Shakespeare's First Folio Part 127

Boyet. The tongues of mocking wenches are as keen As is the Razors edge, inuisible: Cutting a smaller haire then may be seene, Aboue the sense of sence so sensible: Seemeth their conference, their conceits haue wings, Fleeter then arrows, bullets wind, thoght, swifter things Rosa. Not one word more my maides, breake off, breake off

Ber. By heauen, all drie beaten with pure scoffe

King. Farewell madde Wenches, you haue simple wits.

Exeunt.

Qu. Twentie adieus my frozen Muscouits.

Are these the breed of wits so wondred at?

Boyet. Tapers they are, with your sweete breathes puft out

Rosa. Wel-liking wits they haue, grosse, grosse, fat, fat

Qu. O pouertie in wit, Kingly poore flout.

Will they not (thinke you) hang themselues to night?

Or euer but in vizards shew their faces: This pert Berowne was out of count'nance quite

Rosa. They were all in lamentable cases.

The King was weeping ripe for a good word

Qu. Berowne did sweare himselfe out of all suite

Mar. Dumaine was at my seruice, and his sword: No point (quoth I:) my seruant straight was mute

Ka. Lord Longauill said I came ore his hart: And trow you what he call'd me?

Qu. Qualme perhaps

Kat. Yes in good faith

Qu. Go sicknesse as thou art

Ros. Well, better wits haue worne plain statute caps, But will you heare; the King is my loue sworne

Qu. And quicke Berowne hath plighted faith to me

Kat. And Longauill was for my seruice borne

Mar. Dumaine is mine as sure as barke on tree

Boyet. Madam, and prettie mistresses giue eare, Immediately they will againe be heere In their owne shapes: for it can neuer be, They will digest this harsh indignitie

Qu. Will they returne?

Boy. They will they will, G.o.d knowes, And leape for ioy, though they are lame with blowes: Therefore change Fauours, and when they repaire, Blow like sweet Roses, in this summer aire

Qu. How blow? how blow? Speake to bee vnderstood

Boy. Faire Ladies maskt, are Roses in their bud: Dismaskt, their damaske sweet commixture showne, Are Angels vailing clouds, or Roses blowne

Qu. Auant perplexitie: What shall we do, If they returne in their owne shapes to wo?

Rosa. Good Madam, if by me you'l be aduis'd.

Let's mocke them still as well knowne as disguis'd: Let vs complaine to them what fooles were heare, Disguis'd like Muscouites in shapelesse geare: And wonder what they were, and to what end Their shallow showes, and Prologue vildely pen'd: And their rough carriage so ridiculous, Should be presented at our Tent to vs

Boyet. Ladies, withdraw: the gallants are at hand

Quee. Whip to our Tents, as Roes runnes ore Land.

Exeunt.

Enter the King and the rest.

King. Faire sir, G.o.d saue you. Wher's the Princesse?

Boy. Gone to her Tent.

Please it your Maiestie command me any seruice to her?

King. That she vouchsafe me audience for one word

Boy. I will, and so will she, I know my Lord.

Enter.

Ber. This fellow pickes vp wit as Pigeons pease, And vtters it againe, when Ioue doth please.

He is Wits Pedler, and retailes his Wares, At Wakes, and Wa.s.sels, Meetings, Markets, Faires.

And we that sell by grosse, the Lord doth know, Haue not the grace to grace it with such show.

This Gallant pins the Wenches on his sleeue.

Had he bin Adam, he had tempted Eue.

He can carue too, and lispe: Why this is he, That kist away his hand in courtesie.

This is the Ape of Forme, Monsieur the nice, That when he plaies at Tables, chides the Dice In honorable tearmes: Nay he can sing A meane most meanly, and in Vshering Mend him who can: the Ladies call him sweete.

The staires as he treads on them kisse his feete.

This is the flower that smiles on euerie one, To shew his teeth as white as Whales bone.

And consciences that wil not die in debt, Pay him the dutie of honie-tongued Boyet

King. A blister on his sweet tongue with my hart, That put Armathoes Page out of his part.

Enter the Ladies.

Ber. See where it comes. Behauiour what wer't thou, Till this madman shew'd thee? And what art thou now?

King. All haile sweet Madame, and faire time of day

Qu. Faire in all Haile is foule, as I conceiue

King. Construe my speeches better, if you may

Qu. Then wish me better, I wil giue you leaue

King. We came to visit you, and purpose now To leade you to our Court, vouchsafe it then

Qu. This field shal hold me, and so hold your vow: Nor G.o.d, nor I, delights in periur'd men

King. Rebuke me not for that which you prouoke: The vertue of your eie must breake my oth

Q. You nickname vertue: vice you should haue spoke: For vertues office neuer breakes men troth.

Now by my maiden honor, yet as pure As the vnsallied Lilly, I protest, A world of torments though I should endure, I would not yeeld to be your houses guest: So much I hate a breaking cause to be Of heauenly oaths, vow'd with integritie