[DRAMATIS PERSONE. FERDINAND, King of Navarre BEROWNE, LONGAVILLE, DUMAINE, BOYET, MARCADE, } } three Lords attending upon the King in his retirement Lords attending upon the Princess of DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO, a fantastical Spaniard JAQUENETTA, a country Wench Officers and Other Attendants upon the King and Princess SCENE: Navarre] Dramatis Personæ; cf. n. Love's Labour's Lost ACT FIRST Scene One [The King of Navarre's Park] Enter Ferdinand King of Navarre, Berowne, King. Let fame, that all hunt after in their lives, Live register'd upon our brazen tombs, And then grace us in the disgrace of death; When, spite of cormorant devouring Time, Therefore, brave conquerors, for so you are, Still and contemplative in living art. 12 You three, Berowne, Dumaine, and Longaville, Your oaths are pass'd; and now subscribe your names, That violates the smallest branch herein. Love's Labour's Lost; cf. n. 6 bate: blunt 20 4 cormorant: ravenous 13 academe: academy 19 subscribe: sign If you are arm'd to do, as sworn to do, Subscribe to your deep oaths, and keep it too. Ber. I can but say their protestation over; 28 12242 32 36 40 The which I hope is not enrolled there: And then, to sleep but three hours in the night, And not be seen to wink of all the day,— When I was wont to think no harm all night 44 Which I hope well is not enrolled there. Not to see ladies, study, fast, not sleep. 48 King. Your oath is pass'd to pass away from these. Ber. Let me say no, my liege, an if you please. I only swore to study with your Grace, 22 arm'd: ready 27 wits: faculties of the mind 26 pates: heads 28 mortified: dead so far as pleasures and passions are concerned 32 all these: i.e. love, wealth, pomp 43 wink of: close the eyes during 47 barren: fruitless, futile 38 there: i.e. in the schedule 50 an if: if And stay here in your court for three years' space. 52 Long. You swore to that, Berowne, and to the rest. Ber. By yea and nay, sir, then I swore in jest. What is the end of study? let me know. King. Why, that to know which else we should not know. 56 Ber. Things hid and barr'd, you mean, from common sense? King. Ay, that is study's godlike recompense. Ber. Come on then; I will swear to study so, When mistresses from common sense are hid; King. These be the stops that hinder study quite, And train our intellects to vain delight. 60 64 68 Ber. Why, all delights are vain; but that most vain Which, with pain purchas'd, doth inherit pain: To seek the light of truth; while truth the while Light seeking light doth light of light beguile: So, ere you find where light in darkness lies, Your light grows dark by losing of your eyes. 72 76 54 By yea and nay: i.e. by the most positive oath of affirmation and denial 57 common sense: ordinary sight or perception 67, 68 Cf. n. 77 beguile: deprive 73 Cf. n. 79 light: i.e. sight |