LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST ACT I SCENE I. The KING OF NAVARRE'S Park. Enter KING FERDINAND, BIRON, LONGAVILLE, KING. Let Fame, that all hunt after in their lives, That honour which shall bate his scythe's keen edge, Therefore, brave Conquerors-for so you are, Our late edict shall strongly stand in force: Still and contemplative in living art. You three, Biron, Dumain, and Longaville, Have sworn for three years' term to live with me Your oaths are pass'd; and now subscribe your names, If you are arm'd to do as sworn to do, ΤΟ 20 ACT I Sc. I The grosser manner of these world's delights O, these are barren tasks, too hard to keep : KING. Your oath is pass'd to pass away from these. What is the end of study? let me know. 30 40 50 KING. Why, that to know which else we should not know. BIRON. Things hid and barr'd, you mean, from common sense ?? KING. Ay; that is study's god-like recompense. BIRON. Come on, then; I will swear to study so, To know the thing I am forbid to know: When mistresses from common sense are hid; 8 4 If study's gain be thus, and this be so, KING. These be the stops that hinder study quite, And train our intellects to vain delight. BIRON. Why, all delights are vain; but that most vain, To seek the light of truth; while Truth the while Light, seeking light, doth light of light beguile : By fixing it upon a fairer eye; Who dazzling2 so, that eye shall be his heed,3 That will not be deep-search'd with saucy looks: Than those that walk, and wot not what they are. KING. How well he's read, to reason against reading! DUM. Proceeded well, to stop all good proceeding! LONG. He weeds the corn, and still lets grow the weeding. BIRON. The Spring is near, when green geese are a breeding. DUM. How follows that? DUM. In reason nothing. BIRON. Fit in his place and time. Something, then, in rhyme. 5 KING. Biron is like an envious sneaping frost, That bites the first-born infants of the Spring. BIRON. Well; say I am: why should proud Summer boast, ACT I Sc. I ACT I Sc. I Why should I joy in an abortive birth? At Christmas I no more desire a rose Climb o'er the house to unlock the little gate. KING. Well, sit1 you out: go home, Biron: adieu. BIRON. No, my good Lord; I have sworn to stay with you: And though I have for Barbarism spoke more Yet confident I'll keep what I have swore, And bide the penance of each three years' day. And to the strict'st decrees I'll write my name. KING. How well this yielding rescues thee from shame! BIRON. Item, That no woman shall come within a mile of my Court-Hath this been proclaim'd? LONG. Four days ago. 120 BIRON. Let's see the penalty-on pain of losing her tongue. Who devis'd this penalty? LONG. Marry, that did I. BIRON. Sweet Lord, and why? LONG. To fright them hence with that dread penalty. BIRON. A dangerous law against gentility !2 Item, If any man be seen to talk with a woman within the term of three years, he shall endure such public shame as the rest of the Court can possibly devise. This article, my Liege, yourself must break; For well know here comes in embassy you The French King's daughter with yourself to speak- About surrender-up of Aquitain To her decrepit, sick, and bedrid father: Therefore this article is made in vain, Or vainly comes the admired Princess hither. 130 KING. What say you, Lords? why, this was quite forgot. BIRON. So study evermore is overshot: While it doth study to have what it would, It doth forget to do the thing it should; 140 |