Comedy plays; Courts and courtiers -- Drama; Navarre (Kingdom) -- Drama; Princesses -- Drama
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 he must fast three
days a week. For this damsel, I must keep her at the park. She is
allowed for the dey-woman. Fare you well.
ARMADO.
I do betray myself with blushing.—Maid.
JAQUENETTA.
Man.
ARMADO.
I will visit thee at the lodge.
JAQUENETTA.
That’s hereby.
ARMADO.
I know where it is situate.
JAQUENETTA.
Lord, how wise you are!
ARMADO.
I will tell thee wonders.
JAQUENETTA.
With that face?
ARMADO.
I love thee.
JAQUENETTA.
So I heard you say.
ARMADO.
And so, farewell.
JAQUENETTA.
Fair weather after you!
DULL.
Come, Jaquenetta, away.
[_Exeunt Dull and Jaquenetta._]
ARMADO.
Villain, thou shalt fast for thy offences ere thou be pardoned.
COSTARD.
Well, sir, I hope when I do it I shall do it on a full stomach.
ARMADO.
Thou shalt be heavily punished.
COSTARD.
I am more bound to you than your fellows, for they are but lightly
rewarded.
ARMADO.
Take away this villain. Shut him up.
MOTH.
Come, you transgressing slave, away!
COSTARD.
Let me not be pent up, sir. I will fast being loose.
MOTH.
No, sir, that were fast and loose. Thou shalt to prison.
COSTARD.
Well, if ever I do see the merry days of desolation that I have seen,
some shall see.
MOTH.
What shall some see?
COSTARD.
Nay, nothing, Master Moth, but what they look upon. It is not for
prisoners to be too silent in their words, and therefore I will say
nothing. I thank God I have as little patience as another man, and
therefore I can be quiet.
[_Exeunt Moth and Costard._]
ARMADO.
I do affect the very ground, which is base, where her shoe, which is
baser, guided by her foot, which is basest, doth tread. I shall be
forsworn, which is a great argument of falsehood, if I love. And how
can that be true love which is falsely attempted? Love is a familiar;
Love is a devil. There is no evil angel but Love. Yet was Samson so
tempted, and he had an excellent strength; yet was Solomon so seduced,
and he had a very good wit. Cupid’s butt-shaft is too hard for
Hercules’ club, and therefore too much odds for a Spaniard’s rapier.
The first and second cause will not serve my turn; the _passado_ he
respects not, the _duello_ he regards not. His disgrace is to be called
boy, but his glory is to subdue men. Adieu, valour; rust, rapier; be
still, drum, for your manager is in love. Yea, he loveth. Assist me,
some extemporal god of rhyme, for I am sure I shall turn sonnet.
Devise, wit; write, pen; for I am for whole volumes in folio.
[_Exit._]
ACT II
SCENE I. 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 two others.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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