_Biron._ Art thou one of the Worthies? _Cost._ It pleased them to think me worthy of Pompion the Great: for mine own part, I know not the degree of 505 the Worthy, but I am to stand for him. _Biron._ Go, bid them prepare. _Cost._ We will turn it finely off, sir; we will take some care. [_Exit._ _King._ Biron, they will shame us: let them not approach. _Biron._ We are shame-proof, my lord: and ’tis some policy 510 To have one show worse than the king’s and his company. _King._ I say they shall not come. _Prin._ Nay, my good lord, let me o’errule you now: That sport best pleases that doth least know how: Where zeal strives to content, and the contents 515 Dies in the zeal of that which it presents: Their form confounded makes most form in mirth, When great things labouring perish in their birth. _Biron._ A right description of our sport, my lord. _Enter_ ARMADO. _Arm._ Anointed, I implore so much expense of thy royal 520 sweet breath as will utter a brace of words. [_Converses apart with the King, and delivers him a paper._ _Prin._ Doth this man serve God? _Biron._ Why ask you? _Prin._ He speaks not like a man of God’s making. _Arm._ That is all one, my fair, sweet, honey monarch; 525 for, I protest, the schoolmaster is exceeding fantastical; too too vain, too too vain: but we will put it, as they say, to fortuna de la guerra. I wish you the peace of mind, most royal couplement! [_Exit._ _King._ Here is like to be a good presence of Worthies. 530 He presents Hector of Troy; the swain, Pompey the Great; the parish curate, Alexander; Armado’s page, Hercules; the pedant, Judas Maccabæus: And if these four Worthies in their first show thrive, These four will change habits, and present the other five. 535 _Biron._ There is five in the first show. _King._ You are deceived; ’tis not so. _Biron._ ‘The pedant, the braggart, the hedge-priest, the fool and the boy:— Abate throw at novum, and the whole world again 540 Cannot pick out five such, take each one in his vein. _King._ The ship is under sail, and here she comes amain. _Enter_ COSTARD, _for Pompey_. _Cost._ I Pompey am,— _Boyet._ You lie, you are not he. _Cost._ I Pompey am,— _Boyet._ With libbard’s head on knee. _Biron._ Well said, old mocker: I must needs be friends with thee. 545 _Cost._ I Pompey am, Pompey surnamed the Big,— _Dum._ The Great. _Cost._ It is, ‘Great,’ sir:— Pompey surnamed the Great; That oft in field, with targe and shield, did make my foe to sweat: And travelling along this coast, I here am come by chance, 550 And lay my arms before the legs of this sweet lass of France. If your ladyship would say, ‘Thanks, Pompey,’ I had done.