گے۔

Prin. We are wise girls, to mock our lovers so.
Ros. They are worse fools to purchase mocking so.
That same Birón l’ll torture ere I go.
0, that I knew he were but in by the week !
How I would make him fawn, and beg, and seek ;
And wait the season, and observe the times,
And spend his prodigal wits in bootless rhymes ;
And shape his service wholly to my behests ;
And make him proud to make me proud that jests!
So portent-like would I o'ersway his state,
That he should be my fool, and I his fate.
Prin. None are so surely caught, when they are

catch'd,
As wit turn'd fool: folly in wisdom hatch'd,
Hath wisdom's warrant, and the help of school ;
And wit's own grace to grace a learned fool.

Ros. The blood of youth burns not with such ex-
As gravity's revolt to wantonness.

(cess,
Mar. Folly in fools bears not so strong a note,
As foolery in the wise, when wit doth dote ;
Since all the power thereof it doth apply,
To prove, by wit, worth in simplicity.

Enter BOYET.
Prin. Here comes Boyet, and unirth is in his face.
Boyet. 0, I am stabb'd with laughter! Where's

her grace?
Prin. Thy news, Boyet ?

Boyet. Prepare, madam, prepare !
Arm, wenches, arm! encounters mounted are
Against your peace: love doth approach disguised,
Armed in arguments ; you'll be surprised :
Muster your wits ; stand in your own defence;
Or_hide your heads like cowards, and fiy hence.

Prin, Šaint Dennis to saint Cupid ! What are they,
That charge their breath against us ? Say, scout,

say.
Boyet. Under the cool shade of a sycamore,
I thought to close mine eyes some half an hour :
When, lo! to interrupt my purposed rest,
Toward that shade I might behold addrest
The king and his companions ; warily
I stole into a neighbour thicket by,
And overheard what you shall overhear;
That by and by, disguised they will be here.
Their herald is a pretty knavish page,
That well by heart hath conn'd his embassage :
Action and accent, did they teach hi
Thus must thou speak, and thus thy body bear :

us?

And ever and anon they made a doubt,
Presence majestical would put him out;
For, quoth the king, an angel shalt thou see ;
Yet fear not thou, but speak audaciously.
The boy replied, an angel is not evil ;
I should huve fear'd her, had she been a devil.
With that all laugh’d, and clapp'd him on the

shoulder;
Making the bold wag by their praises bolder.
One rubb’d his elbow, thus; and feer'd, and swore,
A better speech was never spoke before:
Another, with his finger and his thumb,
Cried, Via! we will do't, come what will come :
The third he caper'd, and cried, All goes well :
The fourth turu'd on the toe, and down he fell.
With that, they all did tumble on the ground,
With such a zealous laughter so profound,
That in this spleen ridiculous appears,
To check their folly, passion's solemn tears.
Prin. But what, but what, come they to visit
Boyet. They do, they do; and are apparel'd thus,
Like Muscovites, or Russians: as I guess,
Their purpose is, to parle, to court, and dance :
And every one his love-feat will advance
Unto his several mistress; which they'll know
By favours several, which they did bestow.
Prin. And will they so? The gallants shall be

task'd : For, ladies, we will every one be mask'd; And not a man of them shall have the grace, Despite of suit, to see a lady's face.Hold, Rosaline, this favour thou shalt wear; And then the king will court thee for his dear; Hold, take thou this, my sweet, and give me thine ; So shall Birón take me for Rosaline. And change your favours too; so shall your loves Woo contrary, deceived by these removes. Ros. Come on then ; wear the favours most in

sight. Kath. But, in this changing, what is yonr intent?

Prin. The effect of my intent is, to cross theirs : They do it but in mocking merriment; And mock for mock is only my intent. Their several counsels they unbosom shall To loves mistook ; so be mock'd withal, Upon the next occasion that we meet, With visages display'd, to talk, and greet.

Ros. But shall we dance, if they desire us to't ?;

Prin. No; to the death, we will not move a

foot: Nor to their penn'd speech render we no grace; But, while 'tis spoke, each turn away her face. Boyet. Why, that contempt will kill the speaker's

heart, And quite divorce his memory from his part.

Prin. Therefore I do it; and I make no doubt, The rest will ne'er come in, if he be out. There's no such sport, as sport by sport o'erthrown; To make theirs ours, and ours none but our own : To shall we stay, mocking intended game; And they, well mock’d, lepart away with shame.

[Trumpets sound within. Boyet. The trumpet sounds; be mask'd, the mas. kers come.

(The Ladies mask. Enter the King, BIRON, LONGAVILLE, and DUMAIN,

in Russian habits, and masked ; MOTA, Musicians, and Attendants. Moth. All hail, the richest beauties on the earth! Boyet. Beauties no richer than rich taffata. Moth. A holy parcel of the fairest dames,

The ladies turn their backs to him. That ever turn'd their backs-to mortal views ! Biron. Their eyes, villain, their eyes.

Moth. That ever turn'd their eyes to mortal views ! OutBoyet. True; out, indeed. Moth. Out of your favours, heavenly spirits, vouch

safe Not to behold,

Biron. Once to behold, rogue.

Moth. Once to behold with your sun-beamed eyes, ---with your sun-beamed eyes

Boyet. They will not answer to that epithet ; You were best call it, daughter-beamed eyes.

Moth. They do not mark me, and that brings me out. Biron. Is this your perfectness ? Be gone, you

rogue. Ros. What would these strangers ? Know their

minds, Boyet :
If they do speak our language, 'tis our will
That some plain man recount their purposes :
Know what they would.

Boyet. What would you with the princess ?
Biron. Nothing but peace, and gentle visitation,
Ros. What would they, say they?

Boyet. Nothing but peace, and gentle visitation. Ros. Why, that they have! and bid them so be

gone. Boyet. She says, you have it, and you may be

gone. King. Say to her, we have measured many miles, To tread a measure with her on this grass. Boyet. They say, that they have measured many

a mile, To tread a measure with you on this grass.

Ros. It is not 80 : ask them how many inches Is in one mile : if they have measured many, The measure then of one is easily told. Boyet. If, to come hither you have measured

miles,
And many miles; the princess bids you tell,
How many inches do fill up one mile.
Biron. Tell her, we measure them by weary steps.
Boyet. She hears herself.
Ros. How many weary steps,
Of many weary miles you have o'ergone,
Are number'd in the travel of one mile ?
Biron. We number nothing that we spend for

you;
Our duty is so rich, so infinite,
That we may do it still without accompt.
Vouchsafe to shew the sunshine of your face,
That we, like savages, may worship it.
Ros. My face is but a moon, and clouded too.

King. Blessed are clouds, to do as such clouds do! Vouchsafe, bright moon, and these thy stars, to

shine (Those clouds removed,) upon our wat’ry eyne.

Ros. O vain petitioner! beg a greater matter; Thou now requestst but moonshine in the water. King. Then, in our measure do but vouchsafe one

change : Thou bid'st me beg; this begging is not strange. Ros. Play, music, then: nay, you must do it soon.

[Music plays. Not yet ;-no dance: thus change I like the moon. King. Will you not dance? How come you thus

estranged? Ros. You took the moon at full; but now she's

changed.
King. Yet still she is the moon, and I the man.
The music plays ; vouchsafe some motion to it.

Ros. Our ears vouchsafe it.
King. But your legs should do it.

Ros. Since you are strangers, and come here by

chance, We'll not be nice: take hands; we will not dance.

King. Why take we hands then?

Ros. Only to part friends :Court'sy, sweet hearts; and so the measure ends. King. More measure of this measure ; be not

nice. Ros. We can afford no more at such a price. King. Prize you yourselves ; What buys your

company? Ros. Your absence only. King. That can never be.

Ros. Then cannot we be bought : and so adieu ; Twice to your visor, and half once to you ! King. If you deny to dance, let's hold more

chat. Ros. In private, then.“ King. I am best pleased with that.

[They converse apart. Biron. White-handed mistress, one sweet word

with thee. Prin, Honey, and milk, and sugar; there is three. Biron. Nay, then, two treys, (an if you grow so

nice,) Metheglin, wort, and malmsey ;-Well run, dice! There's half a dozen sweets.

Prin. Seventh sweet, adieu ! Since you can cog*, I'll play no more with you. Biron. One word in secret. Prin. Let it not be sweet. Biron. Thou griev'st my gall. Prin. Gall ? Bitter. Biron. Therefore meet. [They converse apart. Dum. Will you vouchsafe with me to change a

word ? Mar. Name it. Dum. Fair lady,-.

Mar. Say you so ? Fair lord, -
Take that for your fair lady,

Dum. Please it you,
As much in private, and I'll bid adieu.

(They converse apart. Kath. What, was your visor made without a

tongue ? Long. I know the reason, lady, why you ask. Kath. O, for your reason! quickly, Sir; I long.

* Falsify dice, lie.