To know his pleasure; and in that behalf, Tell him, the daughter of the King of France, That are vow-fellows with this virtuous Duke? Know you the man? Prin. -If virtue's gloss will stain with any soil- Kath. The young Dumain, a well-accomplish'd youth, Of all that virtue love for virtue lov'd; Most power to do most harm, least knowing ill; Ros. Another of these students at that time I never spent an hour's talk withal. Prin. God bless my ladies! are they all in love; That every one her own hath garnished With such bedecking ornaments of praise? Prin. Re-enter BoYET. Now, what admittance, lord? Boyet. Navarre had notice of your fair approach; And he and his competitors in oath Were all address'd to meet you, gentle lady, Before I came. Marry, thus much I have learnt, He rather means to lodge you in the field -Like one that comes here to besiege his court-- To let you enter his unpeopled house. [The Ladies mask. Enter King, LONGAVILLE, DUMAIN, BEROWNE, and Attendants. King. Fair Princess, welcome to the court of Na varre. Prin. Fair' I give you back again; and' welcome' I have not yet. The roof of this court is too high to be yours; and welcome to the wide fields is too base to be mine. King. You shall be welcome, madam, to my court. Prin. I will be welcome then; conduct me thither. King. Hear me, dear lady; I have sworn an oath. Prin. Our Lady help my lord! he'll be forsworn. King. Not for the world, fair madam, by my will. Prin. Why, will shall break it; will, and nothing else. King. Your ladyship is ignorant what it is. Prin. Were my lord so, his ignorance were wise, But pardon me, I am too sudden bold; Vouchsafe to read the purpose of my coming, Prin. You will the sooner, that I were away; Ros. To ask the question! Ber. How needless was it then You must not be so quick. Ros. 'Tis 'long of you that spur me with such ques tions. Ber. Your wit's too hot, it speeds too fast, 'twill tire. Ros. Not till it leave the rider in the mire. Ber. What time o' day? Ros. The hour that fools should ask. Ber. Now fair befall your mask! Ros. Fair fall the face it covers Ber. And send you many lovers! Ros. Amen, so you be none. King. Madam, your father here doth intimate The payment of a hundred thousand crowns; eing but the one half of an entire sum, Disbursed by my father in his wars. But say, that he, or we-as neither have- Although not valued to the money's worth. Which we much rather had depart withal, Dear Princess were not his requests so far From reason's yielding, your fair self should make A yielding 'gainst some reason, in my breast, And go well satisfied to France again. Prin. You do the King my father too much wrong; And wrong the reputation of your name, In so unseeming to confess receipt Of that which hath so faithfully been paid. We arrest your word. Prin. Of Charles his father. King. Satisfy me so. Boyet. So please your Grace, the packet is not come, Where that and other specialties are bound; To-morrow you shall have a sight of them. King. It shall suffice me; at which interview, All liberal reason I will yield unto. Mean time, receive such welcome at my hand, Prin. Sweet health and fair desires consort your King. Thy own wish wish I thee in every place! [Exeunt King and his Train. Ber. Lady, I will commend you to my own heart. Ros. 'Pray you, do my commendations; I would be glad to see it. Ber. I would, you heard it groan. Ros. Is the fool sick? Ber. Sick at the heart. Ros. Alack! let it blood. Ber. Would that do it good? Ros. My Physic says, I. Ber. Will you prick't with your eye? Ros. No point, with my knife. Ber. Now, God save thy life! Ros. And yours from long living! [Retiring. Dum. Sir, I pray you, a word. What lady is that same? Boyet. The heir of Alanson, Katherine her name. Dum. A gallant lady! Monsieur, fare you well. [Exit. Long. I beseech you a word. What is she in the white? Boyet. A woman sometimes, if you saw her in the light. Long. Perchance, light in the light. I desire her name. |