Nath. Marvellous well for the pen. 160
Hol. I do dine to-day at the father's of a
certain pupil of mine; where, if before repast it
shall please you to gratify the table with a grace,
I will, on my privilege I have with the parents 164
of the foresaid child or pupil, undertake your
ben venuto; where I will prove those verses to
be very unlearned, neither savouring of poetry,
wit, nor invention. I beseech your society. 168
Nath. And thank you too; for society—saith
the text—is the happiness of life.
Hol. And, certes, the text most infallibly con-
cludes it.—[To Dull.] Sir, I do invite you too: 172
you shall not say me nay: pauca verba. Away!
the gentles are at their game, and we will to our
recreation. Exeunt.
Scene Three
[The Same]
Enter Berowne, with a paper in his hand, alone.
Ber. The king he is hunting the deer; I am
coursing myself: they have pitched a toil; I am
toiling in a pitch,—pitch that defiles: defile! a
foul word! Well, sit thee down, sorrow! for so 4
they say the fool said, and so say I, and I the
fool: well proved, wit! By the Lord, this love is
as mad as Ajax: it kills sheep: it kills me, I a
sheep: well proved again o' my side! I will not 8
love; if I do, hang me; i' faith, I will not. O
160 pen: technical skill
166 ben venuto: welcome
170 the text; cf. n.
173 pauca verba: few words
2 pitched a toil: set a net
3 pitch: i.e. Rosaline's black eyes
7 Ajax; cf. n.
