Shakespeare - First Folio facsimile (1910)/Loves Labour's lost/Act 1
Loues Labour's lost.
Actus primus.
Enter Ferdinand King of Nauarre, Berowne, Longauill, and Dumane.
Ferdinand.
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Et Fame, that all hunt after in their liues,
Liue registred vpon our brazen Tombes,
And then grace vs in the disgrace of death:
when spight of cormorant deuouring Time,
Th' endeuour of this present breath may buy:
That honour which shall bate his sythes keene edge,
And make vs heyres of all eternitie.
Therefore braue Conquerours, for so you are,
That warre against your owne affections,
And the huge Armie of the worlds desires.
Our late edict shall strongly stand in force,
Nauar shall be the wonder of the world.
Our Court shall be a little Achademe,
Still and contemplatiue in liuing Art.
You three, Berowne, Dumaine, and Longauill,
Haue sworne for three yeeres terme, to liue with me:
My fellow Schollers, and to keepe those statutes
That are recorded in this scedule heere.
Your oathes are past, and now subscribe your names:
That his owne hand may strike his honour downe,
That violates the smallest branch heerein:
If you are arm'd to doe, as sworne to do,
Subscribe to your deepe oathes, and keepe it to.
Longauill.
I am resolu'd, 'tis but a three yeeres fast:
The minde shall banquet, though the body pine,
Fat paunches haue leane pates: and dainty bits,
Make rich the ribs, but bankerout the wits.
Dumane.
My louing Lord, Dumane is mortified,
The grosser manner of these worlds delights,
He throwes vpon the grosse worlds baser slaues:
To loue, to wealth, to pompe, I pine and die,
With all these liuing in Philosophie.
Berowne.
I can but say their protestation ouer,
So much, deare Liege, I haue already sworne,
That is, to liue and study heere three yeeres.
But there are other strict obseruances:
As not to see a woman in that terme,
Which I hope well is not enrolled there.
And one day in a weeke to touch no foode:
And but one meale on euery day beside:
The which I hope is not enrolled there.
And then to sleepe but three houres in the night,
And not be seene to winke of all the day.
When I was wont to thinke no harme all night,
And make a darke night too of halfe the day:
Which I hope well is not enrolled there.
O, these are barren taskes, too hard to keepe,
Not to see Ladies, study, fast, not sleepe.
Ferd.
Your oath is past, to passe away from these.
Berow.
Let me say no my Liedge, and if you please,
I onely swore to study with your grace,
And stay heere in your Court for three yeeres space.
Longa.
You swore to that Berowne, and to the rest.
Berow.
By yea and nay sir, than I swore in iest.
What is the end of study, let me know?
Fer.
Why that to know which else wee should not
know.
Ber.
Things hid & bard (you meane) fro[m] co[m]mon sense.
Ferd.
I, that is studies god-like recompence.
Bero.
Come on then, I will sweare to studie so,
To know the thing I am forbid to know:
As thus, to study where I well may dine,
When I to fast expressely am forbid.
Or studie where to meete some Mistresse fine,
When Mistresses from common sense are hid.
Or hauing sworne too hard a keeping oath,
Studie to breake it, and not breake my troth.
If studies gaine be thus, and this be so,
Studie knowes that which yet it doth not know,
Sweare me to this, and I will nere say no.
Ferd.
These be the stops that hinder studie quite,
And traine our intellects to vaine delight.
Ber.
Why? all delights are vaine, and that most vaine
Which with paine purchas'd, doth inherit paine,
As painefully to poare vpon a Booke,
To seeke the light of truth, while truth the while
Doth falsely blinde the eye-sight of his looke:
Light seeking light, doth light of light beguile:
So ere you finde where light in darkenesse lies,
Your light growes darke by losing of your eyes.
Studie me how to please the eye indeede,
By fixing it vpon a fairer eye,
Who dazling so, that eye shall be his heed,
And giue him light that it was blinded by.
Studie is like the heauens glorious Sunne,
That will not be deepe search'd with sawcy lookes:
Small haue continuall plodders euer wonne,
Saue base authoritie from others Bookes.
These earthly Godfathers of heauens lights,
That giue a name to euery fixed Starre,
Haue no more profit of their shining nights,
Then those that walke and wot not what they are.
Too much to know, is to know nought but fame:
And euery Godfather can giue a name.
Fer.
How well hee's read, to reason against reading.
Dum.
Proceeded well, to stop all good proceeding.
Lon.
Hee weedes the corne, and still lets grow the weeding.
Ber.
The Spring is neare when greene geesse are a breeding.
Dum.
How followes that?
Ber.
Fit in his place and time.
Dum.
In reason nothing.
Ber.
Something then in rime.
Ferd.
Berowne is like an enuious sneaping Frost,
That bites the first borne infants of the Spring.
Ber.
Wel, say I am, why should proud Summer boast,
Before the Birds haue any cause to sing?
Why should I ioy in any abortiue birth?
At Christmas I no more desire a Rose,
Then wish a Snow in Mayes new fangled showes:
But like of each thing that in season growes.
So you to studie now it is too late,
That were to clymbe ore the house to vnlocke the gate.
Fer.
Well, sit you out: go home Berowne: adue.
Ber.
No my good Lord, I haue sworn to stay with you.
And though I haue for barbarisme spoke more,
Then for that Angell knowledge you can say,
Yet confident Ile keepe what I haue sworne,
And bide the pennance of each three yeares day.
Giue me the paper, let me reade the same,
And to the strictest decrees Ile write my name.
Fer.
How well this yeelding rescues thee from shame.
Ber.
Item. That no woman shall come within a mile of my Court.
Hath this bin proclaimed?
Lon.
Foure dayes agoe.
Ber.
Let's see the penaltie.
On paine of loosing her tongue.
Who deuis'd this penaltie?
Lon.
Marry that did I.
Ber.
Sweete Lord, and why?
Lon.
To fright them hence with that dread penaltie,
A dangerous law against gentilitie.
Item, If any man be seene to talke with a woman within the tearme of three yeares, hee shall indure such publique shame as the rest of the Court shall possibly deuise.
Ber.
This Article my Liedge your selfe must breake,
For well you know here comes in Embassie
The French Kings daughter, with your selfe to speake:
A Maide of grace and compleate maiestie,
About surrender vp of Aquitaine:
To her decrepit, sicke, and bed-rid Father.
Therefore this Article is made in vaine,
Or vainly comes th' admired Princesse hither.
Fer.
What say you Lords?
Why, this was quite forgot.
Ber.
So Studie euermore is ouershot,
While it doth study to haue what it would,
It doth forget to doe the thing it should:
And when it hath the thing it hunteth most,
'Tis won as townes with fire, so won, so lost.
Fer.
We must of force dispence with this Decree,
She must lye here on meere necessitie.
Ber.
Necessity will make vs all forsworne
Three thousand times within this three yeeres space:
For euery man with his affects is borne,
Not by might mastred, but by speciall grace.
If I breake faith, this word shall breake for me,
I am forsworne on meere necessitie.
So to the Lawes at large I write my name,
And he that breakes them in the least degree,
Stands in attainder of eternall shame.
Suggestions are to others as to me:
But I beleeue although I seeme so loth,
I am the last that will last keepe his oth.
But is there no quicke recreation granted?
Fer.
I that there is, our Court you know is hanted
With a refined trauailer of Spaine,
A man in all the worlds new fashion planted,
That hath a mint of phrases in his braine:
One, who the musicke of his owne vaine tongue,
Doth rauish like inchanting harmonie:
A man of complements whom right and wrong
Haue chose as vmpire of their mutinie.
This childe of fancie that Armado hight,
For interim to our studies shall relate,
In high-borne words the worth of many a Knight:
From tawnie Spaine lost in the worlds debate.
How you delight my Lords, I know not I,
But I protest I loue to heare him lie,
And I will vse him for my Minstrelsie.
Bero.
Armado is a most illustrious wight,
A man of fire, new words, fashions owne Knight.
Lon.
Costard the swaine and he, shall be our sport,
And so to studie, three yeeres is but short.
Enter a Constable with Costard with a Letter.
Const.
Which is the Dukes owne person.
Ber.
This fellow, What would'st?
Con.
I my selfe reprehend his owne person, for I am his graces Tharborough: But I would see his own person in flesh and blood.
Ber.
This is he.
Con.
Signeor Arme, Arme commends you: Ther's villanie abroad, this letter will tell you more.
Clow.
Sir the Contempts thereof are as touching mee.
Fer.
A letter from the magnificent Armado.
Ber.
How low soeuer the matter, I hope in God for high words.
Lon.
A high hope for a low heauen, God grant vs patience.
Ber.
To heare, or forbeare hearing.
Lon.
To heare meekely sir, and to laugh moderately, or to forbeare both.
Ber.
Well sir, be it as the stile shall giue vs cause to clime in the merrinesse.
Clo.
The matter is to me sir, as concerning Iaquenetta. The manner of it is, I was taken with the manner.
Ber.
In what manner?
Clo.
In manner and forme following sir all those three. I was seene with her in the Mannor house, sitting with her vpon the Forme, and taken following her into the Parke: which put to gether, is in manner and forme following. Now sir for the manner; It is the manner of a man to speake to a woman, for the forme in some forme.
Ber.
For the following sir.
Clo.
As it shall follow in my correction, and God defend the right.
Fer.
Will you heare this Letter with attention?
Ber.
As we would heare an Oracle.
Clo.
Such is the simplicitie of man to harken after the flesh.
Ferdinand.
Cost.
Not a word of Costard yet.
Ferd.
So it is.
Cost.
It may be so: but if he say it is so, he is in telling true: but so.
Ferd.
Peace,
Clow.
Be to me, and euery man that dares not fight.
Ferd.
No words,
Clow.
Of other mens secrets I beseech you.
Ferd.
So it is besieged with sable coloured melancholie, I did commend the blacke oppressing humour to the most wholesome Physicke of thy health-giuing ayre: And as I am a Gentleman, betooke my selfe to walke: the time When? about the sixt houre, When beasts most grase, birds best pecke, and men sit downe to that nourishment which is called supper: So much for the time When. Now for the ground Which? which I meane I walkt vpon, it is ycliped, Thy Parke. Then for the place Where? where I meane I did encounter that obscene and most preposterous euent that draweth from my snow-white pen the ebon coloured Inke, which heere thou viewest, beholdest, suruayest, or seest. But to the place Where? It standeth North North-east and by East from the West corner of thy curious knotted garden; There did I see that low spirited Swaine, that base Minow of thy myrth, (Clown. Mee?) that vnletered small knowing soule, (Clow Me?) that shallow vassall (Clow. Still mee?) which as I remember, hight Costard, (Clow. O me) sorted and consorted contrary to thy established proclaymed Edict and Continent, Cannon: Which with, o with, but with this I passion to say wherewith:
Clo.
With a Wench.
Ferd.
With a childe of our Grandmother Eue, a female; or for thy more sweet understanding a woman: him, I (as my euer esteemed dutie prickes me on) haue sent to thee, to receiue the meed of punishment by the sweet Graces Officer Anthony
Dull, a man of good repute, carriage, bearing, & estimation.
Anth.
Me, an't shall please you? I am Anthony Dull.
Ferd.
For Iaquenetta (so is the weaker vessell called) which I apprehended with the aforesaid Swaine, I keepe her as a vessell of thy Lawes furie, and shall at the least of thy sweet notice, bring her to triall. Thine in all complements of deuoted and heart-burning heat of dutie.
Don Adriana de Armado.
Ber.
This is not so well as I looked for, but the best that euer I heard.
Fer.
I the best, for the worst. But sirra, What say you to this?
Clo.
Sir I confesse the Wench.
Fer.
Did you heare the Proclamation?
Clo.
I doe confesse much of the hearing it, but little of the marking of it.
Fer.
It was proclaimed a yeeres imprisonment to bee taken with a Wench.
Clow.
I was taken with none sir, I was taken with a Damosell.
Fer.
Well, it was proclaimed Damosell.
Clo.
This was no Damosell neyther sir, shee was a Virgin.
Fer.
It is so varried to, for it was proclaimed Virgin.
Clo.
If it were, I denie her Virginitie: I was taken with a Maide.
Fer.
This Maid will not serue your turne sir.
Clo.
This Maide will serue my turne sir.
Kin.
Sir I will pronounce your sentence: You shall fast a Weeke with Branne and water.
Clo.
I had rather pray a Moneth with Mutton and Porridge.
Kin.
And Don Armado shall be your keeper.
My Lord Berowne, see him deliuer'd ore,
And goe we Lords to put in practice that,
Which each to other hath so strongly sworne.
Bero.
Ile lay my head to any good mans hat,
These oathes and lawes will proue an idle scorne.
Sirra, come on.
Clo.
I suffer for the truth sir: for true it is, I was taken with Iaquenetta, and Iaquenetta is a true girle, and therefore welcome the sowre cup of prosperitie, affliction may one day smile againe, and vntill then sit downe sorrow. Exit.
Enter Armado and Moth his Page.
Boy, What signe is it when a man of great spirit growes melancholy?
Boy.
A great signe sir, that he will looke sad.
Brag.
Why? sadnesse is one and the selfe-same thing deare impe.
Boy.
No no, O Lord sir no.
Brag.
How canst thou part sadnesse and melancholy my tender Iuuenall?
Boy.
By a familiar demonstration of the working, my tough signeur.
Brag.
Why tough signeur? Why tough signeur?
Boy.
Why tender Iuuenall? Why tender Iuuenall?
Brag.
I spoke it tender Iuuenall, as a congruent apathaton, appertaining to thy young daies, which we may nominate tender.
Boy.
And I tough signeur, as an appertinent title to your olde time, which we may name tough.
Brag.
Pretty and apt.
Boy.
How meane you sir, I pretty, and my saying apt? or I apt, and my saying prettie?
Brag.
Thou pretty because little.
Boy.
Little pretty, because little: wherefore apt?
Brag.
And therefore apt, because quicke.
Boy.
Speake you this in my praise Master?
Brag.
In thy condigne praise.
Boy.
I will praise an Eele with the same praise.
Brag.
What? that an Eele is ingenuous.
Boy.
That an Eele is quicke.
Brag.
I doe say thou art quicke in answeres. Thou heat'st my bloud.
Boy.
I am answer'd sir.
Brag.
I loue not to be crost.
Boy.
He speakes the meere contrary, crosses loue not him.
Br.
I haue promis'd to study iij. yeres with the Duke.
Boy.
You may doe it in an houre sir.
Brag.
Impossible.
Boy.
How many is one thrice told?
Bra.
I am ill at reckning, it fits the spirit of a Tapster.
Boy.
You are a gentleman and a gamester sir.
Brag.
I confesse both, they are both the varnish of a compleat man.
Boy.
Then I am sure you know how much the grosse summe of deus-ace amounts to.
Brag.
It doth amount to one more then two.
Boy.
Which the base vulgar call three.
Br.
True.
Boy.
Why sir is this such a peece of study? Now here's three studied, ere you'll thrice wink, & how easie it is to put yeres to the word three, and study three yeeres in two words, the dancing horse will tell you.
Brag.
A most fine Figure.
Boy.
To proue you a Cypher.
Brag.
I will heereupon confesse I am in loue: and as it is base for a Souldier to loue; so am I in loue with a base wench. If drawing my sword against the humour of affection, would deliuer mee from the reprobate thought of it, I would take Desire prisoner, and ransome him to any French Courtier for a new deuis'd curtsie. I thinke scorne to sigh, me thinkes I should out-sweare Cupid. Comfort me Boy, What great men haue beene in loue?
Boy.
Hercules Master.
Brag.
Most sweete Hercules: more authority deare Boy, name more; and sweet my childe let them be men of good repute and carriage.
Boy.
Sampson Master, he was a man of good carriage, great carriage: for hee carried the Towne-gates on his backe like a Porter: and he was in loue.
Brag.
O well-knit Sampson, strong ioynted Sampson; I doe excell thee in my rapier, as much as thou didst mee in carrying gates. I am in loue too. Who was Sampsons loue my deare Moth?
Boy.
A Woman, Master.
Brag.
Of what complexion?
Boy.
Of all the foure, or the three, or the two, or one of the foure.
Brag.
Tell me precisely of what complexion?
Boy.
Of the sea-water Greene sir.
Brag.
Is that one of the foure complexions?
Boy.
As I haue read sir, and the best of them too.
Brag.
Greene indeed is the colour of Louers: but to haue a Loue of that colour, methinkes Sampson had small reason for it. He surely affected her for her wit.
Boy.
It was so sir, for she had a greene wit.
Brag.
My Loue is most immaculate white and red.
Boy.
Most immaculate thoughts Master, are mask'd vnder such colours.
Brag.
Define, define, well educated infant.
Boy.
My fathers witte, and my mothers tongue assist mee.
Brag.
Sweet inuocation of a childe, most pretty and patheticall.
Boy.
If shee be made of white and red,
Her faults will nere be knowne:
For blush-in cheekes by faults are bred,
And feares by pale white showne:
Then if she feare, or be to blame,
By this you shall not know,
For still her cheekes possesse the same,
Which natiue she doth owe:
A dangerous rime master against the reason of white and redde.
Brag.
Is there not a ballet Boy, of the King and the Begger?
Boy.
The world was very guilty of such a Ballet some three ages since, but I thinke now 'tis not to be found: or if it were, it would neither serue for the writing, nor the tune.
Brag.
I will haue that subiect newly writ ore, that I may example my digression by some mighty president. Boy, I doe loue that Countrey girle that I tooke in the Parke with the rationall hinde Costard: she deserues well.
Boy.
To bee whip'd: and yet a better loue then my Master.
Brag.
Sing Boy, my spirit grows heauy in loue.
Boy.
And that's great maruell, louing a light wench.
Brag.
I say sing.
Boy.
Forbeare till this company be past.
Enter Clowne, Constable, and Wench.
Const.
Sir, the Dukes pleasure, is that you keepe Costard safe, and you must let him take no delight, nor no penance, but hee must fast three daies a weeke: for this Damsell, I must keepe her at the Parke, shee is alowd for the Day-woman. Fare you well. Exit.
Brag.
I do betray my selfe with blushing: Maide.
Maid.
Man.
Brag.
I wil visit thee at the Lodge.
Maid.
That's here by.
Brag.
I know where it is situate.
Mai.
Lord how wise you are!
Brag.
I will tell thee wonders.
Ma.
With what face?
Brag.
I loue thee.
Mai.
So I heard you say.
Brag.
And so farewell.
Mai.
Faire weather after you.
Clo.
Come Iaquenetta, away. Exeunt.
Brag.
Villaine, thou shalt fast for thy offences ere thou be pardoned.
Clo.
Well sir, I hope when I doe it, I shall doe it on a full stomacke.
Brag.
Thou shalt be heauily punished.
Clo.
I am more bound to you then your fellowes, for they are but lightly rewarded.
Clo.
Take away this villaine, shut him vp.
Boy.
Come you transgressing slaue, away.
Clow.
Let mee not bee pent vp sir, I will fast being loose.
Boy.
No sir, that were fast and loose: thou shalt to prison.
Clow.
Well, if euer I do see the merry dayes of desolation that I haue seene, some shall see.
Boy.
What shall some see?
Clow.
Nay nothing, Master Moth, but what they looke vpon. It is not for prisoners to be silent in their words, and therefore I will say nothing: I thanke God, I haue as little patience as another man, and therefore I can be quiet. Exit.
Brag.
I doe affect the very ground (which is base) where her shooe (which is baser) guided by her foote (which is basest) doth tread. I shall be forsworn (which is a great argument of falshood) if I loue. And how can that be true loue, which is falsly attempted? Loue is a familiar, Loue is a Diuell. There is no euill Angell but Loue, yet Sampson was so tempted, and he had an excellent strength: Yet was Salomon so seduced, and hee had a very good witte. Cupids Butshaft is too hard for Hercules Clubbe, and therefore too much ods for a Spaniards Rapier: The first and second cause will not serue my turne: the Passado hee respects not, the Duello he regards not; his disgrace is to be called Boy, but his glorie is to subdue men. Adue Valour, rust Rapier, bee still Drum, for your manager is in loue; yea hee loueth. Assist me some extemporall god of Rime, for I am sure I shall turne Sonnet. Deuise Wit, write Pen, for I am for whole volumes in folio. Exit.
Finis Actus Primus.