No Fear Shakespeare: Love's Labour's Lost: Act 2 Scene 1

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Love's Labour's Lost

William Shakespeare

Original Text

Modern Text

Original Text

Modern Text

Popular pages: Love's Labour's Lost

Character List CHARACTERS

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Original Text	Modern Text
Enter the PRINCESS OF FRANCE, with three attending Ladies (ROSALINE, MARIA, and KATHERINE), BOYET and other Lords.	Enter the PRINCESS OF FRANCE, with three attending Ladies (ROSALINE, MARIA, and KATHERINE), BOYET and other Lords.
BOYET Now, madam, summon up your dearest spirits. Consider who the King your father sends, To whom he sends, and what’s his embassy. Yourself, held precious in the world’s esteem, 5 To parley with the sole inheritor Of all perfections that a man may owe, Matchless Navarre; the plea of no less weight Than Aquitaine, a dowry for a queen. Be now as prodigal of all dear grace 10 As nature was in making graces dear When she did starve the general world besides And prodigally gave them all to you.	BOYET Now, madam, summon up your dearest spirits. Consider who the King your father sends, To whom he sends, and what’s his embassy. Yourself, held precious in the world’s esteem, To parley with the sole inheritor Of all perfections that a man may owe, Matchless Navarre; the plea of no less weight Than Aquitaine, a dowry for a queen. Be now as prodigal of all dear grace As nature was in making graces dear When she did starve the general world besides And prodigally gave them all to you.
PRINCESS Good Lord Boyet, my beauty, though but mean, Needs not the painted flourish of your praise. 15 Beauty is bought by judgment of the eye, Not uttered by base sale of chapmen’s tongues. I am less proud to hear you tell my worth Than you much willing to be counted wise In spending your wit in the praise of mine. 20 But now to task the tasker: good Boyet, You are not ignorant all-telling fame Doth noise abroad Navarre hath made a vow, Till painful study shall outwear three years, No woman may approach his silent court. 25 Therefore to ’s seemeth it a needful course, Before we enter his forbidden gates, To know his pleasure, and in that behalf, Bold of your worthiness, we single you As our best-moving fair solicitor. 30 Tell him the daughter of the King of France On serious business craving quick dispatch, Importunes personal conference with his Grace. Haste, signify so much, while we attend, Like humble-visaged suitors, his high will.	PRINCESS Good Lord Boyet, my beauty, though but mean, Needs not the painted flourish of your praise. Beauty is bought by judgment of the eye, Not uttered by base sale of chapmen’s tongues. I am less proud to hear you tell my worth Than you much willing to be counted wise In spending your wit in the praise of mine. But now to task the tasker: good Boyet, You are not ignorant all-telling fame Doth noise abroad Navarre hath made a vow, Till painful study shall outwear three years, No woman may approach his silent court. Therefore to ’s seemeth it a needful course, Before we enter his forbidden gates, To know his pleasure, and in that behalf, Bold of your worthiness, we single you As our best-moving fair solicitor. Tell him the daughter of the King of France On serious business craving quick dispatch, Importunes personal conference with his Grace. Haste, signify so much, while we attend, Like humble-visaged suitors, his high will.
BOYET 35 Proud of employment, willingly I go.	BOYET Proud of employment, willingly I go.
PRINCESS All pride is willing pride, and yours is so. Boyet exits. Who are the votaries, my loving lords, That are vow-fellows with this virtuous duke?	PRINCESS All pride is willing pride, and yours is so. Boyet exits. Who are the votaries, my loving lords, That are vow-fellows with this virtuous duke?
A LORD Lord Longaville is one.	A LORD Lord Longaville is one.
PRINCESS 40 Know you the man?	PRINCESS Know you the man?
MARIA I know him, madam. At a marriage feast Between Lord Perigort and the beauteous heir Of Jaques Falconbridge, solemnizèd In Normandy, saw I this Longaville. 45 A man of sovereign parts he is esteemed, Well fitted in arts, glorious in arms. Nothing becomes him ill that he would well. The only soil of his fair virtue’s gloss, If virtue’s gloss will stain with any soil, 50 Is a sharp wit matched with too blunt a will, Whose edge hath power to cut, whose will still wills It should none spare that come within his power.	MARIA I know him, madam. At a marriage feast Between Lord Perigort and the beauteous heir Of Jaques Falconbridge, solemnizèd In Normandy, saw I this Longaville. A man of sovereign parts he is esteemed, Well fitted in arts, glorious in arms. Nothing becomes him ill that he would well. The only soil of his fair virtue’s gloss, If virtue’s gloss will stain with any soil, Is a sharp wit matched with too blunt a will, Whose edge hath power to cut, whose will still wills It should none spare that come within his power.
PRINCESS Some merry mocking lord, belike. Is ’t so?	PRINCESS Some merry mocking lord, belike. Is ’t so?
MARIA They say so most that most his humors know.	MARIA They say so most that most his humors know.
PRINCESS 55 Such short-lived wits do wither as they grow. Who are the rest?	PRINCESS Such short-lived wits do wither as they grow. Who are the rest?
KATHERINE The young Dumaine, a well-accomplished youth, Of all that virtue love for virtue loved. Most power to do most harm, least knowing ill; 60 For he hath wit to make an ill shape good, And shape to win grace though he had no wit. I saw him at the Duke Alanson’s once, And much too little of that good I saw Is my report to his great worthiness.	KATHERINE The young Dumaine, a well-accomplished youth, Of all that virtue love for virtue loved. Most power to do most harm, least knowing ill; For he hath wit to make an ill shape good, And shape to win grace though he had no wit. I saw him at the Duke Alanson’s once, And much too little of that good I saw Is my report to his great worthiness.
ROSALINE 65 Another of these students at that time Was there with him, if I have heard a truth. Berowne they call him, but a merrier man, Within the limit of becoming mirth, I never spent an hour’s talk withal. 70 His eye begets occasion for his wit, For every object that the one doth catch The other turns to a mirth-moving jest, Which his fair tongue, conceit’s expositor, Delivers in such apt and gracious words 75 That agèd ears play truant at his tales, And younger hearings are quite ravishèd, So sweet and voluble is his discourse.	ROSALINE Another of these students at that time Was there with him, if I have heard a truth. Berowne they call him, but a merrier man, Within the limit of becoming mirth, I never spent an hour’s talk withal. His eye begets occasion for his wit, For every object that the one doth catch The other turns to a mirth-moving jest, Which his fair tongue, conceit’s expositor, Delivers in such apt and gracious words That agèd ears play truant at his tales, And younger hearings are quite ravishèd, So sweet and voluble is his discourse.
PRINCESS God bless my ladies, are they all in love, That every one her own hath garnishèd 80 With such bedecking ornaments of praise?	PRINCESS God bless my ladies, are they all in love, That every one her own hath garnishèd With such bedecking ornaments of praise?
A LORD Here comes Boyet.	A LORD Here comes Boyet.
Enter BOYET.	Enter BOYET.
PRINCESS Now, what admittance, lord?	PRINCESS Now, what admittance, lord?
BOYET Navarre had notice of your fair approach, And he and his competitors in oath 85 Were all addressed to meet you, gentle lady, Before I came. Marry, thus much I have learned: He rather means to lodge you in the field, Like one that comes here to besiege his court, Than seek a dispensation for his oath 90 To let you enter his unpeopled house.	BOYET Navarre had notice of your fair approach, And he and his competitors in oath Were all addressed to meet you, gentle lady, Before I came. Marry, thus much I have learned: He rather means to lodge you in the field, Like one that comes here to besiege his court, Than seek a dispensation for his oath To let you enter his unpeopled house.
Enter KING of NAVARRE, LONGAVILLE, DUMAINE, and BEROWNE.	Enter KING of NAVARRE, LONGAVILLE, DUMAINE, and BEROWNE.
Here comes Navarre.	Here comes Navarre.
KING Fair Princess, welcome to the court of Navarre.	KING Fair Princess, welcome to the court of Navarre.
PRINCESS “Fair” I give you back again, and “welcome” I have not yet. The roof of this court is too 95 high to be yours, and welcome to the wide fields too base to be mine.	PRINCESS “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 too base to be mine.
KING You shall be welcome, madam, to my court.	KING You shall be welcome, madam, to my court.
PRINCESS I will be welcome, then. Conduct me thither.	PRINCESS I will be welcome, then. Conduct me thither.
KING Hear me, dear lady. I have sworn an oath.	KING Hear me, dear lady. I have sworn an oath.
PRINCESS 100 Our Lady help my lord! He’ll be forsworn.	PRINCESS Our Lady help my lord! He’ll be forsworn.
KING Not for the world, fair madam, by my will.	KING Not for the world, fair madam, by my will.
PRINCESS Why, will shall break it, will and nothing else.	PRINCESS Why, will shall break it, will and nothing else.
KING Your Ladyship is ignorant what it is.	KING Your Ladyship is ignorant what it is.
PRINCESS Were my lord so, his ignorance were wise, 105 Where now his knowledge must prove ignorance. I hear your Grace hath sworn out housekeeping. ’Tis deadly sin to keep that oath, my lord, And sin to break it. But pardon me, I am too sudden bold. 110 To teach a teacher ill beseemeth me. Vouchsafe to read the purpose of my coming, And suddenly resolve me in my suit.	PRINCESS Were my lord so, his ignorance were wise, Where now his knowledge must prove ignorance. I hear your Grace hath sworn out housekeeping. ’Tis deadly sin to keep that oath, my lord, And sin to break it. But pardon me, I am too sudden bold. To teach a teacher ill beseemeth me. Vouchsafe to read the purpose of my coming, And suddenly resolve me in my suit.
She gives him a paper.	She gives him a paper.
KING Madam, I will, if suddenly I may.	KING Madam, I will, if suddenly I may.
PRINCESS You will the sooner that I were away, 115 For you’ll prove perjured if you make me stay.	PRINCESS You will the sooner that I were away, For you’ll prove perjured if you make me stay.
They walk aside while the KING reads the paper.	They walk aside while the KING reads the paper.
BEROWNE, to ROSALINE Did not I dance with you in Brabant once?	BEROWNE, to ROSALINE Did not I dance with you in Brabant once?
ROSALINE Did not I dance with you in Brabant once?	ROSALINE Did not I dance with you in Brabant once?
BEROWNE I know you did.	BEROWNE I know you did.
ROSALINE How needless was it then 120 To ask the question.	ROSALINE How needless was it then To ask the question.
BEROWNE You must not be so quick.	BEROWNE You must not be so quick.

Original Text	Modern Text
Enter the PRINCESS OF FRANCE, with three attending Ladies (ROSALINE, MARIA, and KATHERINE), BOYET and other Lords.	Enter the PRINCESS OF FRANCE, with three attending Ladies (ROSALINE, MARIA, and KATHERINE), BOYET and other Lords.
BOYET Now, madam, summon up your dearest spirits. Consider who the King your father sends, To whom he sends, and what’s his embassy. Yourself, held precious in the world’s esteem, 5 To parley with the sole inheritor Of all perfections that a man may owe, Matchless Navarre; the plea of no less weight Than Aquitaine, a dowry for a queen. Be now as prodigal of all dear grace 10 As nature was in making graces dear When she did starve the general world besides And prodigally gave them all to you.	BOYET Now, madam, summon up your dearest spirits. Consider who the King your father sends, To whom he sends, and what’s his embassy. Yourself, held precious in the world’s esteem, To parley with the sole inheritor Of all perfections that a man may owe, Matchless Navarre; the plea of no less weight Than Aquitaine, a dowry for a queen. Be now as prodigal of all dear grace As nature was in making graces dear When she did starve the general world besides And prodigally gave them all to you.
PRINCESS Good Lord Boyet, my beauty, though but mean, Needs not the painted flourish of your praise. 15 Beauty is bought by judgment of the eye, Not uttered by base sale of chapmen’s tongues. I am less proud to hear you tell my worth Than you much willing to be counted wise In spending your wit in the praise of mine. 20 But now to task the tasker: good Boyet, You are not ignorant all-telling fame Doth noise abroad Navarre hath made a vow, Till painful study shall outwear three years, No woman may approach his silent court. 25 Therefore to ’s seemeth it a needful course, Before we enter his forbidden gates, To know his pleasure, and in that behalf, Bold of your worthiness, we single you As our best-moving fair solicitor. 30 Tell him the daughter of the King of France On serious business craving quick dispatch, Importunes personal conference with his Grace. Haste, signify so much, while we attend, Like humble-visaged suitors, his high will.	PRINCESS Good Lord Boyet, my beauty, though but mean, Needs not the painted flourish of your praise. Beauty is bought by judgment of the eye, Not uttered by base sale of chapmen’s tongues. I am less proud to hear you tell my worth Than you much willing to be counted wise In spending your wit in the praise of mine. But now to task the tasker: good Boyet, You are not ignorant all-telling fame Doth noise abroad Navarre hath made a vow, Till painful study shall outwear three years, No woman may approach his silent court. Therefore to ’s seemeth it a needful course, Before we enter his forbidden gates, To know his pleasure, and in that behalf, Bold of your worthiness, we single you As our best-moving fair solicitor. Tell him the daughter of the King of France On serious business craving quick dispatch, Importunes personal conference with his Grace. Haste, signify so much, while we attend, Like humble-visaged suitors, his high will.
BOYET 35 Proud of employment, willingly I go.	BOYET Proud of employment, willingly I go.
PRINCESS All pride is willing pride, and yours is so. Boyet exits. Who are the votaries, my loving lords, That are vow-fellows with this virtuous duke?	PRINCESS All pride is willing pride, and yours is so. Boyet exits. Who are the votaries, my loving lords, That are vow-fellows with this virtuous duke?
A LORD Lord Longaville is one.	A LORD Lord Longaville is one.
PRINCESS 40 Know you the man?	PRINCESS Know you the man?
MARIA I know him, madam. At a marriage feast Between Lord Perigort and the beauteous heir Of Jaques Falconbridge, solemnizèd In Normandy, saw I this Longaville. 45 A man of sovereign parts he is esteemed, Well fitted in arts, glorious in arms. Nothing becomes him ill that he would well. The only soil of his fair virtue’s gloss, If virtue’s gloss will stain with any soil, 50 Is a sharp wit matched with too blunt a will, Whose edge hath power to cut, whose will still wills It should none spare that come within his power.	MARIA I know him, madam. At a marriage feast Between Lord Perigort and the beauteous heir Of Jaques Falconbridge, solemnizèd In Normandy, saw I this Longaville. A man of sovereign parts he is esteemed, Well fitted in arts, glorious in arms. Nothing becomes him ill that he would well. The only soil of his fair virtue’s gloss, If virtue’s gloss will stain with any soil, Is a sharp wit matched with too blunt a will, Whose edge hath power to cut, whose will still wills It should none spare that come within his power.
PRINCESS Some merry mocking lord, belike. Is ’t so?	PRINCESS Some merry mocking lord, belike. Is ’t so?
MARIA They say so most that most his humors know.	MARIA They say so most that most his humors know.
PRINCESS 55 Such short-lived wits do wither as they grow. Who are the rest?	PRINCESS Such short-lived wits do wither as they grow. Who are the rest?
KATHERINE The young Dumaine, a well-accomplished youth, Of all that virtue love for virtue loved. Most power to do most harm, least knowing ill; 60 For he hath wit to make an ill shape good, And shape to win grace though he had no wit. I saw him at the Duke Alanson’s once, And much too little of that good I saw Is my report to his great worthiness.	KATHERINE The young Dumaine, a well-accomplished youth, Of all that virtue love for virtue loved. Most power to do most harm, least knowing ill; For he hath wit to make an ill shape good, And shape to win grace though he had no wit. I saw him at the Duke Alanson’s once, And much too little of that good I saw Is my report to his great worthiness.
ROSALINE 65 Another of these students at that time Was there with him, if I have heard a truth. Berowne they call him, but a merrier man, Within the limit of becoming mirth, I never spent an hour’s talk withal. 70 His eye begets occasion for his wit, For every object that the one doth catch The other turns to a mirth-moving jest, Which his fair tongue, conceit’s expositor, Delivers in such apt and gracious words 75 That agèd ears play truant at his tales, And younger hearings are quite ravishèd, So sweet and voluble is his discourse.	ROSALINE Another of these students at that time Was there with him, if I have heard a truth. Berowne they call him, but a merrier man, Within the limit of becoming mirth, I never spent an hour’s talk withal. His eye begets occasion for his wit, For every object that the one doth catch The other turns to a mirth-moving jest, Which his fair tongue, conceit’s expositor, Delivers in such apt and gracious words That agèd ears play truant at his tales, And younger hearings are quite ravishèd, So sweet and voluble is his discourse.
PRINCESS God bless my ladies, are they all in love, That every one her own hath garnishèd 80 With such bedecking ornaments of praise?	PRINCESS God bless my ladies, are they all in love, That every one her own hath garnishèd With such bedecking ornaments of praise?
A LORD Here comes Boyet.	A LORD Here comes Boyet.
Enter BOYET.	Enter BOYET.
PRINCESS Now, what admittance, lord?	PRINCESS Now, what admittance, lord?
BOYET Navarre had notice of your fair approach, And he and his competitors in oath 85 Were all addressed to meet you, gentle lady, Before I came. Marry, thus much I have learned: He rather means to lodge you in the field, Like one that comes here to besiege his court, Than seek a dispensation for his oath 90 To let you enter his unpeopled house.	BOYET Navarre had notice of your fair approach, And he and his competitors in oath Were all addressed to meet you, gentle lady, Before I came. Marry, thus much I have learned: He rather means to lodge you in the field, Like one that comes here to besiege his court, Than seek a dispensation for his oath To let you enter his unpeopled house.
Enter KING of NAVARRE, LONGAVILLE, DUMAINE, and BEROWNE.	Enter KING of NAVARRE, LONGAVILLE, DUMAINE, and BEROWNE.
Here comes Navarre.	Here comes Navarre.
KING Fair Princess, welcome to the court of Navarre.	KING Fair Princess, welcome to the court of Navarre.
PRINCESS “Fair” I give you back again, and “welcome” I have not yet. The roof of this court is too 95 high to be yours, and welcome to the wide fields too base to be mine.	PRINCESS “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 too base to be mine.
KING You shall be welcome, madam, to my court.	KING You shall be welcome, madam, to my court.
PRINCESS I will be welcome, then. Conduct me thither.	PRINCESS I will be welcome, then. Conduct me thither.
KING Hear me, dear lady. I have sworn an oath.	KING Hear me, dear lady. I have sworn an oath.
PRINCESS 100 Our Lady help my lord! He’ll be forsworn.	PRINCESS Our Lady help my lord! He’ll be forsworn.
KING Not for the world, fair madam, by my will.	KING Not for the world, fair madam, by my will.
PRINCESS Why, will shall break it, will and nothing else.	PRINCESS Why, will shall break it, will and nothing else.
KING Your Ladyship is ignorant what it is.	KING Your Ladyship is ignorant what it is.
PRINCESS Were my lord so, his ignorance were wise, 105 Where now his knowledge must prove ignorance. I hear your Grace hath sworn out housekeeping. ’Tis deadly sin to keep that oath, my lord, And sin to break it. But pardon me, I am too sudden bold. 110 To teach a teacher ill beseemeth me. Vouchsafe to read the purpose of my coming, And suddenly resolve me in my suit.	PRINCESS Were my lord so, his ignorance were wise, Where now his knowledge must prove ignorance. I hear your Grace hath sworn out housekeeping. ’Tis deadly sin to keep that oath, my lord, And sin to break it. But pardon me, I am too sudden bold. To teach a teacher ill beseemeth me. Vouchsafe to read the purpose of my coming, And suddenly resolve me in my suit.
She gives him a paper.	She gives him a paper.
KING Madam, I will, if suddenly I may.	KING Madam, I will, if suddenly I may.
PRINCESS You will the sooner that I were away, 115 For you’ll prove perjured if you make me stay.	PRINCESS You will the sooner that I were away, For you’ll prove perjured if you make me stay.
They walk aside while the KING reads the paper.	They walk aside while the KING reads the paper.
BEROWNE, to ROSALINE Did not I dance with you in Brabant once?	BEROWNE, to ROSALINE Did not I dance with you in Brabant once?
ROSALINE Did not I dance with you in Brabant once?	ROSALINE Did not I dance with you in Brabant once?
BEROWNE I know you did.	BEROWNE I know you did.
ROSALINE How needless was it then 120 To ask the question.	ROSALINE How needless was it then To ask the question.
BEROWNE You must not be so quick.	BEROWNE You must not be so quick.