Love’s Labour’s Lost

1 Enter the Princess of France, with three attending Ladies: Rosaline,
2 Maria, Katharine and three Lords: Boyet, and two others.
3 BOYET.
4 Now, madam, summon up your dearest spirits.
5 Consider who the King your father sends,
6 To whom he sends, and what’s his embassy.
7 Yourself, held precious in the world’s esteem,
8 To parley with the sole inheritor
9 Of all perfections that a man may owe,
10 Matchless Navarre; the plea of no less weight
11 Than Aquitaine, a dowry for a queen.
12 Be now as prodigal of all dear grace
13 As Nature was in making graces dear
14 When she did starve the general world beside
15 And prodigally gave them all to you.
16 PRINCESS.
17 Good Lord Boyet, my beauty, though but mean,
18 Needs not the painted flourish of your praise.
19 Beauty is bought by judgement of the eye,
20 Not uttered by base sale of chapmen’s tongues.
21 I am less proud to hear you tell my worth
22 Than you much willing to be counted wise
23 In spending your wit in the praise of mine.
24 But now to task the tasker: good Boyet,
25 You are not ignorant, all-telling fame
26 Doth noise abroad Navarre hath made a vow,
27 Till painful study shall outwear three years,
28 No woman may approach his silent court.
29 Therefore to’s seemeth it a needful course,
30 Before we enter his forbidden gates,
31 To know his pleasure; and in that behalf,
32 Bold of your worthiness, we single you
33 As our best-moving fair solicitor.
34 Tell him the daughter of the King of France,
35 On serious business craving quick dispatch,
36 Importunes personal conference with his Grace.
37 Haste, signify so much, while we attend,
38 Like humble-visaged suitors, his high will.
39 BOYET.
40 Proud of employment, willingly I go.
41 PRINCESS.
42 All pride is willing pride, and yours is so.
43 [_Exit Boyet._]
44 Who are the votaries, my loving lords,
45 That are vow-fellows with this virtuous Duke?
46 LORD.
47 Lord Longaville is one.
48 PRINCESS.
49 Know you the man?
50 MARIA.
51 I know him, madam. At a marriage feast
52 Between Lord Perigort and the beauteous heir
53 Of Jaques Falconbridge, solemnized
54 In Normandy, saw I this Longaville.
55 A man of sovereign parts, he is esteemed,
56 Well fitted in arts, glorious in arms.
57 Nothing becomes him ill that he would well.
58 The only soil of his fair virtue’s gloss,
59 If virtue’s gloss will stain with any soil,
60 Is a sharp wit matched with too blunt a will,
61 Whose edge hath power to cut, whose will still wills
62 It should none spare that come within his power.
63 PRINCESS.
64 Some merry mocking lord, belike. Is’t so?
65 MARIA.
66 They say so most that most his humours know.
67 PRINCESS.
68 Such short-lived wits do wither as they grow.
69 Who are the rest?
70 KATHARINE.
71 The young Dumaine, a well-accomplished youth,
72 Of all that virtue love for virtue loved;
73 Most power to do most harm, least knowing ill,
74 For he hath wit to make an ill shape good,
75 And shape to win grace though he had no wit.
76 I saw him at the Duke Alençon’s once;
77 And much too little of that good I saw
78 Is my report to his great worthiness.
79 ROSALINE.
80 Another of these students at that time
81 Was there with him, if I have heard a truth.
82 Berowne they call him, but a merrier man,
83 Within the limit of becoming mirth,
84 I never spent an hour’s talk withal.
85 His eye begets occasion for his wit,
86 For every object that the one doth catch
87 The other turns to a mirth-moving jest,
88 Which his fair tongue, conceit’s expositor,
89 Delivers in such apt and gracious words
90 That aged ears play truant at his tales,
91 And younger hearings are quite ravished,
92 So sweet and voluble is his discourse.
93 PRINCESS.
94 God bless my ladies! Are they all in love,
95 That every one her own hath garnished
96 With such bedecking ornaments of praise?
97 LORD.
98 Here comes Boyet.
99 Enter Boyet.
100 PRINCESS.
101 Now, what admittance, lord?
102 BOYET.
103 Navarre had notice of your fair approach,
104 And he and his competitors in oath
105 Were all addressed to meet you, gentle lady,
106 Before I came. Marry, thus much I have learned:
107 He rather means to lodge you in the field,
108 Like one that comes here to besiege his court,
109 Than seek a dispensation for his oath,
110 To let you enter his unpeopled house.
111 Enter King of Navarre, Longaville, Dumaine, Berowne and Attendants.
112 Here comes Navarre.
113 KING.
114 Fair Princess, welcome to the court of Navarre.
115 PRINCESS.
116 “Fair” I give you back again, and “welcome” I have not yet. The roof of
117 this court is too high to be yours, and welcome to the wide fields too
118 base to be mine.
119 KING.
120 You shall be welcome, madam, to my court.
121 PRINCESS.
122 I will be welcome then. Conduct me thither.
123 KING.
124 Hear me, dear lady. I have sworn an oath.
125 PRINCESS.
126 Our Lady help my lord! He’ll be forsworn.
127 KING.
128 Not for the world, fair madam, by my will.
129 PRINCESS.
130 Why, will shall break it; will, and nothing else.
131 KING.
132 Your ladyship is ignorant what it is.
133 PRINCESS.
134 Were my lord so, his ignorance were wise,
135 Where now his knowledge must prove ignorance.
136 I hear your Grace hath sworn out housekeeping.
137 ’Tis deadly sin to keep that oath, my lord,
138 And sin to break it.
139 But pardon me, I am too sudden bold.
140 To teach a teacher ill beseemeth me.
141 Vouchsafe to read the purpose of my coming,
142 And suddenly resolve me in my suit.
143 [_She gives him a paper._]
144 KING.
145 Madam, I will, if suddenly I may.
146 PRINCESS.
147 You will the sooner that I were away,
148 For you’ll prove perjured if you make me stay.
149 [_The King reads the paper._]
150 BEROWNE.
151 [_To Rosaline_.] Did not I dance with you in Brabant once?
152 ROSALINE.
153 Did not I dance with you in Brabant once?
154 BEROWNE.
155 I know you did.
156 ROSALINE.
157 How needless was it then
158 To ask the question!
159 BEROWNE.
160 You must not be so quick.
161 ROSALINE.
162 ’Tis long of you that spur me with such questions.
163 BEROWNE.
164 Your wit’s too hot, it speeds too fast, ’twill tire.
165 ROSALINE.
166 Not till it leave the rider in the mire.
167 BEROWNE.
168 What time o’ day?
169 ROSALINE.
170 The hour that fools should ask.
171 BEROWNE.
172 Now fair befall your mask.
173 ROSALINE.
174 Fair fall the face it covers.
175 BEROWNE.
176 And send you many lovers!
177 ROSALINE.
178 Amen, so you be none.
179 BEROWNE.
180 Nay, then will I be gone.
181 KING.
182 Madam, your father here doth intimate
183 The payment of a hundred thousand crowns,
184 Being but the one half of an entire sum
185 Disbursed by my father in his wars.
186 But say that he or we, as neither have,
187 Received that sum, yet there remains unpaid
188 A hundred thousand more, in surety of the which
189 One part of Aquitaine is bound to us,
190 Although not valued to the money’s worth.
191 If then the King your father will restore
192 But that one half which is unsatisfied,
193 We will give up our right in Aquitaine,
194 And hold fair friendship with his majesty.
195 But that, it seems, he little purposeth;
196 For here he doth demand to have repaid
197 A hundred thousand crowns, and not demands,
198 On payment of a hundred thousand crowns,
199 To have his title live in Aquitaine,
200 Which we much rather had depart withal,
201 And have the money by our father lent,
202 Than Aquitaine, so gelded as it is.
203 Dear Princess, were not his requests so far
204 From reason’s yielding, your fair self should make
205 A yielding ’gainst some reason in my breast,
206 And go well satisfied to France again.
207 PRINCESS.
208 You do the King my father too much wrong,
209 And wrong the reputation of your name,
210 In so unseeming to confess receipt
211 Of that which hath so faithfully been paid.
212 KING.
213 I do protest I never heard of it;
214 And, if you prove it, I’ll repay it back
215 Or yield up Aquitaine.
216 PRINCESS.
217 We arrest your word.
218 Boyet, you can produce acquittances
219 For such a sum from special officers
220 Of Charles his father.
221 KING.
222 Satisfy me so.
223 BOYET.
224 So please your Grace, the packet is not come
225 Where that and other specialties are bound.
226 Tomorrow you shall have a sight of them.
227 KING.
228 It shall suffice me; at which interview
229 All liberal reason I will yield unto.
230 Meantime receive such welcome at my hand
231 As honour, without breach of honour, may
232 Make tender of to thy true worthiness.
233 You may not come, fair Princess, in my gates,
234 But here without you shall be so received
235 As you shall deem yourself lodged in my heart,
236 Though so denied fair harbour in my house.
237 Your own good thoughts excuse me, and farewell.
238 Tomorrow shall we visit you again.
239 PRINCESS.
240 Sweet health and fair desires consort your Grace.
241 KING.
242 Thy own wish wish I thee in every place.
243 [_Exeunt the King, Longaville and Dumaine._]
244 BEROWNE.
245 Lady, I will commend you to mine own heart.
246 ROSALINE.
247 Pray you, do my commendations; I would be glad to see it.
248 BEROWNE.
249 I would you heard it groan.
250 ROSALINE.
251 Is the fool sick?
252 BEROWNE.
253 Sick at the heart.
254 ROSALINE.
255 Alack, let it blood.
256 BEROWNE.
257 Would that do it good?
258 ROSALINE.
259 My physic says “ay”.
260 BEROWNE.
261 Will you prick’t with your eye?
262 ROSALINE.
263 _Non point_, with my knife.
264 BEROWNE.
265 Now, God save thy life.
266 ROSALINE.
267 And yours from long living.
268 BEROWNE.
269 I cannot stay thanksgiving.
270 [_He exits._]
271 Enter Dumaine.
272 DUMAINE.
273 Sir, I pray you, a word. What lady is that same?
274 BOYET.
275 The heir of Alençon, Katharine her name.
276 DUMAINE.
277 A gallant lady. Monsieur, fare you well.
278 [_He exits._]
279 Enter Longaville.
280 LONGAVILLE.
281 I beseech you a word. What is she in the white?
282 BOYET.
283 A woman sometimes, an you saw her in the light.
284 LONGAVILLE.
285 Perchance light in the light. I desire her name.
286 BOYET.
287 She hath but one for herself; to desire that were a shame.
288 LONGAVILLE.
289 Pray you, sir, whose daughter?
290 BOYET.
291 Her mother’s, I have heard.
292 LONGAVILLE.
293 God’s blessing on your beard!
294 BOYET.
295 Good sir, be not offended.
296 She is an heir of Falconbridge.
297 LONGAVILLE.
298 Nay, my choler is ended.
299 She is a most sweet lady.
300 BOYET.
301 Not unlike, sir; that may be.
302 [_Exit Longaville._]
303 Enter Berowne.
304 BEROWNE.
305 What’s her name in the cap?
306 BOYET.
307 Rosaline, by good hap.
308 BEROWNE.
309 Is she wedded or no?
310 BOYET.
311 To her will, sir, or so.
312 BEROWNE.
313 You are welcome, sir. Adieu.
314 BOYET.
315 Farewell to me, sir, and welcome to you.
316 [_Exit Berowne._]
317 MARIA.
318 That last is Berowne, the merry madcap lord.
319 Not a word with him but a jest.
320 BOYET.
321 And every jest but a word.
322 PRINCESS.
323 It was well done of you to take him at his word.
324 BOYET.
325 I was as willing to grapple as he was to board.
326 KATHARINE.
327 Two hot sheeps, marry!
328 BOYET.
329 And wherefore not ships?
330 No sheep, sweet lamb, unless we feed on your lips.
331 KATHARINE.
332 You sheep and I pasture. Shall that finish the jest?
333 BOYET.
334 So you grant pasture for me.
335 [_He tries to kiss her._]
336 KATHARINE.
337 Not so, gentle beast.
338 My lips are no common, though several they be.
339 BOYET.
340 Belonging to whom?
341 KATHARINE.
342 To my fortunes and me.
343 PRINCESS.
344 Good wits will be jangling; but, gentles, agree.
345 This civil war of wits were much better used
346 On Navarre and his bookmen, for here ’tis abused.
347 BOYET.
348 If my observation, which very seldom lies,
349 By the heart’s still rhetoric disclosed with eyes,
350 Deceive me not now, Navarre is infected.
351 PRINCESS.
352 With what?
353 BOYET.
354 With that which we lovers entitle “affected”.
355 PRINCESS.
356 Your reason.
357 BOYET.
358 Why, all his behaviours did make their retire
359 To the court of his eye, peeping thorough desire.
360 His heart, like an agate, with your print impressed,
361 Proud with his form, in his eye pride expressed.
362 His tongue, all impatient to speak and not see,
363 Did stumble with haste in his eyesight to be;
364 All senses to that sense did make their repair,
365 To feel only looking on fairest of fair.
366 Methought all his senses were locked in his eye,
367 As jewels in crystal for some prince to buy;
368 Who, tend’ring their own worth from where they were glassed,
369 Did point you to buy them, along as you passed.
370 His face’s own margent did quote such amazes
371 That all eyes saw his eyes enchanted with gazes.
372 I’ll give you Aquitaine, and all that is his,
373 An you give him for my sake but one loving kiss.
374 PRINCESS.
375 Come, to our pavilion. Boyet is disposed.
376 BOYET.
377 But to speak that in words which his eye hath disclosed.
378 I only have made a mouth of his eye
379 By adding a tongue which I know will not lie.
380 ROSALINE.
381 Thou art an old love-monger, and speakest skilfully.
382 MARIA.
383 He is Cupid’s grandfather, and learns news of him.
384 ROSALINE.
385 Then was Venus like her mother; for her father is but grim.
386 BOYET.
387 Do you hear, my mad wenches?
388 MARIA.
389 No.
390 BOYET.
391 What, then, do you see?
392 ROSALINE.
393 Ay, our way to be gone.
394 BOYET.
395 You are too hard for me.
396 [_Exeunt._]