1    Boy, what sign is it when a man of great spirit
2    grows melancholy?

3    A great sign, sir, that he will look sad.

4    Why, sadness is one and the self-same thing, dear imp.

5    No, no; O Lord, sir, no.

6    How canst thou part sadness and melancholy, my
7    tender juvenal?

8    By a familiar demonstration of the working, my tough senior.

9    Why tough senior? why tough senior?

10   Why tender juvenal? why tender juvenal?

11   I spoke it, tender juvenal, as a congruent epitheton
12   appertaining to thy young days, which we may
13   nominate tender.

14   And I, tough senior, as an appertinent title to your
15   old time, which we may name tough.

16   Pretty and apt.

17   How mean you, sir? I pretty, and my saying apt? or
18   I apt, and my saying pretty?

19   Thou pretty, because little.

20   Little pretty, because little. Wherefore apt?

21   And therefore apt, because quick.

22   Speak you this in my praise, master?

23   In thy condign praise.

24   I will praise an eel with the same praise.

25   What, that an eel is ingenious?

26   That an eel is quick.

27   I do say thou art quick in answers: thou heatest my blood.

28   I am answered, sir.

29   I love not to be crossed.

Aside
30    He speaks the mere contrary; crosses love not him.

31   I have promised to study three years with the duke.

32   You may do it in an hour, sir.

33   Impossible.

34   How many is one thrice told?

35   I am ill at reckoning; it fitteth the spirit of a tapster.

36   You are a gentleman and a gamester, sir.

37   I confess both: they are both the varnish of a
38   complete man.

39   Then, I am sure, you know how much the gross sum of
40   deuce-ace amounts to.

41   It doth amount to one more than two.

42   Which the base vulgar do call three.

43   True.

44   Why, sir, is this such a piece of study? Now here
45   is three studied, ere ye'll thrice wink: and how
46   easy it is to put 'years' to the word 'three,' and
47   study three years in two words, the dancing horse
48   will tell you.

49   A most fine figure!

50   To prove you a cipher.

51   I will hereupon confess I am in love: and as it is
52   base for a soldier to love, so am I in love with a
53   base wench. If drawing my sword against the humour
54   of affection would deliver me from the reprobate
55   thought of it, I would take Desire prisoner, and
56   ransom him to any French courtier for a new-devised
57   courtesy. I think scorn to sigh: methinks I should
58   outswear Cupid. Comfort, me, boy: what great men
59   have been in love?

60   Hercules, master.

61   Most sweet Hercules! More authority, dear boy, name
62   more; and, sweet my child, let them be men of good
63   repute and carriage.

64   Samson, master: he was a man of good carriage, great
65   carriage, for he carried the town-gates on his back
66   like a porter: and he was in love.

67   O well-knit Samson! strong-jointed Samson! I do
68   excel thee in my rapier as much as thou didst me in
69   carrying gates. I am in love too. Who was Samson's
70   love, my dear Moth?

71   A woman, master.

72   Of what complexion?

73   Of all the four, or the three, or the two, or one of the four.

74   Tell me precisely of what complexion.

75   Of the sea-water green, sir.

76   Is that one of the four complexions?

77   As I have read, sir; and the best of them too.

78   Green indeed is the colour of lovers; but to have a
79   love of that colour, methinks Samson had small reason
80   for it. He surely affected her for her wit.

81   It was so, sir; for she had a green wit.

82   My love is most immaculate white and red.

83   Most maculate thoughts, master, are masked under
84   such colours.

85   Define, define, well-educated infant.

86   My father's wit and my mother's tongue, assist me!

87   Sweet invocation of a child; most pretty and
88   pathetical!

89   If she be made of white and red,
90   Her faults will ne'er be known,
91   For blushing cheeks by faults are bred
92   And fears by pale white shown:
93   Then if she fear, or be to blame,
94   By this you shall not know,
95   For still her cheeks possess the same
96   Which native she doth owe.
97   A dangerous rhyme, master, against the reason of
98   white and red.

99   Is there not a ballad, boy, of the King and the Beggar?

100  The world was very guilty of such a ballad some
101  three ages since: but I think now 'tis not to be
102  found; or, if it were, it would neither serve for
103  the writing nor the tune.

104  I will have that subject newly writ o'er, that I may
105  example my digression by some mighty precedent.
106  Boy, I do love that country girl that I took in the
107  park with the rational hind Costard: she deserves well.

Aside
108   To be whipped; and yet a better love than
109  my master.

110  Sing, boy; my spirit grows heavy in love.

111  And that's great marvel, loving a light wench.

112  I say, sing.

113  Forbear till this company be past.

114  Sir, the duke's pleasure is, that you keep Costard
115  safe: and you must suffer him to take no delight
116  nor no penance; but a' must fast three days a week.
117  For this damsel, I must keep her at the park: she
118  is allowed for the day-woman. Fare you well.

119  I do betray myself with blushing. Maid!

120  Man?

121  I will visit thee at the lodge.

122  That's hereby.

123  I know where it is situate.

124  Lord, how wise you are!

125  I will tell thee wonders.

126  With that face?

127  I love thee.

128  So I heard you say.

129  And so, farewell.

130  Fair weather after you!

131  Come, Jaquenetta, away!

132  Villain, thou shalt fast for thy offences ere thou
133  be pardoned.

134  Well, sir, I hope, when I do it, I shall do it on a
135  full stomach.

136  Thou shalt be heavily punished.

137  I am more bound to you than your fellows, for they
138  are but lightly rewarded.

139  Take away this villain; shut him up.

140  Come, you transgressing slave; away!

141  Let me not be pent up, sir: I will fast, being loose.

142  No, sir; that were fast and loose: thou shalt to prison.

143  Well, if ever I do see the merry days of desolation
144  that I have seen, some shall see.

145  What shall some see?

146  Nay, nothing, Master Moth, but what they look upon.
147  It is not for prisoners to be too silent in their
148  words; and therefore I will say nothing: I thank
149  God I have as little patience as another man; and
150  therefore I can be quiet.

151  I do affect the very ground, which is base, where
152  her shoe, which is baser, guided by her foot, which
153  is basest, doth tread. I shall be forsworn, which
154  is a great argument of falsehood, if I love. And
155  how can that be true love which is falsely
156  attempted? Love is a familiar; Love is a devil:
157  there is no evil angel but Love. Yet was Samson so
158  tempted, and he had an excellent strength; yet was
159  Solomon so seduced, and he had a very good wit.
160  Cupid's butt-shaft is too hard for Hercules' club;
161  and therefore too much odds for a Spaniard's rapier.
162  The first and second cause will not serve my turn;
163  the passado he respects not, the duello he regards
164  not: his disgrace is to be called boy; but his
165  glory is to subdue men. Adieu, valour! rust rapier!
166  be still, drum! for your manager is in love; yea,
167  he loveth. Assist me, some extemporal god of rhyme,
168  for I am sure I shall turn sonnet. Devise, wit;
169  write, pen; for I am for whole volumes in folio.