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New rork 14609 USA (^16) 432- 0300 -Phone (716) 288- 5989 - Fa, m THE PEOPLE'S LIBRARY PLAYS AND POEMS VOLUME THREE WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE _:iA- EDITOR'S NOTE Born in |S64, i.he son ..f . I t , --con. ,. .e<=kcr ..f... f.,,,, ,, 1^^^; »^ncM he v.„ fw,.n:v..,f,rc.e- .„,h .„c ;[,c few n -.oKn.,cc /,.c,., of ..•uU.,;H..;re-. c.., |y !,/« ' I ie a.l. J ,, no, „,„, jj^, ^j / dchnue.. furtlu-r recorded of f„m. and h"n wiUi ,..ur feather.. !,v a broth, r i Ijvwright who .u:...3.s .ha. Siukc.peare-,hen an I o a w .i as pMywrUer-ha3 Lccn poaching on nis l.urary preserves. That he commenced Ins work as an adapter .'eredTr 'V' '".r" genius soon tnnn ""'' 8"'"'^'' ''^'' ^"^ '^e Won- kier n 2 estcem-nav. veneration -of all his conle.:.,orar,.s. Take .nto account. ,00 a charn-.tny per.onal.tv, a capacity for the en.ov- Tn "^'''"•^,."' '^"^ f"'!- combi.,ed v,.h-a ^upreme k.nahne.s and gentleness of nat.,; and no explapufon j. then necessary fcr b!u.f Hen Jonsons endearing "Gentle S.ake dk""^ -r"-"' ^"«" °f Avon.- •■ 1 oved the man. he wrote. " and do h. roj fm^m.mory. on this s.de idolatry, as much When worldly success came to Shakespeare h s ,„nd reverted immediately ,0 l.is oved Stratford, and h,« savmgs were inve-ed in pro,.er.y m aad around the .own. On April .e. w h honoured bur.al ,n ,he chancel of ■' P"^'-^^' church of his birthplace. ! CONTENTS THE TRAOF^DY OF KINO RICICAKl) II THE TRAORDY OF KIXG Rr( HARD III LOVKS LABOUR '3 LOST MACBETH MEASURE FOR MEASURE . THE MERCHAXT OF VEN'ICE THE MERRV WIVES OF \VLVr).^,OR A MIDSUMMER-NIOHTS DREAM MUCH ADO ABOUT .\OTHI\G OTHELLO. THE MOOli OF VEN'ICE PERICLES. PRINX'E OF TYRE . GLOSSARY PAOK 9 73 157 221 277 341 •ini 4(U -11 S69 647 705 ':: Gaunt. As near as I could sift him on that argument On some apparent T *u''J- J: '^st '--Heaven be the record to my speccli I— In the devotion of a subject's love, ^ ^ptccu ; Tendering the precious safety of my prince And free from other misbegotten hate ' Come I appellant to this princely presence.— 11 ,:ZJ^A>^ KING RICHARD II Act I Sc i Now, riiomos Mowhrny, do I turn to thoo ^"^ "»V"^^"^y grcoting\vdI ; for "l at speik My body shall make good upon this earll/ * Or my aivine soul answer it in i)c„ven ' rhou art a traitor and a miscreant Too good to be so, and too barl lo Ive Since the mo: fair and crysUd is ti J'ky rhe uglier see. i the clouds that in i '{ v '^"ih Ttlul troM"'- ^' '' '^''^^^'^ '^^^ote, vMin a foul traitor s nunc stt!;i I thv thrmf The bi ter clamour of two eager tongues Can arburate this cause betAvlxt us twain ' The blood ,s hot that must be cooled or this rfrst n^, f '^'"^ '''"^ "^"«*^t at all to say. Set ing aside his high blood's roya y, ^^'"''^• f dn ^VT- ^' "^ kinsman to my liege I do defy him, and I spit at himf ^ ' Call him a slanderous coward, and a villiin • Which to maintain, I would allow himors* ^\en to the frozen ridges of the \lns Or any other ground inhabitable^ ^' Where ever Englishman durst set his foot Mean ime, let this defend my loyalty - By all my hopes, most falsely dotl he'lie .doling, pai^ trembling cowar( u-A j ihm. Discla,n,ing here the kindred o? the kng "" "'^^' °^''°^' And lay aside my high blood's roy.irv nSv'd'; "^V'^^^'i-nce. makes' IS to except • As?o t.L'. nn '^ ^""^l '"" ^^'^ '^ "^^^h Strength ' BvUi't and^.lTlh' ^^^^o^'''^ Pawn, then stoop. \\Mn , ^" ^^'^ "**^^ of knighthood else Wl it iTn^e^'^i"^^^"^^ "^^^•' arm to arm! nV I .?k?if '' "' *^^" '^^"-'^t ^«^«e de'vise. Which cs,.\,tur • , P ' ."^"^ ^y that sword I swear pn^;;?^:;';Va?;;sri^^^--^^^-s, Or chivalrous design of kniehtfv trial • And when I mount, alive may I not I'oht If I be traitor or unjustly fight I ° K. lUch. What doth our cousin lay to Mowbray's charge '> 12 iSfflBSsi'.:.?^ Act I Sc i KING RICHARD II I i It must be great that can inherit us That Mmvb™ h-aTh 1' ' '^'"^- !"-^ ""= ""'» P™ve il true Like rSe'-frlJi'.'o'- r^-l r-oUTii-h^ir'"^'"^"'^- Be^,les, I say, and will in battle prove ?Lt n';- "^ ■^'''"^■horo, to the fartl^.°t verge I at nn't'J? '"""y?" "y English eye.* crpf!^/;n7c°,';--,^^«,"jjt-^^ SS?S'"^^-oK.eath. s h°"i.^Ti,rsSi-g'At7"«-r™' - -- ■■ ;ven from the tongueless caverns of the earth AnS"llVrIr- '""' ""Sh '"asUser^entT • Now by my sceptre's awe I make a vo'w Such nc,.rnbour nearness to our sacred blood l'.runs?ooninlf""^'"^ ^^"^' nor'pSiili ' H^is Sfr sBrt Tr"'"'^^ ""^ "^y "P^^^^^t soul. lie IS our subject, Mowbray, so art thou • lVr'''''TtTVr'''?' ''- thee allow.' Throulrh ^h'? ' i "'^'''™^'^' ""^ ''^^^ ^« ^o thy heart Disbursed I duly to his ilighness^ o dTers • For t^h t'^r'^ '''''"''' ^^y consent * 1 or that my sovereign iiege was in mv debt L Don rcm-n nH<.'- ff - -'^-r - '" »"y "toe k;'^^^ 1 n -li.-t . 1. 1 ,, uCur account. Neglected my sworn duly in tharcase^.- KING RICHARD II Act I Sc i For you, my nohle Lord of Lancaster, I he honourable father to my foe, Once did I lay an ambush for your life A trespass that doth vex my grieve,i soul ; iiut, ere I last received the sacrament 1 did confess it, and exactly begged Your grace's pardon, and I hope I h,-iered in his bosom In iiaste whereof, most heartily I pray Your highness to assign our trial day. Le(''s nm-l t^h^^ll'^r' "'"'•'', gentlemen, be ruled by me Let s puigo this choler without letting blood • This we prescribe, though no plivsieian ' Deep malice makes too deep incision • ' I^orgct, forgive ; conclude, and be agreed • Our doctors say this is no month to bleed -1 Good uncie, let this end where it begun •' ^aiirU ] o be a make-peace s!;all becnme mv a^tp • Throw down, my son, the Duke of Norfc>l?s\" ^^ ^ "" Grint ' ^'''^''^^' ^J'^"^^' ^''^^vn his. ' ObXnce bids I should not bid again''"''"' ^'''^' ''''''' • My life th.;u .U^^^i:^'--^ :^hy foot. The one my duty owes ; but mv fair nana * Dcsp.le ot c eath that lives upon my gravi To dark (hsiionour's use tiKni shall not ha^e I am .hsgraced, impeaciu.!. and bafHe 1 ere'- P creed to the soul with sian.ler's venome rsnear • lie wlmh no bahn can cure but his Et blood ' ^^hlch breathed this poison. Give iue ids -i^e • linn, r^ i^"!^'' '""f ''^ withstood. V .r V 'K~r •~"f^"s make leopards lame -. . ' "V . "■- ■• ''^'^■'■' ioam or iiainted clav A lewe m a ten-times barred-u,, ehest ^" Is a bold spirit in a loyal breast. -Mine honour is my life, both grow in one : J 4 h'^s:aams^^x^'::m Act I Sc U KING RICHARD II Take honour from me, and my li/o is done. Then, dear my liopc, mine honour let me try ' In that I live, and for that will I die. ' K.liicli. Cousin, throw do^vn your gage : do you bc^in BoUng. O, God defend my soul from such delp sin! Shall I seem crest-fall'n in my father's sioht ? Or with pale beggar-fear impJach my iiei"ht before this out-dared dastard ? Ere mv'to 4,v ., , . — - •-'iv- iiiv longue Shall wound mnie honour with sucii feeble wrong Or sound so base a parle, my teeth shall tear I he slavish motive of recanting fear. And spit it bleeding, in his high disgrace. Where shame doth harbour, even in Mowbray's face. w?- !"'■''■ ^^'^ ^■^'■^ ""^ ^«^" to sue, but to cimman^d''-"" Which since we cannot do to make you friends "'^ ' Be ready, as your lives shall answer it ' At Coventry, upon Saint Lambert's day • There shall your swords and lances arbitrate The swelling difference of your settled hate Since we cannot atone you, we shall see Justice design the victor's chivalry. Marshal, command our olllcers-at-arms Be ready to direct these home-alarms. [Exeunt Scene II.— The Same. A Room in the Duke of Lancastek's Palace Enter Gaunt and Dcchess of Gloster Gaunt. Alas 1 the part I had in Gloster's blood Doth more solicit me than your exclaims To stir against the butchers of his life But since correction lieth in those h.nds Which made the fault that we cannot correct Put we our quarrel to the will of Heaven • ' Who, when they sec the hours ripe on eai'th, Will rain hot vengeance on ollenders' heads Hon "i ^'""l^ brotherhood in t hee no sharper spur •> Hath love in thy old blood no living (ire '■> ^ ' Edward's seven sons, whereof thyself art one. Were as seven vials of his sacred blood ^nn^r'?*?'"' '^^'^"^1^^'=^ springing from one root : Some of those seven are dried by natures coursp some of those branches by the DestinLs cut" iut Thomas, my dear lord, mv life, mv Gloste- One vial tull of Edward's sacred blood " ' One flourishing branch of his most roval root s cracked and all the precious liquor spilt • is hacked down, and his summer leaves all faded, 15 KING RICHARD II Act I Sc ii By envy's hand and murder's bloody axe An, (jaunt, his blood was thine 1 thif iw^'j n,„* Made him a man, and thouch thou liv'o ■ n,) . .u- . Yot art thou slain in him. ^Thou dosi conse-nt "''''' In that thou seest thy wretched brother die \Vho was the model of thy father's life In i.,fr"-^ patience. Gaunt, it is despair • In sufTering thus thy brother to be s au-' i.rod 1 hou show St the naked pathway to tHy I fe Teaching stern murder how to butcher u'e' P^i,^^"^5 ^" "'"«" "^^" ^ve entitle patie ce" Thr iA f ^ '^y. ' *° safeguard thine own life His di^ty^nl^^;.;:]'!^ Sj^^^ An angry arm agm„sl ilis minister "" Gaun,. T'To'/"u,-etui,™'7 ' »'"Pl''l" "ly^c,. 7 Dach. Why Ihcn l\^i r' <^l"<™Pi"n and Opfcnce. Thou go'st toVovo"',ry" -'.rS iu°" '^''""^ ^ Our cousin Hertford an.l toll Mo^vl'r v rmi,, O, sit my hushnna's wron' s on Hnri7 ,• " Thatlt may c-nlor I-uUl""; Mowta^'s L^^^^'"' As^muS g^o'fsta "S'llieJ aTgl' ^^,!;-^-- ^ Psorr-i-;*-,' !;- -a , f • ThjS iLi'lrari;T,'„';L\t''Sri'y'.-. A snau remembpT- mnm r>! i i ■ - '^ » ^idCK, and what shall eoo.? r.]r\ Vor] m An^w l,t h. it' ""^^«^J^J^n stones ? ' And vshat hear there for welcoine, but my groans ? 16 Act I Sc Hi KING RICHARD II To s^ u ?'""^^"" mo. lot i.im not erne there To sroK out sorrow that dwells evorvwi ere nc.solatc (lesolafo will I honco. and Til • 1 he iast leave oniu. takes mywcepirg eye. [E.ennt Scene III.-Gosford Green, near Coventry Lists set out, and a throne. JieraUl,, etc., attending hntcr the Lord Marshal and Altmerie tvoiiFOLK, m armour, prmde.l by a HerJld ot'ht ;:;' nf ^^'/^ k,u-,ht^ho'^uM'vA>Iate I) Tn r» 1 f •' "'y ^"y*»^^y ^"fi truth ^ /Lr '/."^\'''""' "^"'^ *"s suocecdhu' issue Against the Duke of H'-reford thn :r,.^!of' And, by the grace of God and t ^ifn^t^^zn"''' Jo prove lum, in defending of myse f ' And, as I truly hght, defend me Heaven I Trumpet sounds. Enter UouxumioKF preceded by a Herald ' A. Rich, Marshal a -.J- v.r--- ,. t ■ ^ ■ Both who he is. and \s:^,y L eoSelh 'fim/" ^""'' Thus plated in habiliments ofTi ''^''' And formally according to our aw' iJepose lum in the justice of his eause. 17 in armour. >i J.M KING RICHAFiD 11 Act I Sc jii is thy naino, nrnl wlnrefore c-om'st thou Mar. What lutiior, Before Kin« Riclianl in his royal lists ? Against whom cotnest thou ? and wluit 's thy quarrel ? Speak hke a true knight, so defend thee lleaVen ' lioling Harry of Hereford. Laneaster. and Uerhy. Am I ; who ready hen- do stand in arms ro prove by (lod's giaec. and mv hodv's 'valour Tu 1 u ' P" Thomas .Nh.wiu-iiy. Duke of Norfolk, inat he s a traitor foul and dangerous To God of heaven. Kin;,' liiehard. and to me • And, as I truly figlU, def.-nd me Heav;ii ! Mar. On pain of deatli. no person he so bold Or darmu-hardy as to toueh the lists, Hxcept the marshal and sueh officers Appointed to direet lluse fair di sii^ns. noling. Lord marsiial, let me kiss my suvercifin's hand And bow my knee before his ma jest v ' For Mowbray and myself are like two men That vow a long and weary pilgrimage ; Inen let us take a een-monious leave And loving farewell of our several friends Mar. The appellant in all duty greets' vour highness And craves to kiss your hand and tr,!-e liis'leave ^ ' K. Rich. \\\' will descend, an.l fold iiini in our arms Cousm of Hereford, as thy cause is right So be thy fortune in this royal (iglit '^ Farewell, my blood ; which if to-iiav thou s'lcd Lament we may, but not revenge fliee dvr.d * Boling. O, let no noble eve nrofane ;• (ear For me, if I be gored witli Mowbray's sneir As confident as is the falcon s flight Against a bird, do I with Mowbray fi'^ht — My loving lord, I take my leave of ymi •' Of you, my noble cousin. Lord Aumerje'-— Not sick, althou,'.:li I have to do will; dcMh But lusty, young, and eheeriv draMin- iireith Lo, as at English feasts, so I rej'reel Thc-^ daintiest last, to nu.ke the end most sweet : U thou, the earthlv aullior of my l>lood — Whose youthful spi-it. in me re-'-cnerate Doth with a two-fold vigour lift me up ' To reach at victory above my head, - Add proof unto mine armour witli tliv or r-ers And with fhy blessings steel my lauee's xn^inl ' 1 hat It iuay enter Mowbray's wax.m coat -.na furuish n-w the nam.- nf Jolm o" Gaunt iiven m the lusty haviour of his son R.^-wm'-L^^^r i'l ^-'^ ""'''• ""''''^^ '""^'^ thee prosoerous I Be swift nke lightning in the execuLion, 13 .:4^i£^^. Art I Sc Hi KING RICHARD II And !(>| ihy blows, doubly rcMoubl^d. Fall like aina/liif' thunder on llie casque nr thy adverse pernicious enemy: Roiisu up thy youthful blood, be valiant and live JloUny Mnu- innocency and Saint Ccoikc to thrive I ^or. However God or fortune cast my lol. There l.vcs or dies, true to Kin.it Hiehards throne A loyal, just, and u|,ri«:it gentleman. Never did cai)tive with a freer heart Cast oil his chains of bondage and embrace His golden uncontrolled enfrancliiseinent More than my dancing' soul doth celebrate This feast of battle with mine adversary Most mighty iiege, and n»y comi)anion 'peers, 1 ake from my moulh the wish oi" happy years • As gentle and as jnraws the sweet infant breath of «enlle slee W h h.^?..'""'"' "'r ''^^^ I'-'i'^'^Tous untuned drums. \N ith harsh resounding truniMets' dreadful bray And uralinK shock of wrathful iron arms. ^ Mi«ht from our quiet conlines fri«ht fair peace And make us wade even in our kindred's blood- nurefore. we banish you our t.rrifories •— \ou cousin Hereford, upon p.ir. of life. * JUI wice nvc summers have eiiriched our fields Shall not rc«reet our fair dominions, But tread the stranger paths of banlsliment. ">''n,j \ our will Le done : this must my comfort be - ll>.- sun tua warms you here shall shine on nu ' An. those his golden beams to you here lent ' Shall point on me and pld my banishment. wi.Vi, . -..u^'""'""'' '"'" ^"'•^' remains a heavier doom Which I with some unwHlingness pronounce; ' T ■ "y;^'«^^' ''"^"•s «'"ll not r, Thon thus I turn mc from my colMltr^• s li-ht To awe I In solemn shn.Irs of .ndless ..iyht. ^ ( ,Mirin, A. Pich. I^cturn npnln. nn.l Ink. an onth with Hue ^ I-ay on our royal sword yoi.r banished hnnds ; Swoar by Ihc duly that y,. owe to (i..,!.— Our pnrt tlurein wt- banish with v.ursflvrs— Id keep the oath that wc adniinisltr : You never shall, so help vou I ruth md Cod Knihnice each other's love in bntiishmrnt. * ^or never look upon each other's f.ioe Nor never write repreet. nor reeoneile ' This lowering tempest of your lH)in.-I)red liate • Nor never by advis(^d purpose meet To plot, contrive, or compiot nnv ill Ciainst us, our state, our subjects, or our land Doling. I swear. Nor. And I, to keep all this. Bohng Norfolk, so far. as to mine enemy • liy this time, had the king permitted us. unc of our souls had wandered in the nir Banished this frail sepulchre of our desh' As now our Oesh is banished fron. this land •— Confess thy treasons, ere thou Hv tlie r.alm \ Since thou hast far to go, bear not along The cloggmg burden of a guilty soul. Nor. No, Rolingbroke ; if ever I were traitor. My name be blotted from the book of life And I from heaven banisncd, as from hence. ?ni om'I* *^°" '''■*; T"'''' *''""' =>"'' I rfo know ; And all too soon, I fear, the king shall rue.— Farewell my liege.— Now no way can I strav • Save back to England, all the world's my way.' \F^it K. Rich. I ncle, even in the glasses of thine eves ' I see thy grievM heart : thy sad aspect ^ Hath from the number of liis banished years Plucked four awry.-[ro Bolingbroke] Six froz-n winters spent, iii»/.^n Return with welcome home from banishment Pnn^ ir^* • "^•' ^''"S a time lies in one little word I Four laggmg wmters and four wanton springs End m a word : such is the breath of kings Hp fh^r; S*'^"^ ""y ^*''S<^' *^^^t i" regard of me S!f r...^'^''' '°"'' y^'^" «' "ly s«n's exile. But little vantage shall I reap thereby • tor, ere the six years that he hath to sp-nd Can change their moons and bring their times about My oil-dned lamp and time-bewasted lighr ' Shall be extinct with age and endless ni-M;t • My inch of taper will be barnt and done ' And blindfold death not let me see my son. 21 KING RICHARD II Act I Sc iii K. i?a/i Why, uncle, thou hast many years to live *;hnrf""'' ^^^ "^^.^ '^'""t^' J^i"^'' tl^^t thou cans? i ve"- Shorten my days thou canst with sullen sorroCv ^ * And pluck nights from mc, but not 'end a morrow I 1 hou canst help Time to furrow me with a^J liut stop no wrinkle in his pilgrimage • " ' 1 hy word is current with him for my death • But dead, thy kingdom cannot buy me breath \vt:. , ll T*^^ ^°" ^^ banished upon good advice ^^hcreto thy tongue a party-verdict gave ' Why at our justice seem'st thou then to lower ■> Gaunt. Things sweet to taste prove in digestion snnr ^,ou urged me as a judge ; but I had rather ' \ou would have bid me argue like a father U, had It been a stranger, not my child, To smooth his fault I should have been more mi^i A partial slander sought I to avoid Ai"o*! '? ,^^^, sentence my own life destroyed. Alas, I looked when some of you should sav 1 was too strict, to make mine own awav • But you gave leave to my unwilling tongue Against my will to do myself this wrong.^ A. Rich. Cousin, farewell ;— and, uncle bid him ^n • Six years we banish him ; and he shall go * [Flourish. Exeunt King Richard and Train ThJ!"tl:. '/° 't''^''^^ purpose dost thou hoard thy words Bollnn ?h"'" '.' "^ e^-^'^"^i"g to thy friends ? ^ ^'^'' vvh tf" .^ ^^^'^ ^"" ^^^' to take my leave of vou When the tongue's office should be prorli'al ^ To breathe the abundant dolour of the heart Gaunt. Thy grief is but thy absence for a time Joy absent, grief is present for that lime \V hat IS six winters ? they are quickly gone To men in joy ; but grief makes one houi^ ten Call It a travel that thou tak'st for pleasure VVH- K r J^^ ^'^^'■^ ^^"^ sjgh ^vhen I miscall it so Which finds it an enforced pilgrimage ' Gaunt. The sullen passage of thy weary stcos Fsteem a foil, wherein thou art to set ^ the precious jewel of thy home-return Win 1 F- ^""^ '■''ther, every tedious stVide I mak£ Will but remember me what d.-n] of ^^^.•1d 1 wander from the jewels that I love i^lust I not serve a long apprentioeliood io foreign passages ; and in the end, 22 Baling. Gaunt. Baling, Gaunt. Baling. S39!»fieri Act I Sc iv KING RICHARD 11 Having my freedom, boast of notliin^ else iail thai I was a journevman to grirf > Oaunl. All places that the eve^uf I I-avcn visits Are to a wise man ports and happy ha. ens leach thy necessity to reason thus : Inere is no virtue like necessity Think not it was the king did banish thee, But thou the km- ; woe doth tlie heavier sit Where it perceives it is but faintly borne Go, say I sent thee forth to purchase honour. And not the km.; ---xiled thee ; or supjjuse, Devoiinng pestilence hangs in our air, And thou art Hying to a fresher iime Look, what thy soui holds dear, im;,gine it To he that way thou go'st, not whence thou com'st Suppose the singing birds musicians he grass whereon thou tread'st the presence strewed I he tlowers fair ladies, and thy steps no more ' I han a delightful measure, or a dance i;or gnarling sorrow hath less power to bite the man that mocks at it and sets it light Rv t.,'i"?- ^' ''''\" 'T" ''"'^ "" ^"•^' '^^ his hand By thinking on the frosty Caucasus ? Or cloy the hungry edge of appetite jiy bare imagination of a feast '' Or wallow naked in December snow By thinking on fantastic sunmier's heat '' O, no : the apprehension of the good Gives but the greater feeling to the worse • i;ell sorrow s tooth doth never rankle more Than when It biles but lanceth not the sore HoT t''!," ^'^"1'.'' ^'''''*-^' "^>' son, I'll brii:g thee on thv wav adieiu ' ^"^'""^'^ ground, farewell ; sweet soil. My mother, and my nurse, that bears me vet ' \\here'er I wander, boast of this I can Though banished, yet a true-born Englishman. [Exeunt Scene IV.— The Court Enter King Richard, B.^got, and Queen, at one door ■ AUMEULE at another Hnw Ill'y- ^T^, "^''^ observe.-Cousin Aumerie, Ho\v far brougiit you higii Hereford on his wav ? Aum. I brouaiil liinh Heri>fnr'' if i—i- --" '■ • Bui to the next liighway, and th^reYMt mm""" '"' i;;m 'Fnti h ,''^' ^^'""^ '^"'' "^ ^^''^ting tears were shed " 23 KING RICHARD II Act I Sc iv Awaked the sleeping rheum and so bv chance Did grace our holJow parting with a tear hTm ? ^^'^''^ '''''* "'"' ''°"'*"' '^''"" y*^^ P^^ttd with Au n. " Farewell " : ^.fn'l.'iH''" ""^ ''/''""^ disdained that my tongue Should so profane the word, that taught me craft To counterfeit oppression of such grief That words seemed buried in my sorrow's grave A^^' *• , '^ °"^ cousin, cousin ; but 't is donht \Vhen time shall call him home from banishment Whether our kinsman come to see his friends ' SnJ >rHM'' courtship to the common people. How he did seem to dive into their he ts With humble and familiar courtesy • What reverence he did throw away on slaves ind n^^tH' ''f'r^^ ^'^^^ ^he cLft of Ses And patient undorbearing of his fortune. Off L f-^"! ^'''""^' *^'*'' ^^e'^ts with him. Off goes his bonnet to an oyster-wench ; A ^r^e of draymen bid God speed him vvell \mh''' T^h' 'f "'^ '' ""'' ^"PP'^ k-" uitn— Thanks, my countrymen, my lovin-^ friends • " As were our England in reversion his ^ ' " And he our subjects' next degree in hope Expedient manage must be made, my lie .^e' Ere urtherleisure yield them fur'the? mean's 1-or their advantage and your highness' loss A. Hicfi. We will ourself in person to this w-ir • tnd'rh' ''V^ '''''^'''' ^^^t'^ too great a cour * And liberal largess, are grown somewhat li^tht ^^ e are enforced to farm our royal realm Uie revenue whereof shall furnish us Uur substitutes at home shall have blank charters NV hereto when they shall know what men are Vi h 1 lu-y snail subscribe them for large sums of 'o-d ' And send them after to supply our 'x"n-s For we will make for IrelaAd presently. ' Enter Bushy Bushy, what news ? Bushj. Old John of Gaunt is grievous sirk, my lord, 24 Act IT Sci KING RICHARD II Suddenly taken ; and hath sent post-haste lo entreat your majcsLy to visit him A. Rich. Whore lies he ? Busliif. At FJy House. To^heH him ^ZJT '^' ?'*^' '" '^'' P'lysician's mind, 10 nelp him to his .crave immediaLcIv ' The lining of his colier^ shall make coats lo deck our soldiers tor these Irish wars — f.ome frenUomen. let 's all go visit him : " 1 ray God we may make haste and come too late 1 \E.veunt ACT TWO ScKXK I.— London. A Room in Ely House Gaunt on a couch ; the D-.kk ok York and others standing by him Gaunt. Will the king come, that I mav breathe mv list In wholesome counsel to his urslaid yoi-[ii ^ ' '^^ ^ ork Vex not yourself, nor si rive not with your br'-ath • For all in vain comes counsel to his car ' Gaunt. O. but they say the tonijues of dvin^^ men I-.nforce attention like deep liarmonv • \\here words are scarce they are seldom spent in vain For they breathe truth that breathe th.ir^word in pain He that no more must say is lislcned more, rhan they whom youth and case have taught to alose • More a^e m.n-s ends marked than their lives before • ' A .u f *i'"-^ ^""' ^'^"d "^"^^'^ «t the close. As the last taste of sweets, is sweelest last, \\rit in remembrance more than things long past Though Richard my life's counsel would nol, hear, I\.y death s sul tale may yet undeaf his ear. Ae „^/ •■ "* i-^^ '^ Stopped vdth other nattering sounds As praises of his state : then there are fond rounds, Lascivious nicires. tu whose venom sound 1 he open ear of youth doth alwavs listen : i^rport of fasliions in proud Italy, Vhose ni mners still our tardy apish nation Li.-ips a.flor in base imitation \Mu're doth the worhl Ihrusl forth a vanity. So iL be new, there 's no respect how Niie, J hat IS not quickly buz/^d into his ears '^ Then all loo late comes counsel to be heard ^^here will doth muiiny with wiL's resard ' ..i''.^'^^ ^"'' ""'^ \M;use way himself will choose • GauT VoiW \"'%''^ ""'^ '^'^^ ^''■^'''' ^^'iit"t'^-" lose. Gaunt. Melhinks. I am a prophet new insnired And thus, expiring, do forcfeii of aim :- '""P"^"^' 25 KING RICHARD II Act II Sc i Th ! ^.u ^'^'^^"^ °' '^i"gs, this sccptered isle This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars ' ?h!.' f\'' ^t*^"' ' \'n Lf ?.?'^^ ^-^f'^n^ive to a house. Against the envy of less hapt)ier lands • A s?H?;-,s;;1r.?•.■^■r^■-^- wS"^' ^"""^^ ^" ^'ith the tH'™kant sea Of wTterv N^n'.r ^^^'^ ^^^'^ the^nJls ;i;ge A'";/, Whir' r^;""^^^ uncle^LancaTer ? Old Gaunt, indeed VnSi^nnt'^'i"'-^^ ^-omposition ! Within me grief hath kenfft^^-" ^T" °^^ ' And ^vi.^ oKcf • ^ ^^P*^ ^ tedious fast : 2"° ;'"0 'Abstains from moat thi< i- --f - . ^ The pleasure that some fathers fc'ed u] ',' n 26 m^m^b4;^&m Act II Sci KTNG RICHARD II f i Is my strict fast, I mean my children's looks : And {herein fasting hast thou made me L'aunt Gaunt am 1 for the grave, gaunt as a grave. Whose hollow womh inherits nought but bones. Cnnnf x^ ""^ ■'"'^ "'^", P'^y "^ "''^'"'y ^^''fh Uieir names ? Uaiint. No, misery makes sport to mock itself. Since thou dost seek to kill my name in me 1 mock my name, great king, to flatter thee' K. Rich. Should dyinr? men natter with those that live •' y,"""?- NO' nO' men living natter those that die A. Hich Thou, now a-dying, say'st thou flatlcr'sl me Gaunt. O, no ; thou diest, though I the sicker be. A. liich I am in health, I breathe, and see thee ill Tii •"""'• ,^°'^' ^^ ^^^^ "^^de me knows I see thee ill'; 111 in myself to see, in thee seeing ill. Thy death-bed is no lesser than thy land, Wh( rem thou liest in reputation sick ; And thou, too careless patient as thou art, Committ'st thy 'nointed body to the cure Of those physicians that first wounded thee A thousand flatterers sit within thy crown, * \Vhose compass is no bigger than thy head. And yet, incagcd in so small a ver^e. The waste is no whit lesser than t\y land O, had thy grandsire, with a prophet's eye. Seen how his son's son should destroy his sons From forth thy reach he would have laid thv shame Ueposing thee before thou wert possessed, " * Which art possessed now to depose thyself vV hy, cousin, wert thou regent of the world. It were a shame to let this land bv lease ; But for thy world enjoying but this land. Is it not more than shame to shame it so '' Landlord of England art thou now, not king : Thy state of law is bondslave to the law And — K. Rich. And thou a lunatic lean-witted fonl Presuming on an ague's privilege, Dar'st with thy frozen admonition \l^Y.^?^^^ ""^ ^^^^^' chasing the royal blood With fury from his native residence. Now, by my seat's right royal majesty, Wert thou not brother to great Edward's son, I his tongue, that runs so roundly in thy head. Should run thy head from thy unrevereut shoulders oau/i/ O, spare me not, my brother Edward's son, l^or that I was his father Edward's son. That blood already, like the pelican, Hast thou lipped out, and drunkenly caroused. My brother Gloster, plain well-meaning soul,— 27 KIXG RICHARD II Act II Sc i An,l thy unki„ES1,eTikc°r„'„t', '':•■■« ' (;<'nvcy me to ,„v " | Jn' '""""'" "« '- Love tlipy to li-.. 1 ,^ ' , " '" '">■ Krave : yioii.^Uiatl vearull,o„ourI,avc p-A'^.'i''- And let them fk^'l'lV!?™,'' °"' ,'"' ''''' 1'"-'' m/. °>v^A ' Sel';?,";,™;' ''"'^ 'eomfu^;'' rl;*"^ "-■•■ ■• '-": H,gM. you s.y true: as HcrCord-s .ovo. so ' ^'"="s. so mine ; and all be as it is. maj?s%."'«=' 0"' G»"n' commends him to vour Xo"r"- ^"-' says ho 7 Worts: 'f.,^?';-,? *!"r'«^ inst;?mc"n°t"r'= ' "" '= ^■^■^'■ york. Be York ih „,";?'"■ '"'"' '^P-'nt. But only u,oy, h,r ^^^' ?„M^.r" ^''^ Shall tcn.k-r d„,y mrfc me sulK'™' ' '^''' "ov. long H.ve e 'iS'et;'; ™:;"^^.-™ ,^f «-.-. n™7ifo°ia^t^:^;t^,e°'r^™:-"'«""'-: OfwhomthyiJitr^pti--- , ** a^Ls, Was xirst ; 28 Scl Act II Scl KING RICHARD II O my licgc, In war was never lion raced more liiree Yorl ^^'' "''''''^' '^"^^t's the matter ? \ol . f .^*''^."''"^*' ^"^J succession •> •NO^v, afore Go-l.-God forbid, 1 sav true ' JZ th ^7""-f""y sei/.e Her'eford^s rl"l'is~ ^v , " ^^^ letters-patents that he hath ' ; y his attorneys-seneral to sue ; !is livery, and deny his olu^red homace T , ,^ bad courses may be understood ' /v. ;^zc/j. Go, JJusiiy. to the I-Ti nf \VMf . • ^''-^'^ 1 JM liim repair to us to Ely Hculse '''''^' '^'"^"-'^^ : \A " m".. -_^"^*ii!^*:>o. io-morro\v novf T'^^^'^i for Ireland ; and 't is tinu I trow - -nd w. create, in absen-;.. of o ■" I'f ""^^ ' 0.ir m.de York lord .ov^noroKnoiand- 1-or he IS just, and ahvuys loved us uSII-l 29 KING RICHARD II Act II Sc 1 North. Ross. ^Vi[lo. A'orlli. Ross. Come on, our qiKcn : to-morrow must we part • I>c merry for our time of stay is short ^ ' IHourish. Exeunt Kin,, Queen, Annurle, Rush,; Well, lords, the Duke of Lnncast^r'i's' de"-fd''"''^' And hv.n« too ; for now his son is dike hare y m title, not in revenue Richly in both, if juslice had her riffht "mor^^- 'P"'" "'' '"'"•' • -'" "^ l>lm ne'er .p„k ^il'y" a? "'y '•^""'^ -'K'"" 1° inst any of us ail lliat will the king severely prosecute Gamst us our lives, our children, and our heirs But ;'hat' ^"""'^'"=«. »"1 I wot n'J? wS f'~ Vom;, \v, ? M "■'""•'' """> l'"°nie of th s' His bun|e„so„f'';a^'ur a/,^;t ;;fj, ^.'^ --- •".'by llie robbing oj Ibe banisiicd i!uke iet seek no .slirlf".- to o,.^;,) :,,,,' ^^ ^"^fe' VVe see tin- whv! sit sov<^ u'^nou^l:;,\l\' i^'^s^. \v c s.c t.e very wrack that we ii.ust siuTcr ; .10 Sci Act II Sc il KING RICHAHD II And unavoldfd is the d.m-or now Him- near Iho Ihliii^s „f „ur ,„,„(„;.i f, Vj-e three arc ,„., l';Lr;'!r„;t'sp^,::,' H"''"'' ^ nu> nrst dci)u-lin.q of tlu- kins fur IrcZt^ f, h.n we slK.Ji shake oil our slavisl y Le Im out our drooping counlrVs broken v^n. Hcdeem from brokin'^ n-iwn ti,„ i.i ^\"/ ''-' Wipe o.n„e dust ti^^ ^i^^z^::::-::^^''-' A u make u:.l, majesty look like its..[f 1^ ^' i\ ;'> ^^■'^^"l^-inposttoHavensi.ur. ' Ma> ..nd be secr<'t, and myself v.ii) .-o. Jlcss. ]Vil/u. unS:- ui'MechrLiMstothcmtlintfenr. 'J'o lioise, to Ifo'd ou' niv h..'..; "'•-"/t"'""s to incm tlint i^^^d ou. my horse, and i will first be there. [Exeunt Sc... I, Th= S.„nc. An Apartment In the Pabco ^ f.nlcr Ql!:en-, Bushv, and Hvgot As my sweet Richard Ye« ....,•>''' ^'■. . . ^ome unborn soi-row rino ,•„'*"";""' f'^^'^'''" •-^, Is comin- towar-K nVn^ ^ ? fortune's wo-nb, M..ethaawrthp^;l-',^r-,^-^ng...e. 31 ^lyself, KING RIGHAHD II '-okin« awry ip,;,;" ^;,7,- r:>'^'^ '"''j<--^'y. W.'iioh looked on ,s / s J ■'" '"""'^ '" ^^■-'■' .- Of Nvl.at it is n,H*'^ -,;;;/ n?;^"^''^ '^"t slKuJo^.s More ( Iiau your lonl's , , .,■ '""^'■'''''"^'^ 'l"^'tn, I cannot but be sa.l, so heavy sd ^'' y;Ui%. 'T is nil inr ? / '^'' ^''"'^ ""^ «l"aik ;;rom some forefather^r -f •' J;""''^:'^ '=* slill derived Or somelhi^., '>au'tg \SirS"i^' ^'- ^' ^ i cannot n,' "^'IS^^ '"^"" ^ -"'^^ , 1 16 nameless woe, 1 wot. "L,tl^ SUV. your ,nu,.sly ,_.„u well ™et, .cnUc- '^"^n""^;:^ if""'/,^ ^'■il'P.'d for !„,„„<,. Ti. I . "* -y "am bet lootin" in thic- i.,' i > l:c banisiied Bolin.i)rn!-, J \ , ^''"'^• And with upliflcV ,n ,?> V'""' '"-'^^'^^' At Havenspurg. ' '' '''^' '''''''^^'cvi. Ah m-idnn''? 'V" '"^'^'"^ ^«'-l>i'l ' The Lord XorV lu ,?J!.;,,V '^ \^.^ ^''"^ = and that is worse •' '»e Lords of l^os no;/m \ i' '""' y^""-' ^i^"'y P. rev ^Vith all their T omrful f i T'' ^^"'^ ^Villou- hbyf ^' 0>mi. We hivp . , '^'^'^^' lacli.,11 traitors ? 32 Act ri Sc ii KING RICHARD II Now hath my soul l,rot,^!,t forth her pro iuv • iVave wn "f '"'"« ""^^-""'ivcro.l moth 'r '^ ' Have \\oe to w.,c-. sorrow to sorrow joined Bush,,. Despair not, ma,i;un. Viict'n. ,. I ^viIl cI, .spnir. nn.l I;e at enmity "'"" ''^"''''' ""' ■ ^V.th cozeninff iu.pc.-hn is a iiuKorcr A parasite, a i"^ '>i '"^ed neck O, lull of careful business are his looks— Enlcr York ^'''Yok'°'i°:!lT?- 'I'-l^ ™'"frl.!.l<- word,. VVho, weak with a^'e. .-annot up ni? niyself Enter a Servant The noM« u.o' t.rc:7,^,:''[i,rc;;;,^.^,r ^i'.^^;' -^ -^ -" ^- Comes nishm.t m>? u-- - ' r . ."'•'^ -^ "ue of woes ^^^-"^ 33 »£m^ M KiXG nir.FiARD rr Ac! II Scil I/ow slu.ll wc do for nioncv tnr th.so wirs ? carts. ' ' ""'''• «'^ ^''*'^' ''»'"«• ; provide some An.l l,ri„ft away the nrmoi.r that Is I-utp r ;■ •, . T|,,,s thrus, ,Ns.,;;,;',',;;,^,', ,;;:",,- ""-r.. 11^1,,, tvo r„ . '■ '•"'"'■■ '"iisi,,, III //(/s/(7. The wind ^it« f,;. t ^''^''""f ^orA- «nr? Qucpn fm^orlunr^h\o to Uw enemy it> all unpossililo. Is nciir th mncd. '?,'''i'*''''f- m"' "^^^'•n^'ss to li,c kina in love !i::t(< of Ihoso love not (ho kiin ^ I NviU to Ireland to ills majoslv Where one n de fi^h s'^n'"' "'?"^ '"■>' = ^;^%. Well. we"may m^a^! '"'" ^'"' ^«^ *^^-- I fear me, never. [Exeunt 34 :%jftk^ m^am .•Stt',! Sc ii Ann scui KING RICriARD 11 ^"^^'^^•^ "I TlH. WJI.ls |„ filoshrshirc nin a stran«i'r iMTc in Gl„st<., shj'n. liul. I hi.ilnnk mo. what a wiai v \v sv 1 ■ .,l.ous,H.ssan.lp,o(vs-sof„uM::;vH^ Jiut llic-irs IS s\v(H-U-ni-,l with the in,,.- , " . S ; nT I'r";-""' ^ '''^' •'"■'' l''^' ^vt^.rv lords ilany, how 1?.,.;::';^? m;;":^ ^"' -'^-— ^•e^.- "'heaiu/o'vlnr''^' '"^ '""'• ^" "^^'^ '-'rned his P.v'^i' v'"'^'' '^ ^" ""I ^^'If' the queen ? He was not so resf.lvw.,1 „ i, . V' ^^'^'^ '"'^ reason ? \Vir//i IT 'ijJaii lo xxaversDiirf Which ne'er I'u,^ ,«:.■. '.'I'' ""'J^ "«'■ '■-'^BOt '^ S^ch as u is, being t,nUcr, rL'!2i:l\iZX'' '""'""' 35 KING RICHARD II Act II Sc iil T^mor?"^"' clays shall rip.n, and confirm lo more approved service and desert I count myself in nothin;:^ else so li.ipDV And'nJmv V'T""^'>-'"^' "'y 8ood friends ; And as my fortune ripens ^\•ith tliy love Mv'he rf n'"" ^'y ''''" ^"^'^- recompense : ii/j/er Ross i/n' recompense. ' stands for my bounty.-lJut who comes here ? Enter Beukley North. It is my Lord of Berkley, as I /^uess BolL ''^,v r',"' ''''''''-'' -/--^sagc^islo you. J^oling. My lord, my answer is to Lancaskr And I am come to seek that name in 1- n-'Iand • And I must find that title in your tongue ' n ^r ^ '^i'.'''' ''P^y to auKlit you sav. To you my lord, I come,-what !<;rd you will - ?hf ^ I' "^^ V '^'.'"'^'^"^ ''^'''^ «^ this land ' The Duke of \ ork, to know what pricks you on To talie advantage of the absent tinu^ And fright our native peace with self-borne arms. Enter York, attended 30 Act II Sc iii KING RICHAKD II Boling. My gracious uncle — York. Tut, tut ! Grace me no grace, nor uncle me no uncle • I am no traitor's uncle ; and that word " orace " In an ungracious mouth is but profane \Nliy have those banished and forbidden le^s Dared once to touch a dust of England's gr'ound ? But then more, why,-why have they dared to m^rch So many nules upon her peaceful bosom, l-riiihtina her pale-faced villages with war And ostentation of despised arms *> ' Com'st 11,011 because the anointed king is hence? ^^ hy, foolish b.,y, the king is left l,ehind, And in my loyal bosom lies his power A\ere 1 but now the lord of such hot youth As when brave Gaunt, thy father, and myself. Rescued he P,lack Prince, that young Mars of nien I-roin forth the ranks of many thousand I-Ye, d ' O. then, how quickly should tins arm of mine iSow prisoner to the palsy, chastise tliee And minister correction to thy fault I ' y?o/m,7. My gracious uncle, let me know my fault • On what condition stands it, and wherein ? ' i ork. Even in condition of the worst decree In gross rebellion, and detested treason • " ' riiou art a banished man. and here art come Before the expiration of thy time In braving arms against thy sovereign Bui ,T?'r '^' V"'"' ^=i"i^''^^' I ^vas banished Hereford • lint as 1 come, I come for Lancaster. i^i«-itiorci , And noble uncle. I beseech your grace, Look on my wrongs with an indiherent eve • ^ou are my father, for methinks, in you * I see old Gaunt alive : O, then, mv father. \\ill you permit that I shall stand condemned P',;? T'"^'^ ''''"''''°"^^' "^y '•'•^J^ls and royalties r.ucked from my arms perforce, and given a^v To upstart unthrifts ? Wherefore was I bo •> IJ that my cousin king be King of Fn-'luid It must be granted I am Duke^of LannlsTer nZ vnnV f r' ^""^^'^'^' n^y "obie kinsman ; Ilad you first died, and he been thus (rod o„wn He should have found his uncle Gaunt a fa e?' Jo rouse hi.s wrongs and chase them to the bay I am denied to sue my livcrv here And^yet my letters-patents give me leave • --iv .iiiicr s goods are ail distrained and sold • Who, ^''''i ?"'* ''^l' ""'' "" •'^"^'■^s cmploveS ' ^^ hat would you have me do ? I am a subiect And challenge law. Attorneys are denied me! 37 KIXG RICTIARD II Act II Sciv And th(T.>f,)ri' porsonallv I Iny niy rlnim lo my ii'.li.Til;uico of fno di'si-fiii' (7/: \',f ^'""-^ y'l"- I'rncv upon, („ do h ., rii;Id. \Ullo. Rise nuMi l)y ii;s ondouincnts ;,it ,u;ui - .rrc-d i or/c My lords of l-n;'!.,,,!, I.l ,„,- idl yo . Us • I have had (ccUwa of my cousin's wion.^s ^ And laboured all 1 could to do liini vv-uC-' Rut in this kind to come, in l.ravinf/arn'is, Re his own carver, and cut out his way To hud out ri;4ht will, wrong,-it may not he • And you that do al.et him in this kind ' Cherish rebellion, and are rebels all Rut lor h,s own : and for the ri..^ht, of that VVe all have stron-ly sworn to give l.ini aid ; Ami let him ne er see joy that breaks that oalh I i ork Well well, 1 see the Issue of these arms • - I cannot mend it, I must needs confesv ' Because my power is weak and all ill left • Rut If 1 could, by him that gave me life ' I wou d attach you all, and make you sloop bnto the severe)- n mercv of Hie king • I^ut, since I cannot, be it known to voii 1 do remain as neuter. So. fare vou well -^ Lnless you please to enter in theV-sllc ' And there repose you for this ni-ht r,!!''!!"^- 'Y' '?*^''' ''"'''^' ll^'^t ^^ve" win accept. Rut we must win your grace to go with us ^ lo Rns ol ( astle, which, they say, is held Ry Rushy, Ragot, and their compli-es The caterpillars of the commonweaiih.' Which I have sworn to w.-ed and pluck away >vor friends, nor foes, to me welcome you arc • Inings past redress are now with me' past care. Exeunt ScKXK IV.— A Camp in Wales Enlcr S.vLisnuRY and a Captain An^h^rdK^l-'^''!;^' °^ Salishiry. we have stayed ten days Am hardly kept our countrymen together. ^ An 1 yet we hear no tidings from the king xherefore we will disperse ourselves: farewell T^>t ^^""yy^^/^^'^oih.r day. thou trustv \v' i-hmin • Tne kuig rests ail his conhdence in thee " ''•-'•^'^'" • Th T\, . '" ^^'""^'''' "•'-' ^'"^ is dead :' we will not stav The bay-trees in our country are all withered, ' " 38 Act III Sci KIM; WUAlAUl) U 'P, And niflcors fri'^lit llio fixtWl s'-iis of Jicr.vfn llic p;ilc faced riiooii looks I,),, .dy on \\u- «;.il' And k-:in-lookcd pro{)licts \vliisi)(T fciufiil rli; l.icli men look sad, and ruflians danc<- and ]r- I Iio one in fear to loser \v;iat (li^y enjoy, Tile other to enjoy hv rafv anrl war These sif,'ns forerun flie ri,,.,(i, or fall of kin". I-arewell : our count r\-!ii(n As well assured Hichard Sal Ah Pdeiiard, xvili, Mie eyes of heavy mind Isee thy glory liko a shoolin',' star, I'.'ill to the base earth from tiie lirui.'inenL • Hiy sun sets weeping in tiii^ lov.ly W( st vVilnessing storms to come, wo^-, and unrest • hy fn. nfis are Hed, to wait unon Ihv foes And crossly t thy good all L>nuiv- ^oes ' ■;one and Hed, (lieir king, is dear!. [f'til [li^it ACT TliiU'fi: Scene I.— Eolin-gi;;;,,k;:\s Camp at Bristol /•n/er BoLiNGHHOKK, Voi:::. XoHTH--,Bnnr.AND, Pr pry \\ii.i.oL-OHHv, l; s. ; 0///re,-,s Iwhind, with Pcsmy 'urd ^ Boliiuj. Bring forth tlicse men.— Bushy, and Green, I will not vex '.-opr soids Since presently your souls must part vour Lodies- \\ith too much urging your pernicious lives Tor t were no cliarity ; yet, to wash vour Llood I-rom oil my hands, here in the view of m^-n 1 will unfold some causes of vour deaths \ou have misled a prince, a'roval kin-^ A liappy gentleman in blood and lineaments L>y you unhappied and disfigured clean • lou have in manner with your sinful hours Made a divorce betwixt his queen and him, tsioKe the possession of a roval bed. And stained the beauty of a Ldr queen's cheeks xucu'"''"' "■''''■" ^""""^ ^"-'^ «^y^s J^v vour foul wron-s. Myself, a prince by fortune of mv blrf; ^''^^^^ Near to the king in blood, and nJar in love 1 111 you did make him misinterpret me Have stooped my nerl: under vour iniurie^. And sighed my Englisli breath in forfi^n ^in.-Jc i^almg the bitter bread of banishment"; """ \\hilst you have fed upon mv signories Disparked my parks, and felled my forest woods irom mine own windows torn my household coa!, 3 J KING RICHARD II Acini Scii l.a/od out my impress. I(«nvin« me no si^m ;>>:ivc men s opinions nnd my 11. .1^' blood,' loshow ll.o^vr>rld 1 innu{.rnll,n.,-.n. llus and i, more, mudi nion- l!ian twice ill ll.k (.ondemn .u to the dealh.-See IIumu deliv roi ' lo cxccuiu.n and the hand of death Tlv?n'!'^^• ^'"'V'''^"'""'' '' *''^' '^l'"'^^' of death to me Than l>ohn.L;l,roke to linj'Iand.-Lords. fare^vell \r!:. nT\ '■•■ ''•'"^"'"^ '■^- *''='^ Jl^'^'ven xvill lake our souls And plague injuslK-e uUh the pains of lull ' Baling. My Lord Xorlhumberlan.l, see them despatched [l:.vcu,it ^o^llnllnbt■^^an(t and others, with rncle. you say the cpuen is at your house f ' ""' ""''"" 1 u. God s sake, fauly let her be enlrealed : 111 her. I .send to her my kind conmiends : lake special care my t^reelin^'s be delivered Wi.h . ■<. -'.:""^'"'^'" uf mine 1 have despalched ^^]lh letters ot your love to her at lar-e holiiin. 'I'haiiks fiMiilo iiiir.i , /• '^ To h,ht^.ith Gt;io;u.^;;;r; s-compiicor^" '^''^^ ^"^^' Awhile to work, and after holi.Iay. ^ ' f^^,„^,^ Scene II.-The Coast of Wales. A Castle in view Flourish: drums and truniprlr,. Enter Krvr n,r„.r.^ tu K. Rich Barkloughly Castle call thev this at hand ? Auni.^^^^ ea. my good lord. How brooks your grace Ihe After late tossing on tlie breaking seas? A hich. Needs must I like it well : I weep for iov To stand upon my kingdom once aj^ain - ^ ^ ^' Dear earth. I do salute thee with my hand, Though rebels wound thee with their horses' hoofs • As a long parted mother with her child ' Plays fondly with her tears and sm;les in mcetin'^ So. w-ct pn.g, smiling, greet 1 thee, my earth °' And do thee favour with my roval hinds. Nor win ul ^°^-^^';^''-"'^fo^ ^y gentle earth. But . hV>' ''y'"^' ?'->f°^^ ^''^ ravenous sense ; But It thy spiders, that suck up thy venom And heavy gaited toads, lie in their w.ay Doing annoyance to the treacherous feet NNhich with usurninc stens u. .-uul M,,.,. "sfon... Prove ;,rmc-,J solfli-.-rs. ct. hor nrilivc ki>," Slinll faltiT un".■>. II -,111 >v Wit Ihcn thieves and robbers ranj,'e n!)ro,i! unseen. In miir.lers and in outra-i'- bioodv hrr.- • tuit wnen from under this tern strird b .;i He fires the proud tops of the eastern i.ines And darts his li,dU through every ,^^1; v ;,;,. Ihen murders, treasons, and detesli.! sfas ' Stand bare and naked, treml.lin- at themselves'^ ' bo when his thief, this traitor, irolin4rok' - " \\ho an fhis while hath revelled in the ^^^^^^ c, ' i ■'"' ^''':'^ ^vanderinJt ^vith th- Antipodes- Shah see us nsinj? in our throne, the east His treasons will sit blushin- in bis face' Not able to endure the si-ht of day V f ^;''^-;'^"-'^'i^i' p.de •' K. liirli. I Jill now, the l)Ioo(l of Lwcnlv tlionsand men Hid triumph in my face, and tiicy arc llVd ; And till so much blood thither conic a'^ain. Have 1 not reason to look ])alc anriki s At t!iy ^reat f;lory. — Look not lo Lhe v^round. ^ faviniriles of a Kin^ : ,.;e we not luuii v llii-li be our t!u)U;.'.!!ls. 1 know, mv uiKie York Hath [lower enough to serve our Lurn. LuL wi,o come here ".' Ea'cr Scnoop Scroop. More health and hanjuri. ss bclide mv i Tluiu can^ my c.ire-tuned tongue ikuver him : /v. Rich. Min." e;;r is o[)en. and mv 'leart pr-p' The worst is Wv>!ldly loss thou cansl unf,);!iv. "t was niv care • Anil what loss is it to be rid (if care V ' ' Strives Doliiigbroke to be .;S ureal as we ? (;re;!ter he shall not be ; if he serve Cod, \Ve"ll serve liim too. and be his fcHov,- so. Revolt our subjects ? that we cannot mend ; i liey break their faith to God. as well as us. < ly woe, liestrMclion. ruin. loss, decav ; ■i:;e worst is tleatii, and (ica;;i will iiave" his dav Sr»o;>. t'.la.i am 1. thai your iii-imess is so arm. lo i".';:r the Lidaigs of calamitv. 1 ike an U">-;,soiMi)!e slonuv dav \Vl,,ch makes the si:ver rixer; dr(r>vn their shores .-.s It t,ie world Were ail dissolved to tears, So high ahu\e his liudls swells tiie rage ^'f 1 >olii!g!iroke, covering your feariul land V.wi iMi-d i.iiKlil sLcei, and liearls harder than sie, i W li!!e beards have armed tiieir thin an.l ha r.e-s sc', A- Mii>l thv III I'esty ; liuys with Womens voi.HS S!ii\e lu speak L;-, and clap tiieir ieniaie joints 4J i-Se, irca IPS S.- ii Kf\Y, f'fr.ff -,[:[) /, :'":■■■' -ir'-iln-' f' v -.• '■■rf,--. '^'> I !. Aft rff Sr ii f'l '-'-in ;ii,- i-Mv Tl;y vrv li"-,fl..r,Kf, ir- ;;-,, |„ ., ,,, . ,,,, ,, ,^^^ , ^ •if flO'lMf r,it;il yew ,-!(f liri',' •':•,',;-. I . • 'wn. fli-,!-il!' '/.orr.'Ti mnti i '• r-ijv j, ;;.,' Ar;.'iinsf t,l,v %fui. ; |,„t|, voiirr- ,;,r| '„^ )' r,.i...i And fill rrocs u-ors- tli;,n f i,;,. ,• '.-, v^,- !-. n.iJ' A-. ///./,, Too v.T.||. u,n ".-li'-l.oi fr-,, .t' ', fv H Ik. ■(.,;,; M,f. f:nrl of Wi IK i,,pf. ■; ,.:,,^,.^ ,, ,^, , Wlinf i^ hfcoiTu- of i",i[sliv ■.' ^ 'irrr.'m ^r/r-',,' ' '' ': n;.f they Ii.-j,.-,: lot. |;,,. ,j .,,.„,,.., ^. , .. „,^. M<-r",ijrr- our rnuVu-\ \vj!ii vk ;, j,^ " f!- -p.,-, i fr '.V prf. . ii, fh*-ir ii-.'K.'s si,-,:i r, ,.,- f,-.^ ,,. ' '" ' I u.irr..nf. liir-V 'v,. m.^rlr- ;„.,.rr. '., ,| h I- ,{:..:<, -r,l..r. .>*;/■'>•>;/. i' ,.f f. |..',^f: t ; - •/ rr' ■ '.• lord. A'. y.'/V/;. O Viil'iips - :, fion : Do:"^, f-.c.:;.' Tvon fo fr;\vn on Snnkfs in my iifir' -hi,,o'l •>;frp .•.,'(" |'',.',f ^";„,. ,^,. , ., Ihrfr- ,f.ir]r,...c. f.;,r,i o n f ■ thrifv. vok- fh n'h :<" ' ' '''' ' > pon t.!,.-ir spolf-'i co.jl.; f^,,. i; :• r,r rr,- ' M-r^?^\. ''"'■'■' '"'"• f^'-'--^^n.i:;.I,;snron.:-fv. 1 i.rns to 'lu- -,0'irf':' rn -' --..• ^' .,,.',.'■. ■, ., ' \^!!:i hr-r.'Js, rtnd no'. -AiMi i.-i;;-- -'t; ,v - 'i' V'vr - r,- . HavefHt thn wors^. of r;,. .t ;■ , ,- Z t,.;'. „. :',;';' ^ V' ^ '•''-'^ •!'. ir.'! 'f :. r,iv ■'rio;if. r^-Ji...-)- A am. W n. nnd n.r- ! . :, . ,-,r sViiis i^f^ . t,KK Of Lrr^'.-.-s. of v-or-s. nn.] f-W':,,,:;^ • - ..*v'; d:js. oiir p:,p.':r. -nr] rx p ;^ r^,,^,. ;,,.,,, \^r;,o sorrow on ?;.-- b.- m of V.u^ r-r^n Lei 's rhoose fixer;:' r,r^ rin^l taik of n-j's • -\nd Vet r.'^r- so— f'.r -• n.if c--- w-- -rr^M .■"- ^::;V,; onr <:.-;. ::.;.-fl ,^,-,,;;os to !;ir> --ro 'Hf " f->n- I:i:r!s. our Ii- -s. and ai! :-r ; ;oiin'n-;r,-.v .'o Aivi noth.nj rw) -A- caii or;r ,.-> n bu-. j;. i:i':" ■ ' And tnai. sni :!; model of tl ■• Ic----^ r^n^h ror bod s s.ike. i.-L i.s <:f un, -i •-,. rr. ■ ^ l And tell sad sfories of ti- doath'of kin'^s"'-- How some Pavr- been depos-d. some si.i7n 'in n-^r ^o.ne nuur,..-- .jv the ,j:>-,s:s thev ha^ .- d^nrs-d Some poisoned by thdr wives, some sleepin; kd'.d All murdered :-:,.,r within the hollow rro'va i nnu rounds tl;- mortal temples of a k-- Keeps Death his coiirt, and 'there the antic sits. 43 in V :'ak KNG RICHARD II Act III Soil Srnmii'4 liis sf;ili« nnd Rrinninf! nf his pomp ; Allowiiif^' liiin :i broalli, n Ml lie snMu«. To inon;uTliiso. Uv fo:\ro(l. nnd kill wilh looks ; Iiifiisin':,' him willj self anrl vriin coticcil. As if this Ih'sh whicii walls ahout oiir lilo Were brass imprci;iiahl(> ; and humoured Ihiis, Conu's at the last, and wilh n lilllo pin Roros throu«!i iiis casl.c^ wall, and — fan-wol! kin;^ I Cover your lioads. ami mock not (Icsh and hlood ' NVilh sulcmn rcvfroncc ; throw away respect. Tradition, form, and ceremouioiis duly. For you have hut mistook me all this while : I live with hread like you, feel want, taste f^Vief, Need friends, Suhjeclcd llms, how can you say to mo, I am a kinn ? lUthop. My lord, wise men ne'er wail their prosonl woes I.ut presently prevent the wa\s to w;,il. To fear the foe. since fear opnresselli slrenmii, Ciives. in your weakness. slreii,:;th unto your r(»e, And so your follies lit^ht a.aainst yourself. Fear, and he slain ; no worse can com(> to fiRht : And flj^ht and die is deatli destrovint; death ; Where fearing dyiri^ pays «;ir tlic |;ii!(l tlKil jjatli .soiiii' liopc lo 'row'J 1-or I liiivc ri.xic. !.. t n,, man spr;,k an:, in 'lo ;illtr lliis, for rouiisci is |,iii v;.iii. Aum. My lii-o,., one v.or<]. A. n/rli. I,^. ,1,,,.^ ,j„, ,1,^1,;^,,. vvrou" 1 liat woiimls iiic wilii tlio l];ittcMc.s ol iiis Ir.fr'iif DisclKir-^'c my UAUnwrs : It t tliciii |. .■„(•.• jrv.'v iTuin liichurd'b i.i-ht to iiulinMbruki:'b lair day. [l-xeunt ScKNii III.— Wiiles. A Plain before Flint Castle J-iiter, with drum and colours, Bolingi.hokf. and Forces ■ \ouK, NoHTiiL-.MUKULAND, and others ' liolinq So that by this inteliij^once we learn. Tiie Welshmen are dispersed; and Salisbury Is {4one to meet the kin-,', who lately landed With some fpv private friends upon this coast. Aor//i T he news is very fair and «ood, my lord • Richard not far from hence hath hid his head Tm .Tv r-'^Tr",*'^ H"'''V *'"^ ^^'■^ Northumberland, 1 o say KiMf^ Richard :— alack, the heavy dav When such a sacred kinK should hide his head 1 ,,.^^''/^- , The time hath been, Would you have been so briei with him, he would Jiave been so brief with you to shorten you 1-or taking so the head, your whole head's length. Yow"^' T^^""^^ ''^^' ,"""'"• ^"''^"••'- ^1^^" yo" should. York. Take not, good cousin, furt!:er than you should Lest you mistake : the heavens are o'er your head ' T^ufit""^' • ^'iT': '^' ""'^'^' : ^"'1 I not oppose MNself against their will.— But who comes here ? Enter Peiicy Welcome, Harry : W'hat, will not this castle yield ? A^ ff'/'u ^''' f^'^'" '°y^"y ^^ manned, my lord. Against thy entrance. "^ ' noting. Royally ? Why, it contains no king ? It dS™„tato a king: KinjRiSdTaf '""• %\-::iiii the limits oi yond iime and stone '^."'J„)^''t^ him are the Lord Aumerle, Lord Salisbury Sir Stephen Scroop ; besides a clergyman ""^^"^^y* Of holy reverence, who, I cannot leafn A orth. O, belike it is the Bishop of Carlisle. 45 XIN'G RICHAI'.D II Act III Sciil IJolimj. [Tn N<)iiTi;iMiir.nL.\Nr).) Noble lord (.o lo Iho rudi- rihs of lliat ;ii:( ii-nt castle. 'Ihrouf^li bia/.on Iruiupit siiul tlio breath of parle Into his ri!i!i( (1 ears. And thus deliver: [Fenrv HoIid'Jhroko On both his knees dolli kiss Kin- liieiiards hand. And sends allot,'iaiiee and true laitli of heart To his most royal i)erson ; hither coiiie. Even at his feet to lay my arms and power, Provided that my banisiinient repealed. And lands restored aqain, be freely .-granted. If not, I'll use the advantaf^• of my puv, 't And lay the summers dust with slu)\vers of blood Hamed from the ^vouuds of slaughtered •Cm-lis^ine-i • The which, how far oil from tiie mind of IJolia^bioke ' It IS, such crimson temnest sIiokM bedreneh 'Ihe fresh green lap of fair Kinj; liicliard's land, My stoopiuf,' duty tenderlv shall show. Go, sitjnify as much, while here we march Upon the grassy carpet of this j)lain Let's march without the noise of threatening drum. Ihat from the castle's tattered battlements Our fair appointments may be well perused. Methinks King i'.iehard and myself should meet \Mlh no less terror than the elements Of lire and water, Avhen their thundering shock At meeting tears the cloudy elieeks of heaven. iW he the hre, I '11 be the vielding water • The rage be his, while on the earth I rain Aly wa'.ers,— on the earth and not on him March on, and mark King Richard how lie looks. A parle;j sounded and ai.swcrcd by another trumpet wulun Fluunsli. En'cr on the walls iCisv, Richaud, the Bishop of Caulisli., Aumhkle, Sciiuop, and ^ "^?'i?^:u ^i'f' ^''''' ^^''^" Txicliard doth himself appear. As doth the blushing discontented sun From out the liery portal of the cast. When he perceives the envious clouds are bent To d,ni his glory and to stain the track Of his bright passage lo the Occident. , Y''.'-': , ^'^^ l"^^'^ 'i^- I'k^ a l^ins : behold his eye. As bright as is the eagle's, lightens forth Com rolling majesty. Alack, alack, for woe. Ihat any harm should stain so fair a show I A. liicli [To Northumberland] We arc amazed: and thus long have we stood To watch the fearful bending of tliy knoo ''--"-use v;c thousht OMrself tl;y lav.ial king: Act III Sciil KING HICIIARD II And if we hv, how dnrc t!iy joints for/^et 'I'o pay their awful (hity to our i)reseiice ? If wc he not. stiow us llie hand of Cod That hath dismissed us from our stewardsiiip ; For well we know, no hand of hlood and bone Can f^ripe t!ie sacred handle of our sceptre, t'nlcss he ereit of friends, Yet know, my master, C.od omnipotent. Is mustering' in his clouds on our behalf Armies of pestilence ; and thev sliall slrike Your children yet unborn and unbef^ol. That lift your vassal hands aj^'airist my head. And threat the glory of my precious crown. Tell BolinRbroke, for yond, niethinks, he stands, That every stride he makes ui)on niv land Is dan.'^erous treason : he is come to o[)e The purple testament of bleedin;^ war ; Hut ere the crown he looks for live in pe::ce. Ten thousand bloody crowns of mothers' sons Shall ill become the nower of En[^land"s face, Change the comi)lexion of her maid-pale peace To scarlet indignation, and bedcAv Her pastures' grass with faithful Hnglish blood. North. The King of Heaven forbid our lord the kln« bhould so with civil and uncivil arms ° He rushed upon ! Thy thrice-noble cousin Harry Holingi^roke doth humbly kiss thy hand ; And by the honourable tomb he swears That stands upon your royal grandsirc's bones, And by the royalties of both your bloods. Currents that spring from one most gracious head. And by the buried hand of warlike Giiunt, And by the worth and honour of Idmself, Comprising all that may be sworn or said,— His coming hither hath no further scope. Than for his lineal royalties, and to beg Enfranchisement immediate on his knees : ^\hlch on thy royal party granted once, I lis glittering anrs he v.iil commend to rust. His barljed steeds to stables, and his heart 1 o faithful service of your majesty. This swears he, as he is a prince, is just : AiKi, as I am a genlleman, 1 credit him. K. Rich. Northumberland, say thus the king returns :- His noble cousin is right welcome hither ; And ail the number of his fair demands Shall be accomplished without contradiction. 47 KING RICllAUlJ II Act ill Sc iu With ull Itu' Kiiuioits ulti ranee Ihou hast, Speak to his gcnllc luaiiii^; kiml coiiiuuiuls.— {Sorllui.nbirirtil rciircs to l!.)lintf[)ruli, [To Aiinirrh\ \\\- do (k'[>ase ouisi-lf, coubia, do wc not, To look so poorly, and to spoak so fair V Sli::ll wo call back Norlliuiulicrland, and siiui Dcliancc to Uk' Irai'.or, and so dii- ? Atim. Nt), };ood my Lord : let's li;;ht willi unillr words. Till time loud IViiiids, and frii-iuls llu ir iKipful swoidh. A', liirli. O tiod, O God I that e'er this tongue ol inine, That laid the stiiUnee of dread banislnneut On yon i)roud man. should take it oil a^ain ^Vilil Nvor.ls of sooth ? O, that 1 were as great As is my uri( 1. or lesser than my name. Or that I could forj.et what I have been, Or not reuKiuber what I must be now I Swell'st Ihou, proud lieart? I'll give thee scope to heat. Since foes have scope to beat both thee and me. Aiim. Northumberland comes back from lJo!in;ibroke. h. Rich. What must the kin;4 do now V .Must he submit ? The kin;4 sliall do it. .Must he be deposed ? The liiiifi shall lie contented. Must he lose The name of kint; ? o' God's name, let it go : I'll give my jewels for a set of beads, My gorgeous palace for a hermitage. My gay apparel for an alms-man's gown, My figured goblets for a dish of wood. My sceptre lor a palmer's walking-stalT, My subjects for a pair of carved saints. And my large kingdom for a little grave, A little little grave, an obscure grave ; Or I 'II be buried in the king's highway. Some way of common trade, wiiere sui>jects' feet May hourly trami)le on their sovereign's head ; I'or on my heart they tread, now whilst I live. And buried once, why not upon mv head ? — Aumerle, thou wcepsl ; my tender-hearted cousin I — ^Ve '11 make foul weather with despisi-d tears ; Our sighs and they shall lodge the summer corn, And make a dearth in this rev-lling land. Or shall wc play the wantons wilh our woes. And make some pretty match with shed(!ing tears ? As thus ; -to drop them still upon one place. Till they have fretted us a pair of graves Within tlie earth ; and. therein laid.—" There lies Two kinsmen, digged their graves with wecuinL' eve': " V\ouid not tiK;, 1,1 do well ?— AVell, well, I sec I talk but i;i)rol\c iaVb -ay. ^ .\arlli. My lord, in llic l)asc tourflu' dolii attend To spiak uilli yuu ; ni..y 'si |)!iase you to roinr down ? /v. liicli. Down, down. 1 cunif ; lilvc ylislcrinii I'liaeton, Wanting tlie manage of unruly judes. Ill tin- Ikim- court V iJase court, where kind's grow base, '!(» come at traitors' callb. and do them pace. In the l)ase court ? Come down V Down, court 1 down, kin^: ! Lor night-owlb shriek where mounting larks sliouhi sinR. „ ,. [l^xcunl /com ubove Bolmfj. ^Vhal says his majesty ? ^'^''ll'- Sorrow and grief of heart ^^akes him s|)oak fondly, like a trantic man : Yet he is come. EnUr Kixa Ricuauo, and his Attendants, bcloiu nolinij. Stan but for mine own. A'. Rich. Your own is yours ; and 1 am vours, and all. Ilohnij. So far be mine, my most redouUed lord, As my true service shall deserve your love. A', liich. \Vell yuu deserve : they well deserve to have 1 hat know the slrong'st and surest way to get. — I ncie, give me your liand : nay, dry your eves ; Tears show their love, hut want their remedies. — Cousin, 1 am too young to be your lallier, 'I'hough you are old enough to be my heir. ^Vhat yuu will have, I'll give, and wUling too ; 1-or do we must what force will liave us do.— Set on tuwarlay at bowls. 4U •'s:: '■^^i^v!-^. ?^.->>; KING RICHARD II Act III Sc iv Queen. 'T will make me think the world is full of rubs, And that my fortune runs against the bias. First Lady. Madam, we'll dance. Queen. My legs can keep no measure in delight. When my poor heart no measure keeps in grief : Therefore, no dancing, girl ; some other sport. First Ladi]. Madam, we will tell talcs. Queen. Of sorrow, or of joy ? First Ladij. Of cither, madam. Queen. No, of neither, girl ; For if of joy, being altogether wanting. It doth remember me the more of sorrow ; Or if of grief, being altogether had. It adds more sorrow to my want of joy ; For what I have, I need not to repeat. And what I want, it boots not to complain. First Lady. Madam, I'll sing. „ Qiifen. 'T is well that thou hast cause : But thou shouldst please me better, wouldst thou weep. First Lady. I could weep, madam, would it do' vou good. ■^ Queen. And I could sing, would weeping do me good, And never borrow any tear of thee. But stay, here come the gardeners : Let 's step into the shadow of these trees. My wretchedness unto a row of pins, They'll talk of state ; for every one doth so Against a change : woe is forerun with woe. [Queen and Ladies retire Enter a Gardener and two Servants Gard. Go, bind tliou up yond dangling apricocks, \vhich, like unruly children, make their sire Stoop with oppression of their prodigal weight : Give some supportancc to the bending twigs.— ^ Go thou, and like an executioner Cut off the heads of too-fast-growing sprays. That look too loity in our commonwealth : All must be even in our government. — You thus employed, I will go root away The noisome weeds, that without profit suck The soil's fertility from wholesome flowers. First Scro. Why siiould we, in the compass of a pale Keep law, and form, and due proportion, ' Showing, as in a model, our lirm state. When our sea-walled garden, the whole land. Is full of weeds, her fairest flowers choked up. Her fruit-trees all unprsniof!, her hedges ruined Her knots disordered, and her wholesome herbs' Swarming with caterpillars ? 50 Act III Sc iv KING RICHARD II Gard. Hold thy peace. He that hath sutlered this disordered spring, Hath now himself met with the fall of leaf : The weeds that his broad-spreading leaves did shelter, That seemed in eating him to hold him up. Are plucked up, root and all, by Bolingbroke ; I mean, the Earl of Wiltshire, Bushy, Green. First Serv. What, are they dead ? Gard. They are ; and Bolingbroke Hath seized the wasteful king. — O, what pity is it That he hath not so trimmed and dressed his land As we this garden I We at time of year Do wound the bark, the skin of our fruit-trees, Lest, being over-proud in sap and blood, With too much riches it confound itself : Had he done so to great and growing men. They might have lived to bear, and he to taste. Their fruits of duty. All superfluous branches We lop away, that bearing boughs may live : Had he done so, himself had borne the crown, Wiiich waste of idle hours hath quite thrown down. First Serv. What, think you then, the king shall be deposed ? Gard. Depressed he is already ; and deposed, 'T is doubt, he will be. Letters came last night To a dear friend of the good Duke of York's, That tell black tidings. Queen. O, I am pressed to death through want of speaking. [Coming forw.u-d Thou, old Adam's likeness, set to dress this garden, How dares thy harsh-rude tongue sound this unpleasin« news ? ° What Eve, what serpent hath suggested thee To make a second fall of cursed man ? Why dost thou say King Richard is deposed ? Dar'st thou, thou little better thing than earth. Divine his downfall ? Say, where, when, and how Cam'st thou by these ill tidings ? Speak, thou wretcli. Gard. Pardon me, madam : little joy have I To breathe these news, yet what I say is true. King Richard, he is in the mighty hold Of Bolingbroke ; their fortunes both are weighed : In your lord's scale is nothing but himself. And some few vanities that make him light : But in the balance of great Bolingbroke, Besides himself, are all the English peers. And with that odds he weighs King Richard down. Jfost you Lo Loudon, and you'll find it so ; I speak no more than every one doth know. Queen. Nimble mischance that art so light of foot, 51 m.tim>LmM^m^^i; KING RICHARD H Act IV Sc i Doth not lliy embassage belong to mc, And am 1 last that knows it ? O, thou think'st lo serve me last, that I may longest keep Thy sorrow in my l)rcast.— C .me, ladies, go To meet at London London's king in woe. What I was 1 born to this, that my sad look Should grace the triumph of great Bolingbroke ?— (jardener, for telling me this news of woe. Pray God the plants thou graft'st may never grow. ., J ,. ,^ I f'^xeunt Queen and Ladies Gard Poor Queen I so that thy slate might be no worse, I would my skill were subject to thy curse — Here did she fall a tear ; here, in tids place, I 11 set a bank of rue, sour herb of grace ; Rue, even for ruth, here shortly shall be seen, In the remembrance of a weeping queen. [Exeunt ACT FOUR Scene I. — London. Westminster Hall The Lords Spiritual on the right side of the throne ; the Lords Temporal on the left ; the Commons below Enter Bolingbroke. Aumerle, Surrey, Northumber- land, Percy, Fitzwater, another Lord, the Bishop OF Carlisle, the Abbot of Westminster, and Attend- ants. Ofjicers behind, with Bagot Doling. Call forth Bagot.— Now, Bagot, freely speak thy mind. What thou dost know of noble Gloster's death, ^^^lo wrought it with the king, and who performed The bloody ofTice of his timeless end. Bagot. Then set before my face the Lord Aumerle. Baling. Cousin, stand forth, and look upon that man. Bagot. My Lord Aumerle, I know your daring tongue Scorns to unsay what once it hath delivered. In that dead time when Gloster's death was plotted I heard you say.—'- Is not my arm of length, ' That reacheth from the restful English court As far as Calais, to mine uncle's head ? " Amongst much other talk, that very time, I heard you say that you had rather refuse The offer of an hundred thousand crowns Than Bolingbroke's return to England ; Adding withal, how blest this land would be In this your cousin's death. \x'f'"i"^' u „ T . Princes, and noble lords, W hut answer shall I make to this base man ? ■■■^»v Act IV Sc I KING RICHARD 11 Shall I so much dishonour my fair stars, On equal terms to jjivc him chastisement ? Either I .nust, or have mine honour soihcl With the attainder of his slanderous lips. — There is my Rage, the manual seal of death, Thatmarks thee out for hell : I say, thou lirst, And will maintain \vhat thou hast snifl is false. In thy heart-blood, though brinf? all too b.';se To stain the temper of my kniqhllv sworrl. Doling. Bapot, forbear ; thou shalt not take it up. Aum. Excepting one, I would he were the best In all this presence that hath moved me so. Fitz. If that thy valour stand on svmpathies. There is my gage, Aumerle, in gage to Thine. By that fair sun which shows me where thou stand'st, I heard thee say, and vauntingly thou spak'st it, That thou wort cause of noble Gloster's death. If thou dcny'st it twenty times, thou licst ; And I will turn thy falsehood to thy heart. Where it was forg(''d, with my rapier's point. Aurr Thou dar'st not, coward, live to see that day. Fitz. Now, by my soul, I would It were this hour. Aum. Fitzwater, thou art damned to hell for tius. Perctj. Aumerle, thou liest ; his honour is as true In this appeal as thou art all unjust ; And, that thou art so, there I throw my page. To prove it on thee to the cxtremest point Of mortal breathing. Seize it, if thou dar'st. Avm. An if I do not may my hancls rot ofli And never brandish more revengeful steel Over the glittering helmet of my foe ! Lord. I task the earth to the"like, forsworn Aumerle ; And spur thee on with full as many lies As may be hoUa'd in thy treacherous car From sun to sun. There is my honour's pawn : Engage it to the trial, if thou dar'st". Aum. Who sets me else ? by Heaven, I'll throw at all. I have a thousand spirits in one breast. To answer twenty thousand such as you. Surrey. My Lord Fitzwater, I do remember well The very time Aumerle and you did talk. Fifz. 'T is very true : you were in presence then ; And you can witness with me, this is true. Siirreij. As false, by Heaven, as Heaven itself is true. Filz. Surrey, thou licst. Surrey. Dishonourable boy 1 That lie shnll lie so hcnvv on rv,-" sword That it shall render vengeance and revenge Till thou the lie-giver and that lie, do lie In earth as quiet as thy father's skull. 53 iX^^^^-^' KING RICHARD II Act IV Sc i In proof whfeof, there is my lionoiir's pawn : Engage it to the trial, if thou dnrst. Fitz. How fondly dost thou spur a forward horse I If I dare cat, or drink, or breathe, or live, I dare meet Surrey in a wilderness, And spit upon him, whilst I say, he lies. And lies, and lies. There is my bond of faith, To tie thee to my strong correction. As I intend to thrive in this new world, Aumcrle is guilty of my true appeal. Besides, I heard the banished Norfolk say. That thou, Aumerle, didst send two of thy men To execute the noble duke at Calais. Aum. Some honest Christian trust me with a gage. That Norfolk lies, here do 1 throw down this, If he may be repealed to try his honour. J^oUr.fj. Those dilTercnces sliall all rest uiidor gage, lill Norfolk be repealed : repealed he shall be. And, though mine enemy, restored i\<,::\[n, To all his lands and signorics ; when he's retunud Against Aumerle we will enforce his trial. ' Bishop. That honourable day shall no'cr be seen. Many a time hath banished Norfolk fought I'or Jesu Christ in glorious Christian field. Streaming the ensign of the Christian cross Against black pagans, Turks^ and Saracens ; And, toiled with works of .var, retired liiinseif To Italy, and there at Venice gave His body to that pleasant country's earth, And his pure soul unto his captain Christ. ' Under whose colours he had fought so long. Boling. Why, bisliop, is Norfolk dead '.'' Bishop. As surely as I live, my lord. r^r^f'"F- ,/?'f^^ P*^^*=^ conduct his sweet soul to the bosom Of good old Abraham 1 — Lords appellants, ^our diilerences shall all rest under gage Till we assign you to your days of trial. Enter York, attended York. Great Duke of Lancaster, I ccme to thoe From plume-plucked Richard, who with willing suul Adopts thee heir, and his high sceptre yields To the possession of thy royal hand. Ascend his throne, descending now from him And long live Henry, of that name the Fourth ! ^Jol'ng- In God's namo, 111 ascend the regal throne. ^^ Bishop. Marry, God forbid !— V\'orst in this royal presence may I speak Yet best beseeming me to speak the truth. \\ ould God, that any in this noble presence 64 Act IV Sc i KING RICHARD II Were enou.-i^h noble fo be uprifiht judge Of noble llichard : then true noblesse would Learn him forbearance from so foul a wronfi. What subject can give sentence on his kins •' And who sits here that is not Ricliard's subjccl ? 'ihicvcs are not judfjed, but they are by to hear, Although apparent guilt be seen in llicm ; And shall the figure of God's majesty, His captain, steward, deputy elect, Anointed, crowned, planted' nianv venrs, Be judged by subject and inferior breMth. And ho himself not present ? O, forfend it, God, That, in a Christian climate, souis refined Sliould show so heinous, black, obscene a deed ! I speak to subjects, and a subject speaks. Stirred up by God, thus boldly for his king. My Lord of Hereford here, whom vou call king, Is a foul traitor to proud Hereford's king ; And if you crown him, let me proj/iusv. The blood of English shall manure the' ground, And future ages groan for this foul act ; Peace shall go sleep with Turks and infidels, And in this scat of peace tumultuous wars Shall kin with kin and kind with kind confound ; Disorder, horror, fear, and mutiny, Shall here inhabit, and this land be called The field of Golgotha and dead men's skulls. O, if you raise this house against this house, It will the wofuUcst division prove. That ever fell upon this cursed earth. Prevent it, resist it, let it not be so, Lest child, child's children, cry against you— woe I / Bohng. Fetch hither Richard, that in common view He may surrender ; so we shall proceed Without suspiciun. ][^^!^- I ^^ill be his conduct. {Exit Holing. Lords, you that here are under our arrest Procure your sureties for your davs of answer.— ' [To the Bishop] Little are we beholding to your love And httle looked for at your helping hands. ' ."- Titer York, with King Rich\rd, and OfRcers bearing the crown, etc. K. Rich. Alack, why am I sent for to a king Before I have shook off the regal thoughts 65 KING RICHARD H Act rv Sc I Crve sorrow •,ea'vra;'h°;:'rCo7m?'' '"""^ ^ The'? to" sTf \h™ ^'^ ' "^" ■■™™'' Sacrcu slate. All pomp anrmSy Td^o Xr^s^^ ^^ ^^^- .' My manors, rents, revenues, I foTego / 56 M ) Act IV Sc i KING RICHARD II 1 My acts, decrees, and statutes, I denv • God pardon all oaths that are broke to me I God keep all vows unhroke, th/t swear^o thoi. f AnS'th^'nn '"-^i "?/'""§ "^^'^' ^vitl. nothing g?£ved And soon Ik; Richard in an earth y pU ' ?nH T^^^ lV"g Ilonry. unkinged hFo ard snvs Cv^'tror^?:.^';.^;;^^^'^^^ «^ --'^^- ^'y^^^i: SaSX^?;?^-fStiK If thy o lences were upon record, ""^^e^iand, ^Nould It not shame thee, in so fair a troon rhor?'^^ ^ 'f f "^'^ ^^ ^^'^"^ ? " thou wouldst There shouh St thou fmd one heinous iticle- Containina the deposing of a king '^^'^^^'— turu^^'^'n^ l^r '^^°"g ^•^^'-ant of an oath _ A„.i yet sa,. waUr'^HLTt.iljrio Tm'uS"™' "' ^ 5"t M'.'^y ."^iin so. a sort ot traitors here , r^ay It 1 turn nunc eyes upon myself I find myself a truitor vith the rest 10 un Was this the face that faced so many follies A brimo al '''^^S°""^<^ed by Bolingbroke? A britt e glory shineth in this face : As brittle as the glory is the face ; Mark, silent king, the moral of this sport How soon niy sorrow hath destroyed my face Thp'chl'f'' * Say that again, -nie shadow of my sorrow ? Hal let's see •- T IS very true, my grief lies all within • And these external nanners of lament' Are mere y shadows to the unseen grief That swells with si'ence in the tortured soul • Ihere lies the substance : and I thank theV km« For thy great bounty, that not on ly givit' ' ^' Me cause to wail, but teachest me the way ?nd th^f "^ '^' "^"^'^- I'" bee one boon, SlKdU obt^h? it"; "'" ^^^"'^^ y-"- — T'rL . T. • ^''"^^ '*' ^^'^ cousin. A. Rich. Fair cousin ' ? I am greater than a king : 58 T w^'t^iWmL Act V Sc i ^jmrn^^ii^-'M^ KING RICHARD II Boling. K. Rich. Holing. K. Rich. Boling. K. Rich. Yet ask. And sh;«ll I have it ? For, when I was a king my flatterers Were tlien but subjects ; beiii^t now a su!)icct I have a kiiif,' Iu'rt> to my nattcrer. ' Boin« so great, I have no need to hoc. liotinff. -' ' ^ K. Rich. You sliall. Why then, give me leave to ^'o. Whitlier ? Wliither you will, so I wore from your sii,'hts Go, some of you ; convev him to the Tower ^» f • *, ' ?"?'.' ■ ^^""^^'cy ?-<:onv(y(rs are you ail, Ihat rise thus nuTibly l)y a true l shouhl hard-f.ivoured Rriel bo lodged hi Ihec When trnuupii is become an nle-house «ucst •' tA;/!""''' ^'°'? .""^ ''■'^'' f'''"^^"^- ^■'''' \voman,"do not so, To make my end too sudden : lenrn, good soul, lo thmk our former stale a hai)nv dream • From which awaked, the truth of what we are Shows us but tins : I am sworn brother, sweet. To grim Necessity ; and he and I Tnl! Hn-P, "^ 'J?^'"': ^'" •'"''^^'•- ^ ^''^ t»>^e to France, And cloister thee in some religious house • Our holy lives must win a new worlds crown, ^\IncIl our profane hours here have stricken down. Queen. \\ hat is my Richard both in shaF.e and mind Transformed and weakened ? ilath lioiing broke ,1 H,osed T une intellect ? I lath he been in thy heart V '^'°'*''^ The hon, dying, thrustelh forth his paw, And wounds the earth, if nothing else, with rage To be o erpowered ; and wilt thou, pupil-like, Take thy correction mildly, kiss the rod And fawn on rage wit!i base humilily, NMiich art a lion and a king of beasts ? T i^"""//'^^'- '"^ '^•"° "^' beasls, indeed ;" if aught but beasts I had been still a happy king of men. ' Good sometime queen, prepare thee hence for France • Think I am dead, and thai even here thou tak'st * As from my death-bed, my last li ing leave In \yinter's tedious nights sit by the Ure \Vit!i good old folks, and lei them tell the tales Of woful ages long ago belid ; And ere Ihou bid good nigiit, to quit their grief, Tell thou the lamenlable fall of nu. And send the hearers weeping to tlu ir bods • for why the senseless brands will svmpathise The heavy accenl of thy moving ton"uc And in compassion weep the lire out''- And some will mourn in aslies, some coal-black. I'or the deposing of a rightful king. Enter Nortiiumberland, attended North. My lord, the mind of Bolingbroke is chinspr? • You must to Pomfret, not unto the TrX - ^ " And, madam, there is order ta'en for you • With all swift speed you must away to l-Yance A. Rich Northumberland, thou ladder wherewithal The mountmg Bolingbroke ascends my throne, CO Act V Sc I KING RICHARD II The time shall not be many hours of nj^e More than it is, ere foul sin R;iliu'iiiis head Shall break into corruption. Thou shiiit think, Though he divide the realm, and give thee half, It is too little, hilping him to all ; And he shall think that thou, which know'st the way To plant unrightful kinqs. wilt know again, Beinq ne'er so little urged, another w;:y To pluck him headlong from the usurped throne. The love of wicked frionindows spake So many greedy looks of younp and old Throu.Lih casern, nts darted their desiring eyes Upon Ills visaf-e ; and that all the walls With painted imagery had said at once,— ^xruM^^ preserve thee 1 welcome, Rolingl)rokc I " NNhilst he, from one side to the other lurnin" Rarcheaded, lower than his proud steed's nc^'k, Respake them thus,-" I thank you, countrymen:" And thus still doing, thus he passed along iJuch. Alas, poor Richard 1 >vliere rode he the whilst ? i orL: As in a theatre, the eyes of men, After a well-graced actor leaves the stage Are idly bent on him that enters next Thinking his prattle to be tedious ; ••ven so, or with much more contempt, men's eves Old scowl on Richard : no man cried. Cod save h.im : No joyful tongue gave him his welcome home : Rut dust was thrown upon his sacred head NVhich with such gentle sorrow he sliook oil His face still combating with tears and smiles, The badges of his grief and patience, Th!\/'''''l "°i ^°'^' f?'' '°'^^" ^^'■^'"S l>uri)osc-, steeled The hearts of men. hey must perforce have melted. And barbarism itself have pitied him But Heaven hath a hand in these events To whose high will we boui ,1 our calm contents. 10 Rolmgbroke are we sworn subjects now, VNhose state and honour 1 for aye allow. I)i.c7j. Here comes my son Aumerle. But That is lost for being Richard's frienT''^' *'^'' ''"' ' And, madam, you must call him Rutland n(«w. 62 Act V Sc ii KING RICHARD II I am In r):iriiamont pledge for liis Irulh And lasting fealty to the new-made king. Enter AuMEiiLE Ikich. Welcome, my son. Who arc the violols now. That strew the prcin lap of tlie new-come spring ? Aiim. Madam, I know not. nor I greatly care not; God knows. I had as lief be none, as one. York. Well, bear you well in this new spring of lime, Lest you be cropped before you ccnnc to i)rlme. What news from Oxford ? hohl those jousls and triumphs ? Auni. bor aujtiit 1 know, mv lord, Ibey do. York. You will be there. I know. Aum. If God j)revenL me nol, I i)urpose so. York. What seal is that, that hanj.'s without thy bosom ? Yea, look'sl thou pale ? let me see the writing. Aum. My lord, 't is nothifig. y^^fk. No matter then who sees it : I Will be satisfied, let me see the writing. / uin. I do beseech your grace to pardon me. II is a matter of small eonserjuence. Which for some reasons I would not have seen. York. Which for some reasons, sir, 1 mean to sec. I fear, I fear, — Diich. What should vou fear ? "r is nothing but some bond that he is entered into For g;iy apparel 'gainst the triumph day. York. Hound to himself ? what doth be with a bond That he is bound to ? Wife, thou art a fool.— Hoy, lot me see the writing. Aum. I do beseech you, pardon me : I may not show it. \ork. I will be satisfied : let me see it, 1 say. rr. , , , . . I -""nalclics it, and reads Treason I foul treason !— Villain 1 traitor ! slave I Duch. What is the matter, mv lord ? York. IIo I who is within there ? Enter a Seruant „ , - , . Raddle my horse. IjOcI for his mercy I what treaclierv is here ! Duch. Why, what is it, my loi d ? VorA-. Give me my boots, 'l say : saddle my horse.— XT . . , [Exit Scnant Now, by mine honour, by my life, mv troth, I vill appeach the villain. -^^'^ WhP^t's the matter ? York. Peace, foolish woman. Duch. I will not peace.— What is the matter. Aumerle ? Aum. Good mother, be content : it is no mere Than my poor life must answ er. 63 .^■^:;:.^£ KING RICHARD II Act V Sc iii Duch. York. Thy life answer ? Bring me my boots ; I will unto the king. Re-enter Servant, with boots him, Aumerle.— Poor boy, thou art Duch. Strike amazed,— Hence, villain : never more come in my sight. V , r^. ,^ , [Exit Servant York. Give me my boots, I say. Duch. Why, York, what wilt thou do ? Wilt thou not hide the trespass of thine own ? Have we more sons, or are we like to have ? Is not my teeming date drunk up with time, And wilt thou pluck my fair son from mine age, And rob me of a hnppy mother's name ? Is he not like thee ? is he not thine own ? York. Thou fond, mad woman. Wilt thou conceal this dark conspiracy ? A dozen of them here have ta'en the sacrament. And interchangeably set down their hands To kill the king at Oxford. ,^.^.'.";^- ... ^« shall be non We 11 keep him here : then, what is that to him / York. Away, fond woman 1 were he twenty times My son, I would appeach him. A "^t".^' . Hadst thou groaned for him. As I have done, thou 'dst be more pitiful. But now I know thy mind ; thou dost suspect That I have been disloyal to thy bed ; And that he is a bastard, not thy son.' Sweet York, sweet husband, be not of that mind j He is as like tliee as a man mny be. Not like to me, nor any of my kin, And yet I love him. ^°''^' *« . Make way, unruly woman 1 [Exit Duch. After, Aumerle I Mount thee upon his horse • Spur, post, and get before him to the kin-/. And beg thy pardon ere he do accuse thee. I '11 not be long behind ; though I be old, I doubt not but to ride as fast as York : And never will I rise up from the ground. Till Bolingbroke have pardoned thee. Away 1 be gone. [Exeunt Scene III.— Windsor A Room in the Castle Enter Bolingbuoke as King ; PEncv, and other Lords .-r^^^/",?-..^^'''" "^ ^"'^^ *^" ^^ °^ T^y unthrifly son ? T is full three months since I did see him lust If any plague hang over us, 't is he. 64 mm Act V Sc iii KING RICHARD II I would to God, my lords, he might be found : Inquire at London, 'monsst the taverns there, For there, they say, he daily doth frequent, With unconstrained loose companions, Even such, they say, as stand in narrow lanes And beat our watch and rob our passengers ; While he, young wanton, and effeminate boy. Takes on the point of honour, to support So dissolute a crew. Percy. My lord, some two days since I saw the prince, And told him of these triumphs held at Oxford. Doling. And what said the gallant ? Percy. His answer was, — he would unto the stews. And from the common'st creature pluck a glove. And wear it as a favour ; and with that He would unhorse the lustiest challenger. Baling. As dissolute as desperate ; yet through both I see some sparkles of a belter hope. Which elder days may happily bring forth. — But who comes here ? i your Enter Aumerle Aum. Where is the king ? Baling. Wiiat means Our cousin, that he stares and looks so wildly ? Aum. God save your grace. I do beseech majesty. To have some conference with your grace alone. Baling. Withdraw yourselves, and leave us here alone.— .-^^ . [Exeunt Percy and Lord!? vVhat IS the matter with our cousin now ? Aum. For ever may my knees grow to the earth, »r X . [Kneels -My tongue cleave to my roof within my mouth. Unless a pardon ere I rise or speak. Baling. Intended or committed was this fault ? If on the first, how heinous e'er it be. To win thy aftor-love, 1 pardon thee. Aum. Then give me leave that I may turn the key, That no man eiiler till my tale be done. Baling. Have thy desire. ,, , ,„,. . [Aumerle locks the door iorAr. [Within] My liege, beware 1 look to thyself: Thou hast a traitor in thy presence there. Baling. Villain, I'll make thee safe. [Drawing Aum. Stay thy revcngeiui hand : thou hast no cause to fear. York. [Wilhin] Open the door, secure, fool-hardy ft • "^ king: 38 — 65 KING RICHARD II Shall 1 for love speak treason to thy face ? Open the door, or I will break it open. [liolingbroke unlocks the door. ActV Sciii \gbroke unlocks the door, and a/lerwards l.cht il again Enter York Boling. What is the matter, uncle ? speak • Recover breath : tell us how nei-.r is dan-'er That we may arm us to encounler it. York. Peruse this wrihr.^ liere, and thou shalt know i he treason thai my haste forbids me show Aum. Remember, as thou reaii'st, Ihy promise nast • I do repent me ; read not my name there ; ^ ' My heart is not confederate with my hand \ork 'T was. Mllain, ere tiiy hand did'sct it down - I tore It from the traitor's bosom, kin" ■ I-ear, and not love, begets his penitenc'e. tor.aet to pity him, lest thy pity prove A serpent that will stint? thee to'the heart n /^'"'".'•i' M^ ^^^'i"0"s, strong, and bold conspiracy I— O loyal father of a treacherous son I ^ Thou sheer, immaculate, and silver foimtain 1-rom >vhence this stream throu.yli nuuldv Dassa'^es UM\ held his current, and defiled hhiiseli ! ihy overllow of good converts to l,i,A ■ And thy abundant goodness shall excuse llus (u-adly blot in thy digressing son \ork. So shall my virtue be his vice's bawd, V"V, •'/.''•'^'^ spend mine honour with Ids slvmic As t!n-iltless sons their scraping father:,' .'old • ' Mme honour lives when his dishonour dil's ' Or my shamed life in his dishonour lies • ' ;i hou lull'st me in his life ; giving him breath, ihe traitor lives, the true man's put to d-ith ^""tl me'in.'"^ ^^'^'^'' ^''^ ' "'^' "^SeVlor God's sake ^'''^' crv '>^*'"^ shrill-voiced suppliant makes this ea-er Duck. A woman, and thine aunt, great kin" • 't is T Speak with me, pity me, open the door • ° ' A be,'gar be-s that never begged before. Bolmj. Our scene is altered from a serious thin" And now changed to " The Beggar a..d the King."-' ;\l> dauL^crous cousin, let your mother in • I knoNV she 's conic to pray for your foul sin. .. ^"'''i' Y ^^'"." ''" V^rdon, whosoever pray. .More sins for this forgiveness prosper m-.y. Ihis festered joint cut oil, the rest rests sound : 1 las. let alone, will all tiie rest confound. GO J Act V Sc iii KING RICHARD II i Enter Duchess Duch. O king believe not this hard-hearted man • Love, lovin« not itself, none other can. ^ih/i^n" T'l"," ^'■•»"^''= woman, what dost thou make here ? Sh dl thy old dugs once more a traitor rear '^ Duch. Sweet York, he patient. Hear me, gentle liege. noHng. Rise up, good aunt. [Kneels Forever will I walk upon my knoes'"' ^'"'' ^ "*'' ^'''''^' '' And never see day that the happy sees, J dl thou give joy ; until thou bid me joy, Ly pardoning Ilutiand, my transgressing boy Aum. Unto my mother's prayers 1 bend my knee. York. Against them both my true joints bended^bcf^^^ 111 may'st thou thrive, if thou grant any grace 1 ^^^""'^^^ puck. Pleads he in earnest ? look upon his f His eyes do drop no tears, his prayers are jest • His words come from his mouth, ours from our breast • 1 le prays but famtly, and would be denied ; ' ^^e pray with heart, and soul, and all beside : His weary joints would gladly rise, I know • Our knees shall kneel fill to the ground they grow • His prayers are full of false hypocrisy ; (•urs of true zeal and deep integrity Our prayers do out-pray his ; then let them have that mercy which true prayers ought to have Boling. Go?d aunt, stand up. n.'?"f^'' J „ ^ ^^y* ~^ M Act V Sc vl KING RICHARD II Keep. My lord, I dare not : Sir Pierce of Exion, Wlio late cnmc from tlic kin}„% commands the contrary. K. liicli. The devil laivc Ilenry of Lancaster, imd IIkh I Patience is stale, and I am weary of it. [Heals the Keeper Keep. Help, lielp, help 1 Enter Sm Pierce of Exton, and Servants, armed K. Rich. How now I what means death in this rude assault ? Villain, thine own hand yields thy death's instrument. [Snatching a weapon, and Ixilling one Go thou, and fill another room in hell. [ fie kills another : then Kxton strikes him down That hand shall burn in never-quenching lire, That stafif^'crs thus my person. — Exton, t!iy fierce hand Hath with the king's b!ooii!g afici this untimely bier. [Exeunt 72 ■ ;W1V«ii M^'^^^^'W^i^;^-^ itiS .',Tl-#W > :'fS vl THE TRAGEDY OF KING RICHARD THE TPIIRD 73 mmdi..'. .^He '^^ DRAMA nS PERSOX/E Krxo EnwAnn thf, Fouuth EowAun. J'rtnce of Wales, afterwanli King Edward V ^ ,„^ f„ tj,„ RiCHAKD, Duke of Ycrk } 7;,,,^ GrroROK, Duke of Clarenci ^ 1 Ric lARD. Duke of Gloater, afterwards King Richard I!! (to the King A I/O mg eon of Clarenoe n-i^ iY, Earl of Richmond, afterwards King Henry VH Ca.idinal BociiicmiCB, Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Rotheuham, Archhi.thop of York John Morton, Ui.- f.oRD HvsTixas Lord Stanley Loun Lo\n:L Sir RicfARP Ratcuff Sir Jami:s Tyjuiul Sir Thomas Vauohav ^JIB ^\■I^UA^I Catesqy Sir James Blount Sir Walter Herhert Sir RonEiiT JJivvkkvbuiiy, Lieutenant of the Tower CHRtSToriiizR Urswicic, a priest. Another Prictt Trf.s.sel find Berkeley, attending on Lady Anne Lord Mayor of London. Sht.iffof Wiltshire ELiZAnr:Tn, queen to King Edward IV 3.T.VUOARET, tfidow of King Henry VI Duchess of York, mother to King Edward IV Lai>v Anne, uidow of Edward, Prince of Wales, son to Kinn Henr» VI, afterwards married to Richard ' A young Daughter of Ckirence (Marqaret Plantaqexet) Gho.t. of U^.se mnra^r-M by RieharJ III., Lords, an,! ..tl.or Atton(Lmts;u Pursuivant, Scrivenor. Citizens, Murd-rors. Messengers, Soh.ii.Td, etc. ' SCENK.— England 74 ^j^i^s^sek T ,m^rM::M.-M.^ i THE TRAGEDY OF KING RICHARD THE THIRD ACT ONE Scene I.— London. A Street /in/cr Richard, Duke of Glostkh, sohis GJx Now Is the winter of our discontent Made filorious summer by tills sun of York ; And nil the clouds that loured upon our house In the deep bosom of the ocean buried. Now are our brow s bound with victorious wreaths • Our bruiscid arms hung up for monuments ; Our stern alarums changed to merry meetin"s. Our dreadful marches to delightful measures? ' Grim-visaged War hath smoothed his wTiiikled front • And now, instead of mounting bai bdd steeds To fright the souls .f fearful adversaries, He capers nimbly in a lady's chamber To the lascivious pleasing of a lute. But I, that am not shaped for sportive tricks. Nor made to cot rt an amorous looking-gljiss'; I, that am rudely stamped, and want love's majrstv To strut before a wanton ambling nymph ; I, that am curtailed of this fair proportion, Cheated of feature by dissembling nnlure, Deformed, unfinished, sent before my tune Into this breathing world, scarce half made up. And that so lamely and unfasluonable That dogs bark at me as I halt by them ; — Vvhy, I, in this weak piping* time of peace. Have no delight to pass away the time, Unless lo spy my <=hadow in the sun And descant on i me own deformity : And therefore, since I cannot prove a lover To entertain these fair well-spoken days, ' I am determined to prove a villain And hate the idle plensures of these days. Plots have I laid, inductions dangerous, By drunken prophecies, libels and dreams, To set my br-^Uicr Clarence and the king In deadly hate the one against the other : And if King Edward be as true and just As I am subtle, false and treacherous, This day should Clarence closely be mewed un About a prophecy, which says that G ' 75 ;;:srtfMUT:r jtmijjJt KING RICIIAHD HI Act I l:c I Of ridward's heirs the murdiiiT shall be. — Uivo, llioiijilils. [)oijileLl This con(hict to convey me to the Tower. (ilo. I i)on what cause ? Clar. necausc my name Is George. Glo. Alack, my lord, that fault is none of yours ; He should, for that, commit your Koio i^iood dwells : 1 hy dcH-d, inhuman and unnatural, 1 rovokcs this delut^c most unnatural.— O Cod uhjch this blood niad'st, revenge his death ' O ciu-th. which this blood drink'st, revfn." Ids denU, ' of .'.'.H ''^'''" '^''^ li«l'tnln« strike the mirdtrcr utad Or « rlh cape open wide, and eat him quick. ' ^^.llch h s hell-govcrncd arm hath butchered I w. • , .''-^' ^'"" '^""^v "** rules of charily ^n/jc. \dlain, thou know'st no law of God nor m5»n • No beast so berce but knows some touch of pUy' ™^" ' A } ^ '^""^^' ^^^^' ""^ therefore am no beast rr\^? ^vonderful when devils tell Z ?ruth1 ' 6/0 More xvonderful, when angels are so anurv V.uchsale, divine perfection af a woman, ^^ 1 these siipiHJscd evils to give me leave l3y circumstanee but to acquit myself For n"'' ."^ ""'■'"*^^^"' dt-fused infection'of a man. For Ihese known cviis, but to give me leave, liv «ircuinslance, to curse thv cursed self Olo. Wurer than tongue can name thee, let me havP Some patient leisure to excuse myself ^ Anne. I'ouler llian heart can think thee thou cin^f m-^i-.. No excuse curnnt. but to hang thyself "'^™'*^'' Olo. By such (h-spair. I should accuse myself n,u ',"a„ , h..y :,re. and, ^..i^SHli^il^Vf'Zr ""' ^''' ■ Olo. 1 did not kill your husband Anne. ,,., ,, . , ^lo. Nay. he is dead ; and slain bv^ IK^a^^ tluf"''" Anne. In thy foul throat thou liest : Queeru irS sau I l^vhiH Tr"' '"^^'^''r ^'""'^•"f^ '" his blood" '"'' But that thy brothers beat aside the point. ' Whirl, I • Tl? P'""'"'^^'^* ^y her slanderous ton-ue, \/i/" • I '"'." \vast provoked by thv bloody mind \\hich never dre.mt on aught bul butchciks- Didst thou not kill this king V -^'»-'i^s» • (jIo. J . ^nnc. Dost grant me, hedgehog /thenTbod L.r:,nt n,... f o.^ ms^mr^mm^mt. Act I do. Anne. do. Anne. do. I - Scii j^Ij^^Q RICHARD III Thou mayst be damned for that wicked deed I— O, he was gentle, mild, and virtuous I \nn. "^ w ''•"•'■ '."*' '''^ ^^*"« "^ h'^^ven, that hath him. t?o jIV^ 'n ^'r'"' '^'''■^'■^ ^hou shall never come do. Let hun thank me. that holp to send him tnither tor he was liticr for that place than earth ' ^i/m. 1 have already. e ^'^'\' .. . Tush, that was in thy ra"e • Speak It a.yinn. and, even with the word ° ' This hand, which for tiiy love did kill thy love. .)lin!i lor thy love kill a far trmr love : To both their deaths shait thou be acccsiary Anne. 1 would 1 knew tliy lic;iit. b2 vmskw Act I Sc ii KING RICHARD HI Glo. T is figured in my tongue. i^/"^^*mJ ^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ are false. Olo. Tlicn never man was true. Anne Well, veil, put up your sword. IL ^^i *^^^ "^y P^^'^e is made. r/n n ^ "!' M*"?' y^'^ '^now hereafter. G/o. But shall I live in hope ? Anne All men, I hope, live so. o/o. Vouchsafe to wear this rinc Anne. To take is not to give E^^nsoJj^^^a^I^Ji^^ Wear both of them, for both of them are thine Rnfhii^y P^' ^'^'^^^^ suppliant may But beg one favour at thy gracious hand And presently repau- to Crosby Place ' Where, after I have solemnly interred vL '■f f ^ monastery this noble king, i Si'l'w f I".f '''■' V^^' ^"y '•epentant tears, 1 VMil \Mth all expedient duty see you • Tote y„;™',;lre '^^^'^^^ ■"-" " i°^^ "- t«o. Ilcssol and Berkeley, go along xvili, me. ow. Bid mc farewell. liufsh^ce you teach me ho'w lonaTt'.; you''"" '""^'^ ' Imaguic 1 have said farcNvell already Glo. Sirs, take'uiX'c^^? ''"''''' ^--'' -^ ^-^'/^y gS'- No, to Whitefriars ;"?K^:^;S^?:;^'m!r^^ ^ Was ever woman in tlu. humour woo'd ?'""' ''''•' '"'' '''"'"' Was ever woman in this humour won ? \v f 't 'I';'" '~^"t I will not keep her Ion" What I , that killed her Imsband and 1 is Au.- r ^^^tlw.M^'' •" I''' '''-''''' ^-^I'-^-nH'st hate ' \\ tl cui.es m her mouth, tears in her eyes 1 iic bleeding witness of her hatred by • ' Haynig (io.l, her eonseience, and tliese'hir^; ■„ i. ^ A.u! 1 no thing to D.ck my suit witlKd *'^"""' ="'*' ikiL the piam devil and dissembling looks And yet to win her. -nil the w-v'-t i r - ^. • , •».•? ^.S&^i^l^K'Js Acl I Sc U; KING RICHARD III Hath she forgot ah-oadv that brave prince lMl\v;.ril her Jurd, whom I, some tliroe months since. blabbed m niy anc;ry mood at Tewksbury ? A swcL'ltT and a h)velirr f'pniloman, framed in the prodi^'alily of nature, Young, valiant, wise, and, no dou!)t. rir^ht royal J he spacjous world cannot again nllord • ' And will she yet debase her eyes on me ' That cropped the gohlen prime of this sweet prince And made her widow to a woful bed ? ' On me, whose all not equals Edward's moiety 1 On me, that halt and am uushopen thus ? ' My dukedom to a begparlv denier, I do mistake my person all this while : Lpon my life, she linds, although I cannot, I^lyself to be a marvellous proper man I '11 be at charges for a looking-glass. And entertain some score or two of tailors To study fashions to adorn niv bodv : Since 1 am crejit in favour with myltlf, I will maintain it with some little cost. ' liut first I '11 turn yon fellow in his grave; And then return lamenting to my love ' Shine out, fair sun, till I have bought 'a glass, that 1 may see my sliadow as 1 pass. [Exit Scene III.— The Palace I^nler Queen Elizaueth, Loud Rivers, and Lord Grey lUv. Have patience, madam : there 's no doubt his majesty "uut ui^ Will soon recover his accustomed health Grcj. In that you brook it ill, it makes him worse : Therefore, for God's sake, entertain good comfort Ami cheer his ^lace with quick and mcrrv words' y, X^ ^^ }^*^ ^'•■^■^■'' *''^'*^'' ^^''^"^ NvoukrbLliilc of me '' uii>. No other harm but loss of such a lord Q. L/jr. The loss of such a lord includes ail harm Ore,;. 1 MO heavens have blessed you with a goodly son To be your couilurter when he is gone. Q. Lit:. Oh, be is young, and his minority is put unto the trust of lliehard Gloster, A man tliat lovi-s not me, nor none of you Jiw. Is it conciiHled he shall be prr.tect'or ? Q. Lliz. l[ IS (iitnniiiied, not concluded vet • Bulsoitmuslbc, if the king miscarry. " L'nter Duckingua.m tind :, wli-.v Grey. Here como the lords uf iiueknmiiam and Stanh-v. Buck. Gu(;J 1. "■'J 84 Act I Sc iii KING RICHARD III n rhr Th '!}"^'^« yo"[ malosty joyful ns you have been ! T«;/ ^h*^ Countess nichm.mrl,.oo(lmvLoidof Stanley To your «oo.i prayers >viil scarctiy say a.nen. ^' yi, Stanley, notwithstanding she 's your '.\ife Ami loves not me, be you, good lord, assured 1 Hate not you for her proud arroc?anc<>. .S7on. I do beseech you, either' not believe 1 he envious slanders of her false accusers ; Or, If she be accused in true report, Bear %vith her weakness, whici., I think, proceeds iTom wayward sickness, and no Rroun.ied malice. Stan. But now the Duke of Buckingham and i Are come from visitinj? his majesty. Q. E/zz. What likelihood of his amendment, lords ? Buck Madam, jTood hope ; his ^ace speaks cheerfully. Q. biz. God grant him health ! Did you confer with him? mick Ay madam : he desires to make atonement Retwixt the Duke of Gloster and vour brothers, And betwixt them and my lord chainluTiain : And sent to warn them to his royal presence (). Eli:. Would all were well 1-but that wdl never be- I fear our happiness is at the height. Enler Gloster, Hastings, and Dorset Gh. They do me VTong. and I will not endure t : Who are they that complain unto the king That I, forsitoUi. am stern and love Iheni not ? By holy Paul, tiiey love his grace but ligiiily That h.I his ears v.ith such dissentious rumours. liccause I cannot ilalLcr and speak fair. Smile in mens faces, smooth, dereive ami co" Duck with French nods and apish courtesy, I must be held a rancorous enemy. Cannot a plain man live and tiiink no harm But thus his simi)le truth must be abuse*! ' By silkon, sly, insinuating Jacks ? Tiio. To whom in ail tliis presence spc.-.ks vour ^vnce "> -.r, ''o*'^^^*'' '^■"^itliasl nor honesty nor Kiao ° When have I injured thee ? when done thee wrong ? Or tnee ? or thee ? or any of your taction ? A plague upon you all I His royal person — \\liom God pr-. serve boUer Mian vou would wish I— (.annof be (piiet scarce a bre.idung-whi'e Biit you must trouble him with lewd cuniplaints T. ■/•'"■ J;''"'^'^'' "^ Gloster. you mistake the iuatter. 1 he king, of his own royal disposiiion, Afi'"" ^^^''-^ "ot the cause n ^^ ^^r^ Hastings' late imprisonment. Riv. She may, my lord, for— Glo. She may. Lord Rivers I why, who knows not so ? She may do more, sir, than denying tlu-t • She may help you to many fair preferments. And then deny her aitling hand therein And lay those honours on your high deserts I. ^^ hat, marry, may she? Gin What, marry, may she I marry with a king A bachelor, a handsome striolin't too • I WIS your gran«lani had a worscr match Q. hltz. I\Iy Lord of Gloster, I have too Ion" borne \our blunt uphraidings and your bitter scoffs •" By heaven. I will acquaint his inajestv With those gross taunts 1 often iiave endured. 1 naa rather be a country servant-maid Than a great queen, with this condition, 1o be thus taunted, scorned, and stormed at : L:nier Quekn IMaugaret, behind Small joy have I in being England's queen. Q. Mar. [Aside] And lessened be that lieseech tlu's • Thy honour, state and seat is due to me.— 86 small, God. I ^^^^ S^'" KING RICHARD III T«n'^*. ^'^^^.^ ' ^^^""^^ y°" ^^ ^'^'^ tt-lllng of the kinR ? Tell him. and spare not : look, whnt I have said 1 will avouch in presence of the king : I dare adventure to be sent to the Tower. T IS time to speak,- my pains are quite forpot.— Thn., 1 . '^"''1' ^{"t''levill I remember them too well: Thou slew'st my husband Henry in the Tower, And bdward, my poor son. at Tcwksbury — T tvi^o ^■'■'i ^,"" ^v^.'"^^"^^n. yea. or your husband king. I was a pack-horse in bis Rreat affairs ; A wccder-out of his proud adversaries,' A liberal rcwnrdtT of his friends • To roynlisc iiis I)lood I spilt mine own.— ^OT'''ihh'^"''^^ ^^' ""'^ "^"'^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^'°°^ ^^^" ^'"^ Gh Tn all which timo you and your husband Grcv Were faclioiis for tiie house of Lancaster • And Rivers so were you. W;is nol your husband In Marparel's battle at Saint Alban's slain ? T-rt mo put in your minds, if you forpcf xJn^ >'"" 'lave heen ere now. and what vou are ; Willial, what I have been, and what I am - Q-^lar. [Aside] Amurderousvillain.and so .sfilUhouart. - • Olo. Poor ClaroMco did forsiiko his fafhor. Warwick • /!' L""^ forswore himself.-v Inch Josu pardon !- ' Q. Mar. \Asi(h'] Which God revt'n"(« ' - Glo To fight on Edward's parly for the crown • And for his meed, poor lord, ho is mowed up I won d to God my heart wore flint, like Edward's; Or I-.dward s soft and i)i!iful. like mine • 1 am too childisli-foolisli for this world — Thou cacodcnion I There thy kingdom is w, •"^' , ^''' ^''"■'' ^^ <''oster, in those busv days \\hich here you urge to prove us enemie.s \\c followed then our lord, our lawful kint • So should we you, if you should be our lung " Glo. If I st-.ould be I I had rather be a nodiir • n r, ^°"^ "'^' '^''''^'■^' ^'^^ thought of it I (J. /^/ir As ill tie joy, my lord, as von suppose A t^-A, "'^ ^"'«y- ^vere you this rounvliile thou liv'st And take deep traitors for thy dearest friends 1 ' No sleep close ni> that dcidiv eye of thine An '^w'^ ^? ^^''''''* ^"'"'^' 'o^nlf^Jitin^' dream AHnghts thee with a hell of ui^Iy devils I hou elvish-marke.l, abortive, rooting hog I I iiou that ^vast sealed in thv nativity 1 he slave of nat;ire and the" son of hell ! Jhou slander of Ihy mother's heaw womb I Ihou loathed issue of thy father's loins 1 Thou rag of honour I thou detested— • Glo. Margaret. Q. Mar. Richard I Th^^i^h'^V:"^^ T'^'y ^^-' '«^ I hljfho'u'ght^''- n uVr ^'"i^ "''"'*! "'^ •'^" ^»>^'^« ^^'^^^- "anus Q. Mar. ^Vhy, so I did ; but looked for no renlv O, let me make the period to my curse 1 ^^ * O Fli^ 'Vh""'"/'-'' "'"'' """^ *''"^^ '" "Margaret." yourself"' '''' ^'^" ^'■'^"'^'^^ your 'curse against Vhx/.^ n.w'.VT ^''''"^-'^ '^"''"' '^'•'^'" "«""sh of my fortune ! vy strew St thou sugar on that bottled spider ^\ hnsc deadly web cnsnareth thee about «> r?u\ ^""".,;'^0" ^vhefst a knife to kill Ibyself. lo h'.n n''"'^ come when thou shall wish for me in J r , '^""^.^'"^t poisonous buneh-baeked toad y/as/ Palse-boding woman, end thv frantic cuise Lest to thy banu thou move our patiehel' ' liiv %. r vl "'''"":; "''"" ^'*'"' y"'' '•^^•♦^ «» moved nu-ne duty. ^ '''" '''''''^' ^■"'' ^^"^'^ ^'^ ^^^"^"'t ""ur nv,^:, ^^'"■- 7° ^'''■^'^ "'^ '•''*^"' >■«" ^^ Should do me d-. - Wn me to bo vuur queen, and you my subjects • "' O. seive me well, and teach yourselves that duty i 8;^ m*^ osing huurs. Makes tlic night morning, and the noon-tide night Prmces have but their titles for their glories. An outward honour for an inward toil ; And, for unfelt imaginations, 93 .^S'A^^ KING RICHARD III Act I Sc iv They often feel a world of restless cares : So that, between their titles and low name There 's nothing dillers but the outward fame. Enter the two Murderers First Murd. Ho I who's here ? nrak. What would'st thou, fellow ? and how tam'st thou hither ? First Murd. I would speak with Clarence and I came nit her on my legs. Brak. What, so brief ? otc. Murd. 'T is better, sir, than to be tedious. Let nim see our commission ; talk no more. . , . \ lirakenburij reads it hrok. I am, m this, commanded to deliver The noble Duke of Chirence to your hands : I will not reason what is mennt'horebv. Because I will be guiltless of the meaning,'. Here are the keys, - there sits the duke asleep : I '11 to the king ; and signify to him That thus I have resigned my charge to you. First Murd. You may, sir, 't is a point of wisdom : fare ^°o^'H^; . [Exit Brakmbuni Sec. Murd. What, shall we stab him ns he sleeps "> First Murd. No ; then he will say 't was done cowardly when he wakes. Sec Murd. WTien he wakes ! why, fool, he shall never wake till the judgment-day. First Murd. Why, then he '11 say we stabbed him sleeping Sec. Murd. The urging of that word " judgment " hath bred a kind of remorse in me. First Murd. What, art thou afraid ? Sec. Murd. Not to kill him, having a warrant for it : but to be damned for killing him, from the which no wai-rant can defend us. First Murd. I thought thou hadst been resolute. So I am, to let him live. I '11 back to the Duke of Gloster, and tell Nay,^ I prithee, stay a little ; I hope my 't was wont to hold me but Sec. Murd. First Murd. bim so. Sec. Murd. holy humour will change ; while one tells twenty First Murd. How dost thou feel thyself now '^ Sec. Murd. Faith, some certain dregs of conscience are yet within me First Murd. done. Sec. Murd. First Murd. Sec. Murd. Remember our reward when the deed's Zounds, he dies : I had forgot the reward. Where 's thy conscience now? In the Duke of Gloster's purse. 94 Act I Sc iv KING RICHARD III Firs! Miird. ?o when ho opens his purse to give us our reward, thy conscience Hies out. Sec. Miird 'T is no maltcr, let it go ; there 's few or noni will entertain it. First Miird. Whot il' it come to thee .Ttain "^ Sec. ,Vurd I '11 not meddle with it :-it is a dangerous lung: it makes a man a coward: a man cannot steal, but It accuseth him ; a man cannot swear, but it checks lum ; a man cannot lie with his neighbour's wife, but It detects him: 'tis a blushinj.! shamei:.st spirit that mulinies in a man's bosom ; it (ills one full of ohslaclcs • It made me once restore a purse of gold that by chance I tound ; it bej,'-ars any man that keeps it : it is turned out of all towns and cities for a dangerous thin" • and every man that merms to live well endeavours to Trust to himself and to live without it. J'irst Miird. Zounds, it is even now at my elbow, ner- suadmg me not to kill the duke. ^'uuw, per Sec Murd Take the devil in thy mind, and believe him not: he would insuuinle with thoe but tu make thee si-'h with""*' ^'*'^"^''' ^ ^"^ strong-framed, he cannot prevail Sec. Murd. Spoke like a tall fellow that respects his reputation. Come, sliall we fall to work ? First Murd. 'j'ake him over tiie costard with the hilts of thy sword, and then throw him into the malmsey-butt in the next room. "^ Sec. Murd O excellent device I make a sop of him. First Murd. Soft, he wakes. Sec. ■'Jurd. Strike I First Murd. No, we '11 reason with him. give me a cup Clar. [irakinj]. \Vhere art thou, keeper of N.ine. rZ'r'^^"/,fr T.""" '^'''" ^''7*^ '•'"' ""^""''' iv.ylord, anon. Llur. In God s name, what art thou ? Sec. Murd. A man, as you are. Clar. But not, as I am, roval. Sec. Murd. Nor you, as we are, loyal. C/ar Thy voice is tlumder, but thy looks arc hun^ble Ua. . How dandy and how deadly dost thou speak I lour eyes do menace me : why look you pale *> Who sent you hither ? Wherefore do you cume ? Both. To, to, to — Clar. To murder me ? Bath. Ay, ay. Clar You scarcely have the hearts to tell me so And therefore cannot have the hearts to do it ' V> herein, my friends, have I oflended vou '> I irsi Murd. OlTended us you have not, but the king. 95 KING RICHARD III Act I Sc Iv Clar. I shall be reconciled to lum arjain. Spc. Murd. Never, my lord ; Ihertlure prepare to die. Clar. Are you called forth from out a wiv id of men To slay the innocent ? Wiiat 's my olTcnce ? Where is the evidence that doth accuse me ? What lawful quest have given their verdict uj> Unto the frowning judj^e ? or who pronounced The bitter sentence of poor Clarence' dealh ? Before I be convict by course of law, To threaten me with death is most unlawful, 1 charge you, as you hope to have redemption By Christ's dear blood slied for our grievous sins, That you depart, and lay no hands on me : The deed you undertake is damnable. First Murd. What we will do, we do upon command. Sec. Murd. And he that hath commanded is our kujg. Clar. Erroneous vassals 1 the great King of kings Hath in the tables of his law commanded That thou shalt do no murder : will you, then, Spurn at his edict and fullU a man's ? Take heed : for he holds vengeance in his hands To hurl upon their heads that break his law. Sec. Murd. And that same vengeance doth he hurl on thee For false forswearing, and for murder too : Thou didst receive the sacrament to fight In quarrel of the house of Lancaster. First Murd. And, like a traitor to the name of God, Didst break that vow; and with thy treacherous blade Unripp'dst the bowels of thy sovereign's son. Sec. Murd. Whom thou wert sworn to cherish and defend. First Murd. How canst thou urge God's dreadful law to us, When thou hast broke it in such dear degree ? Clar. Alas 1 for whose sake did I that, iil deed ? For Edward, for my brother, for his sake : He sends you not to murder me for tliis ; For in that sin he is as deep as I. If God will be revenged lor this deed, O, know you yet, he doth it publicly : Take not the quarrel from his powerful arm ; He needs no indirect nor lawless course To cut off those that have oilended him. First Murd. Who made thee, tl:en, a bloody minister, W'hen gallanl-sprincing brave Plautagcnet, That princely novice, was struck dead by thee ? Clar. My brother's love, llic devil, and my rage. First Murd. Thy brother's love, our duty, and thy fault. Provoke us hither now to slaughter thee. Clar. If you do love my Lrolher, hate not me; I am his brother, and I love him well. 96 Act I Sc iv KING RICHARD III If you be hired for meed, go back auain, And I will send you to my brolhcr (Hosier, Who shall reward you heller for my hie Than Edward will for tidin':s of my dcalh. Sec. Murd. You are deceived, your brolher Glosttr hates you, Clar. O, no. he loves me, and he holds mc deir : Go you to him from me. {^f^f^- Ay, so wc will, Clar. Tell him, when that our princely father Yo-k Blessed his three sons wilh his viclorioiis arm, And charged us from his sonl lo love each other He little thoii^lit of this divided friendship : ' Bid Gloster think of this, and he will weep First Murd. Ay, millstones ; ns he lessoned us to weep, Clar. O, do nol slander him "■ he is kind First Murd. Right, As snow in harvest.— Come you deceive yourself: T IS he that sends us to destroy you here, Clar. It cannot be ; for he bewepl my fortune And hugged me in his arms, and swore, with sobs, ' Ihat he would labour my delivery. Sec. Murd. Why, so he doth, when he delivers you rrom this earth's thraldom to the joys of heaven First Murd. Make peace wilh God, for you must die my lord. ' Clar. Hast thou that holy feeling in thy soul. To counsel me to make my peace with God, And art thou yet to thy own soul so blind, That thou wilt war with God by murdering me ? Ah, sirs, consider, he that set you on To do this deed will hate you for the deed. Sec. Murd. What shall we do ? ^S!nh t T l-.elent, and save your souls. Which of you, if you were a prince's son, Being pent from liberty, as I am now. If two such murderers as yourselves came lo you Would not entreat for life ? First Murd. Relent ! 't is cowardly and womanish, Clar. Not to relent is beastly, savage, devilish,— My friend, I spy some pity in thy looks ; O, if thine eye be not a flatterer. Come thou on my side, and entreat for me, As you would beg, were you in my distress : A begging prince what beggar pities not ? Sec. Murd. Look behind you, my lord. First Murd. Take that, and that : if all do, I 'II drown you in the malmsey-butt within, [Exit with the body this will not [Stabs him 38-D 97 KING RICHARD III Act II Scl St'c. Mura. A bloody deed, and desperately dispatched t How liiiii, like Pilate, would I wnsh my hands Of this most grievous guilty murder done I Re-cnier First Murderer First Miird. How now I what mean'st thou, that thou help'st nie not ? By heavens, the duke shall know how slnek thou art ! Sec. Murd. I would he knew that I luid saved his brother I Take thou the fee, and tell him what I say ; For I repent mc that the duke is slain. [Exit First Murd. So do not I : go, coward as thou art 1 Xow must I hide his body in some hole, Until the duke take order for his burial : And wiien I have my meed, I will away ; For tills wiil out, and here I must not stay. [Exit ACT TWO Scene I. — London. A Room in the Palace Enter King Edward led in sick. Queen Elizaueth, DonsET, KivEits, Hastings, Buckingham, Ghey, and others K. so now have I done ijood dav's Ediv. Why, w ork : — You peers, con'.inue this united k-aj^uc : I every day expecL an embassage From my Redeemer to redeem me hence ; And now in peace my soul shall part to lieaven, Since I have set my friends at peace on enrlli. Rivers and Hastings, lake each other's hand ; Dissemble not your hatred, swear your love. liiv. By heaven, my heart is purged from grudging hale ; And w ith my hand I seal my true heart's love. Hast. So thrive I, as I truly swear the like 1 K. Ediv. Take heed you dally not l)efore your king ; Lest he that is the supreme King of kings Confound your hidden falsehood, and award Hiiher of you to be the others end. Hast. So prosper L as I swear perfect love I Riv. And I. as I love Hastings wilh niy heart ! K. Ediv. Madam, yourself are not exempt in tlils, Kor your son Dorser, — Buckingham, nor you ; — You have been factious one against the other. Wife, love Lord Hnsiin-';. ]ct him kiss your hand ; And what you do, do il unfcigned'y. Q. Eliz. There, Hastings ; 1 ^YilI never more remember Oi;r lormer haired, so tluive I and mine I 0«» rj :vlv-- 3roJr„l.l^-> Act II Sci K. KING RICHARD III mtrqurr'*' '"^'^'^^ '"'" ^-H-»ngs. love lord Dor. This interchange of love, I here orotesf Ll on my part shall be unviolablc. ^ ' Mast. And so swear I. x-rh . ,. And make me happy in your unify. "" hil ifa/e' ^""'' ''^''^'"^"^^ Buckingham doth turn DotTr^.H K'^'"' *^"1 '^'^'^ ^" ^"teous love Doth cherish you and yours, God punish nie Wh ' \^u '" ^^""^^ ^^'h^''-'^ I expect mosl^vc I ^^hc„ I have most need to employ T?riend And nios assured that he is a friend. ' Deep ho low, treacherous, and lull of guile. Be he unto me !-this do I beg of (iod ^V hen I am cold in zeal to you or yours r r/,.„ u Buck. And, m good time, here comes the noble duke. Enter Gloster Made peace ot enmity, fair love of hate ito^V hf " '!J°,"i"" ™°"8-lnce""d peers. Af n«sA?^^jf„e'ei;°;;.^p";^f':;-'s-'«" "^«-- S^l?'re'a"'f;'l'r^'°'-™8 -">'«. If I unwittingly, or in mv rage. Have aught committed that is hardly borne By any m this presence, I desire To reconcile me to his friendly peace • T IS death to me to be at enmity ; ' I hate It, and desire all good men's love.- Wh ch J wi^f"' ^ ^"^'•^''^t t^"e peace of vou, Uhu h I will purchase with my duteous scrvicP Of you, my noble cousin Buckingham" ''^'''~• ui you Lord Rivers.— and Lord (-■ve^r ^r .'., Tha tail wiUiout desert have frowned' on me •- Dikes, earls, lords, gentlemen ;-indeed of a'lL ilfh'^J ^"°'' ^^""^ l^nglishiuan alix^ ' ""^ ^^^ \Mth wnom my soul is any jot at odds 99 lamMLMt^ KING RICHARD HI Act II Scl More than the infant that is born to-night: I tiianlc my God for my humility. Q. Eliz. A holy day shall this be kept hereafter :— I would to Goil all strifes were well compounded. — My sovereign lord, I do beseech your highness To lake our brother Clarence to your gract*. Glo. Why, madam, have 1 ollered love for this, To be so llouted in this royal presence ? Who knows not that the noble duke is dead ? [They all slurl You do him injury to scorn his corse. Rw. Wlio knows not he is dead ! Who knows he is ? Q. Eliz. All-seeing heaven, wliat a world is this I Buck. Look I so pale. Lord Dorset, as the rest ? Dor. Ay, my good lord 4 and no one in this presence But his red colour hath forsook his cheeks. K. Edir. Is Clarence dead ? The order was reversed. (Jlo. But he, poor 3oul, by your Ihst order died, And that a winged .Mercury did bear ; Some tardy cripple bore the countermand. That came too lag to see him buried. God grant that some, less noble and less loyal. Nearer in bloody thoughts, but not in blood. Deserve not worse than wretched Clarence did, And yet go current from suspicion ! Enter Stanley Stan. A boon, my sovereign, for my service done 1 K. Edw. I i)ray thee, peace : my soul is full of sorrow. Stan. I will not rise, unless your highness grant. K. Edw. Then speak at once what is it thou demand'st. Stan. The forfeit, sovereign, of my servant's life ; Who slew to-day a riotous gentleman Lately attendant on the Duke of Norfolk. K. Edw. Have I a tongue to doom my brother's death, And shall that tongue give pardon to a slave ? ..ly brother killed no man, his fault was thought. And yet his punishment was bitter death. Who sued to me for him ? who, in my rage. Kneeled at my feet, and bade me be advised ? Who spoke of brotherhood ? who spoke of love ? Who told lue how the poor soul did forsake The niifsiiiy Warwick, and did light for me ? W^ho told me, in the field by Tewksbury, When Oxford had me down, he rescued me. And said, " Dear brother, live, and be a king " ? Whf> told me, when wc both lay in the field Frozen almost to death, how he did lap me Even in his garments, and did give himself. All thin and naked, to the numb cold night ? 100 ^ Act II Sell KING RICIIAUD III All this from my rpmcmbrancc hrulish vrralh binfully piiiokod, nnd not a man of vou Had so imifli t;iacc to put it in my mind. liut when your carters or your waiflns-vassals Have done a drunken slauphter. and defaced I he prccit.is Image of our dear Hedeemer ^ou stralKhl are on your knees for pardon, pardon ; And I, unjustly too, must prant It you:- liut for my lm)lher not a man would speak,— Nor I, ungracious, speak unto myself J'or him, poor soul. 'Ihc proudest of you all Have been beholding to him in his !in< • \elL none of you would once plead for l-.ih Iif.> - God, I fear tiiy justice will take hold On me and you, and mine and yours for this 1 Come, Hastings, help me to my closet. Ah ! Poor Clarence I [Exeunt King and Queen, Ilastinrfs, nivers, rin Tu- 1 *u * ,. - Dorsel and (ireu Glo This is the fruit of rashness !— Marked vou not Ho^y that the guilty kindred of the queen Looked pale when they did hear of Claren-e' death ? O, they did urge it still unto the kin" • Ood will revenge it.— Hut come, let us in, 1 o comfort Edward with our company Buck. We wait upon your grace. [Exeunt Scene II.— Another Room in the Palace Enter the Duchess of York, with a Son and Daughter of Clarence Boy. Duch. Boy. And cry Girl. Tell me, good grandam, is our fatlicr dead ? No, boy. w^i^^.M°y°"^^'""8your hands, and beat your breast O Clarence, my unhappy sen I " A ^ „ ^ ^° y°" ^°°^ o" "s, and shake your head And call us wretches, orphans, castaways, ' If that our noble father be alive ? Duch. My pretty cousins, you mistake mc both : I do lament tne sickness of the king, ' As loth to lose him, not your father's death : It were lost sorrow to wail one that 's lost Th.l!ir.J^^^^^' ^'i^^.'^^"!' yo" conclude that he is dead. The king my uncle is to blame for lliis : Svrt,^^'"./*^^'^"^*^ ^^ ' ^^'h"'" I ^^j'l importune With daily pravers all to th^i ♦'fTect Girl. And so will I. iSl^n^i ^^^""f ' l'"'^^''"^' peace ! the king doth love you well • Incapable and shallow innocents, co,uuv%tu. You cannot guess who caused your father's death. 101 T KING RICHARD III Act II Sc ii eep, Boy. Grandam, wc can ; for my good uncle Glostcr Told me, the king, provoked to t by the queen, Devised impeachments to imprison him : And when my uncle told me so, he wepi. And pitied me, and kindly kissed my cheek ; Bade me rely on him as on my father, And he would love me dearly as his child. Duch. Ah, that deceit should steal such gentle shapes, And with a virtuous vizor hide foul guile 1 He is my son ; yea, and therein my shame ; Yet from my dugs he drew not this deceit. Son. Think you my uncle did dissemble, g.andam ? Duch. Ay, boy. Son. I cannot think it.— Hark I what noise is this ? Enter Queen Elizabeth, with her hair about her ears; Rivers and Dorset after her Q. Eliz. O, who shall hinder me to wail and To chide my fortune, and torment mvsolf ? I '11 join with black despair against my soul. And to myself become an enemy. Duch. What means this scene of rude impnt'Vnce ? Q. Eliz. To make an act of tragic violence : Edvv-ard, my lord, your son, our king, is dead. Why grow the branches when the root is gone *> Why wither not the leaves that want their sap ? If you will live, lament ; if die, be brief. That our swift-winged souls may catch the king's ; Or, like obedient subjects, follow him To his new kingdom of perpetual rest. Duch. Ah, so much interest have I in thy sorrow As I had title in thy noble husband I I have bewept a worthy husband's death. And lived by looking on his images : But now two mirrors of his princely semblance Are cracked in pieces by malignant death. And I for comfort have but one false glass, That grieves me when I see my shame in him. Thou art a widow ; yet thou art a mother, And hast the comfort of thy children left thee : But death hath snatched my husband from mine arms And plucked two crutches from my feeble hands, - Edward and Clarence. O, what cause have I,— Thine being but a moiety of my grief,— To overgo thy plaints and drown thy cries 1 Son. Good aunt, you wept not for our father's death ! How can we aid you with our kindred tears *> Daughter. Our fatherless distress we left unmoaned ; Your widow-dolour likewise be unwept ! Q. Eliz. Give me no help in lamentation ; 102 Act II Sc ii KING RICHARD III I am not bnrren to bring forll) complaints : All springs reduce their currents to mine lycs, That I, being governed by the watery moon. May send forth plenteous tears to drown the world I Ah for my husband, for my dear lord Edward 1 C/Ji7, Ah for our father, for our dear lord Clarence ! Duch. Alas for both, both mine, Edward and Clarence I Q. Eliz. What stay had I but Edward ? and he 's gone. Chil. What stay had we but Clarence ? and he 's gone. Duch. What stays had I but they ? and they are gone, Q. Eliz. Was never widow had so dear a loss ! Chil. Were never orphans had so dear a lossl Duch. Was never mother had so dear a lossl Alas, I am the mother of these moans I Their woes are parcelled, mine arc general. She for an Edward weeps, and so do I ; I for a Clarence weep, so doth not she : These babes for Clarence weep, and so do I ; I for an Edward' weep, so do not they ; Alas, you three, on me, threefold distressed. Pour all your tears ? I am your sorrow's nurse. And I will pamper it with lamentations. Dor. Comfort, dear mother : God is much displeased That you take with unthankfulncss his doing : In common worldly things, 't is called ungrateful, W'th dull unwillingness to repay a debt Which with a bounteous hand was kindly lent ; Much more to be thus opposite with heaven For it requires the royal debt it lent you. Riv. Madam, bethink you, like a careful mother. Of the young prince your son : send straight for him ; Let him be crowned ; in him your comfort lives : Drown desperate sorrow in dead Edward's grave. And plant your joys in living Edward's throne. Enter Gloster, BucKiNoiiAAf, Stanley, Hastings, Ratcliff, and others Glo. Madam, have comfort : all of us have cause To wail the dimming of our shining star ; But none can cure their harms by wailing them. — ^Madam, my mother, I do cry you mercy ; I did not see your grace :~hnmbly on niv knee I crave your blessing. Duch. God bless thee ; and put meekness in thy mind Love, charity, obedience, and true duty ! Glo. Amen ; [ Asidr] nncl make me die a good old man '— That is the butt-end of a mother's blessing : I marvel that her grace did leave it out. Buck. You cloudy princes and heart-sorrov.ing peers That bear this mutual heavy load of moan, ' 103 r ! i KING RICHARD III Act II Sc Ui Now cheer each other in each other's love : Though we have spent our harvest of this king, We arc to reap the harvest of his son. The broken rancour of your high-swoln hearts, But lately splintered, knit, and joined together, Must gently be preserved, cherished, and kept : Me seemeth good, that, with some little train. Forthwith from Ludlow the young prince be fetched Hither to London, to be crowned our king. Riv. Why with some little train, my Lord of Buckingham? Buck. Marry, my lord, lest, by a multitude, The new-healed wound of malice should break out ; Which would be so much the more dangerous. By how much the state 's green and yet ungoverned ; Where every horse bears his commanding rein. And may direct his course as please himself, As well the fear of harm as harm apparent. In my opinion, ought to be prevented. Glo. I hope the king made peace with all of us ; And the compact is firm and true in me. Riv. And so in me ; and so, I think, in all : Yet, since it is but green, it should be put To no apparent likelihood of breach, WTiich haply by much company might be urged : Therefore I say with noble Buckingham, That it is meet so few should fetch the prince. Hast. And so say I. Glo. Then be it so ; and go we to determine Who they shall be that straight shall post to Ludlow. Madam, — and you, my mother, — will you go To give your censures in this business ? [Exeunt all but Buckingham and Gloster Buck. My lord, whoever journeys to the prince. For God's sake, let not us two stay at home ; For, by the way, I '11 sort occasion. As index to the story we late talked of. To part the queen's proud kindred from the prince. Glo. My other self, my counsel's consistory, My oracle, my prophet ! — My dear cousin, I, like a child, will go by thy direction. Towards Ludlow then, for we '11 not stay behind. [Exeunt Scene III. — London. A Street Enter two Citizens, meeting First Cit. Good morrow, neighbour, well met: wliither away so fast? Sec. Cit. I promise you, I scarcely know myself : Hear you the news abroad ? 104 J '^^^sim^smm- Act II Sciii KING RICHARD III ^,^''^^ C//. Ay,— that the kin^ is dead. Sec. Cit. Ill news, by 'r lady ; seldom comes the better : I fear, I fear 't will prove a giddy world. Enter another Citizen Third Cit. Neighbours, God speed I ■^i'":^^/^''- Give you good morrow, sir. Ihird Cit. Dolh the news hold of good King Edward's death ? Sec. at. Ay, sir, it is too true ; God help, the while ! Tliird Cit. Then, masters, look to see a troul)louR world First Cit. No, no ; by God's good grace his son shall rfir-n. Third Cit. Woe to that land that 's governed by a chifd J Sec. Cit. In him there is a hope of government, That, in his nonage. Council under him, And in his full and ripened years himself, No doubt, shall then, and till then, govern well. First Cit. So stood the state when Henry the Sixth Was crov.ned in Paris but at nine months old. Third Cit. Stood the state so ? No, no, good friends, God wot ; For then this land was famously enriched With politic grave counsel ; then the king Had virtuous uncles to protect his grace. First Cit. Why, so hath this, both by his father and mother. Third Cit. Better it were they all came by his father Or by his father there were none at all ; ' For emulation now, who shall be nearest. Will touch us all too near, if God prevent not. O, full of danger is the Duke of Gloster ! And the queen's sons and brothers haught and proud • And were they to be ruled, and not to rule, This sickly land might solace as before. First Cit. Come, come, we fear the worst : all will be well Third Cit. When clouds are seen, wise men put on their cloaks ; When great leaves fall, then winter is at hand ; When the sun sets, who doth not look for night ? Untimely storms make men expect a dearth. All may be well ; but, if God sort it so, 'T is more than we deserve, or I expect. S''c. Cit. Truly, the hearts of men are full of fear ; Ye cannot reason almost with a man That looks not heavily and full of dread. Third Cit. Before the days of chanse, still is it so: iiy a divme instinct men's minds mistrust Ensuing danger ; as. by proof, we see The waters swell before a boisterous storm. But leave it all to God. — Whither away ? 38-D* 105 T ■J •I i It ^ KING RICHARD III Act II Sciv Sec. at. Marry, we were sent for to the justices. Third Cil. And so was I : I '11 bear you company. {Exeunt Scene IV. — London. A Room in the Palace Enter the Archhishop of York, the young Dl'ke of York, Queen Elizabeth, and the Duch:^s of York Arch. Last nighf. I hear, they lay at Northampton; At Stony-Stratford will they be to-night : To-morrow, or next day, they will be here. Duch. I long with all my heart to see the prince : I hope he is much grown since last I saw him. Q. Eliz. But I hear, no ; they say my son of York Hath almost overta'en him in his growth. York. Ay, mother ; but I would not have it so. Duch. Why, m.y young cousin, it is good to grow. York. Grandam, one night, as we did sit at supper, My uncle Rivers talked how I did grow More than my brother : " Ay," quoth my uncle Glostcr, " Small herbs have grace, great weeds do grow apace : " And since, methinks, I would not grow so fast. Because sweet flowers are slow, and weeds make haste. Duch. Good faith, good faith, the saying did not hold In him that did object the same to thee ': . He was the wrctched'st thing when he was young. So long a-growing and so leisurely. That, if his rule were true, he should be gracious. Arch. \Vhy, madam, so, no doubt, he is. Duch. I hope he is ; but yet let mothers doubt. York. Now, by my troth, if I had been remembered, I could have given my uncle's grace a flout, To touch his growth nearer than he touched mine. Duch. How, my pretty York ? I prithee, let me hear it. York. Marry, they say my uncle grew so fast That he could gnaw a crust at two hours old : 'T was full two years ere I could get a tooth. Grandam, this would have been a biting jest. Duch. I prithee, pretty York, who told thee this ? York. Grandam, his nurse. Duch. His nurse I why, she was dead ere thou wert born. York. If 't were not she, I cannot tell who told me. Q. Eliz. A parlous boy : — go to, you are too shrewd. Arch. Good madam, be not angry with the child. Q. Eliz. Pitchers have ears. Arch. Here comes a messenger. Enter a Messenger What news ? Mess. Such news, my lord, as grieves me to report. 106 Act III Sc i KING RICHARD III Q. Eliz. How doth the prince ? ■?f^*!' „r. V^qW, madam, and in health. Duch. What is thy news then ? Mess. Lord Rivers and Lord Grey are sent to Pomfret, With them Sir Thomas Vaughan. prisoners. Duch. Who hath committed tlicm ? Mess. The mighty Dukes Gloster and Buckingham. Q- f-^li^' For what ofTcnce ? Mess. The sum of all I can. I have disclosed ; Why or for what these nobles were committed Is all unknown to me, my gracious lady. Q. Eliz. Ay me, I see the downfall of our house J The tiger now hath seized the gentle hind ; Insulting tyranny begins to jet Upon the innocent and awe'ess throne : — Welcome, destruction, blood, and massacre 1 I see, as in a map, the end of all. Duch. Accursed and unquiet wrangling days. How many of you have mine eyes beheld I My husband lost his life to get the crown ; And often up and down my sons were tossed. For me to joy and weep their gain and loss : And being seated, and domestic broils Clean over-blown, themselves, the conquerors, Make war upon themselves ; brother to brother. Blood to blood, self against self : O, preposterous And frantic outrage, end thy damned spleen ; Or let me die, to look on death no more ! Q. Eliz. Come, come, my boy ; we will to sanctuary.— Madam, farewell. ^"c/i. stay, I will go with you. Q. Eliz. You have no cause. A ^^f{!'-x,- , -^^■^' gracious lady, go : And thither bear your treasure and your goods. For my part, I '11 resign unto your grace The seal I keep ; and so betide to me As well I tender you and all of yours I Come, I '11 conduct you to the sanctuary. [Exeunt a ACT THREE Scene I.— London. A Street The trumpets sound. Enter the young Prince, the Dukes OF Gloster, and BuckixNgham, Cardinal Bourckier Catesby, and others ' Buck. Welcome, sweet prince, to London, to your chamber. G/o. Welcome, dear cousin, my thoughts' sovereign : 1 he weary way hath made you melancholy, 107 f KING RICHARD III Act III Sci Prince. No, uncle ; but our crosses on the way Have made it tedious, wearisome, and heavy : I want more uncles here to welcome me. Glo. Sweet prince, the untainted virtue of your years Hath not yet dived into the world's deceit ; Nor more can you distinguish of a man Than of his outward show, wliich, God he knows, Seldom or never jumpelh with the heart. Those uncles which you want were dangerous ; Your grace attended to their sufjnred words, But looked not on the poison of their hearts : God keep you from them, and from such false friends I Prince. God keep me from ialse friends 1 but tiiey were none. Glo. My lord, the mayor of London comes to greet you. Enter the Lord Mayor, and his train Max], God bless your grace with health and happy days I Prince. I thank you, good my lord ;— and thank "you all. I thouglit my mother, and my brother York, Would long ere this have met us on the way : Fie, what a slug is Hastings, that he comes not T(i tell us whether they will come or no I Buck. And, in good lime, here comes the sweating lord. Enter Lord Hastings Prince. Welcome, my lord: what, will our mother come ? Hast. On what occasion, God he knows, not I, The queen your mother, and your brother Y'ork, Have taken sanctuary : the tender Prince Would fain have come with me to meet your gi-ace, But by his mother was perforce withheld. Buck. Fie, what an indirect and peevish course Is thi'5 of hers I Lord cardinal, will your grace Persuad, the queen to send the Duke of York Unto his princely brother presently ? If she deny, — Lord Hastings, go with him, And from her jealous arms pluck him perforce. Card. My Lord of Buckingham, if my weak oratory Can from his mother win the Duke of York, Jixpect him here ; but if she be obdurate To mild entreaties, God in heaven forbid We should infringe the holy privilege Of blessed sanctuary 1 not' for all this land Would I be guilty of so deep a sin. Buck. You are too senstless-obslinate, my lord. Too ceremonious and traditional : Weigh it but with the grossness of this age, You break not sanctuary in seizing him. 108 Act III Sc i KING RICHARD III The benefit thereof is always granted To those whose dealings have deserved the place, And those who have the wit to claim the place : This prince hath neither claimed it nor deserved it ; Therefore, in mine opinion, cannot have it : Then, taking him from thence that is not there, ^ ou break no privile^'e nor charter there. Oft have I heard of sanctuary men ; Bill sanctuary children ne'er till now. Card. My lord, you shall o'er-rule my mind for once. Come on. Lord Hastini^s, will you go with me ? Ilasl. I go, my lord. Prince. Good lords, make all the speedy haste you may. „ , ^, [Exeunt Cardinal an^i Husiuij's bay, uncle Gloster, if our brother come, Where shall we sojourn till our coronation ? Glo. Where it seems best untw >our royal self. If I may counsel you, some day or two Your highness shall repose you at the Tower : Then where you please and shall be thought most fit Tor your best health and recreation. Prince. I do not like the Tower, of any place. Did Julius Cxsar build that place, my lord ? ■.^r?"f*"" . ^^ ^^^' "^y gracious lord, begin that place ; vvhich, smce, succeeding ages have re-edified. Prince. Is it upon record, or else reported Successively from age to age, he built it ? Buck. Upon record, my gracious lord. Prince. But say, my lord, it were not registered, ZMethinks the truth should live from age to age As 't were retailed to all posterity, * Even to the general all-ending day. Glo. [Aside] So wise so young, they say, do ne'er live long. Prince. What say you, uncle ? Glo. I say, without characters frme lives long [Aszrfe] Thus, like the formal vice, Iniquity, I moralise two meanings in one word. ^^r^.L^"^^- ^^^^ Julius Caisar was a famous man : With Avhat his valorr did enrich his wit. His wit set down to make his valour live : Death makes no conquest of this conqueror ; I'^or now he lives in fame, though not in life. — I '11 tell you what, my cousin Buckingham,— Buck. What, my gracious lord ? Prince. An if I live until I be a man, I '11 win our ancient right in France again. Or die a soldier, as I lived a king. Glo. [Aside] Short summers lightly have a forward sprinj 109 Y'^ ■ ZSifffV KING RICHARD III Act III Sci Buck. Now, in good time, Iiere comes the Dulce of York. Enter York, Hastings, and the Cardinal Prince. Richard of York I how fares our loving brother ? York. Well, my dread lord ; so must I call you now Prince Ay, brother,— to our grief, as it is yours : Too late he died that might have kept that title. Which by his death hath lost much majesty. Glo. How fares our cousin, noble Lord of York ? York. I thank you, gentle uncle. O, my lord. You said that idle weeds are fast in growth : The prince my brother hath outgrown me far Glo. He hath, my lord. J/^^*" r^ . . ■^"^ therefore is he idle ? (jjo. O. my fair cousin, I must not say so. York. Then is he more beholding to you than I. Glo. He may command me as my sovereign ; But vou have power in me as in a kinsman. York. I pray you, uncle, give me this dagger. Glo. My dagger, little cousin ? with all my heart Prince. A beggar, brother ? YorA-. Of my kind uncle, that I know will give : Being but a toy, which is no grief to give. Glo. A greater gift than that I '11 give my cousin. York. A greater gift I O, that 's the sword to it. Glo. Ay, gentle cousin, were it light enough. York. O, then, 1 see, you '11 part but with light gifts : In weightier things you '11 say a beggar nay. Glo. It is too heavy for your grace to wear. YorA-. I weigh it lightly, were it heavier. Glo. What, would you have my weapon, little lord ? York. 1 would, that I might thank you as you call me Glo. How ? York. Little. Prince. My Lord of York will still be cross in talk: Uncle, your grace knows how to bear with him. York. You mean, to bear me, not to bear with me : Uncle, my brother mocks both you and me ; Because that I am little, like an ape, He thinks that you should bear me on your shoulders Buck. [Aside to Hasting] With what a sharp-provided wit he reasons I To mitigate the scorn he gives his uncle. He prettily and aptly taunts himself: So cunning and so young is wonderful. Glo. My lord, will 't please you pass along ! Myself and my good cousin Buckingham Will to your mother, to entreat of her To meet you at the Tower and welcome you. YorA-. What, will you go unto the Tower, my lord ? 110 Act III Sci KING RICHARD III Prince. My lord protector needs will have it so. York. I shall not sleep in quiet at llie Tower. Glo. Why, what should you fear ? York. Marry, my . • le Clarence' angry ghosL : My grandam told me he was murdered there. Prince. I fear no uncles dead. Glo. Nor none that live, 1 hope. Prince. An if they live, I hope I need not fear. But come, my lord ; and with a heavv heart. Thinking on them, go I unto the Tow'er. [A Scnnel. Exeunt all but Glostcr, Buckingham, and Calesbi/ Buck. Think you, my lord, this little prating York Was not incensed by his subtle motlier To taunt and scorn you thus opprobriously ? Glo. No doubt, no doubt : O, 't is a parlous boy : Bold, quick, ingenious, forward, capable : He 's all the mother's, from the top to toe. Buck. Well, let them rest.— Come hither, Catesby. Thou 'rt sworn as deep to effect what we intend As closely to conceal what we impart : Thou know'st our reasons urged upon the way ; What think'st thou ? is it not an easy matter To make William Lord Hastings of our mind, For the instalment of this noble duke In the seat royal of this famous isle ? Gate. He for his father's sake so loves the prince, That he will not be wuii to aught against him. Buck. What think'st thou, then, of Stanley ? will not he ? Gate. He will do all in all as Hastings doth. Buck. Well, then, no more but this : go, gentle Catesby And, as it were far off, sound thou Lord Hastings, How he doth stand affected to our purpose ; And summon him to-morrow to the Tower, To sit about the coronation. If thou dost find him tractable to us. Encourage him, and show him all our reasons : If he be leaden, icy-cold, unwilling, Be thou so too ; and so break off your talk. And give us notice of his inclination : For we to-morrow hold divided councils. Wherein thyself shalt highly be employed. Glo. Commend me to Lord William : tell him, Catesby, His ancient knot of dangerous adversaries To-morrow arc let blood at Pomfret Castle ; And bid my friend, for joy of this good news, Give Mistress Shore one gentle kiss the more. Buck. Good Catesby, go, effect this business soundly. Gate. My good lords both, with all the heed I can. Glo. Shall we hear from you, Catesby, ere we sleep ? Ill %*i^' KING RICHARD III Act III ScU Cate. You shall, my lord. Glo. At Crosby Place, there shall you find us both. r. f XT . (iix/7 Calesbu Buck. Now, my lord, vhat shall we do, if we perceive Lord Hastings will not yield to our complots ? Glo. Chop off his head, man— somewhat we will do :— And, look, when I am king, claim thou of me The earldom of Hereford, and the movables Whereof the king my brother stood possessed. Ihick. I '11 claim that promise at your grace's hands Glo. And look to have it yielded with all kindness Come, let us sup betimes, that afterwards We may digest our complots in some form. [Exeunt Scene II. — Deforc Lord Hastings' House Enter a Messenger Mess. My lord 1 mv lord I Host. [ Within] Who knocks ? Mess. One from the Lord Stanley. Jlast. What is 't o'clock ? Mess. Upon the stroke of four. Enter Hastings Hast. Cannot thy master sleep these tediovs niglits ? Mess. So it appears by that I have to say. Iirst, he commends biin to your noble sell Hast. What then ? Mess. Tiien certifies your lordship that this night He dreamt the boar had razed off his helm : Besides he says there are two councils held ; And that may be determined at the one Which may make you and him to rue at the other. Therefore he sends to know your lordship's pleasure — If presently you will take horse with him And with all speed po3t with him towards the north To shun the danger that his soul divines. ' Hast. Go, fellow, go, return unto thy lord : Bid him not fear the separated councils : His honour and myself arc at the one. And at the other is my good friend Catesby ; Where nothing can proceed that touchelh us ^yhereof I shall not have intelligence. Tell him his fears are shallow, wanting instance : And for his dreams, I wonder he 's so fond To trust tlK- mockery of uiiquieL slumbers : To lly the boar before the boar pursues Were to incense the boar 1o follow us And make pursuit where he did mean no chase. 112 Act III Scii KING RICHARD III Go, bid thy master rise and come to me ; And we will both toRcther to the Tower, Where, he shall see, the boar will use us kindly. Mess. I 'II go, my lord, and toll him what you say. [Exit Enter Cateshy Cate. Many good morrows to my noble lord ! llast. (lood morrow, Cafcsby; you arc early stirring: What news, what nt'ws, in this our tottering state ? Catc. It is a reeling world, iiuleed, my lord ; And I billcve 't will never stand upright Till h.ciiard wear the garland of the realm. Ilast. I low ! wear the garland I dost thou mean the crown ? Cate. Ay, my good lord. Hast. I '11 have this crown of mine cut from my shoulder? Ere I will see the crown so foul misplaced. But canst thou guess that he dotli aim at it ? Cate. Ay, on my life ; and hopes to find you forward Upon his party for the gain thereof : And thereupon he sends you this good news. — That this same very day your enemies. The kindred of the queen, must die at Pou t. Ifast. Indeed, I am no mourner for tlia. news. Because they have been still my adversaries : But, that I '11 give my voice on Richard's side To bar my master's heirs in true descent, God knows I will not do it, to the death. Cate. God keep your lordship in that gracious mind ! Hast. But I shall laugh at this a twelve-monlh hence. That they who brought me in my muster's hate I live to look upon their tragedy. I toll thee, (Cateshy, — Catc. What, my lord ? [last. Vse a l'orlni;iht make me older, I "11 send some packing that yet think not on it. Cute. 'T is a vile thing to die, my gracious lord, When men are unprepared and look not for it. Hast. O monstrous, monstrous I and so falls it out With Rivers, Vaughan, Grey : and so 't will do With some men else, who think thoniselvos as safe As thou and I, who, as thou know'st, are dear To princely Richard aiid to Buckingham. Catc. The princes both make high account of you ; [Aside] For they account his head upon the bridr'o Hast. 1 know they do ; and I have well deserved it. Enter Lord Stanley Come on, come on ; where is your boar-spear, man I Fear you the boar and go so unprovided ? 113 r KING RICHARD III Act III Sell Slan. My lord, fjood morrow; — Rood morrow, Catcsby: — ^ou may jost on. but. |)y Hr. holy rood, I do not like tluse several eomicils, I Ilast. My lord. I hold my life as dear as you do yours ; And never in my life I do protesl". Was It more preeious to me Hum t is now : Think you, hut lijai I know our sUite serurc, I would be so triumphant as I ;un ? Stan The lords at Pomfrc I. when Ihey rode from London, VVcre jocund, and supj)osed their state were sure — And they indeed had no rause to mistrust - Rut yet, you see, how soon the day oereast. T his sudden stab of raneour I misdoubt : Tray God, I say, I prove a needless coward ! - NN hat, shall wc toward the Tower? the day is spent Hast Come, come, have with ymi. Wot you wh.at, my lord ? " ' J To-day the lords you talk of are beheaded. Stan They, for their truth, might better wear their heads Than some that have accused them wear their hats, liut come, my lord, let us away. Enter a Pursuivant Ilast. Go on before ; I '11 talk with this good fellow. „„,.. . , , , {Exeunt Stiinli!/ and Cutesbij How now, sirrah I how goes the world with thee '' lurs. Tlie belter that your lordsliip please to ask. ilast. I tell thee, man, 't is better with me now Ihan when I met thee last where now wc meet: Then was I going prisoner to the Tower, By the suggestion of the queen's allies ; Hut now, I tell thee— keep it to tliysclf This day those enemies arc put to death, And I in better state than e'er I was. Purs. God hold it, to your honour's good content I Gramercy, fellow : there, drink that for me. ^ - . I Throws him his purse. God save your lordship ! [Exit Enter r Priest Well met, my lord ; I am glad to sec your honour. I thank thee, good Sir .John, with all my heart. 1 m in your debt lor your last exercise • Come tlie next Sabbath, and I will content you. [He whispers in hi$ car Enter Buckingham v«?,w^'- Y'^f' talking with a priest, lord chamberlain ? ^ our friends at Pomfret, they do need the priest ; 114 Hast. Purs. Priest. Iliisl. '..>»*- -^je*::'*.- 5 Act III Sclv KING RICHARD III Your lionour linth no sliriviiiK work in hand. Jinsl. (;oo(l faith, and when I in*'t this holy man. Those men you talk of came into tiiy mind.— What, go you toward the Tower ? T ^^"n*- .^ ''"• "'y '"'"'' ' ''"^ '""« ' cannot stay there : I shall return before your lordship thence. Haift 'Tis like enough, for I slay (iinmr there liuck [Aside] And supper too, although thou know'st it not. Come, will you go ? ^'"*'- I 'I' ^''liL upon your lordship. [Exeunt Scene HI.— Pomfrct Castle Enter Sin RrciiARi) Ratcmff. ivilh halberds, carrying RivEns, Ghey, and Vai-uiian to death Riv. Sir Richard Ratcliff, let mc tell thee this : To-day shall thou behold a subject die For truth, for duty, and for loyalty. Grey God ' on the prince from all the pack of you 1 A knot you are ( damned blood-suckers. n°,"^* r.X°" "^'^ ^hat shall cry woe for this hereafter Jiat. nispatch ; the Imiit of your live., is out liw. V, Pomfret, Pomfret I O thou bloody prison, ratal and ommous to noble peers ! Within the guilty closure of thy walls Richard the Second here was hacked to death • And, for more slander to thy dismal seat, We give thee up our guiltless blood to drink Grey. Now Margaret's curse is fallen ui)on our hends, For standing by when Richard stabbed her son Riv. Then cursed she Hastings, then cursed she Bucking- ham, ° Then cursed she Richard. O, remember. God, To hear her prayers for tlicm, as now for us 1 And for my sister and her princely sons, Be satisfied, dear God, with our true blood Which, as thou know'st, unjustly must be spilt. liat. Make haste ; the hour of death is expiate Hio Lome, Grey.— come, Vaughan,— let us all em- brace : Farewell, until we meet again in heaven. [Exeunt Scene IV.— London. A Room in the Tower Buckingham, Stanley, Hastings, the Bishop op Ely Ratcliff, Lovel, with others, at a table ' Hast My lords, at once: the cause why we are met is, to determine of the coronation. In God's name, speak :— when is the royal day ? 115 KING RICHARD III Act III Sc iv Buck. Are all things fitting for that royal time ? Stan. It is, and wants but nomination. Ely. To-morrow, then, I judge a happy day. Buck. Who knows the lord protector's mind herein ? Who is most inward with the noble duke ? Ely. Your grace, wc think, should soonest know his mind. Buck. We know each other's faces ; for our hearts He knows no more of mine than I of yours, ' Nor I of his, my lord, than you of mine. Lord Hastings, you and he arc near in love. Hast. I thank his grace, I know he loves me well • But, for his purpose in the coronation, ' I have not sounded him, nor he delivered His gracious pleasure any way therein : But you, my noble lords, may name the time : And in the duke's behalf I 'II give my voice. Which, I presume, he '11 take in gentle part.' Ely. In happy time, here comes the duke himself. Enter Gloster Glo. My noble lords and cousins all, good morrow. I have been long a sleeper ; but, I trust, My absence doth neglect no great design, Which by my presence might have b'^en concluded. Aur^i"^^' T ^'^^ "°^ ^°" ^^^^^ "P°" yo"'" cue, my lord, \\ illiam Lord Haslmgs had pronounced your part — I mean, your voice,— lor crowning of the king. T r-^'^,^" , {^^" "^y ^°^^ Hastings no man might be bolder : His lordship knows me well, and loves me well. My lord of Ely, when I was last in Holborn, I saw good strawberries in your garden there : I do beseech you send for some of them. Ely. Marry, and will, my lord, with all my heart Glo. Cousm of Buckingham, a word with you. ^ . , , .^ , , ,, [Draivinfj him aside Catesby hath sounded Hastings in our business. And finds the testy gentleman so hot. As he will lose his head ere give consent His master's son, as worshipful he terms it Shall lose the royalty of England's throne.' Buck. Withdraw you hence, my lord, I '11 follow you. e, ,^, , l-^-^'^ Gloster, Buckingham iollowinq Stan. We have not yet set down this day of triumph lo-morrow, ni mine opinion, is too sudden : For I myself am not so well provided As else I would be were the day prolonged. Re-enter Bishop of Ely Ely. Wliere is my lord the Duke of Gloster ? I have sent for these strawberries. 110 [Exit Act III Sc iv KING RICHARD III Hast. His grace looks cheerfully and smooth to-day ; There 's some conceit or other likes him well When he doth bid good morrow with such spirit. I think there 's ne'er a man in Christendom That can less hide his love or hate than he ; For by his face strait^ht shall you know his heart. Stan. What of his heart perceive you in his face By any likelihood he showed to-day ? Hast. Marry, that with no man here he is offended ; For, were he, he had shown it in his looks. Re-enter Glosteh and Buckingham Glo. I pray you all, tell me what they deserve That do conspire my death with devilish plots Of damned witchcra't, and that have prevailed Upon my body with their hellish charms ? Hast. The tender love I bear your grace, my lord. Makes me most forward in this nobl.' presence To doom the oflenders, whatsoe'er they be : I say, my lord, they have deserved death. Glo. Then be your eyes the witness of this ill : See how I am bewitched ; behold mine arm Is, like a blasted sapling, withered up : And this is Edward's wife, that monstrous witch, Consorted with that harlot strmnpet Shore, That by their witchcraft thus have marked me. Hast. If they have done this thing, my gracious lord, — Glo. If 1 thou protector of this damned strumpet, Tellest thou me of " ifs " ? Thou art a traitor : Off with his head 1 Now, by Saint Paul I swear I will not dine until I see the same. Lovel and Ratclilf, look that it be done : The rest, that love me, rise and follow me. [Exeunt all but nasfir.gs, Ratcliff. and Lovel Hast. Woe, woe for England 1 not a whit for me ; For I, too fond, might have prevented this. Stanley did dream the boar did raze his helm ; But I disdained it, and did scorn to fly : Three times to-day my foot-cloth horse did stumble. And startled, when he looked upon the Tower, As loth to bear me to the slaughter-house. O, now I want the priest that spake to me : ! nov' repent I told the pursuivant. As t were triumphing at mine enemies. Mow they at Pomfrct bloodily were butchered. And I myself secure in grace and favour. O .Margaret, Margaret, now thy heavy curse Is lighted on poor Hastings' wretched head ! Rat. Dispatch, my lord; the duke would be at dinner: Make a short shrift ; he longs to sec your head. 117 KING RICHARD III Act III Sc V Hasl. O momentary pracc of mortal men. \Vhich we more hunt for than the grace of C.od! Who builds his hopes in air oi your fair looks, Lives like a drunken sailor on a mast, Ready, with every nod, to tumble down Into the fatal bowels of the deep. Lov Come, come, dispatch ; 't is bootless to exclaim. Jiast. O bloody Richard I miserable EnRland ! I prophesy the fearfull'st time to thee That ever wretched age hath looked upon. Come, lead me to the block ; bear him my head • They smile at me who shortly shall be dead. ' [Exeunt Scene V. — The Tower-walls Enter Glosteu and Buckixgham, in rotten armour, marvdlous ill-favoured Glo. Come, cousin, canst thou quake, and chance thy colour, " "^ Murder thy breath in middle of a word, And then begin again, and slop again, As if thou wert distraught and mad with terror *> Buck. Tut. I can counterfeit the deep tragedian ; ^pcak and look back, and pry on every side Tremble and start at wagging of a straw, Intending deep suspicion : ghastly looks Are at my service, like enforce'd smiles ; And both are ready in their olTices, At any time, to grace my stratagems. But what, is Catesby gone ? Glo. He is ; and, see, he brings the mayor along. Buck. Let me alone to entertain him. Enter the Mcujor and Catesby Lord Mayor, — Glo. Look to the drawbridge there I Buck. Hark I a drum. Glo. Catesby, o'erlook the walls. Buck. Lord mayor, the reason we have sent for vou- Glo. Look back, defend thee,— here are enemies ^ Buck, God and our innocence defend and guard us I Glo. Be patient, they are friends,— RatchfT and Lovel. Enter Lovel and Ratcliff, with Hastings' head Lav. Here is the head of that ignoble traitor, 1 he dangerous and unsuspected Hastings. T f'^°: , -^^ ^*''*'' ^ ^'^"''^'^ ^^^ "^^"' ^'i^it f must weep. I took him for the plainest harmless creature That breathed upon this earth a Christian • Made him my book, wherein my soul recorded 118 JMMM Act ill Scv KING RICHARD III The history of all her secret thoughts : So smooth he daubed his vice with show of virtue, That, his apparent open guilt omitted, — I mean, his conversation witii Shore's wife, He lived from all attainder of sus])oct. liiick. Well, well, he was the covtrt'st sheltered traitor Tliat ever lived. Would you imagine, or almost believe,— Were 't not that, by great preservation. We hvc to tell it you,— the subtle traitor This day had plotted, in the counoii-liouse To murder me and my good Lord of Gloster ? May. What, had he so ? Glo. What, think you we are Turks or infidels ? Or that we would, against the form of law. Proceed thus rashly to the villain's death, But that the extreme peril of the ca e, The peace of England and our persons' safety. Enforced us to this execution ? May. Now, fair befall you ! he deserved his death - And you, my good loids, both liave well proceeded To warn false traitors from the like attempts. I never looked for better at his hands. After he once fell in with Mistress Shore. Glo. Yet had not we determined he should die Until your lordship came to see his end ; Which now the loving haste of these our friends. Somewhat against our meaning, have prevented : Because, my lord, we would have had you hear The traitor speak, and timorously confess The manner and the purpose of his treason ; That you might well have signified the same Unto the citizens, who haply may Misconstrue us in him and wail his death. May. But, my good lord, your grace's word shall serve As well as I had seen and heard him speak : And doubt you not, right noble princes both, But I '11 acquaint our duteous citizens With all your just prrceedings in this case. Glo. And to that end we wished your lordship here. To avoid the censures of the carping world. Buck. But since you come too late of our intent, Yet witness what you hear we did intend : And so, my good lord mayor, we bid farewell. ^, ^ ,, ,, [E^it Lord Mayor (iln. Go-, after, after. con^Jin Buckingham. The mayor towards Guildhall hies him In all post:— There, at your meetest vantage of the time, Infer the bastardy of Edward's children : Tell them how Edward put to death a citizen, 119 r KING RICHARD III Act III Scvi Only for saying he would mako his son Heir to the crown ; meaning indeed his house. Which, by the sign thereof, was termed so. Moreover, urge his hateful luxury, And bestial appetite in change of lust ; Which stretched to their servants, daughters, wives, Even where his lustful eye or savage heart, ^yithout control, listed to make a prey. Xay. for a need, thus far come near my person :— Tell them, when that my mother went with child Of that unsatiate Edward, noble York My princely father then had wars in iMance ; And, by just computation of the time. Found that the issue was not his betiot ; Which well appeared in his lineaments, Being notiiing like the noble duke my father: liut touch this sparingly, as 'twere far oil' ; Because you know, my lord, my mother lives. Buck. Fear not, my lord, I '11 play the orat . As if the golden fee for which I plead Were for myself : and so, my lord, adieu. Glo. If you thrive well, bring them to Baynard's Castle ; Where you shall find me well accompanied With reverend fathers and Mell-learned bishops. Bii<^k. I go ; and towards three or four o'clock Look for the news that the Guildhall allords. [Exit (do. Go, Lovel, with all speed to Doctor Shaw, — [To Caie.] Go thou to Friar Penker ;— bid them both Meet me within this hour at Baynard's CasLle. [li.reunt all but Glosler iNow will I in, to take some privy order. To draw the brats of Clarence out of sight ; And to give notice, that no manner person Have any time recourse unto the princes. [Exit Scene VI.— The Same. A Street Enter a Scrioener. with a paper in his hand Scriv. This is the indictment of the good Lord H;;stings ; Which in a set hand fairly is engrossed. That it may be this day read o'er in Paul's. And nicTk how well the sequel hangs togctiier: — Eleven hours I spent to write it over, For yesternight by Catesby was it brought me ; The precedent was full as long a-doing : And yet within these live hours Hastings lived, Untainted, unexamined, iree, at liberty. Here 's a good world the while ! Why who 's so gross. That cannot see this palpable device ? Yet who 's bold, but says he sees it not ? 120 Act in Scvii KING RICHARD III Bad is the world ; and all will come to nauRht, Wlien such ill dealing must be seen in thought. [Exit Scene VII.— Court of Baynard's Castle Enter Gloster and Buckingham, at several doors Glo. How now, how now 1 what say the citizens ? Buck. Now, by the holy mother of our Lord, The citizens ar" mum, say not a word. Glo. Touched you the bastardy of Edward's children? Buck. I did ; with this contract with Lady Lucy, And his contract by deputy in France ; The insatiate greediness of his desires, And his enforcement of tlie city wives ; Mis tyranny for trifles ; his own bastardy, — As being got, your father then in France, And his resemblance, being not like the duke : Withal I did infer your lineaments, — Being the right idea of your father. Both in your form and nobleness of mind ; Laid open all your victories in Scotland, Your discipline in war, wisdom in peace, Your bounty, virtue, fair humility ; Indeed, left nothing fitting for the purpose Untouched, or slightly handled, in discourse : And when mine oratory grew toward end, I bid them that did love their country's good Cry " God save Richard, England's royal king I " Glo. And did they so? Buck. No, so God help me, they spake not a word ; But, like dumD statuas or breathing stones. Stared each on other, and looked deadly pale. Which when I saw, I reprehended them ; And asked the mayor what ...oant this wilful silence : His answer was, the people were not wont To be spoke to but by the recorder. Then he was urged 1o tell my tale again, " Thus saith the duke, thus hath the duke inferred ; " But nothing spake in warrant from himself. When he had done, some followers of mine own. At lower end of the hall, hurled up their caps, And some ten voices cried " God save King Richard ! " And thus I took the vantage of those few, " Thanks, gentle citizens and friends," quoth I ; " This general applause and loving shout Argues your wisdoms and your love to Richard : " And even here brake off, and catne away. Glo. What tongucless blocks were they I would they not speak ? 121 KING RICHARD III Act III Scvl Buck. No. by my troth, my lord. Glo. Will not the mayor then and his brotiiren come *> Buck. The mayor is litre at liand: intend some fear : Be not you spoke with, but ])y n)if,'hty suit : And look you get a prayer-book in your hand. And stand betwixt two churchmen, good my lord : For on that ground I *11 build a holy descant : And be not easily won to our request : Play the maid's part,— still answer nay, and take it. o/o. I go ; and if you plead as well for them As I can say nay to thee for myself. No doubt we 11 bring it to a happy issue. Buck. Go, go, up to the leads ; the lord mavor knocks \Exit Gtoslcr Enter the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Citizens Welcome, my lord : I dnncc attendance here : I thmk the duke will not be spoke withal. Enter from the Castle Gates by Here comes his servant: how now, Catesbv What says ho ? '^' Cale. My lord, he doth entreat your grace To visit him to-morrow or next day : He is within, with two right reverend fathers Divinely bent to meditation ; ' And in no worldly suit would he be moved To draw him from his holy exercise Buck. Return, good Catesby, to the gracious duke ; Tell him, myself, the mayor and aldermen. In deep designs and matters of great moment No less importing than our general good. Are come to have some conference with his grace Gate I '11 signify so much unto him straight. * \Exit Buck. Ah, ah, my lord, this prince is not an Edward I He is not lolling on a lewd day-bed, But on his knees at meditation ; Not dallying with a brace of courtesans, But meditating with two deep divines ; Not sleeping, to engross his idle body, But praying, to enrich his watclilul soul: Happy were England, would this gracious prince lake on himself the sovereignly thereof: But, sure. I fear, wc shall not vin him to 't May. Marry, God forbid his grace should say us nay 1 Buck. I fear he will. Here Catesby comes again. Re-enter Catesby Now, Catesby, what says his grace ? Gate. He wonders to wliat end you have assembled 122 Act III Scvii KING RICHARD III [Exit Calcsbif Such troops of citizens to come to him, His grace not being warned thcn-of before : He fears, my lord, you mean no «ood to iiim. Buck, Sorry I am my noble cousin should Suspect me, that I mean no good to him ; By heaven, we come to him in perfect love ; And so once more return and tell his f;race. When holy and devout religious men Are at their beads, 't is h ird to draw them thence,— So sweet is zealous contemplation. Enter Gloster aloft, between two Bishops. Catesby returns May See, where he stands between two clergymen ' Buck Two props of virtue for a Ciiristian prince. To stay him from the fall of vanity : And, see, a book of prayer in his hand, True ornament to know a holy man. — Famous Plantagenet, most gracious prince, Lend favourable ears to our request ; And pardon us the interruption Of thy devotion and right Christian zeal. Glo. My lord, there neeas no such apology : I rather do beseech you pardon me. Who, earnest in the service of my God, Neglect the visitation of my friends. But leaving this, what is your grace's pleasure ? Buck Even that, I hope, which pleaseth God above, And all good men of this ungoverned isle. Gto. I do suspect I have done some ollence That seems disgracious in the city's eyes. And that you come to reprehend my ignorance. Buck. You have, my lord: would it might please your grace At our entreaties, to amend that fauP ! j b , Glo. Else wherefore breathe I in a Christian land f Buck. Know then, it is your fault that you resign ihe supreme seat, the throne majcstical, The sceptered office of your ancestors. Your state of fortune and your due of b'-th, The lineal glory of your royal house. To the corruption of a blemished stock : Whilst, in the mildness of your sleepy thoughts- Which here we waken to our countrv's good — This noble isle doth want her proper "limbs ; Her face defaced with scars of infamy. Her royal stock graft with ignoble plants, And .almost shouldered in the swallowing gulf Of dark forgctfulncss and deep oblivion. Which to recure, we heartily solicit Your gracious self to take on you the charge And kingly government of this your land"; — 123 m^^'x^fffsn KING RICHARD III Act III Sc vii Not as protector, steward, substitute, Or lowly factor for another's gain : But as successively, from blood to blood, Your right of birth, your empery, your own. For this, consorted with tlic citizens. Your very worshipful and loving friends, And by their vehement instigation. In this just suit come I to move your grace. Glo. I cannot tell If to depart in silence Or bitterly to speak in your reproof Best fitteth my degree or your condition : If not to answer, you might haply think Tongue-tied ambition, not replying, yielded To bear the golden yoke of sovereignty, Which fondly you would here impose on me ; If to reprove you for this suit of yours, So seasoned with your faithful love to me, Then, on the ether side, I checked my friends. Therefore, to speak, and to avoid the first. And then, in speaking, not to incur the last. Definitively thus I answer you. Your love deserves my thanks ; but my desert Unmeiitable shuns your high request. First, if all obstacles were cut away. And that my path were even to the crown. As the ripe revenue and due by birth ; Yet so much is my poverty of spirit, So mighty and so many my defects. As I had rather hide me from my gr-^atness, — Being a bark to brook no mighty sea. Than in my greatness covet to be hid, And in the vajjour of my glory smothered. But, God be thanked, there is no need of me, And much I need to help you, if need were ; — The royal tree hath left us royal fruit, AVhich, mellowed by the stealing hours of time. Will well become the seat of majesty, And make, no doubt, us happy by his reign. On him I lay what you would lay on me, — The right and fortune of his hnppy stars ; Which God defend that I should wring from him I Buck. My lord, this argues conscience, in your grace But the respects thereof are nice and trivial, All circumstances well considered. You say that Edward is your brother's son : So say we too, but not by Edward's wife ; For xirst he was contract to Lady Lucy — Your mother lives a witness to his vow, — And afterwards by substitute betrothed To Bona, sister to the King of France. 124 Pll^J^i^tii^mS^.. Act III Scvii KING RICHARD III These both put by, a poor petitioner, A care-crazed mother of a many children, A beauty-waning and distressed widow. Even in the afternoon of her best days, Made prize and purchase of his wanton eye. Seduced the pitcli and height of liis dccjrce To base declension and loathed bigamy : By her, in his unlawful bed, he got This Edward, whom our manners call the prince. More bitterly could I expostulate. Save that, for reverence to some alive, I give a sparing limit to my tongue. Then, good my lord, take to your royal self This proffered benefit of dignity ; If not to bless us and tlie land withal. Yet to draw forth your noble ancestry From the corruption of abusing time. Unto a lineal true-derived course. May. Do, good, my lord ; your citizens entreat you. Buck. Refuse not, mighty lord, this pro (Te red love. Cate. O, make them joyiul, grant their lawful suit I Glo. Alas, why would you heap tiicse cares on me ? I am unfit for state and majesty : — I do beseech you, take it not amiss ; I cannot nor i will not yield to you. Buck. If you refuse it, — as, in love and zeal. Loth to depose the child, your brother's sou ; As well we know your tenderness of heart. And gentle, kind, effeminate remorse. Which we have noted in you to your kin, And egally indeed to all estates, — Yet whether you accept our suit or no. Your brother's son shall never reign our king ; But we will plant some other in the throne, To the disgrace and downfall of your house : And in this resoiuLion lu>re we leave you. — Come, citizens: zounds, I 11 en.. °at no more. Glo. O, do not swear, my lord of Buckingl;am. [Exit Buckingham with some of the Citizens Gate. Call them again, sweet prince, accept their suit. If you deny them all the land will rue it. Glo. Would you enforce me to a world of care ? Call them again. [Catesbij goes to the Mayor, etc., and then exit.] I am not made of stones. But penetrable to your kmd entreats. Albeit against my conscience and my soul. Re-enter Buckingham and Catesby, the Mayor, etc, coming forward 125 KING RICHARD III Act IV Sc i Cousin of IJuckinRliam. and you snoc. crave men Since you will buckle fortune on my back I o bear her burden, whether I will or no, I must have patience to endure the load • liut If black scandal or foul-faced reproach Attend the sequel of your imposilioii, \our niere enforcement shall acquittance me •rom all the impure blots and stains Iheivof • I'or God He knows, and you mi;v i)artly see, now far I am from the desire of this. May. God bless your grace ! we see it, and will sav it iilo In saymf,'so, youshallbutsay the triilh ' ' Buck. Then I salute you with this'kinolv tlMe- Lonj; hve Kinj,' Richard, England's worthy "king' ' Mai/. (111,1 Cii. Amen. niick. To-morrow may it please you to I>e crowned " JiicL. To-morrow, then, we will attend vour L'race • And so most joyfully we take our leave ' ' (>lo. (.ome. let us to our holv task :!"ain — farewell, good cousin ;— farewell; gentle friends. [Exeunt ACT FOUR Scene I.— London. Before the Tower Enter, on one side. Queen Elizabeth, Duchess of Yobk «n.MARQUEss OF DousET .• On the other, An.xe, Drr fu ss OF GLosTEn, leadinc, Lvov Maroare; Plantvgenet Clahexce's young Dnwjhtcr ^iniagenet, Z)ar// \Vho meets us here ? my niece Plnntagenct Led m the hand of her kind aunt of Gloster"' ^ Now, for my life, she 's wandering to the Tower. On pure hear s love, to greet the tender princes Daughter, well met. ^ "'^i-a. A K ''"'"■ , . , ^^^ gi'^'e your graces both A happy and a joyful time of day ' tnni'"' ^-^Y'^X^^' ^?, ^'•'"' S^^'^ sister • \Vhilher away "> Anne No farther than the Tower ; and as I mwK^ Lpon the like devotion as yourselves ' ^ "'' lo pratulate the gentle princes there. Q. hliz. Kind sister, thanks: we'll enter all to-ethrr And, m good time, here the lieutenant comes. ^°°'^^'^'^- Enter Buakexbuuy rtow doth the prmce, and mv vouhp son of Yo"'- ■> ^>rau. Right well, dear n^adam. ^ By your patience I may not suiler you to visit them ; ^ P-i^'c^ice, .he kmg hath strailly charged the contrary, y. i:.az . ihe king ! who 's that ? 126 M€^^m^s:^ . ±_ll- fh^^ik!^LjL^.^i^t^'^* Act IV Sc i KING RICHARD III nrak. I in-an the lord protector. ijH\ ^r^''- "''^ ^"'"'' ■"•^•i^^t '>'"> from thnt kingly title Hath he set bounds between their love and me > I am their mother ; who shall bar me from Ih-ni f Duch. I am their father's mother ; I w!:. see Uiem j^nne. Their aunt I am in law, in love tlicir inolii-r : Then brmj; me to their sights ; I '11 bear thy blame And take thy odice from thee, on my peril! lirak. No, madam, no,— T may r.ot leave it so : I m bound by oath, and therefore pardon me. \Ei it Enter SrANLKV A "^/"t"',, ^^^^ '"^' '^""^ '"''^'^ >'"'"' •'" Q. Lliz O Dorset, speak not to me, get thee hence! Death and destruction dog thee at tlie heels ; Thy mother's name is ominous to children. If thou wilt outstrip death, go cross the seas And live with Richmond, from the reach of tiell: Go, hie thee, hie thee, from this slaughter-house, Lest thou increase the number of the dead. And make me die the thrall of Margarol's curse,— Nor mother, wife, nor England's counted queen.' T f^\ J"" of wise care is this your counsel, madam.— lake all the swift advantage of the liours • \ou shall have letters from me to mv son ' In your behalf, to meet you on the way : Be not ta'en tardy by imwise delay. Duch. O ill-dispersing wind of misery 1 — my accursed womb, the bed of death I A cockatrice hast thou hatched to the world, \\hose unavoided eye is murderous. Stan. Come, madam, come ; I in all haste was sent. Anne. And I in all unwillingness will go 1 would to God that the inclusive verge Of golden metal that must round my Tjrow Wore rcd-liot steel, to sear me to the JMaln I Anointed let me be with deadly venom, And die, ere men can s;*y. God save liie queen ! Q. Lliz. Go, go, poor soul, I eiavy not thy glory ; To feed my humour, wish tliysclf no harm. 127 KING RICHARD III Act IV Sc ii ■;■■ jf • Anne. No ! why ? — When he that Is my husband now Came to mc, as I followed l^k-nry's corse, When scarce Ihe blood was well washed from his hands Which issued from n»y otlier angel husband And that dead saint which then 1 weepiny followed ; O. when, I say, I looked on Richard's face, This was my wish, — " Be thou," quoth I, " ac( iirsed, For making me, so young, so old a wiilow I And, when thou wcd'st, let sorrow haunt thy bed ; And be thy wife — if any be so mad — As miserable by the life of Ihec As thou hast made me by my dcp- ord's death I " Lo, ere I can repeat this curse a^.- .>, liven in so short a space, my woman's heart Grossly grew captive to his honey words, And proved the subject of mine own soul's curse, Which ever since liath k«pt mine eyes from rest ; For never yet one hour in his bed Have I enjoyed the golden dew of sleep. But have been waked by his timorous dreams. Besides, he liates me for my fatlier \Varwick ; And will, no doubt, shortly be rid of me. Q. Eliz. Poor heart, adieu ! I pity lliy complaining. Anne. No more than from my suul 1 mourn for yours. Q. Eliz. Farewell, thou woful wclcomer of glory ! Anne. Adieu, poor soul, that tak'sl thy leave of it ! Duch. [To Dorset] Go thou to Riclimond, and good fortune guide thee I [ To Anne] Go thou to Richard, and good angels guard Ihce 1 [To Queen Eli:.] Go thou to sanctuary, and good thoughts possess thee ! I to my grave, where peace and rest lie with me ! Eighty odd years of sorrow have I seen, And each hour's joy wrecked with a week of teen. Q. Eliz. Stay, yet look back with me unto the Tower. — Pity, you ancient stones, those tender bubes Whom envy hath immured within your walls, Rough cradle for such little pretty ones I Rude r.'.gged nurse, old sullen playfellow For tender princes, use my babies well I So foolish sorrow bids your stones farewell. [Exeunt Scene II. — London. A Room of State in the Palace Sennet. Enter RiciiARn, croamed ; Dcckixgiiam, Catesby, a Page, and others K. Rich. Stand all apart.— Cousin of Buckingham, — Buck. My gracious sovereign ? K.Rich. Give me thy hand. [Ascendeth the throne.] Thus high, by thy advice 128 Act IV Sc ii KING HICHAHD III And thy assistance, is KIhr Hlthartl seated: IJul shall we wear Uu-sc h;jiiours for a day ? Or sh;'.ll they last, and we rejoice in then"! ? liuck. Slill li • they and for ever let lliem I ist I A. Hich O liackinKhain. „ow do I play the loueii. To try if thou be lurreiiL «<»!(! iiuKed :— YounR ICdward lives : think now what I would spoak liuik. Say on. my loving lord. A', liich. Why, liiKkiii«ham, I say, I wouh' he kini'. liuck. Why, so you are, my thri-e n nowiu'd Vu-' gracious soverdgr.. A. Rich Dar St thou resolve to kill a friend of mine f lyr. Ay, my lord ; But I had rather kill two enemies. A'. Rich. Why, there thou hasc it : two deep enemies. Foes to my rest and my sweet sleep's disturbers Are they that I would have thee deal upon •— ' Tyrrel, I mean those bastards in the Tower. 'lijr. Let me have open means to come to them. And soon I '11 rid you from the fear of them K. Rich. Thou sing'st sweet music. Hark, come hither 1 yrrel : ' Go, by this token :--rise, and lend thine ear There is no more but so :— say it is done, And I will love thee, and prefer thee for it. Tijr. 'Tis done, my gracious lord. K. Rich. Shiill we hear from thee, Tyrrel Tijr, Yc shall, my lord. Re-enter Bucki- -uam Buck. My lord, I have conside in my mind The late demand that you did so; d ire in K. Rich Weil let that pass. F. is. ;led to Richmond Buck. I hear that news, my lord. K. Ricli. Stanley, he is your wife's son :— well, look to it. 130 [ Whispers ere vv-e sleep ? [Exit Act IV Sc iii KING RICHARD III , '■ <'°;W™i of Hereford ,md the mov4 ,b e ' A- S y°';PTif 1 I should possS D,d pre I„.,y lh;,t )!iehmond should h^'ki ,g,^ iiuc/f. My lord ' — ^^^ i';;c,,.^'^,Ji;:hVo"„;i^i'°^^-,S ?tL-ifSe7er The mayor in courtesy showed me the -astl ' And called .t Rougemont : at ^vhlcl nam. l\f ,w , \T'T, " ^.^^.^ °^ ^'-'''^"^^ told me on " '^"'^'^^' l;":^i^^?iVrri^"i'^^^^^^--^^^^^^^^^^ A. /{/c/j. Ay, what 's o'clock '> Jiun. I am thus bold to put your f^race in minH Of what you promised me. ° "'" |^|.'%pon the stroke of^n"' ''"' '''^'' '^ ^'^''^^''^ ' Buck. Why let It strike ■> ^^'". l"^' H strike. ''■ 's'trolce ""'"'" """• ■""= ^ ■">='- "■»" koep'st the ^ctc..-i^;oXSe's7,^-7-r;;„ri^^^ ^i"cA-. Is it even so ■> rewardf 1u"m!v '/ ^"^ ^^'''■■•^•'■"://'""' lo Liocknock. ^vh,le my fearful head is on. [Exit Scene III.— Another Room in the Palace Enter Tyiuiel Ti,T^^' P^^ tyrannous and bloody d^ cd is dono The most arch act of piteous massLre "''"" ^i.to c-.ti yet tnis land was cuiltv of Dighton and Forrest, whom I did si born io do this ruthless piece ot butchery 'though they were lleshed villains, bloody dogs. 131 KING RICHARD III Act IV Sc iU Mcltina Willi tenderness and kind compassion. Wepl like two children in their deaths' sad story. " ho thus," quoth Dighton, " lay tiiose tender bnbes : " " Thus, thus," quoth Forrest, " girdling one another ^^ilhin their innocent alabaster arms : Their lii)s were four red roses on a stalk, \Vhich in their summer beauty kissed each other. A book of prayers on their inflow lay ; Which once," quoth Forrest, " almost champed my mind ; But O 1 the devil "—there the villain stoppVd ; Whilst Dighton thus told on:—" We smolhercd The most replenislicd sweet work of nature That from the prime creation e'er she framed." Hence both are ^one with conscience and remorse ; They could not speak ; and so I left them both. To bring this tidings to the bloody king :— And here he comes. Enter King Richard All health, my sovereign liege I K. Rich. Kind Tyrrel. am I hr.ppy in thv news ? Tur. If to have done the thing you gave "in charge Beget your hapjiiness, be happy then, For it is done. A', liich. But didst thou see them dead ? Tijr. I did. my lord. J'^- Jiicfi- And buried, gentle Tvrrel ? Tyr. The chaplain of the Tower haili buried them ; But where, to say the truth, I do not know. 7v. liich. Come to me, Tyrrel, soon at after supper, When Ihou shall tell the process of their death. .Meantime, but think how I may do thee good, .\n(l be inheritor of thy desire. r'arewell till then. [Exit Tyrrel The son of Clarence have I pent up close ; His daughter meanly have I malciied in marriage ; The sons of Edward sieep in Abrali;im"s bosom, .\nd Anne my wife balh bid the world good night. Now, for I know the Breton Richmond ;iims At young Elizabeth, my brother's dauj^hler. And, by that knot, looks proudiv on tlie crown, To her I go, a jolly thriving wooer. Enter Catesuy Calc. My lord,— K. Jlich. Good news or bad, that thou com'st in so bluntly ? Gate. B;Hi news, my lord : l-:iy is fled to Richmond ; And Buckingham, backed Avith the harlv Welslmien, Is in the lield, and slil! his power increaseth. 132 Act IV Sc iv KING RICHARD III K. Rich. Ely with Richmond troul)los me more near T' m Buckingham and his rasli-leviod strcnath, Coiiie, — I have learned that fearful commenlin" Is leaden servitor to dull delay ; " Delay leads impotent and snail-paced beggary : Then fiery expedition be my wiua,, ° Jove's Mercui-y, and herald for a king! Come, muster men : my counsel is my shield ; We must be brief when traitors brave the field. [Exeunt Scene IV.— Before the Palace Enter Queen Margaret Q. Mar. So, now prosperity begins to mellow And drop into the rotten mouth of death. Here in these confines slily have I lurked, To watch the waning of mine enemies. A dire induction am I witness to, And will to France ; hoping the consequence \\ ill prove as bitter, black, and tragical - - Withdraw thee, wretched Margaret : who comes here ? Enter Quei:n Elizabeth and the Duchess of York Q. Eliz. Ah, my young princes I ah, my tender babes .' -My unblown flowers, new-ai)pearing sweets 1 If yet your gentle souls fly in the air And be not fixed in doom perpetual. Hover about me with your aii-y wings And hear your mother's lamentation ! Q-Mar. [Aside] Hover about her ; say, that right for right Hath dimmed your infant morn to aged night. Z)uc/j. So many miseries have crazed mv voice That my woe-wearied tongue is still and mute ' Edward Plantagenet, why art thou dead •> r 9 ^\'"i' M'"^'"' Pl''^ntagenet doth quit Plantagenet, Edward for Edward pays a dying debt A ^," H!'-- .y"^ '^'^*^"' ^ *^«'^' "y ^''"i" such gentle lambs And throw them in the entrails of the wolf '» When didst Thou sleep, when such a deed was done ' nnl,?'' rSr "f '• Yl''''} ^"/^ ^''''^ '^^^^'' «"^ ^y sweet son. Dach. Blind sight, dead life, poor mortal living ghost Woe s scene, world's shame, grave's due by life usui^.ed, Brief abstract and record of tedious days Rest thy unrest on England's lawful earth, [Sittina down L nlawfully made drunk with innocents' blood f ^ A Hu^^''' ^V'.^^iat thou wouldst as well aflord a grave As thou canst yield a melancholy seat I 'Then would I hide my bone^, not rest them here Ah, who hath any cause to mourn but I ? [Sitting down by her 133 KING RICHARD III ^ct IV Sc iv Q. Mar. [Com\:g forivard] If ar-;. • t sorrow be most reverend. Give mine the benefit of son lory, And lot my griefs frovn on tlie upper linnd. If sorrow can admit sodety, [Silliiuj down with them lell o or your woes a-^ain by viewing mine :— I had an Edward, till a Uiehard killed him ; I had a Harry, till a Richard liillcd him : Thou hadst an Edward, till a Richard killed him • Thou hadst a Richard, till a Richard killed him Diich. I had a Richard too. and thou didst kill him • 1 had a lUitland too. fhou holp"st to kill him. Q. Mar. Thou hadst a Clarence too, and Rachard killed him. From forth the kennel of thy womb hath crept A hell-hound that doth hunt us all to death : That dog, that had his teeth before liis eyes," To worry lambs and lap their g<-n[]c bhxnl ; That foul defacer of God's handiwork ; That excellent grand tyrant of the earth. That reigns in galled eyes of weeping souls. — Thy womb let loose, to chase us to our graves. — O upright, just, and true-disposing God, How do I thank Thee, that this carnal cur Preys on the issue of his mother's body, And riakes her i)ew-fellow with others' moan I Duch. O Harry's wife, triumph not in my woes ! God witness with me, I have wept for thine. Q. Mar. Bear with me ; I am hungry for revenue And now I cloy me with beholding it. ' Thy Edward he is dead, that stabbed my Edward ; Thy other Edward dead, to quit my Edward ; Young York he is but boot, because both they Match not the high perfection of my loss: Thy Clarence he is dead that killed my Edward ; And the beholders of this tragic play. The adulterate Hastings, Rivers, Vaughan, Grey, Untimely smothered in their dusky graves. Richard yet lives, hell's black intelligencer, Only reserved their factor, to buy souls And send them thither:— but at hand, at hand. Ensues his piteous and unpilied end : Earth gapes, hell burns, fiends roar, saints pray. To have him suddenly conveyed away. Cancel his bond of life, dear God, I pray, Tliat I may live to say, The dog is dead ! Q. Eli:. O, thoii didst prophesy the time would come That I should wish for thee to help me curse That bottled spider, that foul bunch-backed toad! 134 Act IV Sc iv KING RICHARD III T P?r^ n \^^"^^ thee then, vain nourish of my fortune I cahcd thee then poor shadow, painted queen : ' The prescntahon of but what I was, 1 he flattering index of a direful paRoant • One heaved a-hifih, to be hurled down bc'low : A mother only moclblc • A sign of dignity, a garish flag To be the aim of everv dangerous shot • A queen in jest, only to liil the > enc ' Wh^r u ?J »;"^i^«»^I "ow ? where be thy brothers "> \\here be thy two sons ? wherein dost thou i„v > \\ho sues to thee, and cries, " God save the muT-n " ? Where be the bending peers that flattered thee ' \Vhcre be the thronging troops that followed thee ? Decline all this, and see wliat now thou art • For happy wife, a most distressed widow • * l;or joyful mother, one that wails the name • Por queen, a very caitifl crowned with care •' For one being sued to. one that humblv sues • For one that scorned al me, now scorned of nie : l;or one being feared of all, now fejiin- one • For one commanding all, o!,cyed of none. ' And left thee but a very prey to time • Haying no more but thought of what thou wert, To tor ure thee the more, being what thou art. Ihou didst usurp my place, and dost thou not Usurp the just proportion of mv sorrow '> Now thy proud neck bears half mv burdened voke • From which even here I slip mv wearv neck ' And leave the burden of it all on thee' Farewell, York's wife, and queen of sad mischance •- - These English woes will mak. me smile in France * A Ji" i u ^ 1^°" ^^'^" ^^'"^'1 '" ^-^'^st's. Stay awhile And teach me how to curse mine enemies ! Q. Mar Forbear to sleep the night, and fast the dav • Compare dead happiness with living woe : ^ ' Think that thy babes were fr.irer than they were And he that slew them fouler than he is • ' Bettering thy loss makes the bad causer worse • Revoh-.ng this will teach thee how to curse * n i/'" -^^y ^^'"^^s are dull ; O. quicken them with thine • Dnch Wny should calamity be full of words •> ^^''"■ {J. hliz. Windy attorneys to their client woes Airy succeeders of intestatJ jovs, ' J oor breathing orators of miseries ! Let them have scope : though what they do impart 13.1 KING RICHARD III [i .! Act IV Sc iv ' ( ^_ ^f. Help nothing else, yet do they case the heart A '^"•''^, H ^^' ^^^" ''^ """^ tongue-tied : go with me. And in the l)rcath of bitter words let 's smother My damned son, that thy two sweet sons smothered 1 hear his drum :— be copious in exclaims. Enter King Richard, marching, with drums and Irunipeis K. Pych AMio intercepts me in my expedition ? Diirh. O, she that might have intercepted thee By strangling thee in her accursed womb, From -all the slaughters, wretch, that thou hast done I Q. IJi: Hid'st thou that forehead with a golden crown, \\here should be branded, if that right were right The slaughter of the prince that owed that crown. And the dire death of my poor sons and brothers ? Tell me, thou villain slave, where are my children "> Duck Thou toad, thou toad, where is thy brother Clarence? And little Xed Plantagenet, his son ? n ^;^''-..ri^'^''''.^ 1^ ^^"^ ^^"*^^ Rivers, Vaughan, Grey ? Duch. Where is kind Hastings ? b , y . T f ■ ^'!^Il- /" flourish, trumpets ! strike alarum, drums 1 Let not the heavens hear these tell-tale women Rail on the Lord's anointed : strike, I say !— T-M 1- X. X [Flourish. Alarums Either be patient, and entreat me fair. Or with the clamorous report of war I'hus will I drown your exclamations. Duch. Art thou mv son ? A'. Rich Ay, I thank God, my father, and yourself. >^ o': ,- ^" patiently hear my impatience. A . Rich. Madam, I have a touch of your condition, \\hich cannot brook the accent of reproof Dvch. O, let me speak ! ^- ^^'^\ Do then ; but I 'II not hear nuch. I will be mild and gentle in my words. n:,rl \ .^"/^ ^"''^; '^''^'^ '"°^^^^ ' *«^ I ^^m in haste, r.i , ^^^ \''°'' '" ^''^'^y • I ^^''^^•e stayed for thee, (jod knows, m torment and in agony. A'. Ijich. And came I not at last to comfort you ? Duch. No, by the holy rood, thou know'st it well, J hou cam st on earth to make the earth my hell A gnevous burthen was thy birth to me ; Tetchy and wayward was thy infancy ; rhy school-days frightful, desperate, wild, and furiuus : 1 h> prime of manhood daring, bold, and ventnrn,T<; ihy age conhrmed, proud, subtle, bloodv, trer.clicrous More mild but yet more harmful,-kind in hatred: ' Wha "omfortable hour canst thou name, That ever graced me in thy company ? 136 Act IV Sc iv K. KIXG RICHAIID III To hrcnkf,ist once iorth of mv company. If 1 be so (iist,'racious in your eye Lot inc mnrch on, :,nd noL ofluulVou. madam, oil lUc up the drum. ^^'"'Il'- A V , ^ prithee, hear me speak. A. Rich. You speak lo(» biLlcrlv Duch. f - i7^» T • 1 iieir me a word • F-r I Mual never speak to thee again. K. Rich. So. Duch. l£ ither thou It die, Jjy God's just ordinance Ere from this v.ar thou turn a conqueror ; "'"''"^^' ur I with pinef and exlren:e age shall perish. And never look upon Uiy face a" un Therefore take with thee my mo'^'t heaw curse ■ Vvluch m the day of baLLle, tire tlice iuore i nan all tne complete armour tliat tiou wcar'st I iMy prayers on the adverse p;'rly fi"ht • And there the III He souls „f i-duarus chUdren Whisper the spirits of thine enemies And promise thein success and viclury IJloody thou art, bloody will l)e tiiv end • Shame serves thy life, and doll, th> death attend. [Exit Abides in me; I say nmen to all. ir,nmn OFU- .^"■^y-'^'^^^^' I must speak a word with you^ v/i\^ \ ^^^"l^^^'noresonsof thcrovalhlood ?h >v .^.i.^'h'"""^'"' •■ ^"' "^-y slaughters, Uichard,! They shall be praymg nuns, not weeping queens • And therefore level not in \-[l their lives A. Rich. You have a aau-^htcr called Elizihrfh Virtuous and fair, royal and j^racious ^'^^'^^^^-h' A ^" T^n"* '^"^ "^"^'- ^^"^ sl^^' ^o'" tlus ? O. let her live And I'll corrupt her manners, slain her beauty ' Slander myself as false to Edwards bed • i hrow over her the veil of infamy • So she may live unscarred of bleeding slaughter ^11 confess she was not Edward's daughter ' K. Rich. Wrong not her birth, she is of royal blood To save her life, I '11 say she is not so. Her life is safest only in her birth And only in that safety died her brothers N?' fl tv!'. r'"'',^''-'''- '^'''^ ''''^ opposiie. An ""^.^ ^^^'^^ ^^''^ inentis were contrary All unavoided is the doom of desliny TM,^i, ^"" ^"^' ^^'^^" avoided grace makes destinv • My babes were destined to a fairer death, ^ ' If grace had blessed thee with a fairer life. Q. Eliz. K. Rich. Q. Eliz. K. Rich. Q Eliz. K. Rich. Q. Eliz. 38— E* 137 KING RICHARD III Act IV Sc iv iv. Rich. You sponk ns if that I had slain my cousins. Q. FAiz. Cousins, indcnd ; and by liu-ir uncle cozened Of comfort, kingdom, kindrod. freedom, life. \Vliose hand soever laneed their tender hearts, Thy head, all indirecUy, f^ave dircclion : No doubt the murderous knife was (hill and blunt Till it was whetted on thy stone-hard heart, To revel in the entrails of my lambs. But that still use of grief makes wild grief tame, My tongue should to thy ears not name my boys Till that my nails wore anchored in tliine eyes ; And I, in such a desperate bay of death. Like a poor bark of sails and "tackling reft. Rush all to pieces on thy rocky bosom. 7... Rich. Madam, so thrive I in my enterprise And dangerous success of bloody wars, As I intend more good to you and yours Than ever you or yours were by me wronged I Q. Eliz. ^Vllat good is covered with the face of heaven. To be discovered, that can do me good ? A'. Rich. The advancement of your children, gentle lady. Q. Eliz. Up to some scalTold, there to lose llieir heads ? A'. Rich. No, to the dignity and height of honour, The high imperial type of tiiis earth's glory. Q. Eliz. Flatter my sorrows with report of it ; Tell mc what state, what dignity, what honour. Canst thou demise to any cliild of mine ? K. Rich. Even all I have ; yea, and myself and all, Will I withal endow a child of thine ; So in the Lethe of thy angry soul Thou drown the sad remembrance of those wrongs Which thou supposcst I have done to thee. Q. Eliz. Be brief, lest that the process of thy kindness Last longer telling than thy kindness' date. A'. Rich. Then know, that from my soul I love thy daughter. Q. Eliz. My daughter's mother thinks it with her soul. K. Rich. What do you think ? Q. Eliz. That thou dost love my daughter from thy soul : So from thy soul's love didst thou love her brothers ; And from my heart's love I do thank thee for it. K. Rich. Be not so hasty to confound my meaning : I mean, that with my soul 1 love thy daughter. And do intend to make her queen of England. Q. Eliz. Say then, who dost thou mean shall be her king ? K. Rich. Even he that makes her queen : who else should be ? Q. Eliz. What, thou ? K. Rich. Even 1 : what think you of it, madam ? Q. Eliz. How canst thou woo her ? 138 Act IV Sc iv KING RICHARD III ^- 'i'cli' That wou!(l I learn of you, As one hcinf? best acquainted with lier humour. Q. lUiz. And wilt thou learn of me ? K. Rich. Madam, with all my heart. Q. Eliz. Send to her, by the man that sli>\v her brothers, A pair of bleedintr hearts ; thereon engraven " Edward and York ; " then haply will she wrep : Therefore present to her,— as sometime Margaret Did to thy father, steeped in Rutland's blood,— A handkerchief; whleli. say to her, did drain The purple sap from her sweet brothers' bodies. And bid her dry her weeping eyes withal. If this inducement force her not to love. Send her a story of thy noble deeds ; Tell her thou mad'sL away iier unci.- Clarence, Her uncle Rivers ; yea, and, for her sake, Mad'st quick conveyance with her goofi aunt Anne. K. Rich. You mock me, madam ; tiiis is not the way To win your daugliter. Q. Eliz. There 's no other way; Unless thou couldst put on some other shape. And not be Richard that hath done all this. A'. Rich. Say that I did all this for love of her. Q. FAiz. Nay, then indeed she cannot choose but hate thee, Haying bou.Jiht love v.ith such a bloody spoil. K. Rich. Look, what is done cannot be now amended ; ]Men shall do d unadvisedly sometimes, Which after hours give leisure to repent. If I did lake the kingdom from your sons. To make amends, I 'II give it to your daughter. If I have i:il!cd the issue of your womb, To quickLu your increase, I will begjt "Mine issue of your blood upon your daughter : A grandam's name is little less'in love Than is the doting title of a mother ; They are as children but one step below, Elven of your mettle, of your very blood ; Of all one pain, — save for a night of groans Endured of her, for whom you bid like sorrow. Your children were vexation to your youth, PJut mine shall be a comfort to your age. The loss you have is but a son being king, And by that loss your daughter is made queen. -( cannot make you what amends I would. Therefore accept such kindness as T can. Dorset your son, that with a fearful soul Leads discontented stens in foreign soil. This fair alliance quickly shall call home To high promotions and great dignity : 13'J ■f 11 KING RICHARD III Act IV Sc iv 1 lie klnR, thnt calls your bcautonus daiiRhtcr wife lamiliiiily sliall call thy Dorset brother ; ' A^ain shall you be mother to a kin-,'. And all the ruins of distressful limes Repaired with double riches of content. What I we have many f^oodlv ilji'vour experience • I'repare her ears to he.ir a \v()(i' r's'tale ; ' Put in Iier tender heart the aspiriiv:; llaine Of pohlrn soverei^^nty ; aefpi.dnt tiie princess AVith the sweet silent hours of niarria^'e joys: And when this arm of mine hath chastisi-d The petty rebel, dull-brained lUickiu'-jham, Hoimd with triumpliant garlands will i ( ome And lead thy (lau^liter to a conqueror's bed ; To whom I will retail my concjuest won. And shr shall be sole victress. Ciesar's Ciesar. u-^",^'V'- , ^^■'i^^',^;^'^'''^' t '•'•s'- to say ? her father's brother Would be her lord ? or s!i;.ll I sav. her uncle ? Or. he that slew her broUiers and'iier uncles ? I/nder what title shall I woo for thee, That God, the law. my honour and her love. Can make seem pleasint,' to her tender years? A'. Rich. Infer fair Enj^^land's peace bv this alliance. Q. Eliz. AVhicli she shall purchase with still las! in" war A. /?'c/?. Tell her the king, that may command, entrcpts Q. Eliz. That at her hands which the kind's Kine forbids. ° K. nidi. Say, she shall be a high and mighty queen. To wail the title, as her mother doLh. Say, I will love her everlastingly. But how long shall that title *• ever" last ? Sweetly in force unto her fair life's end. But how long fairly shall her sweet life last ? So long as heaven and nature lengthen it. So long as hell and Richard like of it. Say I, her sovereign, am her subject love. But she, your subject, loaliies such sovereignty Be eloquent in my behalf to her. ° An honest tale speeds best being plainly told. Then in plain terms tell her my loving tale. Plain and not honest is too harsii a style. Your reasons are too shallow and too quick. O no, my reasons are too deep and dead ; Q. Eliz K. Rich. Q. Eliz. K. Rich. Q. Eliz. Rich. Eliz. Rich. Eliz. Rich. Q. Eliz. K. Rich. Q. Eliz. K. Rich. Q. Eliz. K. Q- K. Q. K. Too deep and dead, poor infants, in their grave. 140 Act IV Sc iv KING RICHARD III Q. Eliz. K. Rich. Q. Eliz. K. liich. Q. Eliz. K. Rich. Q. Eliz. A. Rich. Harp not on that sirinfi. madam ; that is past. /'■ n ,- l^/'^'P "" "■ ''^'" •'''•'" ^ ^'" heart-strings break, crown— '^' '"^ t^corgc, my garter, and my ?'■ ^J-~; J''"o^''"^<^ dishonoured, and the third usurped. A. Rich. I swear — T\H'J'!i:'r. , . /iy nothin-; forthisisnooath: The Ceorgc, profaned, hath lost liis holv hf.nour • He garter, bleinislicd, pawned his Jviii 'hlly virtue • I he crown, usurped, disgraced his J^rongs, ™ . T'^y ^'^® '^"^^ ^hat dishonoured Then, by myself — vvh^fh K n , Thyself is self misused. Why then, by God — It fu^ u , .. ^ . God's wrong is most of all If thou hadst feared to break an oath by Him The unity the king thy brother made Had not been broken, nor my brother slain • If thou hadst feared to break an oath by Him The imperial metal, circling now tliy brow Had graced the tender temples of my child' And both the princes had been breathing here. Which now, too tender bedfellows for dust Thy broken faith hath made a prey for worms. What canst thou swear by now ? n' rii!'' Thof ♦>, K . . '^'^^ t'"^« to come. p-o.T Ju ^^°" ^^^^ wronged in the time o'erpast • For I myself have many tears to wash ^ ' Hereafter time, for time past wronged by thee The children live, whose parents thou hast slaughtered Ungoverncd youth, to wail it in their a^e ■ t,«iLerea, The parents live, whose children thou hast butchered Old withered plants, to wail it with their a^e Swear not by time to come ; for that thou hast .Misused ere used, by time misused o'erpast K Rich As I intend to prosper and repent, bo thrive I in my dangerous attempt Of hostde arms I myself myself confound I Heaven and fortune bar me happy hours • Day, yield me not thv lisht ; nor. pi«ht thv '•"'•* ' Be opposite all planets of good luck"^ ' - ' '^^ • •To my proceeding, if, with pure heart's love Immaculate devotion, holy thoughts, I tender not thy beauteous princely daughter ! In her consists my happiness and thine ; 141 KING RIf:iIAI?D HI Act IV Sc Iv A'. liich. Q. i:iiz. K. liich. Q. FAiz. K. liich. \Vithout lur, follows to this lariil ntul im-. To Ihec, luTsoIf, and maiiv a Clirisli.ui suul, Death, desolation, ruin ami (iccay : It cannot be avoided but by tliis • It will not be avoided but by this.' Therefore, dear mother. - I nuisl call you so - lie the attorney of niv love to her • riead what I will be. not what I have be. n • Not my deserts, but what I will deserve • Urf,'e the necessity and state of limes. And be not peevish-fond in r.vv.n desii,>iis. Q. lUiz. Shall I be templed of Ihe'lcvil finis ? Ay. if ihe devil tempt thee to do ^..od. Siiall I fori^et myself to be myself ? Ay, if youc self's remembrance wrong yourself Hut thou didst kill my children. wi, . • „ H"^ ''I ^i'^"" •'"»«''t^''-'s ^vomb III bury them : JVhere m that nest of spicery they shall breed Selves of themselves, to your recomforlure. Q. Ehz Shall I go win my daughter to thv will ? A. liich. And be a happy mother bv the (leed. g. t.liz. 1 go.— Write to mc very sliortly. And you shall understand from me her mind A. Rich. Bear her my true love's :.iss. and so farewell. Relenting fool, and shallow, changing womanT" ''^''''^'^^^ Enter Ratcliff ; How now : what news ? TD-^/"/u -'^'y.R'''i^io"s sovereign, on the western coast Kideth a puissant navy ; to (he shore Throng many doubtful hollow-hearted friends Lnarmed, and unresolved to beat them back- 'T IS thought that Richmond is their admiral • And there they hull, expecting but the aid ' Of Buckingham to welcome them ashore K. Rich Some light-foot friend post to the Duke of Norfolk : — RatclifT, lhyself.~or Calesbv ; where is he ? Gate. Mere, my good lord. ^'' ^Salisbury •^'' ^''' cluke :-[ro i?u/c////] Post thou to When thou conVst thither,-! To Catcsbij] Dull, unmindful \ illain, Why stand'st thou still, and go'sL not to tlie Cute. First, mighty lic-ie, hjll jp.e. vc-.w !■. sure. ' ' ~ • -■ What from your grace I shall deliver to him. Catesuv following duke ? . , I „ > p^ - ' ' I '^ ^ o nCu- K.Rich. O true, good Catesbv: bid l.iia 1 The greatest slrenglh and power be can maJ 142 '■^ v straight Act IV Sclv K,^.^ And iiiccl tiie suddenly at S 'isburv lUCIlAIlD III /^//. Wlud may it ,,Ie;.s.- you I shall ,lo at Salisbu/y'v'' N\liy. what uouMsl lliou do thnc before I^'o ? A', liicli. Hat K. litch. Myuund ischan/^.Mj. lore. r^nlrr Stanley Stanley, wliat news with vou ? Nor'nnn/^ri "7".'' T', '•''"*'• '" f'''''^^' ^^^ ^^'^^ the hearinfi ; .^iOr none so bad. but it may be told ^ \\hat need st thou run so many miles about. When thou mayst tell thy tale the nearest way ? Unce more, wliat news ? ■)''",';. , „„ Hichmond is on the seas. Uhitc-Iivered runa-ale, what doth he there ' iv. liicli. Well, as vou !4U( :js '' Stun Stirred up by Dorset, huekiuKham. and llv He makes for Hnmaiid, here to claiu. the crown ^^' r. n." ! ■ "^ I'',"-' '■,''-'''■ '"'"I'^y ■• i^ ^I'^- ^^vord unswayed ' ' Is the king dc.,d ? the enqure unpossessed ? ^ ' \\hat heir of \ ork is there alive but we ' Tlun'\ .V" ^'"-';"'/'''^ Ji;at him back •> \Vhere are thy tenants and thy followers •> ' Are they not now upon the western shore, Safe-conducting the rebels from tiieir ships «> i r!.- ^ "'r^"!X ^'^"'^ ^'''■^' "'y ^''^'"'Is '"-t" in the north ^rth ^^' '""^'^ '" "^'^^'>^^^'^' ^^''^'^ ^« they hi the ^^ S7?n"''^.''""\'''^ '"'''^ ^^'"'" sovereign in the west •> Pl,..^ it J ^^ I'ave not been commanded, mighty kin^t- Please it your majesty to give me leave, °* II muster up my friends, and meet vour grace A^'Vl",! l""^ time your majesty shall please. Ilichmorrd r^' ''"" """'"^^ ^^' ^'"- ^- J-" -ith I wii! not trust you, sir. v^''["' -^^ost miuhty sovereign You lur.c no cau.e to hold my friendship doubr/ul- I never was nor never will be false. ^""^^^i. 113 KING RICHARD III Act IV Sc iv H K. Rich. Well, Go muster men. But, hear you, leave behind Your son, George Stanley: look your faith be firm. Or else his head's assurance is but frail. Stan. So deal with him as I prove true to you. [Exit Enter a Messenger Mess. My gracious sovereian, now in Devonshire, As I by friends am well advertised, Sir Edward Courtney, and the haughty prelate Bishop of Exeter, his elder brother. With many more confederates, are in arms. Enter a second Messenger Sec. Mess. INIy liege, in Kent the Guildfords are in arms • And every hour more competitors ' Flock to the rebels, and their power grows strong. Enter a third Messenger Third Mess. My lord, the army of great Buckingham— K. Rich. Out on you, owls I nothing but songs ol'dcath ? n- , *u * »...,. , . i^^ strilvcth him 1 ake that until thou brmg me better news. Third Mess. The news I have to tell your majesi\ Is, that by sudden floods and fall of waters, Buckingham's army is dispersed and scattered ; And he himself wandered away alone. No man knows whither. K. Rich. o, I cry thee mercy ; There is my purse to cur*- that blow of thine. Hath any well-advised friend proclaimed Reward to him that brings the traitor in ? Third Mess. Such proclamation hath been made mv liege. "^ Enter a fourth Messenger Fourth Mess. Sir Thomas Lovcl and Lord Marquis Dorset, 'T is said, my liege, in Yorksliire are in arms. 'S et tills good comfort bring I to your grace, The Breton rr.vy is dispersed by tempest : Richmond, in Dorsetshire, sent out a boat Unto the shore, to ask those on the banks II they were his assistants, yea or no ; Who answered him they came from Buckingham Ui^on his party : he, mistrusting them. Heist sail and made ;!way for Hrittany. K. Rich. March on, march on, since we are up in arms • If not to figlit with foreign enemies, ' Yet to beat down these rebels here at home. 144 V-rir,.- Act V Sc i KING RICHARD III Re-enter Catesby Th^?'f .i-'^^^k"';^^' ^^"^ ^^^^ **^ Buckingham is taken,— That IS the best news : that the Earl of Richmond Is with a mighty power landed at Milford, Is colder tidings yet they must be told. A rnvn/h';ni'^'''''>',^?Y''''^'^'*'^'^"'y ' while we reason here, A royal battle might be won and lost :— Some one take order Buckingham be brought 10 bahbbury ; the rest march on with me. [Flourish. Exeunt Scene V.— Lord Derby's House Enter Stanley and Sin Christopher Urswick ^i^'l"^" .u^^^ Christopher, tell Richmond this from me •— That in the sty of this most bloody boar My son George Stanley is franked up in hold ; If I revolt, oil goes young George's head ; The fear of that withholds my present aid. But, tell me, where is princely Richmond now ? Chris. At Pembroke, or at Ha'rford-west in Wales. :iian. w hat men of name resort to him '' c-^^Mu' .^ir ."^^''^Iter Herbert, a renowned soldier: Sir Gilbert Talbot and Sir William Stanley • Oxford, redoubted Pembroke, Sir James Blunt. And Ivice ap Thomas, with a valiant crew : And many more of noble fame and worth • -^"<^ V^.^^'^f^s London they do bend their course. If by the way they be not fought withal. n- n'u-' '^^^^""^ ""to thy lord ; command me to him : 1 ell him the Queen hath heartily consenLed lie shall espouse Ehzabeth her daughter Farewiii''^'" ^'''" ''""^''*' ^"'' ""^ ^"y mind. [Giving letters [Exeunt ACT FIVE Scene I. — Salisbury. An Open Place Enter 'be Sheriff, and Buckingham, with halberds, led to execution Buck. Will not King Richard let me speak with him '> Sher. No, my good lord ; therefore be patient. Ho^rFi- if ^"'?'' "f r^*^^'^'^'' '\^'^^'^""' ^^'^-'''' Grey, rioij iving liciiiy, ;uid Iny fair sun Edward, \ aughan, and all that have miscarried By underhiind corrupted foul injustice, If that your moody discontented souls U5 .-.■."•. C4S'£i.T.,..£*V. KING RICHARD III Act V Sc ii ,h: . Pa throuf,'h the clouds behold this present hour. Even for revenge mock my destrucUon I— This is All-Souls' day, fellows, is it not ? Sher. It is, my lord. Buck. Why, then All-Souls' day is my body's doomsday. This IS the day that, in King Edward's lime, I wished might fall on me, when I was found False to his children or his wife's allies ; This is the day wherein I wished to fall By the false faith of him I trusted most ; This, this All-Souls' day to my fearful soul Is the determined respite of my wrongs • That high All-Seer that I dallied witli Hath turned my feigned prayer on my head And given in earnest what I begged in jest. Thus doth he force the swords of wicked men To turn their own points on their masters' bosoms : Now Margaret's curse falls heavy on my neck, ''When he," quoth she, " shall split thy heart with sorrow. Remember Margaret was a prophetess."— Come, sirs, convey me to t'.ie block of shame ; Wrong hath but wrong, and blame the due of blame. [Exeunt f 1 •■ f J ■' H i : Scene II. — The Camp near TamworLh Enter, Richmoxd, Oxford, Sin James Blunt, Sir Walter Hehbeut, and others, with Forces, marching Richm. Fellows in arms, and my most loving friends Bruised underneath the yoke of tyranny, ' Thus far into the bowels of the land Have we marched on without impediment ; And here receive we from our father Stanley Lines of fair comfort and encouragement. The wretched, bloody, and usurping boar. That spoiled your summer fields and fruitful vines. Swills your warm blood like wash, and makes liis trough In your embowelled bosoms, this foul swine Lies now even in the centre of this isle, Near to the town of Leicester, as we learn : From Tamworth thither is but one day's march. In God's name, cheerly on, courageous friends, To reap the harvest of perpetual peace By this one bloody trial of sharp war. Oxf. Every man's conscience is a thousand swords, To fight aqninst this guilty homicitlc. Herb. 1 doubt not but liis friends will turn to us. Blunt. He hath no friends but wliat are friends for fear W hich in his dearest need will shrink from iiim. ' ^I'i^iaib,' Act V Sc iii KING RICHARD III Here pitch our tents, even here in Bosworth Trf? h 4" f»'^;'"r vantage. Then, in God's name, march : True hope is swift, and Jlies wita swallow's wln"s Kings It makes gods, and meaner creatures kings.' [Exeunt Scene III.— Rosworth Field Enter Kino Richard, and Forces, the Duke of Norfolk Earl of Surrey, and others ' K. Rich. lield.- My Lord of Surrey, why look you so sad ? '?"'■•. \^y ^^'^'^^ is ten Limes lighter than my looks A. Rich. My Lord of ^Norfolk,— i^'^D- t VT ,„ Here, most gracious liege. K. Ricli. Norfolk, we must have knocks; hal must we not? Nor. We must both give and take, my loving lord. K. Rich. Lp with my tent ! [Soldiers bcqin to set up the King's tent.] Here will He to-ni-ht- But where to-morrow ? Well, all 's one for that. Who hath descried the number of the traitors '' i^'";,- ?^ ?/", ^*^^'^" thousand is their utmosL power. K. Rich. Why, our battalia trebles that acrount • Besides, the king's name is a tower of strength, \\ hich they upon the adverse party want.— Up with the tent !— Come, noble gentlemen Let us survey the vantage of the ground ;— Call for some men of sound direction : Let 's want m. discipline, make no delay ; For, lords, to-morrow is a busy day. [Exeunt Enter on the other side of the fichl. RrcinioxD, Sir Wii li vm Brandon, Oxford, and others. Some of the Soldiers pitch Richmond's tent Richm. The weary sun hath made a golden set. And, by the bright track of his fiery car. Gives token of a goodly day to-morrow Sir William Brandon, you shall bear my standard. - Give me some ink and paper in my tent : I 'II draw the form and model of our battle. Limit each leader to his several charge. And part in just proportion our smafl power — My Lord of Oxford,— you. Sir William Braiidon,— And you, Sir Walter Herbert,— stav with me — Thp EnrI of Pembroke keeps ''is rt'giment ;— Good Captain Blunt, bear my good-night to him And by the second hour in the morning Desire the earl to see me in my tent : Yet one thing more, good captnin, do for me,— 147 KING RICHARD III Act V Sc iu ,1 I-' i ' I,; i * i ■ t :i 11 ? i Whore is Lord Stanley quartered, do you know ? Blunt. Unless I have mlsta'en his colours much,— Which well I am assured I have not done, — His regiment lies half a mile at least South from the mighty power of the king. Richm. If without peril it be possible. Sweet Blunt, make some good means to speak with him. And give him from me this most needful scroll Blunt. Upon my life, my lord I '11 undertake it : And so, God give you quiet rest to-night I Richn-i. Good night, good Captain Blunt. [Exit Blunt Come, gentlemen, Let us consult upon to-morrow's business : In to my tent ; the air is raw and cold. [Tlmj withdraw into the tent Re-enter, to his tent. King Richard, Norfolk, Ratcliff, Catesby, and others K. Rich. What is 't o'clock ? T* F"'*^.* , , , ^^ 's supper-time, my lord ; It s nme o clock. A'. Rich. 1 will not sup to-night. Give me some ink and paper. What, is my beaver easier than it was ? And all my armour laid into my tent ? Gate. It is, my liege ; and all tilings are in readiness. A. Rich. Good Norfolk, hie thee to thy charge; Use careful watch, choose trusty sentinels. Nor. 1 go, my lord. K. Rich. Stir with the lark to-morrow, gentle Norfolk A'or. I wairant you, my lord. lExit K. Rich. Catesby I ^ Caie. My lord ? A'. Rich. Send out a pursuivant at arms To Stanley's regiment ; bid him bring his power Before sunrising, lest his son George fall Into the blind cave of eternal night. [Exit Catesbij lill me a bowl of wine. — Give me a watch.— Saddle white Surrey for the field to-morrow.— Look that my staves be sound, and not too heavy. — Ratclifl", — i:at. My lord ? A'. Rich. Saw'st thou the melancholy Lord Northumber- land ? Rat. Thomas the Earl of Surrey, and himself, Much about cock-shut time, from troop to troop Went through the army, cheering up the soldiers. K. Rich. So, I am satisfied. — Give me a bowl of wine • I have not that alacrity of spirit, Nor cheer of mind, that I was wont to have. [Wine brought 14S ITU Act V Sc iii KING RICHARD III Set it down. Is ink and paper ready ? Rat. It is, my lord. Ah^;,f^/?" .^'^^'".y g"«rd watch; have me, Ratchrf, About the mid of night come to my tei't And help to arm me. — Leave mo, I say. [Exeunt Ratcliff and the other Attendants Enter Stanley to Riciimoxd in his tent. Lords and others al lending Stan. Fortune and victory sit on thy helm 1 Richm. All comfort that the dark nirrht can afford lie to thy person, noble father-in-law I Toll me, how fares our loving mother ? Stan. I, by attorney, bless thee from thy mother. \Vho prays continually for Richmond's good • So much for that.— The silent hours steal on And flaky darkness breaks within the east. ' In brief,— for so the season bids us be,— Prepare thy battle early in the morning. And put thy fortune to the arbitrcment Of bloody strokes and mortal-staring war I, as I may— that which I would I cannot,— With best advantage will deceive the time And aid Ihoe in this doubtful shock of arm's- But on thy side I may not be too forward Lest, being seen, thy brother, tender George Be executed in his father's sight. ' Farewell : the leisure and the fearful time Cuts of! the ceremonious vows of love And ample interchange of sweet discourse Which so long sundered friends should dwell upon • God give us leisure for these rites of love 1 Once more, adieu : be valiant, and speed well ! T .n ' . '^- ^°°^ '°^^^' conduct him to his regiment • I '11 strive, w th troubled thoughts, to take a nLp, ' Lest leaden slumber peise me down to-morrow When I should mount with wings of victory • Once more, good night, kind lords and gentlemen. r» T-i 1- . • , lExeiwt all but Richmond Thou, whose captain I account mvself, ^"mona Look on my forces with a gracious eye ; ' Put in their hands thy bruising irons of\\Ta{h. Ihat they may crush down with a heavv fall The usurping helmets of our adversaries ! :viake us thy ministers of chastisement, FiKiL we may praise 1 hee in the -tory I To I hee I do commend my watchful soul, 1 i:> ^ let fall the windows of mine eyes • ^lcc;,:jiM and waking, O, defend me sliu'l [Sleeps 149 :^^2..?%J!M^^/:^M^^ m.,. KING RICHARD III Act V Sc iii I : .1 '! •f i The Ghost of Prince Edward, son to Henuy VI., rises between the two Tents Ghost of P. E. [To Richard] Let me sit heavy on thv soul to-morrow 1 Think, how thou stabb'dst me in my prime of youth At Tcwlvsbury :— despair, therefore, and die '— [7^0 Richmond] Be cheerful, Richmond; for tlie wron^-d souls " Of butchered princes fight in thy behalf : King Henry's issue, Richmond, comforts thee. The Ghost of Henry VI. rises Ghost of K. II. [To Richard] When I was mortal, my anointed body "^ By thee was punched full of deadly holes: Tiiink on the Tower and me :— despair, and die 1 Harry the Sixth bids thee despair and die I [To JUchmond] Virtuous and holy, be thou conqueror 1 Horry, that prophesied thou shouldst be kin-^ Doth comfort thee in sleep : live thou, and flourish I Tiie Ghosl of Clarence rises Gliostof C. [To Ricliard] Let me sit heavy on thy soul to-morrow, "^ I, that was washed to death with fulsome wine Poor Clarence, by thy guile betrayed to death I To-morrow in the battle think on me, ^J^"^,^'7H **'y e^Jpeless sword :— despair, and die I— [To Richmond] Thou offspring of the house of Lancaster 1 he wronged heirs of York do pray for thee • Good angels guard thy battle I live, and flourish 1 The Ghosts of Rivers, Grey, and Vaughan rise Ghost of R. [To Richard] Let me sit heavy on thy soul to-morrow, ■^ Rivers, that died at Pomfret !— despair, and die I Ghost jf G. [To Richard] Think upon Grey, and let thy soul despair I ^ Let fall thy lance :— despair, and die I All. [To Riclwmnd] Awake, and think our wrongs in Richard's bosom ^ Will conquer him ! awake, and win the day I The Gnost of Hastings rises Ghost of H. [To Richard] Bloody and guiltv. ^uiitHy awake, o . > o"^-'^-.) And in a bloody battle end thy days I Think on Lord Hastings: so— despair, and die !— [To Richmond] Quiet untroubled soul, awake, awake 1 150 •#*/^':>.^t ^''^' S^"* KIN'G RICHARD III Arm, figlit, and conquer, for fair Englnn.I's sake I The Gliosis of (he two young Princes rise AnVS '"\'7."' ''!*'''" ^'^>' ''^^^"'"' rsichard, T?v n.nf '.'' ''?'?. ^" •'■^''"' ^''=""^- '-'nd death I A?y "f^P''«^^^s souls bid Uu-e Ravish our daughters ?— [Drum afar off] Hark"! I hear their drum. — Fight, gentlemen of England ! fight, bold yeomen » Draw, archers, draw your arrows to the head 1 Spur your proud horses hard, and ride in blood : Amaze the welkin with your broken staves I fCntcr a Mexscrifjer- What says Lord Stanley ? will he bring his ^ower ? Mess. My lord, he doth deny to come. ' K. Rich, on with his son George's head ! Nor. My lord, the enemy is past the marsh : After the battle let George Stanley die. K. Rich. A thousand hearts are great within my bosom • Advance our standards, set upon our foes ; Our ancient word of courage, fair St. George, Inspire us with the spleen of fiery draaons 1 Upon them I Victory sits on our helms. [Exeunt Scene IV.— Another Part of the Field Alarum : excursions. Enter iNoRFOLK and Forces /Irjhtiny ; to him Catesuy Gate. Rescue, my Lord of Norfolk, rescue, rescue I The king enacts more wonders than a man, Daring an opposite to every danger : His horse is slain, and all on foot^he fights. Seeking for Richmond in the throat of death. Rescue, fair lord, or else the day is lost I Alarums. Enter King Richard A'. Rich. A horse ! a horse I my kingdom for a horse ' Cute. Withdraw, my lord ; I '11 help you to a horse. A. Rich. Slave, I have set mv life upon a cast, And I will stand the hazard of the die : 155 Lk J v-i \fn~.. 1/ ?« f = n i-i KING RICHARD III I think there be six RIchmonds in tlic field ; Five have I slain to-day Instead of him. A horse I a horse I my kingdom for :\ horse I Act V Sc iv [Exeunt Scene V.— Another Part of the Field. Alarum. Enter Richahd and UrcuMOND ; Iheif flgl t. Ri«:i(\nr) is slain. Retreat and flourish. Re-enter Richmond, Stani.ky beariwj tixe crown, with aivera other Lords, and Forces Richm. God and your arms be prniscd, victorious friends ; The day Is ours, the bloody dog is dead. Stan. Courageous Richmond, well hast thou acquit thee. Lo, here, this long-usurped royalty From the dead tiMnj)lcs of this bloody wretch Have I plucked oil, to grace thy brows withal : Wear it, e.ijoy it, and make much of il. Richm. Great God of heaven, say Amen to all 1 But, tell me now, Is young George Statdey living ? Stan. He is, my lord, and safe in Leicester town ; Whither, if it please you, we may now wiltidraw us. Richm. What men of name are slain on either side ? Stan. John Duke of Norfolk, Walter Lord Ferrers, Sir Robert Brakenbury, and Sir William t^randon. Richm. Inter their bodies as becomes their births : Proclaim a pardon to the soldiers fled That in submission will return to us : And then, as we have ta'c n the sacrament, We will unite the White Hose and the Red : Smile heaven upon this fair conjunction. That long hath frowned upon their enmity 1 What traitor hears me, and says not Amen ? England hath long been niad, and scarred herself ; The brother blindly shed the brother's blood, The father rashly slaughtered his own son. The son, compelled, been butcher to the sire : All this divided York and Lancaster, Divided in their dire division, O, now, let Richmond and Elizabeth, The true succeeders of each royal house. By God's fair ordinance conjoin together 1 And let their heirs, — God, if Thy will be so, — Enrich the time to come with smooth-faced peace. With smiling plenty and fair prosperous days I Abate the edge of traitors, gracious Lord, That would reduce these bloody days again. And make poor England weep in streams of blood I Let them not live to taste this land's increase That would with treason wound this fair land's peace ! Now civil wounds are stopped, peace lives again : That she may long live here, God say Amen I [Ex?unt 156 '^ - f' ■ • ■- -.'•i^^"^- ..■' 'Vi-n; 1^- ,VT LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST 157 DRAMATIS PERSONS ' I f i Fekdixand, Kinj of Navarre BiBON N LoxGAViLLE ,- lords attendin'j on the King DcTilAIN J BOYET •» MercadetI attending on the Princeaa of France Don Adriano de AiiiiADo, a fantastical Spaniard Sir Nathaniel, a curate HoLOFEBNES, a scliaolinaster DcJLL, a constable Costard, a clown MoTU, page to Armado A Forester Princess of France rosalixe ^ 31 ARIA |- ladies attending on the Pi inccsa Katharine ' Jaqlenetta, a country wench Oflicors and others. Attoailants on the King and Pr inoesa SCENE. — Navarre I I: '■■-iif^'. \3S :^t*«^^i"^-4W!^:.. LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST ACT ONE Scene I.-Navarre. A Park, with a Palace in it Enter the King, Birox, Loxgaville, and Dumaix T s,^^'"^' • ^^^ f^'""^' ^^^^'- ''^^^ '»"nt after in their lives Live registered upon our brazen tombs, ' And then grace us in the disgrace of death • V\ hen, spite of cormorant devouring ilnie' The endeavour of this present breath may buy That honour which shall bate his scythe's keen ed^e And make us heirs of all eternity =" Therefore, brave conquerors,— for so you arc. 1 hat war against your cwn afleclions. And *. huge army of the world's desires,— Our 1, ; edict shall strongly stand in force • Navarre shall be the wonder of the world •" Our court shall Lc a little Academe, Mill and contemplative in living art. ^ou three, Biron, Dumain, and Longa^ille Have sworn for three years' term to live wUh me My fellow-scholars, and to keep those statute^ That arc recorded in this schedule here • -Thof i?fc ""^l P^i'^'^' ^"'^ now subscribe your names That his own hand may strike his honour down ' That violates the smallest branch herein : If you are armed to do as sworn to do. Subscribe to your deer oaths, and keep it too. i^ong. I am resolved : 't is but a three years' f-st- The mind shall banquet, though the body pine M , P^^nches have lean pates ; and daitfly bUs Make rich the ribs, but bankrupt quite tJwits Dam. My loving lord, DumLin is mor ified The grosser manner of these world's delights ' He throws upon the gross world's baser s uL • With all these living in philosophy. Biron I can but say their protestation over • So much dear liege, I have alreadv sworn ' 1 at IS. to hve and study here Ihr^c ytais! But Uicrc are other strict observances : un -"P T*i ^^® ^ woman in that term,— NNhich, I hope well, is not enrolled there : 159 w^'^mLim^ms ^^-■^■- i'>''^cL. 'Z' LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST Act I Sc i ■fli i'A U i i And, one day in a week to touch no food, And but one meal on every day beside,— The which, 1 hope, is not enrolled there ; And then, to sleep but three hours in the night, And not be seen to wink of all the day,— When I was wont to think no harm all niuht, And make a dark night too of half the day, — ■ Which, 1 hope well, is not enrolled there. O, these arc barren tasks, too hard to keep, — Not to sec ladies, study, fast, not sleep. King. Your oath is passed to pass away from these. Biron. Let me say no, my liege, an if you please : I only swore to study with your grace, And stay here in your court for three years' space. Long. You swore to that, Biron, and to the rest. Biron. By yea and nay, sir, then I swore in jest. — What is the end of study '? let me know. King. Why, that to know which else we should not know. Biron. Things hid and barred, you mean, from common sense ? King. Ay, that is study's god-like recompense. Biron. Come on, then ; I will swear to study so, To know the thing I am forbid to know ; As thus, — to study where I well may dine. When I to feast expressly am forbid ; Or study where to meet some mistress fine. When mistresses from common sense are hid ; Or, having sworn too hard-a-keeping oath. Study to break it, and n"t break my troth. If study's gain be thus, and this be so, Study knows that which yet it doth not know. Swear me to this, and I will ne'er say no. King. These be the slops that hinder study quite, And train our intellects to vain delight. Biron. Why, all delights are vain ; but that most vain, Which, with pain purciiased, doth inherit pain ; As, painfully to pore upon a book. To seek the light of truth ; while truth the while Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look. Light, seeking light, doth light of light beguile : So, ere you find where light in darkness lies, Your light grows dark by losing of your eyes. Study me how to please the eye indeed, By fixing it upon a fairer eye ; Who dazzling so, that eye shall be his heed. And give him light that it was blinded by. Study is like the heaven's glorious sun, That will not be deep-searched with saucy looks : Small have continual plodders ever won, Save base authority from others' books. 160 wmii:^ Act I Sc i LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST These earthly godfathers of heaven's lights That give a name to every fixed star, Have no more profit of their shining nights Than those that walk and wot not what they are Too much to know is to know nought but fame • And every godfather can give a name. King. How well he 's read, to reason against reading ! Dum. Proceeded well, to stop all pood proceeding 1 Long. He weeds the corn, and si ill lets grow the weeding- Biron. The spring is near, when green geese are a- breedmg. Dum. Biron. Dum. Biron. King. How follows that ? T ., . ^^'^ *" ^^5 P'ace and time. In reason nothmg. . . ,., Something then in rhvme. Biron IS like an envious sneaping Irost, ' That bites the first-born infants of the sorin^ Biron. Well, say i am : why should proud summer boast, Before the birds have any cause to sing ? Why should I joy in an abortive birth ? ° ' At Christmas I no more desire a rose, Than wish a snow in May's new-fangled shows ; But like of each thing that in season grows. So you, to study now it is too late. Climb o'er the house to unlock the iittle gate. King. Well, sit you out ; go home, Bir6n : adieu I Biron. No, my good lord ; I have sworn to slay wiLh you : ■^ And, though I have for barbarism spoke more Than for that angel knowledge you can say, \ et confident I '11 keep what I have swore, And bide the penance of each three yar's' day Give me the paper : let me read the same ; And to the strict'st decrees I '11 write my name King. How well this yielding rescues thee from shame I Biron. [Rcafis] "Item, That no woman shall come within a mile of my cour/."— Hath this been proclaimed ? Long. Pour days ago. Biron. Let 's see the penally. {Reads] " On pain of losing her tongue."~\\ho devised this penal I v ? '^ ' Long. Marry, that did L Biron. Sweet lord, and why ? Long. To fright them hence with that dread penalty Biron. Adangeroiislavvagainstgentilityl [Reads] '•Item If any man be seen to talk with a woman within the term o) three years he shall endure surh public shame as the re'l of the court can possiliii devise." — This article, my liege, yourself must break ; For, well you know, here comes in embassy Ine Preach king's daimhter with yourself to .sT>onk,_ *^.i-'- ^•^v; LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST Act I Sc i s tt M A maid of Rrace, and complete majesty, — About surrcn(ier-up of Aquitain To her decrepit, sick, and bed-rid father : Therefore, this article is made in vain. Or vainly comes the admired princess hither. King. \Vhat say you, lords ? why, this was quite forgot. Biron. So study evermore is overshot : While it doth study to have what it would. It doth forget to do the thing it should ; And when it hath the thing it hunteth most, 'T is won as towns with fire,— so won, so lost. King. We must of force dispense with this decree : She must lie here on mere necessity. Biron. Necessity will make us all forsworn Three thousand times within this three years' space ; For every man with his affects is born. Not by might mastered, but by special grace. If I break faith, this word shall speak for me, I am forsworn on mere necessity. — So ti> the laws at large I write my name ; [Subscribes And he that breaks them in the least degree. Stands in attainder of eternal shame. Suggestions are to others as to me ; But, I believe, although I seem so loath, I am the last that will last keep his oath. But is there no quick recreation granted ? King. Ay, that there is. Our court, you know, is haunted With a refined traveller of Spain ; A man in all the world's new fashion planted. That hath a mint of phrases in his brain. One, whom the music of his own vain tongue Doth ravish like enchanting harmony : A man of compliments, whom right and wrong Have chose as umpire of their mutiny : This child of fancy, that Annado hight, For interim to our studies, sh;ill relate In h'gh-born words the worth of numy a knight From tawny Spain, lost in the woihis debate. How you deh\qht, my lords, I know not, I ; But, I protest, 1 love to hear him lie, And I will use him for my minstrelsy. Biron. Armado is a most illustrious wight, A man of fire-new words, fashion's own knight. Long. Costard, the swain, and he shall be our sport ; And so to study, three years is but short. Ent-"'- Dull, with a letter, c-id Costard Dull. W))ich is the duke's own person ? Biron 'I Hi-., fellow. What wou'dst V Dull. 1 inyseif reprehend 'is own person, for I am his 1«2 ..tm»^JL 1 1 ^*^^^ ^^^ LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST Biron. This is he. ,.!if"'^' ?'8iiior Arm— Arm— commends you. There's villamy abroad : this letter will tell you morJ ^fnn i'"'. 1? co'itempts thereof are as touching me. Rrnn ^'""f ^'"""^ ^^^ magnificont Armado.^ hig^i wo^ds ' '" '"'''''■ *^' "^""^'•' ^ »»°P« i« God for paUen?el^^ '"^'' ^"^' '°' ^ ^°^ ^^=^^'^" •' ^od grant us Biron. To liear? or forbear laughing *> ortZrbl? S '""'"^' '''• """ '" ""■8" moderately; to dtab irX^Zi^A"' "" ^'^'^ ^'■^' «™ - -"- Th?'''' '^^'^ 'T?.".*'^ ^^ ^^ "^^- ^''■' as concerning Jaoucnetta The manner of it is, I was laken with the manne? Biron. In what manner ? """niti. th£?'" T ^"^ "tanner and form following, sir ; all those three : I was seen with her in the manor-house sittinc S her upon the form, and taken following her h'io he?,nrk jvhich, put together, is in manner and fo folk Wna' Now sir, for the manner,-it is the manner of a man To ^/Si° %'''°'?^^"i ,f°' .^^^ form.-m some form. Biron. For the following, sir ? defend the dght'f'" '°"'^' '" "^^ correction: and God King, \\iii you hear this letter with attention ? Biron. As we would hear an oracle '-"^*"" ' flesh.'^' ^"'^ '' ^''^ simplicity of man to hearken after the r^Jf'"^,- J^'f"^'^ " ^^^«' dcpiity, the welkin's viceaerent Cos/. Not a word of Costard vet King. " So it is,"~ trSn.t si- '' '" '' ' ^"' "■ '''• ^'^^y '' '' «°' »- - in telling /C/'/jgr. Peace I Ktg. "^o^'woids'l'"' "'"'^ "^'^ ''^' ""'''' "^^ ^'Sht. Cos/, —of other men's secrets. I beseech you .h^^^^'r ^■. '^ '^' ^^^'^.'/''rf 'i"//i sable-coloured melan- choUj, I dtd commend the Mack-oppressing humour to tt most wholesome physic of thjj health-giving aU^ and as \^"\^9entlenmn betook myself to walk. The t me when ^ About the sixth hour ; when beasts most graze birds best suoner''\T' '1 t"'^/" '^''' nourishment which seal ei supper. So much for the time when. Now for the ground 163 LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST Act I Sc i I ■• f< which ; which, I mean, I walked upon : it is ijcleped thij park. Then for the place where ; where, I mean, I did encounter that obscene and most preposterous event, that draweth from my snow-white pen the ebon-coloured ink, which here thou viewest, beholdest, surveyest, 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 tliat low-spirited swain, that base minnow of thn mirth,"— ' "^ Cost. Me. King. — " that unlettered small-knowing soul," — Cost. Me. King. — " that shallow vassal," — Cost. Still me. King. — " which, as I remember, hight Costard," — Cost. O, me. King. — " sorted and consorted, contrary to thy estab- lished proclaimed edict and continent canon, with — with — O ! with — but with this I passion to say wherewith," — Cost. With a wench. King. — " with a child of our grandmother Eve, a female : or, for thy more sweet understanding, a woman. Him I (as my ever-esteemed duty pricks me on) have sent to thee, to receive the meed of punishment, by thy sweet grace's officer, Antony Dull, a man of good repute, carriage-bearing, and estimation." Dull. Me, an 't shall please you : I am Antony Dull. King. — " For Jaquenelta {so is the weaker vessel called), which I apprehended with the aforesaid swain, I keep her as a vessel of thy law's fury ; and shall, at the least of thy sweet notice, bring her to trial. Thine, in all compliments of devoted and heart-burning heat of duty, Don Adriano DE Armado." Biron. This is not so well as I looked for, but the best that ever I heard. King. Ay, the best for the worst.— But, sirrah, what say you to this ? Cost. Sir, I confess the wench. King. Did you hear the proclamation ? Cost. I do confess much of the hearing it, but little of the marking of it. King. It was proclaimed a year's imprisonment, to be taken wilh a wench. Cost. I was taken with none, sir : I was taken with a damostl King. Cost. King. Cost. a maid. Well, it was proclaimed damosel. This was no damosel neither, sir : she was a virgin. It is so varied too, for it was proclaimed virgin. If it were, I deny her virginity : I was taken with 164 "^^d"' \!:?^i M ■.K.: mm ii^wi ^'^^^ ^^" LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST Co.T rwl' "" -^"^ "^il* "°^ ^^^^ yo""- turn, sir. w-^n; « ' ni'iu ^vlIl serve my turn. sir. fasfncok'^;itVb"rar""Tcr^'"^ ""^^"^^ = ^^^ '^«» ponidge. ' ^^"^ '^^^''' P'^y ^ "^^^t'^ ^'ith mutton and Tvr5/"^*, i^"^ ^*'" Armndo shall be your kccoer — My Lord Biron, see hin, delivered o'er • ^ And go we lords, to put in practice that ^^ hich each to other liath so strongly sworn Biron I '11 i.,v ml^?"'?^^''"^' Lonffaville, and Dumain xjiron 1 11 lay my head to any good man's hat therefore, welcome the sour cup ot prosperity 1 AmicMnn SwT "'>' ™""^ "«»'"• =»^ tlll%he''„?'slVth^e"'i'ow„" Scene IL— Abmado's House in the Park Enter Armado and Moth grots'melan^holy ?' ^'^" " ''' "^^" ^ ^^ <>' «^-t spirit ^^'^^^' ^^rJ^"^^^ *'^' ^^^' th^t he will look sad. Why, sadness is one and the selfsame thing, dear Arm. imp. Moth Arm No, no ; O Lord, sir, no. tender juven^?'"'' '^'" ^''' '"^"'^^ ""^ melancholy, my tough'senior^ ^ ''"""•"' demonstration of the working, my M^h u^h^^ V'"?!' '•"^°'' • "''^y *°"gh senior ? apnerTaininrio hV "''"' ^"J""^'' ^' ^ congruent epitheton Under ^ ^ ^"""^ '^''^'' '^'^"^'^ ^'^ ™^y nominate x-.ni'^L^'r, *^^^ h .**l"S^ s^^'o'"' as an appcrtinent title to >our old time, which we may name tough. ^Ir/n. Pretty, and apt. ^ ant i*" or T^nT "'T'' ^°"' ''' • ^ P'-etty, and my saying apt / or I apt, and my saying pretty ? »«*y"Jg Arm. Thou pretty, because little. a^^hII^'''',"^'' ^^^^"s^' "ttle. Wherefore apt ? And therefore apt, because quick. ^ bpeak you this in my praise, master ? In thy condign praise. I will praise an eel with the same praise. 165 Moth. Arm. Moth. Arm. Moth. LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST Act I Sc ii Thou hcatost Arm. What, that an col is ingonious ? Moth. That an eel is quick. Arm. I do say, thou art quick in answers, my blood. Moth. I am answered, sir. Arm. I love not to be crossed. Moth. [.Uide] lie speaks the mere contrary: crosses love not him. Arm. I have promised to study three years with the duke. Moth Arm. Moth. Arm. tapster. Moth. Arm. You may do it in an hour, sir. Impossible. How many is one thrice told ? I am ill at rcckoniuf^ : it liltefh the spirit of a You are a pentleman and a gamester, sir. I confess both: they are l)oth the varnish of a complete man. Moth. Then, I am sure, you know how much the gross sum of deuce-ace amounts to. Arm. It doth amount to one more than two. Moth. Which the base vulgar do call three Arm. True. Moth. Why, sir, is this such a piece of study •> Now here is three studied, ere you '11 thrice wink ; and how easy It IS to put years to the word three, and study three years m two words, the dancing horse will tell you. Arm. A most fine figure I Moth. [Aside] To prove you a cypher. Arm. I will hereupon confess I am in love ; and, as it is base for a soldier to love, so am I in love with a base wench. If drawmg my sword against the humour of affection would deliver me from the reprobate thought of it, I would take Uesire prisoner, and ransom him to any French courtier for a new-devised courtesy. I think scorn to sigh : methinks, I should outswear Cupid. Comfort me, boy. What great men have been in lov. ? j e ^au Moth. Hercules, master. Arm. Most sweet Hercules !— More authority, dear boy name more ; and, sweet my child, let them be men of good repute and carriage. Moth. Samson, master : he was a man of good carriage gr.at carriage, for he carried the town-gates on his back like a porter : and he was in love. Arm. O well-knit Samson 1 strong-jointed Samson! I do excel thee m my rapier as much as thou didst nu> in carrying gates I am in love too. Who was Samson's love, my dear Moth ? Moth. A woman, master. Arm. Of what complexion ? 166 Act I Sc ii LOVES LABOUR'S LOST Moth. the four. Arm. Moth. Arm. Moth. Arm. Of all the four, or the three, or the two, or one of Tell mc procistly of wliat com|)loxion. Of the sea-wiih-r green, sir. Is that one of the four complexions ? As I have read, sir ; and the best of them too. Green, indeed, is the colour of lovers ; but to have a love of that colour, melhinks Samson had small reason for it. He, surely, afTetted her for her wit. Moth. It was so, sir ; for she liad a Rreen wit. Arm. My love is most immaculate white and red. Moth. Most maculate thoughts, master, are masked under such colours. Arm. Define, define, well-educated infant. Moth. My father's wit and my mothers tongue assist me ! Arm. Sweet invocation of a child ; most prcltv and pathetical I « j» Moth. If she be made of white and red. Her faults will ne'er be known ; For blushing cheeks by faults are bred, And fears by pale-white shown : Then, if she fear, or be to blame. By this you shall not know ; For still her cheeks possess tlie same, Which native she doth owe. A dangerous rhyme, master, against the reason of white and red. Arm. Is there not a ballad, boy, of the King and the Beggar ? Moth. The world was very guilty of such a ballad some three ages smce ; but I think, now 't is not to be found • or If it were, it would neither serve for the writing nor the tune' Arm. I will have that subject newly writ o'er, that I may example my digression by some mighty precedent. Boy, I do love that country girl that I took in the park with the rational hind Costard : she deserves well. Moth. [Aside] To be whipped; and yet a better love than my master. Arm. Sing, boy ; my spirit grows heavv in love. And that 's great marvel, lovjng'a light wench. I say, sing. Forbear till this company be past. Enter Dull, Costard, and Jaqlenetta Sir, the duke's pleasure is, that vou keep Costard safe : ana you must It-l him lake no delighl nor no penance • but 'a must fast three days a week. For this damsel I must keep her at the park ; she is allowed for the dav woman. Fare you well. Arm. I do betray myself with blushing.— .Maid,-^ 107 Moth. Arm. Moth. Dull. LOVES LABOUR 'S LOST II Jaq. Arm. Jaq. Arm. Jaq. Arm. Jaq. Arm. Jaq. Arm. Jaq. Dull. Act I Sc a Man. I will visit thee at the lodge. That 's hereby. * I know whore it is situate. Lord, how wise you are I I will tell ihcc wonders. With that face ? I love thee. So I heard you say. And so farewell. P'air Weather after you f Come, Jaquenetta, away bel^onT^'^^"' ^^- ^'-^ 'ait^^^ofS^rS stomach. ''''"' '■'' ' ^°P^' ^^'^'^" ' ^° "' I «hall do it on a full Arm Thou shalt be heavily punished. the?;'rebu?TigS't';rrewantl'^ ^°" ^'^" ^^^ '^^"«-' '- Arm. Take away this villain ; shut him up Lome, you transgressing slave ; away I No"ll""'thn7'"' "?' '}' '' ^ ^'" '«st. being loose, rso. sir, that were fast and loose : thou shalt to Moth. Cost. Moth. prison. Cost. that , t.Zt'elZZlllrj:'!"''"^ ^"y^ "' <"-»"""»" Moth. What shall some see ? Arm T Hn ofT„/.i tu [hxeunt Moth and Costard of falsehood-if How Ann iT^'*^'' ^^ "^ ^''^^^ argument ^vhich is falselv attcmnfP.^ T "" •'''" }^''^ ^*^ ^'""^ '«^'e a devil : ther7is'no e^?/fngel butl " e' 'TJ^w ' k'"' '' so tempted, and he had af excellent strength v^'"" Solomon so seduced nnd h^ i,Vi V sirengtn . yet was butt-Shan is too hard tor H.rru es- dS ?11,T '' /'■"P'"'^ much odds tor a Spani°r"s raotcr Th„ L , ''"'i'''''' '"" ?Se';'? ,«'° >^^'» "'."ent of the eye ' Not uttered by base sale of chapmen's tongue I am less proud to hear you tell my worth Than you much willing to be counted \\i,c In spending your wit in the praise of mine. But now to task the tasker: Good Boyc"! You are not Ignorant, all-telling fame Doth noise abroad, Navarre hath made a vow. rni painful sluay shah outwear three years No woman may approach his silent court : 1 herefore to 's scemeth it a needful course. Before we enter his forbidden gates. To know his pleasure ; and in that behalf. Bold of your worthiness, we single you As our best-moving fair solicitor. lell him, the daughter of the King of Franco hLZT" ^"«'"^*^%"-^vi,.g quick despatcy)' Iiportunes personal confcreiice with his gr .cc. Haste, signify so much ; nhilc wo attend Like humble-visaged suitors, his high Boijd Prin. V.li Proud of employment, wriliiigi'v f 'o. All pndc IS willing priile, and yours 'is o.— Who are the votaries, my hning lords, ^"^''^ """'''' That are vow-fellows with this virtuous ,luke ? First Lord. Longaville is one. \fnr' T I „ I- , Know you the man ? Mur. I know han, madam : at a marriage-feast }8— F" 169 LOVES LAnolTR'S LOST Acl 11 Sci fit If •>i-i li Mar. Prin. Hctwccn Lord Porifiort nru! the beauteous luir Of Jaqucs FaU-otilnidt^c soiomnisfd In Noimnudy, saw 1 this Louu'aviUc. A man of sovpni^u parts he is oslocmcd ; Wt'll fitted in ll\e arts. Klorlous in arms : ' N'othiM« ln'iouu's liiin ill that he would \\v\\. The only soil of liis fair virtue's };Ioss, If virtue's Rioss will stain witli any soil, Fs a sharp wit matched with too hlunt a will • Whose edge hath power to cut. whose will still wills It should none spare that come within his power Pnn. Some merry mockinp lord, belike ; is 't so ? They say so most that most his humours know Such shoit-lived wits do wither as they lirow Who are the rest ? j b • ,^Af!'." J''/' y«\'"« Dumain. a well-accomplished youth. Of all that virtue love for virtue loved : J' • Most power to do most harm, least knowinij ill I'or he hath wJt to make an ill shape good. And shape to win grace though be had no wit I saw him at the Uuke Alen^on's once ; And much too little of that good 1 saw Is my report to his great worthiness. /?o.?. Am. her of these students at that lime Was there with him : if I have heard a trulli, niron they call him ; but a merrier man, Within the limit of becoming mirth, I never spent an hour's talk withal. His eye begets occasion for his wit : For every object that the one doth catch, The other turns to a mirth-moving jes'. Which his fair tongue, conceit's expositor. Delivers in such apt and gracious words That aged ears play truant at his tales, And younger hearings are quite ravished, So sweet and voluble is his discourse. Prin. God bkss my ladies I are thev all in love I hat every one her own hatli garnislicff With such bedecking ornaments of praise ? Lord. Here conies Ooycl. Re-cnlcr Boyet ■E^'"; -, , ^'ow, what admittance. lord ? A xl ^•;»^''^rre had notice of your fair approach : And he and his competitors in oath Were all adrJressed to meet you. gentle lady, Before I came. Marry, thus much I have learnt. He rather means to lodge vou in the Held Like one that conies here to besiege his court, inan seek a dispensation for his oath, 170 :.'*\.ii^J.JJ^I^^ T Act II Sc I LOVns LABOUR'S LOST Prill. King. Prin. King. Prin. King. Prin. To let you enter his utipconled house. Here comos Navarro. ^^he Ladies nu.sk Enter K.N,;, Lonoavclle, Dumain. Biron. and Altendnnts have not yet : the n.of of this court is .00 i,?,^. t c iours I AMll he welcome, then. Conduct mo thither Hoar me. dear ia.iy : I have sworn an oati S u'rV'"^^' V: l"?^ ' '•'^ '" »^« forsworn. Not for the world, fair madam, by my will ^Vhy. will shall break It ; will, and nothiuK else yur ladyship is ifinorant what It is. Wh/. "^'^ !"y ^"'■'^ ^"' ^•"* ignorance were wise Where now his knowledfie must prove i«norance I hear, your grace hath sworn oit houstkcepl.S ' T is deadly sin to keep that oath, my lord. ^ ^ * And sin to break it. ' But pardon me. I am too sudden-bold : fo teach a teacher ill beseemeth me. Vouchsafe to read the purpose of my comlnff. And suddenly resolve me in my suil"^ [Gives a moer King. Madam, I will, if suddenly I may ^^ Prin. You will the sooner, that I were awav sfrZ " ?rV' rp\''''^^ 'f y«" "^^^^ "!^^ stay: ?r hm'"^ T\ *^^"''-' ^''^^' y"" •" \iv.xhA once ? Wrnn t ^""^ ^ 'Jance With you in Brabant once ? Hiron. I know you did. To^sk the question ! "°'' "'^"^'*^^^ ^'^^ ^^ ^^^'^ n^n^'-T I -I r ^'°." "^"^^ "«t be so quick. Has. T is long of you, that spur me with such fuiestions ■ V .?n'.W ^^° *'^^' *^ ^P^-e^'^ too fast, 'twil ti?e Not td ,t leave the rider in the mire. ''''"^''^^• >Vhat time o' day ? The hour that fools should ask. . Now fair befall your mask ! Fair fall the face it covers I And send you many lovers I Amen, so you be none. Nay, then will I be gone. - ^ladam, your father here doth Intimate The payment of a hundred thousand crowns . Being but the one-half of an entire sum Disbursed by my father in his wars But say that he or we— as neither have— A hundred thousand more ; in surety of which, 171 Biron. Ros. Biron. Bos. Biron. Ros. Biron. Ros. Biron. King. LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST Act II Sc i h i\ *r One part of Aquitain is bound to us. Although not valued to the moneys worth. If then the king your father will restore But that one-half which is unsatisfied, We will give up our right in Aquitain, And hold fair friendship with his majesty. But that, it seems, he little purposelh. For here he doth demand to have repaid A hundred thousand crowns ; and not demands On payment of a hundred thousand crowns ' To liave his title live in Aquitain ; Which we much rather had depart withal, And have the money by our father lent, Than Aquitain, so gelded as it is. Dear princess, were not his requests so far From reason's yielding, your fair self should make A yieldmg, 'gainst some reason, in my breast And go well satisfied to France again. A ^'''"' ^'?u ^° ^^^ ^'"8 my father too much wrong. And wrong the reputation of your name In so unseeming to confess receipt ' Of that which hath so faithfully be'en pail. King. I do protest, I never hpard of it : And if you prove it, I 'U repay it back, Or yield up Aquitain. ^ ^'■{"- We arrest your word. fcJoyet, you can produce acquittances For such a sum, from special ollicers Of Charles his father. Ki"9- Satisfy me so. xKjS^^'^hu ?° Pl^^**' ^""'' •^^^*=^' the packet is not come. Where that and other specialities are bound • To-morrow you shall have a sight of them A., ,1!^' .^^ ^^^^^ &nmc& me : at which interview. All liberal reason I will yield unto. Meantime, receive such welcome at my hand As honour, without breach of honour, may Make tender of to thy true worthiness You may not come, fair princess, in my gates ; But here without you shall be so received As you shall deem yourself lodged in my heart Though so denied fair harbour in my house 'Jtour own good thoughts excuse me, and farewell • To-morrow shall we visit you again Kinij. Thy own wish wish I thee in every place 1 »,•,.«„ T , T ... [I'Xeunt King and his Train Biron. ^Lady, I will commend you to mine own hrart. my commendations ; I would be glad to see it. 172 Act II Sc I LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST ron. I would you heard it groan, i. ; . Is the fool sick ? Buon. Sick at the heart. Ros. Alack, let it blood. Biron. Would that do it good ? Ros. My physic says, ay. Biron. Will you prick 't with your eye ? Ros. No point, with my knife. Biron. Now, God save thy life I Ros. And yours from long living I Biron. Dam. Boyet. Diim. Long. Boyet. Long. Boyet I cannot stay thanksgiving. [Retiring Sir, I pray you, a word. What lady is that same ? I he heir of Aleufon, Katharine her name. A gallant lady. Monsieur, fare you well. [Exit I beseech you a word. What is she in the white ? A woman sometimes, an you saw her in the light Perchance, light in the light. I desire her name! She hath but one for herself; to desire that were a shame. ' Long. Pray you, sir, whose daughter ? Boyet. Her mother's, I have heard. Long. God's blesSing on your beard 1 Boyef. Good sir, be not offended. She is an heir of I alconbridgo. Long. Nay, my choler is ended. She is a most sweet lady. Boyet. Not unlike, sir ; that mny be [Exit Long What 's licr name in the cap ? Rosaline, by good hap. Is she wedded or no ? To her will, sir, or so. O, you are welcome, sir. Adieu. Farewell to me, sir, and welcome to you. ^. , , ,. ^. [f'^Ji:itBiron.--L(Hlics unmask I hat last IS Riron, the merry madcap lord : Biron. Boyet. Biron. Boyet. Biron. Boyet. Mar. Boyet. Prin. Boyet. Mar. Boyet. NoJL a \\0Td with him but a jest. ,, „ , And every jest I)ul a word, it was well done of you to t:ike him at his word I was as willing lo grapple as he was to board. Iwo hot sheeps, marry ! . r ... '^"'^ wherefore not ships ? IS o sheep, sweet lamb, unless we feed on your lips V, , '^2^ ''''"^''' '^"*' ^ P.islure : sliall that linish the jest ? lioyet. So you grant pasture for nie. w [Ofjerimj to kiss her TV, * m!;: , >>■<>* so, gentle beast. iM> lips are no rommon, though several lln-y be. Boi;ct. Beloiij^^iiig lo whom V viln n A -, .„ . . '^° "^y fortunes and me. i rin. Cood wits will be jangling ; l)ut, gentles, agree. 173 l\ ^ . 1 I i; ! ;i 1:,' I ;; iki' ■ ?! > LOVES LABOUR'S LOST Act III Sc i TIic civil war of wits were mucli better used On Navarre and his book-men, for here 't is abused. Ti.r?i/i ",,'"y.?l>servalion— which very seldom lies— By the heart's still rhetoric disclosM with eves Deceive me not now, Navarre is infected. ' Prin. With what ? BoyeL With that w-hich we lovers entitle, affected. J^nn. Your reason ? T.^fT^' T*'?'u?" '"^ behaNiours did make their retire HU ho.r?"!"l°' ^" 'yf ' P"*^P^"« thorough desire : Pro„H wit h nf T ^g** ^' Jith your print impressed, Proud with h s form, m his eye pride expressed ; nil f"^"K/ «". 'Z^Pat'ent to speak and not see, Did stumble with haste in his eyesight to be • All senses to that sense did make their repair! Jo /eel only looking on fairest of fair. Methought, all his senses were locked in his eve As jewels m crystal for some prince to buy ; jiass'c'j"^ ^^"'" '''''" ''^'■"^ ^'■°"' ''^'''' ^'^^y ^verc Did pofnt you to buy them, along as you passed .lis face s oAvn margent did quote such amazes rhat all eyes saw his eyes enchanted with gazes. 1 11 give you Aquitain, and all that is his. An you give him for my sake but one loving kiss Rnnl) r"!^^'' our pavilion : Boyct is disposed. ^ disclosed!' "^ "' '" '^"'^'' ^^'"^^ '"^ 'y' ^'^'^ I only have made a mouth of his eye By adding a tongue which I know will not lie Mnr t5o ?/r' """"J^^^ love-monger, and speakost skilfully. InT tV ^"P?.'^ ' grandfather, and kains ncNvs of him BoyeL Do you hear, my mad wenches '> Mar. -, dJI'^ ' * ^Vhat tlien, do vou see ? Ros. Ay, our way to be gone. ~ °^^ • Vou are too hard for me. [Exeunt ACT THREE Scene I.— In the I\irk Enlrr Aiimado and Moth hewing. ^^'''■^'''' '''^'^' ' "'"^^^ passionate my sense of MotlL [Sinf/ing] ConcoUnel— Arm. Sweet air !-Go, tenderness of years ; take this 174 f-'^aaag^f*^ r-'fi -. -If, •^^'^"^ ^^'^ LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST hi7hVf-''Vr;;!f/.^''"'?* *?-^^^ '''"''^'"' ^'•'"8 l.im fcstinately x^,; ^r^"/^ i'ni!)Ioy inm in a leltcr to my love. Molh. Master, will you win your lovtMvith a French brawl? ifmi, v'''^ '"''^"'''^ f ''"" • hJ-'^^vIing in French ? A/0//1 No my complete master ; but to jig ofT a tunc ,t wUh T.f "' ' '^"'^' '""^'■y ^" 't ^"h your fc^et. humour It with turmnfi up your eyes, sif-h a note, and sina a Tni ' 'T'^''^!' th'-ough the throat, as if you swallowed ove with singing love ; sometime throu<.h the nose as If you snuffed up love by smelling love ; with ycmrhu pcnthouse-hke, o'er the shop of your eyes- mi vour a spit or your hands in your pocket, like a man after the siip'anS'nv'; ' T. 'f'^' ""' ''?• '''"" '" """^ tune but'a snip and away, fhese are complimenis, these are humours hese betray nice wenchcs-that would be betr ^ed wTthoiit Uicse ; and make them men of note,-do you note me^_ h t most are aflectcd to these. ^ u uoie me . mat Arm. How hast thou purcliascd this experience "> l^y my penny of observation. But O,— but (), - — the hobby-horse is for^'()^. Callest thou my love luildn- horse "> No, master ; the hoiiby-horse is i.ut a colt Arm. Almost I had. Moth. Negligent student ! learn her by heart. Arm. By heart and in heart, bov. ulil prove.^""^ ""' ""^ '''"''' ''''''''' -' '-'" '^'^'^^ three I Arm. What wilt thou prove '^ VV/0//J. A man, if I live; and this, "by," "in" and without, ' upon the instant : by heart vou JoVe her because your heart cannot come by her ; in 'heart y< u love hor because your heart is in h.ve xvith her; and out of he-nl you ove her, being out of heart that you cannot en ov her Arm. I am all these tiiree. And three times as much more, and yet nothing Moth Arm. Molh. Arm. Moth. Molh. at all. -Arm. Molh. Fetch hilhc'- the swain : he must carrv me a letter A mevsage well sympathised; a horse to be ambassador for an ass. ^ '}f"^' ^^'^' '^^ ' ^^'•'^'^ sayest thou ^ ]J.o''Lu''T^'' ^ir, you must send (he ass upon the iiorse, for he is very slow-gaited. I'.ut I - o Arm. The way is but short. Awav ' "^ -1/0//;. As .s.vift as lead. sip. Arm Thy meaning, pretty iugenioi ? IS not lead a metal heavv, dull, and slow ' U ^'-'1 LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST \\ I "I Jf; 1' Act III Scl I: i^i A^rL^' /fi'""7'' J'?"''f^ '"^^*^'' = o'" '^^^'^'' master, no. ^rm. I say, lead is slow. T- "JJ*"/'; J , ^^" "^^^^ ^^o swift, sir, to sav so • Is that lead slow which is fired from a "un "> ' Arm. Sweet smol a-l.iin-i four. The fox. the ape, and the InunMe I^ee N\ere ^\\\\ at odds, being but three. I ntil the goose came out of door. Staying the odds bv adding tour. , . •'^ ^^'^^' /''nnoy. ending in the <:onse you desire nu.re V ^ ^'"''nat'- ^'''' ^'"'^^' '''"'' •''"' '' J^^^rgain, a goose. Arm. Moth. Would that 's ^rrWW- Act III Sci LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST Sir, your pcnnyworlh is ^'0(.^'M he ended the market. ^ i' "ou^ni, in aThin •.!'"'■ ^'" "'" ' '*"'"'' '''*' ^^"'*' " ^''^•'^^"''' '^''^'^^n Molh. I will tell you sensil)ly I, Costard, running out, that was safely within. lell over the threshold, and brola- mv siiin Ann. \\c will talk no more of liiis malt"er Cos/. Tdl there be more matter in the shin Ami. Sirrah Costard. I Nvill enfranclnse thee. Cos/. O ! marry me to one 1-rances ?~I smell some / etwoij, some goose in this. Arm By my sweet soul, I mean, setting thee at liberty andTet m'eZse:"" ' '"' '"" ""^^ ^''" ""' "^^ P"^"^^'''"' '..idTn li?.fn' ^''7.^'^>' ''^'^'-^y' -^^t (hee from durance; |.iKl, in heu thereof, nnposc on thee nothing but this •— j'auJne'ttV' t!''"' ^''"""' " '"^''^ '"^ '''' ^'^""try maid for^ the Lt. "''," ^'"""^"'•'''tion (^"""^ three farthings] ; lor the best v.ard of mine honour is rewardinc mv dependents. Moth, follow. rewaramg my Molh. Like the sequel, I.-Signior Costard, adieu. ^ (^ost. i\iy sweet ounce of man's llesh ! my incony J^w !~ U^'I'TH ^ \""r '° ^■'\ >; -^""^^^^tion. Remunerluon 'T\ that s the Lytin word for three f:.rthinas : three larlhin"s mnnv""''^ V "Tn ^^'J^''^' '^ '^'' ^''''''' "^ '""^ ^^^^' ? " "a o ! •^" -7' ,V'^' ^ " ^'^'^ y^^ '» rciuuncration : " why it arnes it.— Remuneration ! -why, it is a fairer name than !• reach crown. I will never buy an.l sdl out of tliis word Eu'er EinoN Biron. o. my pood knave Costard ! exceedingly we:! met •1 nvnlu.v'rr '''■'''' '''• ''?-■ """^ carnation nbbon may .1 man luiy l..r a reimineraJion ".' L'iron What is a rcmnner ition ? Cost. ]\Iarry, sir, halfpenny iarlhing. 177 LMMl LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST J ^s ■ '§' Biron. Cost. Biron. Cost. Biron. Cost. Biron. i\A Act II r Scl r'nT' T n "" !'y "'""• tlirec-farthlng-worlh of silk. A« fh« •?• '^''y' '•'"''^ ' ^ '""St employ tlu-e : Dn nn?»M*^^.T" "'y/«^'«"^ good my knave, Do one thing for me that I shall entreat. Cost. Wlien would you have it done, sir ? O, this afternoon. ^^": J ^'l" ^^'^ "' *•'"• Fare you well. O, thou knowest not what it is xi^ru^ '"low, sir, when I have done it. Why, villain, thou must know first 1 will come to your worship to-morrow mornlnc it is hut IhL :- ' "^^"^ ^^''' "^t^'-""""- Hark, slave. The princess comes to hunt here in liie park And in her train there is a j^a-ntlc ladv! ^ ' \Vhen tonfiucs speak sweetly, then they name her name And Rosaline they call her : ask for her, ' And to her white hand see thou do commend This sealed-up counsel. There 's thy guerdon : go. rn«/ r.1,.,1^., rx . l(^i^rs him a shillinfi f Inn i'l <^'^'^'^«"— 0. sweet gardon 1 better than remunera- vm. OH ■'•"''•'"' ?"!'^'""" ^'^^^''- ^^I«st sweet garrm-l will do It, sir in prmt.-Ganlon-iemuneration ! \Erit Biron. 0,-and I, forsooth, in love 1 l" that have been love s whip ; >^ * i, uiai na\e A very beadle to 'a humorous sit^ii • A critic, nay, a night-watch const :iLle • A domineering pedant o'er tlie boy, than whom no mortal so magniliccnt • j his wimpled, whining, purblhul. wavward boy : 1 his semor-junior, f;iant-dwarf, Dan C.upid, ^ liegent of love-rhymes, lord of folded .inns i^iege of all loiterers and malconSents, Oread prince of plackets, king of rorlpieces. Sole imperalor. ;;n(i great general Of trotting parilors :— O niv little heart !— And I to ])e a corporal of his lield Ami wear his colours like a tumhlcrs hoop ! NMiat. Ilove,-l! I sue I I seek a v. if, A woman, that is like a (lermnn clock, Mill a repairing, ever out of fran'e And never going aright, being a watdi, -■Nay. to be perjured, wiiich is worsl ot all • And, among three, to love the v.,h-sI of ail' • A wlutely wanton with a velvet l,i„v.. Willi Iv.o p.tch-halls stuck in lur face for eves ; A>, iiiKl, by heaven, one thai will do the deed, !7S *sfrM Act IV Sc I LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST ThouRh Ar^iis were Iicr eunuch and hor guard : And 1 to sigh for her ! to watch for her 1 To pray for her I Go to ; it is a plague That Cupid will impose for my ni-glt-it Of his almighty dreadful little might. Well, I will love, write, sigh, pray, sue, and groan : borne men must love my lady, and some Joan. [Exit ACT FOUR ScKNE L— In the Park. Enter the PruNCEss, Rosaline, Maiua, KvruAmNE, Boyet, Lords, Attendants, and it I'oresler Prin. Was that the king, that spurred liis horse so hard Against the sleep up-rising of t!ie hill V f^oi/et. I know not ; but I think it was not he. ,ir ,."?• .'^^'•^oc'er he was, he showed a mounting mind. Well, lords, to-day we sliall have our despatch • On Saturday we will return to Prance.— Then, forester, my friend, where is the bush That we must stand and phiy the murderer in ? For. Hereby, upon the edge of yonder coppice • A stand where you may make tlie fairest siiool. Prin. I thank my beauty, I am fair that shoot. And thereupon thou speak'st the fairest shoot. For. Pardon me, madam, for I meant not so. Prm. What, what ? first praise uje. and again say. no ? short-hved pride I Not fair ? alack for woe ! For. Yes, madam, fair. .,./''■'"• . . Nay. never paint me now : Wliere fan- is not, praise cannot nuiul the lirow Here, good my glass, take this for telling true. ... ^ , , . [Ciii'iny Iiim money 1 ;ur payment for foul words is more than due. For. Nothing but fair is that which you inherit. Prin. See, see, my beauty will be saved bv ineiit O heresy in fair, fit for these davs ! A giving hand, though foul, sh;!l! have fair praise.— Hut come, the bow :— now mercy gotb lo kill, .\nd shooting well is then acounted ill. Tims will I save my credit in tiie shoot : No! wounding, pity would not let me do "t ; If wounding, then it was to sjiow niv skill. TImI nu)re for prai.sc than iiiirpnM. nu;!!!! to kill. Ami, out of {[uestion, so il is s..iin.-iin;cs : (ilory grows f^uilty of deleslod crimes. When, for fame's sake, for praise, an outward p.irt, 171) • i I LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST Act IV Sc 1 li l.i: t '3! ' i' ■■ We bend to that the working of the heart ; As I for praise alone now seek to spill Tl)e poor deer's blood, that my heart means no il! Boyel. Do not curst wives hold that self-sovereignty Only for praise' sake, when they strive to be L(»rds o'er their lords ? -r ^'"'"" , ?"l^ ^"'" P'"''''^^ • ^"d Praha we may afford i o any lady that subdues a lord. Boyel. Here comes a member of the commonwealth. Enter Costard God dig-you-den all. Pray you, which is the Cost. bead lady ? no'heads.^*'''" ^^'^^^ ^"°''' ''""' '''"*''^' ^^' ^^^ """^ ^^'^^ ^^a^e Cost, mich is the greatest lady, the highest ? Prin. it is so ; truth is The thickest, and the tallest. Cost. The thickest, and the tallest ? truth. An your waist, mistress, were as slender as my wit One o these maids' girdles for your waist should be fit Are not you the cliief woman ? you are the thickest here Pnn. W hat 's your will, sir ? what 's your will ? Lost. I have a letter from Monsieur Biron to one Ladv Hos.'.Unc. •' S' m '."; I ?' *''^ !f \!"' ^''y ^''^^' "■ ' ^*^ 's « good friend of mine. Si and aside, good bearer.-Boyet, you can carve : Break up this capon. T.^T/: . ^ ^"^ ^0""^ to serve.— 1 his letter is mistook ; it importeth none here • It IS writ to Jaquenelta. n,.foi";K . , .. ^""'"^ ^^'"' r^^d it, I swear. Bleak the neck of the wax, and every one give ear J/om-l. [Reads] " By heaven, that thou art fair,' is most infallible; true, that thou art beauteous ; truth (self that tnou ar lovely More fairer than fair, beautiful Znblau. teous, truer than truth itself, have commiseration on tL hcroical vassel! The magnanimous and most illustrate King Cophetua set eye upon the pcrnieious and indubilate beauar I'eneloplwn, and he it was that might rightly sau \em, vuU, vui; which to anatomise in the vuU,ar () base and obseure vulgar .'), videlicet, he came, saw, and overcame /■■ came, one; saw, two; overcame, three. Who came '^ the king ; why did he come ? to see ; why did he see ■> to orrrcome. To whom came he? to the bec,gar ; what' saw he > _ the beggw ; who overcame he ? the beLar. The con- clusion ,s luetury : on whose side ? the king's. The raptire ts enriched : vn w/kksc side ? the beggar's. ' The catasl'uDhe ts a nuptial: on whose side? the king's ?-rw, Zbothn one, or one m both. I am the king, for so stands the com- '\ Act IV Sc 1 LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST parison ; thou the begyar, for so witntsselh thy lowliness. Shall I command thy love ? I may. Shall I enforce thij love? I could. Shall I entreat thy love? I will. What shall than exchange for rays ? robes ; for tittles ? titles ; for thyself ? me. Thus, expecting thy reply, I profane my lips on tliy foot, my eyes on lliy picture, and my heart on thy every part. " Thine, in the dearest design of industry, " Don Adhiano db Ahmado ? " Thus dost thou hear the Nemean lion roar Gainst thee, thou lamb, that standcst us his prey ; Submissive fall his princely feet before, And he from forage will incline to play. But if thou strive, poor soul, what art thou then ? Food for his rage, repaslure for his den." Prin. What plume of feathers is he that indited this letter ? What vane ? what weathercock ? did you ever hear better ? Boyet. I am much deceived, but I remember the style. Prin. Else your memory is bad, going o'er it erewhile. Boyet. This Armado is a Spaniard, that keeps licrc in court ; A phantasm, a Monarcho, and one that makes sport To the prince, and his book -males. Prin. Thou, fellow, a word. Who Have thee this letter ? Cost. I told you ; my lord. Prin. To whom shouldst thou give it ? Cost. I'com my lord to my lady. Prin. From which lord to wliich lady ? Cost. From my Lord Hiron, a good master of mine, To a lady of France, that he called Rosaline. Prin. Thou hast mistaken his letter. — Come, lords, away. Here, sweet, put up this : 't will be thine another day. [Exeunt Princess and Train Boy el. Who is the suitor ? who is the suitor ? ^os- Sliall I teacii you to know ? Boyet. Ay, my continent of beauty. ^o«- Why, she that bears the bow. Finely put oil I Boyel. My laciy goes to kill horns ; but :f thou marry. Hang me by the li'.tk, if horns that year miscarry. Finely put on I Ros. Well then, I am the shooter. Boyet. And who is your deer ? Ros. If we choose by the horns, yourself : come not neir. Finely put on, indeed I — Mar. You still wrangle with her, Boyet, and slie strikes at the brow. i8i -it -jt LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST Act IV Scli m I III f. &'■ J^'u i"*' ''*'"*'" '' *"^ '''^^'•- "«v« ' hit her now ? uos. JifKill I come upon thee witli nn old savino thif / troth, most pleasant : how both did fit it I hit'-t'"^ marvellous well shot. lor they both did ^"^ my 1^ 'l^'"''' ' ^' '"''"''' ^"^ ^'^'"'^ "'"'•' = ^ '"^'•^' says ^''\}nr '"vv'•^'"'y^.," ^!''''^ '"'' ^° "^«'*' «t' " it may be. Cost' Tr^t f '*''' ''^-/'''n^i : I' faiUu your hand is out. clout "'" shoot nearer, or he '11 ne'er hit the rVif' TtV' '^"-.T ''.^'"'^ ^^ *""*• *''^" '"''•^^ yo">- hand is in. Cos. Then wdl she Ret the upshot by cleaving the pin. Cost' ^uX' r'"'r ^'^"/•'"' ^''^''''y = y^"** "p« k^-^^ 'o"1. her ' . boul ^"^ ^'^" "' J^''^'^^' ''' '' ^''^"^"«« i?oyc/. 1 fear too much rubbinp. Good nif^ht, my good rnc/ Ti',, , [Exeunt lioi/el and Maria Lorcl r nr.M T^ ' n'"' ? '.''•'''" ^ "^ '""'^ ^''"I'^^' ^^'o^n I O mv t'n.th ''V'"" ''l''.'"' -'"'^ ^ have put him down ! u my truth, most swoot jests I most incony vulgar wit ' When U^comes so smouthly olT. so obscenely, as it were, so Armado o' the one side,— O, a most dainty man I To see h.m walk before a lady, and to bear her fan I swi'lr !— ''"""' ' """^ ^°^'' ""^^^ sweetly 'a will And his page o' f othtT side, that handful of wit I All heavens, it is a most pathetical nit I 5>oIa, sola ! rci i- -^f . [Shouling withm [Exit Costard Scene IL— The Same Enter Holofernes, Sin Nathaniel, and Dull testhnonv^r.^ r^Y''''^ 'P""'^' t^"ly : and done in the lesimiony of a good conscience. Hoi. The dter was. as you know, in sanqu is, —blood • npe as a pomewater. who now hangelh like a jewel in the 182 Act I\^ Sc ii LOVnS LABOUR'S LOST of In- facen. car of coelum,—{\\e sky, tho welkin, the heaven ; and anon fallclh like u crab on the face of terra, — the soil, the land, the earth. A'a//i. Tally, Master Ilolofernes, the epithets are sweetly varied, like a scholar at the least : but, sir, I assure ye, it was a buck of the first head. Ilol. Sir Nathaniel, haud credo. Dull. 'T was not a hand credo, 't was a pricket. Ilol. Most barbarous intimation I yet a kind sinuatlon, as it were, in via, in way, of explication ; ,...w.., as it were, replication, or, rather, oslenlare, to show, as it were, his inclination,— after his undressed, unpolished, uneducated, unpruned. untrained, or ratht r unletterpd. or, ratherest, unconlirmed fashion,— to insert again niy tuiud credo for a doer. Dull. I said, the deer was not a haud credo : 't was a pricket. Hoi. Twice-sod simplicity, bis coctiis ! — O, thou monster Isnorance, how deforuK^d dost thou look I Nalh. Sir, he luitli never fed of the dainties that are bred in a book ; He hath not eat paper, as it were ; he hath not drunk ink : His intellect is not replenished ; he is only an animal, only sensible in the chillor j)arls, can't think ; And such barren plants are set before us. that we thankful should l)e — Which we of taste and feeling are— for those parts that do fructify in us more than he ; For as it would ill become me to be vain, indiscreet, or a fool, So, were ihere a patch set on learning, to see him in a school : — But, omne b^ne, say I ; being of an old father's mind. Many can brook the weather, that love not the wind. Dull. You two are book-men : can you tell by your wit What was a nionlli old at Cain's birth, Uiat 's not five weeks old as vrt ? Ilol. Diclynn;., goodman Dull ; Dictynna, goodman Dull. Dull. What is Dictynna ? iVa//i. A title to riKcbe, to Luna, to the moon. Ilol. The moon was a month old when Adam was no more ; And raught not to five weeks, when he came to five-score The allusion holds in the exchant^c. Dull. 'T is true indeed ; tin- collusion holds in the ex- clianfie. Ilol. God comfort thy capacity I I say, the allusion holds in the exchange. Dull. And 1 say, the polluslon holds in tlie exchange, 183 r.vI.U ;. j^m w^r^vm.."^*' zi!:^'J^'iii^'^ MICROCOPY RESOLUTION TEST CHART (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2) 1.0 I.I 1.25 ■ 50 "== i" ilM ,iA 1.4 III 2.5 1 2.2 2.0 1.8 1.6 ^ APPLIED IM/^GE Inc SS"- '6S3 East Mq.^ Street S*-S Rochester, New fork 14609 USA '.Sa (716) 482 - 0300 - Pfione ^^ (7 '6) 288 - 5989 - Fa« I I 111, lilt I :!.: Ll -iJi, if f. LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST Act IV Sc ii for the moon is never but a month old ; and I say beside, that 't was a pricket that the princess killed. Hoi. Sir NalhanieJ, \Yill you hear an extemporal epitaph on the death of the deer ? and, to humour the ignorant, I have called the deer the princess killed, a pricket. Nalh. Pergc, good Master Holofernes, perye ; so it shall please you to abrogate scurrility. Hoi. I Avill something allcct the letter ; for it argues facility. The preijful princess pierced and pricked a pretty pleasing pricket ; Some say, a sore ; but not a sore, till now made sore with shootinq. The dogs did ijcll ; put I to sore, then sorel jumps from thicket ; Or pricket sore, or else sorel ; the people fall a-hoolinj. If sore be sore, then I to sore makes fifty sores ; O sore I ! Of one sore I an hundred make, by adding but one more I. A rare talent ! If a talent be a claw, look how he claws him with Nath. Dull. a talent. Hoi. This is a gift that I have, simple, simple ; a foolish, extravagant spirit, full of forms, figures, shapes, objects, ideas, apprehensions, motions, revolutions ! these are be- got in the ventricle of memory, nourished in the womb of pin mater, and delivered upon the mellowing of occasion. But the gift is good in those in whom it is acute, and I am thankful for it. Nath. Sir, I praise the Lord for you, and so may my parishioners ; for their sons ai'e well tutored by you, and their daughters profit very greatly under you : you are a good member of the commonv.ealth. Hoi. Mehercle ! if their sous be ingenious, they shall want no instruction ; if their daughters be capable, I will put it to them. But, vir sapit qui pauca loquitur. A soul feminine saluteth us. Enter Jaquenetta and Costard Jaq. God give you good morrow, mas'or person. Hoi. Master person.— quasi pers-on. An if one should be i)ierced : which is the one ? Cost. Marry, master schoolmaster, he that is likcst to a hogshead. JIol. Of piercing a hogshead I a good lustre of conceit in a turf of earth ; fire enough for a Hint, pearl enough for a swine : 't is pretty ; it is well. Jaq. Good master person, he so good as read nie this letter. It was given me by Costard, and sent me from Don Armado : I beseech you, read it. Hoi. Fausle, prccor, gelida quando pecus omiie sub umbra 184 ^jm^^^ Act IV Sc ii LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST Ruminat* and so forth. Ah, good old Mantuan 1 I may speak of thee as the traveller doth of Venice : Venetia, Venetia, Chi non ti vede, non ti pretia. Old Mantuan I old Mantuan I who understandeth thee not loves thee not.— L7, re, sol, la, mi, /a.— Under pardon, sir, what are the contents ? or, rather, as Horace says in his — What, my soul, verses? Nath. Ay, sir, and very learned. Hoi. Let me hear a stalT, a stanza, a verse : lege, domine. Nath. If love make me forsworn, how shall I sweur to love ? Ah, never faith could hold, if not to beauty vowed ! Though to myself forsworn, to thee I 'II faithful prove ; Those thoughts to me were oaks, to thee like osiers bowed. Study his bias leaves and makes his book thine eyes, Where all those pleasures live that art would comprehend : If knowledge be the mark, to know thee shall suffice. Well learned is that tongue that well can thee commend ; All ignorant that soul that sees thee without wonder ; Which is to me some praise, that I thy parts admire. Thy eye Jove's lightning bears, thy voice his dreadful thunder, Which, not to anger bent, is music, and sweet fire. Celestial as thou art, O, pardon love this wrong. That sings the heavens' praise with such an earthly tongue ! Hoi. You fmd not the apostrophes, and so miss the accent : let me supervise the canzonet. Here are only numbers raliOcd ; but, for the elegancy, facility, and golden cadence of poesy, caret. Ovidius Naso was the man : and why, indeed, Naso, but for smelling out the odoriferous flowers of fancy, the jerks of invention ? Imitari is nothing, so doth the hound his master, the ape his keeper, the tu-ed horse his rider. But, damosella virgin, was this directed to you ? Jag. Ay, sir, from one Monsieur Biron, one of the strange queen's lords. Hoi. I will overglance the superscript. " To the snow- white hand of the most beauteous Lady Rosaline." I will look again on the intellect of the letter, for the nomination of the parly writing to the person written unto : " Your ladyship's in all desired employment, Riron." Sir Nathaniel, this Biron is one of the votaries with the king ; and here he hath framed a letter to a sequent of the stranger • The beginning of the first Eclogue of Mantuan, in which the ppt^aker.^ were Fartstus aaJ tunatus. The Latiii poeiiia of tJie Cannolite Baptista Spagnolo of Mantua— Mnntuanus— wore used aa a wrhoollKiok in Shakespeare's time, and their first words, " Faust', precor, gelidn." were said J)y Farnaby to be dearor to pedants than Viigil's "Anna virumque cano." 185 if Vi \l \ ■ iilH LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST Act IV Sc iil ha\'rmis'c?rrtd'''T^^^ "' ^^ *^^ ^^^ ^^ progression, r;qrrfoThfr7yirL much. Stay not thy compliment; I forgive thyTuIy- adTeu Jag. Good Costard, go with me.-Sir, God save your iSe! %ah ^fr "^'^l ^^'^\ "^y ^^^' [^^^""^ Cost Inljal r.ii^f , ^"^' y^" ''-'^^'^ ^^"« this in the fear of God very religiously; and, as a cerlain Father saith- ' ^ colours But tn"rM ""' ?^ It" ^^**^"'" ' ^ ^° ^^^^ colourable S?r Natha^el '/' '''"'" '' '^' ^^'"^^^ •' ^^^ ^^^^ P^^^«« you, AJa//j. Marvellous well fo" the pen e pare'ntTof ?hf ?n'' '•:S'"^?7 "^^ P"^"^g^ I haN? w S £E-1i" " -' p"" ^K^j;e;s?^;:t ??- rbe^rch'Vors'ci:^^"^^"^ °^ P^^^^^' -^*' «- --nt^n! is ttetpp1"ness'o?nfr" *°^ '' ''' ^^^^^^^^ ^"^ ^^^ ^-t, f rf 'S,///t"si'rTS *^' -r^ "'^'^ infallibly concludes it— lio null] Sir, I do mvite you too; you shall not siv me nay: pauca verba. Away I the gentles are S?thpY game, and we will to our recreation ^ ' fLJL^/ Scene III.— Another Part of the Park Enter Biron, with a paper and I the fool. Well proved wit 1 Rv tho t ^^-i ♦!• , * isasmadas Ajax: itVlIs'she^p it^k'^^lL me'-i a ^VeZ Well proved again o' my side I I will norfoVe • itlZ' hang me : i' faith, I will not. O, but her eve -hv th?c ight, but for her eye, I would no fove her I yes fo^r her two eyes. Well, I do nothing in the world but^ie ^nd lie tS S^^'""*- , ?y heaven, I do love, and it hath taught me to rhyme, and to be melancholy ; and here is nart nf m\^ rhyme, and here my melancholy Well sbo hitif n^ > ^ sonnets already : tL clown bo?e it the'foo SiJ^and uZ Rv^,.^^*^ i\'^''"^ ^*«^^'"' «^^«eter foX wee ek ladv 1 By the world, I would not care a pin if the'other hree were groin" "'"'"'' ''"' ''''^ ^ P^P*^^ ' ^^^ «i^'« him gracTto [Gets up into a tree King. Ay me 1 Enter the King, with a paper 186 M^^w^:im£m Act IV Sciii LOVES LABOUR S LOST Biron [Aside] Sliot. by hoiivon !— Proceed sweet th?;ef[nir ^n^^nH""^"'.'r '''''' ^'^^ bird-bolt unci tiie leit paix — In faith, secrets ! — King friends] So street a kiss (he golden sun gives not To those fresh morning drops upon the rose. As thy eyebeams when their fresh rays have smote \'rfJ u^'^V "^T ^^'""^ ^" "'•V ^^''"''^'^ down flows : A or shines the silver moon one half so bright Ihrough the transparent bosom of the deep As doth thy face through tears of mine give iLht : Thou shin st in every tear that 1 do weep ■ A drop but as a coach doth carry thee So ridest thou triumphing in my woe. no but behold the fears that swell in me PHdi nn?, f^'USlory through my grief will show : Lilt do not love thyself ; then thou wilt keep My tears for glasses, and still make me weep O queen of queens ! how far thou dost excel, Ao thought can think, nor tongue of mortal tell. ?.^i'?'''" '^'^ J"^'\"'^ S'^^^^ • I '" drop the paper •— S^veet leaves, shade folly.~Who is he comes here ? What, Longaville I and" reading ! listen, ear. ^'^'''' "'''^' 'appfarf ^''^' '" ^^^ '^^""''^' '^"^ "^^'^ ^^ol Enter Longaville, with a paper Long. Ay me ! I am fdisworn. 'papirt ''^'^ ^^^''^' ''' '""^-'^ "^ "'^^ ^ P^^'-J"^^' ^'^'-^ring ^'"^shamef '^ ^" '°^'' ' ^"^^ •' ^^^'^^^ fellowship in fnn!^' L"^"'? i»,^"r drunkard loves another of the name Rir^n ^T Vi^T fi^^t that have been perjured so ? ?ha/f knl """^^ P"' '^'^ *" ^^'"'°^^ '• "°^ ^y two ?h2"cf''^'^^*?'' triumviry, the corner-cap of socio tv The shape of Love's Tyburn that hangs up sinmhdty n tT^l J ^''^'" ^^^^^ stubborn lines lack power toniov^'-- O sweet Maria, empress of my love 1 These numbers will I tear, and wricc in prose Tose r"^"'"^"^ ^' '■^^"''' ""'^ guards on wanton Cupid's Disfigure not his slop. "^^n^j . ... - "^'''S ^^^^ shall go. IRead^ Did not the neavenly rhetoric of thine eye Gainst whom the world cannot hold arnument. Persuade my heart to this false perjury ^ \ows for thee broke deserve not punishment. 187 LOVE'S LABOUR'S L )ST Act IV Sc iii ifH Is :!: Ill III! 1 u 'i' m up. m ill fi-i .1-4 111 !•■'* A woman I forswore ; but I will prove. Thou being a goddess, I forswore not thee : Ml] vow was earthly, thou a heavenly love ; Thy grace being gained cures all disgrace i/n me. Vows are but breath, and breath a vapour is : Then thou, fair sun, which on my earth dost shine, Exhal'st this vapour-vow ; in thee it is : If broken, then it is no fault of mine If by me broke. What fool is not so wise To lose an oath to win a paradise ? Biron. [Aside] This is the liver-vein, which makes flesh a deity, A green goose a goddess : pure, pure idolatry. God amend us, God amend I we are much out o' the way. Long. By whom shall I send this ? — Company 1 stay. [Steps aside Biron. [Aside] All hid, all hid ; an old infant play. Like a demi-god here sit I in the sky, And wretched fools' secrets heedfuUy o'er-eye. More sacks to the mill I O heavens I I have my wish : Dumain transformed : four woodcocks in a dish I Enter Du.main, with a paper Dam. O most divine Kate 1 Biron. [Aside] O most profane coxcomb 1 Dum. By heaven, the wonder of a mortal eye ! Biron. [Aside] By earth, she is but corporal ; there you lie. Dum. Her amber hairs for foul have amber quoted. Birori. [Aside] An amber-colour'd raven was well noted. Dum. As upright as the cedar. Biron. [Aside] Stoops, I say : Her shoulder is with child. Dum. As fair as day. Biron. [Aside] Ay, as some days ; but then no sun must shine. Dum. O, that I had my wish I Long. [Aside] And I had mine 1 King. [Aside] And I mine too, f;ood Lord I Biron. [Aside] Amen, so I had mine. Is not that a good word ? Dum. I would forget her ; but a fever she Reigns in my blood, and will remembered be. Biron. [Aside] A fever in your blood ? why, then incision Would let her out in saucers : sweet misprision 1 Dum. Once more I '11 read the ode that I have writ. Biron. [Aside] Once more I '11 mark how love can vary wit. 188 Act IV Sc iii LOVES LABOUR'S LOST Dam. On a daij, alack the dai] ! Love, whose month is ever Mcnj, Spied a blossom passirif) fair Plaijinq in llie u>(mton air : Through the velvet leaves the irind. All unseen, 'gun passage (ind ; That the lover, sick to death. Wished himself the heaven's breath. A ir, quoth he, thi/ cheeks may blow ; Air, would I might triumph so! But alack ! my hand is sivorn Ne'er to pluck thee from thy thorn : Vow, alack ! for youth unmeet. Youth so apt to pluck a sweet. Do not call it sin in me That I am forsworn for thee ; Thou for whom e'en Jove would swear Juno but an Ethiop were ; And deny himself for Jove, Turning mortal for thy love. This will T send, and something else more plnlii That shall express my true love's fasting paai. O, would the king, Biron, and Longaville, Were lovers too ! Ill to example ill. Would from my forehead wipe a perjured note ; For none offend where all a'ike do dote. Long. [Advancing] Dumain, thy love is far from charily. That in love 's grief desir'st society : You may look pale ; but I should blush, I know, To be o'erheard, and taken napping so. King. [Advancing] Come, sir, your blus'i. As his your case is such ; You chide at him, ofTending twice as much : You do not love Maria ; Longaville Did never sonnet for her sake compile. Nor never lay his wreathed arms athwart His loving bosom, to keep down his herrt. I have been closely shrouded in this bush. And marked you both, and for you both did blu<;'i. I heard your guilty rhymes, observed your faslii;).i. Saw sighs reek from you, noted well your passion ; Ay me ! says one ; O Jove I the other cries ; Cue's hairs were gold, crystal the other's eyes : [lo Luiuiaviiic] You would fur prfradibe bre ik faiih and troth ; [To Dunviir] And .love for your love would infringe an oath. What will Biron say, when that he shall ii.ar The faith infringed, which such zeal did swear ? ISO w "t w. LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST Act IV Sc iii If H ( I iif M m How will he scorn ! now will he spend his wit I How will he triumph, leap, and lauf^h at it 1 For all the wealth that ever I did see, I would not have him know so much by me. Biron. Now step I forth to whip hypocrisy. — [Descends from the tree Ah, good my liege, I pray thee, pardon me. Good heart I what grace hast thou, thus to reprove These worms for loving, that art most in love ? Your eyes do make no coaches ; in your tears There is no certain princess that appears : You '11 not be perjured, 't is a hateful thing : Tush, none but minstrels like of sonneting. But are you not ashamed ? nay, are you not. All three of you, to be thus much o'ershot ? You found his mote ; the king your mote did sec ; But I a beam do find in each of three. O, what a scene of foolery have I seen. Of sighs, of groans, of sorrow, and of teen I me 1 with what strict patience have I sat. To see a king transformed to a gnat 1 To see great Hercules whipping a gig, And profound Solomon tuning a jig. And Nestor play at push-pin with the boys, And critic Timon laugh at idle toys I Where lies thy grief ? O, tell me, good Dumain : And, gentle Longaville, where lies thy pain ? And where my liege's ? all about the breast ; — A caudle, ho I King. Too bitter is thy jest. Are we betrayed thus to thy over-view ? Biron. Not you to me, but I betrayed by you : L that am honest ; L that hold it sin To break the vow I am engaged in ; 1 am betrayed, by keeping company With men like you, men of inconstancy. When shall you see me write a thing in rhyme ? Or groan for Joan ? or spend a minute's time In pruning me ? When shall you hear that I Will praise a hand, a foot, a face, an eye, A gait, a state, a brow, a breast, a waist, A leg, a limb ? — King. Soft ! Whither away so fast ? A true man or a thief that gallops so ? Biron. I post from love ; — good lover, let me go. Enter Jaquenetta and CosfAKD Jaq. God bless the king ! King. V^liat present hast thou there ? Cost. Some cert;:in treason. 190 Act IV Sc iii LOVE'S LAnOUR'S LOST Kiruj. What makes treason here ? Cost. Nay, it makes nothing, sir. King. If it mar nothing neither. The treason and you go in peace away together. Jaq. I beseech your grace, let this letter be read : Our person misdoubts it ; it was treason, he said. King. Biron, read it over. [Biron. reads the lellcr Where hadst tliou it ? Jaq. Of Costard. King. Where hadst thou it ? Cost. Of Dun Adramaclio, Dun Adramadio. King. How now ! what is in you ? why dost thou tear it ? Biron. A toy, my liege, a toy : your grace needs not fear it. Long. It did move liim to passion, and therefore let's hear it. Dum. [Picking up the pieces] It is Biron's writing, and here is his name. Biron. [To Costard] Ah, you whoresor ' ^.rhead I you were born to do me shame. — Guilty, my lord, guilty I I confess, I u)nfess. King. What ? Biron. That you three fools lacked me, fool, to make up the mess ; Ke, he, and you, and you, my liege, and I, Are pick-purses in love, and we deserve to die. O, dismiss this audience, and I shall tell you more. Dum. Now the number is even. Biron. True, true ; we are four. — Will these turtles be gone ? King. Hence, sirs ; away ! Cost. W'alk aside the true folk, and let the traitors stay. [Exeunt Costard and Jaquenetla Biron. Sweet lords, sweet lovers, O, let us embrace. As true we are as flesh and blood can be : The sea will ebb and flow, heaven show- his face ; Young blood doth not obey an old decree : We cannot cross the cause why we are born ; Therefore, of all hands must we be forsworn. King. What, did these rent lines show some love of thine ? Biron. Did they ? quoth you. Who sees the heavcn-y Rosaline, That, like a rude and savage man of Inde. At the first opening of the gorgeous cast, Rows not his vassal head, and, stricken blind. Kisses the base ground with obedient breast ? W^hat peremptory, eagle-sighted eye Dares look upon the heaven of her brow. That is not blinded by her majesty ? 191 .,.. ^- LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST Act IV Sc iii •n r Mil in King. What zeal, what fury hath Inspired thee now ? My love, her mistress, is a gracious moon. She an attending star, scarce seen a li'^lit. Biron. My eyes arc then no eyes, nor I liiron. O, but for my love, day would turn to nipiit. Of all complexions the culled sovereignty Do meet, as at a fair, in her fair cheek ; "Where several worthies make one di}.'nity. Where nothing wants that want ilself doth seek. Lend me the flourish of all gentle tongues, — Fie, painted rhetoric I O, she needs it not : To things of sale a seller's praise belongs. She passes praise ; then praise too short doth blut. A withered iiermit, flvc-scoro winters woni. Might shake olT fifty, looking in her eye : Beauty doth vanish age, as if new-born. And gives the crutch the cradle's infancy. O, 'tis the sun, that maketh all things sliine I King. By heaven, thy love is black as ebonj'. Biron. Is ebony like her ? O wood divine 1 A wife of such wood were felicity. O, who can give an oath ? where is a book ? That I may swear beauty doth beauty lack, If that she learn not of her eye to look : No face is fair, that is not full so black. King. O, paradox I Black is the badge of hell. The hue of dungeons, and the scowl of night : And beauty's crest becomes the heavens well. Biron. Devils soonest tempt, reseml)]ing spirits of light. O, if in black my lady's brows be decked. It mourns, that painting, and usurping hair. Should ravish dotcrs with a false aspect ; And therefore is she born to make black fair. Her favour turns the fashion of the days ; For native blood is counted painting now, And therefore red, that would avoid dispraise, Paints itself black, to imitate her brow. Dum. To look like her are chimney-sweepers black. Long. And since her time are colliers counted bright. King. And Ethiops of their sweet complexion crack. Dum. Dark needs no candies now, for dark is iig'at. Biron. Your mistresses dare never come in r:iin, For fear their colours should be washed away. King. 'T were good, yours did ; for, sir, to tell you ph.in, I '11 find a fairer face not washed to-dny. Biron. I '11 lirovc her fiiir, or ti^ik tUi doomsday liere. King. No devil will fright thee then so much ; s she. Diim. I never knew man bold vile sLulf so dear. Long. [Shounng his shoe] Look, here's tiiv love: my foot and her face see. 192 Act IV Sc ill LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST Iliron. O, If the streets were paved with thine eyes. tier feet were imich too dainty for such tread. Diim O vile I then, as she goes, what upward lies I he streets should see. as slic walJved overhead King. But what of this ? Are we not all in love ? IJiron. O, nothinR so sure ; and thereby all forsworn King. Then leave this chat: and, good liiron, now prove Our loving lawful, and our faith not torn. Dum. Ay, marry, there ; some llattery for this evil J.ong. O, some autliorily how to proceed ; Some tricks, some quillets, how to cheat the devil Dum. Some salve for perjury. M^""'*''; .. « O, 't is more than need.— Have at you then, affection's men-at-arms : (.nnsider, what you first did swear unto,— To fast,— to study,— and to see no woman : I lat treason 'gainst the kingly state of youth. Say, can you fast ? your stomachs are too young And abstinence engenders maladies. And where that you have vowed to study, lords In that each of you have forsworn his book. ' Can you still dream, and pore, and thereon look ? Jor when would you, my lord, or you, or you, Have found the ground of study's excellence, Without the beauty of a woman's face ? From women's eyes this doctrine I derive • They are the ground, the books, the academes, troin whence doth spring the true Promethean lire. NVliy, universal plodding prisons up The nimble spirits in the arteries. As motion and long-durinrr action tiros The sinewy vigour of the traveller. Now, for not looking on a woman's face You have in that forsworn the use of eyes. And study too, the causer of your vow ; For where is any author in the world Teaches such beauty as a woman's eye ? Learning is but an adjunct to oursel!. And where we are, our learning likov.ise is : Then, when ourselves we sec in ladies' cy.s'. Do we not likev.ise sec our learning there ?' O, we have made a vow to study, lords, And in that vow we have forsworn our boolcs • For when woidd you, my Ii,-c, or you, or you! In leaden contemplation have found out Such fiery numbers, as the prompting eyes Of beauty's tutors have enriched you with ? Other slov/ arts entirely keep the brain, And therefore, finding barren pract iscrs, 3 a— o 193 LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST Act IV Sc lii f I : ii lit HI Scarce show a harscst of their heavy ti»ll ; But love, first learned In a lady's eyes, Lives not alone Immured In the hr;iiii, But, with the motion of all elements. Courses as swift as thought in every power, And gives to every power a double power Above their functions and their onUes. It adds a precious seeing; to the eye ; A lover's eyes will gay.e an eagle blind : A lover's car will hear the lowest sound. When the suspicious head of theft is slopped : Love's feeluig is more soft, and sensible. Than are the tender horns of cockled snails : Loves tongue proves dainty Bacchus gross in taste. For valour, is not Love a Hercules, Still climbing trees in the Hesperides ? Subtle as Spliinx ; as sweet, and musical. As bright Apollo's lute, strung with his hair ; And, when Love speaks, the voice of all the g«ds .Makes heaven drowsy with the harmony. Never durst poet touch a pen to write. Until his ink were tempered with Love's sighs ; O, then his lines would ravish savage ears. And plant in tyrants mild humility. From women's eyes this doctrine I derive : They sparkle still the right Promethean Tire ; They are the books, the arts, the academes. That show, contain, and nourish all the world ; Else none at all in aught proves excellent. Then, fools you were these women to forswear, Or, keeping what is sworn, you will prove fools. For wisdom's sake, a word that all men love, Or for love's sake, a word that loves all men. Or for men's sake, the authors of these women, Or women's sake, by whom we men are men. Let us once lose our oaths, to find ourselves, Or else we lose ourselves, to keep our oaths. It is religion to be thus forsworn ; For charity ii self fulfils the law ; And who can sever love from charity ? King. Saint Cupid, then I and, soldiers, to the field ! Biron. Advance your standards, and upon them, lords I Pell-mell, down with thom ! but be first advised, In co.iflict that you get Ihe sun of them. Long. Now to plain-dealing : lay these glozes by. Shall we resolve to woo these girls of France '? King. And win them too : therefore, let us devise Some entertainment for them in their tents. Biron. First, Irom the park let us conduct them thither ; Then, homeward, every man attach the hand 194 .wi- f »i^^>"yf^'-M^w,. ^jtcfT^UMiiiii t wAl '< ^'^^' ^'* LOVE'S LABOUa-S LOST ?vwn!'"'M '"*'""'• '" ^he afUrnoon Wh .c )1''^V ^""i® s^r^iRc pastime solace them Such as the shortness of Ihe time can shme ^or revels, dances. masl<.s, and nu-rrv h ours ' Forerun fair Love, sticwln. her wa^V 'n^wcrs Ti|^mi!V7i-^;r---;:;^ht^i^^ ACT FIVE Scene L— In the Park Enter Holofernes, Sin Nathaniel, and Dull Hoi. Salis quod sufjlcit. ha^'^ten^V/a^p^^S'sXSul^^ I^ ^^^^^ «^ ^^nner rility.witty without afTection 3^^ P'<':'sant without scur- learned without opin on an^rs'^on'"' ''•'""""^^"'^^'"'•y^ did converse this ?LS/n Hv Slf n''''*'^"^ ^'''''^' ' sii;^m:d\°/--^----Se^^^ his':irscoute"peXrrytrtr«.;:fi,.^jS^"-°- '^ ^ofty. % his gait majesticajf an^' h s Srd boh-^ -1?" ''^'".b'^'^"^' culous. and thrasonical. He ts too n Ho' » '''''"* affected, too odd, as it wSp tr?n E '• ''''* ^P"""^*^' too call it. ^^'^^' ^"° Pt>regrmate, as I may iVa//i. A most singular and choice epithet. Hoi He draweth out thp thrpiJ'^^i^l""^ '''^ table-bo-^k than the staple of his .rsument t "" m'''' ^'''^'''^''^y Oner phantasms, such insoci- bh "h A •^''^i*^'"^ "^"'^f^ fanatical such rackets of orrho'Anhv ol f'^^'^^-^r'^i^ companions ; ^ve should say doubf u e^' li, T''^.^""^' ''"«^' ^^hen dcbt,-d,e b t notrl o t.% f" ^"^ '''^"^'J pronounce haulf; ne1ghboLr"tca/;/nUoVr''^:"^r'^''^^ h^^^' This is abhominable (wl iclfhe v oul 1 r°.^i ^''^^^^Y^^ted ne. insinuatnth me of irArdre n^ i'm}^ \ abominable), it. frantic, lunatic. " '"^'^^^'J/'^* c/o/nme? to make •t S serve"'^ ' ''"' '°' '^"^ •' ^'^^^^^-" ^ "ttle scratched ; 196 LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST Act V Sc i Enter Armado, Moth, and Costard Nath. Hot. Arm. Hoi. Arm. Hoi. Moth. Videsne quis oenit ? Video, el gaudeo. [To Molh\ Chirrah ! Quare chirrah, not sirrah ? Men of peace, well encountered. Most military sir, salutation. They have been at a great feast of languages, and stolen the scraps. Cost. O, they have lived long on the alms-basket of words. I marvel thy master hath not eaten thee for a word ; for thou art not so long by the head as Iiono- rificabilitudinitatibus : thou art easier swallowed than a flap-dragon. Moth. Peace ! the peal begins. Arm. [To HoL] Monsieur, are you not lettered ? Moth. Yes, yes, he teaches boys the horn-book. — What is a, b, spelt backward with the horn on his head ? Hoi. Ba, pueritia, with a horn added. Moth. Ba 1 most silly sheep, with a horn. — You hear his learning. Hoi. Quis, quis, thou consonant ? Moth. The third of the five vowels, if you repeat them ; or the fifth, if I. Hoi. I will repeat them, — a, e, i. Moth. The sheep 1 the other two concludes it ; — o, — u. Arm. Now, by the salt wave of the Mediterranean, a sweet touch, a quick venue of wit 1 snip, snap, quick and home : it rejoiceth my intellect ; true wit I Moth. wit-old. Hoi. Moth. Hoi. Moth. OfTered by a child to an old man ; which is WTiat is the figure ? what is the figure ? Horns. Thou disputest like an inlant : go, wliip thy gig. Lend me your horn to make one, and I will whip about your infamy circum circa. A gig of a cuckold's horn 1 Cost. An I had but one penny in the world, thou shouldst have it to buy gingerbread. Hold, there is the very Remuneration I had of thy master, thou halfpenny purse of wit, thou pigeon-egg of discroLion. O, an the heavens were so pleased that thou wert but my bastard, what a joyful father wouldst thou make me ! Go to ; thou hast it ad dunghill, at the fingers' ends, as they say. Hoi. O 1 I smell false Latin ; dnnphiU for un'/aern. Arm. Arts-man, prscanibula : we will be singled from the barbarous. Do you not educate youth at the charge- house on the top of the mountain ? Hoi. Or mons, the hills. 196 j^mi:^ Act V Sc i LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST Arm. At your sweet pleasure, for the mountain. Hoi. I do, sans question. Arm. Sir, it is the king's most sweet pleasure and affection, to congratulate the princess at her pavilion in the posteriors of this day, which the rude multitude call the afternoon. Hot. The posterior of the day, most generous sir, is liable, congruent, and measurable for the afternoon : the word is well culled, chose ; sweet and apt, I do assure you, sir ; I do assure. Arm. Sir, the king is a noble gentleman, and my familiar, I do assure you, very good friend.— For what is inward between us, let it pass.— I do beseech thee, re- member thy courtesy,— I beseech thee, apparel thy head :— and among other importunate and most serious designs and of great import indeed, too,— but let that pass.— For I must tell thee, it will please his grace, by the world, sometime to lean upon my poor shoulder, and with his royal finger, thus, dally with my excrement, with my mustachio : but, sweet heart, let that pass. By the world, I recount no fable : some certain special honours it plcaseth his greatness to impart to AiiUudo, a soldier, a man ol travel, that hath seen tlie world : but let that pass.— The very all of all is,— but, sweet heart, I do implore secrecy,— that the king would have me present the princess, sweet chuck, with some delightful ostentation, or show, or pageant, or antick, or fire-work. Now, understanding that the curate and your sweet self are good at such erup- tions and sudden breaking out of mirth, as it were, I have acquainted you withal, to the end to crave your assistance. llol. Sir, you shall present before her the Nine Worthies. — Sir Nathaniel, as concerning some entertainment of time some show in the posterior of this day, to be rendered by our assistance^— at the khig's command, and this most gallant, illustrate, and learned gentleman, -before the princess; I say, none so fit as to present the .Nine Worthies. Nath. Where will you lind men worthy enough to present them ? Hoi. Joshua, yourself ; myself, or this gallant gentle- man, Judas ."\laccabieus ; this swain (because of his great limb or joint) shall pass Pompey the Great ; the page Hercules. ' Arm. Pardon, sir ; error : he is not quantity enough for that Worthy's thumb : he is not so big as the end of his club. Hoi. Shall I have audience ? he sliall present Hercules in minority : his enter and exit shall be strangling a snake ; and I will have an apology for that purpose. Moth. An excellent device : so, if any of the audience hiss, you may cry, " Well done, Hercules ! now thou 137 LOVES LABOUR'S LOST Act V Sc ii cruslicst the snake 1 " that is the way to make an oUcnce gracious, though few have the grace to do it. Arm. Hoi. iMolh. Arm. Hoi. Arm. For the rest of the Worthies . I will play three myself. Thrice-worthy gentleman I Shall I tell you a thing ? We attend. We will have, if this fadge not, an antick, I beseech you, follow. Hoi. Via .'—Goodman Dull, thou hast spoken no word all this while. Dull. Nor understood none neither, sir. Hoi. Allans ! we wil' employ thee. Biill. I '11 make one ai a dance, or so I or I will play On the tabor to the Worthios, and let Ihem dance the hay Hoi Most dull, honest Dull.— To our sport, away I [Exeunt Scene IL— Outside the Park. Before the PniNCEss's Pavilion Enter the Princess, Katharine, Rosaline, and Maria Prin. Sweet hearts, we shall be rich ere we depart If fairings come thus plentifully in : A lady walled about with diamonds ! Look you, what 1 have from the loving king. Ros. Madam, came nothing else along with that ? Prin. Nothing but this ? yes ; as much love in rhyme. As would be crammed up in a sheet of paper, Writ on both sides the leaf, margin and all, That he w^as fain to seal on Cupid's name. Ros. That was the way to make his godhead wax • For he hath been five thousand years a boy. ' Kath. Ay. and a shrewd unhappy gallows too. Ros. You '11 ne'er be friends with him : he killed vour sister. •' Kath. He made her melancholy, sad, and heavy : And so she died : had she been light, like you. Of such a merry, nimble, slirring spirit. She might have been a grandam ere she died ; And so may you, for a light heart lives long. Ros. What 's your dark meaning, mouse, of this licht word ? " Kath. A light condition in a beauty dark. Ros. We need more light to find your meaning out I^ath. You '11 mar the li-ht by taking it in snun' ; Therefore, I '11 darkly end the argument. Ros. Look, what you do, you do it still i' the dark. Kath. So do not you, for you are a light wench. 108 Act V Sc ii LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST Ros. Indeed, I weigh not you, and therefore light. Kath. You weigh me not ? — O ! that 's you care not for me. Ros. Great reason ; for, past cure is still past care. Prin. Well bandied both ; a set of wit well played. But, Rosaline, you have a favour loo : Who sent it ? and what is 't ? Ros. I would you knew : An if my face were but as fair as yours. My favour were as great : be witness tliis. Nay, I have verses too, I thank Biron. The numbers true ; and, were the numbering too, I were the fairest goddess on the ground : I am compared to twenty thousand fairs. O, he hath drawn my picture in his letter. Prin. Anything like ? Ros. Much in the letters ; nothing in the praise. Prin. Beauteous as ink : a good conclusion. Kath. F"air as a text B in a copy-book. Ros. Ware pencils, ho ! let me not die your debtor. My red dominical, my golden letter : O, that your face were not so full of O's I Kath. A pox of that jest I and beshrew all shrows ! Prin. But, what was sent to you from fair Dumain ? Kath. Madam, this glove. Prin. Did he not send you twain ? Kath. Yes, madam ; and, moreover, Some thousand verses of a faithful lover : A huge translation of hypocrisy. Vilely compiled, profound simplicity. Mar. This, and these pearls to me sent Longaville : The letter is too long by half a mile. Prin. I think no less. Dost thou not wish in heart. The chc-in were longer, and the letter short 1 Mar. Ay, or I would these hands might never part. Prin. We arc wise girls to mock our lovers so. Ros. They are worse fools to purchase mocking so. That same Biron I '11 torture ere I go. O, that I knew he were but in by the week ! 1 low 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 bests," And make him proud to make me proud that jests ! So portent-like would I o'ersway his state, Tliat he should be my fool, and I his fate. i rin. None are so surely caught, when they are calciied, As wit turned fool : folly, in wisdom hatched. Hath wisdom's warrant and the help of school. And wit's own grace to grace a learned fool. 199 LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST Act V Sc ii A„^„?\ -7^^ *^'°^,? "' y°"*^ ^"''"s not with such excess As gravity's revolt to wantonness. A/«';- Polly in fools bears not so strong a note As foolery m the wise, when wit doth dote • Since all the power thereof it dolh apply To prove, by wit, worth in simplicity. ' Pnn. litre comes Boyet, and mirth is in his fuce. Enter Boyet Boijcl. O, I am stabbed with laughter. Where her Prin. Thy news, Boyet ? Boijct. Prepare, madam, nronare I Arm, wenches, arm I encounters inounted are ^^''^^''^ ' Against your peace. Love doth ai)proach disguised. Anned m arguments : you '11 be surprised. Muster your wits ; stand in your own defence ; Or hide your heads like cowards, and lly hence Ti of"',: ^-^'.".^ P^"*^ to Saint Cupid I What are they T ,\ •' i. y^''''^ ^^'^ *^°°' sl^'^^e of a sycamore 1 tliought to close mine eyes some half an hour, \\hen, lo I to interrupt my purposed rest, i oward that shade I might behold addrtst 1 he 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 nage, Ihat well by heart hath conned his embassage : Action and accent did they teach him there : i .lus must thou speak, and thus thv body bear • " And ever and anon they made a doubt Presence majestical would put him out ; For," quoth the king, " an angel shalt thou see : ,)f t fear not thou, but speak audaciously." rhe boy replied, " An angel is not evil ; «' ,u"A'' i'^'V^ ^^'"'''^'^ 1^^^' had she been a devil." M-Jlll H K \^"8''«^J' ^'^^ cl^'PPed liini on the shoulder, Making the bold wag by their praises bolder. One rubbed his elbow, thus, and fleered, and swore A better speech was never sj)oke before • Anolhor, with his linger and his thumb, ^u ,u- V'f ' '''' """^ ^" 't' c«'"e what will come ; " -r ! f ',. ''f ^^^P- '"e^' «nd cried, " All goes well ; " The fourth turiicd on the toe, and down he fell. With that, they all did tumble on the ground \Mth such a zealous laughter, so profound," ' 1 hat in this si)leen ridiculous appears, To check their folly, passion's solemn tears. 200 ?nW* .■^ik^',«r-J'';« Act V Sc ii LOVE'S labot:r's lost Sn!"i ^il! '''^^*' ^"' ''^''^'» '^O'^e they to visit us •> Tid(f- ^'^fy 'Jo. they do; and are nppardlca thus,- Like Aluscovik-s, or Russiaus : as I guess Their purpose is, to parle, to court, and'dance: And every one his love-feat will advance Unto his several mis(ross ; which they'll know By favours several which they did h-stow Pnn And will they so? the j,'allants shall be tasked- For ladies, we will every one ho masked ' And not a man of them shall have the CTace. Despite of suit, to see a lady's face — Hold, Rosaline, this favour thou shalt wear tT"r. * P ^'^® '^'"S ^^"' court thee for his dear • Jn .hJir?*^"". ^^''' my sweet, and give me thine, So shall Biron take me for Rosaline — And change you favours, too ; so shall your loves Woo contrary, deceived by these remo.es ifnih ^^'"^0"' then ; wear the favours most in si«ht Prn TU^ 'I? this changing what is your intent ? ° T^Sr < •Jk'','^.^*''^* ""{^y '"tent is, to cross theirs : 1 ney do it but in mocking merriment ; And mock for mock is only my intent' Their several counsels they unbosom shall ro loves mistook ; and so be mocked withnl. L pon the next occasion that we meet NVith visages displayed, to talk and greet Ros. But shall we dance, if thev desire us to 't «> V I'^'.r,- ' ^^ *^^ ^'^•'^th, we will not move a foot • n r *<* their penned speech render we no grare ; But, while t is spoke, each turn awav h^r face Boijet Why, that contempt will kill the speaker's heart And quite divorce his memory from his part. '^''^ ' "'''^' ThP r^«'f J^.^^^fore I do it ; and, I make no doubt, The rest will ne'er come in, if he be out. To make theirs ours, and ours none but our own • bo s.iali we stay, mocking intended game, And they, well mocked, depart away with shame. nmiPt Th^ ♦-, * J f Trumpets sound within cm J ^^""'P*^* s<>"nds : be masked, the maskers ^°"'®- [The Ladies mask Enter the Kixo, Biron, Longaville, and Dlmain in Attendants ' ""^ '""'^'^' -''°"«' ^^^^sicians/and Moih. Boijet. Moth. That ever 38— o* All had, the richest beauties on the earth I " Beauties no richer than rich tafTata. A holy parcel of the fairest dames, I J.... ['^'^^ ^'^^^(^s turn their backs to him turned their~bncks-to mortal uieivs ! " 201 i^ LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST Act V Sc ii ' Their eyes," villain, " their eyes." Thai ever turned their eyes to mortal views Biron. Moth. Out "— Boyet. True ; " out," indeed. Moth. " Out of your favours, heavenly spirits, vouch- safe Not to behold "— Biron. " Once to behold," rogue. Moth. " Once to behohl with your sunbeamed eyes. — with your sunbeamed eyes " — Boyet. They will not answer to that epithet ; \ou 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, 't is our will That some plain man recount their purposes. Know what they would. Boyet. What would vou 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 hor, 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 so. Ask them how many inches Is in one mile : if they have measured many The measure then of one is easily told. Boijet. Ii, to come hither, you have measured miles, .And many miles, the princess bids you tell I low many inches Jo fill up one mile. Biron. Tell her, we measure them by weary steps. Boyet. She hears herself. ^r^^^' How many weary stens, Of many weary miles you have o'ergone, Are numbered in the travel of one mile ? Biron. We number nothing that we spend for vou : Our duty is so rich, so infhiite. That we may do it still without accompt. Vouchsafe to show the sunshine of your face. That we, like s.ivages, may worship it. Ros. My face is hut a moon, and clouded too. Ring. Blessed are clouds, to do as such clouds do I \ouchsafc, briglit moon, and these thy stars, to shine— Those clouds removed — upon our watery eyne. 202 Act V Sc ii LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST Ros. O vain petitioner, beg a greater matter : Thou now request'st but moonshine in the water. n^£!^t, I uY^' *? **"'■ '"<^»sure vourlisafo but one change. Thou bidd St me beg ; this begging is not strange. Hos. Play, music, then I nay, you must do it soon. Not yet ;— no dance.— Thus change I like the moon!'' ^^"^'^ King. Will you not dance? How come vou thus estranged ? Kos. You took the moon at full, but now she 's changed. King. Yet still she is the moon, anrl I the man • Yet music plays : vouchsfifc some motion to it. Ros. Our ears vouchsafe it. ^j^y- e. ^"t your less should do it. Av m' ?\"^^ ^°" ^^^ strangers, and come liere by chance, Wo 11 not be nice : take hands :— we will not dance. King. Why take we hands then ? rn^.^*'\ . u . ^"'y to part friends.— Court sy, sweet hearts ; and so the measure ends. King. More measure of this fneasure : be not nice Ros. We can afford no more at such a price King. Prize you yourselves? What buys "your com- pany ? Ros. Your absence only. ^'"5'- That can never be. Ros. Then cannot we be bought ; and so adieu. 1 wice to your visor, and half once to you I King. If you deny to dance, let 's hold more chat. In private then. I am best pleased with that. «rt,-* 1- J o . . V^'hei) converse apart White-handed mistress, one sweet word with Ros. King. Biron. thee. Prin. Honey, and milk, and sucar : there are three Biron. Nay then, two treys, an if vou grow so nice,— Metheghn, wort, and malmsey.— Well" run, dice ! There 's half a dozen sweets. _,. ^'''"- Seventh sweet, adieu. Since you can cog, I '11 play no more with you. Biron. Prin. Biron. Prin. Biron. Duni. Mar. Bum. Mar. One word in secret. _, Let it not be sweet. Thou griev'st my gall. Gall ? bitter. Therefore meet. [Tbetf rnwipr^f iinnrf Will you vouchsafe with me to change a word "^ Name it. Fair ladv. Take that for your fair lad^ Say you so ? Fair lord.— 203 [•» f^l-- MifibSi^^^^SIMk^ LOVES LABOUR'S LOST Act V Sc ii Hi Kalh. Long. Kath. long. Long. Kath. Boyet. Dum. Please it you, As much in private, and 1 '11 bid iulieu. [Thei] converse apart Wliat, was your visard mndc williout a tongue ? I Itnow the reason, lady, why you ask. O. for your reason ! quickly, sir ; I lonfi. You have a double tongue within your mask. And would aflord my speecliless visard half. Kath. Veal, {[uoth the Dutchman :— Is not veal a calf ? Long. A calf, fair lady ? Kalh. No, a fair lord calf. Long. Let 's part the word. J^^'tfj- No, I 'II not be your half : Take all, and wean it : it may prove an ox. Long. Look, liow you bull yourself in these sharp mocks. Will you ^'ive horns, chaste lady ? do not so. Kath. Then die a calf, before your horns do grow. One word in private with you, ere 1 die. Bleat softly theini the butcher hears you cry [They converse apart The tongues of mocking wenches are as keen As is the razor's edge invisible. Cutting a smniler hair than may be seen ; Above the sense of sense, so sensible Seemeth their conference ; their conceits have wings Fleeter than arrows, bullets, wuid, thought, swifter things. Kos. Not one word more, my maitis ; break off, break off. Biron. By heaven, ail dry-beaten with pure scoff I King. Farewell, mad wenches : you have simple wits. [Exeunt King, Lords, Moth, Music, and Attendants Prin. Twenty adieus, my frozen Muscovites. — Are these the breed of wits so v>ondered at ? Boyet. Tapers they are, with your sweet breaths puffed out. Ros. Well-liking wits they have ; gross, gross ; fat, fat. Prin. O poverty in wit, kingly-poor llout 1 Will they not, think you, hang themselves to-night. Or ever, but in visards, show their faces ? This pert Biron was out of countenance quite. lias. O, they were all in lamentable cases 1 The king was weeping-ripe for a good word. Prin. Biron did sv.car himself out of aW suit. Mar. Dumain was at my service, and his sword : No point, quolh I : my servant straight was mule. Kath. Lord Longaville said, I came o'er his heart ; And trow you, what he called me ? ^^'"- Qualm, perhaps. Kath. Yes, in good faith. 204 Act V Sc U LOVES LABOUR'S LOST J «r .. u .. . ^"' sickness as thou art I n . n ^ ^*'"*^'' ^^'^^ ^=*^'« ^^orn plain statute cm ns But will you licar ? fl.c kiiif,' is my love sworn. Inn And quick iJiron liatii i))-c" ted laitli to me. Kulh. And Longaville was for n. service born Mar. iJumaui is mine, as sure as bark on tree lioiict. Madam, and prelty mistresses, cive oar. Immediately they will a«ain be here In their own shapes ; for it can never be, Tlicy will dif^esl this harsh indignity. Prin. Will they return ? a,//m/!' f • *u u They will, they will, God knows; And leap for joy, though they are lame with blows • 1 lerefore, change favours ; and, when they repair Blow like sweet roses in this summer air. ' Pnn How blow ? how blow ? speak to be understood. JJoyet. lajr ladies masked are roses in tlieir hud • Dismasked, their damask sweet commixture shown. Are angels vailing clouds, or roses blown. Pnn. Avaunt, perplexity I What shall we do. If they return in their own shapes to woo ? lios. Good madam, if by me you '11 be advised, Let s mock them still, as well known as dis-^uiscd. Let us complain to them what fools were here Disguised like Muscovites, in shapeless gear ; ' And wonder what tbey were, and to what end i heir shallow shows and prologue vilely penned. And their rough carriage so lidiculnus, Should be presented at our tents to us noijet. Ladies, withdraw ; the gallants are at hand. i'nn. Whip to our tents, as roes run over land [Exeunt Prin., Rosaline, Katharine, and Maria Enter the King, Biron, Longaville, and Dumain, in tlieir proper habits King Fair sir, God save you I W^here is the princess ? Boyet. Gone to her tent. Please it your majesty Comiuand me any service to her thither ? King. That she vouchsafe me audience for one word Boyd. I will ; and so will she, I know, my lord. [Exit Biron. This fellow pecks up wit, as pigeons peas. And utters it again when God doth pleas>^ Pie is wit's pedlar, and retails his wares At wakes and wassails, meetings, markets, fairs : And we that sell by gross, the Lord doth know, iiave not the grace to grace it with such show. 1 his gallant pins the wenches on his sleeve ; Had he been Adam, he had tempted Eve He can carve too, and lisp : why, this is he, luat kistiod away his hand in courtesy ; 205 ^'*M&t^±''^l LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST Act V Sc i if' lif m P If 1 I s nm This is the ape of form, monsieur the nice, That, when he plays at tables, chides the dice In honourable terms : nay, he can sing A mean most meanly ; and, in ushering. Mend him who can : the ladies call him, sweel ; The stairs, as he treads on them, kiss his feet. This is the flower that smiles on every one. To show his teeth as white as whal«^s-bone ; And consciences, that will not die in debt. Pay him the due of honey-tongued Boyct. King. A blister on his sweet tonRuc, with my heart, That put Arraado's page out of his part I liiron. See where it comes I— Behaviour, what wert thou, Till this man showed thee ? and what art thou now ? Enter the Princess, ushered by Boyet ; Rosaline, Mama, Katharine, and Attendants King. Prin. King. Prin. King. All hail, sweet madam, and fair time of day I Fair, in all hail, is foul, as I conceive. Construe my speeches belter, if you m;iy. Then wish me better : I will give you leave. „ We came to visit you, and purpose now To lead you to our court ; vouchsafe it, then. Prin. This field shall hold me, and so hold your vow : Nor God, nor I, delights in perjure d men. King. Rebuke me not for that which you provoke ; The virtue of your eye must break my oath. Prin. You nickname virtue ; vice you should have spoke ; For virtue's onice never breaks men's troth. Now, by iny maiden honour, yet as pure As the unsullied lily, I protest, A world of torments though I should endure, I would not yield to be your house's guest ; So much I hate a breaking cause to be Of heavenly oaths, vowed with integrity. King. O, you have lived in desolation here, Unseen, unvisitcd, much to our shame. Prin. Not so, my lord ; it is not so, I swear : We have had pastimes here, and pleasant game. A mess of liussians left us but of lale. King. How, madam ? Russians ? T, /''■'"•„ , ,„ , Ay, in truth, my lord : Trmi gallants, full of courtship and of state. lios. Madam, speak true. It is not so, my lord • My lady — to the manner of the days In courtesy gives undeserving praise. We four, indeed, confronted were with four In Russian habit : here they stayed an hour. And talked apace ; and in that hour, my lord, 206 J^ WV^^N'cijU Act V Sc ii LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST They did not bless us with one happy word. I dare not call them fools ; but this I think, When they are thirsty fools would fain have drink Hi, on This jest is dry to me.— Fair, gentle sweet. Your wit makes wise things foolish : when we greet With eyes best seeing heaven's fiery eye, By light we lose light : your capacity Is of that nature, that to your huge store Wise things seem foolish, and rich things but poor. Ros. This proves you wise and rich, for in ray eye — liiron. I am a fool, and full of poverty. ' Ros. But that you take what doth to you belonti It were a fault to snatch words from my toiifuie. Biron. O, I am yours, and all that l possess. Ros. All the fool mine ? D'''°"\xrr.> r. ,.^ ' cannot give you less. Ros. Which of the visards was It that you wore ? Riron. Where? when? what visard? why demand vou this ? -^ J " rvu^?^i- wl*^''®' ^^^^' ^^^^^ ^'''^^''d ; that superfluous case 1 hat hid the worse and showed the better face. King. We are descried : they '11 mock us" now down- right. Dum. Let us confess, and turn it to a jest. Prin. Amazed, my lord ? Why looks your highness sad Ros. Help, hold his brows I he '11 swoon. Whv look you pale ? — "^ Sea-sick, I think, coming from Muscovy. Biron. Thus pour the stars down plagues for perjurv Can any face of brass hold longer out ?— Here stand I, lady ; dart thy skill at me ; Bruise me with scorn, confound me with a flout • Thrust thy sharp wit quite through iny ignorance ' Cut me to pieces with thy keen conceit : ' And i will wish thee never more to dance. Nor never more in Russian habit wait. O, never will I trust to speeches penned, Nor to the motion of a school-boy's tongue ; Nor never come in visard to my friend ; Nor woo in rhyme, like a blind harper's song : Taffeta phrases, silken terms precise. Three-piled hyperboles, spruce affectation. Figures pedantical : these summer-flies Have blown me full of maggot ostentation. I do forswear them ; and I here protest, By this white glove,— how white the hand, God knows— Henceforth my wooing mind shaU be expressed In russet yeas, and honest kersey noes • And, to begin,— wench, so God help me, la I My love to thee is sound, sans crack or flaw. 207 LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST Act V Sc U i* fios. Sans " sans," I pray you. ^^'ron. Yet I have a trick Of the old rage :— bear willi mc, I am sick ; I 'U leave it by decrees. Soft, let us see : — Write " Lord have mercy on us " on those three ; They are infected, in tlielr hearts it lies ; They have the pl;tj4uc, and caught it of your eyes : These lords are visited ; you are not free, I'or the lords' tokens on you do I see. Prin. No, tliey are free that gave these tokens to us. niron. Our states are forfeit : seek not to undo us. Ros. It is not so ; for how can this be true. That you stand forfeit, being those that sue ? Riron. I'eace I for I will not have to do with you. Ros. Nor shall not. If I do as I intend. Biron. Speak for yourselves : my wit is at an end. King. Teach us, sweet madam, for our rude trans- gression Some fair excuse. Prin. The fairest is confession. Were you not here, but even now, disguised ? King. Madam, I was. Prin. And were you well advised ? King. I was, fair madam. Prin. Wlien you then were here. What did you whisper in your lady's ear '? King, 'i'hat more than all tlie world I did respect her. Prin. Wlien she shall challenge this, you will reject her. King. Upon mine honour, no. ^ ^^'"- Peace 1 peace I forbear : 1 our oath once broke, you force not to forswear. King. Despise me, when I break this oath of mine. Prin. I will ; and therefore keep it.— Rosaline, What did the I^ussian whisper in your ear ? Ros. .Madam, he swore, that he did hold me dear As precious eyesight, and did value me Above this world ; adding thereto, moreover. That he would wed me, or else die my lover. Prin. God give thee joy of him I the noble lord Most honourably doth uphold his word. King. What mean you, madam ? by my Ufe, my troth, I never swore this lady such an oath, Ros. By heaven, you did ; and to confirm it plain, You gave me this : but take it, sir, again. King. My faith, and this, the princess I did give : I knew her by tiiis jewel on her sleeve. Prin. Pardon me, sir, this jewel did she wear ; And Lord Biron, I thank him, is my dear. — What 1 will you have me, or your pearl again ? Biron. Neither of either ; I remit both twain.— 208 ^i^eMS^.^mi^Mi' ^I^: _;5 Act V Sc U LOVE'S LAEIOUH ii LOST I sec the tri; k on 't : — here was a consent, Knowin}^ aforeliiintl of our nicrrinicnt. To dasli It like a Christinas coineily. Some carry-tiiie, some please-man, home slight zany, Some nuimhle-news, some trencher kiiit^lit, sonio Diik, Tliat smiles his clieek in years, and ktiows tlit- trick To make my lady lau-^h \vhi'ii slie 's disnosid. Told our intents l)efore ; which once disclosed, The ladies did chanj^e favours, and then v.e, I'ollowing the sif,'ns, wooed but the si};n of slie. Now, to our iHTJury to add nuirc tcinir, We are aRain forsworn, — in will and error. Much upon this it is ;—(/-> noi/fi] and might not you Forestall our sport, to niakc us thus untrue '.' Do not you know my lady's foot by the squire, And lautjh upon the apple of her eye ? And stand between her back, sir, and the lire. Holding a trencher, jesting merrily ? You put our page out : go, you are allowed ; Die when you will, a smock ^.hall be your shroud. You leer upon me, do you . nerc's an eye NNounds like a leaden sword Boyct. Full n-.srrily Hath this brave man, .Jie, this career, been run. Biron. Lo, he is tilling straight t— Peace 1 I have done. Enler Costahd Welcome, pure wit f thou partcst a fair fray. Cost. O Lord, sir, they would know, Whether the three Worthies shall come in, or no. Biron. What, are there but three ? Cost. No, sir ; but it is vara fmc, For every one pursents three. Biron. And three times thrice is nine. Cost. Not so, sir ; under correction, sir, I hope, it is not so. You cannot beg us, sir, I can assure you, sir ; wc know what we know : I hope, sir, three times thrice, sir, — Biron. Is not nine. Cost. Under correction, sir, we know whcrcuntil it doth amount. Biron. By Jove, I always took three threes for nine. Cost. O Lord 1 sir, it were pity you should get your living by reckoning, sir. Biron. How much is it ? Cost. O Lord, sir, the parlies themselves, the actors, sir, will show whereuntil it doth amount : for mine own part, I am, as they say, but to perfect one man,— e'en one poor man, — Pomplon the Great, sir. 120U LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST Act V Sc ii Ijii- m mi -.f 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 sonic care. [Exit King. Biron, they will shame us ; let them not ap- proach. Biron. We are shame-proof, my lord ; and 't is some policy To have one show worse than the king's and his company. King. I say, they shall not come. Prin. Nay, my good lord, let me o'errule you now. That sport best pleases that doth least know how : Where zeal strives to content, and the contents Die in the zeal of them which it presents, Their form confounded makes most form in mirth, When great things h'bouring perish in their birtli. Biron. A right description of our sport, my lord. Enter Armado thy Prin. Biron. Prin. Arm. Arm. Anointed, I implore so much expense of royal sweet breath, as will utter a brace of words. [Armado converses with the King, and delivers a paper to him Doth this man serve God ? Why ask you ? He speaks not like a man of God's making. That 's all one, my fair, sweet, honey monarch ; for, I protest, the schoolmaster is exceeding fantastical ; too, too vain ; too, too vain : but we will put it, as they say, to fortuna delta giierra. I wish you the peace of mind, most royal couplcment I [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 Maccabteus. And if these four Worthies in their first show thrive, These four will change habits, and present the other five. Biron. There is live in the first show. King. You are deceived, 't is not so. Biron. The pedant, the braggart, the hedge-priest, the fool, and the boy : — Abate throw at novum, and the whole world again Cannot pick out five such, take each one in liis vein. King. The ship is under sail, and here she comes amain. Enter Costard armed, for Pompey Cost. " / Pompey am," — 210 ^^^ir^m^ ^^%*. ^ Act V Sc U LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST You lie, you are not he. Boijet. Cost. " I Pompey am,"— Boyet. With libbard's head on knee. Biron. Well said, old mocker : I must needs be friends with thee. Cost. " I Pompey am, Pompey surnamed the Big," — Dum. The Great. Cost. It is " Great," sir ; — " Pompey surnamed the Great ; That oft in field, with targe and shield, did make my foe to sweat : And travelling along this coast, I here am come by chance. And lay my arms before the legs of this sweet lass of France." If your ladyship would say, " ThanJcs, Pompey," I had done. Prin. Great thanks, great Pompey. Cost. 'T is not so much worth ; but I hope, I was per- fect. I made a little fault in " Great." Biron. My hat to a haJlpcnny, Pompey proves the best Worthy. Enter Sin Nathaniel armed, for Alexander Nath. " When in the world I lived, I was the world's commander ; By east, 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- smelling knight. Prin. '^he conqueror is dismayed. Proceed, good Alexander. Nath. " When in the world I lived, I was the world's commander ; " Boyet. Most true : 't is right : you were so, Alisander. Biron. Pompey the Great,— Cost. Your servant, and Costard. Biron. Take away the conqueror, take away Alisander. Cost. [To Nath.] O, sir, you have overthrown Alisander the conqueror. You will be scraped out of the painted cloth for this : your lion, that holds his poll-axe siUing on a close-stoul, will be given to Ajax : he will be the ninth Worthy. A conqueror, and afeard to speak ? run away for shame, Alisander. [Nath. retires] Thi-re, an 't shall please you : a foolish mild man ; an honest man] look you, and soon dashed 1 He is a marvellous neighbour, faith, and a very good bowler ; but, for Alisander, alas 1 you see, how 't is ;— a little o'erparted.— But there are 211 ^vJ^ LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST Act V Sc ii •;1 i§n I' ua ii Worthies a-coming will speak their mind in some other sort. Prin. Stand aside, good Ponipcy. Enter Holofernes armed, for Judas, and Moth armed, for Hercules Hoi. " Great Hercules is presented by this imp. Whose club killed Cerberus, that three-headed canus ; And, when he was a babe, a child, a shrimp. Thus did he strancjle serpents in his manus. Quoniam he seemcth in minority, Hrgo / come with this apology." Keep some state in thy exit, and vanish. — [Moth retires " Judas I am," — Dum. A Judas ! Hoi. Not Iscariot, sir.- " Judas I am, yclcped Macca-'sens." Dum. Judas Maccabaius ^Apt, is plain Judas. Biron. A kissing traitor. — How art thou proved Judas '^ Hoi. " Judas I am,"~ Dum. The more shame for you, Judas. Hot. What mean you, sir ? Boyet. To make Judas hantj himself. Hoi. Begin, sir : you are my elder. Biron. Well followed : Judas waj hanged on an elder. Hoi. I will not be put out of countenance. Biron. Because thou hast no face. Hoi. What is this ? Boyet. A cittern-head. Dum. The head of a bodkin. Biron. A death's face in a ring. Long. The face of an old Ronuui coin, scarce seen. Boyet. The pummel of Cresar's falchion. Dum. The carved-bone face on a flask. Biron. St, George's half-cheek in a brooch. Dum. Ay, and in a brooch of lead. Biron. Ay, and worn in the cap of a tooth-drawer. And now, forward ; for we have put thee in countenance. Hoi. You have put me out of cauntcnauce. Biron. False : we have given thee faces. Hoi. But you have out-faced them all. Biron. An thou wert a lion, we would do so. Boyet. Therefore, as he is an ass, let him go. And so adieu, sweet Jude 1 nav, whv dost thou stay ? Dum. For the latter end of his name. Biron. For the ass to the Jude ? give it him :— Jud-as. away. Hoi. This is not generous, not gentle, not humble. Boyet. A light for Monsieur Judas 1 it grows dark, he may stumble. 212 ,>g^-^^e^- -^mn ■Mm ActV ScU LOVEo LABOUR'S LOST Prin. Alas, poor Maccabaeus, how hath he been bailed I Enter Ahmado armed, for Hector Hide thy head, Achilles : here comes Hector Though my mocks come home by me, I will now Biron. in arms. Dum. be merry. King. Hector was but a Trojan in respect of tliis. But is this Hector ? I thinlc Hector was not so clean-limbered. His leg is too big for Hector's. More calf, certain. No ; he is best indued in the small. This cannot be Hector. He 's a god or a painter ; for he makes faces. The annipotent Mars, of lances the almiahtu. jragifl,"- ^ ^ A gilt nutmeg. A lemon. Stuck with cloves. No, cloven. Peace ! " The armipolcnl Mars, of lances the almighty. Gave Hector a gift, the heir of Uion ; A man so breathed, that certain he would fight ge, From morn till night, out of his pavilion I am that flower," Boijct. King. Long. Dum. Boyet. Biron. Dum. Arm. Gave He. Dum. Biron. Long. Dum. Arm. Dum. Long. Arm. Long. Hector. Dum. Arm. That mint. That columbine. Sweet Lord Longaville, rein thy tongue. I must rather give it the rein, for it runs against Ay, and Hector 's a greyhound. The sweet war-man is dead and rotten : sweet chucks, beat not the bones of the buried : when he breathed, he was a man.— Bui I will forward with my device. Sweet royalty, bestow on me the sense of hearing [Biron whispers Costard Speak, brave Hector : we \re much delighted. I do adore thy sweet grace's slipper. Loves her by the fool. He may not by the ^ ard. " This Hector far surmounted Hannibal," — The party is gone : fellow Hector, she is gone ; she is two inoiiths on her way. Arm. What meanest thou ? Cost. Faith, unless you play poor wench is cast away : she "s in her belly already : 't is yours. 213 Prin. Arm. Boyet. Dum. Arm. Cost. the honest Trojan, the quick ; the child bra-,s i if LOST ^r-?- -"^F^/m^y^sif^^ Act V Sc ii rrv^''"^u ,P°w^ *^°" infamonise mo among potentates? inoii Shalt die. ^'^s'- Tlien shall Hector be whipped for Jaqucnetta that hhn"^ "' ''^"^ hanged for Ponipey that is dead by Bum. Most rare Pompey I Boijet. Renowned Pompey I /?z>on Greater than great ;— great, great, great Pompey I Pompey the Huge 1 ^ Dum. Hector trembles. I^iron. Pompey is moved.— More Atds, more At^s I stir them on ! stir th^m on ! Dum. Hector will challenge him. 5i>on. Ay, if he have no more man's blood in 's bcllv than will sup a flea. - Arm. By the north pole, I do challenge thee, r 'I. f'" 1, ^T"\^?5/'8ht with a pole, like a northern man : I II slash ; I 11 do it by the sword.— I pray you, let me borrow my arms again. Dum. Room for the incensed Worthies 1 Cost. I '11 do it in my shirt. Dum. Most resolute'Pompey 1 Moth. Master, let mc take you a buttonhole lower. iJo 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 hi my shirt. , ^ ^mh noi Diim. You may not deny it : Pompey hath made the challenge. Arm. Sweet bloods, I both may and will. Biron. AVhat reason have you for 't ? " Arm. 'The naked truth of it is, I have no shirt. I eo woolward for penance. ^ Boyet. True, and it was enjoined him in Rome for want of linen ; since when, I'll be sworn, he wore none but a dishclout of Jaquenetta's, and that he wears next his heart for a favour. Enter Monsieur Mekcadet, a Messenger Mer. God save you, madam. Prin. Welcome, ]\rercadet. But that thou interrui'.'st our merriment. Mer. I am sorry, madam ; for the news I brine Is heavy in my tongue.— The king your father— Prin. Dead, for my life ! Mer. Evt'n so : mv tale is told Biron. Worthies, away I 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 214 Act V Sc U LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST if/nf7. How fares your majesty ? Prm. Boyet, prepare : I will away to-niglit. King. Madam, not so ; I do beseech you, stay For'L'n'vnnr?'^'''' ^^^y— I thank you, gracious lords, l;or 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, yocr gentleness Was guilty of it. Farewell, worthy lord I A heavy heart bears not a humble tongue. l^xcusc me so, coming so short of thanks toT my groat suit so easily obtained. King. The extreme part of time extremely forms All causes to the purpose of his speed ; And often, at his very loose, decides That which long process could not arbitrate : And though the mourning brow of prof^env I'orbid the smiling courtesy of love The holy suit which fain it would convince ; \et, Since love's argument wns first on foot, Let not the cloud of sorrow justJe it From what it purposed ; since, to wail friends lost is not by much so wholesome, profitable As to rejoice at friends but newly found. Pnn. I understand you not : my griefs are dull. Hiron. Honest plain words best pierce the ear grief ; And by these badges understand the kin" For your fair sakes have we neglected time. Played foul play with our oaths. Your b .auty ladies Hath much deformed us, fashioning our hum6urs ' i^ven to the opposed end of our intents • And what in us hath seemed ridiculous ' As love is full of unbeiitting strains • All wanton as a child, skipping, and vain : l;ormed by the eye, and, therefore, like the eve tull of s! range shapes, of habits, and of forms Varying in subjocts as the eye doth roll To every varied object in his glance : Which pnrty-coated presence of loose love Put on by us, if, in your heavenly eyes, Havf. misbecomed our oaths and gravities rhose heavenly eyes, that look into the,«e faults ^- ingested us to make tiiem. Therefore, ladies ' Uur love being yours, the error that love makes Is likewise yours : we to ourselves prove false Py being once false for ever to be true To those that mak( ' ' of both,-— fair ladies. vou 215 LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST Act V Sc 11 m^ il' And even that, falsehood, in itself a sin, Thus purines itself, and turns to gr;ice. Prin. We have received vour letters full of love : Your favours, the ambassadors of love ; And, in our maiden council, rated them At courtship, pleasant jest, and courtesy, As bombast and as lining to the time. But more devout than this in our respects Have we not been ; and therefore met your loves In their own fashion, like a merriment. Dum. Our letters, madam, showed much more than jest. Long. S(i did our looks. ^PP- ^, We -lid not quote them so. King. Now, at the latest minute of the hour, ft Grant us your loves, ,„ ■''""; ^ *^'"i^' niethinks, too short To make a Avorld-without-end bargain in. No, no, my lord, your grace is perjured much. Full of dear guiltiness ; and therefore this: If for my love — as there is no such cause — You will do aught, this shall vou do for me : Your oath I will not trust ; but go with speed To some forlorn and naked hermitage, Remote from all the pleasures of the world ; There stay, until the twelve ceksLial si;tns Have brought about their annual reckoning. II this austere insociablc life Change not your ofter made in heat of blood ; If frosts, and fasts, hard lodaing, and thin we'eds, Nip not the gaudy blossoms of your love. But that it bear this trial, and last love ; Then, at the expiration of the year, Come challenge, challenge me bv these deserts, And by this virgin palm, now kissing thine, I wdl be thine ; and, till that instant, shut My woful self up in a mourning house. Raining the tears of lamentation For the remembrance of my father's death. If this thou do deny, let our hands part : Neither intitled in the other's heart. King. If this, or more than this, I would deny, To flatter up these powers of mine with rest. The sudden hand of death close up mine eye. Hence ever then my heart is in thy breast Dum. But what to me, my love ? but what to me ? Ax.S/l: \''V!V~^^ ^^^^^^^ ^•^''" '^^-''^. ^"'J honesty; With three-fold love I wish you all these three. Dum. O, shs. I say, 1 thank you, gentle wife ? T ,n " , ^"*- ^"' '">' ^^^^- A twelvemonth and a dav 1 U mark no words that smooth-faced wooers say: 216 ■rynr. '^'^fr>'<:?f?fZ7<^ Act V Sc U LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST Come when the kinff doth to my lady come • Dun ' iTsTZVr''; ' '^' R-cVouTome. A'a : Yet sw7.r 'o? o? ^"^^^^J^fuUy till then. J^ong. ma'tsays Maria v ''" ""' '°"^°'-" ^«^'"- ''?B"nT ^'^^'^ ^'^^^ fortSalfh^rSr^''^ "^'' 'long'" '''^ ^^''•^ P^"-'^^' b"tThe time is i^%n.'^S^^,i,^^:j|^---young. Behold the Window o'f mf hea" m^'; ['y^ °" '"" \Vhat humble suit attends thy answer there • ifos. Oft have 1 heard of vou, mv I ord Rimn Before I saw you. and the wo>ld' ^rge tonn ,e ' Fun o7rn7"" '"' ^ "^"," ^^'f^'^'« ^vith n ocks • willc^yoHn ;s^^s[ s^;:^r;^-^^ To weed this wormwood from your fruitful brain, VVithout the which I am not to be won W h ^-^^^^P^^^'^'iJ^ss sick, and still converse '' W-, ^^o^"'"g wretches ; and your task shall bp \ViLh all the fierce endeavour of your ^^ ^'' 10 enforce the pained impotent to smile 'death'^?° "'"''" ''"^ ^""«''^^^ *" the throat It cannot be ; it is impossible • Mirth cannot move a soul in agony xvH'"'- ■ ^n^^'' ^^'?^ '" ^^^ ^^'^y to choke a cjibing spirit Whose innuence is begot of that loose grnct ^ ^ ' \Vhich shallow laughing hearers give to fools A jest's prosperity lies in the ear Of him thai hears it, never in the tongue Of hini that makes it : then, if slcklv enrs Doafed Miih the clamours of 'their o^^, < S groans 1, f"''^.^ 5'our Idle scorns, continue them. ^ ' p"i^ W." ^^^'-^yo" and that fault with:i} ■ L>ut If they will not, throw awav that spirit And I shall find you empty of that f^ult,^ ^' i ught joyful of your reformation "".aki';^,;t„(r" ^^■' --«' -y '"^^ ■■ and so King. No, madam ; we will bring vou on vour wav Biron. Our wooing dolh not end like an old pLyf " 217 of I LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST Act V Sc U _-♦ k*-,,/ \^-f iif Jack hath not Jill : these ladies' courtesy Might well have made our sport a comedy. King. Come, sir, it wants a twelvemonth and a day. And then 't wUl end. Biron. That 's too long for a play. Enter Armado Arm. Sweet majesty, vouchsafe me, — Prin. Was not that Hector ? Dum. The worthy knight of Troy. Arm. I will kiss thy royal fmger, and take leave. I nm a votary : I have vowed to Jaquenetta to hold the plough for her sweet love three years. But, most esteemed great- ness, will you hear the dialogue that the two learne(i 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. Arm. Holla 1 approach. Enter Holofernes, Nathaniel, Moth, Costard, and others This side is Hicms, Winter, this Ver, the Spring ; the one mamtained by the owl, the other by the cuckoo. Ver begm. ' SCNG S p n I N o When daisies pied, and violets blue. And lady-smocks all silver-white. And cuckoo-buds of yellow hue. Do paint the meadows with delight. The cuckoo then, on every tree. Mocks married men ; for thus sings he. Cuckoo ; Cuckoo, cuckoo, — O word of fear, Unpleasing to a married ear! II When shepherds pipe on oaten straws, And merry larks are p'-^ughmen's clocks, IV hen turtles tread, and rooks, and daws. And maidens bleach their summer sniocks. The cuckoo then, on every tree, Mocks married men ; for thus sings he, Cuckoo ; Cuckoo, cuckoo,— O word of fear, Unpleasing to a married ear ! 218 .-:?*^.r.^:]?p?*Tf?wi ^ .: iiM;^t^^ti^9LmM^KS^ uii^ :U Act V Sc ii LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST Winter im Sh it- en Id III When icicles hang by the irnll. And Did; the shepherd bloivs his nail. And Tom bears logs into the Ivill, And milk comes frozen home in pail, When blood is nipped, and ways be foul, Then nightly sings the staring owl, To-who ; Tu-whit, to-who,— a merry note, While greasy Joan doth keel the pot. tie 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. When roasted crabs hiss in the bowl. Then nightly sings the staring owl, To-who ; Tu-whit, to-who, — a merry note. While greasy Joan doth keel the pot. nf^I!!^ni}JKy^fu ?^ ^^^^^"'^ are harsh after the songs of Apollo. You. that way,— we, this way. [Exeunt 219 15 mi A MACBETH ::j^^jt.ii^m^*. 221 DRAMATIS PERSON.E noblemen of Scotland Duncan, King of Scotland U0VAI.BAIN / *" *""* Macheth ■» Banquo j S^"^a^ of "" King'i armj Macduff ^ Lennox Ross Mknteith Anous I Caithness j Fleance. mn to li/inqiio SiwABD, Furl of Northumberland, general of the Ewjlish force* Young Siward, his son Seyton, an officer attending on Macbeth Boy, ton to Macduff An English doctor A Scotch doctor A Soldier A Porter An Old Man Lady AIacuktfi Lady Macdusf Gentlewoman attending on Lady Macbeth Hecate, and three witches Lords, Gentlemen, Officers, Soldiers, Murderers, Attendants, and MoasonpTS The Ghost of Bunquo, and other apparitions SCENE.— /n tlie end of tfie Foiirtfi Act, in England: tlirougfi the rest of tfxe Play, in Scotland 22'J MACBT^TH ACT ONE Scene I.— A Desert Place Thunder and Wjlitning. Enter three Witches First Witeh. Wlu'ii shall we three meet again. In thunder, lightnliif^, or in rain V See. Witch. When the hurlcy-burlcy 's done, When the battle 's lost and won. Third Witch. That will he ere the set of sun. \Vhere the place ? Upon the heath. There to meet with Macbeth. I come, Graymalkin. First Witch. Sec. Witch. Third Witch. First Witch. Sec. Witch. Third Witch. All. Fair is foul, and foul is fair Mover through the fog and lilthy air Paddock calls. Anon ! [Exeunt ScENK TI. — A Camp near Forres Alarum within. Enter Kino Duncan, Malcolm, Donal- BAiN, Lennox, with Attendants, meeting a bhcdina Sergeant ^ Dun. What bloody man is that ? He can report As seemeth by his plight, of the revolt The newest state. ^J proiiou.-.ce his present death, And with his former .iLlt; fer-ot. Macbeth. Ross. I '11 see it done. Dun, What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won. [Exeunt Scene III.— a Heath Thunder. Enter the three Witches First Witch. Where hast thou been, sister ? Sec. Witch. Killing switie. Third Witch. Sister, where thou ? First Witch. A sailor's wife had chestnuts in her hip. And mounclicd, and mounched, and mounched : — " dive me," ([uoth I : — " Aroint tiiee, witch ! " the rump-fed ronyon cries. — Her husbands to Ak'pj)o gone, master o' the Tifjer ; But in a sieve I '11 thither sail, And, like a rat without a tail, I'll do, I'll do, ai.d I'll do. Sec. Witch. I '11 give thee a wind. Jlrsf V/itch. Thou art kind. Third Witch. And I another. First Witch. I myself have all the other ; And to every point tiiey blow. All the quarters that llicy know r the sliipnian's cr.rd. I will drain him dry as hay : Sleep shall neither night i-'^r day Hang upon his penthouse iid ; He shall live a man forbid. Weary seven-nights, nine times nine, Shall he dwindle, peak, and pine. Though his bark cannot be lost, Vet it shall be tempest-tost. — Look what I have. Sec. Witch. Show me, show me. First Witch. Here I have a pilot's thumb, Wrecked as homeward he did come. [Drum within 38—11 225 MACBETH Act I Sc iii Third Witch. A drum, a drum I Macbeth doth come. All. The weird sisters, hand in hand, Posters of the sea and land. Thus do go about, about : Thrice to thine, and thrice to mine. And thrice again, to make up .iine. Peace 1 — the charm 's wound up. ml: f'l Enter Macbeth and Banquo Macb. So foul and fair a dav I iiave not seen. Ban. How far is 't called to>orrcs ?— ^Yhat are these. So withered, and so wild in their attire. That look not like th' inhabitants o' th' earth, And yet are on 't ? Live you, or are you aught That man may question ? " You scorn to understand mc, By each at once her choppy linger laying Upon her skinny lips : you should be' women. And yet your beards forbid mc to interpret That you are so. Mdch. Speak, if you can : what are you ? First Witch. All hail, Macbeth I hail to thee, thane of Glamis ! Sec. Witch. All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, thane of Cawdor I Third Witch. All hail, ^'icbeth! that shalt be Kiirx hereafter ! Ban. Good sir, why do you start, and seem to fear Things that do sound so fair ? — 1' the name of truth, Are ye fantastical, or that indeed Which outwardly yc show ? My noble partner You greet with present grace, and great prediction Of noble having, and of royal hope That he seems rapt withal : to mc you speak not. If you can look into the seeds of time And say which grain will grow and which will not. Speak then to me, who neither beg nor fear Your favours nor your hate. First Witch. Hail I Sec. Witch. Hail I Third Witch. Hail ! First Witch. Les'^er than Macbeth, and greater. Sec. Witch. Not so happy, yet much happier. Third Witch. Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none. So, all hail, Macbeth and Banquo ! Fir-^t ]Vi(ch. Banquo and Macbeth, ail hail I Macb. Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more. By Sinel's death I know I am thane of Glamis ; But how of Cawdor ? the thane of Cawdor lives, 220 Act I Sc iii MACBETH A prosperous Rentleman ; and to he King Mands not ^vlthin the prospect of belief No more tha to be Cawdor. Say, from' whencP T^nn 7;' * K*,^ ''^'''"g^ intelligence^' or "vhv ' Upon tins blasted heath you stop our way With such prophetic greeting ? Speak. I charge you mat takes (he reason prisoner *> Macb. Your children shall be kings Ban. ° ^ Ban. To the selfsame tune and words. Who 's here ? Enter Ross and Angus Thfne;vsI?'tl^v'l^ ^""^^ '"'PP/'^ '^^^^^•^^' ^^acbelh, 1 e ncMs of thy success ; and when he reads Th> personal venture in the rebel's fight His wonders and his praises do contend ' ^\hich r.hould be tliine or his : silenced with that 111 viewing o'er the rest of the selfsame day, ' X.Vhhf J '?'' ? ^.*^^ ^*«"^ Norweyan ranks^ ' • Nothing afcard of, what thyself didst make Strange images of death. As thick as haU ' Came post with post, and evorv one did bear Tliy praises in his kingdom's great defence And poured them down before him Ang. ' - To give thee from our royal master thanks"'' ''"* On y to herald thee into his sight. ' Not pay thee. He^hSp ^T\ ^°'' 'I" '^'^''"'''^ ^^ ^ Sweater honour, In xvhil^'rl''^"' ^'"'' ^^" th«e thane of Cawdor • For'itTs'tWne.'""- ''"-' ""^^ ^^'^^^'^^ ^^ane 1 ' ^inrh Ti, ., ^^^^*^i ^^" *^*^ devil speak true ? In Wmved'robS"f '' ""'''''' "^'^^ ^ ^^y do you dress me Bolder heavy Jud^^^tT:^:^?,^-"- yet: 227 MACBETH Act I Sc iii •I i-< ■ ■ II' a i i ■ i >r But treasons capital, confessed and proved. Have overthrown him. — -^fficb. Gia'nis, and thane of C The greatest is behind. — Thanks for your pains. — Do you not hope your children sh.dl be kings. When those that gave the thane of Cawdor to me Promised no less to them ? ,/^«"- That, trusted home, Might yet enkindle you unto the crown, Besides the thane of Cawdor. But 't is strange : And oftentimes, to win us to our harm, The instruments of darkness tell us truths ; Win us with honest Iritles, to betray us In deepest consequence. — Cousins, a word, I pray you. — ^ ■''V/ocft. Two truths are told, As happy prologues to the swelling act Of the imperial I heme. — I thank you, gentlemen. — This supernatural soliciting Cannot be ill ; cannot be good : if ill, Why hatli it given me earnest of success, Commencing in a truth ? I am thane of Cawdor : If good, why do I yield to that suggestion Whose horrid image doth uniix my hair. And make my seated heart knock at my ribs. Against the use of nature ? i'rcscnt fears Are less than horrible jmaginints. My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, Shakes so my single state of man, that function Is smothered in surmise, and nothing is But what is not. — ^-"- Look hoAv our partner's rapt. — Macb. If chance will have me King, whv, chance may crown me, Without my slir. — .^"'^- New honours come upon him Like our stranso garments, cleave not to their mould But V ith the aid of use.— Macb. Come what come may. Time and the hour runs through the roughest day. Ban. Worthy Macbeth, we stav upon your leisure. ^^-■/^ ^:. ^^^'^ ^^ ^'°"^ favour : my dull brain was wrought V\ith things forgotten. Kind gentlemen, your pains Are registered where every day I turn The leaf to read them. Let us toward the kin".— Think upon what hath chanced, and at m.ore tfme. The interim having v>eiahed it, let us speak Our free hearts each to other. Ban. verv gladly. Macb. Till then, enough.— Come, friends. [Exeunt 228 Act I Sc iv MACBETH Scene IV.^Forres. A Room in the Palace Flour.. ----'-. M..o.M,Do...B... ....ox. l^d''' "«\yet come back. But I hllelToke Ti'^? one that saw hun ciio : who did reporL lliat very frankly he confessed his treasons Implored your highness' pardon, and set forth A deep repentance. Nolhina in his life ^ronTtho?/'''f k'^' leaving U : he died To n?rnL '^'-^d f,een studied in his death To throw away the dearest thing he owed As t were a careless trifle Dun. rr.! , Tr> Hm-^ +J, • ,, inere s no art To find the mmd's construction in the face • \n OK ' ? f "t'^^'^an on whom I buiU ' An absolute trust. £n/er Macbeth, Banquo. Ross, anrf Angus The c- „f . ^ v.orlhiest cousin I The sm of my ingratitude even now \\ as heavy «n me. Thou art so far before To'lllV I'^i^'"^ '' recompense is s]ow ' Th.tM *'*'f.- '"'^"'^ ^''"" I'^^'^st less deserved ^ ight have been mine : onlv I have left to snv ILl^'Vu'"' ''''^ "^^'^ than ah c..n pav.''^' Tn H • •7^'' ^'''■^'''^^ ^"d t'lc loyaity I owe In domg It, pays itself. Your hirrhncss' mrt Is to receive our duties : and om- duties ^ WhinS ^"""k l^"""."^ ''^"^ st''^^^^ children and servants • That hn^t n n'l ^^" ?^ growing.-Noblc Banquo, Hiat hast no less deserved, nor must be known And hold^h''''/""'^ ?° ' ^'' "^« i"f«^'l thee " Ann nold thee to my heart. Thftarvcst is your own. '^^"' " ' ^'°"' in diops of sorrow.— Sons, kinsmen thmp.; ^ve wm estabhsh our estate upon 229 • MACBETH AcL 1 Sc V Our eldest Malcolm ; Avliom we name horpaflcr The Prince of Cumberland : which honour must Not, unaccompanied, invest him onlv, But signs of nobleness, like stars, shaU shine On all dcservers. — Hence to Inverness, And bind us further to you, Macb. The rest is labour, which is not used for you : I '11 be myself the harbinger, and make joyful The hearing of my wife with your approach : So, humbly take my leave. ■D"n. My worthy Cawdor ! Macb. [aside] The Prince of Cumberland I That is a step On which I must fall down, or else o'erleap, For in my way it lies. Stars, hide vour (ires. Let not light see my black and deep desires : The eye wink at the hand ; yet let tliat ho. Which tlie eye fears, when it is done, to see. — [Exit Dun. True, worthy Banquo : he is full so valiant, And in his commendations I am fed ; It is a banquet to me. Let us after him, Wnose care is gone before to bid us welcome : It is a peerless kinsman. [Flourish. Exeunt in Scene V.— Inverness. A Boom in Macbfth's Castle Enter Lady Macbeth, reading a letter Lady M. They met me in the day of success ; and I have learned by the perfectest report, they have more in them tlian mortal knowledge. When I burned in desire to Question them further, they made themselves air, into which they vanished Whiles I sto.d rapt in tlie wonder of it, came missives from the king, who all-hailed me " Thane of Cawdor " ; by which title, before, these weird sisters saluted me, and referred me to the coming on of time, with " Hail, king that shall b" ' " This have I thought good to deliver thee, nv; dearest partner of greatness, that thou mightest not lose the dues of rejoiciwi bu being ignorant of what greatness is promised thee. Lay it to thy heart, and farewell. Glamis thou art, and Cawdor ; and shalt be What thou art promised. Yet do I fear thy nature • It is too full o' the milk of human kindnrss To catch the nearest way. Thou wouldst be great • Art not without ambition : but without ' The illness should attend it : what thou wouldst highlv That wouldst thou holily ; wouldst not play false ' And yet wouldst w ngly win : thou 'dst hav'o, great Glamis, Ihat which cries " laus thou must do, if thou have it ; " 230 Act I Sc V MACBDTH And that uhich rather thou dost fear to do Than wishcst should be undone. Hie thee Iiithcr. That I may pour my spirits in thine oar, And chastise with the valour of niv tongue All that impedes thee from the Rofden round, ^^hIch Fate and metaphysical aid doth seem 10 have thce crowned withal. — Enter an Allendant All.^ The king comes horc te-^oT"^ " ''"'" "'""S'' ' isX^,s^„ .1.1, i,ta o ..vh„!''rre''''tr," '" '"^ "- Would have informed for preparation. Atl. So please you, it is true : our'tlianc is comino • One of my fellows had the speed of him ^ ' \\ho, almost dead for breath, had scarcely more 1 lian would make up his message. "'""'feSrse """"""■ '^"^'^ ^''^^''^"^j'Titi'r^^''Sself That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan I nder my battlements. Come, you spirits T hot tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here. Am hll me, from the crown to the toe, top-full Ol direst cruelty 1 make thick my blood Mop up the access and passage to remorse, ihat no compunctious visitings of nature Ti/I VT ^^'" P^'-Pos^. nor keep peace between llie efTect and it ! Come to my woman's breasts And take my milk for gall, you murdering ministers. Wherever in your sightless substances \nd n'^'flf f So "^\T'', '^"'"^"'^ ' ^«"' ' t''i^k night, And pall thee in the duanest smoke of hell That my keen knife see not the wound it makes T^^J^r '' nS^^hollT! "' ''^ '^""'^^ '' ^^^ '^^^^' Enter Macbeth Greater than both, by Ibe^If-tif lie^f./u'r"'^ '""""'■ ' by letters have transporlrd me beyond 1 his ignorant present, and I feel now the future in the instant. ^/^^"^''- , My dearest love, Duncan comes here to-night. ' fS'^^V *^"^ ^^licn goes hence? Macb ro-morrow, as he purposes. Lady M. ^ ^ n Shall sun that morrow see. ' "'^^'^ 231 m MACBETH Act I Sc vi Your face, my thone, is as a book wluro men May read strange matters ; lo bcpuile the time, Look like the time ; l)ear welcome in your eye, Your hand, your tongue : look like tlie innocent flower, But be the serpent under 't. Pie that 's cominft Must be provided for : and you shall put ° This night's great business into mv despatch ; \Vhich shall to all our nights and (lays to come Give solely sovereign sway and masterdom. — Macb. We will speak further. „, ^'"!''' '/• Only look up clear ; 1 o alter favour ever is to fear : — Leave all the rest to me. [Exeunt Scene YT.- The Same. Before the Castle Ilautboijs and torches. Enler Duncan, Malcolm, Donal- BAiN, Ban-quo, Lennox, Macduff, Ross, Angus, and Attendants Dun. This castle hath a pleasant seat ; the air Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself Unto our gentle senses. -^""- This guest of summer, The temple-haunting martlet, does approve By his loved manslonry that the heaven's breath Smells wooingly here ; no jutly, frieze. Buttress, nor coign of vantage, but this bird Hath made his pendent bed and procreant cradle : Where they most breed and haunt, I have observed, The air is delicate. Enter Lady Macbeth Dun. See, see, our honoured hostess. — The love that follows us sometime is our trouble, Which still we thank as love. Herein I teach you How you shall bid God yield us for your pains And thank us for your trouble. Ladij M. All our service In every point twice done, and then done double, Were poor and single business to contend Against those hojiours deep and broad wherewith \our majesty loads our house : for those of old, And the late dignities heaped up to them, We rest your hermits. „,^""- Where 's the thane of Cavrdor ? ^^e coursed him at the heels, and had a purpose To be his purveyor : but lie rides well ; And his great love, sharp as his spur, hath holp him To his home before us. Fair and noble hostess, We are your guest to-night. Act I Sc vil MACBETH U^prs, themselves, nn"'' "^^'1 »'>^i'- very Scrs That they have done 't ? ^ "•'^.H'-rs, Ladij M. Who dares receive it olhor i^^'HjH^ ""' «^""^ """ '■'»■-- roar Away and mock Ihc limo will, fainsl'show ■ 1-alse lace n.ust lu.lc wl.al Ihc false luarUtolh know. Bin Fie. Ban. Fie. Ban. ACT TWO ScRME I.-Iavcrncss. Court within Macbeth's Castlo I^nter Bvnquo, and Fi.kvmce ,.///, a lorch before him I low ftocs the nicjht. bo'-' *> Their candies are all out.— Tal vers Restrain in me the cursed tliouj^l.ts ( L n .I'urP Enter Macbeth, and a Servant with a torch Macb. A friend. £fSl, S'itara>^;;lcfs„7e,'a„u"'' •""'" ""•"^'' = Sent fortli great largess to your oPaces I his diamond he greets your wife witlial, fn^m^Pe^s^^coTtfnf ^^ ''''-' ^ ^^^ ^'^"^ "P OuJ^^n became the serviJ^'i?S;^J[P"^^^' Winch else should free have wmuciu J-iun. - o • I dreamt last night of the three weird stslers^'""" Yet, when we can entreat an hour to sctvc!"^ "°' '^ *^^""- 235 MACBETH Act II Sci m. Wi- would spcnfl It In some words upon that business, If you would gr.uit the lime. ^-•'""- At ycuir kinakc each other : I stood and heard them ; But they did say their prayers, and addressed them Again to sleep. Ludij M. There nre two lodged together. Macb. One cried, " God bless iis ! " and, '■ Amen," the oilier. As they had seen me with these hangman's hands Listening their tear, I could not say *' Amen " Vvhen tliey did say " God bless ns.'" "?/' 'V' o I , . Consider it not so deeply. Maco. but whorefore could not I pronounce " Amen "'? >f a' ' MACBETH Act II Sc ii Hi I had most need of blessing, and " Amen " Stuck in my lliroat. * h^'^^L ^^' 'Yh^^^ deeds must not be thoueht After these ways : so, it will make us mad. AT ^^^"^l Rethought I heard a voice cry, " Sleep no more I Macbeth does murder sleep,"— the innocent sleep : Sleep, that knits up the ravelled sleave of care The death of each day's life, sore labour's bath, Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course. Chief nourisher in life's feast ; — \f\ ^^c. •„ -. . . ^^^t do you mean ? Macb. Still It cried, " Sleep no more I " to all the house : G amis hath murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor Shall sleep no more, Macbeth shall sleep no more I " Ladij M. Who was it that thus cried ? Whv, worthv thane, ' ^ You do unbend your noble strength, to think So bramsickly of things. Go, get some water, And wash this filthv witness from vour Imnd Why did you bring these daggers from the place ? rhey must he there : go, can-y them, and smear The sleepy grooms with blood. r ^^"'?- A. ,u. , , I 'II go no more : I am afraid to think what I have done ; Look on 't again I dare not. Ladi] M i,,nrm of purpose I Give me the daggers. The sleepiiig and the dead Are but as pictures ; 't is the eye of childhood That fears a painted devil. If he do bleed I '11 gild the faces of the grooms withal, For it must seem their guilt. — Tu,„.r, [Exit. — Knocking within macD. Whence is that knocking ?— rtow is t with me, when evcrv noise appals me ? X;!lfS?^"^^^,r« Jicre ? ha I they pluck out mine eyes. VVilI all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand ? No, this my hand will rather Ihe multitudinous seas incaraardine, Making the green one red. Re-enter Lady Macbeth Lady M. My hands are of your colour : but I shame To wear a heart so white. [Knock] 1 hear a knocking At the south entry ;— retire we to our chamber. A little water clears us of this deed : How easy is it then 1— Your constancy Hath left you unattended.-{ Anoc/r] Hark, more knocking, bet u.i your nigiiL-gown, lest occasion call us. And show us to be watchers.— Be not lost So poorly in your thoughts. 238 mi m^mm p<^i % if wiiT mnmiemi;:m^\':s^MM^MmLtM^B Act II Sc iii MACBETH Macb. To know my deed, 't were best not know myself. TTT 1 1^ . [Knock Wake Duncan with thy knockhig :— I would thou couldst 1 [Exeunt Scene III.— The Same Enter a Porter D^,./„„ tr • , , . [Knocking within Fortcr. Htr s a knocking, indeed! If a man were porter of hell-gate, he should have old turning the key • — [Knocking] Knock, knock, knock. " Who 's there i' the name of Beelzebub V—" Here 's a farmer, that hanged him- self on the expectation of plenty : " " Come in, farmer : have napkins enough about you, here you '11 sweat for 't." [Knock- ing] Knock knock. " Who 's there, i' the other devil's "''*"k® Jx. Ti' ^^^^^' ^^^^ '^ ^" equivocator, that could swear in both the scales against eitlicr scale ; who committed treason enough for God's sake, yet could not equivocate to heaven: 'OI come in, equivocator." [Knocking] Knock, knock, knock. " Wlio 's there ? "— " Faith here 's an English tailor come hither for stealing out of a'prench hose : " '' Come in, taUor ; here you may roast your goose." [Knocking] Knock, knock. Never at quiet I " What are you ? "—But this place is too cold for hell. I '11 devil-porter It no further. I had thought to have let in some of all professions, that go the primrose way to the everlasting bonhre. [Knocldng] Anon, anon ! I pray you reincmbc? ^he porter. ^Qpens the gate Enter Macduff and Lennox Macd. Was it so late, friend, ere you went to bed, That you do lie so late ? A ^°^/"- ,^^*.'^h, sir, we were carousing till the second cock : And drink, sir, is a great provoker of three thingy r/ , w^'^'"^^ ^^^^^ ^^^"Ss ^oes drink especially provoke *> lort. Marry, su-, nose-painting, sleep, and urine. Lechery, sir, it provokes, and unprovokes ; it provokes the desire, but it takes away the performance. Therefore inuch drink may be said to be an equivocator with lechery • It makes him, and it mars him ; it sets him on, and it takes him off ; It persuades him, and disheartens him ; makes lum stand to, and not stand to : in conclusion, equivocates him in a sleep, and, giving him the lie, leaves him. r> , rJ '^^^"eve, drink gave thee the lie last night. i ort. That it did, sir, i' the very throat o' me • but I requited him for his lie : and, I think, being too strong for S J*'""-^^ ,^? ^""^^ "P "^y ^egs sometime, yet I made a snitt to cnsf nim. ?39 w^sm r ■ I ' ilfiPl 1 if I; f ■■' I. ^^ACBETH Act II Sciii A/acd. Is thy master stirring ? Enter JMacbetu Our knocking has awaked him ; here he comes. Len. Good-morrow, noble sir. ^iZt' Tc ♦, T'- X. . Good-morrow, botli. s/ h ^^"^ stirring, worthy thane ? Mocrf. He did command me to call timely on him -^^ ' I have almost slipped the hour. ^f'^t- , , I '" bring you to him. Mace/. I know this is a joyful trouble to you : But yet 't is one. ^ ' Macb The labour we delight in physics pain. This is the door. Macd. I'll make so bold to call. For 't is my limited service. Len. Goes the King hence to-day ? ■i^"*^^* r^, . He does : — he did appoint so Len The night has been unruly. Where we lay Our chimneys were blown down, and, as they sav Larnentmgs heerd i' the air, strange screams of death And prophesying with accents terrible Of dire combustion and confused events New hatched to the woful time. The obscure bird Clamoured the livelong night : some say, the earth \\ as feverous, and did shake. Macb. 'T was a rough night. Len. My young remembrance cannot parallel A fellow to it. [Exit Re-enter Macduff O horror, horror, horror I Tongue, nor heart Macd. Cannot conceive nor name'tiiee" S"'^r"-f • . What's the matter ? Macd. Confusion now hath made his masterpiece I Most sacrilegious murder hath broke ope "-"^^''^^^ ' The Lord's anointed temple, and stole thence The life o' the building. Macb. What is 't you say ? the life ? Len. Mean you his majesty ? ^ • ine iiie / flacd. Approach the chamber, and destroy your sight With a new Gorgon. Do not bid me speak : ^ bee, and then speak yourselves. [Exeunt Macbeth and Lennox Ring the alarum-bell.-Murder. and'l^ealonr^" '^ Banquo ana Donalbain 1 Malcolm I awake ! Miake off this downy sleep, death's counterfeit. And look on death itself 1 up, up, and sec 240 m^s^mL^mf.^ Act 11 Sc m MACBETH The great doom's image !— Malcolm I Banquo I As from your graves rise up, and walk like sprites. To counlciniace this liorror ! Enter Lady Macdeth Lady M. What 's llie bushioss, That such a hideous trumpet calls to parley The sleepers of the house ? speak, speak ! Macd. 'T is not for you to hear what I can speak : Tlie repetition, in a woman's ear, Would murder as it fell. [Bell rinrjs O gentle lady, Enter Banquo ^ , O Banquo, Banquo, Our royal master 's murdered I Lady M. Woe, alas ! \N hat 1 m our house ? ^ ^<^^- Too cruel, anywhere. Dear Duff, I pr'ythee contradict thyself And say, it is not so. Re-enter Macbeth and Lennox Macb. Had I but died an hour before this chance, I have lived a blessed time : for, from this instant There's nothing serious in mortality, All is but toys ; renown and grace is dead ; The V ine of life is drawn, and the mere lees Is left this vault to brag of. Enter Malcolm and Donalbain Don. What is amiss ? Macb. You are, and do not know 't : Ihe sprmg, the head, the fountain of your blood Is stopped ; the very source of it is stopped. Macd. Your royal father 's murdered. ^y"^- rr, . . . 0» ^y whom ? / fn Those of his chamber, as it seemed, had done 't : Iheir hands and faces were all badged with blood • So were their daggers, which, unwiped, we found ' Upon their pillows : They stared, and were distracted ; no man's life Was to be trusted with them. Macb. O, yet I do repent me of my furv. That T did kll! them. -^ ^> ■||^«crf. Wherefore did you so ? furiou^° ^^" ^® ^^^^' ^^^^^"^i temperate and 241 MACBETH Act II Sc iii lit M Loyal and neutral, in a moment ? No man. The expedition of my violent love Outrun the pauser reason.— Here lay Duncan, His silver skin laced with his golden blood, And his gashed stabs looked like a breach in nature I- or ruin 's wasteful entrance : there, the murderers, bteeped m the colours of their trade, their daggers Unmannerly breeched with gore. AVho could refrain. That had a heart to lovo. r.iul in that heart Courage to make 's love known ? Ladu M Help me hence, ho 1 Macd. Look to the lady. Tw"^" * , . , . ^^''^>' ^^ '''''^ hold our tongues 1 hat most may claim this argument for ours ? Don. What should be spoken Here, where our fate, hid in an auger-hole. May rush, and seize us ? Let 's away ; our tears Are not yet brewed. ^, ^f"^- Nor our strong sorrow yet Upon the foot of motion. '^"•^- Look to the lady :— . , , , {f^ Macd. Those that Macbeth hath slain. wf'T' , ,,., Alas, the day I What good could they pretend ? Macd. They were suborned. Malcolm, and Donalbain, the king's two sons, Are stolen away and fled ; which puts upon them Suspicion of the deed. _^^o«. 'Gninst nature still : Thriftless ambition, that wilt ravin up Thine own life's means 1— Then 't is most like The sovereignty will fall upon IMacbeth. Macd. He is already named, and gone to Scone To be invested. Ross. Where 's Duncan's body ? Thi^cf J ^ * u , , . Carriea Colme-kill, The sacred storehouse of his predecessors. And guardian of their bones. ^^^^^^- Will you to Scone ? 243 i ^ J MACBETH Act III Sci Mncd. No, cousin : I '11 to Fife. i^l'^^; „, „ Wf]!, I vill thither. Macd. Well,— may you see things well done there— ndieu I — Lest our old robes sit easier than our new I linss. Farewell, lalher. n^^^i"^ '^^'.J^^"^? benison go with you; and with those 1 hat would make good of bad, and friends of foes ! [Exeunt ^r*«-i ACT THREE ScKNE I.— Foi-res. A Room in the Palace Enter Banquo Ban. Thou hast it now. King, Cawdor, Glamis, all. As the weird women promised ; and 1 fear Thou play'dst most foully for 't ; vet it was said IL should not stand in thy posterity. But that myself should be the root and father Of many kings. If Ihcre come truth from them — As upon thee, Macbelli, their speeches shine,— ' Why, I)y the verities on thee made good, May they not be my oracles as well. And set me up in hope ? But, hush ; no more. Sennet sounded. Enter Macdetii, as King; L\dy Mvc- BETH, as Queen ; Lenxox, Ross, Lords, and Attendants Macb. Here 's our chief guest. Tttol^r'^^' . If he had been forgotten. It had been as n gap in our great feast. And all-thing unbecoming. Macb. To-niglit we hold a solemn supper, sir. And I' 11 request your presence. f, ^""- , Let your highness Command upon me, to the which my duties Are with a most indissoluble tie For ever knit. Macb. Ride you this afternoon ? ^it\ xTr t. , . , ^y* "^y good lord. M(^cb. ^^ e should have else desired your good advice— \N inch still hath been both grave and prosperous— In this day's council ; but we '11 take to-morrow Is 't far you ride ? Bun. As far, my lord, as will fii. up the time Twixt this and supper ; go not my horse the better, 1 must become a borrower of the ni'-lit For a dark hour or twain. ° n^"'''^' xc , . . I'^'l "ot our feast. Ban. My lord, I will not. 244 ^ u-J^JAM .>•_>•> Act III Sci MACBETH ^ Macb. We hear our Moody cousins are bestowed In England and in Irclund ; not confessing Their cruel parricide, filling their hearers With strange invention. Hut of that to-morrow, When, therewithal, we shall have cause of state Craving us jointly. Hie you to horse : adieu. Till you return at night. Goes Fleance with you ? Ban. Ay, my goofl lord : our time does call upon 's. Macb. I wish your horses swift, and sure of foot, And so I do commend you to their backs. Farewell.— » [Exit Banqao Let every man be master of his time Till seven at night ; to make society The sweeter welcome, we will keep ourself Till supper time alone ; while then, God be with you. [Exeunt Lady Macbeth, Lords, etc. Sirrah, a word with you. Attend those men Our pleasure ? Atten. They arc, my lord, without the palace gate. Macb. Bring them before us. [Exit Attendant To be thus is nothing ; But to be safely thus. Our fears in Banquo Stick deep, and in his royalty of nature Reigns that which would be feared : 't is much he dares ; And, to that dauntless temper of his mind, He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour To act in safety. There is none but he Whose being I do fear : and under him My genius is rebuked ; as, it is said, Mark Antony's was by Caesar. He chid the sisters When first they put the name of King upon me, And bade them speak to him : then, prophet-like. They hailed him father to a line of kings. Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown, And put a barren sceptre in my gripe. Thence to be wrenched with an unlineal hand, No son of mine succeeding. If 't be so, For Banquo's issue have I filed my mind ; For them the gracious Duncan have I murdered ; Put rancours in the vessel of my peace. Only for them ; and mine eternal jewel Given to the common enemy of man, To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings ! Rather than so, come. Fate, into the list. And champion me to the utterance I — Who 's there ? Re-enter Attendant with two Murderers Now, go to the door, and stay there till we call. „- ,^ [Exit Attendant Was it not yesterday we spoke together ? 245 i^^M.^fm;:£^. MACBETH Act III Sci p^i T/S '^'"'^' ^^ ^'^'' ^° ^'^''^^'^ ^°"^ highness. Have you considered of my speeclics ? Kn^^vf "'^"' """^ That It was he, in the limes past, wliich held you So under fortune, which you thouglit had been Our innocent self. Tiiis I made good to you In our last conference ; passed in probation with you TcnTsT "' '" ''''"'^ ' ''°'' "°"'^ ' the Tnstru- mo wrouRht'with them ; and all things else, that micht To half a souUnd to a notion crazed ^ Say, " Thus did Danquo." OiSnf r '° i, ^"^ ':'''"^ *"''^^«''' ^hich is now Our pomt f second meeting. Do you find ^our patience so predominant in vour nature Tn'J.rr'f '''\"J''^ ^^'! so ? Arc y6u so gospelled To pray for this good man, and for his issue, ' inrfh'ii'r'^^ ^''"'^ ^,^t^ ^°^'^^ yo" to the grave And beggared yours for ever ? F/rsM/ur. ^o are men, my lie^c Macb Ay in the catalogue ye go for men ; ^ " ^h^Z? ' '1""^ greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels, curs. Shouglis water-rugs, and dcmi-wolves, are clept ' AH by the name of dogs : the valued file Distinguishes the swift, the slow, the subtle, Ihe housekeeper, the hunter, every one According to the gift which bounteous nature Hath m him closed ; whereby he does receive Particular addition, from the bill That writes them all alike : and so of men. Now, If you have a station in the file Not 1 the worst rank of manhood, sav it And I will put that business in your bosoms \\hose execution takes your enemy off. Gnipples you to the heart and love of us. Who wear our hcallh but sickly in his life, VV hich in his death were perfect. Whomihe'vile blows and bufTels oulTe wodd"""^ '''^'•• Have so incensed, that I am reckless what 1 do to spite the world. First iMur And I another, ThSTLZ'?" ^/^^'^^t^?-/' t"ggeJ ^vith fortune, that I would set my life on any chance. To mend it or be rid on 't. Know, Banquo was your enemy. Sec. Miir. t»„„ i i Macb. So he IS mine ; and in such bloody distance, 246 flBL- IS?., i!,^s:M^^'m:^y^^SMiM^ Act III Sc U MACBETH That every minute of his being thrusts Against my near'st of life : and thougli I could ^\ith barefaced power sweep him from my sight, And bid my will avouch it, yet I must not— For certain friends that are both his and mine, Whose loves I may not drop— but wail his fall Who I myself struck down : and thence it is That I to your assistance do make love, Masking the business from the common eye For sundry weighty reasons. Sec. Mar. \Ve shall, my lord, Perform Mhat you command us. First Mur. Though our lives— Macb Your spirits shine through you. Within this hour, at most. I will advise you where to plant yourselves, Acquaint you with the perfect spy o' the time. The moment on 't ; for 't must be done to-night. And something from the palace ; always thought. That I require a clearness : and with liim, — To leave no rubs nor botches in the work— Fleance his son, that keeps him company. Whose absence is no less material to me Than is his father's, must embrace the late Of that dark hour. Resolve yourselves apart ; I '11 come to you anon. Sec. Mur. We are resolved, my lord. Macb. I 'II come upon you straight : abide within.— ,. . , J , ^ [Exeunt Murderers It is concluded : Banquo, thv soul's flight, If it find heaven, must fmd it out to-night. [Exit Scene II.— The Same. Another Room Enter Lady Macbeth and a Servant Lady M. Is Banquo gone from court ? Serv. Ay, madam, but returns agciin to-night. Lady M. Soy to the king, I would attend his leisure For a few words. '^ery. Madam, I will. [Exit LadyM. Naught's had, all's spent, Where our desire is got without content : 'T is safer to be that which we deslroy Than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy. Enter Macueth How now, my lord ? why do you keep alone, Of sorriest fancies your companions making, 247 1^ MACBFTH Act III Scii 1:1 Ji-l*)^. J^"^*' thonphts which should Indeed have died cl . i^.'"'" *'\''y •'''"'^ °" • 'rhinRs without remedy Should be without regnrd : what 's done, is done Qh -n i ^ ^''y® scotched the snake, not killed It : She 11 close, and be herself, whilst our poor malice Remains in danger of her former tooth. Pri^^ ^*^f. ''■•''/"*' "*' '*^'"^* disjoint, both the worlds suffer Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep In the aniictlon of these terrible dreams That shake us nightly. Uetter be with the dead Whom we to gain our place, have sent to peace. Than on the torture of the mind to lie In restless ecstasy. Duncan is in his grave • After life's fitful fever he sleeps well. Treason has done his orst : nor steel, nor poison, Malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing Can touch him further. K^L^^^'^^' . , ^'^^^ °" ' ^^"^^e "ly lord. Sleek o er your rugged looks ; be bright and jovial Among your guests to-night. . ^f «'•''• So shall I, love. And so I pray, be you. Let your remembrance Apply to Banquo ; present him eminence, both With eye and tongue : unsafe the while that we Must lave our honours in these flattering streams And make our faces visards to our hearts, * Disguising what they are. ^^\^-r. ,» You must leave this. ThV!. 1 V'/"" of scorpions is my mind, dear wife ! Thou know'st that Banquo, and his Fleance, lives lS'^^V,,^"^'" ^^'T "'iture's copy 's not eterne. Ti, ?■ * J'^^r^^ ^ comfort yet : they are assailable : 1 lien be thou jocund. Ere the bat hath flown His cloistered flight ; ere to black Hecate's summons 1 he shard-borne beetle with his drowsy hums Hath rung night's yawning peal, There shall be done a deed of dreadful note — Ladii M. What 's to be done *> Tin nf' B^'""«^^"'- of the knowledge, dearest chuck, Till thou applaud the deed.— Come, seeling nicht Scarf up the tender < ye of pitiful day, ' And with thy bloody and invisible hand Cancel and tear to pieces that great bond Which keeps me pale 1— Light thickens ; and the crow Makes wing to the rooky wood ; Good things of dav becin to droop and dro"sc J/hiles night's black agents to their preys do rouse — Thou maryell st at my words ; but hold thee still : 1 lungs bad begun make strong themselves by ill So, pr'ythee, go with me. ^ [Exeunt 248 Act III Sc Iv MACBETH Scene III.— The Same. A Park with a Gate leading to the Palace Enter three Murderen First Mur. But who did bid thee join with us ? P'"'"'!/^'"'- Macbeth. Sec. Mur. He needs not our mistrust since he delivers Our offices, and what we have to do To the direction just. First Mur. Then stand with us. The west yet filimmcrs with some streaks of daj' i Now spurs the lated traveller apace To gain the timely inn ; and near approaches The subject of our watch. Third Mur. Hark, I hear horses. Ban. [ Within] Give us a light there, ho I Sec. Mur. Then it is he : the rest That are withm the note of expectation, Already are i' th' court. First Mur. His horses go about. Third Mur. Almost a mile ; but he does usually^ So all men do, from hence to the palace gate Make it their wnik. Enter Banquo, and Fleance with a torch Sec. Mur. A light, a light I Third Mur. 'T is he. First Mur. Stand to 't Ban. It will be rain to-night. First Mur. Let it come down. [Assaults Banquo Ban. O, treachery ! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly » Thou may'st avenge— O slave I •> j 'm.- J ,, ,,.. ,. . [Dies. Fleance escapes Third Mur. Who did strike out the light ? Si"'//,"'"- ^Vas 't not the way ? Third Mur. There's but one down : the son is fled. Sec Mur We have lost Best half of our affair. First Mur. Well, let's away, and say how much is done. [Exeunt Scene IV.— A Room of State in the Palace A ~Banquet prepared. Enter MACuiiTH, Lady Macbeth, Ross, Lennox, Lords, and Atleudants Macb. You know your own degrees, sit down : at first and last, The hearty welcome. 849 MACBETH Act III Sciv if^*^!!' r^ . Thnnks fo your niaieslv And play the humble hosl. Enter first Murderer, to the door ^^"thankT "^'^ <^"^o""ter thoc ^vUi, their hearts' Both sides arc even : here I '11 sit i' the midst Be large .n mirth ; anon, we '11 drink a measure ^\^;if''^.I"»"; -There's blood upon thy L c' Iv I ^ '* Uanquo's, then. Thou art the nonpareil. ' rit*/"^' . , ^^"st royal sir. Fleance is 'scaped. W^^;^^ t^^^Sr^S^llS^'liJ !;;^L ^'- ^-n perreet ; As broad and general ns the c.sing nir But now. I am cabined, cribbed. cc.nlinVd. bound in To saucy doubts and fears. But Banquos s "f" > Wilv. r ^7' i"^' ^'""'^ '«''d' safe in a ditch he bides \S ith twenty trenched g.-shes on his head ' The least a death to nature. Tw^.f^ii. Than): 5; for that Ladii M. ^ ,, , ,1^^'^ Murderer 'T fc „• ^ ^Jl^" vouched, while 't is a-makinct Meeting were bare without it »-"'"-iy, Macb. c,.. t Now good digestion wait on ap^eUte ''"'"''""' '"- And health on both I I'.^^ne, '^"' -^^^y 't i>lease your highness sit "> ^1^' Ghost of Banguo er^ters, and sits in Macbeth's place 250 1 g Act III Sciv MACBETH Who I may rather cha!Irnf»fi for unklndncss Than pily for mischance I ''"'•^- His al)st'ncc, sir, Lays blame upon his promise. I'lcasc It your highness To grace us with your roval company ? Macb. The table 's full. {-f^- Here is a place reserved, sir. Macb. Where ? Len. Here, my good lord. What is 't that moves y^ur highness ? Macb. Which of you have done this ? i?''''^' «,. Whr.t, my Rood lord ? Macb. Then canst not say, I did it : never shake Thy gory locks at me. lioss. Gentlemen, rise ; his highness is not well. Ladif M. Sit, worthy friends. My lord Is often thus. And hath been from his youth : pray vou, keep seat ; The nt is momentary ; upon a though't He will again be well. If much you note him, You shall offend him, and extend his passion ; Feed, and regard him not.— Are you a man ? Macb. Ay, and a bold one, that dare look on that Which might appal the devil. Lodij M. O proper stuff ! This is the very painting of your fear : This is the air-drawn dagger, which, vou said, Led you to Duncan. O, these flaws, 'and starts, Impostors to true fear, would well become A woman's story at a winter's fire, Authorised by her grandam. Shame itself I \yhy do you make such faces ? When all 's done, 1 ou look but on a stool. Maco. Pr'ythee, sec there ! behold ! look I lo I how say you ? — ^yhy, what care I ? If thou canst nod, speak too — If charnel-houses, and our graves, must send Those that we bury, back, our monuments Shall be the maws of kites. [g/,os/ vanishes Lady M. \vhat, quite unmanned in folly '' Macb. If I stand here, I saw him. ^?\'^^-r,, , ^ ^ fi<'' for shame ! Macb. Blood hath been shed ere now, i' th' olden lime hre human statute purged the gentle weal, Ay, and since too, murders have been -crformed Ton terrible for the ear ; the time has oeen That when the brains were out the man would die And there an end : but njw, they rise again NMth twenty mortal murders on their crowns. And push us from our stools. This is more strange Ihan such a murder is. ° 251 MACBETH Act III Sc iv 1 1 Lady M My worthy lord, Your noble friends do lack you. Macb. T j^ . ,. . . rk^ „ t X ^ do fori'et. — Do not muse at me, my most worthy friends : ^n ?r ^ fJ'^"P infirmity, which is nothing Then/'U^ft ^"^'^ "^n- ^°'"^' ^°^« ^^d health to all T HrfnWo f>f ''°'^"- ,9^ve me some wine: fill full : I drink to the general joy of the whole table, WnnM i?""" ^*^^^^"eV^ Banquo, whom we miss ; Saluo'ir '"^ ' '' ^"' ^"^ ^""' - *»^-t; Lords. Our duties, and the pledge. Let the earth hide Re-enter Ghost Macb. Avaunt, and quit my sight I thee I Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold : I hou host no speculation in those eves Which thou dost glare with. Lady M Thj^j^ j ^^. ^ But as a thing of custom ; 't is no other : ^ ^ "' Only it spoils the pleasure of the time Macb. WTiat man dare, I daro • Approach thou like the rugged Russian bear. The armed rhmoccros, or the Hyrcan tiger : Take any shape but that, and my firm nerves bhall never tremble : or, be alive again. And dnrc me to the desert with thy sword : If treinbhng I inhabit then, protest me TTnt^f ^' i ^ ^^?- ^^^"^«' '^or"We shadow I Unreal mockery, hence I ^^host vanishes I am a man again.-Pray .^^sit'stE'""^ ^°"^' meeting''" ^^''' ^''^^'^^'^ ^^e mirth, broke the good With most admired disorder. Macb. (-gj^ J j_j :„„ I And overcome us like a summer's cloud, ^ ' \Vithout our special wonder ? You make me stnnrr,^ Even to the disposition that I owe, "^^ When now I think you can behold such sights, And keep the natural rubv of your cheeks When mine is blanched with fear. Question enrages him : At once, good night •— Stand not upon the order of your going But go at once. ^ ** ^' 252 Act III Sc V MACBETH , ■^«"- Good night, and better health Attend his majesty I Lady M. A kind good night to aU I , . . ^ [Exeunt Lords and Attendants Macb. It will have blood, they say ; blood will have blood : Stones have been known to move, and trees to speak : Augurs and understood relations have By magot-pies and choughs and rooks brought forth The secret'st man of blood.— What is the night ? Lady M. Almost at odds with morning, which is which Macb. How say'st thou, that Macduff denies his person At our great bidding ? Lady M. Did you send to him, sir ? Macb. I hear it by the way ; but I will send. There 's not a one of them but in his house I keep a servant fee'd. I will to-morrow, And betimes I will, to the weird sisters : More shall they speak ; for now I am bent to know, By the worst means, the worst. For mine own good All causes sh give way : I am in blood Stepped in so .i.r, that, should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o'er. Strange things I have in iiead that will to hand. Which must be acted ere they may be scanned. Lady M. You lack the season of all natures, sleep. Macb. Come, we '11 to sleep. My strange and self-abuse Is the initiate fear, that wants hard use : We are yet but young in deed. [Exeunt Scene V.— The Heath Thunder. Enter the three Witches, meeting Hecate First Witch. Why, how now, Hecate ? you look angerly. Hec. Have I not reason, beldams as you are. Saucy, and overbold ? How did you dare To trade and tralTic with Macbeth In riddles and affairs of death ; And I, the mistress of your charms, The close contriver of all harms. Was never called to bear my part. Or show the glory of our art ? And, which is worse, all you have done Hath been but for a wayward son. Spiteful and wrathful, w'ho, as others do, Loves for his own ends, not for you. — But make amends now ; get you gone. And at the pit of Acheron 253 MACBETH Act III Sc vi Meet me i' the morning : thither he Will come to know his destiny Your vessels and your spells provide Your charms and everything beside. I Tnfi ^"i,-^^ ^*'" ' }^'^ "^8*^* I '" spend Unto a dismal and a fatal end • TTn!f« ?"''"*^" "^"st be wrought ere noon. Upon the corner of the moon There hangs a vaporous drop profound ; I 11 catch It ere it come to ground • And that, distilled by magic sleights, bhall raise such artiticial sprites As by the strength of their illusion, Shall draw him on to his confusion. He shall spurn fate, scorn death, and bear His hopes bove wisdom, grace, and fear • And you all know, security " Is mortals' chicfest enemy Hark ■ I .JSif :s;;',au;?pTrf.rs;' '™' '■•"'■•'■■■ '"■ [Exeunt 1; I {:■;■' ,J|: i; ft' !i H ? it Scene VI.— Forres. A Room in the Palace Enter Lennox and another Lord whfoh ^^^' ^?^"'^'' speeches have but hit your thoughts \Vhich can interpret further : only, I sav "'°"g"«, WaTSttl'l,f\Zheth"^''^ ''"T- ^''^e gracious Duncan vvas pitied of Macbeth : marry, he was dead. And the nght-vahant Banquo walked too late ; Whom, you may say, if t please you, Fleance killed For Fleance fled. Men must not walk too Me " ' rT^voff^^'l^T'".* ^^" *^°"g*^t, how monstrous It was for Malcolm and for Donalbain 10 kill their gracious father ? damned fact. How It did grieve Macbeth I did he not straight In pious rage, the two delinquents tear, \\^f. nTfh 'l*" slaves of drink and thralls of sloop ? For 't wnnM^"''^'^ ^^"^ • ^y' ^"^ wisely too ; ?^ I, '^?u*'^ ^^"•'^ ^"gered any heart alive To hear the men deny it. So that, I sav, rLrh^Tr ^" *^'"?' '^"" • ^"d ' do think, inat, had he Duncan's sons under his key — miT't v?errtn^Mr7vl!' ''^^'^" not,-they should find But ninl r f .' "" ^"l^^^"" ' '« should Fleance. But. peace I-for from broad words, and 'cause he failed 254 ^ ii*>^^ ^^^ *.' Act IV Sc i MACBETH His presence at the tyrant's feast, I hear Macduff lives in disgrace. Sir, can you tell Where he bestows himself ? n. ^^''^r, .. . The son of Duncan trom whom this tyrant holds the due of hirUx Lives in the English court ; and is received Of the most pious Edward with such grace, That the malevolence of fortune nothing Takes from his high respect. Thither Macduff Is gone to pray the holy king, upon his aid To wake Northumberland and warlike Siward • That, by the help of these,— with Him above ' To ratify the work, — we may again Give to our tables meat, sleep to our nights ; I ree from our feasts and banquets bloody I-nives • Do faithful homage, and receive free honours. All which we pine for now : and this report Hath so exasperate tlie king, that he Prepares for some attempt of war. j""}-, TT ^. , , . , Sent he to Macduff ? i-ord. He did : and with an absolute " Sir, not I " The cloudy messenger turns me his back, ' And hums, as who sliould say, " You '11 rue the time 1 hat clogs me with this answer." A f^^.^' , . , . And that well might Af Vise him to a caution, to hold what distance His wisdom can provide. Some holy angel Fly to the court of England, and unfold His message ere he come, that a swift blessint May soon return to this our suITering counlrv" I nder a hand accursed I ^°^^' I 'U send my prayers with him. [Exeunt ACT FOUR Scene I.— A Cavern. In the middle a Cauldron boiling. Thunder. Enter the three Witches First Witch. Thrice the brinded cat hath mewed. T •■ ] i!^-!', '^t!,'^'^ ^"^ o"^*-' the hedge-pig whined. i- ''f^)'}f- i^^''Pier cries :— T is time, 't is time. tirst Witch. Round about the cauldron go • In the poisoned entrails throv,. - Toad, that under a cold stone pays and nights has thirty-one Sweltered venom, sleeping got, BoU thou first i' the charmed pot. 255 mf^^^'u.^ MACBETH Act IV Sc I All Double, double toU and trouble • c^' n^", \ ^"''' cauldron, bubble. T ff • ^^'{''^' ^''"^^ o^ 3 fenny snake. In the cauldron boil and bake • Eye of newt, and toe of frog, ' Wool of bat, and tongue of dog. Adder s fork, and blind-worm's sting. Lizard s leg, and howlet's wing For a charm of powerful trouble. Like a hell-broth boil and bubble. All Double, aouble toU and trouble • ^^^i-^!?'"!],'. ''"'*' cauldron, bubble. wI^^nL '^'^'^- ^^'^^^ °' dragon, tooth of wolf • ^ Itches' mummy ; maw, and gillf, ^ ' Of the ravmed salt-sea shark ; Koot of hemlock, digged i' the dark ; Liver of blaspheming Jew ; Gall of goat, and slips of yew Slivered in the moon's eclipse : Nose of Turk, aui Tartar's lips ; Hngcr of birth-strangled babe Ditch-delivered by a drab, A^ the gruel thick and slab : Add thereto a tigers chaudron, tor the ingredients of our cauldron. All Double, double toil and trouble- I^ire, burn ; and, cauldron, bubble. " ' Th.ffV, '/'• ^?°' '^ '^'^^h ''» baboon's blood • Then the charm is firm and good. * Enter Hecate Hec. O, well done I I commend your pains And every one shali share i the gains. ' And now about the cauldron sin« Like elves and fairies in a ring Enchanting all that you put in! Sec Wilch Rv thi'"' • ?"'' "" '1''"^' " ^^"''^ 'P'ril^' etc. oec. wncn. By the pricking of mv thumbs Something wicked this way comes • ^""^^' , . , , . Open, locks, ^y ^omes . [Knocking Whoever knocks. Enter Macbeth Wil^rfs -t you'do ''' ^"" ''''''' ^^^^^' «"^ ""^"'ght hags I ^4//. A deof] v.ilhnut " '-•"•-•ia Tfnwlw , ' ''''"^"'■^ y^"' j'y tii'at'which you profess — Jlowe er you como to know It, answer m e • ^ '^^^' liiough you untie fh. ■ :nd.. an "let Xa'' ;ht -256 MACBETH Say, if thou 'dst Demand. We Ml answer, rather hear it from our Act IV Sc 1 Against the churches ; though the vestv waves Confound and swallow navigation up • t£S rl^.f^^ T'",^" ^^^8^^' «»d trees blown down • ThnnSh ^?"^' ^''PP'® °" their warders' haads " ' ?hP^A^ P^'^^^s- and pyramids do slope Their heads to their foundations ; though the treasnrp Of nature's germen tumble all together ^^ ?n'^h*' * destruction sicken : ans^wer me 10 what I ask you. First Witch. Speak Sec. Witch. Third Witch First Witch. mouths. Or from our masters ? ™.c.. Pourin^::'j;ioc^:^^^--,^„ ^rnm th '^"■°:J' '■ ^^^'^' that 's sweaten From the murderer's gibbet throw Into the flame. T^.ti^'Jf ^ «. ^°"^^' ^'Sh or low : Thyself and ofTice deftly show. Thunder. First Apparition ; an armed Head FiTst'wUch "'"' ^^°'' ""''"°'"" P^^^^'-'- Hear his speech, but say thou noug"' ''"'''' "^^ ^^^^S^^. i^/rs/ App. Macbeth 1 Macbeth l' M«nho*K i u Macduff; -^dCDeini Macbeth 1 beware Beware the thane of Fifc.-Dismiss me.-Enough Th^utast '^':^:aVXrar!Z'%':^' cautionirr : -More potent than the first. Thunder. Second Apparition : a bloody Child flaci^^JYfl''^^ ' ^^^^'^«th f Macbeth I- .uacb. Had I three ears, I 'd bear thee SecApj.. Be bloody, bold, and ?^solute : laugh to si^irstSth'" "°"^ ^^ ^°-- ^«- IBul'vft' I l^'Zu'"'' ^''^""" = ^h^t "^<^d I fear [fZef Ani ^f I "J"3^« assurance double sure ' And take a bond of fate : thou shalt not live • That I may tell pale-hearted fear it lies ' And sleep in spite of thunder. ' 38—1 257 \^^. I s MACBETH Thunder. Act IV Sc i "^wUh n^^^'^^-^^l' "" ^^^^'^ crowned, with a tree in his hand That rises like the issue of a kln^-^''* '' ^'"'' And wears upon his baby-brow the round And top of sovereignty ? Macbeth shaU never vanquished be, until ' Great Bu-nam Wood to high Dunsinane hill ShaU come against him. rn Macb. That « .11 ^ u [Descends wTu^ , mat will never be • Who can impress the forest ; bid the tree ffilSj'^^:^^^^^^^^^^^ ' .ood 1 ?hrn;?'t""J* "^'"'^^ custom.-Vt my heart Throbs to know one thing : tell me-if your art Can te 1 so much-shall Banquo's issue ever Reign m this kingdom ? ^aLi. t m, ,. ^^^^ *^o ^^now no more iUacft. I will be satisfied : deny me this And an eternal curse fall on vou 1 T Pt iVf V VVhy Sinks that cauldron ? VnTwha^ noSe' 'sThi^T First Witch. Show I [Hautboys Sec. Witch. Show I Third Witch. Show I A// Show his eyes, and grieve his heart • Come like shadows, so depart. ' A show of eight Kings, the last with a glass in his hand; Banquo's Ghost following Th'/cfown^dt"s ^^i!!^l^!S^i^^^^ • ^own 1 Thou other gold-bound bro^^l is I^V^frfrst L'^""' A third IS like the former .--hlthy hags I \\ hy do you show me this ?— A fourth •?— <;tnrt « What I will the line stretch ouYto the crTck of Hnf 'i Another yet ?-A seventh ?-I '11 see nS inore ' ^ WhirV'^" ''^^'^ '-'PP^^^^ Who bears a glss •""" Th Jtwnr,!, K^,"''"y "^'^^^ ' ^nd some I see That two-fold balls and treble-sceptres carrv ^orThP^r^'^iiT^"^' ^ ^«^' 't is true r ^■ tor the blood-boUered Banquo smiles unon mp Fil^sTwltrh "r ''■' »^\--What ris^h" To ? I^irst Witch. Ay, sir, all this is so : but why 258 'M 'l.n. '_ -— . ■ ii'.- ,-'•*. • ^'V-^'tt.- Act IV Sc U MACBETH Len. Macb. Len. Macb. Len. Macb. I Stands Macbeth thus atnazedly ? j Come, sisters, cheer we up his sprites, I And show the best of our delights. ^ ilS,,^^^^™ ^^® ^'^ *° 8ive a sound, i ^ . 1?^ perform your anticlc round ; I That this great king may kindly say. I Our duties did his welcome pay. i »^ A «rt- [^"«'c- The Witches dance, and vanish ^f^ft Wherearethey? Gone ?-Let tins pernicious hour } Stand aye accursed in the calendar I— i Come in, without there I f Enter Lennox I i'f"'.. « What 's your grace's will *> f »^^.A Saw you the weird sisters ? f, ., , ^ No, my lord. Came they not by you ? T„f«^f Au *u , , ^°' indeed, my lord. infected be the air whereon they ride. And damned all those that trust them 1— I did hear The galloping of horse : who was 't came by ? m/cTuA is^'f/eVro England! "' '''^' '"'' '""^ ^^^ ^°^^' ^^«^*- ^ Fled to England ? Len. Ay, my good lord. tJ^a-^I* '^^"^®' ^*^°" anticipat'st my dread exploits ; The nighty purpose never is o'ertook, Unless the deed go with it. From this moment. The very firstlings of my heart shall be The firstlings of my hand. And even now, ILZIZI '"^i.?°!i^«^'^^*;^ ^^^'' ^^ *t thought and done : The castle of Macduff I will surprise • Seize upon Fife ; give to the edge o' the sword His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls Thfc H ^t^mI".'" \!^'l ""^^^ N° boasting like a fool ; This deed I '11 do, before this purpose cool • But no more sights I— Where are these gentlemen •' Come, bring me where they are. [Exeunt Scene II.— Fife. A Room in Macduff's Castle Enter Lady Macduff, her Son, and Ross Wife. What had he done, to make him fiv the land ? Hoss. You must have patience, madam. vf^^J,(\* . He had none ills night was madness : when our actions do not. Our fears do make us traitors. ■wr/^^i?' .* .... ^^" k"ow not Whether it was his wisdom or his fear. 259 MACBETH Act IV Sc li H>s";i^„si„T^SS"^is'?ill^",„'".' X- "> '-« h.s babe. From whence himself does fly ? He loves u, nm He wants the natural touch : for the poor wren The most diminutive of birds, will flcht ' "7.y°""g ones in her nest, agSt' 1 e owl t mt e'l/^i'' «?^ "°lhing is the love! AS little is the wisdom, where the flicht So runs against all reason ^ And ^Zl "'"'" " '"''' ^"'' ^'"''nt sea ' io'/f x^^t'^^'^'^d he is, and yet he 's fatherless 5on. ■ With what I oet T mn^ll^'' ^'i*^ ^^'**'"*"5 ^^^ flies ? ^""norS,^;""'" '' »»">er? P„„r Urd, they are My fallur is ,wl dead, for all your savins And yet ,; faiih, with wit enougl S^rXe What is a traitor ? Why, one tiint swearp. and lies And be all traitors that do so 9 be hanged ''^ ^"' ^^''^ ^^" «° ^^ ^ traitor, and must 5on. And must they all be hanged that swear and Ue ? 260 Son. Wi/e. Son. Wife. I m.. as .-. »-. .iife.aitf*5»r^»^a^iBa!-.«EZ Act IV Sc iii MACBETH Wife. Every one. Son. Who must hang th^m ? \Vife. Why, the honest men. Son. Then the liars and swearers are fools ; for there are liars and swearers enough to beat the honest men, and hang up them. Wife. Now God help thee, poor monkey I But how wilt thou do for a father ? Son. If he were dead, you 'd weep for him : if you would not it were a good sign that I should quickly have a new father. Wife. Poor prattler, how thou talk'st ! Enter a Messenger Thmf^h » ^'''" ^?"; 'ai',**^"'^ 1 I am not to you known, Though in your state of honour I am perfect. I doubt, some dauRer does approach you nearly : If you will take a homely man's advice, ^^ "?^ 'ound here ; hence, with your little ones, fo fright you thus, methinks, I am too savage ; To do worse to you were fell cruelty, Which is too nigh your person. Heaven preserve you ! [Exit I dare abide no longer _ J^'/*- Whither should I fly ? I have done no harm. But I remember now I am in this earthly world where to do harm Is often laudable ; to do good, sometime Accounted dangerous folly : why then, alas I Do I put up that womanly defence. To say, I have done no harm ? What are these faces ? Enter Murderers Mur. Wliere is your husband ? Wife. I hope, in no place so unsanctiQed Where such as thou may'st find him. iin^' Ti, ,• . *u . ^^^ 's a traitor. ^n. Thou best, thou shag-haired villain I Young-fry of treachery I ^^'^^^' ^^ ^^^ ' [Stamnrj Mm Son. He has killed me, mother ; run away, I pray you. [Exit Lady Macduff, crying '« Murder r' and pursued by the Murderers I f I i Scene III.— England. Before the Ki.vo's Palace Enter Malcolm and Macduff Mai. Let us seek out some desolate shade, and there Weep our sad bosoms empty, ^^'^d- Let us rather 261 . llBil|i'llll|ii||iti||liii I III I III lim ; J' MACBETH Act IV Sc iii m WH? ^ the mortnl sword, and like Rood men V^w^v H °"'' i«^"-'«"'n birthdom. 4ch n^w morn ^frfu. 1'^°''' *''''^'' "*^^ ^'■Phans cry. new sorrows xTSif^fTVJ'}^^ face, that it r.'soumls v4?|knpw. believe ; aJ^^f^l^^'^^J^^^^ '' Whl'^'"" «»d the time to friend, I ^11 ''"' ™s tv^r°,nt Th '''''•^; '' "^^y ^« ''O' perchance, inis tyrant, whose sole name blisters our toneues H. ho?h' ^'l^Veht honest ; you have loved hfm well • He hath_not touched you yet. I am young" but"so.ne- ro appease an angry God. Macd. 1 am not treacherous. A Rood and virtuous nature may rec^oV^"''''''^ "' Tho'V Vu'""^ ''^^^S^- But I sliall crave your mrdon • Infeha f bSt%tnr?/'"l^^i^ ^''^""'^^ SrS°" ' ^ngus are bright still, though the brichtesi fpii • Though all things foui would wear the brows J irr.ce ^et grace must still look so ^ '^^^' u r?^ precious motives, those strong knots of love— Without leave-taking ?_I pray you Let not my jealousies be your dishonours, vv?j.'a?:i"err^aT/?i^^f^ ^°" "^^y ^^ "s^^^y j-t Gr^aft^ranny, lay thou t^h^'asfs'^u^e^^^^ ^°""^^^ ' ^henno'JrnfT'^'*'^"?^ ^J^^^ ^'^^^ ' ^^ear thou thy wrongs • rhe title IS affcored 1— Fare thee well, lord • wrongs , I would not be the villain that thou think'st For the ^vhole space that 's in the tyrant's erasn And the rich East to boot. ^ ^^ I s^ak not as in absolute fea^r'o?you'''"^''' '' I think our country sinks beneath the voke • L oH?^'*'* 5'""^' ' ^"d <^«ch new day a gash Is added to her wounds : I think, withal Ihere wou d be hands uplifted in mj right • 0?ioHiv ll"""^ ^"."°"' ^"Sland, hive^I offer Wh!n ? ^K^n^"'"'"'^" '■ ^"t. for aU this, ZZa •?''" ^''''''^ "P^" *J'^ ty«nt's head Or wear it on my sword, yet my poor country 262 Act IV Sc Hi MACBETH Shall have more vices than it hrul before, More suJTcr, and more sundry ways than ever By him that shall succeed. ii^';^- , What should he be ? A/a/. It is myself I mean ; in whom I Itnow All the particulars of vice so grafted. That, when they shall be ..pcned, black Macbeth Will seem as pure as snow, and the poor state Esteem him as a iamb, being compared With my conlintless ha as. ur horrid hell can come a devil more damned In evils, to top Macbeth. , ^^^- I grant him bloody. Luxurious, avar'cious, false, deceitful. Sudden, maliciou , smacking of every sin That has a name ; but there 's no bottom, none. In my voluptuousness ; your wives, your daughters. Your matrons, and your maids, could not fill up The cistern of my lust ; and my desire All continent impediments would o'crbear, That did oppose my will : belter Macbeth, Than such a one to reign. Macd. Boundless intemperance In nature is a tyranny ; it hath been The untimely emptying of the happy throne. And fall of many kings : but fear not yet To take upon you what is yours : you may Convey your pleasures in a spacious plenty And yet seem cold, the time you may so hoodwink. We have wUling dames enough ; there cannot be That vulture in you, to devour so many As will to greatness dedicate themselves. Finding it so inclined, , ^a'- With this, there grows m my most ill-composed affection such A stanchless avarice, that, were I king, I should cut on the nobles for their lands ; Desire his jewels, and this other's house ; And my more-having would be as a sauce To make me hunger more, that I should forge Quarrels unjust against the good and loyal Destroying them for wealth. ' c,^{"^i This avarice Micks deeper, grows with more pernicious r-'ot Than summer-seeming lust ; and it hath been I he sword of our slain kings. Yet do not fear ; Scotland hath foisons to fill up your will. Of your mere own. All these are portable. With other graces weighed. 263 MACBETH ill m Act IV Sc lii No not to live.-O nnnorrmlsorablT ' Ity many of these tralno??.!, .' ^'/'''sh Mncbelli Into his power and m^ni.^ , °.°"" '» «'" "« From ov?r-cre» Deal between thee inH mf t' . ' ''°'' "''"'"^ I.pm myselUo th7d?re"tton "and'" "°" For strangers Jo'lilrna uV ." "FlTyir"' Be like our warr'^fid",! ^"e^'^^^Sv ar"""' 264 P Act IV Se ill MACBFTH i I Mocd. Such welcome and unwelcome Ihlngg at once 'T is hard to reconcile. f Writer a Doctor Mai. Well : more anon.— Comes the king forth, pray you ? Doct. Ay, sir ; there are n crew of wrefched souls That stay his cure ; their ni.ihi.lv convinces The great assay of art ; hut at Ins touch. Such sanctity hath Heaven «iven his h uul. They presently amcn Oent. Since his majesty went into the field, I have seen her rise from her bed, throw her nightgown upon her, riln*"-^ / ""^""^^b ^""^^ '°''"' P^P^'"' 'o'fJ 't, write upon it read it, afterwards seal it, and again return to bed : yet al this while in a most fast sleep. . j- t -n Doct. A great perturbation in nature, to receive at oner' t^e benefit of sleep, and do the effects of watching. In this slumbery agitation, besides her walking and other acluM performancx's, what, at any time, have you heard her say? Oent. That, sir, which I will not report after her. 267 i^im^: MACBETH 1^ I J i: to coni.nn „,y spoecii:. Cyl?! Zre ^'Z^^, "'^-- Th! • u ^"'"' ^"''' ^lAcnETii With a taper Observe 'he!; r^L.Slk^"^'' "^^^ -^ ^'•^«' '-t asleep. //^v^/' \lr' "^^^'^^ '''^ ^y ^hat light ? ~|^^--,!;L^- She has light ., .er her h:.nc!s'''"^ '^ ^' ^^^« ^"^ "«^ ? Look, how she rubs this a qu.rler oJan iJour "°''" ''"'' "°"^"^"e ^^ ^«^/f/M. Yet here's a" spot. fronrh' r/t^satisfv;;^;::;re;nl!r:i^^^^^^^ '°^'" ^'-^ -™- /"rfi/ M. Out dm npH c, f . "^.*^ ^''*^ '"o^c Strongly, ^vhy, then 't is o; that, my lord, no more o" th.. .^^ clean ?-No more starting. '^'^ ^ that : you mar all with this Doct. What a sich is thpro t tk„ u (^e/,/. I would not have suchn^ ^T- '' '"''"'y ^'''^'•ge^'- the dignity of the whole bodv '^ '" "'^ Dosom. for Jjocl. Well, well, weil.~ n";- i!'''*y <^'0^' it he, sir. knor-.hS\S^a^o':^a"^/;"^"r^ ^^^ ^^-^ died hoJily in iheir beds *^"" "'^'^P' ^''^ ^'^ve jook'n^t'i Paie'-Mdfyrt'tr.v"",.^""'- "'*^'^'««^" -• he cannot come out on 's ora^^ ^ '"* ^^'*"^"*^ '^ ^""cd i ^oc/. Even so '- ^'""""- •'■-"-■^.•»l>ed: .here •. knocking „t the 268 ^s^i?:jmm ActV Scii MACBETH 'I n *' whtV ^j""®' *^''"^''' ^°'"^» *=°"^^' ^»^<' "le your hand :— What s done cannot be undone :— To bed, to bed, to bed. Docl. Will she go now to bed ? '' Gent. Directly. Doct. Foul whisperings are abroad. Unnatural deeds Do breed unnatural troubles : infected minds To their deaf pUlows will discharge their secrets. Alore needs she the divine than llu- physician — God, God, forgive us all !— Look after her • Remove from her the moans of all annoyance. And still keep eyes upon her :— so, good night • My mmd she has mated, and amazed my sight • I thmk, but dare not speak. ^^^'- Good night, good doctor. [Exeunt Scene II. — The Country near Dunsinane Enter, with drum and colours, Memeith, Caithness, Angl-s Lennox, and Soldiers Ment The English power is near, led on bv Malcolm, His uncle Siward, and llie good .\!acduff. Revenges burn in them ; for their dear causes Would to the bleeding and the grim alarm Excite the mortified man. c-/\?^" .. ^'ear Birnam wood Miall we well meet them ; that way are they coming Caith. Who knows if Dcnalbain be with his brother ? Jen. For certain, sir, he is not. I have a file Of all the gentry : there is Siward's son. And many unrough youths that even now Protest their first of manhood. V^^n ^ * .. . ^^'•^''^t does the tyrant ? LAHth. Great Dunsinane he stronglv forlilies Some say he 's mad ; others, that lesser hate him. Do call it valiant ftir^' : but, for certain, ik- cannot buckle bis distempered cause Witiiin the belt of rule. '■^"'/- Now does he feel His secret murders sticking on his hands • Now minutely revolts upbraid his faith-hVeach ; Ihose he commands move oiily in command, Nothing in love ; now does he feel his title Hang loose about liini, like a giant's robe Upon a dwarfish thii'f. ...^^'''^^- '^^■!h» then shall blame His pestered senses to recoi' ;ind start. \Vlun all that is wilhin him does condemn Itself for being there ? 209 MACBETH ill Act V Sc iii To give obedience where 't is truly owed • An? "If J? • "^*^^'""e of tlie sicJcIy weal, 'r/'f"' ♦u Or so much as it needs 10 dew the sovereign nower and drown the weeds Make we our march towards Birnam. [E^elt marching Scene III.-Dunsinane. A Room in the Castle Enter Macbeth, Doctor, and Attendants Macfr. Bring me no more reports ; let them fly all • Till R.rnam wood remove to Dunsinane, ^ ' I cannot taint with fear. What 's the boy Malcolm 9 All mortal consequences have pronounced me th « Sh^r "°\: ^'"'^^^'^ ' "° "^«" tha? 's born ?f woman bhall e'er have power unon thPP '• tk^^ n )^oman And mingle witS the ETglfsh' piciiTcI: '" '^' '^^^ ^^'^"^^' The mmd I sway by, and the heart I bear, Shall never sag with doubt nor shake with fear. Enter a Servant The devil damn thee black, thou cream-faced loon r ^^ here gott'sL thou that goose look *> " ' .^em There is ten thousand— Macb. f> „, . Serv Geese, villain ? Th'^^"?,- ,?°' P""^ ^hy f'-^c^' «nd over-red thv^?ear'"' '^• ^.^y^'^T}':^^'^^ ^°y- ^^'hat soldiers, patch ?^ ' Death of thy soul I those linen cheeks of thine Irr^Vto F 'S/T; '''^^^ ^«1^'^"' ^hey face ? \/\ Th^'.^-ngJish force, so please you Mac*. Take thy face hence. "''*' y°"- wi,«« T y r?^y^"" *~^ '»'" sick at heart. When I behold-Seyton, I say !-This push Will chair me ever, or disscat mc now Is f^Jrn ?n, n"^' '"°"^? •• "^y ^^'^y '^f "life AnH fhof K-^u*' f ''^' ^^^ y«"o^v leaf ; And that which should accompany old age As honour, love, obedience, troops of friends I must not look to have ; but. in thHr ste"d wS-r' '°"';^"' ^^^'i^' "louth honour i;reath Which the poor heart would fain deny, and da?e not.- {Exit Servant Scy. Macb. Enter Seyton What is your gracious pleasure ? What news more ? -10 Act V Sc iv MACBETH Sey. AU is confirmed, my lord, which was reported. Macb. I 'U fight tUl from my bones my llesh be hacked. Give me my armour. ^^y- 'T is not needed yet. Macb. I 'II put it on.— Send out more horses, skirr the country round ; Hang those that talk of fear.— Give me mine armour — How does your patient, doctor ? A ■^?^'-, , , , Not so sick, my lord. As she Is troubled with thick-coming fancies That keep her from her rest. ^ Macb Cure her of that : Canst thou not minister to a mind diseased. Pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow. Raze out the written troubles of the brain. And with some sweet oblivious antidote Cleanse the stuffed bosom of that perilous stuff Which weighs upon the heart ? xT^f^'':x . . Therein the patient Must mmister to himself. Macb. Throw physic to the dogs, I 'II none of it.— Lome, put mine armour on ; give me my staff — Seyton, send out— Doctor, the thanes fly from me— Gome, sir, despatch— If thou couldst, doctor, cast The water of my land, find her disease. And purge it to a sound and pristine health, I would applaud thee to the very echo That should applaud again— Pull 't off, I say What rhubarb, senna, or what purgative drug Would scour these English hence ? Hear'st thou of them 7 Doct. Ay, my good lord ; your royal preparation Makes us hear something. Macb. Bring it after me.— I wUl not be afraid of death and bane, Till Birnam forest come to Dunsinane. [Exit Doct. [Aside] Were I from Dunsinane away and dear. Profit agam should hardly draw me here. [Exeunt n Scene IV. — Country near Dunsinane A Wood in view Enter, with drum and colours, Malcolm, Old Siward and Ins Son, Macduff, Menteitii, Caithness, Angus Lennox, Ross, and Soldiers, marching Mai. Cousins, I hope the days are near at hand That chambers will be safe. ^{ent. We doubt it nothing. Siiv. What wood is this before us ? '^^'^^^- The wood of Birnam. 271 MACBETH ,3 m Act V Sc V And beaA'bSwm '''tH'''^*'*'" ^°^" « bough, The numbers o'oSrios and^tl'^'•" ^« ^^^^^^^ Err in report of us '"^^"^ discovery !?/?■ W.i Jt shall be done. IZu'^''^ there i, advantage To be fih"en" ''""P' ' Whose hearts are absenUoo '""''*''^'«'^d """8^ I'houahts snenil ,(ix „ /i^ "" ^^'^'''^ We owe. o wards which advance the war ir ue war. lEjreu/i/, marching Scene V._Dunsinane. Within the CisIIp ;e ami the ague eat thorn up ' ' have S",,;*'"' '"«'■ ">at should be ours -t thrm%Tci!v';';^h'S"\X'','s°ti;s^'' ' , till., wn.ii IS iiiat noise ? 5' /• It is the crv of wnr,,..,, '"^ ^'"•^ ^^ IV'omrn u^lv/j/n The lime has bt-on tnx- c... V '''^ °^ fonrs. Diren^s^ lani liir t m;^.ffi;:;^"' ^yi"> '— = Cannot once start me^ ^^'^"glHt'rous thoughts, lic-enfcr Skyton- .' cry I f;. \i'> ■'. y '.ji-^'- '• Act V Sc vl MACBETH Creeps in this petty pace from day to day. To the last syllable of recorded time ; And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle I Lire s but a walking shadow ; a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage, And then is heard no more : it is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing. Enter a Messenger Thou com'st to use thy tongue ; thy story quickly. Mess. Gracious my lord, I should report that which I say I saw, But know not how to do it. ^J°<^*- Well, say, sir. Mess. As I did stand my watch upon the hill, I looked toward Birnam, and anon, mcthoucht. The wood began to move. -J°<^*- Liar and slave I .irf^?*"*u^^.l"^^ endure your wrath if 't be not so. witnm this three mile may you sec it coming • I say, a moving grove. ' ,, "^^"'^*: M thou spcak'st false, upon the next tree shalt thou hang alive Till famine cling thee : if thy speech be sooth, I care not if thou dost for me as much. — I pull in resolution ; and begin To doubt the equivocation of the fiend, That lies like truth : " Fear not. till Birnam wood iJo come to Dunsinane ; "—and now a wood (.omes toward Dunsinane.— Arm, arm, and out I if this which he avouches does appear. There is nor flying hence, nor tarrying' here. — I gin to be aweary of the sun. And wish the estate o' the world were now undone — I^ing the alarum-bell 1— Blow, wind I come, wrack ! Al least we 'il die with harness on our back. [Exeunt Scene VL— The Same. A Plain before the Castle Enter, with drum and colours, Malcolm, Old Siward, Macduff, etc., and their Army, with boughs A ^Y'^d ^P^'' "'''^^ «^nough : your leafy screens throw down And show like those you arc.— You. worthy uncle. Shall, witli my tuusin, vour rif^ht-noble son. lead our first Iiatlle : worthy MacdufT, nnd we, Siuill t;ike upDti s what else remains U, do, Aeeordin^ to our order. sill} 1.' — . _ ,. x'v::i" ytiU wcii. 273 MACBETH Act V Sc vU ! ^ [Exeunt. Alarums continued Scene VII.-The Same. Another Part of the Plain Enter MAcnnrir Jo. S/u;. What Is thy name ? ■yo'"'sfii. Th. H ^.'i??' ""^ 's Macbeth. Vn «Ji,,. rru 1! . ^°' "'^^ more fearful Macb. ' """ ''»*'• ""'' l'°"n» SiMrd ,s slain If ^ ^/arums. Enter Macduff /.'m/^- X* l/^-rj/. Alarums ^- -ru. Malcolm and O/d Siwakd T|^';^ra^^:::^ij^'--;i-^ The noble thanes do J,r.vdy in la war ' Thaittrike beMde us)^'" ''''''' ""'^ ^^'^'' ^'^''^^ Ifi ■274 ^""^^ Scvlil MACBETH ^'"'* Enter, sir, the casUe. [Exeunt. Alarums Scene VIII.— Another Part of the Plain Enter Macbeth Macb. Why should I play the Roman fool, and die On mine own sword ? W l.Ues I see lives, the gashes Do better upon them. * Enter Macduff ii^'^i- r.. '^"'■"' hell-hound, turn I Macl). Of all men else I have avoided thee : Sm^A^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^y s°"l 's too much charged With blood of thine already. Macd. I have no words ; My voice is in my sword ; thou bloodier villain Than terms can give thee out 1 \Thev fiaht ^^«^*- Thou losest labour ; As easy mayst thou the intrenchant air With thy keen sword impress, as make me bleed : Let fall thy blade on vulnerable crests ; I bear a charmed life, which must not yield To one of woman born. A ^i?*^?-.^ Despair thy charm ; And let the angel whom thou still hast served Tell thee, Macduff was from his mother's womb Untimely ripped. Macb. Accursed be that tongue that tells me so. I'or it hath cowed my better part of man ! And be these juggling fiends no more believed, That palter with us in a double sense ; That keep the word of promise to our ear, And break it to our hope.— I '11 not fight with thee Macd. Then yield thee, coward, And live to be the show and gaze o' the time : We '11 have thee, as our rarer monslers are. Painted upon a pole, and underwrit, " Here may you see the Tyrant." rr 'Y^^^Vu , I ^^i» not yield, lo kiss the ground before young Malcolm's feet And to be baited with the rabble's curse. Though Birnam wood be come to Dunsinane, And thou opposed, being of no woman born. Yet I will try the last : before my boiiy I throw my warlike shield : lay on, Mvacduff • And damned be he that first cries, " Hold, enough ! " [Exeunt, fujhting Retreat. Flourish. Re-enter, with drum and colours, Mal- colm, Old SiwARD, RosH. TJiancs, and Soldiers 275 AUCBETH Act V Sc vlli »!!!!l A . . Then he is dead ? ItZilrnoLT""'" "' '^' «""•• '- '"on Rm, Av „n f?"'', ""^ '''» ''""' before ? «o»». Ay, on the front. Hadl' as many son, as I harh^irs'"' "^"^'^ '°''^^^ ^« '»« ' I would not xvish them to a faired dt'ath • And so, his knell is knollcd. ' ' Mai. , J , And that I -11 spend for him * ^'° "'"'"'^ '""<*^'' Min mm I— Hire comes newer comfort Af ^ ^t'T' ^^^^^""' ""^'' Macdeth's head Thf u::;rp2?,^S^^ 'h'e°a^d^? \t"tSe if f^o^ ' ^''^'^ ^^^'^^ HiirKlnt^^LXV!^"^^-^^^-^-^^ Ma/. We sh"f not^tVd'a^A^/io"' ' f ^'''""•^'' Before we reckon ^ii^!^^ sll^'^ {^.^^ <>' «me. In such an honour named WW ^^Z ^'°."'''?^ Which would be plaS'ne^' w th rh^ime''' Th.Tn'"^^'"' °"' *^^"^^ friend abroad Tha fled the snares of watchful tyraimv •' P o.lua„g forth the cruel ministeVr "^ ' ^^'ho^Xi n"*'\T ^"^ ""^ ««"d-like queen Took olT her mT^^ul 'f ?^ ^^'^^^ bands' Whom we invite to see «s crowned at icone. 276 [Exeunt MICROCOPY RESOLUTION TEST CHART (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2) 1.0 I.I 1.25 1^ 2.8 3.2 1^ 1.4 2.5 2.2 2.0 1.8 1.6 ^ APPL IED IM/IGE Inc ^^ ^653 Easl Mam Street r.S RocMester. Ne* Yark 14609 JSA JSa (716) 482 - 0300 - Phone ^= (716) 288 - 5989 - Fax 'mmr^'T itif ■ ■ m li.'t!. DRAMATIS PERSONS ViNOENTio, the Duke Angelo. the deputy in the Duke's absence EscAxus, joined vnth Angelo in the government CLitJDio, a young gentleman Lucio, a fantastic Two other gentlemen Provost Thomas "j ,, . Peteb J ■^'■*<^'"« A Justice Varkius Elbow, a constable Feoth o foolish gentleman PoMPEY, servant to Mistress Overdone Abhobson, an executioner Babwabdine, a prisoner Isabella, sister to Claudia Mabiana, betrothed to Angelo Juliet, beloved of Claudio Fbancisca, a nun Mistress Ovebdone, a bawd Lords, Officers, Citizens, Boy, and Attendants r«' SCENE.— Vienna M nv 278 if MEASURE FOR MEASURE ACT ONE Scene I.— a Room in the Duke's Palace Enter Duke, Escalus, and Attendants Duke. Escalus,— Escal. My lord ? DuA-e. Of government the properties to unfold Would seem m me to alTect speech and discourse ; Since I am put to know that your own science Exceeds, m that, the lists of all advice My strength can give you : then no more remains A^i I f Iv^** y^^^ sufficiency, as your worth is able. And let them work. The nature of our people. Our city s institutions, and the terms For common justice, you're as pregnant in As art and practice hath enriched any That we remember. There is our commission, [Givina it From which we would not have you warp.-Call liilher (S r !, '^''T ^^/^r^ "s, Angclo.— [Exit an Attendant What figure of us think you he will bear ? For you must know, we have with special soul Elected him our absence to supply. Lent him our terror, dressed him with our love And given his deputation all the organs Of our own power : what think you of it ? Lscal. If any in Vienna be of worth To undergo such ample grace and honour. It is Lord Angclo. ■^"''^^- Look where he comes. Enter Angelo Ang. Always obedient to your grace's will. 1 come to know your pleasure. ^^^"^f- ,. , Angelo, 1 here is a kind of character in thy life. That to the observer doth thy history Fully unfold. Thyself and thy belongin<»s Are not thine own so proper, as to waste Thyself upon thy virtues, they on thcc. Heaven doth with us, as we with torches do Not hght them for themselves ; for if our vi Did not go forth of us " 't were all alike 279 irtues IP MEASURE FOR MEASURE i::h \m'. [Giving it Act I Sc i As if we had them not. Spirits arc not finely touclied. But to fine issues ; nor Nature never loiuls The smallest scruple of her excellence But, like a thrifty goddess, she determines Merself the glory of a cre Fir.f r , 5''^"' ^^'''"''''' Overdone ^irst Gent. How now 9 wu- i most profound sciatica 9 ^'"'^ °^ ^^^"^ hips has the Mrs. Ov. Well wrii .* t»i can-ied to prison was "orth five Jn'o?," ''°J"'f ^"■'''^''''l ""d «S |„,.^'Sd?o%^\"Jii„'^',«V.'''°. Signior aaudio. Mrs. Ov. Nav but t i t is not so. arrested; saw hhn carne , aS- ' '', ^°' ^ «-w him within these three days his head ^fnh"'^','''''^"'^ '« "^ore, I.«c/&. But, after nil th.-c f f^ ^ *^ ^^ chopped off ArUhou sure of thL ? *'"' ^°"^"^S' ^ ^^'O"^^ "ot ha°""it so. Ma'^fm ?uiiet'taTitS'chiir '' '' ' ^"^ '' '^ ^or getting mation. "' '"^'^ «^ «"' agreeing with the procla j Lucio. Away: let's go l.arn the truth of it j Mrs. Ov. Thus: what \vi'ih"ni/f"'' """"^ Gentlemen sweat, what with the gallows Lni. h'\'' '''^^^ ^^^th the , am custom-shrunk. ^'^^^'^^^S' and what with poverty, i -&/i/er PoMPEv %m'''YonJ''''*^^"'^^'^^v"hyou. Pom. A woman ^^ ^^' ^' ^°"« ? ^1^^5.0.. But what 's his offence ? 282 Act I Sc iii MEASURE FOR MEASURE Pom. Groping for trouts in a peculiar river. Mrs. Ou. Wiiat, is tliere a maid witii cliild by him ? I'om. No ; but there's a woman with maid by him. You ha\'e not heard of the proclamation, have you ? Mrs. Ov. What proclamation, man ? pluckTd down""""''' ''' '^' ^"^"'^^ "' ^^^""^ "^"^^ ^^ Mrs. Ov And what shall become of those in the citv ? ♦ K \ *P5y ^^"^^ ^*^"^ ^or seed : they had gone down too but that a wise burRher put in for tlum. be pulied'down ?'"'"" "" '"' ^°"'" '' ''''''' '^^ '''' «"^"^^^ Pom. To the ground, mistress. wp^fh f^^'T, ?\^^^K''' '' ^ ''^^"S^' ^"^««^' in the common- wealth I what shall become of me ? oiifrffT'. ?u"^^x' ^^^^ "^* y°" = S°°d counsellors lack no clients : though you change your place, you need not t wT ^\T ^'f ^! ', ^ '" ^^ y°"^ t^P^ter 'stm. Courage there will be pity taken on you ; you that have worn your eyes almost out m the service, you will be considered, withdraw''' ^° ^° ^^^^' ^^^^^^ Tapster ? Let 's Pom. Here comes Signior Claudio. led by the provost to prison ; and there 's Madam Juliet. ^ [Sn! Scene III. — The Same Enter Provost, Claudio, Juliet, and Officers Claud. Fellow, why dost thou show me thus to the world ? Bear me to prison, where I am committed. Prou. I do it not in evil disposition, But from Lord Angelo by special charge. Claud. Thus can the demi-god Authority Make us pay down for our offence by weight — The sword of Heaven ;— on whom it will, it will • Un whom it will not, so : yet still 't is just. Enter Lucio and two Gentlemen Lucio. Why, how now, Claudio? whence comes this rcsiryint. / Claud. From too much liberty, my Lucio, libertv • As surfeit is the father of much fast, ^ * So every scope by the immoderate use Turns to restraint. Our natures do pursue. Like rats that ravin down their proper bane, A thirsty evil ; and when we drink we die. Lucio. If I could speak so wisely under an arrest I would send for certain of my creditors : and yet, to say the 283 MEASURE FOR MEASURE Act T Sc ili 111 31 w \m Claud. Lucio. Claud. Prov. Claud. Lucio, truth, I had as lef have the foppery of freedom, as the morality of imprasonment.-What 's thy ofTence, Claudio ? Claud. What but to spcnk of would offend aoain. Lucio. What, is it murder V No. Lechery ? Call it so. Away, sir ; you must Ro. One word, good friend.— Lucio, a word with you. 4 ,. , , .. , [Takes him aside A hundred, if they '11 do you any good. Is lechery so looked after ? Claud. Thus stands it with me : upon a true contract I got possession of Julietta's bed : ^omrati. You know the lady ; she is fast my wife, Save that we do the denunciation lack Of outward order : this we came not to, Only for propagation of a dower Remaining in the coffer of her friends. From whom we thought it meet to hide our love, Till time had made them for us. But it chances The stealth of our most mutual entertainment With character too gross is writ on Juliet Lucio. With child, perhaps ? * ^l"u^- ^ Unhappily, even so. And the new deputy now for the duke,— Whether it be the fault and glimpse of newness. Or whether that the body public be A horse whereon the governor doth ride. Who, newly in the seat, that it may know He can command, lets it straight feel the spur • Whether the tyranny be in his place. Or in his eminence that nils it up, I stagger in ; — but this new governor Awakes me all the enrolled penalties. Which have, like unsecured armour, hung by the wall So long, that nineteen zodiacs have gone round And none of them been worn ; and, for a name' Now puts the drowsy and neglected act ' Freshly on me :— 't is surely for a name. ^♦V'^'^'V ^warrant, it is : and thy head stands so tickle on thy shoulders, that a milk-maid, if she be in love, may sigh It off. Send after the duke, and appeal to him Uaud. I have done so, but he 's not to be found I prithee, Lucio, do me this kind servicp • This day my sister should the cloister enter And there receive her approbation : ' Acquaint her with the danger of my state ; Implore her, in my voice, that she make friends To the strict deputy ; bid herself assay him : 284 Act I Sc iv MEASURE FOR MEASURE I Iiave nreat hope in that ; for in her youth There is a prone and speechless dialect, Such as moves men ; beside, she hath prosperous art When she will play with reason and discourse, And well she can persuade. iMcio I pray, she may : as well for the cncouraoement of the hke, which else would stand under grievous imposi- tion, as for the enjoying of thy life, who I would be sorrv should be thus foolishly lost at a game of lick-tacJ<. I '11 to her. Claud. I thank you, good friend Lucio. Liicio. Within two hours — ^^'^^'Y is true I would not, tliough 't is my familiar sin NVith maids to seem the lapwing and to jest Tongue far from heart, play with all virgins so • I hold you as a thing enskied and sainted ; By your renouncement, an immortal spirit • And to be talked with in sincerity, As with a saint. Isab. You do blaspheme the good in mocking me Lucio Do not believe it. Fewness and truth 't Is thus : — Your brother and his lover have embraced • As those that feed grow full ; as blossoming time. 1 hat from the seedness the bare fallow brings To teeming foison, e'en so her plenteous womb Lxpresseth his full tilth and husbandry. Isab. Some one with child by him ?— My c usin Juliet ? Lucio. Is she your cousin ? Isab. Adoptedly ; as school-maids change tli-ir nar s By vam, though apt, alTcction. ^"'i^- ^ , She it is. Isab. O, let him marry her. T,/^'ft- . , , This is tlu- point. I he duke is very strangely gone from hcnc • Bore many gentlemen, myself being one, In hand, and hope of action ; but we do learn By those that know the very nerves of state His givings-out were of an infinite distance ' Ire traitors, And make us lose the good we oft mif^hl win, By feariuR to attempt. Go to Lonl Anjulo, And let him learn to know, when maidens sue, Men «ive like M«>ds ; but when they weep and kneel. All their petitions are as freely theirs As they themselves would owe tlicm. Isab. I '11 see what I can do. {'"<;'0- But speedily. Isab. I will about it slraisht, No longer staying but to give the mother Notice of my alTair. I humblv thank you : Commend me to my brother ; 'soon at ni-ht I 'II send him certain word of my success"^ Lucio. I take my icuve of you. ^^^^' (jood sir, adieu. [Rxtunt ACT TWO Scene I.— A Hall in An{,'elo's House FMter Angklo, Escalus, ard a Justice ; Provosi, O/ficcrs, and oilier Attendants Ang. We must nol make a SLarecrow of the law. Setting it up to fear the birds of prey. And let it keep one s:.>ape till custom make it Their perch and not their terror. . f^^"'- , . . Ay, but yet i^ct Uo be Keen, and lather cut a litlie, Than fall, and bruise to death. Alas, this gentleman Whom I would save, had a most noble father. Let but your honour know, — 288 T Scl Act II Sc 1 MRASUHE MEASLIU-: Whom I bcUcvc to ho most siniit in virlup,— That, in the worldn;; u( your own mIIVv! It.iis, Had time cohered willi place, or jil tee wii'i wishiiif,', Or that the resolufo aclinic of >(Mir hlodd Could have attained liip etTeetOl' vt.iir ov.n [jiirpo^ •, Wliethcr you liad not, sonu'tinie iii yoiir li,.. Lrrcd in this point which now \m\ cVnsure liini, And pulled tlie law u[)oa >imi. Anfj. 'T is one tlun.Li to he tempted, i:scahi^, Another thlnR to fail. I nut deny. The jury, passini* on the prisoiu r" s life, May in the sworn t\v( ive liave a tliiel' or two Guiltier than him they try ; what 's open made to justice, That justice seizes : what knows liie laws That thieves do pass on thieves ? 'T is very pregnant, The jewel that we find, we stoop and take t, liecausc we sec 't ; hut wliat wo do r.ot scu We tread upon, and never think of It. You may not so ext-'nuatc his olTenec, For I have had such faults ; hut railier tell me, When I, that censure him, do so oHend, Let mine own judgment pattern out my death, And nothing come in partial. Sir, he must die. Escal. Be't as your wisdom will. ■^"9- V7here is the provost ? Proo. Here, if it like your honour. „ ^'^C' See that Claudio Be executed hy nine to-morrow morning:. Bring him his confessor, let him be prepared ; For that's the utmost of his pilprimafio. [Exit Provost Escal. Well, Heaven foryive him, and forgive us all I Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall ; Some run fron' brakes of vice and answer none. And some condemned for a fault alone. Ent-r Elbow and Officers, with Froth and Pompey Elb. Come, bring them away. If those be good people in a commonweal that do nothing but use their abuses in common houses, I know no law : bring them away. Ang. How now, sir I What's your name, and what's the matter ? Elb. If it please your honour, I am the poor duke's constable, and my name is rji)ow : I do lean upon justice, sir ; and do bring in here before your good honour two notorious benefactors. Ang. Benefactors ! Well ; what benefactors are they ? are they not malefactors ? Elb. If u please your honour, I know not well what they are ; but precise villains they are, that I am sure of, and 38— J 289 MEASURE FOR MEASURE Act II Sci it \mn ^mi m name Pom. Ang. Elb. void of all profanation in the ^vorId that good Christians ou<^ht to have. Escal. This comes off well : here 's a wise ofTicor. Ang. Go to : what quality are thoy of ? Elbow is your why dost thou not speak, Elbow ? He cannot, sir : he's out at elbow. What are you, sir ? He, sir ? a tapster, sir ; parcel-bawd ; one that serves a bad woman, whose house, sir, was. as they say, plucked down in the suburbs ; and now she professes a hot- iiouse, which, I think, is a very ill house too. Escal. Ho\v- know you that ? Elb. My wife, sir, whom I detest before Heaven and your honour, — Escal. How 1 thy wife ? Elb. Ay, sir;— whom, I thank Heaven, is an honest woman, — Escal. Do t thou detest her therefore ? Elb. I say, sir, I will detest myself afso, as well as she, that this house, if it be not a bawd's house, it is pity of her life, for it is a naughty house Escal. Ho dost thou know that, constable ? Elb. Marry, sir, by my wife ; who, if she had been a woman cardmally given, might have been accused in for- nication, adultery, and all uncleanlincss there. Escal. By the woman's means ? Elb. Ay, sir, by Mistress Ovcrdone's means ; but as she spit in his face, so she defied him. Pom. Sir, if it please your honour, this is not so. Elb. Prove it before these varlets here, thou honourable man ; prove it. ^scal. [To Anrjclo] Do rou hear how he misplaces ? Pom. Sir, she came in great with child, and longing— saving your honour's reverence— for stewed prunes. Sir, we had but two in the house, which at that veiy distant Lmie stood, as it were, in a fruit-dish, a dish of some three- pence ; your honours have seen such dishes ; they are not China dishes, but very good dishes, — Escal. Go to, go to : no matter for the dish, sir. Pom. No, indeed, sir, not of a pin ; vou arc therein in the right :— but to the point. As 1 say, this Mistress Elbow, being, as I say, with child, and boing crcat-bellied, and longing, as I said, for prunes, and having but two in the dish as 1 said. Master Froth here, this very man, having eaten the rest, as I said, and. as I sav, paying for tluin very lionestly ;— for. as you k low, Master Froth, I could not give you three-pence again, — Froth. No, indeed. Pom. Very well ;— you being then, if vou be remem- bered, cracking the stones of the foresaid prunes,— 200 mis^^Mmd^i^^^ --^^;^^sawy.-^;.:.m^ Act II Sc i MEASURE FOR MEASURE Froth. Ay, so I did, indeed. Pom. Why, very well ;— I telling; you then, if you be remembered, that such a one, and such a one, were past cure of the thing you wot of, unless they kept very good diet, as I told you, — Froth. All this is true. Pom. Why, very well then, — Escal. Come ; you are a tedious fool : to the purpose. — What was done to Elbow's wife, that he hath cause to com- plain of ? Come me to what was done to her. Pom. Sir, your honour cannot come to that yet. Fscal. No, sir, nor I mean it not. Pom. Sir, but you shall come to it, by your honour's leave. And, I beseech you, look into Master Froth here, sir ; a man of fourscore pound a year, whose father died at Hallowmas : — Was 't not at Hallowmas, Master Froth ? — Froth. All-Hallownd eve. Pom. Why, very well ; I hope here be truths. Ho, sir, sitting, as I say, in a lower chair, sir ;— 't was in the Bunch of Grapes, where, indeed, you have a delight to sit, have you not ? Froth. I have so ; because it is an open room, and good for winter. Pom. Why, very well then ; I hope here be truths. Ang. This will last out a night in Russia, When nights are longest there : I'll take my leave. And leave you to the hearing of the cause ; Hoping you '11 fmd good cause to whip them all. Escal. I think no less. Good morrow to your lordship. [Exit Angela] Now, sir, come on : what was done to Elbow's wife, once more ? Pom. Once, sir 1 there was nothing done to her once. Elb. I beseech you, sir, ask him what this man did to my wife. Pom. I beseech your honour, ask me. Escal. Well, sir, what did this gentleman to her ? Pom. I bt'scech you, sir, look in this gentleman's face. — Good Master Froth, look upon his honour ; 't is for a good purpose.— Doth your honour mark his face ? Ay, sir, very well. Nay, I beseech you, mark it well. Well, I do so. Doth your honour see any harm in his face ? Why, no. I '11 be supposed upon a book, his face is the worst thing about him. Good thou ; if liis face be the worst thing about him, how could Master Froth do the constable's wife any harm ? I would know that of your honour. Escal. He 's in the right.— Constable, what say you to it ? Escal. Pom. Escal. Pom. Escal. Pom. 291 'W&iK;^ MEASURE FOR MEASURE Act II Sc i fci -.1. Elb. First, ;in it like you, the house is a respected house • next, this is a respected fellow ; and his mistress is a re- spected woman. Pom. By this hand, sir, his wife is a more respected person than any of us all. p^^it-a Elb Varlct, thou liest : thou liest, wicked varlet I ihe tune is yet to come that she was ever respected with man, woman, or child. Pom. Sir, she was respected with him before he married With her. Escal. Which is the wiser here ? Justice, or Iniquitv *> — Is tins true ? h j • Elb O thou caililT ! O thou varlet 1 O thou wicked Hannibal ! I respected with Iier, before I was married to her ?— If ever I was respected with her, or she with me. let not your worship think me the poor duke's oflicer Prove this, thou wicked Hannibal, or I '11 have mine action of battery on thee. Escal If he took you a box o' th' ear, you might have your action of slander too. ^ Elb. Marry, I thank your good worship for it. What ^^ .V^°o"^ worship's pleasure I shall do with this wicked Escal. 'Truly, officer, because he hath some offences in him, that thou wouldst discover if thou couldst, let him continue m his courses, till thou knowest what they are Lib. Marry, I thank your worship for it.— Thou seest thou wicked varlet, now, what's come upon thee : thou art to continue ; now, thou varlet ; thou art to continue. Lscal. Where were you born, friend ? Here in Vienna, sir. Arc you of fourscore pounds a year ? Yes, an 't please you, sir. So. — ^\^^at trade are you of, sir ? A tapster ; a poor wicfow's tapster. Your mistress' name ? IMistress Overdone. Hath she had any more than one husband ? Nine, sir; Overdone by the last. Nine ! Come hither to me, Master Froth. I would not have you acquainted with will draw you, Master Froth, and you will Froth Escul. Froth. Escal. Pom. Escal. Pom. Escal. Pom. Escal. Master Froth, tapsters ; the\ hang them. C.et you gone, and let me hear no more of you. Froth. I thank your worship. For mine own part, l^never come into any room in a taphouse, but I am drawn iT^il'i^ /m'^'^A ""* '"'^''^ °^ '^' ^^^^^^^ F^"th: farewell. IL^xit i',ot,i]-^Comc yon hitherto me, master tapster. What s your name, master tapster ? Pom. Ponipey. 292 4;ty;:^'i^Hc;^i^-fl^i^i^^ :^m^mmsmmM^^mi!^^t''Mf'L-t^^ T 1 Act II Sc i Vi MEASURE FOR MEASURE Escal. What else ? Pom. Bum, sir. Escal. Trotli, and your bum is the greatest thinR about you, so that, in the beastliest sense, you are Ponipoy the Cireat. Pompoy, you are partly a bawd, Ponipey, how- soever you colour it in being a tapster. Arc vou not? come, tell me true : it shall be the bettor for you. Pom. T"uly, sir, I am a poor fellow tliat would live. Escal. How would you live, Poiuiicy ? by being a bawd ? What do you think of the trade', Pompcv ? is it a lawful trade ? Pom. If the law would allow it, sir. Escal. But the law will not allow it, Pompey ; nor it shall not be allowed in Vienna. Pom. Docs your worship mean to geld and splav all the youth of the city ? Escal. No, Ponipey. Pom. Truly, sir, in my poor opinion, they will to 't then. If your worship will take ordt>r for the drabs and the knaves, you need not to fear the bawds. Escal. There are pretty orders beginning, I can tell you : it is but heading and hanging. Porn. If you head and bang all that offend that way but for ten year together, you '11 be glad to give out a commission lor more heads. If tliis law hold in Vienna ten year, I '11 rent the fairest house in it after three-pence a bay. If you live to sec this come to pass, say, Pompcv told you so. - Escal. Thank you. good Pompcv ; and, in requital of your propliecy, hark you :— I adxisc vou, let me not find you before mc again upon any complaint whatsoever ; no not lor dwelling where you do : if I do, Pompcv, I sliaii beat you to your tent, and prove a shrev.d Casaf to vou ; in plam dealing, Pompey, I shall have you whipt. " So, for this lime, Pompey, fare you well. Pom. 1 thank your \\orsliip for vour good counsel —[Aside] But I shall follow it as tlie fiesh and fortune shall better determine. Whip me ? No, no, let carman whip his jade ; The valiant heart 's not whipt out of his trade. [Exit Escal. Come hither to me. Master Elbow ; come hither nia.ster constable. How long have vou been in this place of constable ? " ^ Elb. Seven year and a half, sir. Escal. I thought, by the readiness in the office, you h.iH conunued in it some time. You say, seven years together *> i\lb. And a half, sir. Escr.}. Alas, it halli been great pains to you. Thev do you wrou- to put you so oft upon't. Are there not men ni your ward siilHcient to serve it ? 293 w^mtmuiS.m^m^^Y'if-ji^ MEASURE FOR MEASURE Act II Scii Elb. Faith, sir. few of nny wit in such matters. As they are clioson, lliey are ^lacl to choose me for them ; I do it for some piece of money, and go through with all. '^■:scal. Look you bring me in the names of some six or se 'en, the most sulTicient of your parish. Elb. To your worship's house, sir ? EscnI. To my house. Fare you well. [Exit Elbow Wha ■'• o'clock, think you ? Just. Eleven, sir. Escal. I pray you home to dinner with me. Just. I humbly thank you. Escal. It grieves me for the death of Claudio ; But there 's no remedy. Just. Lord Angelo is severe. Escol. It is but needful : Mercy is not itself, that oft looks so ; Pardon is still the nurse of second woe, But yet, — poor Claudio 1 — There 's no remedy. — Come, sir. [Exeunt Scene II. — Another Room in Angelo's House Enter Provost, and a Servant Serv. He 's hearing of a cause ; he will come straight : I'll tell him of you. Prov. Pray you, do. [Exit Serv.] I '11 know His pleasure ; may be, he '11 relent. Alas, He haih but as ofiended in a dream : All sects, all ages smack of this vice ; and he To die for it 1— Enter xVngelo Ang. Now, Vvhat 's the matter, provost ? Prov. Is it your \\ill Claudio shall die to-morrow ? Ang. Did I not leli thee, yea '? hadst thou not order ? Why dost thou ask again ? Prov. Lest I might be too rash. Under your good correction, I have seen. When, after execution, judgment hath Repented o'er his doom. ■^rig. Go to ; let that be mine : Do you your otTice, or give up your place And you shall well be spared. Prov. I crave your honour's pardon. W^hat shall be done, sir, with the groaning Juliet ? She "s very near her hour. Ang. Dispose of her To some more fitter place, and that with speed. 294 r^i . ^jii^'^'^;m^j^..^s^:!^^^mft^s^^ Scii Act II Sc ii MEASURE FOR MEASURE As i; I 11. Ix or Iboiv eunt ht ivl Ion. Re-enlcr Servant Serv. Here is the sister of the man condemned Desires access to you. Ang. Hath he a sister ? Prov. Ay, my good lord ; a very virtuous maid, And to be shortly of a sisterhood, If not already. Ang. Well, let her be admitted. [Exit Servant See you the fornicatress be removed : Let her have needful, but not lavish, means ; There shall be order for 't. Enter Lucio and Isabella Prov. God save your honour ! Ang. Stay a little while. — [ To Isab.] You 're v.elcome : what 's your will '? Isab. I am a woful suitor to your honour, Please but your honour hear me. Ang. Well ; what's your suit ? Isab. There is a vice that most I do alihor, And most desire should me'.'t the blow of justice, For which I would not plead, but that I must ; For which I must not plead, but that I am At war 'twixt will and will not. Ang. Well ; the matter ? Isab. I have a brother is condemned to die : I do beseech you, let it be his fault And not my brother. Prov. [Aside] Heaven give thee moving graces ! Ang. Condemn the fault, and not the actor of it I Why, every fault 's condemned ere it be done. Mine were the very cipher of a function, To find the fault, whose fine stands in record, And lot go by the actor. Isab. O just, but severe law 1 I had a brother then. — Heaven keep your honour I Lucio. [To Isab.] Give't not o'er so: to him again, entreat him ; Kneel down before him, hang upon his gown ; You are too cold ; if you should need a pin, You could not with more tame a tongue desire it. To him, I say. Isab. Must he needs die ? Ang. Maiden, no remedy. iKah. Yes ; I do think that you might pardon him. And neither Heaven, nor man, grieve at the mercy. Ang. I will not do't. J'^ob. But can you, if you would ? Ang. Look ; what I will not, that I cannot do. 295 MEASITRE FOR MEASURE Act II ScU m:i If S , .^ " '^^'* ^°" ^° ^ -''"*' ^0 the world no won- If so your hc-irt wore touched with that remorse °' As mine Is to him ? '•'-limorse fnrL rr. / ,,"^/^ sentenced: 'tis too late. J-iino. [To Isab.] \ou :irc too cold. Mnv , ^11 iT? ^f"" ' ''''-'■' "« ' ^' ^''*^t ^^ «Pt'-ik a word, M.i> call It ],;uk nnnin. Well, believe this No ceremony tlir.t to (,M-eal ones 'lor.Rs, Not the kind's crown, nor the deputed sword, 1 he marshal s truncheon, nor the judj^c's robe. Become them with one half so good a L'race As mercy does. If he had been as you. and vou as he p:. I would to Heaven I hnd'??j;^;cXf "" And you wore Isabel ! should it then be thus •' No ; I would tell what L were lo be a jud "c. ' And what a prisoner. i'/,"/''' v'^'* /"'^,' ^^'- ^°"'^' '"•" ' there 's the vein. Aug. \ our b: ot her is a forfeit of the law. And you but waste your words. \vhf^''n ., , ^'=^s! alas! \\h> all lie souls that were^were forfeit once ; And He that miRht the vanlasre best have took 1 ound out the remedy. Hov. would you be, ' n He, which is the lop of judgment, should liul judge you as you are ? O, think on that. And mercy then will breathe within your lips Like man new-made ! Tf lVn;n I . T ?^ y°" content, fair maid, It IS the law, not I, condemns vour brother • NN ere he my kinsman, brother/or mv son, 7 ;r -i^" ^^'"' '''^J ^'^"' '■-^''^ '""St die to-morrow. sp7re"Sm7-l ' ^^'^'' '"^^''" ' ^^"'^ ^^' Wo 'Iml P'-opared for death. Even for our kitchens \N e kill the fowl of season : shall we serve Heaven N\ith less rospccL than we do minister 1 our gross selves ? Good, good mv lord, bethink you • ^^ho is iL that hath died for this oncnce ? ^ ' ihcre 's many have coaimiltcd it. JMcio. [To Asc/Z,'.] Ay well said ^"^'sle'^t^ ^^^^ ^'"^^'^ ''*''' ^^^"^ '^'■'^'-^' tliough it hath Those many had not dared to do that evil li the first that did the edict infringe Had answered for his deed : now, 'Lis awake, lakes note of what is done, and, like a prophet, 298 ^':^^'^tii^*^msBm!SMm- Act II Scil MEASURE FOR MEASURE Looks in a glass that shows what future evils. — Either new, or by remissness new-coneeived, And so in progress to be hatched and born, — Are now to have no successive degrees, lint, ere they Jive, to end. fsab. Vpt show some pity. Ang. I show it most of all when I show justice ; For then I pity those I do not know. Which a dismissed ofTence would alter gall, And do him right I hat, answering one foul wrong, Lives not to act another. De satisfied ; Your brother dies to-morrow ; be content. Isab. So you must be the first that gives this sentence. And he that suffers. O ! 't is excellent To have a giant's strength, but tvrannous To use it like a giant. Lucio. [To !s(ib.] That 's well said. Isab. Could great men thunder As Jove himself does, .Jove would ne'er be quiet. For every pelting, potty ofticcr Would use his heaven for thunder ; nothing but tliundcr.— Merciful Heaven ! Thou rather with thy sharp and sulphurous bolt Sjilitt'st the unweclgeahle and gnark'd oa'c, Than the soft myrtle ; but man, proud man, Drest in a little brief aulliorily, Most ignorant of what he 's niost assured, His glassy cssciice, — like an aii}.'rv ape. Plays such fantastic tricks before' hia'n heaven As make the angels weep ; who, with our spleens, Would all themselves hxuaM mortal. Lucio. [To Isab.] O, to him, to him, wench I He will relent : He 's coining ; I perceive 't. Pror. [Aside] Pray Heaven, she win him ! Isah. We cannot weigh our brother with ourself : Great men may jest with saints ; 'tis v.it in tiiem. But in the less foul profanation. Lucio. [ To Isab.] Thou 'rt in the right, girl ; more o' that. Isab. That in the captain 's but a clioleric word, Which in the soldier is flat blasphemv. Lucio. [To Isrb.] Art avised o' that ? more on 't. Ang. Why do yon put these savings upon me ? Isab. Because authority, thouch it err like others, Halii yet a kind of medicine in itself, That skins the vice o' the top. Go to vour bosom • Knock there, and ask your heart, what'^it doth know That s like my brother's fault : if it confess A natural guiltiness, such as is his, 38— J* 297 1 i h MEASURE FOR MEASURE Act II Sc a 'I 't m Ang. I sab. Ang. Jsab. Let It not sound a thought upon your tongue Against my brother's life. Ang. [Aside] She speaks, and 't is Such sense, that my sense breeds with 't. Fare you well Isab. Gentle my lord, turn bacJc. I will bethink me.— Come again to-morrow. Hark, liow I 'il bribe you. Good my lord turn back. How, I)ri!)o mc ? Ay, with sucli gifts that Heaven shall share with you. Lucio. [To Is.] Vou had marred all else. Isab. Not with fond shekels of the tested gold, Or stones, whose rates are either rieh or poor As fancy values them ; but with true prayers, That shall be up at heaven, and enter there lire sunrise, — prayers from preserved souls. From fasting maids, whose minds are dedicate To nothing temporal. ■^"Sl- Well ; come to me to-morrow. Lucio. [To Isab.] Go to ; 't is well ; away I Isab. Heaven keep your honour safe 1 Ang. [Aside] Amen : For I nm that way going to temptation, Where prayers cross. ^^"^- At what hour to-morrow Shall I attend your lordship ? -^"•'7' ^ -^^ ^"y *^i"^e 'fore noon. Isab. Save your honour I ^ [F.xeuni Lucio, Isabella, and Provost Anj. From thee,— even from thy virtue !— What 's this ? what 's this ? Is this her fault or mine ? The tempter or the tempted, who sins most, ha ? Not she ; nor doth she tempt : but it is I, That, lying by the violet in tlic sun, Do, as the carrion does, not as the flower, Corrupt with virtuous season. Can it be, That modesty may more betray our sense Than woman's lightness ? Having waste ground enough, bhall we desire to raze the sanctuarv. And pitch our evils there ? O, fie, fie, fie I What dost thou, or what art thou, Angelo ? Dost thou desire her foully for those things That moke her good ? O, let her brother live : Thieves for their robbery have authority When judges steal thcjusclves. What, do I love lier Tliat I desire t>) licnr her speak a-^ain * And feast upon her eyes ? WhatTs 't I dream on ? O cunnmg enemy, that, to catch a saint. With saints dost bait thy hook ! Most dangerous Is that temptation that doth goad us on 298 '^f.Ji^W.'m%t\^r4.'^.W:J. :m:r^*'JiM:^..^;m Act II Sciii MEASURE FOR MEASURE To sin in lovirif? virtue. Ne'er could the strumpet, With all luT double viRour. jirt and nature, Once stir my t» inpcr ; hut this virtuous maid Subdues me quite. - I-^ver, till now. When men were fond, I smiled, and wondered how. [Exit Scene III.— A Room in a Prison Enter Duke, disfjiiised as a friar, and Prouost Duke. Hail to you, j)r()vost ! — so I think you arc. Prou. I am llie provosl. What 's your will, f,'ood frinr ? Duke. Bound by my charily and my blessed order, I come to visit the alllicLed spirits Here in the i)risnn. Do me the common right To let me see them, and to make me know The nature of their crimes, that I may minister To them accordingly. Prov. I would do more than that, if more were needful. Look, here comes one, — a gentlewoman of mine, \Vho, falling in the flames of her own vouth, Hath blistered her report. She is with child, And he that got it, sentenced, — a young man More fit to do another such offence Than die for this. Enter Juliet Duke. When must he die ? Prov. As I do think, to-morrow. — [ To Juliet] I have provided for you : stay awhih;, And you shall be conducted. Duke. Repent you, fair one. of the sin you carrj' ? Juliet. I do, and bear the shame most patiently. Duke. I '11 teach you how you shall arraign your con- science, And try your penitence, if it be sound, Or hollowly put on. Juliet. I 11 gladly learn. Duke. Love you the man that wronged you ? Juliet. Yes, as I love the woman that wronged him. Duke. So then, it seems, your most oUcnceful act \Vas mutually committetl ? Juliet. Mutually. Duke. Then was your sin of heavier kind than his. Juliet. I do confess it, and repent it, father. Duke. 'T is meet so, daughter : but lest you do repent, As that the sin hath brought you to this shame. — Which sorrow is always toward ourselves, not Heaven, Showing, we would not spare Heaven as we love it. But as we stand in fear, — 299 MKASllUi FOR MKASURR Act II Sclv |.s £ [Exit Julirl. I do r«'i)oiil mc, jis it is an evil, And take tlie sluinie willi joy. l^iil"''- There rest. Your |):irtiicr. ns T henr. must die to morrow. And 1 :\m goiii^ with inslriution to him. Juliet, tir.ue j^o with you I Diitxc. lirnnlirilc ! Juliet. Must die to-morrow ! (). injurious love, That respites me a Ijfe, whose very eomfort Is still a dyiii>^ liorror I ^'^"i'- 'Tis i)ily of him. [Kxeunt ScF.Nij IV. — A Room in ANcr.i.o's Mouse I' liter An onto Ang. Wlien I would pray and thiiilv. I tliink and pray To several siihjeets : Heaven h.illi my empty words, Wiiilst my invention, hearing; not my Iom^>p().sst ssing all my other parts Of necessary fitness ? So play the foolish throngs with one that swoons ; Come all to help him, and so stop llie air By whicli he should revive : and oven so The general, subject to a well-wished king. Quit their own p;:t, and in obsequious fondness Crowd to his presence, where their untaught love Must needs appear olTence. 300 m .mfi^ '> \-i ;t?-sys»ii:Yi ^JS^' MUASURE FOR MEASUUli Act II Sc iv Enter Isaul:lla Isnb. I nm come to know your plonsiirc How now, fair maid ? enow _ Ang. Tiiat you might know please me it, would much better Than to (hmand what 't is. Your l)rollier cannot live. Isab. Even so. — Heaven keep your honour I [Hetirinj Anrf. Yet may he live awhile ; and, it may be. As long as you, or I : yet he must die. Isab. Under your sentence. Ang. Yea. Isab. Wlien, I beseech you ? that in his reprieve, Longer or shorter, he may be so fitted That his soul sicken not. Ang. Ha I flc, these filthy vices I 'T were as good To pardon him that hath from nature stolen .\ man already made, as to remit Their saucy sweetness that do coin Heaven's image In stamps that are forbid : 't is all as easy Falsely to take away a life true made. As to put m< *n restrained means, To make a la one. Isab. 'T is .-t down so in heaven, but ^ in enrth. Ang. Say you so? then I shall pose >. kly. Which had you rather, that the most just la\ Now took your brother's life : or, to redeem hini. Give up your body to such s.oet uncleanness As she that he hath stained ? J^<^b. Sir, believe this, I had rather give my body than mv soul. Ang. I talk not of your soul, bur compelled sins Stand more for number than accompt. {^"^' How say you ? Ang. Nay, I'll not warrant that ; for I can speak Agamst the thing I say. Answer to this :— I, now the voice of the recorded law, Pronounce a sentence on your brother's life : Might there not be a charity in sin To save this brother's life ? ^ -^s^*- Please you to do 't, I '11 take it as a peril to my soul : It is no sin at all, but charily. Ang. Pleased you to do 't, nt peril of vour soul, \Nere equal poise of sin and churiiy. Isab. That I do beg liis life, if it be sin, Heaven, let mc bear't ! you granting of my suit, If that be sin, I 'II make it my morn-prayer To have it added to the faults of mine, And nothing of vour answer. 301 ,;, Ti-, 'f^'* I m Act II Sclv mi:asii\r for measure Ang. Nay. but hoar mo. Your sense pursues not mine : cither you are ignorant, Or seem so. eraflily ; and that 's not good. hdh. I,.! lue be ignorant, and in notliing good Rut graciously to know I atn no l)etter. Amj. Thus wisdom wislies to appear most l)riglit Wlien it doth tax itself : as tliese black masks Proclaim an enshield beauty ten times louder Tliau beauty could, displayed.- Rut mark nie ; To be received plain, I "11 speak more gross : ^()ur brother is to die. Isah. So. An//. And his offence is so, as it appears .\ccountanl to the law upon lliat pain. Isitb. True. Ang. Admit no other way to save his life, — As I subscribe not that, nor any other, Rut in the loss of question. — that you. his sister, I'inding yourself desired of such a person, ^Vhose cri'dil with the judge, or own great place, Could fetch your brother from the manacles Of the all-building law ; and th;;t there were Xo earthly mean to save him. but that eilhei You must lay down the treasures of your body To this supi)osejl, or else to let him sutler ; ^Vhat would you do ? Isab. As much for my poor brother as myself : That is. were I under the terms of death, Tiic impression of keen whips I 'd wear as rubies, And strip myself to dealii, as to a bed That longing I 've been sick for, ere I 'd yield .My body up to shame. -^"'7- Then must your brother die. hub. And 'twere the cheai)er way. Retlcr it were, a brother died at once, Than that a sister, by redeeming him, Should die for ever. Ang. Were not you then as cruel as the sentence That you have slandered so ? Isab. Ignomy in ransom, and free pardon. Are of two houses : lawful mercv Is nothing akin to foul redcippf fon. Ang. You seemed of la;e*to make the law a tyrant ; And rather proved the sliding of your brother A morrimenl than a vicf:. Isab. O, pardon me, my lord I it oft falls out. To have what we would have, we speak not what we mean. I something do excuse the thing I hate, For his advantage that I dearly love. Ang. We arc all frail. 302 ^ ws!2smi^s^&.z'^MmrMm^s2sL:^Y VIEASUUE lOU MEASURE Act II Sciv hah. ri',(. let my brother die, If not a fpdnry, but only hi-. Owe and succeed thy weakness. Anff. Nay, women are fniii Joo. Isnb. Ay, as the glasses where they view themselves ; Which are as easy broke as they make f«)rtTis. Women I— Help Heaven ! men their crea ion mar In prolitin« by them. Nay, call us ten t.mes frail, For wc are soft as our complexions are. And credulous to false prints. Antj. I think it well : And from this testimony of your own sex, - Since, I suppose, wc 're made to l)c no stronger Than faults may shake our frames,— let me In- hold : — 1 do arrest your words. He that you are. That Is, a woman ; if you he more, you 're none ; If you be one, — as you are well expressed r»y all external warrants, — show it now \iy putting on the destined livery. Istib. I have no tongue hut one : gentle my lord. Let me entreat you speak the fornuT language. Ang. Plainly conceive, I love you. Isab. .Mv brother did love Juliet ; and you tell me, That he shall die for't. Antj. He shall not, Isabel, if you give me love. Isab. I know, your virtue hath a license in 't, Which seems a little fouler that it is, To pluck on others. Ang. Believe me, on mine honour, My words express my purpose. Isab. Ha I little honour to be much believed. And most pernicious purpose I — Seeming, seeming !— I will proclaim thoe. Angelo ; look for 't : Sign me a present pardon for my brother. Or with an outstretched throat I '11 tell the world Aloud what man thou art Ang. Who will believe thee, Isabel ? My unsoiled name, the austereness of my life. My vouch against you, and my place i' the state, Will so your accusation ovcrweigh. That you shall stifle in your own rei)ort. And smell of calumny. I have begun. And now I give my sensual race the rein : Fit thy consent to my sharp appetite. Lay by all nicety and prolixious blushes That banish what they sue for, redeem thy brother By yielding up thy body to my will ; Or else he must not only die the death, But thy unkindncss shall his death draw out To lingering suflerance. Answer me to-morrow, 303 MEASURE FOR MEASURE Act III Sci pi B1 ':J.at>--J Hi m ' i i:-,r I Or, by the affection that now guides me most, I '11 prove a tyrant to him. As for you, Say what you can, my false o'erweiglis your true. [Exit I sab. To whom should I complain ? Did I tell this, Who would believe me ? O perilous mouths I That bear in them one and the selfsame tongue, Either of condemnation or approof, Bidding the law make courl'sy to tlieir will, Hooking both right and wrong to the appetite, To follow as it draws I I '11 to my brother : Though he hath fallen by prompture of the blood. Yet hath he in him such a mind of honour. That, had he twenty heads to tender down On twenty bloody blocks, he 'd yield them up, Before his sister should her body stoop To such abhorred pollution. Then, Isabel, live chaste, and, brother, die : More than our brother is our chastity. I '11 tell him yet of Angolo's request. And fit his mind to death, for his soul's rest. [Exit ACT THREE Scene I.- -A Room in the Prison Enter Duke, as a friar, Claudio, and Provost Duke. So, then you hope of pardon from Lord Angelo ? Claud. The miserable have no other medicine. But only hope : I have hope to live, and am prcpar3d to die. Duke. Be absolute for death ; either death or life Shall thereby be the sweeter. Reason thus with life : — If I do lose thee, I do lose a thing That none but fools would keep ; a breath thou art. Servile to all the skyey infl'iences That dost this habitation, where thou keep'st. Hourly inflict : merely, thou art death's tool ; For him thou Ir.'jour'st by thy flight to shun, And yet runn'st toward iiim still. Thou art not noble ; For all the accommodations that thou bear'st Are nursed by baseness. Thou art by no means valiant ; For thou dost fear the soft and tender fork Of a poor worm. Thy best of rest is sleep, And that tliou oft provok'st, yet grnsRJy fcar'st Thy death, ^\hich is no more." Thou 'rL not thyself; For thou exist'st on many a thousand grains That issue out of dust. Happy thou art not ; For what thou hast not, stilf thou striv'st to get, 30i Act III Sci MEASURE FOR MEASURE ( i i I 4 i And -vvhnt thou hast, forgett'st. Thou art not certain • I'or thy complexion shifls to si range allccls, After the moon. If thou art ricli, thou 'rt poor ; l^or, like an ass whose back with ingots bows Thou bear'st thy heavy ric»ies but a journey,' And death unloads thee. Friend hast thou none : Jbor thine own bowels, which do call thee sire The mere effusion of thy proper loins, Do curse the gout, serpigo, and the rheum, l;or endmg tlue no sooner. Thou hast nor youth nor age But, as It were, an after- -inor's sleep "<-" "or age, Dreaming on both ; for all thy blessed youth Becomes as aged and doth beg the alms Of palsied eld ; and when thou 'rt old and rich Thou 'st neilhcr heat, alTection, limb, nor beauty. To make thy riches pleasant. What 's yet in this. 1 hat bears the name of life ? Yet in this life Lie hid more thousand deaths : yet death we fear. That makes these odds all even. Claud I humbly thank you. To sue to live, I fmd I seek to die ; And, seeking death, find life : let it come on Isab. [Withoiil] What, bo 1 Peace here; grace and good company 1 Prou. Who 's there ? come in : the wish deserves a welcome. Duke Dear sir, ere long I '11 visit you again. Claud. Most holy sir, I thank you. Enter Isabella Isab. My business is a word or two with Claudio Prou. And very welcome.— Look, signior ; here's your sister. jv/"i Duke. Provost, a word with you. rf^!^' r^ . As many as you please Duke Bring me to hear them speak, where I may be rr^\^'^\r . [^^^-^""^ Duke and Provost Claud. Now, sister, what 's the comfort "> All f , " hy, as AH toniforts are ; most good, most good, indeed. Lord Angelo, having affairs to heaven, intends you for his swift ambassador, \\here you shall be an everlasting lieger : 1 hcrefore, your best appointment make with speed • To-morrow you set on. ' ^^"^^- ., Is there no remedy ? isab. None, but such remedy as, to save a liead lo cleave a heart in twain. ^J'H"^' V , .. ^"t is there any ? Isab. \es, brother, you may live: 3or. lM^ii:^£^i^^m^ ts>^-ym-s .. -m^ MEASURE FOR MEASURE Act III Sci 1. 1- .n ■ m^ There is a devilish mercy in the judge, ^f you '11 implore it, that will free your life, liut fetter you till death. Claud. Perpetual durance ? Isab. Ay, just ; perpetual durance, — a restraint. Though all the world's vastidity you had, To a determined scope. Claud. But in what nature ? Isah. In such a one as, you consenting to 't, Would bark your honour from that trunk'you bear. And leave you naked. Claud. Let me know the point. Isah. O, I do fear thee, Claudio ; and I quake, Lest thou a feverous life shouldst entertain, And six or seven winters more res'iect Than a perpetual honour. Dar' thou die ? The sense of death is most in app.ehension. And the poor beetle that we tread upon, In corporal sufferance finds a pang as great As when a giant dies. Claud. Why give you me this shame ? Think you I can a resolution fetch From flowery tenderness ? If I must die, I will encounter darkness as a bride And hug it in mine arms. Isab. There spake my brother : there my father's grave Did utter forth a voice. Yes, thou must die : Thou art too noble to conserve a life In base appliances. This outward-sainted deputy— Whose settled visage and deliberate word Nips youth i' the head, and follies doth emmew As falcon doth the fowl— is yet a devil : His filth within being cast, he would appear A pond as deep as hell. Claud. The princely Angelo ? Isab. O, 't is the cunning livery of hell, The damned'st body to invest and cover In princely guards ! Dost thou think, Claudio,— If I would yield him my virginity. Thou mightst be freed. Claud. o heavens I it cannot be. Isab. Yes, he would give 't thee, from this rank offence So to offend him still. This night 's the time That I should do what I abhor to name. Or else thou diest to-morrow. 9' t'- Thou Shalt not do 't. Jsah. O, were it but my life, I 'd throw it down for vour deliverance As frankly as a pin. Claud. Thanks, dear Isabel. 306 ^jiT '^^i^:, s^m^^k^t::T^^cM Act III Sci MEASURE FOR MEASURE i I? Isab Be ready, CI. udio, for your death to-morrow. C/aud. \ es.— Has he allections in him, That thus can make him bite the law by the nose, \v lien he would iorce it ? Sure, it is no sin ; Or of the deadly seven it is the least. Isab. Which is the least ? Claud. If it were damnable, he, being so wise. Why would he for the momentary trick Be perdurably fmed ?— O Isabel I Isab. What says my brother ? ?i'!i"'' A , . . . ,., ^^•'^th 's a fearful thing. Isab. And shamed life a hateful. Claud. Ay, but to die, and go wo know not where : lo lie m cold obstruclion, and to rot ; This sensible warm motion to become A kneaded clod ; and the delighted spirit To badie in ;'iery floods, or to reside In thrilling regions of thick-ribbed ice ; To be imprisoned in the viewless winds. And blown with restless violence round about The pendant world ; or to be worse th;:n worst Of those that lawless and incertain thoughts Imagine howling 1— 't is too horrible. The weariest and most loathed worldly life, That age, ache, penury, and imprisonment Can lay on nature, is a paradise To what we fear of death. Isab. Alas 1 alas I .x.?^x"^' S^'^e*^ sister, let me live. What sm you do to save a brother's life. Nature dispenses with the deed so far That it becomes a virtue. ^ {^^^- O you beast 1 n faithless co\.ard ! O dishonest wretch I \\ ilt thou be made a man out of my vice ? Is 't not a kind of incest, to take life From thine own sister's shame ? What should I think •> Heaven shield, my mother played my father fair ' lor such a warped slip of wilderness Xe'er issued from his blood. Take my defiance ; Oie, perish 1 Might but my bending down Reprieve thee from thy fate, it should proceed. 1 11 pray a thousand prayers for thy death, — Ao word to save thee. Claud. Nay, hear me, Isabel. Isab. Q^ flg^ l>jp fjg J Thy sin 's not accidental, but a trade. ' ' ' " Mercy to thee would prove itself a bawd : T IS best that thou diest quickly. [Going ^'°"«- O hear me, Isabella 1 307 «»%-. .».*. i > |V.:f .' i^^ MEASl^RE FOR MEASURE Act III Sc i ! 1 ilf .ill [iiif li' t! Re-enter Duke Duke. Vouchsafe a Avord, young sister, but one word Isab. \Vliat is your will ? Duke Mij,'ht you dispense with your leisure, I would by-and-by have some speech with vou : the satisfaction I would require is likewise your own bonelit. Isab. I have no superfluous leisure : my stav must be stolon out of other alTairs ; but I will attend you awhile Duke. [Aside to Claudin] Son, I have overheard wliat hath passed between you and your sister. Angelo had never the purpose to corrupt her ; only he hath made an assay of her virtue, to practise his judgment with the dis- position of natures : she, having the truth of honour in her hath made him that gracious denial which he is most glad to receive. I am confessor to Angelo, and I know this to be true; therefore prepare yourself to death: do not satisfy your r'^sniu' n with hopes that are fallible- to- morrow you must d;e. Go to your knees, and make ready , ^'«".«- ,.^et me tsk my sister pardon. I am so out of love with lite, that I will sue to be rid of it Duke Hold you there : farewell. [Exit Claudio Provost, a word with you. Re-enter Provost Prov. What 's your will, father ? Duke. That now you are come, you will be gone. Leave me awhile with the maid : my mind promises with mv habit no loss shall touch her by my company. Prov. In good time. ' r^^^.,-^ Duke. The hand that hath made you fair hath made you good: the goodness that is cheap in beauty makes beauty brief in goodness ; but grace, being the soul of your complexion, shall keep the body of it ever fair. The assault that Angelo hath made to you, fortune hath conveyed to my understanding : and but that fraUty hath examples for his falling, I should wonder at Angelo. How will you do to content this substitute, an^' to save your brother ? Isab. I am now going to resolve him, I had rather my brother die by the law than my son should be unlawfully t>orn. But O now much is the good duke deceived in Angelo ! If ever he return, and I can speak to him, I will open my lips in vain, or discover his government. Duke. That shall not be much amiss : vet, as the matter now stands, he will avoid your accusal ion,— he made trial of you only. Tiit'ivforf fusten your ear on my advisings • 10 tne love I ha\e in doing good a remedy oresents itself 1 do make myself believe that you may most'uprighteously do a poor wronged lady a merited beneiit ; redecn your brother from the angry law ; do no stain to your own gracious 308 Act III Sci MEASURE FOR MEASURE person I and much please the absent duke, if, peradventure he shrm ever return to have hearing of this business ' IS n> Let me hear you speak further. I have soirit to do anything that appears not foul in the truth of my spirit Duke Virtue is l)old, and Roodness never fearful Have you not heard speak of Mariana, the sister of Frederick the great soldier who miscarried at sea ? rcaerick the withler iamT ^'"''^ °^ ^^^ '''''^' '""^ ^°°^ ^°^^^ ^'^"* Di'ke She should this Angelo have married: was nmanced to him by oath, and the nuptial appoint7cf between w^uch time of the conlract, and lim t of the solemnity, her brother Frederick was wrecked at sea, hav n« in that perished vessel the dowry of his sister. But m- ?k how heavily this befell to the poor gentlewoman : therTshe lost a noble and renowned brother! in his love ton^.rd he? ever most kind and natural ; with him the portion and „ew o her fortune, her marriage-dowry ; with both her com binate husband, tliis well-se.mina An-.-lo ' "^ Isab. Can this be so ? Did Angela so leave her ? Duke Left her in her tears, and dried not one of them NMth his comfort; swallowed his vows whole, pre^emS ]^'J^'''^;'^^^'oi6}sho^..av; in few, bestowed^hei on "r own lamentation, which sne yet wears for hi« sake ; and he Isal Wl'T ''"''' Jf "^'^^^'^^''^ '''''' '^''^' "^"f vel^nL not'' n^oj^w \. "" T''''^ ''■*"''^ '^ ^" ^f'-^'t'^ to take this poor wil n.M K ^"' ''v^'^ ; 7"'^'^^ corruption in this life, thaH will let this man live !-lint how out of this ct.n she avail> Duke It is a rupture that vou may easilv heal • and the Isab. Show me how, good father. Duke. This fore-named maid h;ifh vet in her the con- tinuance of her first atTection : his uniust unkindness U "t in all reason should have quenched lu'r loxe, I dl 1 ke 4 impediment^in the current, made it more violent an u r-ih Go you to Angelo ; answer Ids requiring with a plaus le obedience; agree with his demands to the point onlv reler yourself to this advantage,~first, that vour s tav wS I ni may no be long ; Ih.t the time mav have all shadow and silence m it; and the place ansv^vr to convenience H being granted in course, now toiiows all:-w"shai in vonr nnV''''-^^^^^^^ '""'^ ^" ^^^"^' "I' >-"^'^ appointment, go n your place ; if the encounter aekno vicdge itself hereallt r, 't may compel him to her recompense : and here Iw tM« i- >our ijiotiier saved, your hoiiou'- untainted the noor Mariana advantaged, and the corrup. deputy sc'aled ^'it uiid will I frame, and make fit for his alteuipt. If vou think el to carry this as you may, the doubieness of the be [■ it ucfends Uie deceit from reproof. What tliiuk you oh"? 30!> ■ r . MEASURE FOR MEASURE Act III Scii Isab. The image of it Rives me content alrcadj trust it will grow to a most prosperous perfection. Duke. It lies much in your holding up. H;isle and I you speedily to Angelo : if for this nifht he entreat you to^his bed, give him promise of s:itislaelion. I will presently to St. Luke's ; there, at the moated fjrange, resides this de- jected Mariana. At that place call upon me ; and dispatch with Angelo, that it may !)e quickly. Isab. I thank you ior this comfort. Fare you well, good father. ' [Exeunt m V.4" - \Xl Wf ScE.VE II.— The Street before the Prison Enter, on one side, ihc Diki:, as friar; on the other, Ei.BOW and Officers, with Pompey Elb. Nay, if there be no remedy for it, but that you will needs buy and sell men and women like beasts, we shall have all the world drink brown and white bastard. Duke. O heavens I what stuff is here ? Pom. 'T was never merry world, since, of two usuries, the merriest was put down, and the worser allowed by order of law a furred gown to keep him v^arni ; and furred with fox and lamb-skins too, to signifv that craft, being richer than innoooncy, stands for the facing. Elb. Come your way, sir.—Bless you, good father friar. Duke. And yo i, good brother father. What oflence hath this man made you, sir ? Elb. ]Marry. sir, he bath offended the law: and, sir, we take him to be a thief too, sir ; for we have found upon him, sir, a strange picklock, which we have sent to the deputy. Duke. Fie, sirrah ! a bawd, a wicked bawd I The evil that thou causcst to be done. That is thy means to live. Do thou but think V.'hat 't is to cram a maw or clothe a back From such a filthy vice : say to thyself, — From tlieir abominable and beastly touches I driiik. I eat, array myself, and live : Cansi Ihou believe thy living is a life. So stinkingly depending ? Go mend, go mend. Pom. indeed, it does stink in some sort, sir ; but yet sir, I would prove— ' Duke. Nay, if the devil have given ihee proofs for sin, 1 ou wilt prove his. Take him to prison, omcer ; Correction and instruction must both v.ork Ere this rude beast will profit. Elb. He must before the deputy, sir ; he has given him warning. The deputy cannot abide a whoremaster : if he be a whoremonger, and comes before him, he were as yood go a mile on his errand. 310 Act III Scii MEASURE FOR MEASURE Duke. That we were all, as some would seem to be, tree from our faults, as from fmilts seeming free I Elb. His neck will come to your waist,— a cord, sir. i'om I spy comfort : I cry, bail. Here 's a gentleman, and a friend of mine. ^ ' Enter Lucio Lucio. How- now, noble Pompey ! What, at the wheels of Caesar? Art thou led in triumph ? Wliat, is there none or Pygmalion s images, newly made woman, to be had now for putting the hand in the pocket and exlracling it clutched? NVHiat reply? Ha? What say'st thou to this tune, matter, and method ? Is't not drowned i' the last rain, ha ? What say'st thou, trot ? Is the world as it was, man ? Which is the way ? Is it sad and few words or how ? The trick of it ? Duke. Still thus, and thus : still worse 1 Lucio. How doth my dear morsel, thy mistress *> Procures she still, ha ? j ■ • f °^\, T^'o'-h, sir, she hath eaten up all her beef, and she IS herself in the tub. Lucio. Why, 't is good ; it is the right of it ; it must be so : ever your fresh whore, and your powdered bawd • an unshunned consequence ; it must be so. Art going to prison, Pompey ? t> & Pom. Yes, 'faith, sir. Lucio. Why, 't is not amiss, Pompey. Farewell: go : say, I sent thee thither. For debt, Pomocv, or how *> Mb. For being a bawd, for being a bawd, ♦u"^^^^'^' ,^\*^"' ^'^^^ imprison him. If imprisonment be the due of a bawd, why, 't is his right : bawd is he, doubt- less, and of antiquity too ; bawd-born. Farewell, good Pompey Commend me to the prison, Pompcv. You will turn good husband now, Pompey; you will keep the house. ' Pom. I hope, sir, your good worship, will be niv bail. Lucio No, indeed, will I not, Pompey; it is ^lol the wear. I will pray, Pompey, to increase vour bo:i Duke. I know none. Can you tell mo of any ? 311 ii'i '^2im2m^.^:L: w- . , ,^. MEASURE FOR MEASURE Act III Sc U iMcio. Some say, he is with the emperor of Russia ; other some, he is in Rome : but where is he, thmk you ? Duke. I know not where ; but wheresoever, I wisli ^'7ucfo"' It was a mad fantastical trick of him. to steal from the state, and usurp the beggary he was never born to. Lord Anfido dukes it well in his absence : he puis transgression to 't. Duke. He does well in 't. , , , v. fMcio. A ntUc more lenity to lechery would do no harm in him : something too crabbed that way, friar. Duke. It is too general a vice, and severity must cure it. / ucio Yes, in good sooth, the vice is of a great kmdrcd • but it is impossible to extirp it quite, friar, till eating and drinking be put down. They say, this it is well allied Angelo was not made by man and woman, after this down- right way of creation : is it true, think you ? Duke. How should he be made, then ? iMcio. Some report, a sea-maid spawned him ; some, that he was begot between two stock-fishes. Tint it is ce-tain, that when h- makes water, his urine is congealed ic.^ : that I know to be true ; and he is a motion generative, that 's infallible. Duke. You are pleasant, sir, and speak apace. ■ ucio. Why, what a ruthless thing is this in him, for the rebellion of a codpiece to take away the life of a man •. Would the duke that is absent have done this ? Ere he would have hanged a man for the getting a hundred bastaros, he would have paid for the nursing a thousand. He had some feeling of the sport : he knew the service, and that hislructed him to mercy. ^ ^ , , a Duke. I never heard the absent duke much detected for women : he was not inclined tnat way. Lucio. O, sir, you are deceived. Duke. 'T is not possible. Lucio. Who? not the duke? yes, your beggar^ of fifty, and his use was to put a ducat in her claek-dish. i he duke had crotchets in him : he would be drunk too ; that let me inform vou. Duke. You do him wrong, surely. Lucio. Sir, I was an inward of his. A shy fellow was tlie duke • and I believe I know the cause of his withdrawing. Duke. What, I prithee, might be the cause ? Lucio No,— pardon ; 't is a secret must be locked within the teeth and the l!pjj*r/., MEASURE FOR MEASURE E.ical. You have paid tlu* hcavons your function, and the prisoner tlic very debt of your c.iiiiny. I have ial>ourcd for the poor RcntltMnan to tiic oxtrenu'st shore of my modesty; l)ut n^y l)r()lher justice liave I louiid so severe, that he hath forced me fo tell liim lie is Indeed .hislice. Duke. If his own life answer liie strait ncss of his pro- ccedinf,', it shall become him well ; wherein if he chance to fail, he hath sentenced himself. Escal. I am fioinf? to visit the prisoner. Fare you well. Duke. Peace he with you I I l-'.xeunl Escahis and Provost He who the sword of heaven will bear Should be as holy as severe ; Pattern in hinisiif to know, Grace to stand, and virtue ^jo ; More nor less to others iiayinif Than by solf-ofTences weitiliiiii'. Shame to him whose cruel sliiking Kills for faults of his own Viking, ! Twice treble shame on An.^el(), To weed my vice and let his arow I O, what may man within him hide. Though angel on the outward side I _ How may likeness made in crimes, Masking, practise on the times. To draw with idle spiders' strings Most ponderous and substantial things ! Craft against vice I nuist apply : With Angelo to-night shall lie His old betrothed, but despised : So disguise shall, by the disguised, Pay with falsehood false exacting, And perform an old contracUng. [Exit ACT FOUR Scene I. — The Moaled Grajige at St. Lu!-e's Mauiaxa discovered sitting ; a Boy sirKjing Song Take, O, take those lips aivatj. That so sweellij were forsworn ; And those cues, the break of dan. Lights that do mislead the morn : Bat my kisses bring again, Bring again. Seals of love, but sealed in vain, Sealed in vain. 315 '• \ I •-"».• <:•■ ■ i MEASURi: FOR MKASrHF- Act IV Sc I Mari. Rrenk off thy sonp. and Imsto thcc quick away : Hon; comes a nuiii of comfort, wliosi' advice Hath often slillcd my brawiiiifi discontent. — [Exit Boi' Enter rJuKi:, disguised us bifofe I cry you mercy, sir ; and well could wish You had not found me liere so musical : Let me excuse me. and believe me so, My mirth it much disi)leascd. bul pleased my woe. Duke. 'T is pood : thouph music ofl liiilij sucii a charm To ma' .)ad pood, and pood provoke to hiirm. I pray \ou, tell me, hiitli anyhixly intpiired for mc here to-day? much upon this time liave 1 promised here to meet. Mari. You have not been inquired after : 1 have sat here idl day. Duke, i do constantly believe you. — The time is come, even now. I shiill crave your forliearanci- a lilile: may he. I will call upon vou anon, for some advantage to your- self. Mari. I am always bound to you. [Exit Enter Is.xnii.i.A Duke. Very well met. and welcome. What is the news Irom this pood deputy ? /«'.'/>. II" hati! a parden circuiainiirrd with brick, Wliose ^ stern Si.ic is \silli a vineyiTd backed ; .\nd to that vineyard is a planched pate That makes bis oja-niiip v^ilh this bipper key ; This ctluT doth comiiiaad a liltle door V hich from the vineyard to the garden leads ; There have 1 made my |)roinise I'pon the heavy middle of the nipht To call upon him. Duke. \iu[ shall yon on your knowledw find tliis way ? /.S'//>. 1 've laen a due and wary no!e upon't ; With whisi)eriiip inid most !-;iii!ty diii.u'ence, In action ail of precept, be did show me The way twice o'er. Duke. Are there no other tokens Between you 'f.;recd, concerninj^ her observance '? Isiib. No, none, but onl> :; repair i' the dark ; And that 1 have itossessed him my most slav Can be but brief ; lor 1 have made him know 1 have a servant comes with me !i;oii:J. That slays upon me ; whose persuasion is 1 come about my brother. Duke. 'T is well borne up. I have not yet made known to Mi;riana A word of this. — What, ho I within I come forth ! 316 Act IV Scii MEASURE FOR MEASURE Re-enter Mariana I pray you, be acquainted with this maid ; She cotncs to do you good. f*"''- i do desire tin- like. Duke. Do you persuade yourself liiat I respect you ? Man. (iood friar, I know you do, and have found U ^x£^'^'^' ''''''**^ ^''*^" ^'^'''* y"'"" t^'Hiipiinion hy tlie hand. Who hath a story ready for your ear. I shall attend your leisure : but nmkc h:\AQ ; The vaporous night approaehes. Muri. Will 't please you walk aside ? _. , _^ , l/.'ic(//.7 Mariana and Isabella Duke. O place and greatness, millions of false eves Are stuck upon thee I volumes of report Run with these false and most conlrarious quests Upon thy doings 1 thousand escapes of wit Make thee the father of their idle dreams. And rack thee in their fancies ! Re-enter Mariana and Isahella Welcome! How agreed ? Isal). She '11 take the enterprise upon her, father. If you advise it. „ Duke. 'T is not my consent. But my entreaty too. „^/««^- L'ttle have you to say V >>r:x you depart from him, but, soft and low, " Remember now my brother." ■^^"/■'- ^^ Fear me not. Duke. Nor, gentle daughter, fear you not at all. He is your husband on a i)re-contract : To bring you thus together, 't is no sin, Sith that the justice of your title to him Doth nourish the deceit. Come, let us go • Our corn 's to reap, for yet our Ulth 's to sow. [Exeunt Scene II. — A Room in the Prison Enter Provost and PoMi'iiv Prov. Come hither, sirrah. Can you cut off a man's head ? Pom. If the man ; .i bachelor, sir, I can ; but if he be a married mnn, lie is his wife's hoad, and 1 can never cut oil a woman's head. Prou. Come, sir : leave me vour snatches, and yield me a direct answer. To-morrow morning are to die (Jaudio and Barnardine. Here is in our prison a common executioner, who in his oP'ce lacks a he, per : if you will r*l7 .1 « I f s ;■;( ii! MEASURE FOR MEASURE Act IV Sc ii take it on you to assist liim, it shall redeem ycu from your gyves; if not, vou sluill have your full time of imprison- ment, and your'dcUverancc with an unpiticd whipping, for vou have been a notorious bawd. ^ Pom. Sir, I have been an unlawful bnwd, time -in of mind ; but yet 1 will be content to be a lawfi'i l.-u.^rriin. I would be glad to receive some instruction fron my fe'low partner. What ho, Abhorson Prov. Abhor. Prov. Where 's Abhor, .ri there v Enter AnHORSON Do vou call, sir ? Sirrah, here 's a fellow will help you to-morrow in your execution. If you think it meet, compound with him by the year, and let him abide here with you ; if not, use him for the present, and dismiss him. He cannot plead his estimation with you : he hath been a ba\,d. Abhor. A bawd, sir 1 lie upon him 1 he will discredit our mvstery. Prov. Go to, sir ; you weigh equally ; a feather wib turn the scale. [Exit Pom. Pray, sir, by your good favour, — fur surely, sir, a good favour you have, but that you have a hanging look,— do you call, sir, your occupation a mystery ? Abhor. Ay, sir ; a mystery. Pom. Painting, sir, I have lieard say, is a mystery ; and your whores, sir, being members of my occupation, usin^ paintinf'. do prove my occupation a mystery : but what mystery there should be in hanging, if I should be hanged, I cannot imagine. Abhor. Sir, it is a mystery. Pom. Proof ? Afc^ior. Evcrv true man's apparel fits your thief. If it be loo iittle for vour thief, your true man thinks it big enough ; if it be too big for your thief, your thief thinks it little enough : so, every true man's apparel fits your thief. Re-enter Provost Prov. Are vou agreed ? Pom. Sir, l" will serve him ; for I do find your hangman is a more penitent trade than your bawd,— he doth oftener ask forgiveness. '^ ''. You, sirrah, provide your block and your axe to- row four o'clock. . hor Come on, bawd ; I will instruct thee in my tr;-.. J : . 'ow. Pom. i do desire to learn, sir ; and, I hope, if you have occasion to use me for your own turn, you shall find me yare ; for, truh , sir, for your kindness I owe you a good turn. .318 • Act IV Sc U MEASURE FOR MEASURE A [Knocking within [Hxit Claudia Prov. Call hither Barnardine and Claiuiio : [Exeunt Powpcy and Abhorson The one has my pity ; not a jot the other. Being a murderer, though he were my brother. Enter Claudio Look, here's the warrant, Claudio. for thy death: 'T is now dead midnight, and by eight to-morrow Thou must be made inunorlal. Where's i^arnardiue ? Claud. As fast locked up in sleep as guiltless labour When it lies starkly in the traveller's bones : He will not wake. Prov. Who can do good on him ? Well, go, prepnre yourself. But hark, what noise ? Heaven give your spirits comfort 1 By-and-by. — 1 hope it is some pardon or rei)rieve I'or the most gentle Claudio. — Enter Dukl, disguised as before Welcome, fatlier. Duke. The best and wholesom'st spirits ol liie night Envelop you, good piovost ! Who called here of late ? Prov. None, since the curfew rung. Duke. Not Isabel ? Prov. No. Duke. I'bey will, then, ere't be long. Prov. What comfort is for Claudio • Duke. There 's some in hope. Prov. It is a bitter deputy. Duke. Not so, not so : his life is par;dleled Even with the stroke and line of his great justice. He doth with holy abstinence subdue That in himself which be spurs on iiis power To qualify in others : were he mealed with that Which he corrects, then were he tyrannous ; But this being so, he 's just. — [Knocking ivithin] Now are they come. — [Exit Provost This is a gentle provost : seldom when The steeled gaoler is the fricn.l of men. [ Knocking with in How now ? What noise ? That spirit's possessed with haste That wounds the unsisting postern with these strokes. Re-enter Provost Prov. [speaking to one at the door] There he must stay, until the ofTicer Arise to let him in ; he is called up. 319 i'1! I 5 I MEASURE FOR MEASURE Act IV Sc ii 'I Diike. Have you no countermand for Claudio yet. But he must die to-morrow ? Prov. None, sir, none. Duke. As near the dawning, provost, as it is. You shall hear more ere morning. Prou. Happily You something know ; yet I believe there comes No countermand ; no such example have we. Besides, upon the very siege of justice Lord Angelo hath to the public car Professed the contrary. Enter a Messenger This is his lordship's man. Duke. And here comes Claudio's pardon. Mess. My lord hath sent you this note ; and by me this further charge, — that you swerve not from the smallest article of it, neither in time, matter, or other circumstance. — Good morrow ; for, as I take it, it is almost day. Prov. I shall obcj'^ him. [/•.".\i7 MessenQer Duke. [Aside] This is his pardon, purchased by such sin For which the pardoner himself is in. Hence hath otVence his quick celerity, When it is borne in high authority : When vice makes mercy, mercy s so extended. That for the fault's love is the offender friended. — Now, sir, what news ? Prov. I told you, Lord Angelo, belike thinking me remiss in mine ofTice, awakens me with this unwonted putting-on ; niethinks strangely, for he hath not used it before. Duke. Pray you, let 's hear. Prov. [Reads] Whatsoever you may hear to the contrary, let Claudio be executed by four of tlie clock ; and, in the afternoon, Barnardine. For my better satisfaction, let me have Claudio's head sent me by five. Let this be duly per- formed ; with a thought, that more depends on it than we must yet deliver. Thus fail not to do your office, as you will answer it at your peril. — What say you to this, sir ? Duke. What is that Barnardine, who is to be executed in the afternoon ? Prov. A Bohemian born, but here nursed up and bred ; one that is a prisoner nine years old. Duke. How came it that the absent duke had not either delivered him to his liberty or executed him ? I have heard it was ever his manner to do so. Prov. His friends still wrought reprieves for him : and, indeed, his fact, till now in the govei iment of Lord Angelo, came not to an undoubtful proof. 320 \ Act IV Sc ii MEASURE FOR MEASURE 4 Duke. It is now apparent ? 1 Prov. Most manifest, and not <]iMn"ed by himself. Duke. Hath he borne himself penitently in prison ? how- seems he to be touched ? Proo. A man that apprehends death no more dreadfully but as a drunken sleep ; careless, reckless, an 1 fearless ('f what's past, present, or to come ; insensible of mortality and desperately mortal. ' ' Duke. He ^vants advice. Prov. He will hear none. He hath evermore had the liberty of the prison ; give him leave to escape hence he would not : drunk many times a day, if not many davs entirely drunk. We have very oft awaked him, as if to carry hir to execution, and showed him a seeming warrant for it : it hath not moved him at all. Duke. More of him anon. There is written in vour brow, provost, honesty and constancy : if I read it" not truly, my ancient skill beguiles me: but in the bol.iness of my cunning I will lay myself in hazard. Ciaudio, whom here you have warrant to execute, is no grealc I'orteit lo tiie law than Angelo who hath sentenced him. To make you understand this in a manifested etiect, I crave but lour days' respite, for the which you ai-e to do me both a present and a dangerous courtesy. Prov. Pray, sir, in what ? Duke. In the delaying death. Proo. Alack, how may I do it,— having the hour limited and an express command, under penalty, to deliver his head m the view of Angclo ? I may make my case as Llaudio s, to cross this in the smallest. Duke By the vow of mine order, I warrant you, if my instructions may be your guide. Let this Barnardine be this morning executed, and his head borne to Angelo the favou^"^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^" "'"" ^°^^' ^"^ ^"^ discover ir.^H''\u^' ^^u^^i^ ^ S"*^^^ disguiser. and you may add to it. Shave the head, and lie the beard ; and sav it vvas the desire of the penitent to be so bared before his aeath . you know, the course is common. If anythin-^ tall to you upon this, more than thanks and good fortune my life.'"*' ''*''''" ^ ^^''^''^^' ^ ""'" '^^^''''^ ""^^'"'^ '^ "^'^^ n',a' w'"''''" "'^' ^°°'* ^''^^^''^^ ' it is against my oath. Prl ^Z"^ ^■°'' I''''''" t'^ t'^*-' ^"'^*^' or to the deputy ? Prov. To him, and to his substitutes. ^ D.'.'..^, \ou will think you have made no ofTence if the duke avouch the justice of your dealing. ' Prov. But what hkelihood is in that ? Duke. Not a resemblance, but a certainty. Yet sin^^e see you fearful, that neither my coat, integrity, no? i 38— K 321 i MEASURE FOR MEASURE Act IV So iii persuasi' m ^vilh ease altcmpt you, I will go further than I 1 111. to ])luck all fears out of you. Look you, sir, hero is Iht hand and seal of the duke : you know the character, I doubL not ; and the signet is not strange to you. Prov. I know tlicm both. Duke. The contents of this is the return of the duke : you shall anon over read it at your pleasure ; where you shall find, within tliese two days he will be here. This is a thing that Angolo knows not. for he tliis very day receives letters of strange tenour ; perchance, of the duke's death, perchance, entering into some monastery, but, by chance, nothing of what is writ. Look, the unfolding star calls up the shepherd. Put not yourself into amazement how these things should be : all diniculties are but easy when they are known. Call your executioner, and off witli Barnardine's head : I will give him a present shrift, and advise him for a better place. Yet you are amazed ; but this shall absolutely resolve you. Come away ; it is almost clear dawn. [Exeunt m l! Bf u ^1! Scene IIL — Another Room in the Same Enter Pompey Pom. I am as well acquainted here, as I was in our house of prof( ssion : one would think, it were Mistress Overdone's own house, for here be many of her old cus- tomers. Firsts here's young Master Rash; he's in for a commiodity of brown piper and old ginger, nine-score and seventeen pounds ; of which he made five marks, ready money : marry, then, ginger was not much in re- quest, for the old women were all dead. Then is tliere here one Master Caper, at the suit of Master Three-pile the mercer, for some four suits of peach-coloured satin, which now peaches him a beggar. Then have we here young Dizzy, and young Master Deep-vow, and Master Copper-spur, and Master Starve-lackey the rapier-and- dagger-man, and young Drop-heir that killed lusty Pudding, and Master Forthright tho tiiter, and brave Master Shoe-tie the great traveller, and wild Half-can that sti.bbed Pots, and, I think, forty more ; all great doers in our trade, and are now " for the Lord's s;\ke." Enter Abuohsox Abhor. Sirrah, bring Biirnardine hither. Pom. Master Bamardino ! you must rise and be banged, Master Barnardine. At'hor. What, ho, Barna. Jine 1 Bar. [Within] A pox o' your throats I \Mio makes that noise there ? What are you ? 322 Act IV Sc iii MEASURE Pom. so good, Bar. Abhor. Pom. executed A bhor. Pom. riis :c. Abhor. Pom. FOR MEASURE You must be Your friends, sir: the hanc'man sir, to rise and be put to death. ^"o^'W ^^^^'^y' yo" ropiie, av.iiy I 1 nni sleepv. Tell him, he must awake, and that quickiv too Pray, Master Harnardine, awake till you are , and sleep afterwards. Go in to him, and fetch him out. He is coming, sir, he Is coming : I hear his straw Is the axe upon the block, siriaii ? Very ready, sir. Enter Barnardine ?!'!!• ^^^^ ^''^^- -"^^liorson ? what 's the news with you •> Abhor, iruly. sir, I would desire you to clap into your players ; for, look you, the warrant's come no{'nUed\''o" 'L^"''' ^ ^""^^ ^^"'^ clrinking all night : I am Pom. O, the better, sir; for he that drinks all nislit, und is hanged betimes in the morning, may sleep the sounder all the next day. ^ ^ Abhor. Look you, sir ; here comes your ffhostlv father Do we jest now, think you ? r feuobuy lamcr. Enter Duke, discjuised as before Dulce. Sir, induced by my charity, and hearing how hastily you are to depart, I am come lo advise you, comfort you, and pray with you. ■u.Tl'Ju'u''' ""' ^ • V'''"'''' ''^^" drinking hard all night, and I Mill have more time to prepare me, or they sh^l hts d^'a^v VJ''f'" ;"'•' ^"''^'- ^ ^^^' "«^ consent to die inis tlay, tliat s certain. I nf.HA':,. ^'f''' It"" '""'^ '■ '•''"^' ^•^^''^'fore, I beseet-h you, Look forward on the journey you shaU go sn-^w';; ^ ''''''''' ^ '"^"^ "°^ "^'^ ^""''^''y ^"^ a°y mail's per- Buke. But hear you, — i^ar Not a word : if you have anything to say to me come to my ward; for tlience will not 1 To-day.^ [S Xff"^'- ^."//ttolive, ordie. O gravel heart ^- ^ Aflcx hiin, fellows : bring him to tlie block. [Exeunt Abhorson and Pompey Enter Provost Prov. Now, sir, how do you find the prisoner >> A« 1 r"f '^ "'^^•^^"'".^ unprepared, unmeet for death : And, 10 transport him in the mind he is. Were damnable. nJ'''^^\- . .^^. ^^^^ "^ the prison, father. I here died this morni'-g of a cruel fever 323 ¥ t m^. §'5 MEASURE FOR MEASURE Act IV Sc iii One Ragozine, a most notorious pirate, A man of Claudio's years ; his beard and head Just of his colour. What if we do omit Tliis reprobate till he were well inclined, And satisfy the deputy with the visage Of Ragozine, more like to Claudio ? Duke. O, 't is an accident that Heaven provides I Despatch it presently : the hour draws on I'relixed by Angelo. See this be done. And sent ;!ceording to command, whiles I Persuade this rude wretch willingly to die. Prov. This siiall be done, good father, presently. But Barnardine must die this nflcrnoon ; And how shall we cck.IIiuu' Claudio, To save me from the ilangcr that might come If he were known alive '? Duke. Let this be done, — put them in secret holds, Both Barnardine and Claudio : Ere twice the sun halh made his journal greeting To the under generation, you shall fmd Your safety manifested. Prov. I am your free dependant. Duke. Quick, despatch. And send the head to Angelo. [Lxj7 Provost Now will I write letters to Angelo — The provost, he shall bear them — whose contents Shall witness to him, I am near at home. And that, by areat injunctions, I am bound To enter publicly : him I '11 desire To meet me at the consecrated fount, A league below the city ; and from thence, By cold gradation and well-balanced form, We shall proceed with Angelo. Re-enlcr Provost Prov. Here is the head ; I '11 carry it myself. Duke. Convenient is it. Make a swift return; For I would commune witii you oi such things That want no ear but yours. Prov. I '11 make all speed. [Exit Isab. [Within] Peace, ho, be here! Duke. The tongue of Isabel.— Slic 's come to know If yet her brother's pardon be come liilher : But I will keep her ignorant of her s:;oo(l, To make her heavenly coinfort of despair, When it is least expected. Enter Isabella Isab. Ho, by your leave 1 Duke. Good morning to you, fair and gracious daughter. 324 Act IV Sc iii MEASURE FOR MEASURE Isab. The better, given me by so holy a man. Hath yet the (icputy sent my brother's pardon ? Duke. He hiith reloiised him, Isabel, from the world. His head is olT, and sent to Anfjelo. Isnh. Nay, but it is not so. Duke. It is no other : show your wisdom, daughter. In your close patience. Isab. O, I ^vill to him, and phu-k out his eyes ! Duke. You shall not be admitted to his si>j;ht. Isab. Unhappy CJaudio I Wretched Isabel I Injurious world ! Most d:;;ntic(i Anj^ilo I Duke. This nor hurts Imiu, nor proliis you a jot ; Forbear it therefore ; give your cause to Heaven, rilark what I say to you. which you shall !ind By every syllable a faitliful verily : The duke couies lionie to-morrow; — nay, dry your ej'es : One of our convent, and his c ufessor, Gives me this iustnncc : already he hath carried Notice to Escp.lus and An,''elo, ''Vho do prepare to meet !iim at the gates. There to give up their power. If you can, pace your wisdoni in thai pood palli thai I would wisli it l,<) ; And you sliall have your bosom on tins wretch, Grace of the duke, revenges to your hearl, And general honour. * Isab. I am directed by you. Duke. This letter then to i-riar I'elev give ; 'T is that he sent me of the duke's return : Say, by this token, I desire his company At .Mariana's housj to-ni,L!;lit. 1 ler caase ;\v(>st not tlic (iui;itos, and very near upon The duke Is entering : thtrclore hence. away. Act V Sc i [Exeunf ACT FIVE Scene I.— A Public Place near the City Gate MAP.rANA, veiled, IsAiuxi^A, and Fiuau Pi.tkix, behind. lird'T on one side, t!te Dukk, in his oivn liahit, VAiuufS. Lords ; from (lie nilur, Angi:i.o, I-:.scalus, '.ucxo. Provost, O/licers and Citizens, at sencral do.jrs Duke. My very worthy cousin, fairly mel : — Our old and fMitiiful Irirnd, we are H'ad to see you. .A/?/. a::d l-Jscid. H;iiM)v rt'lurn hv to your royal "race ! Dyke. Many and he.uly ni:«iiivin,'.'s to'you both. \Ve "vc made inquiry oi you ; and we hear Sucli ^'o(i(lnrss of your just ice, that our soul Cimiiot l>ut yi.'ld you lortli to public thanks, I'orerunning more recjuiLal. '■^f'H- ^on make my bonds still !C,'reator. Duice. O, your desert speaks loud; and I ^should wronc! it, To lock it ill the wards of covrrt bosom, Wlien it deserves, wilii ch iraclers ol brass, A lortfd residence ':i;dusl I'u toolli ot time And razure of oblivion. Give me your hand, .\nd let tlic subject see, to make them know That outward courtcsi.s would tain j)r()claim i avours that keep wiUiin. — Come, Escalus ; You niusL w;ilk by us on our other hand : — And gooii supjjor^ers are you. FiUAii Peter and Isabella come forward Fri. Pet. Now is your time. Speak loud, and knee! bc'iorc him. Tsal^. .Jasiiee, O royal duke I Vail vour regard t'pou a wronged, I'd lain have said, a maid ! O worthy i>rince, (iishonour not your eye i'.y throwing it on any oiher object Till you have heard me in my true complaint. And .civoa me justice, justice, justice, justice! Duke, lulale your Nvrongs ; in wiiat ? by whom ? B brief. Here is Lord .\ncelo shall aive you justice • Ueveai yoursell to him. Js"l>- O worthy duke. You bid me seek redv rnption of the devil. Hear me yourself ; for that which I must speak 328 Act V Sc i MEASURE FOR MEASIHB Must either punish mc, not hcinu believed Or wring rofinss from you. Hear mc, (). ht-ar mc, here I An/,. My lord, her wits, I fear mo. arc not lirm : She hath been a suitor to me for lur brotli^r Cut off by course of justice, — {''"^' . , , ... r\v course of justice I Anfj. And she will speak most l)itterly -.lul stran-'c JsalK Most stran-^c, but yet most truly will I speal?, ' I hat Ans'-lo s forsworn ; is it not strange ? Hi il Anfjcio 's a njurdcrcr ; is 't not strange ? I hat An;;clo is an adulterous thief, An hypocrite, a virfiin-violafor ; Is it not strange, and strange V 9"'^^- J, . _ ^'ay, it is ten times strange Isab. It IS not truer he Is Angelo. Than this is all as true as it is strange ; Nny, it is ten tinu s true ; for truth is truth To the end of reckoning. Duke. Away with her.— Poor soul She speaks this in the infirmity of sense. fsab. O prince, I conjure t'hec, as thou bcliev'st I here is another comfort Ihan this world, ^i hat thou ne^icct me not, with tiiaL ojiin'ion i hat I am touched with madness. Make not impossible Ihat which but seems uniike. 'T is not imp<;ssible Hut one, the wicked'st caitiif on the ground. May seem as shy, as grave, as just, as absolute, AS Angelo ; even so may Angelo, in all his dressings, ciiaracls, titles, forms. iH' an arch-villuin ; believe it, royal prince : If he be less, be 's nothing ; but he 's more, Had I more name for badness. Tf S!i^K , r ^ . ^y n^ine honesty. If she be mad, as I believe no other, Her madness hath the oddest frame of sense. Such a dependency of thing on thin» As ecr I heard in madness. "' Tj/;^"*- . ,, , O gracious duke, Haip not on that ; nor do not banish reason r-or mcquabty : but let vour -eason serve 1?!h'V ? ^}u ^/V^^' ^^Pl^^'^^^ ^^''*^i'<-^ it seems hid. And snde the false, seems true. Duke. 11 T, 4 1 .. TT.,»- , iMany that are not mni' Have sure more lack of reason.-Vvi.at N.ould you s^w ' . lab. I am tiie sister of one Clandio, ^ ^ ^^onaeniueu upon the act of fornication io lose his head; condemned by Angelo L m probation of a sisterhood, ° M as sent to by my brother ; one Lucio As then the messenger — 38- 329 MI-ASURE FOH MEASII^E Act V Sc I r _ i i pi iil •' iiri<». Th.il 's I, :in 't like your grace. I c-ainc to hrr from ("Ifnidio, ami dcsind licr To try h(T pracicus furlunc with Lord An^'clo, I'tr her poor brother's pardon. /'«•'//'. That 's he, Indeed. You were not bid to s[)t;ak. No, my Rood lord ; I wisli vou now then : Duke. Isah. I.ucio. Dtike. Dukr. l.tirio. Nor wislicd to hold my peace Dukr. Pray you, take note of it ; and when you liavo A Imsiiicss for yourseli, pray lleaveti, you tlieii lie poriert. I.ucio. I warrant your honour. The w.irratil 's for >f)urself : take liccd to it. Tliis i'cnlli man tohl sonu-what of nry tale.— - Ili^'hl. it may be right ; but you are in the wronj; To sp< ak bc'torc yoiu* lime. — Proceed. I sub. I wont To this i)cnurious caililT deputy. Duki'. Tliat 's somewhat madly spoken. hi^ih. Pardon it : Tlio phr.is is to the matter. ])ukt\ Meiido'.l aj?ain. The matter ; — proceed. Isah. In brief.-- I(> set the needless process by, How I persuaded, iiovv I prayed, and kneeled, Mow he retclled iiic iuid how I replied,— For this was ol niiuii len.Uh.— the vile conclusion I now bcf^in with s^rief and shame to utter. He would not. bul by t;ilt of my chaste body To his con(;uj)iscil)le intemperate lust. Release my brother ; and, after much debatement, My sisterly remorse confutes mine honour, And I did yield to him : but the next morn betimes, His purpose surfeiting;, he sends a warrant For my poor brother's head. Duke. This is most likely I Isab. O, that it were ; s like as it is true I Duke. Py Heaven, fond wretch I thou know st not what thou speak'st. Or else thou art suborned aa^unst his honour, In hateful pracUce. First, his intejjrity Stands without blemish ; next, it imports no reiison, 'I'iiat with sni'li vehemency he should pursue I'aulls i)roi.'.r to himself: if he had so oiiended. He would iiase wei^iiu'd tiiy i)roilier by iiimseii, And not have cut him otT. Sonu' one hath set you on : Confers I'i-' truth, and say by whose advice Tliou iaiii -t hcTv to cotuplaiu. Isab. And is this nil ? 330 Act V Sc 1 MEASURE FOR MEASURE thai Tiien, O, you blpssod mlnislors iibovc, Keep mo in patience ; and. with ri[)enpfl tlnip. Unfold the evil which is here \vr;i[tt uj) In countenance I — Heaven shield your i^nxcv from woe As I, thus wronRed. hence unheliev(''d go I Diike. I know, you'd fain be ft,,,,,. _,\n odlcer I To prison with her.— Shall we thus permit A blasting and a scandalous breath to fall On him so near us? This needs musi ]>v practice. Who knew of your intent, and comiiig liill.er V Isdb. One that I wouhl were here, I'riar Lodowick Duke. A ^'hostly father, (>elike.— Who k:io\vs " Lotlowick ? liirio. My lord. I know him : 't is a meddlinj^ friar : 1 do not like the man : had he been lay, my l..r /•/■/. 1 el. I know him for a man divine and huiy ; ^o^ scurvy, nor a temporary nu-ddler. As he 's reported bv tliis j^ontlcmaa • And, on my trust, a man that never'vet Old, as he vouches, misrei)ort vour pn.ce. '^"cio My lord, most villainous! \ : believe it r.nf !; if-' ■ ''\*^"; J'^" in l''ii«^ may come to clear himself Rut at this instant he is sick, my lord. Of a stranRe fever. Upon his mere request. Intended gainst Lord Angelo, came I hither, Liu " , ^'"'' ' •''"'• "^''^''^ 'If' ^^ith his oath, And all probation, will make nn fnii ..i..,j. Tn"h?r-r'T. ■'' '' ^'""'^^"t^fJ- J irst, for this woman. To justify this worthv noblenu-n ^nuni. So vulgarly and person.dlv accused, Tm c'^'k >'°" J^^''»r disproved to her eyes, TUI she herself confess it. 331 MEASURE FOR MEASURE Act V Sc i mi : M ^ Duke. Good friar, let's hear it. [Isabella is carried off guarded ; and Mariana comes forward Do you not smile at this, Lord Angelo ? — heaven, the vanitj' of wretched fools I — Give us some seats. — Come, cousin Angelo ; In this I '11 be impartial : be you judge Of your own cause. — Is this the witness, friar ? First, let her show her face, and after speak. Mari. Pardon, my lord, I will not show "iy face Until my husband bid me. Duke. What, are you married ? Mari. No, my lord. Duke. Are you a maid ? Mari. No, my lord. Duke. A widow then ? Mari. Neither, my lord. Duke. Why, you Are nothing then : neither maid, widow, nor wife. Lucio. My lord, she may be a punk ; for many of them are neither maid, widow, nor wife. Duke. Silence that fellow : I would, he had some cause To prattle for himself. Lucio. W'ell, my lord. Mari. My lord, I do confess I ne'er was married ; And, I confess, besides, I am no maid : 1 have known my husband, yet my husband knows not That ever he knew me. Lucio better. Duke. Lucio Duke. Mari. He was drunk then, my lord : it can be no For the benefit of silence, would thou wert so too 1 Weil, my lord. This is no witness for Lord Angelo. Now I come to't, my lord. She that accuses him of fornication. In selfsame manner doth accuse my husband ; And charges him, my lord, with such a time. When, I '11 depose, 1 had him in mine arms, Wilh all the eflect of love. Ang. Charges she more than me ? Mari. Not that I know. Duke. No ? you say, your husband. Mari. Why, just, my lord, and that is Angelo, Who thinks he knows that he ne'er knew my body. But knows he thinks that he knows Isabel's. Ang. This is a strange abuse. — Let 's see thy face. Mari. My husband bids me ; now I will unmask. [ Unveiling This is that face, thou cruel Angelo, Which once thou swor'st \;as worth the looking on : 332 :im. Act V Sc i MEASURE FOR MEASURE This is the hand which, with a vowed contract. Was fast belocked in thine : this is the body That took away the match from Isabel, And did supply thee at thy garden-liouse In her imagined person. Duke. Know you this woman I Lucio. Carnally, she says. Duke. Sirrah, no more. Lucio. Enough, my lord. Ang. My lord, I must confess, I know this woman ; And Ave years since there was some speech of marriage Betwixt myself and her, which was broke ol!. Partly, for that her promised proportions Came short of composition ; but, in chief. For that her reputation was disvalued In levity : since which time of five years I never spake with her, saw her, nor heard from her, Upon my faith and honour. Mori. Noble prince. As there comes light from heaven and words from breath. As there is sense in truth and truth in virtue, I am affianced this man's wife, as strongly As words could make up vows : and, my good lord, But Tuesday night last gone, in 's garden-house, He knew me as a wife. As this is true. Let me in safety raise me from my knees, Or else for ever be confixed here, A marble monument. ^^ ^"f^- I did but smile till now : Now, good my lord, give me the scope of justice ; My patience here is touched. I do perceive. These poor informal women are no more But instruments of some more mightier member. That sets them on. Let me have way, my lord, To And this practice out. A ^^^^' . , , ^>'' ^^ith my heart ; And punish them to your height of pleasure.— Thou foolish friar, and thou pernicious woman, Compact with her that 's gone, think'st thou, thy oaths. Though they would swear down each particular saint Were testimonies 'gainst his worth and credit That 's sealed in approbation ?~You, Lord Escalus, bit with my cousin : lend him your kind pains To find out this abuse, whence 'tis derived — There is another friar that set them on ; Let him be sent for. M.^h 'cf/tv, '^^"""'"^ ''^^ were here, my lord ; for he, indeed, Hath set the women on to this complaint. Your provost knows the place where he abides And he may fetch him. ' 333 MEASURE FOR MEASURE Act V Sc i "ff Duke. Go, do it instantly.— [Exit Provost And you, my noble and \scll-\varranted cousin, Wliom it concerns to hear this matter forth, Do with your injuries as seems you best, In any chastisement : I for a while will leave vou ; But stir not you, till you have well determined Upon these slanderers. Escal. My lord, we '11 do it thoroughly. [Exit Duke]— Signior Lucio, did not you say, you knew that Friar Lodo- wick to be a dishonest person ? Lucio. Cucullus non facit monaclmm : honest in nothing, but in his clothes ; and one that hath spoke most villainous speeches of the duke. Escal. We shall entreat you to abide here till he come, and enforce them against him. We shall find this friar a notable fellow. Lucio. As any in Vienna, on my word. Escal. Call that same Isabel here once again : I would speak with her. [Exit an Attendant] Pray you, my lord, give me leave to question ; you shall see how I '11 handle her. Lucio. Not better than he, by her own report. Escal. Say you ? Lucio. Marry, sir, I think , if you handled her privately, she would sooner confess : perchance, publicly she ' 11 be ashamed. I will go darkly to work with her. That 's the way ; for women are light at mid- Escal. Lucio. night. Re-enter Officers, with Isabella Escal. [To Isab.] Come on, mistress. Here 's a gentle- woman denies all that you have said. Lucio. My lord, here comes the rascal I spoke of ; here, with the provost. Escal. In very good time : — speak not you to him, till we call upon you. Lucio. Mum. to Enter Duke, disguised as a friar, and Provost Escal. Come, sir : did you set these women on slander Lord Angclo ? they have confessed you did Duke. 'T is false. Escal. How 1 know you where you are ? Duke. Respect to your great place I and let the devil lie sometime honoured for his burning throne. — Where is the duke ? 't is he should hear me speak. Escal. The duke 's in us, and we will hear you speak: Look you speak justly. Duke. Boldly at least.— But, O, poor souls ! ^^W'i^^ Act V Sc i MEASURE FOR MEASURE ir, Come you to seek the lamb here of the fox ? Good night to your redress. Is the duke gone ? Then is your cause gone too. The duke's unjust. Thus to retort your manifest appeal, And put your trial in the villain's mouth Which here you come to accuse. Lucio. This is the rascal : this is he I spoke of. Escal. "Why, thou unreverend and unhallowed fri; Is't not enough, thou hast suborned these women To accuse this worthy man, but, in foul mouth, And in the witness of his proper ear. To call him villain ? And then to glance from him to the duke himself, To tax him with injustice I— Take him hence ; To the rack with him : — we '11 touse you joint by joint, But we will know his purpose.— What, unjust ? Duke. Be not so hot ; the duke Dare no more stretch this finger of mine, than he Dare rack his own : his subject am I not. Nor here provincial. My business in this state Made me a looker-on here in Vienna, Where I have seen corruption boil and bubble, Till it o'er-run the stew : laws for all faults. But faults so countenanced, that the strong statutes Stand like the forfeits in a barber's shop. As much in mock as mark. Escal. Slander to the state I— Away with him to prison. Ang. What can you vouch against him, Signior Lucio ? Is this the man that you did tell us of ? Lucio. 'Tis he, my lord.— Come hither, goodman baldpate : do you know me ? Duke. I remember you, su", by the sound of your voice • I met you at the prison, in the absence of the duke Lucio. O, did you so ? And do you remember what you said of the duke ? Duke. Most notedly, sir. Do you so, sir? And was the duke a llesh- a fool, and a coward, as you then reported him Lucio monger, to be? Duke. You must, sir, change persons with me, ere you make that my report : you, indeed, spoke so of him • and much more, much worse. ' Lucio. O thou damnable feUow I Did not I pluck thee by the nose, for thy speeches ? Duke. I protest, I love the duke as I love myself Ang. Hark, how the villain would close now.* after nis treasonable abuses. Escal. Such a fellow is not to be talked withal :— Awav with him to prison. Where is the provost ?— Away with him to prison. Lay bolts enough upon him, let him speak 335 C^'T- k ■f ' ''T^ -. ;^ '--^'S iHil^ ■■ |i m/Hk lf^>•■/ ■ l-^i w4 '-• -;. - ir •* ^i-'C-v ^ikL IIV*- " 9 mm^m -MEASURE FOR MEASURE Act \' Sc i I pardon ; by your no more.— Away with those gif?lots too, and with the other confederate companion. [The Provost lays hand on the Duke Duke. Stay, sir ; stay awhile. Ang. What 1 resists he ? Help him, Lucio. Lucio. Come, sir ; come, sir ; come, sir ; foh ! sir. WTiy, you baid-pated, lying rascal ! vou must be hooded, must you ? show your knave's visage, with a po.\ to vou I show your sheep-biting face, and be hanged an hour. \\ ill t not off ? [Pulls off the friar's hood, and discovers the Duke Duke. Thou art the lirst knave that e'er made a duke — First, provost, let me bail these gentle three.— [To Lucio] Sneak not away, sir ; for the friar and vou Must have a word anon.— Lay hold on him. Lucio. This may prove worse than hanging. Duke. [To EsciiL] What you have spoke, sit you down. We'll borrow place of him.— [To Ang.] Sir. leave : Hast thou or word, or wit, or impudence. That yet can do thee office ? If thou hast. Rely upon it till my tale be heard. And hold no longer out. ■^'^9- O my dread lord, I should be guiltier than my guiltiness, To think I can be undiscernible. When I perceive your grace, like power di\ine. Hath looked upon my passes. Then, good prince. No longer session hold upon ray shame. But let my trial be mine own confession : Immediate sentence then, and sequent death. Is all the grace I beg. I^uke. Come hither, Mariana. — Say, wast thou e'er contracted to this woman ? Ang. I was, my lord. Duke. Go take her hence, and marry her instantly. — Do you the office, friar ; which consummate. Return him here again.— Go with him, provost. [Exeunt Angelo, Mariana, Friar Peter, and Provost Escal. My lord, I am more amazed at his dishonour. Than at the strangeness of it. I^iike. Come hither, Isabel, i our friar is now your prince : as I was then Advertising and holy Lo your business, Not changing heart v.ith habit, I am still Attorneycd at your service. n^J^"^,' ^' Si'^e me pardon, 1 hat I, your vassal, have employed and pained Your unknown sovereignty I S36 Act V Sc i MEASURE FOR MEASURE ik Duke. You are pardoned, Isabel : And now, dear maid, be you as free to us. Your brollHT's deull., i know, siis at your heart ; And you may marvel, why 1 obscured mystdf, Labourinp to save his lifo, and would not niL.ior Make rasli rcmonslratice of my hidden power. Than let him so be lost. O most kind maid, It was the swift celerity of his death, Wliich I did think with slower foot came on, Tiiat brained my purpose : but now peace be with him 1 That life is better life, past fearing death, Than that which lives to fear : make it your comfort, So happy is your brother. '^^^' I do, my lord. Re-enter Angelo, Mariana, Friar Peter, and Provost Duke. For this new-married man, approaching here, Whose salt imagination yet hath wronged Your well-defended honour, you must pardon For Mariana's sake. But, as he adjudged your brother — Being criminal, in double violation ' Of sacred chastity, and of promise-breach. Thereon dependent, for your brother's life — The very mercy of the law cries out Most audible, even from his proper tongue, " An Angelo for Claudio, death for death I " Haste still pays haste, and leisure answers leisure. Like doth quit like, and Measure still for Measure. Then, Angelo, thy fault thus manifested,— Which, though thou wouldst deny, denies thee vantage,— We do condemn thee to the very block Where Claudio stooped to death, and with like haste — Away with him. Mari. Q my most gracious lord, I hope you will not mock me with a husband. Duke. It is your husband mocked you with a husband Consentmg to the safeguard of your honour, I thought your marriage lit ; else imputation, I'or that he knew you, might reproach your life And choke your good to come. For his possessions. Although by contiscation they are ours. We do instate and widow you withal. To buy you a better husband. . '^^""- ,, O my dear lord, • orave no other, nor no better man. ■ikc. Never crav<; him : we are definite. null' ^^^"^ '"^' ^'*'^' ~ V. [Kneeling uuKe. You do hut lose your labour Away with him to death.-[ro Lucio] Now, sir. to you Man. my good lord I— Sweet Isabel, take my part : 337 MEASURE FOR MEASURE Act V Sc I 1 1 Lend me your knees, and all my lifo to come I '11 lend you all my life to do you scrvico. Duke. Against all sonse you do importune her : Should she kncol down in mercy of this fact. Her brother's {^host his paved bod would break. And take her hence in horror. Man. Isabel, Sweet Isabel, do yet but kneel by mc : Hold up your hands, say nothing, I '11 speak all. They say, best men are moulded out of faults, And. for the most, become much more the better For being a little bad : so may my husband. Isabel, will you not lend a knee ? Duke. He dies for Claudio's death. Isab. Most bounteous sir, [Kneeling Look, if it please you, on this man condemned, As if my brother lived. I partly think, A due sincerity governed his deeds. Till he did look on me : since it is so. Let him not die. My brother had but justice, In that he did the thing for which he died : For Angelo, His act did not o'ertake his bad intent ; And must be buried but as an intent That perished by the way. Thoughts are no subjects. Intents but merely thoughts. Mart. ' Merely, my lord. Duke. Your suit 's unprofitable : stand up, I say. — 1 have bethought me of another fault. — Provost, how came it Claudio was beheaded At an unusual hour ? Prov. It was commanded so. Duke. Had you a special warrant for the deed ? ProD. No, my good lord : it was by private message. Duke. For which I do discharge you of your olTice : Give up your keys. Prov. Pardon mc, noble lord : I thought it was a fault, but knew it not, Yet did repent me, after more advice ; For testimony whereof, one in the prison. That should by private order else have died, I have reserved alive. Duke. What 's he ? Prov. His name is Barnardine. Duke. I would thou hadst done so by Claudio. — Go fetch him hither : let me look upon him. [Exit Provost Escal. I am sorry, one so learned and so wise As you. Lord Angelo, have still appeared. Should slip so grossly, both in the heat of blood, 338 mj>wwm^mmm: i ttkii .-^•^c Act V Sc i MEASURE FOR MEASURE c I And lack of tempered judgment afterward. Ang. I am sorry that such sorrow I procure ; And so deep sticks it in my penitent heart. That I crave death more willingly than mircy : T is my deserving, and I do entreat it. Re-enter Provost, Barnardine, Claudio, mufped, and Juliet Duke. Which is that Barnardine ? Prov. This, my lord. Duke. There was a friar told me of this man. — Sirrah, thou art said to have a stubborn soul. That apprehends no further than this world. And squar'st thy life according. Thou 'rt condemned ; But, for those earthly faults, I quit them all. And pray thee, take this mercy to provide For better times to come. — Friar, advise him : I leave him to your hand. — What muffled fellow 's that ? ProD. This is another prisoner that I saved, That should have died when Claudio lost his head. As like almost to Claudio as himself. [Unuiuffles Claudio Duke. [To Isab.] If he be like your brother, for his sake Then is he pardoned ; and for your lovely sake Give me your hand, and say you will be mine, He is my brother too. But fitter time for that. By this Lord Angelo perceives he 's safe : Methinks I see a quickening in his eye. — Well, Angelo, your evil quits you well : Look that you love your wife ; her worth, worth yours.— I find an apt remission in myself. And yet here 's one in place I cannot pardon. — [ To Lucio] You, sirrah, that knew me for a fool, a coward. One all -^f luxury, an ass, a madman : Wherein have I so deserved of you, That you extol me thus ? Lucio. Faith, my lord, I spoke it but according to the trick. If you will hang me for it, you may ; but I had rather it would please you, I might be whipped. Duke. Whipped first, sir, and hanged after. — Proclaim it, provost, round about the city. If any woman 's wronged by this lewd fellow — As I have heard him swear himself there 's one Whom he begot with child— let her appear, And he shall marry her : the nuptial iinished. Let him be whipped and hanged. Lucio. I beseech your highness, do not marr\' me to a whore ! Your highness said even now, I made you a duke • good my lord, do not recompense me in making me a cuckold. * 339 MEASURE FOR MEASURE Act V Sc i Duke. Upon mine honour, thou shalt marry her. Thy slanders I forgive ; and therewithal Remit thy other forfeits. — Take him to prison, And see our pleasure herein executed. Lucio. Marrying a punk, my lord, is pressing to death, whipping and hanging. Duke. Slandering a prince deserves it. — [Exeunt officers with Lucio bhe, Claudio, that you wronged, look you restore. Joy to you, Mariana I— love her, Angelo : I have confessed her, and I know her virtue. — Thanks, good friend Escalus, for thy much goodness : There 's more behind that is more gratulate. Thanks, provost, for thy care, and secrecy ; We shall employ thee in a worthier place. — Forgive him, Angelo, that brought you home The head of Ragozine for Claudio's : The offence pardons itself. — Dear Isabel, I have a motion much imports your good ; Whereto if you '11 a willing ear incline. What 's mine is yours, and what is yours is mine. — So, bring us to our palace ; where we '11 show What 's yet behind, that 's meet you all should know. [Exeunt J . -i SMI 340 .i-'«X' •X: iY?r"^ M4giM^iimtMMm:^<, 4 ' THE MERCHANT OF VENICE t,_^ •i- \ I 1 t i 841 ■**?^^'- :i-. .r->^f^^^"<^ \ m lit'. ! i i 5 DRAiyrATTS PERSON.-R Dttkk or Vknice Prince of Mokocco "i Prince of Auhaoon J '"*"^'' ^ ^"'"'^ Antonio, a merchant of Venice Bassanio, hia friend, suitor to Portia Gratiano "j Satanio I Salarino i" f^'^"^ ^ ■^^f">^io and Bdsaanio Salerio j Lorenzo, in love triih Jeaaica Snvi^ocK, a Jew TiTBAL, a Jen, his friend Launcelot Gobbo, a cloum, servant to Shyloek, afterwaida aervant to Baa/>anio Old Gobbo, father to Lannrelot Leonardo, servant to Bas.tanio i'-althazar ) Stephano ) •"'■''""'* ^ ^''"■'*« PcBTLA, a rich heiress Xerissa, her waitinii-maid Jessica, daughter to Shyloek Magnificoes of Venice. OfHoors of the Court of Justice, Gaoler, Servants to Portia, and other Attendants SCENE.— Pori/y at Venice, and partly at Belmont 342 lyff. , jjayS^^^y* 4 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE i. ACT ONE Scene I. — Venice. A Street Enter Antonio, Salar/no, and Salanio Ant. In sooth, I know not why I am so sad. It wearies me ; you say, it wearies you ; But how I caught it, found it, or came by it, What stuff 't is made of, whereof it is born, I am to learn : And such a want -wit sadness makes of me. That I have mucli ado to Icnow myself. Sdlar. Your ndnd is tossint* on the orean, There where your art'osies with portly sail. Like signiors and rich burghers on the flood. Or, as it were, the pageants of the sea, Do overpcer the petty trallickers That curt'sy to them, do tliem reverence As they fly by them with their woven winces. Snlan. Believe me, sir, had I such venture forth. The better part of my allections would Be with my hopes abroad. I should be still Plucking the gr;iss to know where sits the wind, Peering in maps for ports, and piers, and roads ; And every object that niif^ht make me fear Misfortune to my ventures, out of doabt Would make me sad. Sdlar. My wind cooling my broth, "Would blow me to an ague when I thought What harm a wind too great might do at sea. I should not see the sandy hour-^i,'lass run, But I should think of shallows and of lliits. And see my wealthy Andrew docked in sand, Vailing her high-top lower than her ribs To kiss her burial. Should I go to church, And see the holy edilice of stone And not bethink me straight of dangerous roclcs. Which touching but my gentle vessel's side Would scatter all her spices on the stream, Enr'^be the roaring waters with mv silks ; And, in a word, but even now worth this, And now worth nothing ? Shall I have the thought To think on this, and shall I lack the thought That such a thing bechanced would make me sad ? 343 I '^ r THE MFHCHANT OF VrxlCIC Act 1 Sc i /. -^~ jifi Hut fdl not mc ; I know Antonio Js sad to think upon I.is ..iercluui.iise. My vent JJe "mV. n'"; "" ' ^"""'^ "'J' ^'^'■'""e ^^^^ *'. ^i> ventures iirc not in one bottom frusted Nor to one pinc-e ; nor is my ^vhoIc estnte ' I p.m the fortune of .'.is present year .ym;r. \\ hy , t ...n you are in love. Ant. Salar. Not In love neither •) Thnr, i f '• ^'^' ' Bocaus. you „r<. nol'n;crrv7"".rt ".re nV.'^r" "'"'"' fSZ wu ",f ""',' "-T' T ^'y >■"" --- ™ ■' y ^oine that will evermore peep through their eves And lauph ld ah>-i' -"d irum such a noble rale ; bul my chief care IS to come fairly off from the great debts ipiri'n"'^' *""^' something too prodigal, Hath left me gaged. To you, Antonio, 1 owe the most, in money and in love ; 34.=; THE MERCHANT OF VENICE Act I Sc i m And from your love I have a warranty To unburthen all my plots and purposes How to get clear of all the debts I owe. A "i"';,* ^.P^^y y°"' S°°^ Bassanio, let me know it : And If it stand as you yourself still do, Within the eye of honour, be assured, My purse, my person, my extremest means, Lie all unlocked to your occasions. I int'^.^Zr^ ^fT^-^^P' ^^'>*^^" I 1^^^ Jost one Shalt 1 Shot his fellow of the self-snnic fliqht The self-same way, with more advised watch To find the other forth, and by adventuring' hoth I oft found both. I urge this childhood proof Because what follows is pure innocvnce. I owe you much and, like a wilful vouth. That which I owe is lost ; but if vou please To shoot another arrow that sclf'vvay Which you did shoot the first, I do iiol doubt. As I will watch the aim, or to fmd both Or bring your latter liazard back apa!- . And thankfully rest debtor for tlic (ir Anl. You know me well, and heroin spend but time To wind about my love with circumstance ; And, out of doubt, you do me now more wrcug In making question of my uLlennost Than if you had made waste of ;ili I have : Then do but say to me what T should do,' That in your knowledge may by me be flonc, And I am prest unto it : therefore, speak. Bass. In Belmont is a lady ricldy left. And she is fair, and, fairer than that word. Of wondrous virtues. Sometimes from her eves I did receive fair speechless messages. Her name is Portia ; nolhins undervalued To Cato's daughter, Brutus' i'orlia ; Nor is the wide world ignorant of her worth. For the four winds blow in from every coast Renowned suitors ; and her sunny locks Hang on her temples like a {-olden fleece. Which makes her seat of Belmont Colchos' strand. And many Jasons come in (|uesl of her. O, my Antonio, had I but the menns To hold a rival place with one of I hem, I have a mind presages me sueli thrift That I should questionless be fortunate. v ^J^^' J^*^^ know'st that all my fori unes are at sea ; Neither have I money, nor commodity To raise a present sum : thorctfirc, ro f.-.r-ni • Try what my credit can in Venice do : That shall be racked even to the uttermost, 34G Act I Sc ii THE MERCHANT OF VENICE ■J I n -■ft To furnish thee to Behnont. to fair Portia. Go presently inquire, and so Avill I, \V here money is. and I no question make J o have it of my trust, or for my sake. [Exeunt Scene H.— Belmont. A Room in Portia's House Enter Portia and Nr.iiissA thifg^eat^'LTd.'"''' ''^""^' "^ "^^'^ ^^^y - --'-^^ of Ner You would be, sweet madam, if your miseries were m the same abundance as your iood fortunes are And yet for aught I see, they are as sick that surfeit wTth too much as they that starve with nothing. It is no nTean happ.ncss, therefore, to be seated in the mean : supcrl?ui?y comes sooner by white hairs, but competency lives longer For. Good sentences, and well pronounced. n ,',h/'y70uld be better, if well followed. , A^''' J ! 1° ^^'^''® ''^ ^^^y 3s to know what were Good to do. chapels had been churches, and po, men'rcott^ces pnnces palaces. It is a good divine that follows his ow'? ns ructions : I can easier teach twenty what were coo d to be done, than be one of the twenty to follow mine own teaching. The brain may devise laws for the hZT; b^t a hot temper leaps o'er a cold decree : such a hare is mad- ness, the youth, to skip o'er the meshes of good counsel the cripple. But this reasoning is not in the fas Won 1o' choose me a husband.-O me, the word choose I I ma? neither choose whom I would, nor refuse whom I dislike • so IS the wiU of a living daughter curbed by the\vi 1 of a otf nrr^JuTell^r '^'' ^'^^^^^^' ^'^^ /cannot 'iLls^e thiy/''; Yut^ '^'^®'" ^^5 «^'^r virtuous, and holy men at Ka h.' h.^ih^ H^' •^°^^- ^"^f"'"^^'**"^ ' therefore, theTot?e y in5 1 l,fl''^'''/^*^ '" ^^^'^^^ three chests, of gold, silver and lead (whereof who chooses his meaning, chooses vou 1 will, no doubt, never be chosen by any rightly but one whom you shall rightly love. But what warn li is herein thrS^'i^mT^ thee over-name them, and as thou namest l^Sl^^^'"' •' ^"^ --^'^^"^ to -y "-. -■>" Bass. Your answer to tliat. Antonio is a good man. Have you heard any imputation to the contrary? Ho ! no, no, no, no :— my meaning, in saying tie 349 Shy. Bass. Shy. »dL-. THE MERCHANT OF VENICE Act I Sc iii iumcfcnf.^l^t'iifc*'' ^^""^ y°V understand me. that he is sumcicnt . yet his means are in supposition. He hath an argosy bound to Tripolis, another to the Indies I under stand moreover upon the Rialto, he hath a th irS at Mexico ab?oa? ' Bu%'fn '' ""S T.'' ^^"^"''^^ »^« hath squanderTd h? lo H 7 '^ ^^'P^ ^^^ ^^^ boards, sailors but men • there be land-rats and water-rats, water-thieves and laid thieves I rnean pirates ; and then, there is the peril of MSswfnds and rocks : the man is, notwithstanding, sufficient Three thousand ducats ;-I think. I may take his bond '' Bass. Be assured vou may sJId'l iiiThi/!f- f'"''"* L"''''^ ' ^"^' that I may be as- BaL f it ^f '"^ '"^- * ^^^J ^ ^P^^'^ ^^itb Antonio ? Bass. If It please you to dine with us. vour Dronhp't*'\hrMP°'^' ^° ^^.^ ^^ *h« habitation which w?n h.?„^^.l' ^^® Nazante, con ured the devil into I f'n/er Antonio ^oss. This is Signior Antonio. T 1, ♦^T • f ^f"''^] How like a fawning publican he looks ! I hate hmi for he is a Christian ; But more, for that in low simplicitv He lends out money grat's, and brings down The rate of usance here with us in Venice. II 1 catch him once upon the hip I will feed fat the ancient grudge 'l bear him. He hates our sacred nation ; and he rails t.\en there where merchants most do conL'regate On me, iny bargains, and my well-won thrift, ' Which he calls interest. Cursed be my tribe If I forgive him I Bass. Shylock, do you hear ? A J"^u }J^"^ debating of my present store. And, by the near guess of my memory, /.,^^"|l°tj"stantly raise up the ^uoss Uf full three thousand ducats. What of that ? Tubal, a wealthy Hebrew of my tribe, \Nill furnish me. But soft I how many months Do you desire?-! To Antonio] Rest you fair "ood sfenior • Your worship was the last man in ou? mouths." ^ ' Ant Shylock, albeit I neither lend nor borrow By taking nor by giving of excess, Yet to supply the ripe wants of my friend, - !. D/caK a custoiii. -Is he yet possessed low much ye would ? '^''^' Ay, ay, three thousand ducats. 350 ''\ OK-^i^ Act I Sc ili THE MERCHANT OF VENICE Ant. And for three months. w'^.Sk ^ '''^"^ ^'l'"^"^. =— ^^•"•ee months ; you told me so. w*^.!*'^^^ your bond ; and let me see,— But hear you: Methought, you said, you neither lend nor borrow Upon advantage. ■^"'' I do never use it. ^u"?^'^; ^®" ''^^^^ S^'*^'^'^ ^^'^ ""cle Laban's sheep,— This Jacob from our holy Abram was (As his wise mother ^v^ought in his hchnlf) The third possessor ; ay, he was the third,— Ant. And what of him ? did he take interest ? .STiy No, not talce interest ; not as you would say Directly interest : mark what Jacob did. When Laban and himself were compromised. That all the canlings which were streaked and pied vShould fall as Jacob's hire, the ewes, beiug rank In end of autumn turned to the rams, ' And when the work of generation was Between these woolly breeders in the act. The skilful shepherd peeled me certain wands And, in the doing of the deed of kind, ' He stuck them up before the fulsome ewes. Who, then conceiving, did in eaning time ' J^all party-coloured lambs, and those were Jacob's This was a way to thrive, and he was blest • And thrift is blessing, if men steal it not A I"'' '^^^^ ^^^ ^ venture, sir, that Jacob served for • A thing not m his power to bring to pass. But swayed and fashioned by the hand of Heaven \\as this inserted to make interest good ? Or is your gold and silver ewes and rams ? Shy. I cannot tell : I make it breed as fast — But note me, signior. T' o^L n •. o . ^^^^^ ^^^ ^h'S' Bassanio ; Tne de^ il can cite Scripture for his purpose An evil soul producing holv witness Is like a villain with a smiling cheek, ^ goodly apple rotten at the heart. U, what a goodly outside falsehood hath I ^/iy. Three thousand ducats ;— 't is a s«od round ^i,m Three months from twelve, then'u-L me sefthe Jate ' t" • J^^".' ^hylock, shall we be beholding to you ? Tn £• JT'""' ^^?^«"i«' '"any a time and oft ^ In the Rialto you have rated me About my moneys and my usances : Still have I borne it with a patient shrug ; i'or suflerance is the badge of all our trut ^ ou call me misbeliever, cut-throat do<»' ' And spit upon my Jewish gaberdine, °' And all for use of that which is mine own. 351 ''«-i-t-«.'....'Pti: m s THE MERCHANT OF VENICE Act I Sc iii ?^ n h ' '^ """^ ''PP'^"' yo" "eed my help • Go to then ; you come to n,e, and you sav ^ * Ynn ^ S'* ' .""f ""'^"'^ '^^^^ moneys/' vof say so • In 'fi^f ''''^ "^"^"^ y^"'* '•heum upon ,ny be^Trd ' And foot me as you spurn a stranger cur ^^atXuld ?:^^' '' '"'^"•^>^ •« y«- -it. •• Hnth o , ^^y ^'^ y°" ^ Should I not sav Hath a dog money ? Is it possible ^'^^' ShTt'k" '."^^ ^^'^"^ thousand ducas" " ,.r ?v-^K f ^«^d Jow. and in a bondman's kev Say 'this :- ^"^"^' ^"^ ^^^^P^-g humbleness, "Fair sir, you spit on me on Wednesday 1 ist • You ?aTl'"; «"^h a day ; anoth^JIfn e'' ' I 'lllend vo ??h1,«^ ' ^l^ ^^' ^^"'^ courtesies 1 11 lena you thus much moneys "> " Ant I am as like to call thie so aealh JnV ^".f*?"" ?^"'"' *« ^P"'-" thee too ' is toThvf -''"i^ 'H' "'""^y' ^•^"d it not A K. thy friends ; for when did friendshio takP Rnt f^'*,°l^'^'''^" nietal of his friend "^ Whn 'f h'^J''^'^"" *" *hine en.my ; El'a°ct1he%'e"aUy!'°^ "^^'^^ ^^'^ ^^"- ^-e I £|d be friends wiS^ou^^^^^^^^ = kZif ^ ^^'^'"''' that you have stained me xWtl, Supply your present wants, and take no doit ' ?his iS^I ^o^f?;;"^"^^^' ^'^^ y- '" -t tar me. Buss. This were kindness. $ou:^' me to a notary, seal meVhere'"'"'" ^"^ ' ^^°^- Your single bond ; and, in a merry sport. If you repay me not on such a day In such a place, such sum or sums as are Expressed in the condition, let the ?or?eft Be nominated for an equal pound Of thrice three (i-pos thr- v-i..^ ^f ii ' . <^hn n fofV \\ ^.itue of this bond. 3.52 |if?iS*ir^'^i* LMIikilF...r':i-Jlfi»^h^ Scili Act II Sc i THE MERCHANT OF VENICE The thoughts of others !— Pray you, tell me this : If he should break iiis day, what should I gain By the exacllon of the forfeiture ? A pound of man's flesh, ti^ken from a man, Is not so estimable, profitable neilher. As flesh of muttons, beefs, or goats. I say, To buy his favour, I extend this friendship : If he will take it, so ; if not, adieu ; And for my love, I i>ay you, wrong me not. Ant. Yes, Shylock, I will seal unto this bond. S/iy. Then meet me forthwith at the notary's. Give him direction for this merry bond. And I will go and purse the ducats straight ; See to my house, left in the fearful guard Of an unllirifty knave ; and presently I will be wilii you. r„u^"f", , ^^^ *''"^- .'^t'ntl*^ Jew. [Exit Shylock ihis Hebrew will turn Christian : he grows kind. Buss. I like not fair terms and a villain's mind. Ant. Come on, in this there can be no dismay ; My ships come home a month I)cfore the day. [Exeunt fi. ACT TWO Scene L— Belmont. A Room in Portia's House Enter the Prince of Morocco, unci his Followers : Portia Nerissa, and others of her Train. Flourish cornets ' Mor. Mislike me not for my complexion, The shadowed livery of the burnished sun To whom I am a neighbour and near bred. Bring me the fairest creature northward born, Where Phoebus' fire scarce thaws the icicles. And let us make incision for your love To prove whose blood is reddest, his or mine. I tell thee, lady, this aspect of mine Hath feared the valiant ; by my love, I swear. The best regarded virgins of our clime Have loved it too. I would not change this hue. Except to steal your thoughts, my gentle queen. For. In terms of choice I am not solely led By nice direction of a maiden's eyes : Besides, the lottery of my destiny Bars me the right of voluntary choosing ; But, if my father had not scanted me And hedged me by his wit to yield myself His wife who wins me by that means I told you Yourself, renowned prince, then stood as fair ' .i)<- 353 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE Act n Sc ii As any corner I have looked on vet i- or my allcction. ^ ' Tliiipfnr. T Even for that Ithank vou • And so may I, blind fortune le^ad'inc me Andlither not attempt t?chJ"o"e'-,t''-!'n ''°'"" *""'^^' nl? ^i'narri^ge : therefore be advised ^ our hazard shall be made ^ " ^^"^ "^'""^^ To make me blest or cursea-st''Z''onlZlT'"' [Cornets, and exeunt Scene H.— Venice. A Street Enter Launcelot Gobbo from this J™ my'LsZ "'f^l'P'^^"' ^^'^ ""^ to run tempts me. s"Lg i° me^ GoSbo" "r' """'''""W. ™d good Launcelot;- or "nZd miVh^" ' I-.funw'o' Gobbo, Gobbo, use you; legs. tlke°the sUrt ru" a,fa°v" " ''T"'°' science says, — " No • inV^ h^/i u ««ay. My con- l>eed, honest Gobbo': "or as afor.'.n-^'* Launcelot ; take lot Gobbo • do not nt, . ' aforesaid, " honest Launce- Well, the mostcoura.: "ois'S bT'"^ ^•^''? ^^^ »»"«"« ■' says the fiend ; " a^^■nyr'Jyl^^^^^^ V ^'^ ^ " rouse up a brave mind," sa?s the liend '• ..f^^he heavens, my conscience, hancinc ahnnf tL '. ^""^ ^""- Well. s^s?\L'i.ToSr tr '?^"-»-"-?„^« -'or. indeed, ^yl-lher-id'^reSl-L^ScKS^'^tS;; 354 im'.: i Act II Sc U THE MERCHANT OF VENICE grow to-he had a kind of taste :-well. my conscience ?' h '^^ ?^f^°*' ^""^^^ "°^" " Cud{?e," says the fiend : Budge not, says my conscience. " Conscience." sav I you counsel well ; " " fiend." say I, " you counsel weU : " to be ruled by my conscience, I should stay with the Jew mv master, who (God bless the mark) is a kind of devU : and to run away from the Jew, I should be ruled by the fiend' who, saymg your reverence, is the devU himself. Certainly' the Jew IS the very devil incarnation, and, in my conscience my conscience is but a kind of hard conscience t(. offer lo counsel me to stay with the Jew. The fiend gives the more friendly counsel : I will run, fiend ; my heels are at your commandment ; I will run. Enter Old Gobbo, wUh a basket vvaylo Ma'sfer^Je'^vrf "^'"' ^'"' ' ^^'^ ^°" ^'^^^^ '^ '"^^ tJhlT' i^''f'^ ^ heavens, this is my true-begoUen father, who, bemg more than sand-blind, high gravel- blind knows me not :-I will try confusions with him waylo IVlSr J^X? ^^"''^"^"' ' ""''^ ^«"' ^'^^^'^ i^ '^^ hJtVr^i, '^"'"'J y °? y^"'" "S^^ *^^"^ at the next turning, but at the next turning of all, on your left ; marry, at the very next turn mg, turn of no hand, but turn down in- directly to the Jew's house. ro?°*' ?^, ^""^'^ sonties, 't will be a hard way to hit Can you tell me whether one Launcelot. that dwells witli him, dwell with him, or no ? Ar.^r"' '^^^^ y°" **' y°""8 '"^^^ster Launcelot "i—lAside] Mark me now; now will I raise the watcrs.-[rnM Talk you of young Master Launcelot ? ^ ^ Oob No master, sir, but a poor man's son : his father Godte L^IA :^:Zr '''''''''' P°- --• ' -" yoing^lasr^'^nc'efot^^^'" '^ '"'''' ' ^•"'' - '^'^ ^' ?nnn ^''^ J^orship's friend, and Launcelot, sir. f ,>it . ' P'"^y y°"' ^''9°' "I'J i":in. ergo, I beseech vou talk you of young Master Launcelot ? "eseecnyou, fnnn I ^^""^elot, an 't please your mastership. i^aun Ergo Master Launcelot. Talk not of Master F^s^t n.'.r'- ' '°^*^^ y*'""S gentleman (ac^Jrding to i-ates and Destinies, and such odd sayings the Sistor^ Thrn« and such branches of learning) is^^nS^d deceased -' as you would say in plain terms, gone to heaven"' ' °'' Gob. Marry, God iorbld I the boy was the verv st«fT of my age, my very prop. ^ ^^ "**" or^aTon PMn °°^ ^?^ ^ ^"^«'^' °^ ^ hovel-post, a staff, or a prop .^— Do you know me, father ? *- » » "'-'*"» 355 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE m '/fir Act II s sioul) alive or dead "^ "'^ ^'"^ (God rest Aaan. Nay' ndeLr"Jf ''"'^ '.:''"^ = ^ "^"^^^ vou not fail Of the k.^winrn e JtV''' >'°"i: *•>•««' y«u "?!« his own cluld. \\el old m , //'''^./■•'ir ^^^^^ ^"0 your son. [Kneels] Ghi^ Z'lnl h.'" " ^^^ "«^» come to lisht; murder cinnn?M f '■'"«• ^ruth w may but in ti,'e Tnd tJuth ^Vj? ^'^ ^"'•^' « '"-"'« »« Lau^elol!%'bo;.'"' '''''' "^- "^ ^"^ -^« you are n, bul'Xe mc"vor'i,l^i' ^''''"r "" '"^^ 'o«''ng about i f h^f*; ?^'' ""'"^ ^s Margery, indeed • r mi i thou be Launcelot fhnn o-/ V"'*^*^^ • ' H bo sworn, i Lord worshipped „igK? he LT'"Jk 7" I,'"'' """ "'"od got : thou hast got more hair \,J^\'S^ ", ^'"'' h"" th,„ my nil-horse has on his tail ^ "'""• '"an Dobbir backward. "l1°r's'ure ho iad" »■»' Dxh^n'^ tail grow, I ha« o» „y fa"; Xn'f last's"v°'',fi„';''"- "" "'' '"' '""" m,d1hy'-„:^^tir''a°«Tee''7 'l°ha;';''KL'ir <'°-' "">» How grec you now ? brought him a present. set^up'my'S'trrij. awa v'?o "?' wl.r "* P^^*' «« ^ have run some ground. My mSer^c V " "''t ""^^^ *^^' ^ ha% e present 1 t^ve him a hJltT^ ' l arn fo"'V!.''' ^'^'' ^'"^ ^ You may tell every Snger I hav^ wm!'''^'^ V''' '''^'^'■ I am glad you are coine • aivo JJ '"^ ^^^'- ^'^t'l^'- Master Bassanio, who Tndeed niv^. ^""''^ P"""'^"* ^^ on^' I serve not him, I wUl run as f.? afr'^rt "'^ ''^'^''''^^ ' ^^ O rare fortune here come? uJ ^""^ ^''' '''"^ ground.- for I am a Jew,' if ^l IrT^^e 'i:^Tn'y i^n^g^r'^"' '^^^^^ '' supper beTead^:? the /a'r'th":!;. i'S'^ ^« «« lasted, that these letters delivered vutiLl ''•' °' *^* '=>«'^^' S^'« desire Gr.tiano to^c^oleron'^t^o mrJ^^glnV-^^"- ^^^ /fifun. To him, father ^^^"'' '^ -^'^^''a/i/ Gof». God bless your worship I •^f«. n sc ii J rest liis >u not. ou mifiht It knows news of ruth wil/ ^n's son are not Act II Scil THE MERCHANT OF VENICE i ^fr J'"'«'y^'"*=>- Wouldst thou auRht with me ? I uou. Here s my son, sir, a poor boy,— I iK ♦ "• ,i^**f ° P'^"'" "^^y- s''"' b»t the rich Jew's nnn f thnt would, slr,-as my father shall specify.- ' lo^efve^^ ^""^^ ° ^'"'''^ infection, sir, as one would say, ^'«""- Indeed, the short and the long is. I serve the .low and have a deslre,-as my father shall specify!!!' '^' .n?M o. * '"'*'*''r ^"'' ^^ ^''-'^^'ne your worships rever- ence) are scarce cater-cousins,— Aaun To be brief, the very truth Is, that the lew having done me wrong, dolh cause me,-as my fathe? heinp I hope, an old man, shall frutlfy unto you -!- ' Ool>. I have here a dish of doves, that I would bestow upon your worship ; and my suit is.— ^ I^aiin. In very brief, the suit is impertinent to mvsclf as your worship shall know by this honest old min • nn!I' though I say it, though old mJn. yet poo? man, my father' Bass. One speak for both.-What would you ? Laun. Serve you, sir. Gob. That is the very defect of the matter, sir. S',? S .1^"'''^ !•'*''' ''■'=" ' ^''O" h^st obtained thy suit • SIi> lock thy master, spoke with me this day, ^ * And hath preferred thee, if it be preferment 1 o I( ive a rich Jew's service, to become The follower of so poor a gentleman. God, sir, and he hath enough ^ ^ °^ Bass. Thou speak'st it well. Go, father with thv «on T.ake leave of thy old master, and inquire ^ '°"- J y lodging out. To his Followers] Give him a liverv More guarded tnan his fellows' : sec it done ^ Laun. lather, in.— I cannot get a service no • T hoxr« the edge o a fea her7,o!i hln '" )'""' °' "^>' ''^« ^^ith if PnrtnM» K ^^^^"er-bcfj^ here are simp e 'scanes • weU aSecorne' •%?;?' '^^'^ '"^ ^ood wench for tk?s ge.-Tr -1!: of an eye. ' YE^eunt^'i'^u -^"^^^ Thff ^n • ^ P K y. "'^^' goodTe^onarToT'thinronThls^'''^' Lon Ai'T'"'! •'^^^"^'"tance : hie thee, go. Leon. My best endeavours shall be done herein. 357 Mii^m w THE MERCHANT OF VENICE J' f ' iif Hi f Act 11 Sc Enter GnATiANo fco' ^^^^^ '* y°"^ master? Gra. Bass. Cira. liass. Sisnior nassanlo.— ^''"'^^'''' s^''. he walks. [Ex tiraliano. I have a suit to you. B^IZnJ'^ must not deny J?" I'^sJ'lJ^'ll^l^,'^,, , ThoHrt t'oo^^;nt?or.?.J"'a^nd b"!;!?, '^^ ^•^^^' ^^^^^-^ Parts that become thee hnppSy eno ' oh ''°'" ' Ami in such eyes as ours an S not r .'f « But where thou art nnf tni,. V '•'"'", To a May ,vHh son.e c-old dr"T/„Y ^, .'^e'^', r"" And lose my hopes. ^^ * go lo, Usp all «h« ^1 ' ^'fi"' ^"<* say amen r-^ XT .' ^"^" s^c your be iriiuf B/;''hat'tT/„t.'4T./°-"'«'>' = ^°"" '-" not gage n,e YoTh^?'r^* you rather^'t^opufor' P''^- I have some business '^'^^ y°" ^^'^^ •' SCK. ,„._The San,e. A R„o„ .„ Suv.ocks House Enter Jessica rm<; Launcelot Didst rob it o^^:^i^/\^^,^». p/Kf I am provided of a torch-bearer. Salar. Ay, marry, I '11 be gone about it straight. Salan. And so will I. 359 THE MERCHANT OF VF. CE Act n Sc V At rCofio«^' I J . ^'^^^ f'^c and Gratiano >5L "?r'. '°'^^'"« 5°"^e hour hence. iialar. r is good we do so. It wfn l^% ' K-^"' ^^^^^"^ ^«"^« to Heaven. And n.vL ^i' ^'' «.^''*'^ daughter's sake ; And never dare misfortune cross her foot Unless she do it under tins oxcuso^^ ' That she is issue to a faithless Jew Come go with me, peruse this as thou ooest • Fair Jessica shall be my lorch-b.arer!^ ' [Exeunt Scene V.-The Same. Before Shvlock's House Enter Shvlock and Launcelot i^r* WK , :. ^^'^y' J^'ssica I I could do nothing without bidding ' ii'n/cr Jessica Jes Call you ? What is your will ? Sfiy. I am bid forth to siii),H.r, Jossin • liiit yet I 11 go in liate, to food ui)on The prod.ga Chrislian.-Jossioa mv girl Look to ,ny houso.--I am ri.,i,i Iom h to co • JopThTw'"'' "' ^'-I^'-^'^ving low.n s „v rest' for I did dream of money-bags lo-ni" ht cxpTyour repnmcir"' '''' '' '' '""^ ^^""8 "^^^^er doth •J>/'y. So do I Ills. sa^'^ si;^S^^!':^,!;;;j;i,--l^-^ togolhor.-I wU, no. for nothing (hat mx , oi ?on ^ n'^ ^r" ''*'' ^''«n «t ^vas not -: Ao. >\cun.Miay was tour year in th'afternoon ^"" 360 Act II Sc vi THE MERCHANT OF VENICE Shij. What, are Ihere masques ?— Hear you me, Jessica, Lock up my doors, and when you hear the drum, And the vile squeaking of the wry-necked fife, Clamber not you up to the casements then, Nor thrust your head inlo the public street To gaze on Christian fools with varnished f:ices : But stop my house's ears, I mean my casements. Let not the sound of shullow foppery eiiler My sober house.— Hy Jacob's stall I swear, I have no mind of fensiing forth to-night : But I will go : — Go you before me, sirrah. Say, I will come. Laun. I will go before, sir.— Mistress, look out at window, for all this ; Tiiere will come a Christian by. Will be worth a Jewess' eye. [Exit What says that fool of Ilngar's oiTspring ? ha ! His words were '* Farewell, mistress ; " nothing else. The patch is kind enough, but a huge feeder. Snail-slow in protif, and he sleeps bv day More than the wild cat : drones liive not with me, Therefore I part with him. and part with him To one that I would have !.im help to waste His borrowed purse. — Well, .(essic i, go in. Perhaps I will return immediately. Do as I bid you ; shut doors alter you : Fast bind, fast find ; A proverb never stale in thrifty mind. \Exil Jes. Farewell ; and if my fortune be not crost, I have a father, you a daujjiter, lost. [Exit Shij. Jes. Shy. Scene VI. — The same Enter Ghatiano and Salaiuno, masqued Gra. This is the penthouse, under which Lorenzo Desired us to mike stand. ^"^'^''- His hour is almost past. Gra. And it is marvel he outdwelis his hour, For lovers ever run before the clock. Salar. O I ten times faster Venus' pij:e(>ns fly To seal love's bonds new matle, tluui tliev are wont To keep obliged faith unforfeited 1 Gra. That ever holds : who risetii from a feast With that keen appetite that he sits down ? Where is the horse that doth untread again 1 lis tedious measures with the unbated lire 'That he did pace them first ? Ail tilings that are. Are with more spirit chased than enjoyed. 38— I.* 351 I - ' i F ; Hi: THE MERCHANT OF VENICE Act II Sc vi How like a younkcr or a prodigal The scjirlcd bark puis from iier native bay, Hugged and embraced by the strumpet wind I How hke the prodi-al ('oth she return /ilh over- weathered ribs and ragged sails. Lean, rent, and beggared by the strumpet wind 1 Enter Lorenzo It^' SA?oM%r.° n? ^ "'""'^ '• "^°'« °' Ihis hereafter. v«t r K * ^ ^^J'"'^^' yo"'" patience for my long abode • Not I. but my aJIairs, have made you wait • ' PH w.rK '^f P'';^'' ^^ P'^>' ^''« thieves for wives I 11 uatch as long for you then.-Approach : Here dwells my father Jcw.-Iio. who's within •> Enter Jessica abooe, in boy's clothes aik"; t .^^" ^'■^ '^'°" ■• Tell me for more certainty Albeit I'll swear that I do know yoar tongue ^' Lor. Lorenzo, and thy love. Fnr'wh.V'"''"?''' ''*'''^'"" ' ^"^ "^y 'ove, indeed, Tor who love I so much ? And now who knows But you, Lorenzo, v>ht thcr I ain yours '> Lor. Heaven ami thy thou^hls'are witness that thou art Jcs Here, catch this casket ; it is worth the oains I am glad 't is ni^;ht, you do not look on me. ^ l;or I am much ashamed of my c.Kchan^e • Hut love is blind, and lovers cannot see ' I he pretty follies that lh<.n.selves commit; Tn cii ^^^f''"^'^' ^^'P'^ '""^'^^'^ ^^'»"lt» blush To see me thus transformed to a boy Lor. Descend, for you must be mv torch-bearer Jes Vhat. must 1 hold a candle 'lo mv shfunes'? n,ey ,n themselves, good sooth, are too ioo liX VVhy t js an olfice ot discovery, love ° And I should be obscured. R™ in the lovdy garnish oTAV""' """' liut come at once ; For the close night doth plav the runaway And we are stayed lo. at liassanios leas?' Jcs. I will make fast the doors, and "ild m-self With some more ducats, and be with you slr."!:;ht era Now, by my hood, a Gentile, and r'^fjei'"" "'"'" Lor IJeshrew me. but I love Iut heartily • For.he.sv.lse.if Ic.anju(],uofher ^' And fair she ,s. If that mine eves be tnie. And therefore, like hers- If. v!iso. fair -Lf,' >Saaii she iie piaeed m my eons! :nit soul".' ' 302 Sc vi T. le Acl II Scvii THE MERCHANT OF VENICE Enter Jkssica What, art thou come ?— On gentlemen ; away I Our masquing mates by this time for us stay. [Exit with Jessici and Salarino Enter Antonio Ant. Who's there ? Gra. Signior Antonio I Ant. Fie, fie, Gratiano, where are all the rest ? 'T is nine o'clock, our friends al! stav for vou : No niusque to-night : tlu' wind is come about, l^nssanio presently will go aboard ; I have sent twenty out to seek for you. Gra. I am glad on 't, I desire no more delight Than to be under sail and gone to-night. [Exeunt art. cwc Scene VII.— Belmont. An Apartment in Portia's House Enter Pohtia, willi the Piunce of Morocco, and their Trains Por. Go. draw aside the curtains, and discover llie several caskets to this noble prince :— Now make your choice. .. wu'^' ^^^ *'"'^' *^^ ^"•''' '^^^^ ^^'^ inscription bears, Who chooselh me lihail gain what many men desire." The secontl. silver, which this promise carries, "Who chooseth me shall get as much as lie deserves." This thLd, dull lead, with warning all as blunt, ''Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hnlli." I low shall I know if I do choo.se the right '? Por. The one of them contains my picture, prince : If you choose that, then I am yours withal. Mor. Some god direct my judgment I Let me see : - I will survey the inscriptions back again. What says this leaden casket ? •• Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath." Must give~for what ? for lead ? hazard for lead ? This casket threatens. Men that hazard all Do it in hope of fair advant;i,<;cs : A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross, I 'II then nor give, nor hazard, aught for load. What says the silver with her virgin hue 7 '• Who chooseth me shall -et as much as he deser\ is ' As much as he deserves ?— Pause there. Morocco And weigh thy value wiih an even hand. ' If thou beest rated by thy estimation. Thou dost dtbiTve enough ; and vet enough May not extend so far as to the iady ; 36.3 m I IL ■ »f THE MERCHANT OF VENICE Act H Sc vii And yet to be afeard of my desorvinc ^Vere but a weak disabling of »,vs "f^ As much as I deserve I— Whv th^f 'c f. . ^ f do in birth deserve her. a S'inTcrtunis "^ ' But more than Uwsc, in love I do d^- serve Ltt s SCO once more tliis saving ftpyvcd in aol.l • From thJ f -^ • '''' '"*^ world desires her 1 rem the four corners <»f thn ...,rii, ti • "« ,'>"•<■■' " 'lescTls. and tho vas Iv "ihl'l lostop the toroisn siiiiils. l,„| ihcy conic As o or a brook, to soe lair i'orlhi. ' Is"t nJ^r ","■«: <<""ai"s hor heavenly picture TO 'ti'S s'o't r.? t™?,::;;,?. 'Tt^;,.r:; ~'' ' ''™""""" S amped m gold, but that's i.iscnlpe i upon • But here an angol in a rrolde„ Ih.i^ ^ " ' Lies all within. Dehver me the ;' . Theri Jm'"y!:^f ^^' ^"''^^^ ^ -" "^ !"V form lie there. ^.^ondca.h,witl^-ld^^^^^^^^ A/a^// a ni-m A/.s ///^ /,„//, ^o/^ ' Jsiit my outs!,!,- to behold • (iilded lorubs do ivomxs infold {'. '" •'/'^'^ /"•' " OS wise (IS hold ^oung in lind?s. in jinl,nirnt \m j our ai,s,rer ha I not hPcn inscrolVd ^:oid..nde,M.^;;;:r/;:;;;,;;;lr^-^'^-''/^.'' ' A<^ni.», adieu, f huvo to-v ..r.-.^ , ', ! ^" : '» taice a tcdiou. leave': .hnsll,;;.;:;';;,. ,£^„ 364 iA;j^w^3 ^*/- _;....- Scvii Act II Sc viii THE MERCHANT OF VENICE Por. A gentle riddance. Draw the curtains ; fio. Let all of his complexion choose me so. {Exeunt ket it Scene VIII. — Venice. A Street Enter Salarino and Salanio Salar. Why, man, I saw Bassanio under sail : With liim is Gratiano gone alonj? ; And in their ship, I'm sure, Lorenzo is not. Satan. The villain Jew with outcries raised the Duke, Who went with him to search Bassaiiio's ship. Salar. He came too late, the ship was under sail : But there the Duke was given to understand Til at in a gondola were seen together Lorenzo and his amorous Jessica. B'sides, Antonio certified the Duke Tliey were not with liassanio in his ship. Satan. I never heard a passion so confused, So strange, outrageous, aiul so variable, As the dog Jew did utter in the streets : " My daughter ! — O my ducats ! — O my daughter ! Fled with a Christian I — O my Christian ducats ! Justice ! the law I my ducats, and my daughter I A sealed bag, two seale^d bags of ducats, Of double ducats, stolen from me by my daughter ! And jewels, two stones, two rich and precious stones. Stolen by my daughter I — .Justice I find the girl 1 She hath the stones u[)ou her, and the ducats ! " Satar. Wiiy, all the boys in Venice follow him. Crying, his stones, liis daughter, and his ducats. Satan. Let good .\ntonio look he keep his day, Or he shall pay for this. Satar. Marry, well remembered. I reasoned with a Frenchman yesterday. Who tohl me, in the narrow seas that part The French and English, there miscarned A vessel of our country richly fraught. I thought upon Antonio when he told me. And wished in silence tliat it were not his. Satan. Ynu were best to tell Antonio what you hear ; Yet do not suddenly, for it may grieve him. Satar. A kinder gentleman 'treads not the earth. I saw Bassanio and Antonio part : Bassanio told him he would niakf some speed Of his return : he answered — " Do not so ; Slubber not business for my sake, liassanio. But stav the v«'rv rini'ii' f>f f!i?^ t •- r : 1 1 1 And for the Jew's bond which ht hath of me. Let it not enter in your mind of love ; 305 h^ THE MERCHANT OF VENICE As shall convenientlv hli ^^^"^^ °' ^^ve He ti ^!:iSr^^^i^^ ''-' I pray thee, let us go and find hir!.^ T^^"^ ^^'^ !"'«• And quicken his embraced h^a^^es?'' W 1 th some delight or other "''''^"^" Act II Sc ix Do we so. [Exeunt ■< y?u Choose u;„'t''X^Jf„"^ n'nf c'n'f ^'^- "">'"-= P*™ ■■ Straight shall our n.inli , ri. "nta'niil. S"t if you fail, rtK 'l^^f ' ■>« =o'omni»ed ; >""ra!;%«°- -^iS'-r-"' Of the right asurn'et'fn 'u,!;',')!; « ' '^'U ■■ Who chooscd, me m,2? - '""'• ■■""1 ^aso l^;,,. What says tho golden clu-L!]n n f""'- "•h.t MK.ny m.;,'",.. r" '^,i;';,« '.;' "»ny nu.„ desire." % I R. f„„, „,„Hih„le, lh-,1 i, ' "7'' '"■■'> •>« '"I'lia ^-ii^ls in .he xv<.;n,:'\!!'V.::'^^:J^^"- '■•- the nKuU.t, ^^ca in inc lorce and r;;;,;) ;i';;;;;;:.^';;^'"' 4ff-''Mr,m^)^ \m>C. '^^^i^^^m Scix Act II Sc ix THE MERCHANT OF VENICE unt ;Iit. ns. I will not choose what many men desire. Dccausc I will not jinnp with common spirits And rank me with the barbarous multitudes. Why, then to thee, thou silver treasure-house ; Till nie once more what title thou dost bear : " Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves." And well said too ; for who shall ^^o about To cozen fortune and be honourable Without the stamp of merit ? Let none presume To wear an undeserv')se amiss. Some there l>e tlud sliadiuvs kisi ; Such li(tve [yut a slmdoiv's Idiss : There be fools alive, I ivis. Silvered o'er, mid so inns this : Take wIkiI vije ijoti will !•■ be i, J wilt ever he i/our head : So be qone ; aim are spal. Still more fool I sh:i!l r.pnrar liV the lime I liii^;cr liert' : With one fools head 1 caii'.e to woo, Pit I go r.Nvay Vritb t'---o. — Sw'ct. adiru. I'll \n'0\) my oa'li. Patiently to bear my wrotli. [':v€unf \rragon and Trnfn i; II THE MERCHANT OF VENirP p ^ VLNICE Act HI Sci O. these Sberale It^T ''"^'^ ^"e moth. ^or. Come, draw the curtain. Nerissa. ,. ^"f^r a Messenger Mess. Where is my lady ? A young Von",' an „„T„'' ,"''-""<■" "t y' To signify the •.;^;°S,''"' ™""'' ""'uri-' So iilcely an nnillass^do'/o '^1"°' ""'' As itlTV °" "'"'y «""""»■• was n( hand ACT THREE Scene I.— Venice. A Street ^"/' 'J'«nRerous bunod, astheysayjtnivnnih:,> "' '"""^ ''' t-'i' sliin lie of her word. ^ ^' '"'^ ^"''''^ ^''V^'^ be an honest woman Salan. I would sli(> w ever kunppod fringer or ,nZ', '^"i ''^''"^' ""^ ^"^^'P in that as wept for the death of ,?', ^•'''' "^•'«''t>ours believe sh^ ^^Ihout any slips o'prolixiv'^.. •'"''^'"'^- ^"' '^ s tr ' ;>/ ^'IK-, that tiK- f,.fo^ A ,;' ;7r'':"'^^'f^'''"'i'iMm^^^^^^ tl'^'t i had a title ^ood em ''t 'keen .'"""'' Antonio-O. J"f'r. Come, the full sf o > ^' '^'' "^'"^' ^^'^mpany- .V'/t;n. 11;,, ■vvhnt sf>^n.< iu... .. iiuth lost a ship. "- '• '''''" ' ^vTiy, the end is, ju S68 Act III Scl THE MKRCHANT OF VENICE Salar. I would It might prove the end of his losses Salan. Let me say " amen " betimes, lesl the devil cross my prayer, for here he comes In the likeness of a Jew. Enter Shylock How now, Shylock, what news among the merchants ? bhy. You knew, none so well, none so well as you. of my daughter s flight. •' ' .1 t°^"'''A Tu"^^ '• ^"*''''" • '• '°'' ^y P^''t, knew the taUor that made the wings she flew withal. ^vi^n-^r. ^"^^ ^A^u"''*';. ^^^ ^'^ ^'^^ P''^'"t' »^new the bird sas fledged ; and then it is the complexion of them aU to leave the dam. Shi/. She is damned for it. ^^^^°''' .7^^^ '* *=ertain, if the devil mav be her judce Shif. My own flesh and blood to rebel ! ' Satan. Out upon it, old carrion, rebels it at these years *> Shy. I say my daughter is my flesh and blood. • ♦/■• u *'^*^ '* ^^^^ dillerence between thy flesh and hers than between jet and ivory ; more between your bloods than there is between red wine and rhenish. But tell us, do you hear whether Antonio have had any loss at sea or no V Shy There I have another bad match ; a bankrupt a prodigal, who dare scarce show his head on the Rialto ' hi.rfK/^'^ T"^ ^"^ *^""^^ ^'^ ^"^"8 upon the mart : I ot' h m tl ."^ ^u- H^""^; ^^ '^^' ^°"^ ^o *=a» me usurer ; Kl h m look to his bond : he was wont to lend money for a Christian courtesy ; let him look to his bond. 1 • ?^ ^: ^y' ^ ^^ ^^^^' '*■ he forfeit, thou wilt not take his flesh ; what 's that good for ? if ^^ To bait flsh withal ; if it will feed nothing else, t will feed my revenge. He hath disgraced me and Inndered n>e half a million, lau^'hed at my losses.^nocked at my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted mv bafa^ins rca onr/am'/'^'''t"l^ ^"^'"'^^ ' ^nd what?rh7s reason / I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eves f hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections pas sions ? fed with the same food, hurt with tlu same weapons subject to the same diseases, healed by the s^mrSs' ChSlian'i; 7'"h''' '''' 'K''"^' -inte/and s.mTneras a Uir slian is ? If you prick us. do we not bleed '> if von tickle us, do we not lauqh ? if you poison us, do we not die ? and .f you wroni- us. shall we not reven-. ' ' Jf we are like you in the rosl, we will resemble you in that If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his hundlity 5 revenge /i^^l'^'f."''" ^^'••>"" ' ? ^vhat news from Genoa ? thou found my daughter ? ^-enoa / nn?.tr. ' °""" "■"' "'"■^'' ' '"" ""-■'' <" h". but cr,„„„l Slu,. What what, what ? ill luck, ill luck ? I spoke with some of the saUors thnt escaped the Tub Shij. true V Tnh. -Shar"."" t:;; «'•:-' Ti'^to?."" »-- «"°" -- ^ my tu I^n.^"^^„;r^c"o;r!ifc^.'."a?". ...U^/," ^^'^ «' ducats I "ULdis ai a sittmg ! fourscore company ?^v'ejr.\;';Twc.,°r'h^"'""';' ,'^"<''"'" '" "v Shil I oJ , v. s.^/'T he cannot choose but breik a^^"AurZ\v:z;':°'"'' "" ' ^'"« """ "^ '•"« «' y-- ,..„"'!;';. ,P"* "P"" her 1 Thou tortura.l n.c T.,h^i • ■• /^^^^S^^c«i-;Vf^--!:i^-;™^i^- :!70 m^.e*J.x W^ Act III Scil THE MERCHANT OF VENICE Tub. But Antonio Is certainly undone. Shy. Nay. that 's true, that 's very true. Go. Tubal, fee me an onicer. bespeak him a fori night before. 1 will have the heart of him. if he forfeit ; for were ho out of Nenice. I can make what mertliandise I will. Co. ro, Tubal, and meet me at our synagogue : go, good Tul);d • at our synagogue, Tubal. ^ " [lixcunt SfRNE 11. Relmont. A noom In Poutia's II<.use Enter Bass.kmo, Poivnx, (iiiAfiANo, Nkius.sa, and Attendants Por. I pray you, tarry ; pause a day or two Before you hazard, for in choosiuj,' wrong I lose your company ; tlierefore, forbear awiiile. There 's something tells me. but It is not lovr. I would not lose you,~and you know yourself. Hate counsels not in such a quality ; But lest you should not understand me well (And yet a maiden hath no fondue hut thou(,'hl) I would detain you here some month or two Eoforc you venture for me. I could tench you How to choose right.— but then I am forsworn ; .So wdl I never be : so may you miss me ; But if you do, you '11 make me wnsh a sin, That I had been forsworn. Beshrew your eyes. They have o'erlooked me, and divided me : One half of me is yours, the other half vours, Mine own, I would say ; but if mine, tiion yours. And so all yours. O, these naughty titiu-s Put bars between the owners and their ri"hts • And so, though yours, not yours ;- prove U so, Let Fortune go to hell for it, not I I speak too long ; but 't is to poise the time, l^o eke It, and to draw it out in length. To sUi-j you from election. Buss I ^.t me choose. For as I am, I live upon the rack. wf^/"". ^'P*^" ^^^ "^'^' J5:iss;niio : then confess What treason there is min.-'ed wilh vuur love w('"u • ^'*'"^' ^"^ ^^""^ "«'>' treason of mislrust Which makes me fear the enjovinq of my love Ihorc may as well be amity and lif.> 'Twecn snow and lire as treason and nv love / or. Ay, but I foar you sp-.-ak upon' il.e rack, NVlicre men enforct^d do speak aiiytliiii!,' ir''- ^!:''n"\'''' '"'' '"^*- •'"'' ^'" fonRss the truth. J or. Well then, coafcss and live. ''^^- Confess and love, 371 ^ir2::ii<:U^Lj.^^i^ ^^^^ --^ MlMM^ MICROCOPY RESOLUTION TEST CHART (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2) 1.0 I.I 1.25 1^ ■ 50 2.8 3.2 I 40 1.4 II 2.5 2.2 2.0 1.8 1.6 A APPLIED IIVMGE I ^^ '653 tdst Mam Street g'.S Rocnesler, New York 14609 USA •-as (716) 482 - 0300 - Phone ^^ (716) 288 - 5989 - Fax THE MERCHANT OF VENICE Act HI Scii li.id been the very sum of my confession : O happy torment, when my torturer Doth teach me answers for deliverance : But let me to my fortune and the caskets. [Curtain drawn from before the caskets Por. Away then, I am locked in one of them, If you do lovo me, you will fmd me out. Nerissa and the rest, stand all aloof. Let music sound, while he doth ninke his choice. Then, if he lose, he makes a swan-like end, Fading in music. That *he comparison May stand more proper, my eye shall be the stream And watery dealh-hcd for him. He may win ; And what is music then ? then music is Even as the flourish when true subjects bow To a ncw-ciowndd monarch ; such it is, As are those dulcet sounds in break of day That creep into the dreaming bridegroom's ear. And summon him to marriage.— Now he gons. \\ ith no less presence but with much more love Th m young Alcides when he did redeem The virgin tribute paid by howling Troy To the sea-mcnster : I stand for sacrilfce. The rest aloot are the Dardanian wives, AViih bleared visages, come forth to view The issue of the exploit : go, Hercules, Live tliou, I live : — with much, much more dismay, I view the fight than thou that mak'st the fray. ' A song, the whilst Bassanio comments on the caskets to himself Tell me where is fancy bred. Or in the heart, or in the head ? How begot, how nourished? Replij, repU]. It is engendered in the eyes, With gazing fed, and fancy dies In the cradle where it lies. Let us all ring fancy's knell : I 'II begin it, — Ding, dong, bell. All. Ding, dong, bell. j'iass. So may the outwnrd shows be least themseivcs : The world is still deceived with ornament. In law, what plea so tainted and corrupt BuL, being seasoned with a gracious voice. Obscures the show of evil ? In reiigiun, \Vlia1 damned error but some soJu-r brow V\lll bless it and r.pprove it with a text. Hiding tlie gross:u>ss with fair ornanKi.t ? 372 m^mmw. Hit ^>?-^3!tiJ^>^<^ Sc ii Act III Sc ii THE MERCHANT OF VENICE There is no vice so simple but assumes Some mark of virtue on his outward parts. How many cowards, whose hearts are all as false As stairs of sand, wear yet upon tluir chins The beards of Hercules and frowning Mars, Who, inward searched, have livers white as milk. And these assume but valour's excrement, To render them redoubted. Look on beauty. And you shall see 't is purchased by the weight. Which therein works a miracle in nature. Making them lightest that wear most of it : So are those crisped snaky golden locks. Which make such wanton gambols with the wind Upon supposed fairness, often known To be the dowry of a second head. The skull that bred them in the sepulchre. Thus ornament is but the gulled shore To a most dangerous sea ; the beauteous scarf Veiling an Indian beauty ; in a word, The seeming truth which cunning times put on To entrap the wisest. Therefore, thou gaudy gold, Hard food for IMidas, I will none of thee ; Nor none of thee, thou pale and common drudge 'Tween man and man : but thou, thou meagre lead. Which rather threat'nest than dost promise aught, Thy plainness moves me more than eloquence,'' And here choose I. Joy be the consequence 1 Por. How all the other passions fleet to air. As doubtful thoughts, and rash-embraced dcsnair. And shuddering fear, and green-tyed jealousy 1 love, be moderate, allay thy ec'stacv. In measure rain thy joy, scant this excess : 1 feel too much thy blessing 1 make it less, For fear I surfeit 1 Bass. What fmd I here ? ^ . „ ,, . [Opening the leaden casket Fair Portia's counterfeit. W^hat demi-god Math come so near creation ? Move these eyes ? Or whether, riding on the balls of mine. Seem they in motion ? Here are severed lips Parted with sugar breath, so sweet a bar Should sunder such sweet friends. Here in her hairs, The painter plays the spider and hath woven A golden mesh to entrap the hearts of men Faster than gnats in cobwebs. But her eyes. How could he see to do thorn ? ha\inrr mnde one 'Methinks it should have power to steal both his. And leave itself unfurnished : yet look, how far The substance of my praise doth wrong this shadow in underprizing it, so far this shadow 373 JWLrtii^ '^JJr-;. ; m_ m : THE MERCHANT OF VENICE Act Til Q " Chance as fair, and choose as true Since this fortune falls to you. Be content, and seek no new I would be trebled twenty times mlolf- tiut she may learn ; happier than thic She IS not bred so duU buL she can Lnr'n . Happiest of all is, that her gent?e%nfrit ' Commits Itself to yours to be S ecled Are yours mvTord ?' 'l'?'^ ^^'^ ^"""^^ "^vsolf, Whic'h wheS'^-oa part fx^m 1^7;;'"' ^'^^ ^'"-' Let it presagc^he'r'urorvou? ^^e '"'' "'^^^■' OnH? ,^Iadam, you have bereft p,o of al! xv .^ Ante^ ''^^ T^^' t« yo» in my veins '' As pff o "^ '' '"'^' confusion in my poS As after some oration, fairly spoke ' 374 Scii Act III Sc U THE MERCHANT OF VENICE ft !5 tl By a beloved prince, there doth appear Among the buzzing pleiisCd multitiule ; Where every somethinff, being blent together, Turns to a wild of nothing, s:ive of joy, Expressed, and not expressed. But when this ring Parts from this finger, then parts life from hence ; O, then be bold to say, Bassanio 's dead. Ner. My lord ancflady, it is now our time. That have stood by and seen our wishes prosper. To cry, good joy. Good joy, my lord and lady ! Gra. My Lord Bassanio, and my gentle lady, I wish you all the joy that you can wish ; For, I am sure, you can wish none from me, And, when your honours mean to solemnise The bargain of your faith, I do beseech you Even at that time I may be married too. Bass. With all my heart, so thou canst get a wife. Gra. I thank your lordship, you hav: got nic one, My eyes, my lord, can look as swift as yours, — You saw the mistress, I beheld the maid ; You loved, I loved for intermission. No more pertains to me, my lord, than you. Your fortune stood upon the caskets there, And so did mine too, as the matter falls ; For wooing here until I sweat again. And swearing till my very roof was dry With oaths of love, at last, if promise last, I got a promise of this fair one here. To have her love, provided that your fortune Achieved her mistress. Por. Is this true, Nerissa ? Ner. Madam, it is, so you stand pleased withal. And do you, Gratiano, mean good faith ? Yes, faith, my lord. Our feast shall be much honoured in your marriage. We '11 play with them the first boy for a thousand ducats. Ner. What, and stake down ? Gra. No, w shall ne'er win at that sport, and stake down. But who comes here ? Lorenzo, and his infidel ? What I and my old Venetian friend Salerio ? Enter Lorenzo, Jessica, and Salerio Bass. Lorenzo and Salerio, welcome hither. If that the youth of my new interest here Have power to bid you welcome. By your leave i bid my very friends and countrymen, Sweet Portia, welcome. Por. So do I, my lord ; They are entirely welcome. .375 Bass. Gra. Bass. Gra. m 1 i if J THE MERCHANT OF VENICE / . At;t III Sc i To c,„„e «ith him Song"" '^^'S ""-V, And I have reason (nr u c- •' "^•^' ^^^^* Commends him to you ^"^'^"""^ /)"^«'"« r ^'"^•^- ' Pro T '.'.'''^* fir!.^sanio a letter Gra Kcrissa, cheer von stnn„.i "'?'','"''> ''"* « CouM t-rn so^mnchYhe" nsl" uS" "■' «""' ?v'th"L\r^^s's;;;,is-. ,^?»' r- -<• ---'- And I must freeiv hi '- h »! ^.^^^ yourself. Ran in my vS , " '''''"^ ' '""1 And then r JnM^^',™' ^' «™tleman : Ra.ing;';/J,'}'fat\°o"t ™' •™iS,;t-'' '^''^' How much I woQ o K ^ -^ ^"^" see My state 'Js no hii'-'Ps?'-, 'T'?^^" ' '''^' y«". Tl^at I was worse ha„VoS' ?" "^^"i" '"'^ ^■°"' / have enstaeed mvs t^ . i ^ ' J^^ indeed. Engaged my WeTid i hi. J'"*' ^'■'""''' To feed mv meant tt '^^''^ ®"^"^y' The pape?LThe"bod "oTmy ?ntd"' '^'^ ' Hath all t'ven?ures^"aiied1 %% ^'''^^^ ' Irom Tripolis, from Mexfco and En;.""', ""^ '^'^ Of merch;;^.;^:?;!^^;^^ dreadful touch baler. * i Not one, my lord, 37a Act III Scii THR MERCHANT OF VENICE f J'csldes, it should appear, that if he had he present nioncv to discharge the Jew lie would not take it. Never did I know A creature, tliat did bear the shape of man So keen and Rreedy to confound a man • He plies the Duke at morning and at ninlit, And doth impeach the freedom of the state Th.^ u^l^' '"'"A ^"'^''''^- Twenty merchants. Ihe Duke hnnself, and the magnilicoes Of greatest port, have all persuaded with him .ut none can drive him from tiie envious plea Of forfeiture, of .luslice, and his bond t/t , )^'''^", { ^^^^ ^^ '^^ '^'"^ ^ ^>'^^« heard liim swear To Tubal, and to Chus, his countrymen, J hat he would rather have Antonio's llcsh I lan twenty times the value of the sum 1 hat he did owe him ; and I know, mv lord. It law, authority, and power deny not' It will go hard with poor Antonio. bZ\ 'ril^f "' '^T^ /'^^"^ ^^'^^ *^ *hus in trouble ? Tif K t The dearest friend to me, the kindest man, i he best-conditioned and unwearied spirit •1 doing courtesies ; and one in whom I he ancient Roman honour more appears. 1 han any that draws breath in Italy. Por. What sum owes he the Jew ? Bass. For me, three thousand ducats Pay him six thousand and deface the bond ' "'^ '"°'' ' J^ouble six thousand, and then treble that * I^efore a friend of this description Shall lose a hair through Dassanio's fault iMrst fio with me to church, and call me wife, And then away to Venice to vour friend • J- or never shall you lie bv Porlia-s side ' \N ith an unquiet soul. You shall have gold I pay the petty debt twentv times over \\hen It IS paid, brin^ your true friend alon^' • -My maid Nerissa, and myself, meantime, ° \Mll live as maids and v.idows. Come rway i'or you shall hence upon vour weddiuf-day J^id your friends welcnnic, show a mcrfv dicer- Since you are dear boi.-lit, I will love you dear.'— i T^ ^'"^^'^ ^^'' '^^''■'' ""^ your friend. rarrfr'- /i!'^?J-,-'^'""'' Bassanio, M,, ships hare all mis- y^'ouia live, all debts are cleared between you and I if I minht 7 Lf///'" "i ""^ '^'"^^- ^-oiwithstandini use your plcaTue '/ your love do not persuade you to come, let not my letter ' 377 I IMf il THE MERCHANT OF VENICE Act HI Sc i nZ\ ^Q.'^'"''; despatch all business, and be cone I xSu f^.b^'r"/ ^'Y^ y^""" e°»^ '«"vc to go away M\ill make haste ; but till I como a" tin No bed shall e'er be guilty of mrs^ry Nor rest be interposer 'twixt us twain: [Exeun Scene HI.— Venice. A Street Enter Shvlock, Salaiuxo, Antonio, and Gaoler Gaoler, look to him. S^!f' TMi ),o, J^*^^! ^^ y^*' pood Shylock. ^/Jf/. I 11 have my bond ; speak not aciinst inv hnnH I have sjj^rn an oath that I will have n? bond ^ °"^- Bursin?o ?'' '"' ^S before thou hads 'a cause. But since I am a dog, beware my fangs The Duke shall grant me justice I do wonder Thou naughty gaoler, that thou art so fond ' To come abroad with him at his request? c; Jm^^.^^ *^^'^' '^^^i" "^e speak. To Christian intercessors. I-ollow not ^ Thnf ^, i" '! ^''.^ "'^^^ impenetrable cur That ever kept with men. T'H fnii^,.r u- ^^^ ^"" alone : H"seeks mv nf."° T'' ''^"^ '^"""^^^ P^^^^^s- T nf? fi.n ^ ,^ ' ^'^ ^<^'''S0" ^^'^^ I know ; I oft delivered from his forfeitures lZlf':il\\Ta£l liT." "^^^^ '"°^" *« -'^ '• WUltevcr grant this forfei^^ to I'.lcf ^"'^ p-^f ♦!' ^ ^"^^ cannot deny the course of la-v • For the commodity that strangers have ' With us m Venice, if it be denied, wL"?^''?*^P'''''''' ^^^ justice of the state Conslstefh n^f' tr^t"'^^ P^°^'^ °f the city ' t21 !f^^°* ^^i nations. Therefore, go • ?hat /S r^^ ^^''^^ ^^^^ «° bated me' That I shall hardly spare a pound of flesh wJiTTT ^° '"y ^'°ody creditor.-l A\ell, gaoler, on.— Pray God, Bassanio come To see me pay his debt, and then I c?re noTl lExeunt 378 [Exit ScUI M [Exeunt Act III Sciv THr- MERCHANT OF VENICE Scene IV.— Belmont. A Room in Pohtia's House Enter Portia, Neiussa, Lo.ienzo, Jessica, and Hai.tiiazar Lor. Madam allhouRl, I speak it in your presence ^ ou have a noble and a true coiiccil l'r*=sence. Of god-like amity ; whicl. appears most slronaly In beanng thus the absence of vour lord Hut, If you knew to whom you show tills honour How true a gentleman you send relief, How dear a lover of my lord, your husb.md, I know, you would be prouder of the work than customary bountv can enforce vou VT u J "^^*^'' ^'^' repent for dcjurr '^ryod, iNor shall not now : for in ' iTM^uilons That do converse and w .ne time toru-thcr \Vhose souls do bear an ,uai yoke; of love. There nuis» be needs a uke proportion AT^- u*^^"^T"*^' °^ "laiiners, and of spirit : mich makes me think that this Antonio. iicmg the bosom lover of my lord Must needs be like my lord. If it he so. How little is the cost I have bestowed In purchasing the semblance of mv soul From out tlie state of hcllisli cruelty I This comes too near the praising of mvself • 1 iJcrefore, no more of it : hear other thines' Lorenzo, I commit into your hands Ihe husbandry and manage of mv house Lntil my lord's return : for mine' own part I have toward heaven breathed a secret vow 10 live m prayer and contemplation Only attended by Nerissa hero, Lntd her husband and my lord's return there is a monastery two miles olT, And there we will abide. I do desire vou ^Not to deny this imposition The ^yhich my love and some necessity Now lays upon you. T iaH'i u Madam, with all my heart I shall obey you in all fair commands. A^f'-y.^^^. P^°P'<^ ^^ already know my mind And will acknowledge you and Jessica ' in place of Lord Bassanio and mvself ^o fare you well till we shall meet again. Jes' T S?i^'""^^^1'i'''! ?'=*PP>' ^^"'•s attend on you ! Pnr iT^'^ ?■«"'• '-'^^yshiP all heart's content. To wkh if 1 '''?^ ^°" ^'''' y°"^ "^'sh, and am well pleased 10 wish it back on you: fare you well, Jessica. [Exeunt Jessica and Lorenzo 379 '^'t: THE MERCHANT OF VENlCh; Act in Scv Kj.. • m Now, Bnlthazar. As I have ever found thee honest-true So let me find thee still. Take this same letter. And use thou all the endeavour of a man in speed to Padua : see thou render this Into my cousin's han«l, doctor litllario • And look, what notes and fiarnunls he doth give thee liring them, I pray thee, xsith imagined speed ' liiito the tranect, to the common ferry Which trades to \ enice. Waste no time in words, But get thee gone : I shall be there before thee nal. Madam, I go with all convenient speed.' lExit For. Come on. Nerissa : I have work in hand ixJlr*^ ye know not of. We '11 see our husbands Before they thmk of us. ^'^^- ^, Shall they see us ? Tho^;*, They shall, Nerissa ; but in such a habit, w?! S^^ ^'^''"'^ ^'""^ ^'« ^re accomplished With that we lack. I '11 hold thee any wager When we are both accoutred like young men ' I 11 prove the prettier fellow of the two • And wear my dagger with the braver grace • And speak between the change of man and boy J\ith a reed voice ; and turn two mincing steps Into a manly stride ; and speak of frays. Like a fine bragging youth ; and tell quaint lies. How honourable ladies sought my love. Which I denying, they fell sick and died. I could not do withal : then I '11 repent And wish for all that, that I had not killed them. And twenty of these punv lies I 'II tell That men shall swear I have discontinued school Above a twelvemonth. I have within my mind A thousand raw tricks of these bragging Jacks Which I will practise. ^° ^ ' Trfl Pie, what a question 's that, Jr thou werL near a lewd interpreter I But come, I '11 tell thee all mv ^vholc device A\ hen i am in my coach, which stays for us At the park <;^\c ; and therelore haste away I-or we must measure twenty miles to-day. [Exeun! Scene V.— The Same. A Garden Enter Launcelot and Jessica arff^K Jf' ^''"^y ' ^'^^' '"Ok you. the sins of the falhr-r Tfea? voi l"^.T.'V ''^^^''■"^. ' "'^^'^^«^^' I promise ySu 1 fear you. I was always pjain with you, nud so now I 380 . WA. Sc V Act III Scv THE MERCHANT OF VENICE [Exit speak my aMitatlon of the matlor : therefore, lie of ^'ood iheer; for, truly, I think you are (himned. There is but one hope In It that can do vou any good, and that is Ijut a kind of bastard hope M' ithir. Jts. And what hope is that, I pray thee ? Laun. Marry, you may -li.rtly hope that vour father got you not, that you are not tlie .lew's daughler. Jes. That wore a kind of l)astard hope, indeed : so the sins of my mother should he visited upon me. Liiiin. Truly then I fear you are damned both by father and mother : thus ^vhen I shun Scylla, your father, I fall into Cliarybdis, your mother. Well, you arc cone, both ways. Jes. I shall be saved by my husband ; he hath made me a Christian. Luun. Truly, the more to blame he : we were Chris- tians enow before ; e'en as many as could well live one by another. This making of Christians will raise tlie price of hogs : if we grow all to be pork-eaters, we shall not shortly have a rasher on the coals for money. Jes. 1 '11 tell my husband, Launcelot, what you say • here he comes. Enter Lorenzo Lor. I shall grow jealous of you shortly, Launcelot, if you thus get my wife into corners. Jes. Nay, you need not fear us, Lorenzo, Launcelot and I are out. He tells me flatly, there is no mercy for me in lu aven, because I am a Jew's daughter : and he says, you are no good member of the commonwealth, for, in con- verting Jews to Christians you raise the price of pork. ^'Or. I shall answer that better to the commonwealth than you can the getting up of the negro's belly : the Moor IS with child by you, Launcelot. Laun. It is much, that the Moor should be more than reason ; but if she be less than an honest woman, she is indeed, more than I took her for. ' *J'Z''' How every fool can play upon the word I I think, the best grace of wit will shortly turn into silence, and dis- course grow commendable in none only but parrots. Go in, sirrah ; bid them prepare for dinner. Laun. That is done, sir ; they have all stomachs. Lor. Goodly Lord, what a wit-snapper are you ! then bid them prepare dinner. Laun. That is done too, sir ; only, cover is the word. Lor. Will you cover then, sir ? Laun. Not so, sir, neither ; I know my duty. Lor. Yet more quarrelling with occasion ? Wilt thou show the whole wealth of thy wit in an instant ? I prav thee, understand a plain man in his plain meaning : go to 381 i' THE MERCHANT OF VENICE :» f lit !f Act IV Sc i thy fellows, bid them cover the table, serve in llio i,u-at and we will come in to dinner. ^' Aai/n For the tahlf. sir. it shnll be served in • for ii.p sT'ii.v'*', 1 t';' V'"'"" • ^''^ y^^' ->.nin« in"to d?, . ' sir, Why, let it be as humours juid conceits shall govern. ThoT^ni ? ;'f'''V»''^'"^''i"n. how his words are suited I '^'"' I he fool hath planted in his memory An army of f^ood words ; and I do know A many fools, that stand in better place Garnished like him. that for a tricksy wo'rd Defy the matter. How clioerst thou, Jessica ? And now. ^'ood swcef. say thy opini„n. How dost thou like the Lord Bassanio's wife ? Th« ?■ f o^ ''" e.xprcssin«. It is very meet 1 he Lord Bassamo live an upright life. ly)r, havinR such a blessing in his iady. He nnds the joys of heaven here on earth : And, if on earth he do not mean it, then In reason he should never come to heaven. Why. If two gods should play some heavenlv match And on the wager lay two earthly women. ' ' And Portia one, there must be something else T-r-^r^K . ^^^'*^" ^"^^ a husband Hast thou of mo, as she is for a wife. Jes. Nay, but ask my opinion too of that. 7.T Ti^^'^"«"0"; first, let us go to dinner. Tnr M ^' ' "It P'"^'"*' y^" ''■*'"« I have a stomach Lor No. pray thee, let it serve for table-talk • Uhail digesTit '''" ^P"^''^^' '"^^"^ «^h- things «^^s. Well, I -11 set you forth. [Exeunt i 3 ACT FOUR Scene L— Venice. A Court of Justice Pv.f."vT';;'r ^''''''' ^t' ^'^ariificoes ; Antonio. Bassanio, Ghatiano, Salarino, Salerio, and others Duke. Vvhat, is Antonio here ? Ant Ready, so please your grace. JJiike. 1 am sorry for thee : thou art come to answer A stony adversary, an i.ihuman v.rctth Lncapable of pity, void and empty From any dram of mercy. ^"'- ^ I have heard 382 Aft IV Sc I I THl-: Ml-lU:iIANT OF VKMCE Your «r;Kf luifh ta'en proat pjijns to qualify Ills n.;orous courso ; but since he stands obdurate. And that no lawful means can carry mc Out of his envy's reach, I do oppose My pn'icnce to his fury, and am armed To sutler with a quietness of spirit Tin- very tyranny and rafie of Ids. Duke. Go one, and call the Jew Into the court ^alar. He s ready at the door. He comes, my lord. Enter SnYLocK Duke Make room, and let lum stand before our face. S lylock, the world thinks, and I think so too, i iiat thou hut lead'sl this fashion of thy malice To the last hour of act ; and then, 't Islhouj^ht, 1 lou It show thy mercy and remorse more slrance Than m thy strange apparent cruelty ; Ami where thou now exact'st the penalty, Which is a pound of this poor merchxnt's'flesh rhou wilt not only loose the forfeiture, But, touched with human gentleness and love iM.rgivc a moiety of the principal ; Glancing an eye of pity on his losses That have of late so huddled on liis back, I'.now to press a royal mercliant down And pluck commiseration of his state hrom brassy bosoms and rough hearts of flint I-rom stubborn Turks and Tartars, never trained 1 oflices of tender courtesy. We all expect a gentle answer, Jew. Shtj. I have possessed your grace of what I purpose ; And by our holy Sabbath have I sworn To have the due and forfeit of my bond : If you deny it, let the danger light Upon your charter and your city's freedom ^ ou '11 ask me, why I rather choose to have A weight of carrion flesh, than to receive Three thousand ducats ? I 11 not answer that, liut, say. It is my humour : is it answered ? What If my house be troubled with a rat. And I be pleased to give ten thousand ducats 10 have it baned ? What, arc you answered yet ? iome men there are love not a gaping pig ; Some that are mad if they behold a cat ; And others, when the bagpipe sings i' the nose, i"". sways it to the moou Uf what it likes or loathes, Now, for your answer. AS mere is no firm reason to be rendered, >N hy he cannot abide a gaping pig ; 383 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE A^.3ii^fl Act IV Sc i Why he, a harmless necessary cat ; Why ho, a woollen bagpipe, but of force Must yield to such inevitable shame As to olTend himself, being oftended ; So can I give no reason, nor I will not, More th;m a lodrred iiato, and a certain loathing I bear Antonio, that I follow thus A losing suit against him. Are you answered ? Bass. This is no answer, thou unfeeling man, To excuse the current of thy cruelty. Shy. I am not bound to please tl.ee with my answer. Bass. Do all men kill the things they do not love ? Sluj. Hates any man the thing he would not kill ? Bass. Every offence is not a hate at first. Shy. What, wouldst thou have a serpent sting thee twice ? Ant. I pray you, think you question with the Jew. You may as well go stand upon the beach And bid the main flood bate his usual height ; You may as well use question with the wolf Why he hath made the ewe bleat for L.e lamb ; You may as well forbid the mountain pines To wag their high tops, and to make no noise When they are fretted with the gusts of heaven ; You may as well do anything most hard As seek to soften that (than which what 's harder ?) His Jewish heart. Therefore, I do beseech you, i\!ake no more ofTers, use no further means ; But with all brief and plain conveniency, Let me have judgment, and the Jew his will. Bass. For thy three thousand ducats here is six. Shy. If every ducat in six thousand ducats Were in six parts, and every part a ducat, I would not draw them : I would have my bond. Duke. How shalt thou hope for mercy, rendering none ? Shy. What judgment shall I dread, doing no wrong ? You have among you many a purchased slave, \^'hich, like your asses, and your dogs, and mules, You use in abject and hi slavish parts Because you bought them :— shall I sav to vou. Let them be free ; marry them to your heirs ? Why sweat they under burdens ? let their beds Be made as soil as yours, and let their palates Be seasoned with such viands ? You \m!1 answer, The slaves are ours. So do I answer you : The pound of flesh which I demand of him Is dearly bought ; 't is mine, and I will have it. II you deny me, fie upon your law 1 There is no force in the decrees of Venice. I stand for judgment : answer ; shall I have it ? 384 Act IV Sc i THE MERCPIANT OF VENICE iT,S!lc''n .PP?" ""y P'*'^*''" ' '"■'^y dismiss this court. Unless Bellano, a learned doctor Whom I have sent for to determine this. Come here to-daj'. Salar. My lord, here stays without A messenger with letters from the doctor New come from Padua. ' Rnt'' /^^J"g j^s the letters ; call the messen e'er. Th« ? ; 57,^^^heer, Antonio I What, man, roura^'r yet » Ere thou Shalt lose for me one drop of blood Ant. I am a tainted wether of the flock Meetest for death : the weakest kind of fruit Drops earliest to the ground, and so let me Jou cannot better be employed, Bassanio. ' Than to live still, and write mine enitanh Duke Ner Enter Neaissa, dressed like a lawyer's clerk liass. Shy. Gra. Came you from Padua, from Bcllario •> From both, my lord. Bellario greets vour grace To cut the forfeiture from that bankrupt there Not on thy sole, but on thy soul, harsh Jew Of thv i^^ hangman's axe, bear half the keenness Of thy sharp envy Can no prayers pierce thee ? Gra o''h."thnn H^' ^^°V '?'^^ ^^'^ *^"'^"''h to make. Gra O, be thou damned, inexorable dog. And for thy life let justice be accused ! ihou a most mak'st me waver in my faith 1 hold opinion with Pythagoras 1 hat souls of animals infuse themselves Into the trunks of men : thy currish spirit Governed a wolf, who, hanged for human slau-hte- En en from the gallows did his fell soul fleet l,rfM J? -l'^ tju,u lay'st in thy unhallowed dlun Infused itself m thee ; for thy desires Are wolfish bloody, starved, and ravenous. Shy nil thou cinst rail the seal from ofY mv bond Jlcpair thy wit, good youth, or it will fall 1 cureless ruin.— I stand here for law. Duke. This letter from Bellario dolh commend A young and learned doctor to our court \\ here is he? Ner. He attendeth here hard bv Duke. ^^ 1th all my heart. Some three or four of you 38~M 3g. iMmj^ji^^mm^^m THE MERCHANT OP VENICE Act IV Sc i Go give him courteous conduct to this place. Meantime, the court shall hear Bellario's letter. Clerk. [Reads] Your grace shall understand, that, at the receipt of your letter, I am very sick ; but in the instant that your messenger came, in loving visitation was with me a young doctor of Rome; his name is Balthazar. I ac- quainted /jim with the cause in controversy between the Jew and Antonio, the merchant ; we turned o'er many books together : he is furnished with my opinion, which, bettered with his own learning, the greatness whereof I cannot enough commend, comes with him, at my importunity, to fill up your grace's request in my stead. I beseech you, let his lack of years be no impediment to let him lack a reverend estimation, for I never knew so young a body with so old a head. I leave him to your gracious acceptance, whose trial shall better publish his commendation. Duke. You hear the learn'd Bellario, what he writes : And here, I take it, is the doctor come. ["II k ■ Enter Portia for Balthazar Give me your hand. Came you from old Bellario ? For. I did, my lord. Duke. You are welcome ; take your place. Are you acquainted with the diflerence That holds this present question in the cotu-t ? For. I am informed th'roughly of the cause. Which is the merchant here, and which the Jew ? Duke. Antonio and old Shylock, both stand forth. For. Is your name Shylock ? Shy. Shylock is my name. For. Of a strange nature is the suit you follow ; Yet in such rule, that the Venetian law Cannot impugn you, as you do proceed. [To Antonio] You stand within his danger, do you not ? Ant. For. Ant. For. Ay, so he says. I do. Do you confess the bond ? Then must the Jew be merciful. Shy. On what compulsion must I V tell me I^or. The quality of mercy is not strained. It ilroppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath : it is twice blessed : It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes. 'Tis mightiest in the mightiest, it becomes T]!c thron(^d monarch better than his crown : His sceptre shows the force of temporal power. The attril)ute to awe and majesty. Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings ; But mercy is above this sceptred sway, 386 that. i.i»"' Bass. Yes, here I tender it for him in the court : Yea, twice the sum ; if that will not suffice, I will be bound to pay it ten times o'er. On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart, n this Will not suffice, it must appear That malice bears down truth. And I beseech you N\ rest once the law to vour authority • To do a great right, do" a little wrong, ' And curb this cruel devil of his will Por It must not be : there is no power In Venice Can alter a decree established ; 'T will be recorded for a precedent. And many an error, by the same example, V. Ill rush into the state: it cannot he i>hy. A Daniel come to judgment ! yea, a Daniel I wise young judge, how I do honour thee ! Por. I pray you let me look upon the bond. ^ny. Here t is, most reverend doctor, here it is Por Shylock, there 's thrice thy money ofTored thee. nall I lay perjury upon my soui ? ^•o, not for Venice. An'^T f„ u ... '^^'l^y' this bond is forfeit. And lawfully by this the Jew may claim A pound of fiesh, to be by him cut off ^c:.rest the merchant's heart. Be merciful : lake thrice thy money ; bid me tear the bond. ^^ J"il ^^^ ^^ '^ P"^^^' according to the tenour. n doth appear you are a worthy judge : ^ou know the law, vour exposition Hath been most sound : I charge vou bv the Law. \\ liereof you arc a well-deserving pillar ' 1 roceed to judgment. By mv soul I swear, 1 here is no power in the tongue of man 1 alter me. I stay here on my bond. 387 feifcl^t.i^m.-!¥.j.. THE MERCHANT OF VENICE Act IV Sci I m m ; |r «, if Ant. Most heartily I do beseech the court To give the judgment. ^ P^^f"- \ hy then, thus it is : You must prepare your bosom tor his knife. Shy. O noble judge I O excellent young man ! For. For {he intent and , irpose ot the law Hath full relation to the penalty, Which here appeareth due upon the bond. Shy. 'T is very true. O wise and upright judge 1 How much more elder art thou than thy looks 1 Por. Therefore, lay bare your bosom. c ^^^' *u u ^ , ^y' his breast ; So says the bond :— doth it not, noble judge ?— " Nearest his heart : " those arc the very words. Por. It is so. Are there balance here to weigh The flesh ? " Shy. I have them ready. Por. Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your charge To stop his wounds, lest he do bleed to death. Shy. Is it so nominated in the bond ? ^ Por. It is not so expressed ; but what of that ? T were good you do so much for charity. Shy. I cannot find it : 't is not in the bond ? Por. You, merchant, have you anything to say ? Ant. But little ; I am armed and well prepared. Give me your hand, Bassanio : fare vou well. Grieve not that I am fallen to this lor you ; For herein Fortune shows herself more "kind Than is her custom : it is still her use To let the wretched man outlive his wealth To view with hollow eye and wrinkled brow An age of poverty ; from which lingering penance Of such misery doth she cut me off. Commend me to your honourable wife : Tell her the process of Antonio's end ; Say how I loved you, speak nie fair in death : And, when the tale is told, bid her be judge Whether Eassanio had not once a love. Repent not you that you shall lose vour friend. And he repents not that he pays your debt ; For, if the Jew do cut but deep enough, I '11 pay it instantly with all my heart. Bass. Antonio, I am married to a wife Which is as dear to me as life itself ; But life itself, my wife, and all the world, Arc not with me esteemed above thy life ; I would lose all, ay, sacrifice them all Here to this devil, to deliver you. Por. Your wife would give you little thanks for that. If she were by to hear you make the oiler. 388 Act IV Sci THE MERCHANT OF VENICE Gra. I have a wife whom I protest I love : I would she were in heaven, so she could I-ntreat some power to change this currish Jew. Ner. 'T is well you offer it behind her baclc : 1 he wish would make else an unquiet house. Shy. These be the Christian husbands. I have a daughter ; 'Would any of the stock of Rarrabas Had been her husband, rather than a Christian. N\e trifle time ; I pray thee, pursue sentence. rru %' ^ P°""^ °^ ^^^^^ *'^"^« merchant's flesh is thine : The Court awards it, and the Law doth cive it Shy. Most rightful judRe ! Por. And you must cut this flesh from off his breast : The Law allows it, and the Court awards it. Sliy. Most learned judge !— A sentence 1 come, prepare I Por. Tarry a little ; there is something else. This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood ; The words expressly are, a pound of flesh : Take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh • But in the cutting it, if thou dost shed One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods Are, by the laws of Venice, conliscate Unto the state of Venice. ^Z' ?."t?"f ^I^",^^' I-Mark. Jew :-0 learned judge I Sliy. Is that the law ? j 8^ ^ IT ^^^* x^ Thyself shr.lt see the Act • For, as thou urgest justice, be assured, Ihou Shalt have justice, more than thou desirest Gra. O learned judge 1— Mark, Jew :— a learned ludce I An^fet i^^L^. ^^- ■' ^^y ^'^ ^-^^ ^^^"^ for' Soft I "''" ■' '^^ "^*>"^y- The -Jew shall have all justice ;— soft I— no haste • He shall have nothing but the penaltv. Pn°r Sh*^®"^' ^" "P^S*"^ J"''g^' ^ ^^^'•ned judge ! Kh.^iv, Therefore prepare thee to cut off the flesh. Shed thou no blood ; nor cut thou less nor more But just a pound of flesh : if thou takest more Or less than a just pound,~be it but so much A fu 5? ^.* ^'^^^* **'■ *^«^^'y i" the substance Ur the division of the twentieth part oi one poor scruple, nay if the scale do turn iiut in the estimation of a hair. iaou diest, and all thy goods are confiscate. V • A f cond Daniel, a Daniel, Jew ! Now, mfldel, I have thee on the hip. Shu GivP iT ^^'^ • ^"^ P?"'' '' ^^^^ thy forfeiture. ^ny. Give me my principal, and let me go. 389 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE Act IV Sc 1 ji'P Bass. I have It ready for thee ; here it is. u u „ ^^ ^^^^^ refused it in the open court : tie shall have merely justice, and his bond. T ♦?''"•, *K ^^"'<^'' still say I ; a second Daniel I I thank thee Jew, for teaching me that word. D ^' ^u *" ^ "^t have barely my principal ? t/^^'"" T ,°" ^''?'^ ^^^*^ nothing but the forfeiture. To be so taken at thy peril, Jew. Shy Why then the devil give him good of it I I 11 stay no longer question. Po''' Tarry, Jew • The Law hath yet another hold on you. It is enacted in the laws of Venice, If It be proved against an alien, That, by direct or indirect attempts. He seek the life of any citizen. The party against the which he doth contrive Shall seize one half his goods ; the other iialf Comes to the privy coffer of the State, And the offender's life lies in the mercy Of the Duke only, against all other voice. in which predicament, I say, thou stand'st • For It appears by manifest proceeding. That indirectly and directly too, Thou hast contrived against the very life Of the defendant, and thou hast incurred 1 he danger formerly by me rehearsed. DoNvn, therefore, and beg mercy of Llie Duke Gra. Beg, that thou may'st have leave to hang thv- self ; ° ■^ And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the State, Thou hast not left tlie value of a cord ; Therefore thou must be hanged at the State's charge . Duke. That thou shalt see the difTerence of our suirits I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it. For half thy wealth, it is Antonio's : The other half comes to the general State, Which humbleness may drive into a fine. Por. Ay, for the State ; not for Antonio. Shy. Nay, take my life and all ; pardon not that : \ ou take my house, when you do take the prop 1 hat doth sustain my house ; you take my life, When you do take the means whereby I live. Por. WTiat mercy can you render him, Antonio '>— Ora. A halter gratis ; nothing else, for God's sake — Ant. So please my lord tlie Duke, and all the Coarl. To quit the fine for one half of his goods, I am content so he will let me have The other half in use, to render it Upon his death unto the gentleman 390 mmmmmkU^^^mmm Sc 1 I Act IV Sc i THE MERCHANT OF VENICE That lately stole his daughter : Two things provided more,— that, for this favour. He presently become a Christian ; The other, that he do record a gift, Here in the court, of all he dies possessed Unto his son Lorenzo and his daughter. Duke. He shall do this, or else I do recant The pardon, that I late pronouncdd here. Por. Art thou contented, Jew ? what dost thou sav ? Shy. I am content. ^"'■- ^ Clerk, draw a deed of gift. Sliy. I pray you give me loiive I o go from hcuce. I am not well. Send the deed after me, And I will sign it. • Duke. Get thee gone, but do it. Gra. In christening thou shalt have two godfathers Had I been judge, thou shouldst have had ten more ' To brmg thee to the gallows, not the font. [H.rit s'hnlock Duke. Sir, I entreat you home with me to dinner Por. I humbly do desire your grace of pardon, I must away this night toward Padua, And it is meet I presently set forth. Duke. I am sorry that your leisure serves you not Antonio, gratify this gentleman. For, in my mind, you are much bound to him. [Exeunt Duke and his Train Hass. Most worthy gentleman, I and my friend Have by your wisdom been this day acquitted Of grievous penalties ; in lieu whereof. Three thousand ducats, due unto the Jew, We freely cope your courteous pains withal. Ant. And stand indebted, over and above. In love and service to you evermore. Por. He is well paid that is well satisfied : And I, delivering you, am satisfied. And therein do account myself well paid : My mind was never yet more mercenary. I pray you, know mc when we meet again : I wish you rell. and so I take my leave. Bass. Dear sir, of force I must attempt you further • 1 ake some remembrance of us, as a tribute Not as a fee. Grant me two things, I pray you ■ Not to deny me, and to pardon me. ' Por. You press me far, and therefore I will yield Uve me your gloves, I '11 wear them for vour sake • ' And, for your love, I 'II lake this ring fr6m you i^>o not draw back your hand ; I '11 take no more ; And you m love shall not deny me this Bass. This ring, good sir ? alas, it is a trifle ; 1 wui not shame myself to give you this. 391 ^1 In lis 4 m " Tit! :^«.itf^^^n- THE MERCHANT OF VENICE Act IV Sell Por. I will have nothing else but only this • And now. methinks, I have a mind to it Th^T' . ■ '^ "^^'■^ depends on this than on the vahiP The dearest ring in Venice will I give you. ^"^• And find it out by proclamation : Only for 1 his, I pray you, pardon me. v«,.°r" . ^'^' ''l^' y*"" "'■« "^eral in offers. You L^S'^ '"l""^ ^2 ^""^^ ''^"^ "°^' rethinks, You teach me how a bcgRar should be answered. AnnTh ^T^ '•'■'. *^^' *■'"« ^'^s eiven me by my wife • And when she put it on, she made me vow ^ ^ ' pj '•?p^"'? ."""'" se". nor give, nor lose it. A »' ff • . ^^L"^'' ^^'■^'** "^»"y "i«n to save their aif ts An If your wife be not a mad-woman, ^ And know how well I have deserved this rina. She would not hold out enemy for ever For giving it to me. Well, peace be with you Ant, My lord Bassanio. let H^'ZJ'tii^S^' ""'''''' Let his deservings, and my love withal, ** ' Zt^'^^n^'^'n'^ y^"' ^'^^«'« commandment. r,-f« 1/ ♦u ' 9'"'*tiano ; run and overtake him. Unto Antonio's house. Away 1 make haste. Come, you and I will thithor prosentlv '^''" Gratiano And in the morning early will we both ' Fly toward Belmont. Come, Antonio. [Exeunt Scene II.— The Same. A Street Enter Portia and Nerissa * ^J^^\ ,I"fI"ire the Jew's house out, give him thi« Hpoh And let him sign it ; we '11 away to-night ^'^' And be a day before our husbands home. This deed will be well welcome to Lorenzo. Enter Gratiano ivT ^i""" , E^^^ ^•''' y^^ ^^^ well o'erta'en. My lord Bassanio, upon more advice, Hafh sent you here this ring, and doth entreat \ our company at dinner. TT.^^r- ^ ^ That cannot be. His ring I do accept most thankfully. And so I pray you, tell him : furtheiniore, I pray you, show my youth old Shvlock's house Gra. That will I do. " -"-use. \ To Portia} T Ml ««n -f T ^^^' I would speak with you.— Which THH 1^ ,?.'^ ^ ''''" ^^^ "^y husband's ring. V^ Inch I did make him swear to keep for ever. 392 '^^ff^^^ Sell ActV Scl THE MERCHANT OF VENICE P^^- {'^f>J^^riss(>\ Thou may'st, I warrant. We shrM have old swearing That they did ^.ve the rings away to men ; Ihit we '11 outface them and outswear them too l-WoudJA way I make haste: thou know'st where I will tarry. Ner. Come, good sir, will you show me to this house ? [Exeunt I ACT FIVE Sr.ENE I.— Belmont. The Avenue to Portia's House Enter Lorenzo and Jessica y^n°^\J^^ moon shines bright. In such a night as this. When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees. And they did make no noise, in such a night Troilus, methinks, mounted the Trojan wall's And sighed his soul towards the Grecian tents Where Cressid lay that night. Did Thisbe fearfully o'ertrip the dew. And saw the lion's shadow ere himself. And ran dismnyed away. c/'^I' .^ ,., ^" S"<^h a night Stood Dido with a willow in her hand Upon the wild sea-banks, and waved her love To come again to Carthage. »,"^^*- ,^ In such a night .Medea gathered the enchanted herbs Tiiat did renew old iEson. Ts-'f[' . '" such a night Did Jessica steal from the wealthy Jew And with an unthrift love did run from' Venice As far as Belmont. „.;{^*- In such a night iJid young Lorenzo swear he loved her v.vP, stealing her soul with many vows of faith vnd ne'er a true one. .,/,''''• In such a night L^id pretty Jessica, like a little shrcw^ blander her love, and he forgave it her. Jes. I would out-nisht von did no b'>dv ron'o • But, hark, I hear the footing of a man. Lor. Enter Stepiiano Who comes so fast in silence of the night Steph. A friend. 38— M« 393 m THE MERCHANT OF VENICE Act V Sc S/fp/j Stephano is my name ; and I bring word My mistress v.lll |,ofore tiic break of day Be here at f3cImont ; she doth stray about By holy crosses, whore she laieels and prays lor happy wecUock hours. ' if^^K VT ,. ^'^" eomcs with iier ? T nrif ^•''"''* ^"^ "" ^""^y h^*"'"''- «'"' hir moid. I pray you, is my master yet returned ? /.or. Mc is not, nor we have not lieard from him But go v.e in. I pray thee, Jessica, And ceremoniously let us prepare Some welcome for the mistress of the house. Enler Launcelot Lofro 7 ml', sola r" '"^^ ""^''^ "-"""'<'• ^"^ »"»"«» /-or. Leave holloing, man ;— here. Lam. Sola 1 where ? where ? Lor. Hero. .,fu°u7* ,.'^^" '^'"'' ^'^^'■^ 's a PosL come from mv mn^f^r et'm'in'nr '"'' '' '''"' "^^^^ '' "^ mastT "i'[ ^trc Lor. Swcot soul, let 's in, and there expect their comtn^' And yet no matter ; why shouid we go iA ? ^ommg. w^i-'^'iL^ Stephano, signify, I pray you, Withm the house, your mistress is at hand • And bnng your music forth into the air. '\Exit S/rnhnnr. How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon his bank ^ ^' Here >ye will sit, and let the sounds of music Creep m our ears : soft stillness and the niuht Become the touches of sweet harmony. Sit, Jessica : look, how the floor of heaven Is thick inlaid with patines of bright gold. There s not the smallest orb which thou behold'st But ,n his motion like an angel sings. Still quiring to the young-eyed cherubins ; ^uch harmony is in immortal souls • But, whilst this muddy vesture of decav Doth grossly close it in, we cannot hear it. Enter Musicians Come, ho, and wake Diana with a hvmn • AnH V7^^^*'^ ,^°"''^'''' P^^'"*^^ '^'o^r mislre'ss- ear. And draw her home with music. 394 [Music •^1.- ^,J-T'.' •'^.K ' •• r^!/ Scl Act V Sc I THE ME^RCHANT OF VKNICi: Jes. I am never merry wlicti I hear sweet music. I Lor. I he rcison Is, your s|)irlls iire attentive ; ! For do but nntc a wild and wanton herd. Or race of youthful and unhandled rolls, IVtdiIng mad hounds. bellowin« j.n.l n. ii;liing loud. Which is the hot condition of their hlood ; If they but hear ptrchance a trumpet sound Or any air of music touch their ears. You shall perceive them make a mutual stand, Tlieir savage eyes turned to a modest ga>e hy the sweet power of music : therefore tiie poet l)id feign that Orplieus drew trees, stones, and Hoods * Since nought so stockish, hard, and full of ia;'e, ' I'.ut music for the time doth chanijo his nature ' Tlic man that hath no music in himself, Aor is not moved with concord of sweel sounds, Is nt for treasons, stratagems, and s|)oiIs ; Tlie motions of his '.pirit arc dull as night, And his affections dark as luvhus ; lot no iuch man be trusted : Mark the music. Enter Pomtia and Neiussa, a disUince Por. That light we see is burning in my hall. How far that HI lie candle throws his beams ! ■So shines a goorl deed in a nan^^hty world. A'er. When tiie moon shone we did not soe the c.ciidle Por. So doth the greater glory dim the less: A substitute sliines brightiv as a'king, ' ntil a king be by ; and then liis state l.nipties itself, as doth an inland brook Into the main of waters : — Music : hark I Ner. It is your niusic, madam, of the house. Por. Nothing is good, I see, without respect. Alethinks it sounds much sweeter than by day. Ner. .Silence bestows that virtue on it, madam. Por. The crow doth sing as sweetiv as the lark NMicn neither is attended ; and, I think, The nightingale, if she should sing by day. NVhen every goose is cackling, would be tliouglit No better a musician than the wren. J low many things by season seasoned are To their right praise, and true perfection I — Peace, ho 1— the moon sleeps with Endymion, And would not be awaked. _ ^o/"- That is the voice, Or I am much deceived, of Portia. Por. He kno\Ys me as the blind man knows the cuckoo, oy the bad voice. ^^''' Dear lady, welcome home. 395 p ' i>* I Tin: MERCHANT OF VI-NICE Act V Sc i Por. Wc have been pnwinR for our husbands' wcl/iire, VVhlrh speed, we hope, Ihe boiler for our wunls. Are they riturntd ? I. or. ^fndam. they nrc not yet ; But there Is conic a niessm^tr before. To signify their coming. I'or. Go in. Nerissa ; Give order to my servants. ti\;it tliey take No note at all of our beini^ ;il)sent hence : Nor you, Lorcino ; .lessiea, nor you. (A tucket xouiiortia, forgive me this enforced wrong; And in the hearing of these many friends I swear to thee, even by thine own fair eyes Wherein I see myself — ' , ^^^- IMark you but that I in both my eyes he doubly sees hiiDself ; in each eye, one :— swear by vour double self. -And there 's an oath oi credit. 13 '^f ^' f, • , ,. ^'-'5'' ^"^ I'ear me. p. = -.o.i ii.is lauii. ;iii(i uy my soiii I swear, 1 never more will break an oath wilh thee. Ant. I once did lend my body for his wealth, Which, but for him that had your husband's rir.' yu8 'o» Act V Sc i THE MERCHANT OF VENICE with- Had quite miscarried : I dare be bound again, .My soul upon the forfeit, that your lord Will never more break faith advisedly. Por. Then you shall be his surety. Give him t!iis And bid him keep it better than the other. Ant. Here, Lord Bassanio ; swear to keep this ring Bass. By heaven, it is the same I gave the doctor. Por. I had it of him : pardon me, Bassanio, Por, by this ring, the doctor lay witli me. Ner. And pardon me, my gentle Gratiano. For that same scrubbed boy, the doctor's clerk, In lieu of this, last night did lie with me. Gra. Why. this is like the mending of high ways In summer where the ways are fair enough. What, are we cuckolds ere we have deserved it ? Por. Speak not so grossly. You are aJi amazed : Here is a letter, read it at your leisure ; It comes from Padua, from Bellario : There you shall fmd, that Portia wns the doctor, Nerissa there, her clerk. Lorenzo here Shall witness, I set forth as soon as you, And even but now returned ; I Iiave not yet Entered my house. Antonio, vou arc welcome ; And I have better news in store for you, Than you expect : unseal this letter'soon ; There you shall find, three of vour argosies Are richly come to harbour suddenly. You shall not know bv what strauge accident I chanced on this letter. ^^"'' I am dumb. Bass. Were you the doctor, and I knew you not ? Ora. Were you the clerk that is to make me cuckold ? i\er. Ay ; but the clerk that never means to do it. Lnless he live until he be a man. Bass. Sweet doctor, you shall be my bedfellow : vVhen I am absent, then lie with my wife. Ant. Sweet lady, you have given nic life and living : I' or here I read for certain that my ships Are saf Jy come to road. ..^^^- , , How now, Lorenzo? Aiy clerk hath some good comforts too for you. 'Vi!^'^''\ '^^' ^^^ ^'" 8^'^'« *^'»^"^ ^in» without a fee. 1 here do I give to you and Jessica, From the rich Jew, a special deed of gift, After his death, of aU he dies possessed of. Lor. Fair ladies, you drop manna in the way Ot starved people. ^J*''- It is ahnosl morning. And yet I am sure you are not satisfied t)f these events at full. Let us go in ; 399 m. ^',«>-\ , THE MERCHANT OF VENICE Act V Sc I And charge us there u on inter'gatories. And we will answer all things faithfully. Gra. Let it be so : the first inter'gatory, That my Nerissa shall be sworn on, is, Whether till the next night she had rather stay. Or go to bed now, being two hours to day : But were the day come, I should wish it dark, Till I were couching with the doctor's clerk. Well, while I live, I '11 fear no other thing So sore, as keeping safe Nerissa's ring. [Exeunt iOO Scl eunt I THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR 401 "^^i • u iih DRAMATIS PERSOX^ Sib John Falstaff Fenton, a young gentleman Shallow, a country justice Slender, cousin to Shallow FOKD ) Page j '"'"*' Senll<:men dwelling a 'iadsor William Page, a boy, son to Page Sib Hugh Evans, a Welsh parson Doctor Caitjs, a French physician Host of the Garter Inn Bakdolph ■» NiSTOL I followers of Falstaff Pym J Robin, page to Falstaff Simple, serfjant to Slender Rugby, servant to Doctor Caiua Mistress Fobd Mistress Page Anne Page, her daughter .AlisTRESs Quickly, servant to Doctor Caiua Servants to Page, Ford, etc. SCENE.— Windsor, and the neighbourhood 402 THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR ACT ONE Scene I.— Windsor. Before Page's House Enter Justice Shallow, Slender, and Sir Hugh Evans Shal. Sir Hugl\, persuade nie not ; I will make a Star- Chambcr matter of it : if he were twenty Sir John I-alstalTs, he shall not abuse Robert Shallow, esquire. Slen. In the county of Gloster, justice of peace, and coram. Shal. Ay, cousin Slender, and cust-alorum. Slen. Ay, and Ratolorum too ; and a gentleman born, master parson ; who writes himself Armigero, in any bill, warrant, quittance, or obligation, Armigero. Shal. Ay, that I do ; and have done anv time these three hundred years. Slen. All his successors, gone before him, hath done 't ; and all his ancestors, that come after him, may : they may give the dozen white luces in their coat. Shal. It is an old coat. Eva. The dozen white louses do become an old coat well ; it agrees well, passant ; it is a familiar beast to man, and signifies love. Shal. The luce is the fresh fish ; the salt fish is an old coat. Slen. I may quarter, coz ? Shal. You may, by marrying. Eva. It is marring, indeed, if he quarter it. Shal. Not a whit. Eva. Yes, pyr-lady ; if he has a quarter of your coat, there is but three skirts for yourself, in my simple conjec- tures ; but that is all one : if Sir John Falstaii'have com- mitted disparagements unto you, I am of the church, and will be glad to do my benevolence to nuike atonements and compromises between you. Shal. The Council shall hear it : it is a riot. Eva. It is not meet the Council hear a riot ; there is no fear of Got in a not : the Council, look you, shall desire to hear the fear of Got, and not to hear a riot ; take your vizaments in that. Shal. Ha 1 o' my life, if I were young again, the sword should end it. Eva. It is petter that friends is the sword, and end it : and there is also another device in my prain, which, per- 403 ■frw' -f^ .■>,- ill M I. 'i •I THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR Act I Sc i adventure, prings goot discretions with it : there is Anne Page, which is daughter to Master George Page, which is pretty virginity. Slen. Mistress Anne Page I She has brown hair, and speaks small lilte a woman. Eva. It is that fery person for all the orld : as just as you will desire, and seven hundred pounds of moneys, and gold and silver, is her grandsire, upon his death's-bed (Got deliver to a joyful resurrections 1) give, when she is able to overtake seventeen years old. It were a goot motion if we leave our pribbles and prabbles, and desire a marriage between Master Abraham and Mistress Anne Page. Did her grandsire leave her seven hundred pound ? Ay, and her father is make her a petter penny. I know the young gentlewoman ; she has good Slml Eva. Shal gifts. Eva. gifts. Shal. there ? Eva. Seven hundred pounds and possibilities is good Well, let us see honest Master Page. Is Falstaff Shall I tell you a lie ? I do despise a liar as I do despise one that is false, or, as I despise one that is not true. The knight. Sir John, is there ; and, I beseech you, be ruled by your well-willers. 1 will peat the door for Master Page. [Knocks] What, hoa 1 Got pless your house here 1 Page. [ Within] tvho 's there ? Eva. Here is Got's plessing, and your friend, and Justice Shallow ; and here young Master Slender, that, pcradven- tures, shall tell you another tale, if matters grow to your likings. *^ Enter Page Page. I am glad to see your worships well. I thank you ior my venison, Master Shallow. Shal. ]\Iaster Page, I am t^lad to see you : much good do it your good heart I I wished your venison better ; it was ill killed. — How doth good Mistress Page ?— and I thank you always with my heart, la ; with my heart Page. Sir, I Miank you. Shal. Sir, I tuaiik you ; by yea and no, I do. Page. I am glad to see you, good Master Slender. Slen. How does your fallow greyhound, sir ? I heard say, he was outrun on Cotsol'. Page. It could not be judged, sir. Slen. You '11 not confess, you '11 not confess. Shal. That he will not.— 'T is your fault, 't is your fault : — 't is a good dog. Page. A cur, sir. 404 Act I Sc i THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR Shul. Sir, he 's a Rood dog, and a fair dog ; can there be more said ? he is gocd, and fair. -Is Sir John Faistall here ? Page. Sir, he is witiiin ; and I would I could do a good otiice between you. Eva. It is spolce as a Christians ouf^lit to speak. Shal. He hath wronged me. Master i'afjc. Page, Sir, he doth in some sort confess it. Shal. If it l)e confessed, it is nut redressed : is not that so, Master Page " He hath wronged me ; indeed, he liath ; —at a word, he hath ;— l)elieve me ;— Robert Shaliow, esquire, saith, he is wron^'rd. Page. Here comes Sir Jolm. Enler Sir John Falstaff. BAnooLPii, Nym, and Pistol Fal. Now, Master Shallow, you '11 complain of me to the king ? Shal. Knight, you have beaten my men, killed my deer and broke open my lodge. Fal. But not kissed your keeper's daughter ? Shal. Tut, a pin, this shall be answered. Fal. I will answer it straight :— I have done all this.— That is now answered. Shal. The Council shall know this. Fal. 'T were better for you, if it were known in counsel ; you '11 be laughed at. Eva. Paiica verba. Sir John ; goot worts. Fal. Good worts ? good cabbage.— Slender, I broke your head : what matter have you against me ? Slen. Marry, sir, I have matter in my head against you • and against your cony-catching rascals, Bardolph, Nym and Pistol. They carried me to the tavern, and made me drunk, and afterwards picked my pocket. Bard. You Banbury cheese I Ay, it is no matter. How now, Mephostophilus ? Ay, it is no matter. Slice, I say I pauca, pauca ; slice ! that 's my Slen. Pist. Slen. Nym. humour Slen. Eva. Where 's Simple, my man ?- can vou tell, cousin *> Peace I I pray you. Nov. lot us understand : there is three umpires in this matter, as I understa d • that is—Master Page, fidclicct. Master Page ; and there is myself (idehcct, myself ; and the three party is, lastly and finailv mine host of tiie Garter. ^ Page. \We three, to hear it, and end it between them. i^va. Fery goot : I will make a prief of it in mv note- book ; and we will afterwards ork upon the cause, with as great discreetly as we can. Fal. Pistol,— Pist. He hears with ears. 405 MM THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR Act I Sc i fc*j He and w Eva. The tevll and his tnm ! what phrase is this, hears with car ? " NVliy, it is alTectalions. Fal. Pistol, did you i)ick Master Sicndcr's purse ? Slen. Ay, by these gloves, did 1^— or I would I might never come in mine own great chamber again else — of seven groats in mill-sixpences, and two Edward shovel-boards, that cost me two shilling and two pence a-piece of Yead Miller;- by these gloves. Fal. Is this true, Pistol ? Eva. No ; it is false, if it is a pick-purse. Pist. Ha, thou mountain-foreigner 1 — Sir John master mine, I combat challenge of this laften bilbo. — Word of denial in thy labras here ; Word of denial :- froUi and scum, thou Host. Slen. By these gloves, then, 't was he. Nijm. Be aviscd, sir. and pass good inmiours : I ,. s'.iy, " marry trap," with you, if you niii the nut-houk s humour on me ; that is the very note of it. Slen. By this hat, then, he in the red lace had it ; for tiiough I cannot remember what I did when you made me drunk, yet I am not altogether an ass. Fal. What say you. Scarlet and John ? Bard. Why, sir, for my part, I say, the gentleman had drunk lumsclf out of his five sentences,— Eva. It is his five senses : fie, wh-L the ignorance is I Bard. And being fap, sir, was, as they say, cashiered; and so conclusions pass d the careers. Slen. Ay, you spake in Latin then too ; but 't is no matter. I'll ne'er be drunk whilst I live again but in honest, civil, godly comp uiy, for this trick : if 1 be drunk I '11 be drunk with those thai have the fear of God, and not with drunken knaves. Eva. So Got udge me, that is a virtuous mind. Fal. You hear all these matters d. nied, gentlemen • you hear it. ^ . , Enter Anne Page, with wine ; Mistress Ford and Mistress Page following Page. \^ithin. Slen. Page. Fal. by your Page. Nay, daughter, carry the wine in ; we '11 drink r^ TT ..... [Exit Anne Page O Heaven ! this is Mistress Anne Page. How now. Mistress lord ? Mistress Ford, by my troth, you are very well met ■ 'V^r ?'?°^^ niistres.. [Kissing her Wife, bid these gentlemen welcome.— Come, we have a hot venison pasty to dinner : come gentlemen, I hope we shall drink dowii all unkindness. [Exeunt all but Shaliotv, Slender, and Evans 406 Act I Sc i THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR Slen. I had rather than forty shillings, I had my Book of Songs and Sonnets here. Enlcr Simple How now, Simple ? Where have you been ? I must wait on myself, must I ? You have not the Book of Riddles about you. have you ? Sim. Book of Biddies I v,hy, did vou not lend it to Alice Shortcake upon Ali-hallowmas last, a fortnight afore Michaehiias ? ° 67m/. Come, cor.; come, coz ; we stay for vou A word with you. coz ; marry, this coz : tliore is, as'l were a tender, a kind of tender, made afar oil bv Sir Hu.'h here • do you understand me ? ^ ' T =h''n ■ T ')7' f'!\' ^."" '^^" ""^ '"'^ reasonable : if it be so, I shall do that that is reason. Shal. Nay, but understand me. Slen. So I do, sir. Ei'a Give ear to his motions. Master Slender. I will description the matter to you, if you be capacity of it. blen. Nay, I will do as my cousin Shallow says. I pray you pardon me ; he 's a justice oi peace in his country simple though I stand here. ^' Eva. But that is not the question : the question is concerning your marriage. cauuu 15, Shal, Ay, that 's the point, sir. An^r*Page?''^' '' "' ^''' ^""'^ P""'"* ""^ ^^ ' *° ^^'^^^^ess abie'S;m}n!l^.' ^ '^ '"' '"' ^ '''" '"'''"^ ^'' "P^" ''*">' '^''»^°"- Eva But can you alTection the oman ? Let us com- mand to know that of your mouth, or of your Hps : for (livers philosophers hold, tiiat the lips is parcel of the mouth ■ Uierelorc, precisely, can you carry your good will to the Slial. Cousin Abranam Slender, can you love her ? Slen I hope, sir, I wiU do as it shall become one that would do reason. nnfir.' I ^-7' ^"^'^ '^'''^' -'^"'^ ^'^ ^^^'^s. you must speak positable, If you can carry her your desires towards her. ma/^ ker^?' ^""^ """''' ''^'"' ^'•'"' "P''" ^'^^'^ ^^^'■>- Slen I will do a greater thing than that, upon your request, cousin, in any reason. ^ ^ Shal Nity, conceive me, conceive me, sweet coz : what 1 do IS to pleasure you, coz. Can you love the maid ? 6/en I will marry her, sir, at your request; but if there be no great love in the beginuin-, vet Heaven may decrease it upon better acquaintance, when nvc are marded 407 ''•;- ';'/" ■ T ' i '- « V^l^* THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR Act I Sc 1 lit nnd have more occasion to know one another : I hope, upon familiarity will f^row more contempt : but if j'ou say, " marry her." I will marry her ; thai I am freely dissolved, and dissolutely. Evil, it is a fery discretion answer ; save the faul is In the ort dissolutely : the ort is, accordiiit^ to our meaning, resolutely: his meanip«» is goot. Shfil. Ay, I tiiiiik my cousin meant well. Slcn. Ay, or else I would I might be hanged, la I Shal. Here comes fair Mistress Anne. — Re-enter Anne Page 'Would I wore young, for your sake, Mistress Anne 1 Anne. The dinner is on tlic table ; my father desires your vvorshi|)s' company. Shal. 1 will wait on liim, fair Mistress Anne. Od's plcssed will ! I will not be absence at the [i:.rcunt Shalluu) and Evans Will 't please your worship to come in. sir ? No, I thank you, forsooth, heartily ; I am very Eva. grace. Anne. Slen. well. Anne. Slen. The dinner attends you, sir. I am not a-hungry, I thank you, forsooth.— Go, sirrah, for all you arc my man, go, wait upon my cousin Shallow. [Exit Simple] A justice of peace sometime may be beholding to his friend for a man.-— 1 keep but three meii and a boy yet, till my mother be dead ; but what though ? yet I live like a poor gonl'cman born. Anne. I may not go in without your worship ; they will not sit, till you come. Slen. l faith, I '11 eat nothing ; I thank you as much as though I did. Anne. 1 pray you, sir, walk in. Slen. I had rather walk here, I thank you. T bruised my shin th' other day with playing at sword and dagger Avith a master of fence —three veneys for a dish of stewed prunes ; and, by my troth, I cannot abide the smell of hot meat since. — Why do your dogs bark so ? be there bears i' the town ? Anne. I think there are, sir Slen. I love the sport well ; at it as any man in England, the bear loose, are you net ? Anne. Ay, indeed, sir. Slen. That 's moat and drink to me now, 1 have seen Sackerson loose twenty times, and have taken him by the chain ; but, I warrant you, the women have so cried and shrieked at it that it passed— but women, indeed, cannot aljide 'em ; they are very ill-favoured rough things. 408 I heard them talked of. but I sliall as soon quarrel Vou are afraid, if you see liT^-^k i r-^^T^^^mmsFW ^mm. Act I Sc ill THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR Pe-enter Page Page. Come, gentle Maslor Slon.kT, come ; we stay for you. -^ Slen. I'll eat nothing, I thank you, sir. Page. By cock and pic, you shall not choose, sir : come, come. Slen. Nay, pray you, lead the way. Page. Come on, .sir. Slen. Mistross Aimc, yourself shall go first. Anne. XoL I, sir ; pray you, keep on. Slen. Truly, I will not go first: truly, la, I will not do you that wrong. Anne. I pray you, sir. Slen. I'll rather be unmannerly, than troublesome. \ou do yourself wrong, indeed, la I [Exeunt i Scene II.— An outer Room in Page's House. Enter Sir Hugh Evans and Simple uf "u*, 9^ 5''°ur ways, and ask of Doctor Cains' house which is the way ; and there dwells one .Mistress Quickly which is in the manner of his nurse, or his try nurse, or his cook, or his laundry, his washer, and his wrincer. Sim. Well, sir. Eva. Nay, it is petter yet.— Give her this letter; for It is a oman that altogether 's acquaintance with Mistress Anne Page : and the letter is, to desire and require her to solicit your master's desires to Mistress Anne Page I pray you, be gone : I will make an end of my dinner • there s pippins and cheese to come. [Exeunt Scene III.— A Room in the Garter Inn Enter Falstaff, Host, Bardolph, Nym, Pistol, and Robin Fal. Mine host of the Garter,— J^^st. What says my bully-rook ? Speak scholarly and Fal. Truly, mine host, I must turn away some of mv followers. -^ Host. Discard, bully Hercules ; cashier : let them wac • trot. trot. *' Eul. I sit at ten pounds a week. ^ Host. Thou 'rt an emperor, Gcesar, Keisar, and Pheezar. : y.iii cntcriam Bardoiph ; he shall draw, he sliall tan • said I well, bully Hector ? ^ ' Eal. Do so, good mine host. Host. I have spoke ; let him follow.— Let me see thee iroth and lime : I am at a word ; follow. [Exit Host 409 THE MEFRY WIVES OF WINDSOR Act I Sc ill r. 'O; ■ m I .fif' M Fal. Bardolph, follow him. A tapster is a Rood trade : an old cloak makrs a new jerkin; n withered scrving-nian a fresh tapster. Go ; adieu. Jiaril. It is a life tliat I iiavc desired : I will thrive. Pist. () base (iongarlan wight I wilt tliou the spigot wield ? I /,\r// liardolph Nijm. lie was gotten in drink ; is not llie humour con- ceited ? Fal. I nm Riad I am so acquit of this tinder-ljox : Ids tliefts were too open • ''is lileliing was like an uuskiHul sinf'cr, — he kept not i. .-. Nifiri. The good liuiaour is to steal at a ndtiim's rest. /*j'.s/. Convey, the wise it call. "Steal?" foh I a fleo for the j)hrasc I F(tl. Well, sirs, I am almost out at heels. Pist. Why, then, let kihr-s ensue. Fal. There is no remedy ; I must couy-catch ; I must shift. Pist. Young ravens must have food. Fal. Which of you know I'ord of this town ? Pist. I ken the wight : he is of substance good. Fal. My honest lads, I will tell you what I am about. Pist. Two yards, and more. Fnl. No qidps now, Pistol : indeed, I am in the waisl two yards about ; but I am now about no waste, I am about thrift. Hriefly, I do mean to make love to Ford's wife. I spy cnt lU.'.nenl j,i 'mt ; she discourses, s!ie carves, she gives the leer of invitation : I can construe tlic action of her familiar style ; and the hardest voice of her behaviour, to be Englished riglitly, is, " I am Sir John Falstafl's." Pist. He liath studied her well, and translated her well, — out of honesty into luigiish. Nym. The anchor is deep : will that humour pass? Fal. Now, the report goes, she has all tlie rule of her husband's purse — be hath a legion of angels. Pist. As many devils entertain; and "To her, boy," The humour rises ; it is good : humour me the say I. Xijm. angels. Fdl. I have writ me here a letter to her : and here another to Page's wife, who even now gave me good eyes loo, examined my parts with most judicious oullads : sometimes the beam of her view gilded my foot, sometimes my portly belly. Pist. Then did the sun on dungliili shine. Nym. I thank thee for that humour. Fal. O, she did so course o'er my exteriors with such a greedy intention, that the appetite of her eye did siein to scorch me up like a burning-glass. Here *s another letter to licr : she bears the purse too ; she is a region in 410 ^piflgBiraL^itl^fl Act I Sc Iv THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR Guiana, nil {^old and hnunty. I will bo cheaters to tl loni i)Oth, n'.i they shall be excluquers to nie : th.v shall he my i:ast and \V< >,i Indies, and I will trade to tliciu both. Cio, bear thon Uiis letter to Mistress Page ; and Uiou this to Mistress 1 ord. We will thrive, lads, we will thrive. /'/a7. Sh:ill I Sir Pandarus of Troy become, And by my side wear steel ? then, Lucifer lake all I Nijm. I will run no base humour : here, take the iuimour-Ieller. I will keep the haviour of reputalion. y f comfort in his suit ; and lead hirn on with a fine-baited delay, till he hath pawned his horses to mine host of the Garter. Mrs. Ford. Nay, I will consent to act any villainy against 416 Act II Sc i THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR l)im that may not sully the chariness of our honesty O that my husband saw this letter ! it would give eternai food to his jealousy. Mrs. Piujc. Wliy, look, where he comes ; and my good man too: he's as far from jealousy, as I am from rivin" him cause ; and that, I hope, is an unmeasurablc distance. Mrs. Ford. You ar'^ the happier woman. Mrs. Paqe. Let's cjnsult together a;,'ainst this "reasv kmght. Come hither. ' [Thcu retire Enter Ford, Pistol, Page, and Xym Ford. Well, I hope, it be not so. Pist. Hope is a curtal dog in some ailairs ; Sir .John aliecls thy wife. Ford. Why, sir, my wife is not young. Pist. He wooes both high and low, both rich and r)oor. Both young and old, one with another, Fi)rd. He loves the galMmaulry : Ford, perpend. Ford, r.ove my wife ? Pist. With liver burning hot : prevent, or go thou, UKc Sir Actseon he, with Ringwood at thy heels: O, odious is the name. Ford. What name, sir ? Pist. The horn, I say. Farewell : Take heed ; have open eye ; for thieves do foot by night- Take heed, ere summer comes, or cuckoo-l.irds do sin<^ — Away, Sir Corporal Nym :— Believe it. Page ; he speaks sense. [Exit Ford. [Aside] I will be patient ; I will fmd out this. Nym. [To Page] And this is true ; I like not the humour ot lying. He hath v.Tonged me in some humours : I should have borne the humoured letter to her ; but 1 have a sword and It shall bite upon my necessity. He loves your wife ' there s the short and the Jong. My name is Corporal Nym .' |, ^Pf ''»J.' and I avouch 't is true :— my name is Nym, and balstaft loves your wife. -Adieu. I love not the humour of bread and cheese ; and there s the humour of it. Adieu. . f"'J^:. f-^^''^«l "The humour of it." quoth 'a 1 here's'a ullow frights humour out of his wits. Ford. [Aside] I will seek out FalstalT. [Aside] I never heard such a drawling, affecting Page. rogue. Ford. Page [Aside] If I do fmd it :— well. „ 14*"^''] i wiii not believe such a Catalan, though the priest o the town commended him lor a true man ^ord. [Aside] 'T was a good sensible fellow: well. Page. How now, Meg ? Mrs. Page. Whither go you, George ?— Hark vou. r?s— T 41' Page. Ford. Page. Ford. Page. THE MKRRY WIVES OF WINDSOR Act II Sc i Mrs. Ford. How now, sweet Frank ? why art thou mehmcholy ? .,.,-.. Ford. I melancholy 1 I am not melancholy.— Get you home, go. . , ^ . x. i j Mrs. Ford. 'Faith, thou hast some crotchets in thy head now.— Will you go, Mistress Page ? Mrs. Page. Have with you.— You'll come to dmner, George 1— [Aside to Mrs. Ford] Look, who comes yonder : she shall be our messenger to this paltry knight. Mrs. Ford. Trust me, I thought on her : she '11 fit it. Enter Mistress Quickly Mrs. Page. You ore come to see my daughter Anne ? Quick. Ay, forsooth ; and, I pray, how does good Mistress Anne ? , . . Mrs. Page. Go in with us, and see ; we have an hour s talk with you. . , ,, ^ . ,, [Exeunt Mrs. Page, Mrs. Ford, and Mrs. Quicklij How now. Master Ford ? You heard what this knave told me, did you not ? Yes ; and vou heard what the otlier told me. Do you think there is truth in them ? Hang 'em slaves; I do not think the knight would offer it : but these that accuse him, in his intent towards our wives, are a yoke of his discarded men ; very rogues, now they be out of service. J'ord. Were they his men ? Page. Marry, were they. . ,. . Ford. I like it never the better for that. —Does he he at thp Cjtirtcr ? Page. Ay, marry, does he. If he should intend this voyage towards my wife, I would turn her loose to him : and wliat he gets more of her than sharp words, let it lie on my head. , , , i ti Ford. I do not misdoubt my wife, but I would be loatli to turn them together. A man may be too confident : 1 would have nothing lie on my head : I cannot be thus satisfied. Page. Look, where mv ranting I'.csl of (he Garter comes. There is either liquor in his pate, or money in his purse, • when he looks so merrily. — Enter Host How now, mine host ? Host. How now, bully-rooy; '. tlion 'rt a geiitlcman.-- Cavalero-justice. I sny, — Enter Shallow Slial. I follow, mine host. 1 follow. - twenty, Good Muster Page, us ? wo have sport in hand. -Good-even and Master Pago, will you go with 418 Act II Scii THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR you what our sport sliall be ^ ^ ''"''' ^ ^'^" ^«" cavaUer ?'""''' '^'^ "° ^"^' ^^ainst my knight, my guest- bunrsack'^^trgiJ-e^Jnlli^ou'^sl I'At' ^f". ? ^«^^'« o^ name is Brook, only Tor a St '"" ^"'^ ^''" *""^ "^y rog/'s; said Vwoi. '"aL^ t,''°^ ^'^^''. '^^^'^ ^^^^^^ ^"^ ^/'«/. Have with you, mine host, his nfp'ier.' """''' '"'^^'^ '''' Frenchman hath good skill in timefyou'^sTand'on disSceT '''"^ ^°" "^^''^ = ^'^ 'hese would have maryoTFoir'lall^^^Ufsk^liSar^^' ^ Prni' S'""^' ^°>f ' ^'-''•^' h«re ' Shall we wap •> thfntght"'"^ "^"^ ^""Tp^ '^^^ -^her hea? them scold I'ord Though PaPP hi f ""' ""'i' ^^"'"""^ «"^ ^'«'7^ firmly on his witsSty,%e't fcaTnot'^'ut n"^' ^'^^"^^^^° so cas Iv. She \vn^ in hil ^ cannot put off my op n on [Exit Sci-NE II.— A Room in the Garter Inn ':'n(er Falstaff and Pistol pls't \vl'" Tu ^'"^^ ^^^^'^ '-' p^"ny- s^vord wiuMj;^'.,*^^^" ^^« ^^^^'^ 's mine oyster, which I with 419 ^•••■•r...l SSL ■ I THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR Act II Sc ii centlemen, mv friends, you were f^ood soldiers, and fall fellows ; and uhen Mistress lirid Hint I have lost my edifice by mistaking tlio pliu-c wiitTc I crecteti it. lull. To uluit purpose liave you unfolded this to me ? i'ord. Wljcn I liavo told you tli;il. 1 liave told you all. Some say, that though slie a|tpi ar honest to me. yet in other plaees she enlartJclh Iut niirlh so far that there is shrewd construction made of her. Now, Sir John, here is the heart of my purpose : you are a >?entleman of excellent breeding. adniiral)le discourse, of great admittance, au- thentic in your place and person, generally allowed for your many war-like, court-like, and learned preparations, — F■ uio!;« v, lor tlie which his Mii. s ems to be well-favoured. 1 will use lur as the key of the cackoldly rogue's coder: and Ihtres my harvest home. 42 1 Act ir sciii ip: MnnrtY \vrvF:s oi' Windsor lynl I woul.l yoii knew TonJ, sir. lJi;,t you niiuht avoid him. if you saw liitn. •' ^ l\d FlaiiR him, nitdumic-:.! sall-hutlcr ro«uc ! I will s nro him out of his uits ; I Nviil aw.- him uilh u^^ cu.iM.I. i( ^liaii h;ui« liloi,!d any n.an h: '• bed shall be ahiiMd. my conVrs r,.ns.,rk.,l, ,„v rq,ulation !^nawn at ; and 1 shall not only r.c.j.. this villainous wron/,', but stan.l under the adoption ol alxuninablc tonus •md hy him that docs .nc tl^is wro,.... 'iv.-ms : nan es '- Ainamion sounds well: I.m. ifcr. well; Uarh.son. we'll • '.'n V !?; '"-V'/J^jVils' additions, the nanus of li.n.ls : hut cuckold I Wittul-cuckold : the devil himself hath iiot such a nanie. Pa^'e is an ass. a secure ass; he ui!l trust his V. 0. he will not he jealous. I will rather trust a .k,ni U Nvilh my hut er, I'arson Hu-h the Welshman w^ h w cheese, an irishman uith niy aqua-vita.- bottle, or a thie o he nIotV fl''"'"7 '^'^''"'"•- '"''^" '">' '''''■ '^'^'' JH-rscU ih. n .v^hn. ■".,''•' ':"''""^'l'^-^' tl'^" =^l'e devises ; and what h-> thliilv in their he.Mls thev may ellect. tiiey will break their hearts hut they will ellect. f leaven be pn cd for my jealousy ! -J- leven o'clock the hour: t w 11 prevenf *^.ir-e 1 will about It ; better iiiree hours to-, soon than a "uuute too late. Fie, fie. lie 1 cuckold! cuckold Icu.koidl [Lxil SciiNE III.— Windsor I^irk Entrr Cail-s and Ricj.y Jack Rugby I Sir. Vat is de clock, .Tack ? "lis past the hour, sir, that Sir Huf:h promised By gar^hc has save his soul, dat he is no co.r.« . h',^''w *"''»''-'' '/'S.^'ii^ie veil, dat he is no come. 'By^gar' Ja< k Ruuby. he is dead already, if lie be come. hini.^ff he came!"'''" ''' ' ^' """'' ^'"""^ """""^"P ""'^'^^^ ^''^ Cnius. Cafus. Hug. Cams, [lug. t<' meet. Cuius. By gar, de herring is no dead 38- so as I vill kill 425 mi f '1 ttli t ] THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR Act II Sc Ui him. Take your rapier, Jack ; I vill tell you how I vill kill him. Rug. Alas, sir, I cannot fence. Caius. Villainy, take your rapier. Rug. Forbear ; here 's company. Enter Host, Shallow, Slexder, and Page Host. Bless thee, bully doctor. Shal. Save you, Master Doctor Caius. Page. Now, good master doctor ! Slen. Give you good morrow, sir. Caius. Vat be all you, one, two, tree, four, come for ? Host. To see thee' fight, to sec thee foin, to see thee traverse, to see thee here, to see thee there ; to see thee pass thy punto, thy stock, thy reverse, thy distance, thy montant. Is he dead, my Ethiopian ? is he dead, my Francisco ? ha, bully 1 AVliat says my jEsculapius ? my Galen ? my heart of elder ? ha ! is he dead, bully Stale ? is he dead ? Caius. By gar, lie is de coward Jack priest of de varld ; he is not show his face. Host. Thou art a Castilian, King Urinal I Hector of Greece, my boy ! Caius. I pray you, bear vitness that me have stay six or seven, two, tree hours for him, and he is no come. Shal. He is the wiser man, master doctor : he is the curer of soul..ords to puvvu.— Foiiow mc, lads of peace; lollow.'follow, Shal Trust me, a mad host.— Follow, gentlemen, follow. iilen. [Aside] O, sweet Anne Page I [Exeunt Shallow, Slender, Page, and Host 420 THE MERRY WIVES 07^ WINDSOR Act III Sc ii m i i .■^«Sr' Caius. Ha 1 do I perceive dat ? have you makc-a de sot of us ? ha, ha 1 Eva. This is well; he has made us his vloutlUg-stog. — I desire you, that we may be friends, and let us knog our prains together to be revenge on this same scall, scurvy, cogging companion, the host of the Garter. Caius. By gar, vit all my heart. He promised to bring me vere is Anne Page : by gar, he deceive nic too. Eva. Well, I will smite his noddles. — Pray you, follow. [Exeunt Scene II. — A Street in Windsor Enter Mistress Page and Robin Mrs. Po'/c. Nay, keep your way, little gallant : you were wont to be a follower, but now you are a i?ader. "VVhether had you rather lead mine eyes, or eye your master's heels ? Rob. I had rather, forsooth, go before you like a man, than follow him like a dwarf. Mrs. Page. O 1 you are a flattering boy : now I see you '11 be a courtier. Enter Ford Ford. W^ell met. Mistress Page. Whither go you ? Mrs. Page Truly, sir, to see your wife : is she at home ? Ford. Ay ; and as idle as she may hang together, for want of company. I think, if your husbands were dead, you two would marry. Mrs. Page. Be sure of that, — two other husbands. Ford. Where had you this pretty weathercock ? Mrs. Page. 1 cannot tell what the dickens his name is my husband had him of. — What do you call your knight s name, sirrah ? Rob. Sir John Falstaff. Ford. Sir John Falstaff 1 Mrs. Page. He, he ; I can never hit on 's name. — There is such a league between my good man and he ! Is your wife at home indeed I Ford. Indeed, she is. Mrs. Page. By your leave, sir : I am sick till I see her. [Exeunt Mrs. Page and Rabin Ford. Has Page any brains ■? ha+h he any eyes ? hath he any thinking ? Sure, they sleep ; he hath no use of them. Why, ttiis boy will carry a letter twenty miles, as easy as a cannon will shoot point-blank twelve score. He pieces out his wife's inclination ; he gives her folly motion and advantage : and now she 's going to my wife, and Fal- stall's boy with her. A man may hear this shower sing in 430 Act III Sc ii THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR the wind :— and Falstaff's boy with her ?— Good plots !— they are laid ; and our revolted wives share damnation together. Well ; I will take him. then torture my w f" pluck the borrowed veil of modesty from the so seemin/^ Mistress Page, divulge Page himself for a secure and wilful Activon ; and to these violent proceedings all my nci"h- bours shall ciy airn. [Clock strikes] The clock gives mc my cue, and^my assurance bids me search • there I shil' fmd Falstaff : I shall be rather praised for this than mocked ■ for It IS as positive as the earth is firm, that FalstalT is there .' i will go. Enter Page, Shallow, Slender, Host, Sir Hugh Evans Caius, and Rugby Page, Shal., etc. Well met, Master Ford I'ord. Trust me, a good knot. I have good cheer at home, and I pray you all go with me. Shal. 1 must excuse myself, Master Ford xvifh ^f /^""^ ? ™"'^ '' ^''^ • '''« '^^v« appointed to dine with Mistress Anne, and I would not break with her for more money than I '11 speak of. vfJl"^' A ^^® ^^^® lingered about a match between Anne Lswer" ™^ ''°"''" ' """"^ ^^'' ^^^ '''^ ^^""'^ ^^^*^ °"^ Slen. I hope, I have your good will, father Page. vnn "^'hnf °'' ^T' -^''''^'' ^'""^^" ' I st'-^^d wholly for you -but my wife, master doctor, is for you altogether. Cams. Ay by gar ; and de maid is lovc-a me : mv nursh-a Quickly tell me so mush. ^ hJ^^T^' \^^!: ^^y y°" *^ y°""S blaster Fenton ? he capers, he dances, he has eyes of youth, he writes verses, he speaks ca^y t ; t is m his buttons ; he will carry 't / age. Not by my consent. I promise you. The gentle- man is of no having : he kept company with thf w Id K 'No'^h^^V }r '\f '^^^ !"eh a r'egio'l.rhe knows too E.r .f ' "" 'k "1" """^ ^'"'^ "" ^"^^ i'^ l^is fortunes with the SSv ^^ '"^S?"t'V '^ ^^^ ^"*^« her, let him take her simply the wealth I have waits on my consent, and mv consent goes not that way. ' ^ wi/?'"'^"* I^?>eseech you, heartily, some of you go home Tu^lPcH^^ ^'""^' ■ ^''^^'^ >'""^ ^'^^^'•' yo" shall ha?e sport! l^laih^r ^""^^ nionster.-M.-,ster doctor, you shall go 9/,^?'^^^}!' ^^^'^''' P'-^Se.-and you, Sir Hugh. ^ •vr • ; t Yf"'. ^""l^ - ' well.-We shall have the freer ^aius. Go home. John Rugby ; I come anon. i^alstalT, and drink canary with him. [£a.// 431 I w d' m I f la . - ; THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR Act III Sc iii Ford. [Aside] I think, I shall drink in pipe-wine first with him ; I '11 make hiin dance. Will you go, gentles ? All. Have with you, to see this monster. [Exeunt Scene III. — A Room in Ford's House Enter .MisTRFiss Foiid and Mistress. Page Mrs. Ford. What, Jolin I what, Robert ! Mrs. Page. Quickly, quickly: — is the buck-basket — Mm. Ford. 1 warriiul. — What, Robin, 1 say I Enter Servants with a basket Conic, come, come. Here, set it down. Give your men the charge; we must be Mrs. Parje. Mrs. Ford. Mrs. Page. brief. Mrs. Ford. Marry, as I told you before, .John, and Robert, be ready here hard by in the brew-house ; and when I suddenly call you, come forth, and without any pause or staggering take this basket on your shoulders : tiiat done, trudge with it in all haste, and carry it among the whitsters in Datchct-mead, and there empty it in the muddy ditch close by the Thames side. Mrs. Page. You will do it ? I ha' told them over and over ; they lark Be gone, and come wlien you are called. [Exeunt Servants Here comes little Robui. Mrs. Ford. no direction Mrs. Page. How Enter RoniN now, my cyas-musket ? what news Mrs. Ford. with you ? Hob. My master, Sir John, is come in at your bad; door. Mistress Ford, and requests your company. Mrs. Page. You little J;.ck-a-Lcnt, have you been true to us? Fob. Ay, I '11 be sworn. My master knows not of your being here, and hath threatened to put me into everlasting liberty, if 1 tell you of it ; for he swears he '11 turn mc away. Mrs. Page. Thou 'rt a good boy ; this secrecy of thint shall be n tailor to thee, and shall make thee a new doublet and hose -I '11 go hide me. Mrs. Ford. Do so. — Go tell thy master, I am alone [Exit Robin] — Mistn ss Page, remember you your cue. Mrs. Page. I warrant lliee ; if i do not act it, hiss me. \Ex'i Mrs. Ford. Go to, then : we 'II use this unwholesome humidity, this gross watery pumpion ; — we '11 teach him to know turtles from jays. 43-2 Li'i :i^«*'* m^..T^ i 'i Act III Sc ill THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR Enter Falstaff Fal. Have I cauRht my hoavcniv jewel ? Why, now let me die, for I have lived lonfi enough : this is the period of my ambition : O this blessed hour I Mrs. Ford. O sweet Sir John 1 ,,.-^4 ^listress Ford, I cannot cog, I cannot prate, Mistress Ford. Now shall I sin in my wish,— I would thy husband were dead: I '11 speak it before the best lord I would make thee my lady. Mrs Ford. I your lady, Sir John I alas, I should be a pitiful lady. Fal. Let the court of France show me such another I see how thine eye would emulate the diamond : thou hast the right arched beauty of the brow thai becomes the ship- tire, the tire-valiant, or any tire of Venetian admittance Mrs. Ford. A plain kerchief. Sir John : my brows be- come nothing else ; nor that well neither. ^fi" . ^\ ^^^^ ^"^^' ^^^^ ^^^ ^ tyrant to say so : thou wouldst make an absolute courtier ; and the firm fixture of thy foot would give an excellent motion to thy gait, in a snni-circled farthingale. I see what thou wert, if Fortune tliy foe were not. Nature thy friend : come, thou canst not hide it. Mrs. Ford. Believe me, there 's no such thing in me. Fal \^hat made me love thee ? let that persuade thee there s something extraordinary in thee. Come ; I canno'' cu-, and say thou art this and that, like a many of these' hsping hawthorn-buds, that come like women in men's apparel, and smell like Bucklersbury in simple time : I can- not ; but I love thee, none but thee, and thou deservest it Mrs. Ford. Do not betray mc, sir. I fear, you love Mistress Page. Fal. Thou mi/^htst as v.eP say, I love to walk by the Lounter-gate, which is as hateful to me as the reek of a limc-kiln. Mrs. Ford. Well, Heaven knows how I love vou : and you shall one day find it. Fal. Keep in that mind ; I '11 deserve it. Mrs. Ford Kay, I must tell you, so you do ; or else 1 could not be m that mind. nob. [U'z7/j//}] Mistress Ford I Mistress Ford ! here's Mistress Page at the door, sweating, and blowing, and looking wildly, and would needs speak with you presently Jal. She shall not sec me: I will ensconce me behind 4 ) ne arras. Mrs. Ford. Ionian. — Pray you, do so : she s a very tattling [Falsia/] hides himself behind the arras Re-enter .Mistuess Page and Robin V^Tiat 's the matter ? how now ! 4.?f? THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR Act III Sc iil t 11 1!B(3 J "■ "I J f I yfii=~ I Page. O Mistress Ford I what have you done ? shamed, you are overthrown, you 're undone for Mrs. You 're ever. Mrs. Ford. What 's the matter, good Mistress Page ? Mrs. Page. O well-a-day. Mistress Ford 1 having an honest man to your husband, to give him such cause of suspicion I Mrs. Ford. What cause of suspicion ? Mrs. Page. What cause of suspicion I — Out upon you I how am I mistook in you 1 Mrs. Ford. Why, alas, what 's the matter ? Mrs. Page. Your husband's coming hither, woman, with all the ofllcers in Windsor, to search for a gentleman, that, he says, is here now in the house, by your consent, to take an ill advantage of his absence : you are undone. Mrs. Ford. 'T is not so, I hope, Mrs. Page. Pray Heaven it be not so, that you have such a man here 1 but 'tis most certain your husband's coming, with half Windsor at his heels, to search for such a one : I come before to tell you. If you know yourself clear, why, I am glad of it : but if you have a friend here, convey him out. Be not amazed ; call all your senses to you ; defend your reputation, or bid farewell to your good life for ever. Mrs. Ford. What shall I do ? — There is a gentleman, my dear friend ; and I fear not mine own shame so much as his peril : I had rather than a thousand pound he were out of the house. Mrs. Page. For shame ! never stand " you had rather," and " you had rather : " your husband's here at hand ; bethink you of some conveyance : in the house you cannot hide him. — O, how have you deceived me 1 — Look, here is a basket : if he be of any reasonable stature, he may creep in here ; and throw foul linen upon him, as if it were going to bucking : or, — it is whiting-time, — send him by your two men to Datchet-mead. Mrs. Ford. He 's too big to go in there. What shall I do ? Re-enter Falitaff I 11 Fat. Let me see 't, let me see 't, O, let me see 't I in, I '11 in. — Follow your friend's counsel : — I '11 in. Mrs. P(tf]e. What I Sir John FalstalT ? Are these your letters, knight ? Fal. I love thee and none but thee : help me away ; let me creep in here ; I '11 never — [lie gels into the basket ; they cover him voi'h foul linen Mrs. Page. Help to cover your master, boy. Call your men. Mistress Ford. — You dissembling knight ! Mrs. Ford. What, John ! Robert I John 1 [Exit Robin 434 Act III Sc Ui THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR Re-enter Servants Go take up these clothes here, quickly : — where 's the cowi- stafT ?— look, how you druinble : carry them to the laundress in Datchet-mead ; quickly, come. Enter Ford, Page, Caius, and Sir Hugh Evans Ford. Pray you, come near ; if I suspect without cause, why, then make sport at me, then let me be your jest ; I deserve it. — How now ? whither bear you this ? Serv. To the laundress, forsooth. Mrs. Ford. Why, what have you to do whither they bear it ? You were best meddle with buck-wasliing. Ford. Buck 1— I would I could wash myself of the buck 1 —Buck, buck, buck ? Ay, buck ; I warrant you, buck, and of the season too, it shall appear. [Exeunt Servants with the basket.] Gentlemen, I have dreamed to-night : I '11 tell you my dream. Here, iicre, here be my keys : ascend my chambers, search, seek, find out : I '11 warrant, we '11 un- kennel the fox. — Let me slop this way first. [Locks the door.] So, now uncape. Page. Good Master Ford, be contented : you wrong yourself too much. Ford. True, Master Page.— Up, gentlemen ; you shall see sport anon : follow me, gentlemen. [Exit Eva. This is fery fantastical humours and jealousies. Caius. By gar, 't is no de fashion of France ; it is not jealous in France. Page. Nay, follow him, gentlemen ; see the issue of his search. [Exeunt Page, Caius, and Evans Mrs. Page. Is there not a double excellency in this ? Mrs. Ford. I know not which pleases me better, that my husband is deceived, or Sir John. Mrs. Page. What a taking was he in, when your husband asked what was in the basket ! Mrs. Ford. I am half afraid he will have need of washing ; so, throwing him into the water will do him a benefit. Mrs. Page. Hang him, dishonest rascal! I would all of the same strain were in the same distress. Mrs. Ford. I think, my husband hath some special sus- picion of Falstaff's being here ; for I never saw him so gross in his jealousy till now. Mrs. Page. I will lay a plot to trv that ; and we will yet have more tricks with Falstaff : his dissolute disease will scarce obey this medicine. Mrs. Ford. Shall we send that foolish carrion, Mistress Quickly, to him, and excuse his throwing in!o the water ; and i^ive him another hope, to betrav him to another punish- ment ? Mrs. Page. We '11 do it : let him be sent for to-morrow eight o'clock, to have amends. 435 m ii THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR Act III Sc Iv Re-enter Fono, Page, Caius, and Siu Hugh Evans Ford. I cannot find him : may be, the knave bragged of that he could not compass. Mrs. Page. [Aside to Mrs. Ford] Heard you that ? Mrs. Ford. [Aside to Mrs. Paf/e] Ay, ay, peace. — You use me well, Master Ford, do you ? Ford. Ay, I do so. Mrs. Ford. Heaven make you better than your thoughts I Ford. Amen. Mrs. Page. You do yourself mighty wrong, Master Ford. Ford. Ay, ay, I must bear it. Eva. If there be anypody in the house, and in the cha nbers, and in the collers, and in the presses, Heaven for^,ive my sins at the day of judgment I Caius. By gar, nor I too : dere is no bodies. Page. Fie, tie, Master Ford 1 are you not ashamed ? What spirit, what devil suggests this Imagination ? 1 would not have your distemper in this kind for the wealth of Windsor Castle. Ford. 'T is my fault. Master Page : I suffer for it. Eva. You sulTcT for a pad conscience : your wife is as honest a omans as I will desires among five thousand, and five hundred too. Caius. By gar, I see 't is an honest woman. Ford. Well ; I promised you a dinner : — come, conic, walk in the park : 1 pray you, pardon me ; I will hereafter rBake known to you, why I have done this. — Come, wife ; — come. Mistress Page. — I pray you, pardon me; pray heartily, pardon me. Page. Let 's go in, gentlemen ; but, trust me, we '11 mock him. I do invite you to-morrow morning to my bouse to breakfast: after, we'll a-birding together; I have a fine hawk for the bush. Shall it be so ? Ford. Anything. Eva. If there is one, I shall make two in the company. Caius. If dere be one or two, I shall make-a de turd. Ford. Pray you, go, Master I'ai^e. Eva. I pray you now, remembrance to-morrow on thi lousy knave, mine host. Caius. Dat is good ; by gar, vit all my heart. Eva. A lousy knave ! to have his gibes and his mock cries I [Exeunt Scene IV. — A Room in Page's House Enter FtNTUiN and Anne pAuii Fcnl. I see, I cannot get thy father's love ; Therefore, no more turn me to him, sweet Nan. Anne. Alas ! hu\. Ihcn ? 43f? Act III Sclv THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR H ii Pent. Why, thou must be thyself. He doth object, I am too great of hirlh ; And that, my state being galled with my expense, I seek to heal it only by his wealth ; licsicles, these other bars he lays before me, — My riots past, my wild societies. And tells mo, t is a thing imimssiblc I should love thee, but as a property. Anne. May be, he tells you true. Pent. No, Heaven so speed me in my time to come ! Albeit I will confess thy father's wealth Was the first motive that I wooed thee, Anne : Yet, wooing thee, I found thee of more value Than stamps in gold or sums in sealed bags ; And 't is the very riches of thyself That now I aim at. Anne. Gentle Master Fenlon, Yet scelc my father's love ; still seek it, sir : If opportunity and humblest suit Cannot attain it, why, then — hark you hither. [Tlieij converse apart Enter Shallow, Slender, and MrsTREss Quickly Shal. Break their talk. Mistress Quickly : my kinsman shall speak for himself. Slen. I Tl make a shaft or a bolt on 't: slid, 't Is but venturing. Shal. Be not dismayed. Slen. No, she shall not dismay me : I care not for that, — but that I am afeared. Quick. Hark ye ; Master Slender would speak a word with you. Anne. I come to him. — [Aside] This is my fatlier's choice. 0, what a world of vile ill-favoured faults Looks handsome in three hundred pounds a year ! Quick. And how does good Master Fenton ? Pray you, a word with you. Shal. She 's coming ; to her, coz. O boy, thou hadst a father I Slen. I had a father. Mistress Anne ; my uncle can tell you good jests of him.— Pray you, uncle, tell Mistress Anne the jest, how my father stole two geese out of a pen, good uncle. Shal. Mistress Anne, my cousin loves you. Slen. Ay, that I do ; as well as I love any woman in Glostcrshire. Shal. He will maintain yoi like a gentlewoman. Slen. Ay, that I will, come cut and longtail, under the degree ol a squire. 437 THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR Act III Sc Iv »i:i A • I : \ .i I \n .1 M.i Shal. He will make you a hundred and fifty pounds Jointuri'. Anne. Good Master Shalltiw, kt him woo for himself. Shal. Marry, 1 thank you for it ; I tliank you for that good comfort. — She calls you, coz : I '11 leave you. Anne. Now, Master Slender. — Now, {^ood .Mistress Anne, — What is your will ? My will ? od 's hearllinRs. that 's a pretty jest. Slen. Anne Slen. indeed. I ne'er made my will yet, I thank Heaven; 1 am not such a sickly creature, I Rive Heaven praise. Anne. I mean. Master Slender, what would you with me .' .S7e;i. Truly, for mine own part, I would lilile or nothing with you. Your father, and my uncle, have made motions : if It be my luck, so ; if not, hapjjy man be his dole ! They can tell you how thir.gs ^0 belter than I can : you may ask your father ; here lie comes. Enter Page and Mistress Page Page. Now, Master Slender : — Love him, daughter Anne. — Why, how now ? what does Muster Fcnlon here ? You wrong me, sir, thus still to haunt my house : I told you, sir, my daughter is disposed of. Pent. Nay, Master Page, be not impatient. Mrs. Page. Good Master Fenton, come not to my child. Page. She is no match for you. Pent. Sir, will you hear me? Page. No, good Master Fenton. — Come, Master Shallow ; come, son Slender, in. — Knowing my mind, you wrong me, Master Fenton. [Exeunt Page, Shallow, and Slender Quick. Speak to Mistress Page. Pent. Good Mistress Page, for that I love your daughter In such a righteous fashion as I do. Perforce, against all checks, rebukes, and manners, I must advance the colours of my love. And not retire : let me have your good will. Anne. Good mother, do not marry me to yond fool. Mrs. Page. I mean it not ; I seek you a belter husband. Quick. That 's my master, master doctor. Anne. Alas ! I had rather be set quick i' the earth. And bowled to death with turnips. Mrs. Page. Come, trouble not yourself. — Good Master Fenton, I will not be your friend nor enem.y : My daughter 'will I question how she loves you, And as I find her, so am I affected. Till then, farewell, sir : she must needs ro in ; Her father will be angry. [Exeunt Mrs. Page and Anne 438 I s ,1 Act III Srv THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR i| il Fenl. I'arpwfil, gentle mistress. — Farewell, Nan. Quick. This is my doing, now.—*' Nay," said I, " will you cast away your child on a fool, and a physician? look on Master Fonton." — Tliis is my doing. Fenl. I thanit thee ; and I pray llicc, once to-niglit Give my sweet Nan this ring. TIktc 's for thy pains. [Exit Quick. Now, Iloavon send thee good fortune I A kind heart he hath : a \vf)inan would run through fire and water for such a kind heart. Hut yet I would my master had Mistress Anne ; or I would Master Slender had her ; or, in sooth, I would Master Fenton had her. I will do what I can for them all tliree; for so I have promised, and I '11 l)c as good as my word ; but speciously for Master I'enton. Well, I must of another errand to Sir John I'alstafl' from my two mistresses : what a beast I am to slack it I [Exit ScENF. V. — A Room In the Garter Inn Enter Falstaff and Bardolph Fal. Bartl()lj)h, I say, — Bard. Here, sir. Fal. Go fetch me a quart of sack ; put a toast In 't. [Exit Bardolph] Have I lived tu be carried in a basket, like a barrow of butcher's of[al, and to be thrown in the Thames ? Well, if I be served such another trick, I 'II have my brains ta'en out, and buttered, and give them to a dog for a new yar's gift. The rogues slighted me into the river with as little remorse as they would have drowned a bitch's blind puppies, fifteen i' the litter : and you may know by my size, that I have a kind of alacrity in sinking ; if the bottom were as deep as hell, I should down. I had been drowned, but that the shore was shelvy and shallow ;— a death that I abhor ; for the water swells a man, and what a thing should I have been, when I had been swelled ! I should have been a mountain of mummy. Be-enter Bardolph with the wine Bard. Here 's Mistress Quickly, sir, to speak with you. Fal. Come, let me pour in some sack to tlie Thames water ; for my belly 's as cold as if I had swallowed snow- balls for pills to cool the reins. Call her in. Bard. Come in, woman. Ente. Mistress Quickly Quick. By your le,«ive. — I cry you mercy : give your worship <»ood morrow. Fal. Take away these chalices. Go, brew me a pottle of sack finely. Bard. With eggs, sir ? 439 iilij! » mm THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR Act III Sc v Fal. Simple of Itself ; I '11 no puUet-spemi in my brewage. [Exit Bardolph] How now ? Quick. Marry, sir, I come to your worship from Mistress Ford. Fal. Mistress Ford ! I have had ford enough ; I was thrown into the ford ; I have my belly full of ford. Quick. Alas the day ! good heart, that was not her fault : she does so take on with her men ; they mistook their erection. Fal. So did I mine, to build upon a foolish woman's promise. Quick. Well, she laments, sir, for it, that it would yearn your heart to see it. Her husband goes this morning a-birding : she desires you once more to come to her ; between eight and nine. I must carry her word quickly : she '11 make you amends, I warrant you. Fal. Well, I will visit her : tell her so ; and bid her think, what a man is : let her consider his frailty, and then judge of my merit. Quick. 1 will tell her. Fal. Do so. Between nine and ten, say'st thou ? Quick. Eight and nine, sir. Fal. Well, be gone : I will not miss her. Quick. Peace be with you, sir. [Exit Fal. I marvel, I hear not of Master Brook : he sent me word to stay within: I like his money well. — O, here he conies. Enter Ford Ford. Bless yuu, sir. Fal. Now, Master Brook, — you come to know wliat hath passed between me and Ford's wife ? Ford. That indeed. Sir John, is my business. Fal. Master Brook, I will not lie to you. I was at her house the hoiu" she appointed me. Ford. And sped you, sir ? Fal. Very ill-favouredly. Master Brook. Ford. How so, sir ? Did she change her determination ? Fal. No, Master Brook ; but the peaking Cornuto her husband. Master Brook, dwelling in a continual 'larum of jealousy, comes me in the instant of our encounter, after we had embraced, kissed, protested, and, as it were, spoke the prologue of our comedy ; and at his heels a rabble of his companions, thither provoked and instigated by his dis- temper, and, forsooth, to search his house for his wife's love. Ford. What, while you were there ? Fal. While I was there. Ford. And did he search for you, and could not find you ? Fal. You shall hear. As good luck would have it, comes in one Mistress Page ; gives intelligence of Ford s approach ; and in her invention and Ford's wife's dis- traction, they conveyed me into a buck-basket. 440 HiR^^ii^Sf!!?^^')^ Act III Sc V THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR Ford. A buck-basket I Fal. By the Lord, a buck-basket 1— rammed me in with foul shirts and smocks, socks, foul stockings, and greasy napkins ; that, Master Brook, there was the rankest com- pound of villainous smell, that ever offended nostril. Ford. And how long lay you there ? Fal. Nay, you shall hear. Master Brook, what I have suffered to bring this woman to evil for your good. Being thus crammed in the basket, a couple of Ford's knaves, his hinds, were called forth by their mistress to carry me in the name of foul clothes to Datchet Lane : they took me on their shoulders ; met the jealous knave their master in the door, who asked them once or twice what they had in their basket. I quaked for fear, lest the lunatic knave would have searched it ; but fate, ordaining he should be a cuckold, held his hand. Well ; on went he for a search and away went I for foul clothes. But mark the sequel' Master Brook r I suffered the pangs of three several deaths • first, an intolerable fright, to be detected with a jealous rotten bell-wether ; next, to be compassed, like a good bUbo in the circumference of a peck, hilt to point, heel to head • and then, to be stopped in, like a strong distillation, with stinkmg c.othes that fretted in their own grease : think of tbat,— a man of my kidney,— think of that ; that am as subject to heat as butter ; a man of continual dissolution and thaw ;— it was a miracle, to escape suffocation. And m the height of this bath, when I was more than half stewed in grease, like a Dutch dish, to be thrown into the Thames and cooled, glowing hot, in that surge, like a horseshoe ; think of that,— hissing hot,— think of that. Master Brook Ford. In good sadness, sir, I am sorry that for mv sake you have suffered all this. My suit then is desperate • you '11 undertake her no more ? ' Fal. Master Brook, I will be thrown into }=:tna, as I h.'ive been into Thames, ere I will leave her thus Her husband is this morning gone a-birding : I have received from her another embassy of meeting ; 'twixt eight and nine is the hour. Master Brook. Ford. 'T is past eight already, sir. Fal. Is it ? I will then address me to my appointment (.nine to me at your convenient leisure, and you shail know now I speed; and the conclusion shnll be crowned with your enjoying her. Adieu. You shall have her, Master tsrook ; Master Brook, you shall cuckold Ford. [Ex/7 Ford. Hum. — ha I is this a vision ? is this a dream ? do I sleep ? Master Ford, awake I awake, Master Ford I there 's a hole made in vour best coat, Mnstcr Ford This 't is to be married : this 't is to have linen, and buck- onskets. — Well, 1 will proclaim myself what I am : I will now take the lecher ; he is at my house ; he cannot 'scape 441 ^^tfims^^ssh 1 i ijHtl f' 1 THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR Act IV Sc i ; > ii 1 ■ i if I V me ; 't is impossible lie should ; he cannot creep into a halfpenny purse, nor into a pepper-box ; but, lest the devil that guides him should aid him, I will search im- possible places. Though what I am I cannot avoid, yet to be what I would not, shall not make me tame : if I have horns to make one mad, let the proverb go with me, — I 'II be horn-mad. [Exit ACT FOUR Scene I.— The Street Enter Mistress Page, Mistress Quickly, and William Mrs. Page. Is he at Master Ford's already, think'st thou ? Quick. Sure, he is by this, or will be presently : but truly, he is very courageous mad about his throwing into the water. Mistress Ford desires you to come suddenly. Mrs. Page. I '11 be with her by-and-by : I '11 but bring my young man here to school. Look, where his master comes ; 't is a playing-day, I see. Enter Sir Hugh Evans How now, Sir Hugh ? no school to-day ? Eua. No ; Master Slender is let the boys leave to play. Quick. Blessing of his heart 1 Mrs. Page. Sir Hugh, my husband says, my son profits nothing in the world at his book : I pray you, ask him some questions in his accidence. Eva. Come hither, William ; hold up your head ; come. Mrs. Page. Come on, sirrah; hold up your head; answer your master, be not afraid. Eva. William, how many numbers is in nouns ? Will. Two. Quick. Truly, I thought there had been one number more, because they say, Od's nouns. Eva. Will. Quick sure. Eva. peace.— Will. Eva. Will. Eva. Will. Eva. Peace your tattlings 1 — What is fair, William ? Pulcher. Polecats I there are fairer things than polecats, I pray you, You are a very simplicity oman What is lapis, William ? A stone. And what is a stone, William ? A pebble. No, it is lapis : I pray you remcniber in your pyain. Lapis. That is good, William. What is he, William, that does lend articles ? Will. Articles are borrowed of the pronoun ; and be thus declined, Singulariter, nominativo, hie, haec, hoc, 442 i. V ^V^^'* '^^:: ■.-»lf ■ "-i* , ■■='i' ^aatv ^■■^ ::M^*^.rt^:^ '^:-'-^(j^:^'i^?iiH'&^''0S?r^' ■^J)pl-¥«:-t:»^.* Act IV Sc ii THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR gemZo lti''"'ivJu^i'HJ°'' ^"^'"P^y YO", mark: Eva. I pray you, have your remembrance child- .accusalwo, hung, hang, hog. ic'uurance, cniKi . cast Wimar?'^'"'^''^'^'''^"^^"---'^^^^^ '^ "- ^«^^tive Wi7/. 0—vocativo, O. nTi. ^ a""^"].®^' William ; focativc is, caret. Quick. And that 's a good root. Eva. Mrs. Eva. Will. Eva. Will. Quick. Oman, forbear. Page. Peace 1 What is your genitive case plural, William? Genitive case ? Ay. Genitive,— /lorum, harum, horum. ^ Vengeance of Jenny's case I fie on hor f- isr«»v*.r name her, child, if she be a whore. Eua. For shame, oman I i^Pu'^Ki ^°*" 1° "' ^° t<^ach the child such words —He teaches him to hick and to hack, which thev 'H do fVs? enough of themselves ; and to call ^horum.-S upon you .ifZfnaP^^ll ^'* ^^°" '""^"^^ ? hast thou no under- Thou art as fooir.if rf- ?"^ *^" ""^^^" ^^ ^^e genders ? nf f, ^°°|ish Christian creatures as I would desires Mrs. Page. Pr'ythee, hold thy peace. prfnouns ""' "''''' ^""'™' '°"^" declensions of your WiV/. Forsooth, I have forgot. Eva. It is qui, qua;, quod; if you forget vour oz/iVc Fvn' H?f ' ^^^ '.' "^ ^^"^'^ '^h^^-'^r than I thought he was Mrs ^X^^l^f'P'^fi^^^^ory. Farewell, Mistress Page Mrs. Page. Adieu, good S r Huch \Exil • ..'C •d'v.'^s;.. ^, ■^i'^ '^... mm^.a:'m'mmmm. iir.- ;^^ Act IV Scli THE MERRY WIVES OP WINDSOR '''jlfrfp^rr^ '■" J-oman', cMhe,, Ua b„ M.stbess Page \ ¥:i'^l\x p°m he ""'our'„'','i,"'H"^- S'- »' yo" hand, ^ /..mj you hag ?ou bagg^s?, you pofecarj„°r„"'"="' "■«"' i ""Jj I '" conjure youfi ll foTun'^.t? 3;o''u°" TSf,,^ : a great peard under her muX? "' " ^'■" P'^"'" = ' ^P>' ■ eeSmen V^""' ■j"^"" " """c further. Co, ,. ... JmoSrnpaSuXyl'i^'eL';;^^^ '"" ^^ "'- not ; L heat o'er the Tufr. lVhat''hT„„'^„'"f8eI hallowed, and hung Mrs Pw ,,?." ru"', ""'"'°™us service. " "■^Ja^ntKoZt'od-rd fflun'IS-or^- J*? "» »f hta:' ,T he devlPhavel.im no?" '^' '=• ?"■•'■■ ^<^"™'' ""' . and recovery hrw I n,vJ?,^°','".''^^'="'™P'i'. ""'' ""e allompt us iJsain. "' ' """''• '" '"e «ay ot «.-,sle, scried hfm? ^""" "' "^" ""^ ""*a„,ls how ,ve have tl.'flguresT„t o't'^y^iu'r^'h^ihrSrlf "fr^r '° ^""^^ > ■.™;ld';Tha^eTh,'ng°s '^l"'^" """ "' "-' = H'^P^"^ {txeunt 447 ( 1!^ !•♦ i i- I * ] t * ^M i THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR Act IV Sciv Scene III.— A Room in the Garter Inn Enter Host and Bardolph Bard. Sir, the Germans desire to have three of vour horses : the duke himself wiU be to-morrow at court, and they are gomg to meet him. ' Host. What duke should that be. conies so secretly ? I hear not of him in the court. Let me speak with the gentlemen : they speak English ? Bard. Ay, sir ; I '11 call them to you. Host They shall have my horses, but I '11 make them pay ; I 11 sauce them : they have had my house a week at command ; I have turned away my other guests : thev must come oil ; I '11 sauce them. Come. [Exeunt Scene IV.— A Room in Ford's House Enter Page, Ford, Mistress Page, Mistress Ford, and Sir Hugh Evans Eva. 'T is one of the pest discretions of a oman as ever I did look upon. Page. And did he send you both these letters at an instant ' Mrs. Page. Within a quarter of an hour. Ford. Pardon me, wife. Henceforth do what thou wilt • I rather will suspect the sun with cold Than thee with wantonness : now doth thy honour stand In him that was of late an heretic, As firm as faith. Page. 'T is well, 't is well ; no more. Be not as extreme in submission As in offence ; But let our plot go forward : let our wives Yet once again, to make us public sport, Appoint a meeting with this old fat fellow, WbT re we may take him, and disgrace him for it. Ford. There Is no better way than that they spoke of Page. How? to send him word they'll meet him in the park at midnight ? Fie, fie I he '11 never come Eva. You say, he has been thrown in the rivers, and h:is u ".Fu^'^'^^^'y peaten, as an old oman : methinks. thcie should be terrors in him, that he should not come : me- thinks, his flesh is punished, he shall have no desires Page. So think I too. A/rs Forrf. Devise but how you '11 use him when he conios, And let us two devise to bring him thither Mrs. Page. There is an old tale goes, that Hcrnc the hunter, Sometime a keeper here in Windsor Forest Doth all the winter-time, at still midnight. Walk round about an oak, with great ragg'd horns ; 448 ^ Act IV Sciv THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR Th^^''^ '('*'.''''« Marry, this is our device • That FalstafI at that oak shall meet with n« ' thu7r ^^' '"'"^•^^ ^^^« ^'^ thougft upon, and AnS t'Jfr^^ ™y daughter, and my little son. And three or four more of their crowth!!'^ mi > AMS^SeJ^t^.,^-sudd:S' Ut them from forth a sawpit rush at once wi^? some diffusa song : upon theTr s?ght We tvyo in great amazedness will fly • ' ihen let them all encircle him about ' An 1 ^^"Z.-liJ^e' to pinch the unclean kniwht • And ask him, why, that hour of fairy reve ' n their so sacred paths he dares to tJead ' In shape profane. Mrs. Ford. And till he tell the truth Let the supposM fairies pinch hi.n sound. And burn him with their tapers Mrs. Page. rp. . .... V^fd'" ^V^i;^^^^^ ^^^«'^-' dis-hor'^^thI"pu?t''"^ '"°^^'"' FoT ^™^ ^"^ Windsor. ^ ' Be practised well to this, or they 'IMieVr'^do 'f ""''' be flko. -^ Y"^' ^"^'^ *^« ^^"dren their behaviours • I will A^r^^h'arwsrb^i^^c^rnt"^" {^f /^^f ^^^^^^^ ^.. Mrs. Page. My' £an shaf be t./e quSn o? aSThVJ'?'"-^'- finely attired in a robe of white ^® '*''^®^' I'- iiT„ii ^',f J '" '"■" ^Sain in name of Brook • 1- II tell me all his purpose. Sure, he 'U come. ' 06 — o 449 lit THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR Act IV Scv A ^f?*- ^T- , ^^'"" ",^* y"^ *^«*- Go, get us properties, And tricking for our fairies. /:>«. Let us about it : It is adriirable pleasures, and fcry lionest knaveries [Exeuiu Page, Ford, and Evans Mrs. P(uje. Go, Mistress Ford, Send quiclvly to Sir Jolin, to know iiis mind. I 11 to the doctor : he hatli my good will. And none but he, to marry with Nan Page, That Slender, though well landed, is an idiot. And he my husband best of all aJTects : The doctor is well moneyed, and his friends Potent at court : he, none but he, shall have her. Though twenty thousand worthier come to crave her [Exit Si I L i M Scene V.— A Room in the Garter Inn Enter Host and Simple Host. What wouldst thou have, boor ? what thick- skm ? speak, breathe, discuss ; brief, short, quick 'snap from^MastirsfcntV.' '""' '"^ ^^'^^ "'"^ ^^^ ^^'^'^ ^^'^'^^ Host. There 's his chamber, his house, his castle his s andmg-bed, and truckle- bed : 'tis painted about wh c.Ti h^u^n' f',%''^"'' 'l"Jl^"^ "^^^- Go. knock and knock. T say ''*" ^"^^^<'P°P^'''8'"»an unto thee: Sini. There 's an old woman, a fat woman, gone ud into lus chamber : I '11 be so bold as stay, sir, tUi she com? down ; I come to speak with her, indeed. I 1! rnii ' Rnii'' ^l^ T!",^"^ l}"^ ^"'g''* "^^y be robbed : I U call. -Bully knight I Bully Sir John I speak from t!p^hS.Sr^= art thou there 7 it is thine Lst. thTne^ Fat. [Above] How now, mine host ! Hnwn'!;f ^^^% 'f "" Bohemian-Tartar tarries the coming doNvn of thy fat woman. Let her descend, bully, let her descend ; my chambers are honourable : fie I privacy ? lie ! Enter Falstaff x^ifhL '^^'T u^'f' ""'""^ ^^^^' "" °^*^ '^^ woman even now with me, but she s gone. BrenTford*'?^^ ^°"' "''' ^^^ '' ""^ *^^ "^^"^ ^°"^^" ^^ with"her^^' "''''''^' '"''^ "' "'"^^'^^-s'^^" '- what would you Sim My master, sir. Master Slender, sent to her sZ^ ^W'i!''''^}' \1'- '''?''^ '^ ^"°-' «"•' whether one Pni ^'^\^^^^J'^^'}}}^'^i^^rn of a chain, had the cliain, or no. Fat. I spake with the old woman about it. 450 J*w*>l^ T now I I of I I Sim. Fal. Sim. Fal. Sim. Act IV Scv THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR Sim. And what says she, I pray, sir ? Fal. Marry, she says, that the very same man that beguiled Master Slender of his chain co/enli i?in?^of It I ?; T ^""f'^ ' ^°"'*' '•'''^'5 spolien with the woman Fa/. What are they ? let us know. Host. Ay, come ; quick. Sim. 1 may not conceal theni, sir. Host. Conceal them, and thou diist, Kun^'pn^'^l^^'l' they w;ere nothing but about Mistress have her?,; no ''' '^ ''''' '"^ "''''^'''' ^"--^^"^^ ^^ /•a/. 'T is, 't is his fortune. What, sir ? 1^?. v'TJX' ■ ."f ""* ^'" • ''"^y- ^''^ ^o'"^" told me so. May I be bold to say so. sir ? Ay, sir ; like who more bold. glad wit:uiese"tid"ingL"°"''^- ' ^'^'^" "^^'^^ '"^ -P;.^- Host Thou art clerkly, thou art clerkly, Sir John N\as there a wise woman with hee? Fa/ Ay, that there was, mine host ; one, that hath aught me more wit than ever I learned before in mv Hfe and I paid nothing for it neither, but was paid for mj^earning Enter Bardolph hZI' Srl^' ^u^' ^'\ • cozenage ; mere cozenage ! Rnrli « *'*'''^ ^^ "^y '""^^^ • ^P*^^'' ^^'^'J of them, varlotto Bard. Run away with the cozeners ; for so soun as I came beyond Eton, they threw me oil f^om behind one o hem, in a slough of mire ; and set spurs, and away like throe German devils, three Doctor Faustuses. ^ ..r.* J \ ^^^ ^o"'' ^^^ to "lect tne duke, villain Do uot say, they be fled ; Germans are honest men Fnter Sir Hugh Ev.vns Where is mine host " What Is* the mattt r, sir? fri^nH ■ f "'•^''^ ^ ^^^^ °^ ^^"'' entertainments : there is a «erma.?s 'tZ "^^ '"^ '""V'^ '^"^ "'*^' '^^'^ ^' three cozen Mrmans, that has cozened all the hosts of Headines of -Maidenhead, of Colebrook, of h, , ses and money f'toH L°S ^ZT"^ ^;"'' "'"^ ^'^^ '■ >'^" ^'^ Wise. a^dJulof gibe coL^iS^^'S^.^u'^^eli.' '' "'^^ ^^"^-^"^^"^ >•- ^'-"ii^^ Enter Doctok Gaius Caius. Vere is mine host de Jarteere ? dilemma. ' "'^'^'' '^°'**''' '" P^'-P'e^ity, and doubtful Eva. Host. Eva. 461 I f i 'I 11 :fi r.'! •. THE MERHY WIVnS OP WINDSOR Act IV Sc vl SX ^ot/:'j„!.'..";„?f S.I!-.''" "- " ^..ojrci " //OS/. Hue and cry, villain I Ro.-Assist mc knicht inrncT"""" "'''^* "•"• ""%r^ ">•• vllla"n',-i*«am , rul. I Nvouhl all tiio world m ^hri^^e^orei "d"''foi''rh '(''' been cozened, and beaten too I it sSm.ld con o « ?h« ear of (he courl how I have been nuXrmed md hnw wo^nn'"'?/'"''^'"" *'"^»^ »^«*^" washed and cudidl'id thev nZ';'rsSrtriiit°h' r-^'i iiTra^ttv^* -"i '^r' nu'nith their line wits t"l^ w^;ra?c" e'sM Sen a^^!^ SlfJ Pe.ir. I never prospered since I forswore nivsolf Vt /■-"'<'^ Mistress Quickly Now, wlicnce come you ? ?!;;''^-T,/'^"'".fhe tNNo parties, forsooth. and Vo thov^h',11 h "^ ,?".' '^r^y' ^"^ ''** d-'^'n the other : ana so they shall be both bestowed. I have sufTer.>ri mnr« for heir sakes. more than tlie villainous hiconstancvo man s disposition is able to bear "n-onsiancy of Ffl/. What tellst thou me of black and blue ? I w-.s beaten myself into ail the colours of the rainbow md was like to be apprehended for the witch of BrentTord bu that my admirable dexterity of wit, mv counterfe?Mn; A action of an old woman, delivered me fhrkmurco"^^^^^^^^ {Jinck. Sir. let me speak with you in your chimhpr • you shall hear how thinss go. and. I warra.u! to your con-" what nn? '' ^ l'^[''- ''*" '''y somewhat. Good cart • doe. r;n "' V ^""^ ^^^ together I Sure, one of yo i F«/ rnT' "'f ?" '"''"' ^h'-'l >°" "'•c so crossed ^ Fa/. Come up into my chamber. ll£xeun! Scene VI.— Another Room in the Garter Inn Enter Fenton and Host ^ Host. Master Fenton, talk not to me • mv ndnH i. I heavy : I will give over all. ' ^ """ " ' J'f^^-'^'^^^^'^^^m^spcuk. Assist me in my nufuose 1 -And, as I am a gentleman, I'll give thee ^ P"*Pose, ) A hundred pound in gold more tlian your loss. 452 t- : 1 m^i^jl^m. « IS Act IV Sc vl THE MERRY WIVES OF WIVDSOR 7/05/ I will hear you, Masltr Fonton : and I will ni the least, keep your (oiJiisol. "• "^ vvuk^/l !!''■*'"'. ""»e to time I have acquainted vou \V th the dear love I bear to fair Anne I>a«. • ^ \\ho, mutually, hath answered my afTectlon bo far forth as herself mifiht be hor clmoser?' m!?,! ™y ^'•:'^ J have a letter fn.m her Of such contents as you will wonder at : The mirth whereof so larded with n.v matter That neither slnRly can be mnnifesied ' \\i hout the show of both ; wherein fat FalstafI Hath n great scene : the Image of the jest I II show you here at large. Hark, good mine liost • To-night at Herne's oak. just 'twixt twelve ml one" Must my sweet Nan present the fairy queen ' The purpose why. Is here : In which dilguise h\ ?nH ^^'J?.^' ^'^ something rank on foot Her father hath commanded her to slin Away with Slender, and with him at Eton No^slr! ^ *° "'''"'^ ' '''*" ^"^^ consented. And n.°i''f' «;:«r«t''onfi a«-»inst that match, T?i ho JSn Pr^r ^'T'' »^'^^" appointed wuM h^.fhall likewise shullle her awav, Ann L^thr.'''"''^' are tasking of theiV minds, str nSif ticanery, where a priest attends. S rajght marry her : to this her mother's plot She. seemingly obedient, likewise hath Hor ?..fhT''^ ^"^ ^^t doctor. -Now. thus it rests : Her father means she shall be all in white • T^*^ ^ V^at habit, when Slender sees his time 1 o take her by the hand, and bid her go ThP h„H ^°.'''V' *'''" '—^^"^ "^<>'h^''- hath intcnde.l The better to denote her to the doctor,- ' for they must all he masked and vizarded. -^ With ?iV"'^ '" ^'f'^" '^^ ^hall be loose enrobed And wi;r.1f P?"1'"*' """"8 'bout her head ; And When the doctor spies his vantage rioe The^maUl h^'th^^-^'^ ''•''"^' «"^ °" £[ ?okcn ^0?/ wi i^'''" """^^"^ t« 6" ^'ith him. Fent' n^fu^ ™'''"' f l^ ^° ^<^^"^« ^ ^^ther or mother '> A„ I K ?°"^' "^y 8ood host, to go along wth me • " And in th! r f^*^hurch 'twixt twelve and one, A"a..in the lawful name of marrying, lo give our hearts united ceremony. 463 THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR Act V Sc It I :vfi*.«i ACT FIVE Scene I.— A Room in the Garter Inn Enter Falstaff and Mistress Quickly Fa/. Pr'ythce, no more prattlinc • an • T Mi \^^^A Ders. Away, go. They say, there s divinity in odd y/HrA. I 11 provide you a chain ; and I 'U do what r can to get you a pair of horns. ^ ' mince '^'''^^' ' '''^ ' ""'^ ''*'*" = ^^^'^ "P yo"^ head, and ,. , ^ [Exit Mrs. Quickly Enter Ford ,.,P°K^ ?°^' ^^^^^^^ ^^°ok ! Master Brook, the matter will be known to-night, or never. Be you in thenar" about midnight, at Heme's oak, and you shall see wonders Ford. Went you not to her yesterdav sir i* vm, f^i i me you had appointed ? yesieraay, sir, as you told ««f.°'* . ,^ ^'*^"^ ^P ''*''■' ^*^stcr Brook, as you see like a Snnor /"'"' ^"^ ^ ^''''"^ '^'^ her NiLTer Brook ifke a poor old xvoman. That same knave Ford, her hSsbnnd tha ^ ever " oferrd ?'"" "' ^^i^^'^^^y '" h*"^' ^ter^BroSk,' m.u ever go\erned frenzy: — I will tell vnn • h^ K„„t grievously, in the shape of a woman -fo? hi Th..h.n ""1 not what t wns to be beaten, till lately. Follovv me • I 'II hand.-I.ollow:-strange things in hand. Master Brook follow. [Exeunt Page. Scene II. — Windsor Park Enter Page. Shallow, and Slender . Conic, come: we'll couch i' the castli. .^itnv, my daulhtV';? '"'" "' °"^ '"''--"-en^K^r^rilel;^',';: Slen. Ay, forsooth ; I have spoke with her and we hnv ■ a nay-word, how to know one another. I come Irhern hite. and cry. " mum ; " she cries. " budget "and bv that we know one another. ' ^ Slial That 's good "too : but what neodr« cither voir ... ""?.'• ''^^ "'«'it is (lark ; light and spirits xvill bocn-- .t ^.... Heaven prosper ,.ur sport I No man means evil 454 ActV Scv THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDS01-. I but the devil, and we shall know him by his horns. Let 's I away ; follow me. ^^.^^^^^J I Scene III.— A Street leading to the Park t Enter Mistress Page, Mistress Ford, and Doctor C aius ' J^^«. Page. Master doctor, my daughter is in green- 1 l^rir^ '!f ^°"' ^™"' ^"^^ ^^' by the hand, awaf ^h into th. Pnri'.^""^; ^"^ ^"'P^^'^ 't ''"'^'^'y- Go before I into the Park : we two must go together. I Cams. I know vat I have to do. Adieu I hncho«/T- f^r?.yo" well, sir. [Exit Cnivs.] Mv ^ Jet n.^u' Z"*"^ '"^'J''''^'^ '° "^"<^h at the abuse of FnlstalT I as he will chafe at the doctor's marrying my daughter : b t i heLrt"SrTak ' '"'' ' ""'" '^'"^''^ ''^"" " ^'^^ ^^^^ «' I and'Se'^^sh ^^^/^^ ^^'^"' ^"^ '^^^ ^-°P «' '-^- ^ i «. ^^"uu'^^u- '^^^^y """^ ^" touched in a pit hard by Heme's • ?,'^f;.r*^V^'^"''*^. ''S"^' ' ^''"^h, at the ?ery instant of Fal- I bt..fT s and our meelmg. they will at once display to the night " ^J/r5. Ford. That cannot choose but amaze him. i ^Irs. Page. If he be not amazed, he will be mocked • If he be amazed, he will every way be mocked. ' Mrs. Ford. We '11 betray him tlnely. ThY";*? ?^^ . ^^'''•"■''t such lewdsters and their lechery, Tliose that betray tlicm do no treachery. Mrs. Ford. The hour draws on. To the oak, to the onk 1 [Exeunt Scene FV.— Windsor Park Enter Sir Hugh Evans, and Fairies D iSr R?il''. f"?' ''''"" • *=°'"'' ' ''^'^^ remember your P^ rts. Be pold, I pray you ; follow mc into llie nit an.l TrlrtJib '''' ^"t-h-o^^s. ^o as I pid you. Comj; c^n'e ; [Exeunt Scene V.— Another Part of the Park Enter Falstaff disguised as Heme, with a buclc's head on '\Zf: ^^^ Windsor bell hath struck twelve ; the n.inute •Iraws on. Now, the hot-blooded gods assist me ?-! ot onu^'n' •^*'^*' J?*^" ^^^t ^ b"" '««• tny Kuropa love setontliy horns.-O powerful love I that, in some resnects ,ot '^'^0, Jupiter, a swan, for the love of Leda :— (j on ni a g'oo c^'^'a f'T."r'' "^^^^'^ *^^«^ t« ^he cimplexZoi 1?''°^*' — ^/au't done first in tlie form of a beast — O ^JuVv^ a heastiy fault ! and then anotlKr fault in " bl •nee of a fowl ; lliink on 't, Jove : a f oul fault.— \VI ion 455 If I r. A THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR \ct V Sc v gods have hot backs, what shall poor men do ? For me I am here a Windsor stag; and the fattest, I think, i' the lorest— Send me a cool rut time, Jove, or who can blame me to piss my tallow ? Who comes hers ? my doe? Enter Mistress Ford and Mistress Page m^''deerT''' ^^ '^°*'"' "* ^^'^^ '*"*'"*' ""^ ^^'^ ^ "^^ Fal. My doe with the black scut I— Let the sky rain potatoes ; let it thunder to the tune of " Green Sleeves • " hail kissing-comflts, and snow eringoes ; let there come a tempest of provocation, I wUl shelter me here. ,, ^ . ... , ^ [Embracing her Mrs. Ford. Mistress Page is come with me, sweet-heart. J^al Divide me like a bribed buck, each a haunch • 1 will keep my sides to myself, my shoulders for the fellow of this walk, and my horns I bequeath your husbands. \m I a woodman ? ha I Speak I like Heme the hunter ?— Whv now is Cupid a child of conscience ; he makes restitution It n ^"""^ 'P.\"^' welcon.e. [^r^ise within Mrs. Page. Alas, what noise ? Mrs. Ford. Heaven forgive our sins I Fal. What should this be ? Mrs. Ford. ) . Mrs. Page] ^^''^J'' ^^^y ' [They run off *u^^'i *J.*^'"^' *^® *^*^^" ^'^^ "^t *^ave me damned, lest the oil that s m me should set hell on fire ; he would Aever else cross me thus. ^'^''^„^''' J^^f'^Ex^^^, as a Satyr; another Person m; ^obgoblin ; Anne Page, as the Fairy Queen, attended t>y her Brother and others, dressed like Fairies, witli waxen tapers on their heads Anne. Fairies, black, grey, j^reen, and white, ^ou moonshine revellers, and shades of night, You orphan heirs of fi.xed destiny, Attend your oflice, and voiir quality. — Crier Hobgoblin, make the fairy oyes. Ilobyoblin. Elves, list your names : silence, you airy toys Cmket, to Windsor chimneys slinlt thou leap • "^ Where fires thou find'sl unraked, and hearths unsweot There pinch the maids as blue as bilberry : ' Our radiant queen hates sluts and sluttery. i./"^; , '^^^Y '**' ^'''-"*'^ ' ''^ ^^^^ sP^'^J^s to them shall die i 11 wink and couch ; no man their works must eye. r..^ XVI, . ,. ,„ ^ \fier. down upon his fan Lva. Where s I'cad ?— Go you, and when- vou find a mai 1 J hat, ere she sleep, has thrice her prayers said B'-m up the organs of her fantasy, ' Sleep she as sound as careless infancy ; 456 i ActV Scv THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR But those as sleep and think not on their sins. Pinch them, arms, legs, backs, shoulders, sides, and shins. Anne. About, about ; ai"«i». Search Windsor casUe, elves, within and out : Strew good luck, ouphs, on every sacred room. That It may stand till the perpetual doom, In state as wholesome, as in state t' is fit, Worthy the owner, and the owner it. The several chairs of order look you scour \Nith juice of balm, and evfy precious fiower : hach fair instalment, coat, and several crest. With loyal blazon, ever more be blest I And nightly, meadow-fairies, look, you sina. Like to the Garter's compass, ir a ring • The expressure that it bears, green let it be, -More fertUe fresh than all the field to see ; And Iloni soit qui mal y pense, write In emerald tufts, flowers purple, blue, and white • Like sapphire, pearl, and rich embroiderv Buckle below fair knighthood's bending knee •— Fairies use flowers for their charactery Away I disperse I But, till 't is one oclock. Our dance of custom round about the oak Uf Heme the hunter let us not forget A n^^f ' ^f^ ^°"' '^"^^ ^''"^ '" h^"^ • yourselves in order set ; And twenty glow-worms shall our lanterns pe I o guide our measure round about the tree But, stay 1 I smell a man of middle-earth. Fal Heavens defend me from that Welsh fairv, lest he transform me to a piece of cheese I Hobgoblin. Vile worm, thou wast oerlookod even in thv birth. Anne. With trial-Hre touch me Iiis finger-end If he be chaste, the flame will i)ack descend And turn him to no pain ; but if he start, It is the flesh of a corrupted heart. Hobgoblin. A trial ! come. Eva. Come, will this wood take fire ? FoL Oh, oh. oh 1 ^ ^^'" *"'" '"'"' '"'"' ''"'■' ^"P''' Anne Corrupt, corrupt, and tainted in desire I - )Out him, fairies, sing a scornful rlivine ; ^nd. as you trip, still pinch him to your time. SONO Fie on sinful lantusif ! Fie on lust arid Ui.turj} ! Lust is but a bloodi; nre, !/■ :.^^t . J . ... _ . '. ; ixantiCii iVUTi unCudiic (iiiiire. Fed in heart ; whose flames aspire, 38-o« 457 ^r-- THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR Act V Sc v As thoughts do blow them higher and higher. Pinch him, fairies, muluallij ; Pinch him for his villniny ; Pinch him, and burn him, and turn him about. Till candles, and star-light, and moonshine be out. [During this song the Fairies pinch Falstaff. Doctor Caius comes one wag, and steals away a Fairy in green ; Slkndkk another way, and takes o// a Fairy in while ; and Fknton comes, and steals away Anne Page. A noise of hunting is hmrd within. All the Fairies run away. Fai.staff pulls off his buck's head, and rises] Enter Page, Ford, Mistuf.ss Page, and Mistress Ford. They lay hold on Falstaff Page. Xay, do not ny ; I think, we 've wntchcd you now. \MI1 none but Merne the hunter serve your turn ? Mrs. Page. 1 ])ray you, come ; hold up tlu' jest no higher.— Xow, f^ood Sir .John, how like you Windsor wives ? Sec you these, husband ? do not tliese fair yolies ik(Mnie tiie forest better than the town ? Ford. Now, sir, who 's a cuckold now ?— Master Hrook, FalsUilT's a knave, a cuckoldy knave ; here are his horns, Mjster lirook : and. Master Drook, he hath enjoved nothing of Ford's hut his buck-basket, his eudj^cl, and twenty pounds of money, which must be paid to Master Brook'; his h.ir.ses are arrested for it, .Masl< r lirook. Mrs. Ford. Sir John, we have had 111 luck ; we could never meet. I will never take you for my love again ; but I will always count you my deer, Fal. I do begin to perceive," that I am made an nss. Ford. Ay, and an ox too ; both the proofs are extant. Ful. And these are not fairies '? I was three or four iMiies in the thought, they were not fairies; and yet the t uiltincss ot my ;nind, the sudden surprise of mv powers drove the grossncss of the fopporv into a recei\Td belief in despite of t.'ie tictli of all rhynie and reason, that lliev were fairies. See now, how wit may be made a Jack-a-I.ent when 't is upon ill employment I FiHt. Sir .klui lalslall, serve Got, and leave your desires and fairies will not pinse you. J'ord. Well said, fairy Hugh. Fvu. And leave you your jealousies too, I j)ray you. l^ord. I will never mistrust my wife again, tilfthou art able to woo her in good j:nf;lish. Fal. Have I hud my brain in the sun. and dried it, that il wants matter to prevent so gross o'er reaching as this' Am I ridden witii a W elsh goat too ? slwdl 1 isave a coxcomb of ine-.? 'T ih tiuw. I w-Tf Hiokcd with a -iece of tou^Ud cheese. •158 ^r:j^ TAm if^^^- 1 ActV Scv THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR Secse is not good to give putter : your pclly is all Ford. Page. Ford. Eva. Eva. putter. Fal. Seese and putter I hnve I lived to stand at tlie taunt of one that makes fritters of English ? This is enoufi to be the decay of lust and late-walking through the realm. Mrs. Page. Why, Sir John, do you think, though wo would have thrust virtue out of our hearts by the hcail and shoulders, and have given ourselves without scruple to hell, that ever the devil could have made you our delight V Ford. What, a hodgo-pudding ? a bag of flax ? Mrs. Page. A puffed man ? Page. Old, cold, withered, and of intolerable entrails ? And one that is as slanderous as Satan ? And as poor as Job ? And as wicked as his wife ? And given to fornications, and to taverns, and sack, and wine, and metlieglins, and to drinkinrjs, and swearin"s' and starings, pribbles and pmbbles ? " ' Fal. Well, I am your theme : you have the st:!rt of me ; I am dejected ; I am not able to answer the Welsh flannel ; ignorance itself is a plummet o'er me : use nie as vou will. Ford. Marry, sir, we'll bring you to Windsor, to one .Master lirook, that you have cozened of monev. to whom you should have been a pander: over and above that you have sulT( red, I think to re|)ay that money will bea biting aniiclion. Page. Yet be cheerful, k nigh I • thou shr.It eat a pr.sset to-night at my house ; where 1 wiil desire tliee lo Ijiui^li nt my wife, that now laujilis at thee. Tell her. Master Sh nder li:ith married her daughter. .Mrs. Pagp. \Asid,\ Doctors doul)t tli:it : if .\nne Page i>c mv daughter, she is, by liiis. Doctor Caius" wife. Enter Sr,EM)iiH Slen. Whoo, ho 1 ho ! father Page ! Pagr. Son. how now ? how now, son ? have you des- patched ? Slen. Despatched I— I'll make the best in Glostershir.> ki;.)\v on 't ; would I were hanged, la, else. Page. Of wh.'it. son ? Slen. I came yonder at lUon to marrv Mistress Anne I'age, and she s a great lubberly boy. If it had not been i' the church, I would have swinj^ed him, or he shoidd have swinged me. If I did not think it had been Anne I'age. would I might never stir! am' 't is a postmaster's bov. Page. Ijion my life, then, you took the wrong. Slen. What need you tell me that ? I think so. when 1 took a boy for a girl. If 1 had been married to him, lor all ho was in woman's apparel, I would not have had hini, Page. Why, this is your own folly. Did not I tell you, how you should know my daughter "by her garments ? 409 } i i ••■••■f, I ; ,1 ; THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR ActV Scv shf cHed '"Ti?d.lt -V\ ^»''*'''«"d cried. " mum." and JLt If - ' "}^°^^^' as Anne nnd I had appointed • and yet it was not Anne, but a postmaster's boV ' Enter i:)ocTon Caius pZ"^- J^u '' '*'"-''"^«- Who hath got the right Aife ' Fen/. You do amaze her : hear the truth of if merr?S'^ ^^'^'^ """"'^^ ^^^ "^°«t shamc"u%. ''• ^« «r ♦kT ""'u' "** proportion held in love. ^ The truth is. she and I, long since contracted Are now so sure that nothing can dissol'^ us. The olTence is holy that she hath committed And this deceit loses the name of craft Uf disobedience, or unduteous title Since therein she doth evitate and shun A thousand irreligious curs(^d hours. FnrV^'Jf'' marriage would have brought upon her f. I *t?^*Z"*' "°' ^miiz6d : here is no renie( v - "joy?"'' """' '""""y ' '•■'^"'O". H««.ven give thee ^^i?,'/ '^"J.'??' ""■ <'"-l'<'«<'o''<^d but with mv eves I 2 he Rather your eyes must with his judgn'.cnt 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, In such a presence here, to plead my thoughts • But I beseech your grace that I may know The worst that may befall me in this case. If I refuse to wed Demetrius. The. Either to die the death, or to abjure J or ever the society of men. Therefore, fair Hcrmla, question vour desires • Know of your youtli, examine well your bloo.i, \N hether, if you yield not to your fathers choice. You can endure the livery of a nun ; For aye to be in shady cloister nicwed. To live a barren sister all your life. Chanting faint hymns to the cold fruitless moon. Thncc blessed they that master so their blood 1 o undergo such maiden pilgrini;ige ; But earthlior happy is the rose distilled Than lliat which, withering on the virgin thorn Crows, lives, and dies in single blessedness ,. ''7- ..r*".^.'" ^ 6row, so live, so die, my lord, r.re I will yield my virgin patent up Unto his lordship to whose unwished yoke My soul lonsciits not to give soverei-'iily Ti/'r\r'^'?*'r ""'^^^.P-^'ist^ ; "'"i I>y the' next new moon,- 1 lie senling-day helwixt niv luve ijiid mc I-ur iNcnasung iiund of fcllowshit), - Lpon that day, cither prejiare to'die if Act I Sc 1 A MIDSUMMER-NIGH f'S DREAM u For disobedience to your father's will ; Or else to wed Demetrius, as he would j Or on Diana's altar to protest For aye austerity and single life. rJ^''"' H^}?}}^' *^**' Hermia ;— und, Lysander, yield Thy crnz<5d title to my certain rlRht. Lys. You have her fathers love, Demetrius ; Let me have Ilermia's : do you marry him Ege. Scornful Lysander I true, he halh my love. And what is mine my love shall render him : And she is mine, and jUI my right of her I do estate unto Demetrius. Lys. I am, my lord, as well derived as he, As well possessed ; my love is more than his; My fortunes every way as fairly ranked— If not with vantage —as Demetrius' ; And, which is more than all these boasts can be I am beloved of beauteous Hermia. * Why should not I then prosecute my right ? Demetrius, I '11 avouch it to his head. Made love to Nedar's daughter, Helena, And won her soul ; and she, sweet lady, dotes. Devoutly dotes, dotes in idolatry, Upon this spotted and inconstunt man. . ^/"^'..J^'"*^ confess, that I have heard so much, And with Demetrius thought to have spoken thereof : liut, being over-full of self-allairs. My mind did lose it.— But, Demetrius, come : And come, Egeus : you shall go with me, I have some private schooling for you both — J or you, fair Hermia, look you arm yourself To ht your fancies to your father's will, Or else the law of Athens yields you up— Which by no means we may extenuate- To death, or to a vow of single life.— Come, my Hippolyta : what cheer, my love ''— Dumetrius and Egeus, go along : 1 must employ you in some business Afjainst our nuptial, and confer with you Of somelhins nearly that concerns vourselves. tge. With duty and desire we follow you. [tixeunt all but Lysander and Hermia Ujs How now. my love ? \Vliy is your cheek s,, pale > How chance the roses there do fade so fast *> ner. Belike for want of rain, which I could will t>eteem them from the tempest of mine eyes Ljjs. Ay me ! for aught that ever I could re V*v uld ever hear by tale or hislorv, ad. Tile course of true love ne\ ut. either it was different in blood er did run smooth 403 MICROCOPY RESOLUTION TEST CHART (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2) 1.0 I.I 1^ 11^ 12.5 1^ » — lllll^ 1^ IM 2.2 Ifiij ^ It I^ 2.0 »- u L.l^u M 1.4 1.6 ^ APPUEU IN/MGE Inc =^ 1653 East Mair Street r.S F?octiester, Ne« York 14609 uSA iJS (716) 482 - 0300 - Phone ^= (716) 288 - 5989 - Fa« A MIDSUMMER-NIGHT'S DREAM Act I Sc i i