_King._ Ay, that there is. Our court, you know, is haunted 160 With a refined traveller of Spain; A man in all the world’s new fashion planted, That hath a mint of phrases in his brain; One whom the music of his own vain tongue Doth ravish like enchanting harmony; 165 A man of complements, whom right and wrong Have chose as umpire of their mutiny: This child of fancy, that Armado hight, For interim to our studies, shall relate. In high-born words, the worth of many a knight 170 From tawny Spain, lost in the world’s debate. How you delight, my lords, I know not, I; But, I protest, I love to hear him lie, And I will use him for my minstrelsy. _Biron._ Armado is a most illustrious wight. 175 A man of fire-new words, fashion’s own knight. _Long._ Costard the swain and he shall be our sport; And, so to study, three years is but short. _Enter_ DULL _with a letter, and_ COSTARD. _Dull._ Which is the Duke’s own person? _Biron._ This, fellow: what wouldst? 180 _Dull._ I myself reprehend his own person, for I am his Grace’s tharborough: but I would see his own person in flesh and blood. _Biron._ This is he. _Dull._ Signior Arme—Arme—commends you. There’s 185 villany abroad: this letter will tell you more. _Cost._ Sir, the contempts thereof are as touching me. _King._ A letter from the magnificent Armado. _Biron._ How low soever the matter, I hope in God for high words. 190 _Long._ A high hope for a low heaven: God grant us patience! _Biron._ To hear? or forbear laughing? _Long._ To hear meekly, sir, and to laugh moderately; or to forbear both. 195 _Biron._ Well, sir, be it as the style shall give us cause to climb in the merriness. _Cost._ The matter is to me, sir, as concerning Jaquenetta. The manner of it is, I was taken with the manner. _Biron._ In what manner? 200 _Cost._ In manner and form following, sir; all those three: I was seen with her in the manor-house, sitting with her upon the form, and taken following her into the park; which, put together, is in manner and form following. Now, sir, for the manner,—it is the manner of a man to speak to 205 a woman: for the form,—in some form. _Biron._ For the following, sir? _Cost._ As it shall follow in my correction: and God defend the right! _King._ Will you hear this letter with attention? 210 _Biron._ As we would hear an oracle. _Cost._ Such is the simplicity of man to hearken after the flesh. _King_ [_reads_]. ‘Great deputy, the welkin’s vicegerent, and sole dominator of Navarre, my soul’s earth’s god, and body’s fostering 215 patron.’— _Cost._ Not a word of Costard yet. _King_ [_reads_]. ‘So it is,’—