No Fear Shakespeare: Love's Labour's Lost: Act 4 Scene 1

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Love's Labour's Lost

William Shakespeare

Original Text

Modern Text

Zenelophon

vici

lion

it

Original Text

Modern Text

Zenelophon

vici

lion

it

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Character List CHARACTERS

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Original Text	Modern Text
Enter the PRINCESS, a FORESTER, her Ladies, BOYET and her other Lords.	Enter the PRINCESS, a FORESTER, her Ladies, BOYET and her other Lords.
PRINCESS Was that the King that spurred his horse so hard Against the steep uprising of the hill?	PRINCESS Was that the King that spurred his horse so hard Against the steep uprising of the hill?
FORESTER I know not, but I think it was not he.	FORESTER I know not, but I think it was not he.
PRINCESS Whoe’er he was, he showed a mounting mind.— 5 Well, lords, today we shall have our dispatch. Or Saturday we will return to France.— Then, forester, my friend, where is the bush That we must stand and play the murderer in?	PRINCESS Whoe’er he was, he showed a mounting mind.— Well, lords, today we shall have our dispatch. Or Saturday we will return to France.— Then, forester, my friend, where is the bush That we must stand and play the murderer in?
FORESTER Hereby, upon the edge of yonder coppice, 10 A stand where you may make the fairest shoot.	FORESTER Hereby, upon the edge of yonder coppice, A stand where you may make the fairest shoot.
PRINCESS I thank my beauty, I am fair that shoot, And thereupon thou speakst “the fairest shoot.”	PRINCESS I thank my beauty, I am fair that shoot, And thereupon thou speakst “the fairest shoot.”
FORESTER Pardon me, madam, for I meant not so.	FORESTER Pardon me, madam, for I meant not so.
PRINCESS What, what? First praise me, and again say no? 15 O short-lived pride. Not fair? Alack, for woe!	PRINCESS What, what? First praise me, and again say no? O short-lived pride. Not fair? Alack, for woe!
FORESTER Yes, madam, fair.	FORESTER Yes, madam, fair.
PRINCESS Nay, never paint me now. Where fair is not, praise cannot mend the brow. Here, good my glass, take this for telling true. She gives him money. 20 Fair payment for foul words is more than due.	PRINCESS No, don’t try to flatter me now. If you don’t see beauty, then your praise can’t change that. Here, my good mirror, take this for telling the truth. She gives him money. You deserve this even though your words are hurtful.
FORESTER Nothing but fair is that which you inherit.	FORESTER Nothing but fair is that which you inherit.
PRINCESS See, see, my beauty will be saved by merit. O heresy in fair, fit for these days! A giving hand, though foul, shall have fair praise. 25 But come, the bow. He hands her a bow. Now mercy goes to kill, And shooting well is then accounted ill. Thus will I save my credit in the shoot: Not wounding, pity would not let me do ’t; 30 If wounding, then it was to show my skill, That more for praise than purpose meant to kill. And out of question so it is sometimes: Glory grows guilty of detested crimes, When for fame’s sake, for praise, an outward part, 35 We bend to that the working of the heart; As I for praise alone now seek to spill The poor deer’s blood, that my heart means no ill.	PRINCESS See, see, my beauty will be saved by merit. O heresy in fair, fit for these days! A giving hand, though foul, shall have fair praise. But come, the bow. He hands her a bow. Now mercy goes to kill, And shooting well is then accounted ill. Thus will I save my credit in the shoot: Not wounding, pity would not let me do ’t; If wounding, then it was to show my skill, That more for praise than purpose meant to kill. And out of question so it is sometimes: Glory grows guilty of detested crimes, When for fame’s sake, for praise, an outward part, We bend to that the working of the heart; As I for praise alone now seek to spill The poor deer’s blood, that my heart means no ill.
BOYET Do not curst wives hold that self sovereignty Only for praise’ sake when they strive to be 40 Lords o’er their lords?	BOYET Do not curst wives hold that self sovereignty Only for praise’ sake when they strive to be Lords o’er their lords?
PRINCESS Only for praise; and praise we may afford To any lady that subdues a lord.	PRINCESS Only for praise; and praise we may afford To any lady that subdues a lord.
Enter Clown COSTARD.	Enter Clown COSTARD.
BOYET Here comes a member of the commonwealth.	BOYET Here comes a member of the commonwealth.
COSTARD God dig-you-den all! Pray you, which is the 45 head lady?	COSTARD God dig-you-den all! Pray you, which is the head lady?
PRINCESS Thou shalt know her, fellow, by the rest that have no heads.	PRINCESS Thou shalt know her, fellow, by the rest that have no heads.
COSTARD Which is the greatest lady, the highest?	COSTARD Which is the greatest lady, the highest?
PRINCESS 50 The thickest and the tallest.	PRINCESS The thickest and the tallest.
COSTARD The thickest and the tallest: it is so, truth is truth. An your waist, mistress, were as slender as my wit, One o’ these maids’ girdles for your waist should be fit. 55 Are not you the chief woman? You are the thickest here.	COSTARD The thickest and the tallest: it is so, truth is truth. An your waist, mistress, were as slender as my wit, One o’ these maids’ girdles for your waist should be fit. Are not you the chief woman? You are the thickest here.
PRINCESS What’s your will, sir? What’s your will?	PRINCESS What’s your will, sir? What’s your will?
COSTARD I have a letter from Monsieur Berowne to one Lady Rosaline.	COSTARD I have a letter from Monsieur Berowne to one Lady Rosaline.
PRINCESS 60 O, thy letter, thy letter! He’s a good friend of mine. Stand aside, good bearer.—Boyet, you can carve. Break up this capon.	PRINCESS O, thy letter, thy letter! He’s a good friend of mine. Stand aside, good bearer.—Boyet, you can carve. Break up this capon.
BOYET, taking the letter I am bound to serve. This letter is mistook; it importeth none here. 65 It is writ to Jaquenetta.	BOYET, taking the letter I am bound to serve. This letter is mistook; it importeth none here. It is writ to Jaquenetta.
PRINCESS We will read it, I swear. Break the neck of the wax, and everyone give ear.	PRINCESS We will read it, I swear. Break the neck of the wax, and everyone give ear.
BOYET reads. By heaven, that thou art fair is most infallible, true that thou art beauteous, truth itself 70 that thou art lovely. More fairer than fair, beautiful than beauteous, truer than truth itself, have commiseration on thy heroical vassal. The magnanimous and most illustrate King Cophetua set eye upon the pernicious and indubitate beggar Zenelophon; and he it 75 was that might rightly say “Veni, vidi, vici,” which to annothanize in the vulgar (O base and obscure vulgar!) videlicet, “He came, see, and overcame”: He came, one; see, two; overcame, three. Who came? The King. Why did he come? To see. Why did he see? To 80 overcome. To whom came he? To the beggar. What saw he? The beggar. Who overcame he? The beggar. The conclusion is victory. On whose side? The King’s. The captive is enriched. On whose side? The beggar’s. The catastrophe is a nuptial. On whose side? 85 The King’s—no, on both in one, or one in both. I am the King, for so stands the comparison; thou the beggar, for so witnesseth thy lowliness. Shall I command thy love? I may. Shall I enforce thy love? I could. Shall I entreat thy love? I will. What shalt thou 90 exchange for rags? Robes. For tittles? Titles. For thyself? Me. Thus expecting thy reply, I profane my lips on thy foot, my eyes on thy picture, and my heart on thy every part. Thine, in the dearest design of industry, 95 Don Adriano de Armado. Thus dost thou hear the Nemean lion roar ’Gainst thee, thou lamb, that standest as his prey. Submissive fall his princely feet before, And he from forage will incline to play. 100 But if thou strive, poor soul, what art thou then? Food for his rage, repasture for his den.	BOYET reading By heaven, your beauty is unsurpassed. It’s true you are beautiful and even more true that you are lovely. You, who are prettier than pretty, more beautiful than beauty, truer than truth itself, have pity on your heroic slave. Once, the kind and distinguished King Cophetua set eyes upon the evil and indisputable beggar Zenelophon This refers to the ancient story “The King and the Beggar” that is also referenced in Act I. Zenelophon and right away may have rightly said “Veni, vidi, vici Julius Caesar said these famous words, which mean “I came, I saw, I conquered” in Latin. vici ,” which to use common language—for the poor and eclipsed common people!—means “He came, he saw, he conquered.” First, he came; second, he saw; third, he conquered. Who came? The King. Why did he come? To see. Why did he need to see? To conquer. Who did he come for? The beggar. What did he see? The beggar. Who did he conquer? The beggar. It ended victoriously. But for which side? The King’s. The prisoner is reformed. But for whose side? The beggar’s. At the end there is a marriage. But on whose side? The King’s—no. Both sides were married, or they were married together. I am the King in this story; you are the beggar, because of your low stature. Shall I command you to love me? I might. Shall I force you to love me? I could. Shall I ask you to love me? I will. What will you get in exchange for your ragged clothing? Robes. For your pennies? Courtly titles. For yourself? Me. While I await your reply, I’ll imagine kissing your feet, dream of your face, and treasure every part of you. Yours, in loving and laborious gallantry, Don Adriano de Armado. You must hear the Nemean lion In Greek mythology, the Nemean lion was a monster that couldn’t be killed with mortals’ weapons, but was eventually killed by Hercules. lion roaring at you. You are the lamb that is his prey. Succumb before his princely feet, and he will turn from aggressive to playful. But if you resist, you poor soul, what are you then? Food for his rage, a meal for his family.
PRINCESS What plume of feathers is he that indited this letter? What vane? What weathercock? Did you ever hear better?	PRINCESS What plume of feathers is he that indited this letter? What vane? What weathercock? Did you ever hear better?
BOYET 105 I am much deceived but I remember the style.	BOYET I am much deceived but I remember the style.
PRINCESS Else your memory is bad, going o’er it erewhile.	PRINCESS Else your memory is bad, going o’er it erewhile.
BOYET This Armado is a Spaniard that keeps here in court, A phantasime, a Monarcho, and one that makes sport 110 To the Prince and his bookmates.	BOYET This Armado is a Spaniard that keeps here in court, A phantasime, a Monarcho, and one that makes sport To the Prince and his bookmates.
PRINCESS, to Costard Thou, fellow, a word. Who gave thee this letter?	PRINCESS, to Costard Thou, fellow, a word. Who gave thee this letter?
COSTARD I told you: my lord.	COSTARD I told you: my lord.
PRINCESS To whom shouldst thou give it?	PRINCESS To whom shouldst thou give it?
COSTARD 115 From my lord to my lady.	COSTARD From my lord to my lady.
PRINCESS From which lord to which lady?	PRINCESS From which lord to which lady?
COSTARD From my Lord Berowne, a good master of mine, To a lady of France that he called Rosaline.	COSTARD From my Lord Berowne, a good master of mine, To a lady of France that he called Rosaline.
PRINCESS 120 Thou hast mistaken his letter. Come, lords, away. To ROSALINE. Here, sweet, put up this; ’twill be thine another day.	PRINCESS Thou hast mistaken his letter. Come, lords, away. To ROSALINE. Here, sweet, put up this; ’twill be thine another day.
The PRINCESS, KATHERINE, Lords, and FORESTER exit. BOYET, ROSALINE, MARIA, and COSTARD remain.	The PRINCESS, KATHERINE, Lords, and FORESTER exit. BOYET, ROSALINE, MARIA, and COSTARD remain.
BOYET Who is the shooter? Who is the shooter?	BOYET Who is the shooter? Who is the shooter?
ROSALINE Shall I 125 teach you to know?	ROSALINE Shall I teach you to know?
BOYET Ay, my continent of beauty.	BOYET Ay, my continent of beauty.
ROSALINE Why, she that bears the bow. Finely put off.	ROSALINE Why, she that bears the bow. Finely put off.
BOYET My lady goes to kill horns, but if thou marry, 130 Hang me by the neck if horns that year miscarry. Finely put on.	BOYET My lady goes to kill horns, but if thou marry, Hang me by the neck if horns that year miscarry. Finely put on.
ROSALINE Well, then, I am the shooter.	ROSALINE Well, then, I am the shooter.
BOYET And who is your deer?	BOYET And who is your deer?
ROSALINE If we choose by the horns, yourself come not near. 135 Finely put on, indeed.	ROSALINE If we choose by the horns, yourself come not near. Finely put on, indeed.
MARIA You still wrangle with her, Boyet, and she strikes at the brow.	MARIA You still wrangle with her, Boyet, and she strikes at the brow.
BOYET But she herself is hit lower. Have I hit her now?	BOYET But she herself is hit lower. Have I hit her now?
ROSALINE Shall I come upon thee with an old saying, 140 that was a man when King Pippen of France was a little boy, as touching the hit it?	ROSALINE Shall I come upon thee with an old saying, that was a man when King Pippen of France was a little boy, as touching the hit it?
BOYET So I may answer thee with one as old, that was a woman when Queen Guinover of Britain was a little wench, as touching the hit it.	BOYET So I may answer thee with one as old, that was a woman when Queen Guinover of Britain was a little wench, as touching the hit it.
ROSALINE sings 145 Thou canst not hit it, hit it, hit it, Thou canst not hit it, my good man.	ROSALINE singing You cannot hit it, hit it, hit it The song is filled with sexual innuendos. it , You cannot hit it, my good man.
BOYET sings An I cannot, cannot, cannot, An I cannot, another can.	BOYET sings An I cannot, cannot, cannot, An I cannot, another can.
ROSALINE exits.	ROSALINE exits.
COSTARD By my troth, most pleasant. How both did fit it!	COSTARD By my troth, most pleasant. How both did fit it!
MARIA 150 A mark marvelous well shot, for they both did hit it.	MARIA A mark marvelous well shot, for they both did hit it.
BOYET A mark! O, mark but that mark. “A mark,” says my lady. Let the mark have a prick in ’t to mete at, if it may 155 be.	BOYET A mark! O, mark but that mark. “A mark,” says my lady. Let the mark have a prick in ’t to mete at, if it may be.
MARIA Wide o’ the bow hand! I’ faith, your hand is out.	MARIA Wide o’ the bow hand! I’ faith, your hand is out.
COSTARD Indeed, he must shoot nearer, or he’ll ne’er hit the clout.	COSTARD Indeed, he must shoot nearer, or he’ll ne’er hit the clout.
BOYET, to MARIA An if my hand be out, then belike your hand is in.	BOYET, to MARIA An if my hand be out, then belike your hand is in.
COSTARD 160 Then will she get the upshoot by cleaving the pin.	COSTARD Then will she get the upshoot by cleaving the pin.
MARIA Come, come, you talk greasily. Your lips grow foul.	MARIA Come, come, you talk greasily. Your lips grow foul.
COSTARD, to BOYET She’s too hard for you at pricks, sir. Challenge her to bowl.	COSTARD, to BOYET She’s too hard for you at pricks, sir. Challenge her to bowl.
BOYET I fear too much rubbing. Good night, my good owl.	BOYET I fear too much rubbing. Good night, my good owl.
BOYET and MARIA exit.	BOYET and MARIA exit.
COSTARD 165 By my soul, a swain, a most simple clown. Lord, Lord, how the ladies and I have put him down. O’ my troth, most sweet jests, most incony vulgar wit, 170 When it comes so smoothly off, so obscenely, as it were, so fit. Armado o’ th’ one side, O, a most dainty man! To see him walk before a lady and to bear her fan. To see him kiss his hand, and how most sweetly he 175 will swear. And his page o’ t’ other side, that handful of wit! Ah heavens, it is a most pathetical nit. Shout within. Sola, sola!	COSTARD By my soul, a swain, a most simple clown. Lord, Lord, how the ladies and I have put him down. O’ my troth, most sweet jests, most incony vulgar wit, When it comes so smoothly off, so obscenely, as it were, so fit. Armado o’ th’ one side, O, a most dainty man! To see him walk before a lady and to bear her fan. To see him kiss his hand, and how most sweetly he will swear. And his page o’ t’ other side, that handful of wit! Ah heavens, it is a most pathetical nit. Shout within. Sola, sola!
He exits.	He exits.