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We bend to that the working of the heart:
As I, for praise alone, now seek to spill

The poor deer's blood,

that my heart means no ill. Boyet. Do not curst wives hold that self-sove

reignty

Only for praise' sake, when they strive to be

Lords o'er their lords?

Prin. Only for praise: and praise we may afford To any lady that subdues a lord.

41°

Enter COSTARD,

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Prin. Here comes a member of the common. wealth,

Cost. God dig-you-den all! Pray you, which is the head lady?

Prin. Thou shalt know her, fellow, by the rest that have no heads.

Cost. Which is the greatest lady, the highest?
Prin. The thickest, and the tallest.

Cos. The thickest, and the tallest! it is so; truth

is truth.

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An your waist mistress, were as slender as my wit, One of these maid's girdles for your waist should be

fit.

Are not you the chief woman? you are the thickest

here.

Prin. What's your will, sir? what's your will? Cost. I have a letter from monsieur Biron, to one"

lady Rosaline.

3

Prin.

Prin. O, thy letter, thy letter; he's a good friend

of mine:

Stand aside, good bearer.-Boyet, you can carve ; this capon.

Break up

Boyet. I am bound to serve.—

This letter is mistook, it importeth none here;
It is writ to Jaquenetta.

Prin. We will read it, I swear :

Break the neck of the wax, and every one give ear.

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Boyet reads. By heaven, that thou art fair, is most infallible; true, that thou art beauteous; truth itself, that thou art lovely: More fairer than fair, beautiful than beauteous, truer than truth itself, have commiseration on thy heroical vassal! The magnanimous and most illustrate king Cophetua set eye upon the pernicious and indubitate beggar Zenelophon; and he it was that might rightly say, veni, vidi, vici; which to anatomize in the vulgar, (0 base and obscure vulgar!) videlicet, he came, saw, and overcame: He came, one; saw, two; overcame, three.

Who came? the king; Why did he come? to see; Why did he see? to overcome: To whom came he? to the beggar; What saw he? the beggar; Whom overcame he? the beggar: The conclusion is vic tory; On whose side? the king's: The captive is enrich'd; On whose side? the beggar's: The catastrophe is a nuptial; On whose side? the king's ?-no; on both in one, or one in both. I am the king; for so stands the comparison: thou the beggar; for so witnesseth thy lowliness. Shall I command thy love? I may: Shall I enforce thy love? I could: Shall I entreat thy love? I

will. What shalt thou exchange for rags? robes; For tittles? titles: For thyself? me. Thus, expecting thy

reply, I profane my lips on thy foot, my eyes on thy picture, and my heart on thy every part.

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Thine, in the dearest design of industry,

DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO.

Thus dost thou hear the Nemean lion roar

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'Gainst thee, thou lamb, that standest as 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, repasture for his den.

Prin. What plume of feathers is he, that indited

this letter?

What vane? what weather-cock? 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 ere

while.

Boyet. This Armado is a Spaniard, that keeps here

in court;

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A phantasm, a Monarcho; and one that makes

sport

To the prince, and his book-mates.

Prin. Thou, fellow, a word:

Who gave thee this letter?

Cost. I told you; my lord.

Prin. To whom shouldst thou give it?

Cost.

Cost. From my lord to my lady.

Prin. From which lord, to which lady?

Cost. From my lord Biron, a good master of mine, To a lady of France, that he call'd Rosaline.

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Prin. Thou hast mistaken his letter. Come, lords,

away,

day.

Here, sweet, put up this; 'twill be thine another
[Exit Princess attended.
Boyet. Who is the shooter? who is the shooter?
Ros. Shall I teach you to know?

Boyet. Ay, my continent of beauty.
Ros. Why, she that bears the bow.

Finely put off!

Boyet. My lady goes to kill horns: but, if thou marry,

Hang me by the neck, if horns that year miscarry, Finely put on!

Ros. Well then, I am the shooter.

Boyet. And who is your deer?

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Ros. If we chuse by horns, yourself; come not

near.

Finely put on, indeed!—

Mar. You still wrangle with her, Boyet, and she strikes at the brow.

Boyet. But she herself is hit lower: Have I hit her

now?

Ros. Shall I come upon thee with an old saying, that was a man when king Pepin of France was a little boy, as touching the hit it?

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Boyet. So I may answer thee with one as old, that

was

was a woman when queen Guinever of Britain was a little wench, as touching the hit it.

Ros. Thou can'st not hit it, hit it, hit it.

Thou can'st not hit it, my good man.

Boyet. An I cannot, cannot, cannot,

An I cannot, another can.

[Singing.

[Exeunt Ros. and KAT.

Cost. By my troth, most pleasant! how both did

fit it!

Mar. A mark marvellous well shot; for they both did hit it.

Boyet. A mark! O, mark but that mark; A mark, says my lady!

Let the mark have a prick in't, to mete at, if it may

be.

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Mar. Wide o' the bow hand! I'faith, your hand is

out.

Cost. Indeed, 'a must shoot nearer, or he'll ne'er hit the clout.

Boyet. An if my hand be out, then, belike, your

hand is in.

Cost. Then will she get the upshot by cleaving the

pin.

Mar. Come, come, you talk greasily, your lips grow foul.

Cost. She's too hard for you at pricks, Sir; challenge her to bowl.

Boyet. I fear too much rubbing: Good night, my good owl. [Exeunt all but COSTARD.

Cos. By my soul, a swain! a most simple clown!

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