Biron. How much is it? Cost. O Lord, sir, the parties themselves, the actors, sir, will show whereuntil it doth amount: for my own part, I am, as they say, but to parfect one man,-e'en one poor man; Pompion the great, sir. 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 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 [Exit Cost. some care. king. Biron, they will shame us, let them not approach. Biron. We are shame-proof, my lord: and 'tis some policy To have one show worse than the king's and his com Prin. Doth this man serve God? done. Prin. Great thanks, great Pompey. Cost. 'Tis not so much worth; but, I hope, I was perfect: I made a little fault in, great. Biron. My hat to a halfpenny, Pompey proves the best worthy. Enter Nathaniel arm'd, for Alexander. Nath. When in the world I liv'd, I was the world's commander; By cast, west, north, and south, I spread my conquering might: My'scutcheon plain declares, that I am Alisander. Boyet. Your nose says no, you are not; for it stands too right. Biron. Your nose smells, no, in this, most tender- Prin. The conqueror is dismay'd: Proceed, good Nath. When in the world I liv'd, I was the world's Cost. O, sir, [To Nath.] you have overthrown Alisander the conqueror! You will be scraped out of the painted cloth for this: your lion, that holds his poll-ax sitting on a close-stool, will be given to A-jax: he will be the ninth worthy. A conqueror, and afeard to Prin. He speaks not like a man of God's making. Arm. That's all one, my fair, sweet, honey monarch: for, I protest, the school-master is exceeding fantastic-speak! run away for shame, Alisander. [Nath. retires.] al; too, too vain; too, too vain: But we will put it, as they say, to fortuna della guerra. I wish you the peace of mind, most royal couplement ! [Exit. King. Here is like to be a good presence of worthies: He presents Hector of Troy; the swain, Pompey the great; the parish curate, Alexander; Armado's page, Hercules; the pedant, Judas Machabæus. And if these four worthies in their first show thrive, These four will change habits, and present the other five. Biron. There is five in the first show. King, You are deceiv'd, 'tis not so. Biron. The pedant, the braggart, the hedge-priest, the fool, and the boy : Abate a throw at novum; and the whole world again,|| There, an't shall please you; a foolish mild man ; an honest man, look you, and soon dash'd! He is a mar vellous good neighbour, in sooth; and a very good bowler: but, for Alisander, alas, you see, how 'tis ;-a little o'erparted :-But there are worthies a coming will speak their mind in some other sort. Prin. Stand aside, good Pompey. Enter Holofernes arm'd, for Judas, and Moth arm'd, Hol. Great Hercules is presented by this imp, Thus did he strangle serpents in his manus : Keep some state in thy exit, and vanish. [Exit Moth. Dum. A Judas! Hol. Not Iscariot, sir. Judas I am, ycleped Machabæus. Dum. Judas Machabæus clipt, is plain Judas. Bir. A kissing traitor:-How art thou prov'd Judas? Dum. The more shame for you, Judas. Hol. What mean you, sir? Boyet. To make Judas hang himself. Hel. Begin, sir; you are my elder. Biren. Well follow'd: Judas was hang'd on an elder. Boyet. A cittern head. Dum. The head of a bodkin. Biron. A death's face in a ring. Lon. The face of an old Roman coin, scarce seen, Boyet. The pummel of Cæsar's faulchion. Biron. St. George's half-cheek in a brooch. Dum. Ay, and in a brooch of lead. Biren. Ay, and worn in the cap of a tooth-drawer: And now, forward; for we have put thee in counte nance. Hel. You have put me out of countenance. Biron. False; we have given thee faces. Hel. But you have out-fac'd them all. Biren. An thou wert a lion, we would do so. And so adieu, sweet Jude! nay, why dost thou stay? Biren. For the ass to the Jude; give it him :-Jud as, away. Hel. This is not generous, not gentle, not humble. Bayet. A light for monsieur Judas: it grows dark, be may stumble. Prin. Alas, poor Machabæus, how hath he been baited! Enter Armado arm'd, for Hector. Biron. Hide thy head, Achilles; here comes Hector in arms. Dum. Though my mocks come home by me, I will now be merry. King. Hector was but a Trojan in respect of this. Beyet. But is this Hector? Dum. I think, Hector was not so clean-timber'd. Lon. His leg is too big for Hector. Dum. More calf, certain. Baget. No; he is best indued in the small. Biren. This cannot be Hector. Duan. He's a god or a painter; for he makes faces. Arm. The armipotent Mars, of lances the almighty, Gave Hector a gift, Dum. A gilt nutmeg. Biron. A lemon, Lon. Stuck with cloves. Dum. No, eloven. Arm. Peace! Arm. Sweet lord Longaville, rein thy tongue. Lon. I must rather give it the rein; for it runs against Hector. Dum. Ay, and Hector's a greyhound. Arm. The sweet war-man is dead and rotten; sweet chucks, beat not the bones of the buried: when he breath'd, he was a man-But I will forward with my device: Sweet royalty, [To the Princess.] bestow on me the sense of hearing. [Biron whispers Costard. Prin. Speak, brave Hector; we are much delight. ed. Arm. I do adore thy sweet grace's slipper. Dum. Most rare Pompey! Boyet. Renowned Pompey! Biron. Greater than great, great, great, great Pompey! Pompey the huge! Dum. Hector trembles. Biron. Pompey is mov'd:-More Ates, more Ates; stir them on! stir them on! Dum. Hector will challenge him. Biron. Ay, if he have no more man's blood in's bel ly than will sup a flea. Arm. By the north pole, I do challenge thee. Cost. I will not fight with a pole, like a northern man; I'll slash; I'll do it by the sword :-I pray you, let me borrow my arms again. Dum. Room for the incensed worthies. Cost. I'll do it in my shirt. Dum. Most resolute Pompey ! Moth. Master, let me take you a button-hole lower. Do you not see, Pompey is uncasing for the combat? What mean you? you will lose your reputation. Arm. Gentlemen, and soldiers, pardon me; I will not combat in my shirt. Dum. You may not deny it; Pompey hath made the challenge. Arm. Sweet bloods, I both may and will. Arm. The naked truth of it is, I have no shirt; I go woolward for penance. Boyet. True, and it was enjoin'd him in Rome for want of linen: since when, I'll be sworn, he wore none, but a dish-clout of Jaquenetta's; and that 'a wears next his heart, for a favour. Enter Mercade. Mer, God save you, madam! Prin. Welcome, Mercade; But that thou interrupt'st our merriment. Mer. I am sorry, madam; for the news I bring Is heavy in my tongue. The king your father- Mer. Even so; my tale is told. Biron. Worthies, away; the scene begins to cloud. Arm. For mine own part, I breathe free breath: I have seen the day of wrong through the little hole of discretion, and I will right myself like a soldier. [Exeunt Worthies. King. How fares your majesty? Prin. Boyet, prepare; I will away to-night. King, Madam, not so; I do beseech you, stay. Prin. Prepare, I say.-I thank you, gracious lords, For all your fair endeavours; and entreat,. Out of a new-sad soul, that you vouchsafe In your rich wisdom, to excuse, or hide, The liberal opposition of our spirits: If over-boldly we have borne ourselves In the converse of breath, your gentleness Was guilty of it.-Farewell, worthy lord! King. The extreme parts of time extremely form That which long process could not arbitrate: The holy suit which fain it would convince; From what it purpos'd; since, to wail friends lost, As to rejoice at friends but newly found. Prin. I understand you not; my griefs are double. Biron. Honest plain words best pierce the ear of grief: -And by these badges understand the king. Dum. Our letters, madam, show'd much more than jest. Lon. So did our looks. Ros. We did not quote them so. King. Now, at the latest minute of the hour, Grant us your loves. Prin. Change not your offer made in heat of blood; Nip not the gaudy blossoms of your love, Dum. But what to me, my love? but what to me? Kath. A wife!-a beard, fair health, and honesty ; With three-fold love I wish you all these three. Dum. O, shall I say, I thank you, gentle wife? Kath. Not so, my lord ;-a twelvemonth and a day I'll mark no words that smooth-fac'd wooers say: Come when the king doth to my lady come, Then, if I have much love, I'll give you some. Dum. I'll serve thee true and faithfully till then. Kath. Yet swear not, lest you be forsworn again. Lon. What says Maria? Mar, At the twelvemonth's end, I'll change my black gown for a faithful friend. Ros. Oft have I heard of you, my lord Biron, Biron. To move wild laughter in the throat of death? It cannot be; it is impossible: Mirth cannot move a soul in agony. Ros. Why, that's the way to choke a gibing spirit, Of him that hears it, never in the tongue Biron. A twelvemonth? well, befal what will befal Arm. Sweet majesty, vouchsafe me,— Dum. The worthy knight of Troy. Arm. I will kiss thy royal finger, and take leave: I am a votary; I have vowed to Jaquenetta to hold the plough for her sweet love three years. But, most esteemed greatness, will you hear the dialogue that the two learned men have compiled, in praise of the owl and the cuckoo? it should have followed in the end of our show. King. Call them forth quickly, we will do so. Enter Holofernes, Nathaniel, Moth, Costard, and others. SONG. Spring. When daisies pied, and violets blue, And lady-smocks all silver-white, And cuckoo-buds of yellow hue, Do paint the meadows with delight, Cuckoo, cuckoo,―0 word of fear, Unpleasing to a married ear! II. When shepherds pipe on oaten straws, And merry larks are ploughmen's clocks, When turtles tread, and rooks, and daws, And maidens bleach their summer smocks, The cuckoo then, on every tree, Mocks married men, for thus sings he, Cuckoo, cuckoo,-O word of fear, III. Winter. When icicles hang by the wall, And Dick the shepherd blows his nail, And milk comes frozen home in pail, Tu-whit, to-who, a merry note, IV. When all aloud the wind doth blow, And coughing drowns the parson's saw, And birds sit brooding in the snow, And Marian's nose looks red and raw, Tu-whit, to-who, a merry note, Arm. The words of Mercury are harsh after the songs of Apollo.-You, that way; we, this way. [Exeunt. |