ACT II. SCENE I. Before the King of Navarre's palace. Enter the Princess of France, Rofaline, Maria Catharine, Boyet, Lords, and other attendants. Boyet. OW, Madam, fummon up your deareft N fpirits; Confider, whom the King your father fends; Of all perfections that a man may owe, Prin. Good Lord Boyet, my beauty, though but mean, Needs not the painted flourish of your praise; Tell him the daughter of the King of France, Like Like humble-vifag'd fuitors, his high will. Boyet. Proud of employment, willingly I go, [Exit. Prin. All pride is willing pride, and your's is fo. Who are the votaries, my loving Lords, That are vow-fellows with this virtuous King? Prin. Know ye the man? Mar. I knew him, Madam, at a marriage-feast, In Normandy faw I this Longaville, Is a fharp wit, match'd with too blunt a will; Prin. Some merry mocking Lord, belike; is't fo? Mar. They fay fo moft, that most his humours know. Prin. Such fhort-liv'd wits do wither as they grow. Who are the reft? Cath. The young Dumain, a well-accomplish'd youth, Of all that virtue love, for virtue lov'd. Moft power to do moft harm, leaft knowing ill; Rof. Another of thefe ftudents at that time And younger hearings are quite ravished; So fweet and voluble is his difcourse. Prin. God bless my ladies, are they all in love, With fuch bedecking ornaments of praise ! Enter Boyet. Prin. Now what admittance, Lord? Boyet. Navarre had notice of your fair approach; And he and his competitors in oath Were all addrefs'd to meet you, gentle Lady, To let you enter his unpeopled house. SCEN E II. Enter the King, Longaville, Dumain, Biron, and attendants. King. Fair Princefs, welcome to the court of Navarre. Prin. Fair I give you back again; and welcome I have not yet: the roof of this court is too high to be your's; and welcome to the wide fields, too bafe to be mine. King. You fhall be welcome, Madam, to my court. Prin. I will be welcome then; conduct me thither. King. Hear me, dear Lady, I have fworn an oath. Prin. Our Lady help my Lord! he'll be forfworn. King. Not for the world, fair Madam, by my will. Prin. Why, will fhall break its will, and nothing elfe. King. Your Ladyfhip is ignorant what it is. Prin. Were my Lord fo, his ignorance were wife, Where now his knowledge muft prove ignorance. I hear your Grace hath fworn out house-keeping: 'Tis deadly fin to keep that oath, my Lord; Not fin to break it. But pardon me, I am too fudden bold: To teach a teacher ill befeemeth me. Vouchsafe to read the purpose of my coming, King. Madam, I will, if fuddenly I may. Prin. You will the fooner, that I were away; For you'll prove perjur'd, if you make me stay. Biron. Did not I dance with you in Brabant once? Ref. Did not I dance with you in Brabant once? Biron. I know you did. Ref. How needlefs was it then to ask the question? Biron. You must not be fo quick. Ref. 'Tis long of you, that fpur me with fuch queftions. Biron. Your wit's too hot, it speeds too fast, 'twill tire. Rof. Not till it leave the rider in the mire. Biron. What time o' day? Ref. The hour that fools fhould ask. Biron. Now fair befal your mafk! Biron. Nay, then will I be gone. King. Madam, your father here doth intimate But fay, that he, or we, as neither have Which we much rather had depart withal, Dear Dear Princefs, were not his requests so far And go well fatisfied to France again. Prin. You do the King my father too much wrong, And wrong the reputation of your name, In fo unfeeming to confefs receipt Of that which hath fo faithfully been paid. Prin. We arrest your word. Boyet, you can produce acquittances. King. Satisfy me fo. Boyet. So please your Grace, the packet is not come Where that and other fpecialties are bound: To-morrow you fhall have a fight of them. King. It fhall fuffice me; at which interview,. Mean time receive fuch welcome at my hand, [Exit. Biron. Lady, I will commend you to my own heart. Rof. I pray you, do my commendations; I would be glad to fee it. Biron. I would you heard it grone heard it grone. Ref. Is het fool fick ? Biron, Sick at the heart. + Soul. Dum. |