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now.

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Beroune. How much is it?

Berowne. Well said, old mocker : I must needs Cost. O Lord, sir ! the parties themselves, the be friends with thee. actors, sir, will show whereuntil it doth amount: Cost. I Pompey am, Pompey surnam'd the Big,for mine own part, I am, as they say, but to Dum. The Great. parfect one man in one poor man, Pompion the Cost. It is 'Great,' sir ; Pompey surnam'd the Great, sir.

Great ; Beroune. Art thou one of the Worthies ? That oft in field, with targe and shield, did make

Cost. It pleased them to think me worthy of my foe to sweat : Pompion the Great : for mine own part, I know And travelling along this coast, I here am come by not the degree of the Worthy, but I am to stand chance, for him.

And lay my arms before the legs of this sweet lass of Beroune. Go, bid them prepare.

France. Cost. We will turn it finely off, sir ; we will If your ladyship would say, “Thanks, Pompey,' take some care.

Exit. I had done. King. Berowne, they will shame us ; let them Prin. Great thanks, great Pompey. not approach.

Cost. 'Tis not so much worth ; but I hope I Berowne. We are shame-proof, my lord; and was perfect. I made a little fault in 'Great.' 'tis some policy

Berowne. My hat to a halfpenny, Pompey To have one show worse than the king's and his proves the best Worthy.

company. King. I say they shall not come.

Enter Sir NATHANIEL armed, for Alexander. Prin. Nay, my good lord, let me o'er-rule you Nath. When in the world Iiv'd, I was the world's

commander ; That sport best pleases that doth least know how: By east, west, north, and south, 1 spread my conWhere zeal strives to content, and the contents quering might : Dies in the zeal of that which it presents ; My scutcheon plain declares that I am Alisander, Their form confounded makes most form in mirth, Boyet. Your nose says, no, you are not ; for it When great things labouring perish in their birth. stands too right. Berowne. A right description of our sport, my Berowne. Your nose smells .no,' in this, most lord.

tender-smelling knight. Enter ARMADO.

Prin. The conqueror is dismay'd. Proceed,

good Alexander. Arm. Anointed, I implore so much expense of Nath. When in the world Iliv'd, I was the world's thy royal sweet breath as will utter a brace of commander,words. ARMADO converses with the King, and Boyet. Most true ; 'tis right: you were so,

delivers a paper to him. Alisander. Prin. Doth this man serve God ?

Berowne. Pompey the Great,Berowne. Why ask you ?

Cost. Your servant, and Costard. Prin. Hespeaks not likea man of God's making. Berowne. Take away the conqueror, take away

Arm. That's all one, my fair, sweet, honey Alisander. monarch; for, I protest, the schoolmaster is Cost. To NATHANIEL. O! sir, you have overexceeding fantastical ; too, too vain; too, too thrown Alisander the conqueror. You will be vain : but we will put it, as they say, to fortuna scraped out of the painted cloth for this : your de la guerra. I wish you the peace of mind, lion, that holds his poll-axe sitting on a closemost royal couplement!

Exit. 531 stool, will be given to Ajax : he will be the ninth King. Here is like to be a good presence of Worthy. A conqueror, and afеard to speak! run Worthies. He presents Hector of Troy ; the away for shame, Alisander. swain, Pompey the Great ; the parish curate,

NATHANIEL retires. Alexander ; Armado's page, Hercules; the pe- There, an't shall please you: a foolish mild man; dant, Judas Maccabæus.

an honest man, look you, and soon dashed ! He And if these four Worthies in their first show is a marvellous neighbour, faith, and a very good thrive,

bowler ; but, for Alisander,-alas ! you see how These four will change habits, and present the 'tis ;-a little o'erparted. But there are Worthies other five.

a-coming will speak their mind in some other sort. Berowne. There is five in the first show,

Prin. Stand aside, good Pompey. King. You are deceived, 'tis not so. Berowne. The pedant, the braggart, the hedge. Enter HOLOFERNES armed, for Judas, and Moth priest, the fool, and the boy :

armed, for Hercules. Abate throw at novum, and the whole world Hol. Great Hercules is presented by this imp, again

Whose club kill'd Cerberus, that three-headed canis: Cannot pick out five such, take each one in his And, when he was a babe, a child, a shrimp, vein,

Thus did he strangle serpents in his manus. King. The ship is under sail, and here she Quoniam he seemeth in minority, comes amain.

Ergo I come with this apology.
Enter COSTARD armed, for Pompey.

Keep some state in thy exit, and vanish.

MOTH retires. Cost. I Pompey am,

Judas I am, — Boyet.

You lie, you are not he. Dum. A Judas! Cost. I Pompey am,

Hol. Not Iscariot, sir. Boyet.

With libbard's head on knee. Judas I am, ycleped Maccabæus.

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Dum. Judas Maccabæus clipt is plain Judas. I am that flower,-
Berowne. A kissing traitor. How art thou Dum.

That mint. prov'd Judas?

Long.

That columbine. Hol. Juuas I am,

Arm. Sweet Lord Longaville, rein tby tongue. Dum. The more shame for you, Judas.

Long. I must rather give it the rein, for it Hol. What mean you, sir ?

runs against Hector. Boyet. To make Judas hang himself.

Dum. Ay, and Hector 's a greyhound. Hol. Begin, sir : you are my elder.

Arm. The sweet war-man is dead and rotten; Berowne. Well follow'd : Judas was hang'd on sweet chucks, beat not the bones of the buried ; an elder.

when he breathed, he was a man. But I will Hol. I will not be put out of countenance. forward with my device. Sweet royalty, bestow Beroune. Because thou hast no face,

on me the sense of hearing. Hol. What is this?

Prin. Speak, brave Hector; we are much Boyet. A cittern-head.

delighted. Dum. The head of a bodkin.

Arm. I do adore thy sweet grace's slipper. Berowne. A death's face in a ring.

Boyet. Aside to DUMAINE. Loves her by the foot. Long. The face of an old Roman coin, scarce Dum. Aside to BOYET. He may not by the yard. seen,

Arm. This Hector far surmounted Hannibal, Boyet. The pommel of Cæsar's falchion

Cost. The party is gone : fellow Hector, she is Dum. The carved-bone face on a flask. gone ; she is two months on her way. Berowne. Saint George's half-cheek in a brooch. Arm. What meanest thou ! Dum. Ay, and in a brooch of lead.

Cost. Faith, unless you play the honest Troyan, Berowne. Ay, and worn in the cap of a tooth- the poor wench is cast away : she's quick; the drawer.

child brags in her belly already : 'tis yours. And now, forward ; for we have put thee in Arm. Dost thou infamonize me among potencountenance.

tates? Thou shalt die. Hol. You have put me out of countenance. Cost. Then shall Hector be whipped for JaqueBerowne. False : we have given thee faces. netta that is quick by him, and hanged for Hol. But you have outfaced them all. 619 Pompey that is dead by him. Beroune. An thou wert a lion, we would do so. Dum. Most rare Pompey!

Boyet. Therefore, as he is an ass, let him go. Boyet. Renowned Pompey! And so adieu, sweet Jude! nay, wny dost thou Berowne. Greater tban great, great, great, stay?

great Pompey! Pompey the Huge ! Dum. For the latter end of his name.

Dum. Hector trembles. Berowne. For the ass to the Jude ? give it him : Berowne. Pompey is moved. More Ates, more -Jud-as, away!

Ates! stir them on ! stir them on ! Hol. This is not generous, not gentle, not Dum. Hector will challenge him. humble.

Beroune. Ay, if a' have no more man's blood Boyet. A light for Monsieur Judas ! it grows in 's belly than will sup a flea. dark, he may stumble.

Arm. By the north pole, I do challenge thee. HOLOFERNES retires. Cost. I will not fight with a pole, like a Prin. Alas! poor Maccabæus, how hath he northern man: I'll slash; I'll do it by the sword. been baited.

I bepray you, let me borrow my arms again.

Dum. Room for the incensed Worthies !
Enter ARMADO armed, for Hector.

Cost. I'll do it in my shirt.
Berowne. Hide thy head, Achilles : here comes Dum. Most resolute Pompey!
Hector in arms.

Moth. Master, let me take you a button-hole Dum. Though my mocks come home by me, lower. I will now be merry.

Do you not see Pompey is uncasing for the King. Hector was but a Troyan in respect of combat ? this.

What mean yon ? you will lose your reputation, Boyet. But is this Hector ?

Arm. Gentlemen and soldiers, pardon me; I King. I think Hector was not so clean-timbered. will not combat in my shirt. Long. His leg is too big for Hector's.

Dum. You may not deny it ; Pompey bath Dum. More calf, certain.

made the challenge. Boyet. No; he is best indued in the small.

Arm. Sweet bloods, I both may and will. Berowne. This cannot be Hector.

Berowne. What reason have you for 't ? Dum. He's a god or a painter; for he makes Arm. The naked truth of it is, I have no shirt. faces.

I go woolward for penance. Arm. The armipotent Mars, of lances the almighty, Boyet. True, and it was enjoined him in Rome Gare Hector a gift,

for want of linen ; since nen, I'll be sworn, Dum. A gilt nutmeg.

wore none but a dishclout of Jaquenetta's, and Beroune. A lemon.

that a' wears next his heart for a favour. Long. Stuck with cloves. Dum. No, cloven.

Enter Monsieur MARCADE, a Messenger. Arm. Peace!

Mar. God save you, madam ! The armipotent Mars, of lances the almighty,

Prin. Welcome, Marcade, Gave Hector a gift, the heir of Ilion ; 650 But that thou interrupt’st our merriment. A man so breath'd, that certain he would fight ye, Mar. I am sorry, madam ; for the news I bring

From morn till night, out of his pavilion. Is heavy in my tongue. The king your father

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Prin. Dead, for my life!

But more devout than this in our respects Mar. Even so : my tale is told.

Have we not been ; and therefore met your loves Berorone. Worthies, away! The scene begins in their own fashion, like a merriment. to cloud

Dum. Our letters, madam, show'd much more Arm. For mine own part, I breathe free breath. than jest. I have seen the day of wrong through the little Long. So did our looks. hole of discretion, and I will right myself like a

Ros.

We did not quote them so. soldier.

Ereunt Worthies. King. Now, at the latest minute of the hour, King. How fares your majesty ?

Grant us your loves. Prin. Boyet, prepare : I will away to-night. Prin.

A time, methinks, too short King. Madam, not so; I do beseech you, siay. To make a world-without-end bargain in. Prin. Prepare, I say. I thank you, gracious No, no, my lord, your grace is perjur'd much, lords,

Full of dear guiltiness; and therefore this : 790 For all your fair endeavours; and entreat, If for my love, as there is no such cause, Out of a new-sad soul, that you vouchsafe You will do aught, this shall you do for me : In your rich wisdom to excuse or hide

Your oath I will not trust ; but go with speed The liberal opposition of our spirits,

To some forlorn and naked hermitage, If over-boldly we have borne ourselves

Remote from all the pleasures of the world ; In the converse of breath ; your gentleness There stay, until the twelve celestial signs Was guilty of it. Farewell, worthy lord ! Have brought about their annual reckoning. A heavy heart bears not a nimble tongue. If this austere insociable life Excuse me so, coming too short of thanks Change not your offer made in heat of blood; For my great suit so easily obtain'd.

If frosts and fasts, hard lodging and thin weeds, King. The extreme parts of time extremely Nip not the gaudy blossoms of your love, forms

But that it bear this trial and last love;
All causes to the purpose of his speed, 740 Then, at the expiration of the year,
And often, at his very loose, decides

Come challenge me, challenge me by these
That which long process could not arbitrate: deserts,
And though the mourning brow of progeny And, by this virgin palm now kissing thine,
Forbid the smiling courtesy of love

I will be thine ; and, till that instant, shut The holy suit which fain it would convince ; My woeful self up in a mourning house, Yet, since love's argument was first on foot, Raining the tears of lamentation Let not the cloud of sorrow justle it

For the remembrance of my father's death. From what it purpos'd; since, to wail friends lost If this thou do deny, let our hands part ; Is not by much so wholesome-profitable Neither intitled in the other's heart. As to rejoice at friends but newly found. 750 King. If this, or more than this, I would deny, Prin. I understand you not: my griefs are To flatter up these powers of mine with rest, double.

The sudden hand of death close up mine eye! Berowne. Honest plain words best pierce the Hence ever then my heart is in thy breast. ear of grief ;

Berowne. And what to me, my love ? and what And by these badges understand the king.

to me! For your fair sakes have we neglected time, Ros. You must be purged too, your sins are Play'd foul play with our oaths. Your beauty, rack'd : ladies,

You are attaint with faults and perjury; Hath much deform'd us, fashioning our humours Therefore, if you my favour mean to get, Even to the opposed end of our intents; A twelvemonth shall you spend, and never rest, And what in us hath seem'd ridiculous, - But seek the weary beds of people sick. As love is full of unbefitting strains ;

Dum. But what to me, my love? but what tome? All wanton as a child, skipping and vain ;

Kath. A wife? A beard, fair health, and Formd by the eye, and therefore, like the eye, honesty; Full of strange shapes, of habits and of forms, With three-fold love I wish you all these three. Varying in subjects, as the eye doth roll

Dum. O! shall I say I thank you, gentle wife? To every varied object in his glance :

Kuth. Not so, my lord. A twelvemonth and Which parti-coated presence of loose love

a day Put on by us, if, in your heavenly eyes,

I'll mark no words that smooth-faced wooers say: Have misbecom'd our oaths and gravities, Come when the king doth to my lady come; Those heavenly eyes, that look into these faults, Then, if I have much love, I'll give you some. Suggested us to make. Therefore, ladies,

Dum. I'll serve thee true and faithfully till then. Our love being yours, the error that love makes Kath. Yet swear not, lest you be forsworn again. Is likewise yours : we to ourselves prove false, Long. What says Maria ? By being once false for ever to be true

Mar.

At the twelvemonth's end To those that make us both,- fair ladies, you : I'll change my black gown for a faithful friend. And even that falsehood, in itself a sin,

Long. I'll stay with patience ; but the time is Thus purifies itself and turns to grace.

long. Prin. We have receiv'd your letters full of Mar. The liker you ; few taller are so young. love ;

Berowne. Studies my lady? mistress, look on me. Your favours, the ambassadors of love;

Behold the window of my heart, mine eye, And, in our maiden council, rated them

What humble suit attends thy answer there ; At courtship, pleasant jest, and courtesy, Impose some service on me for thy love. As bombast and as lining to the time.

Ros. Oft have I heard of you, my lord Berowne,

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ACT I.

SCENE I-Athens. The Palace of THESEUS. Enter THESEUS, HIPPOLYTA, PHILOSTRATE, and Attendants.

SCENE.-Athens, and a Wood near it.

The. Now, fair Hippolyta, our nuptial hour
Draws on apace: four happy days bring in
Another moon; but, O! methinks, how slow
This old moon wanes; she lingers my desires,
Like to a step-dame or a dowager
Long withering out a young man's revenue.
Hip. Four days will quickly steep themselves
in night;
Four nights will quickly dream away the time;
And then the moon, like to a silver bow
New-bent in heaven, shall behold the night
Of our solemnities.

The.

Go, Philostrate,
Stir up the Athenian youth to merriments;
Awake the pert and nimble spirit of mirth;
Turn melancholy forth to funerals;
The pale companion is not for our pomp.
Exit PHILOSTRATE.
Hippolyta, I woo'd thee with my sword,
And won thy love doing thee injuries;
But I will wed thee in another key,
With pomp, with triumph, and with revelling.

Enter EGEUS, HERMIA, LYSANDER, and
DEMETRIUS.

HERMIA, daughter to Egeus, in love with
Lysander.

HELENA, in love with Demetrius.
OBERON, King of the Fairies.
TITANIA, Queen of the Fairies.
PUCK, or Robin Good-fellow.
PEASE-BLOSSOM,

Ege. Happy be Theseus, our renowned duke! The. Thanks, good Egeus: what's the news with thee?

21

COBWEB,

MOTH,

Thou, thou, Lysander, thou hast given her rimes,
And interchang'd love-tokens with my child;
Thou hast by moonlight at her window sung, 30
With feigning voice, verses of feigning love;
And stol'n the impression of her fantasy
With bracelets of thy hair, rings, gawds, conceits,
Knacks, trifles, nosegays, sweetmeats, messengers
Of strong prevailment in unharden'd youth;
With cunning hast thou filch'd my daughter's
heart,
Turn'd her obedience, which is due to me.
To stubborn harshness. And, my gracious duke,
Be it so she will not here before your grace
Consent to marry with Demetrius,
I beg the ancient privilege of Athens,
As she is mine, I may dispose of her;
10 Which shall be either to this gentleman,
Or to her death, according to our law
Immediately provided in that case.

The. What say you, Hermia? be advis'd, fair
maid.

To you your father should be as a god;
One that compos'd your beauties, yea, and one
To whom you are but as a form in wax
By him imprinted, and within his power
To leave the figure or disfigure it.
Demetrius is a worthy gentleman.

Her. So is Lysander.
The.
In himself he is;
But in this kind, wanting your father's voice,
The other must be held the worthier.

Her. I would my father look'd but with my
eyes.

The. Rather your eyes must with his judgment look.

Her. I do entreat your grace to pardon me. I know not by what power I am made bold, Nor how it may concern my modesty

1

In such a presence here to plead my thoughts;
But I beseech your grace that I may know

Ege. Full of vexation come I, with complaint
Against my child, my daughter Hermia.
Stand forth, Demetrius. My noble lord,
This man hath my consent to marry her.
Stand forth, Lysander: and, my gracious duke,
This man hath bewitch'd the bosom of my child:

Fairies.

MUSTARD-SEED,

Other Fairies attending their King and Queen.
Attendants on Theseus and Hippolyta.

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