath power to cut, whose will still wills It should none spare that come within his power.

Prin. Some merry mocking lord, belike; is 't so? 52 1. Lad. They say so most that most his humours know.

Prin. Such short-liv'd wits do wither as they grow. Who are the rest?

2. Lad. [Kath.] The young Dumaine, a well-accomplish'd youth,

Of all that virtue love for virtue lov'd:

Most power to do most harm, least knowing ill,
For he hath wit to make an ill shape good,
And shape to win grace though he had no wit.
I saw him at the Duke Alençon's once;
And much too little of that good I saw

Is my report to his great worthiness.

56

60

3. Lad. [Ros.] Another of these students at that time

Was there with him, if I have heard a truth.

Berowne they call him; but a merrier man,
Within the limit of becoming mirth,
I never spent an hour's talk withal.
His eye begets occasion for his wit;
For every object that the one doth catch
The other turns to a mirth-moving jest,
Which his fair tongue, conceit's expositor,
Delivers in such apt and gracious words,
That aged ears play truant at his tales,
And younger hearings are quite ravished;
So sweet and voluble is his discourse.

Prin. God bless my ladies! are they all in love,

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64

68

122

72

76

59 shape: form, or figure 68 withal: with 74 Cf. n.

That every one her own hath garnished

With such bedecking ornaments of praise? [4] Lord. Here comes Boyet.

Prin.

Enter Boyet.

Now, what admittance, lord? 80

Boyet. Navarre had notice of your fair approach;

And he and his competitors in oath

Were all address'd to meet you, gentle lady,

Before I came. Marry, thus much I have learnt; 84

He rather means to lodge you in the field,

Like one that comes here to besiege his court,
Than seek a dispensation for his oath,

To let you enter his unpeopled house.

88

Enter Navarre, Longaville, Dumaine, and Berowne. Here comes Navarre.

King. Fair princess, welcome to the court of Navarre.

Prin. 'Fair' I give you back again; and 'welcome' I have not yet: the roof of this court 92 is too high to be yours, and welcome to the wide fields too base to be mine.

King. You shall be welcome, madam, to my court. Prin. I will be welcome, then: conduct me thither. 96 King. Hear me, dear lady; I have sworn an oath. Prin. Our Lady help my lord! he'll be forsworn. King. Not for the world, fair madam, by my will. Prin. Why, will shall break it; will, and nothing else.

King. Your ladyship is ignorant what it is.

Prin. Were my lord so, his ignorance were wise, Where now his knowledge must prove ignorance.

82 competitors: associates

92 roof of this court: i.e. the heaven

100

83 address'd: ready 103 Where: whereas

I hear your grace hath sworn out house-keeping: 104 "Tis deadly sin to keep that oath, my lord,

And sin to break it.

But pardon me, I am too sudden-bold:

To teach a teacher ill beseemeth me.

Vouchsafe to read the purpose of my coming,

108

112

And suddenly resolve me in my suit. [Gives a paper.]
King. Madam, I will, if suddenly I may.
Prin. You will the sooner that I were away,
For you'll prove perjur'd if you make me stay.
Ber. Did not I dance with you in Brabant once?
Ros. Did not I dance with you in Brabant once?
Ber. I know you did.

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Ber. Your wit's too hot, it speeds too fast, 'twill tire.

Ros. Not till it leave the rider in the mire.

120

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The payment of a hundred thousand crowns;
Being but the one half of an entire sum
Disbursed by my father in his wars.
But say that he, or we,—as neither have,—

104 sworn out house-keeping: forsworn hospitality
110 suddenly: quickly

123 fair befall: mercy on

132

118 'long: along, because 130 Cf. n.

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