Arm. Boy, what sign is it when a man of great spirit grows melancholy? Moth. A great sign, sir, that he will look sad. Arm. Why, sadness is one and the self-same thing, dear imp. Moth. No, no; O Lord, sir, no. Arm. How canst thou part sadness and melancholy, my tender juvenal? Moth. By a familiar demonstration of the working, my tough senior. Arm. Why tough senior? why tough senior? Moth. Why tender juvenal? why tender juvenal? Arm. I spoke it, tender juvenal, as a congruent epitheton appertaining to thy young days, which we may nominate tender. Moth. And I, tough senior, as an appertinent title to your old time, which we may name tough. Arm. Pretty and apt. Moth. How mean you, sir? I pretty, and my saying apt? or I apt, and my saying pretty? Arm. Thou pretty, because little. 5 ΙΟ 15 20 Moth. Little pretty, because little. Wherefore apt? Moth. Speak you this in my praise, master? Moth. I will praise an eel with the same praise. Moth. That an eel is quick. 25 Arm. I do say thou art quick in answers: thou heatest my blood. Moth. I am answered, sir. Arm. I love not to be crossed. Moth. [Aside] He speaks the mere contrary; crosses love not him. 30 Arm. I have promised to study three years with the Duke. 35 Arm. I am ill at reckoning; it fitteth the spirit of a 40 tapster. Moth. You are a gentleman and a gamester, sir. Arm. I confess both: they are both the varnish of a complete man. Moth. Then, I am sure, you know how much the gross sum of deuce-ace amounts to. 45 Arm. It doth amount to one more than two. Moth. Why, sir, is this such a piece of study? Now here is three studied, ere ye'll thrice wink: and how easy it is to put years to the word three, and study three years in two words, the dancing horse will tell you. Arm. A most fine figure! Moth. To prove you a cipher. 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 me from the reprobate thought of it, I would take Desire prisoner, and ransom him to any French courtier for a new-devised courtesy. I think scorn to sigh: 50 55 methinks I should outswear Cupid. what great men have been in love? Moth. Hercules, master. Comfort me, boy: Arm. Most sweet Hercules! More authority, dear 65 boy, name more; and, sweet my child, let them be men of good repute and carriage. Moth. Samson, master: he was a man of good carriage, great carriage, for he carried the town-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 too. Who was Samson's love, my dear Moth? Moth. A woman, master. Arm. Of what complexion? Moth. Of all the four, or the three, or the two, or one of the four. Arm. Tell me precisely of what complexion. 70 75 80 Arm. Is that one of the four complexions? Moth. As I have read, sir; and the best of them too. Arm. Green, indeed, is the colour of lovers; but to have a love of that colour, methinks Samson had small reason for it. He surely affected her for her wit. Moth. It was so, sir; for she had a green wit. Arm. My love is most immaculate white and red. Moth. Most maculate thoughts, master, are masked under such colours. 85 Arm. Define, define, well-educated infant. 90 Moth. My father's wit, and my mother's tongue, assist me! Arm. Sweet invocation of a child; most pretty and pathetical! Moth. If she be made of white and red, Her faults will ne'er be known; For blushing cheeks by faults are bred, And fears by pale white shown: 86. green wit] See note (vi). 87. My] Me Q2. 88. maculate]Q. immaculate FfQ2 94. pathetical] poetical Collier MS. 97. blushing] F2 F3 F4. blush-in Qq Fr. 95 Then if she fear, or be to blame, By this you shall not know; A dangerous rhyme, master, against the reason of white and red. 100 Arm. Is there not a ballad, boy, of the King and the 105 Beggar? Moth. The world was very guilty of such a ballad some three ages since: but, I think, now 'tis not to be found; or, if it were, it would neither serve for the writing nor the tune. 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 hind Costard: she deserves well. ΠΙΟ Moth. [Aside] To be whipped; and yet a better love 115 than my master. Arm. Sing, boy; my spirit grows heavy in love. Moth. And that's great marvel, loving a light wench. Arm. I say, sing. Moth. Forbear till this company be past. Enter DULL, COSTARD, and JAQUENETTA. Dull. 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 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. 120 125 Arm. Villain, thou shalt fast for thy offences ere thou be pardoned. Cost. Well, sir, I hope, when I do it, I shall do it on a full stomach. Arm. Thou shalt be heavily punished. Cost. I am more bound to you than your fellows, for they are but lightly rewarded. Arm. Take away this villain; shut him up. Cost. Well, if ever I do see the merry days of desolation that I have seen, some shall see. Moth. What shall some see? 140 145 150 Cost. Nay, nothing, Master Moth, but what they look upon. It is not for prisoners to be too silent in their words; 155 and therefore I will say nothing: I thank God I have as little patience as another man; and therefore I can be quiet. 139. Arm.] Ar. Q,. Clo. F. Brag. 148. will fast] will be fast F2F3F4- too] Q. om. Ff Q2. words] wards Johnson conj. |