to study three years with the Duke.
Moth. You may do it in an hour, sir.
Arm. Impossible.
Moth. How many is one thrice told?
Arm. I am ill at reck’ning, it fitteth the spirit of a tapster.
Moth. You are a gentleman and a gamester, sir.
Arm. I confess both, they are both 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 ye’ll thrice wink; and how easy it is to put ‘years’ to the word ‘three,’ and study three years in two words, the dancing horse will tell you.
Arm. A most fine figure!
Moth [Aside.] To prove you a cipher.
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 drawing my sword against the humor of affection would deliver me from the reprobate thought of it, I would take Desire prisoner, and ransom him to any French courtier for a new- devis’d cur’sy. I think scorn to sigh; me-thinks I should outswear Cupid. Comfort me, boy: what great men have been in love?
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. Sampson, master; he was a man of good carriage, great carriage, for he carried the town gates on his back like a porter; and he was in love.
Arm. O well-knit Sampson, strong-jointed Sampson! I do excel thee in my rapier as much as thou didst me in carrying gates. I am in love too. Who was Sampson’s love, my dear Moth?
Moth. A woman, master.
Arm. Of what complexion?
Moth. Of all the four, or the three, or the two, or one of the four.
Arm. Tell me precisely of what complexion.
Moth. Of the sea-water green, sir.
Arm. Is that one of the four complexions?
Moth. As I have read, sir, and the best of them too.
Arm. Green indeed is the color of lovers; but to have a love of that color, methinks Sampson had small reason for it. He surely affected her for her wit.
Moth. It was so, sir, for she had a green wit.
Arm. My love is most immaculate white and red.
Moth. Most maculate thoughts, master, are mask’d under such colors.
Arm. Define, define, well-educated infant.
Moth. My father’s wit and my mother’s tongue assist me!
Arm. Sweet invocation of a child, most pretty and pathetical!
Moth.
If she be made of white and red,
Her faults will ne’er be known,
For blush in 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 the same
Which native she doth owe.
A dangerous rhyme, master, against the reason of white and red.
Arm. Is there not a ballet, boy, of the King and the Beggar?
Moth. The world was very guilty of such a ballet some three ages since, but I think now ’tis 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 president. 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 whipt; and yet a better love than my master.
Arm. Sing, boy, my spirit grows heavy in love.
Moth. And that’s great marvel, loving a light wench.
Arm. I say, sing.
Moth. Forbear till this company be past.
Enter Clown [Costard], Constable [Dull], and Wench [Jaquenetta].
Dull. Sir, the Duke’s pleasure is that you keep Costard safe, and you must suffer him to take no delight nor no penance, but ’a must fast three days a week. For this damsel, I must keep her at the park; she is allow’d for the dey-woman. Fare you well.
Arm. I do betray myself with blushing. Maid.
Jaq. Man.
Arm. I will visit thee at the lodge.
Jaq. That’s hereby.
Arm. I know where it is situate.
Jaq. Lord, how wise you are!
Arm. I will tell thee wonders.
Jaq. With that face?
Arm. I love thee.
Jaq. So I heard you say.
Arm. And so farewell.
Jaq. Fair weather after you!
[Dull.] Come, Jaquenetta, away.
Exeunt [Dull and Jaquenetta].
Arm. Villain, thou shalt fast for thy offenses ere thou be pardoned.
Cost. Well, sir, I hope when I do it I shall do it on a full stomach.
Arm. Thou shalt be heavily punished.
Cost.
