and clouded too.
King.
Blessed are clouds, to do as such clouds do!
Vouchsafe, bright moon, and these thy stars, to shine
(Those clouds removed) upon our watery eyne.
Ros.
O vain petitioner! beg a greater matter,
Thou now requests but moonshine in the water.
King.
Then in our measure do but vouchsafe one change.
Thou bid’st me beg; this begging is not strange.
Ros.
Play, music, then! Nay, you must do it soon.
[Music plays.]
Not yet; no dance: thus change I like the moon.
King.
Will you not dance? How come you thus estranged?
Ros.
You took the moon at full, but now she’s changed.
King.
Yet still she is the moon, and I the man.
The music plays, vouchsafe some motion to it.
[Ros.]
Our ears vouchsafe it.
King.
But your legs should do it.
Ros.
Since you are strangers, and come here by chance,
We’ll not be nice; take hands. We will not dance.
King.
Why take we hands then?
Ros.
Only to part friends.
Curtsy, sweet hearts—and so the measure ends.
King.
More measure of this measure; be not nice.
Ros.
We can afford no more at such a price.
King.
Price you yourselves; what buys your company?
Ros.
Your absence only.
King.
That can never be.
Ros.
Then cannot we be bought; and so, adieu—
Twice to your visor, and half once to you.
King.
If you deny to dance, let’s hold more chat.
Ros.
In private then.
King.
I am best pleas’d with that.
[They converse apart.]
Ber.
White-handed mistress, one sweet word with thee.
Prin.
Honey, and milk, and sugar: there is three.
Ber.
Nay then two treys, and if you grow so nice,
Metheglin, wort, and malmsey; well run, dice!
There’s half a dozen sweets.
Prin.
Seventh sweet, adieu.
Since you can cog, I’ll play no more with you.
Ber.
One word in secret.
Prin.
Let it not be sweet.
Ber.
Thou grievest my gall.
Prin.
Gall! bitter.
Ber.
Therefore meet.
[They converse apart.]
Dum.
Will you vouchsafe with me to change a word?
Mar.
Name it.
Dum.
Fair lady—
Mar.
Say you so? Fair lord—
Take that for your fair lady.
Dum.
Please it you,
As much in private, and I’ll bid adieu.
[They converse apart.]
[Kath.]
What, was your vizard made without a tongue?
Long.
I know the reason, lady, why you ask.
[Kath.]
O
