that between you and the women, the Play may pleafe. If I were a woman, I would kifs as many of you as had beards that pleas'd me, complexions that lik'd me, and breaths that I defy'd not: and, I am fure, as many as have good beards, or good faces, or sweet breaths, will for my kind offer, when I make curt'fy, bid me farewel. [Exeunt omnes.

LOVE'S LABOUR's LOST.

A

COMEDY.

FERDINAND, King of Navarre.

Biron, three Lords, attending upon the King in

Longaville,

Dumain,

Boyet,

Macard,

his retirement.

} Lords, attending upon the Princess of

France.

Don Adriano de Armado, a fantastical Spaniard.

Nathanael, a Curate.

Dull, a Conftable..

Holofernes, a Schoolmaster.

Coftard, a Clown.

Moth, Page to Don Adriano de Armado.
A Forefter.

Princess of France.

Rofaline,

Maria,

Catharine,

} Ladies, attending on the Princess:

Jaquenetta, a Country Wench.

Officers, and others, Attendants upon the King and
Princefs.

SCENE, the King of Navarre's Palace, and the Country near it.

This enumeration of the perfons was made by Mr. Rowe.

Of this Play there is an edi

tion in 4to 1593, by W. W. for Cuthbert Burby, which I have not feen.

LOVE'S

LOVE'S LABOUR's LOST.

ACT I. SCENE İ.

The PALACE.

Enter the King, Biron, Longaville, and Dumain.

KING.

ET Fame, that all hunt after in their lives,
Live registered upon our brazen tombs ;
And then grace us in the difgrace of death:

When, fpight of cormorant devouring time,
Th' endeavour of this prefent breath may buy
That honour which fhall bate his fcythe's keen edge;
And make us heirs of all eternity.

Therefore, brave Conquerors! for fo you are,
That war against your own Affections,
And the huge army of the world's defires;
Our late edict shall strongly stand in force.
Navarre fhall be the wonder of the world;
Our Court fhall be a little academy,
Still and contemplative in living arts.
You three, Biron, Dumain, and Longaville,
Have fworn for three years' term to live with me,
My fellow Scholars; and to keep thofe Statutes,
That are recorded in this schedule here.

Your oaths are past, and now subscribe your names:

That

That his own hand may strike his honour down,
That violates the fmalleft branch herein :
If you are arm'd to do, as fworn to do,

Subscribe to your deep oaths, and keep them too.
Long. I am refolv'd; 'tis but a three years faft =
The mind shall banquet tho' the body pine;
Fat paunches have lean pates; and dainty bits
Make rich the ribs, but bankerout the wits.

Dum. My loving lord, Dumain is mortify'd:
The groffer manner of these world's delights
He throws upon the grofs world's bafer flaves:
To love, to wealth, to pomp, I pine and die;
With all thefe living in philofophy'.

Biron. I can but fay their proteftation over.
So much (dear liege) I have already fworn,
That is, to live and study here three years:
But there are other ftrict obfervances;
As, not to fee a woman in that term,
Which, I hope well, is not enrolled there.
And one day in a week to touch no food,
And but one meal on every day befide;
The which, I hope, is not enrolled there.
And then to fleep but three hours in the night,
And not be feen to wink of all the day;
(When I was wont to think no harm all night,
And make a dark night too of half the day ;)
Which, I hope well, is not enrolled there.
O, these are barren tafks, too hard to keep;
Not to fee ladies, ftudy, faft, not sleep.

King Your Oath is pafs'd to pafs away from thefe.
Biron Let me fay, no, liege, an' if you please;

I only fwore to study with your Grace,

And stay here in your Court for three years' space.

With all thefe living in philofophy.] The file of the rhyming Icenes in this play is often entangled and obfcure. I know

not certainly to what all thefe is to be referred; I fuppofe he means that he finds love, pomp, and wealth in philofophy.

Leng.