No Fear Shakespeare: Love's Labour's Lost: Act 4 Scene 2

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Love's Labour's Lost

William Shakespeare

Original Text

Modern Text

sanguis

caelo

terra

haud credo

haud credo

pia mater

Mantuanus

you

la

Original Text

Modern Text

sanguis

caelo

terra

haud credo

haud credo

pia mater

Mantuanus

you

la

Popular pages: Love's Labour's Lost

Character List CHARACTERS

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Enter DULL THE CONSTABLE, HOLOFERNES THE PEDANT, and NATHANIEL THE CURATE.	Enter DULL THE CONSTABLE, HOLOFERNES THE PEDANT, and NATHANIEL THE CURATE.
NATHANIEL Very reverend sport, truly, and done in the testimony of a good conscience.	NATHANIEL Very reverend sport, truly, and done in the testimony of a good conscience.
HOLOFERNES The deer was, as you know, sanguis, in blood, ripe as the pomewater, who now hangeth 5 like a jewel in the ear of caelo, the sky, the welkin, the heaven, and anon falleth like a crab on the face of terra, the soil, the land, the earth.	HOLOFERNES The deer was, as you know, sanguis In Latin, sanguis* means “blood,” which Holoferenes clarifies right after. In this context, it means in its prime.* sanguis in its prime, ripe as a large, juicy apple that once hung like a jewel in the ear of caelo Scholars believe this could be a compositor’s typo, but it could also be that Holofernes misspeaks here, perhaps to reveal his Latin isn’t as good as he thinks. In Latin, caelum means "sky." caelo , the sky, the ether, the heavens, and then fell like a crab apple on the terra In Latin, terra means “ground,” a synonym for the other words that follow as well. terra , the soil, the land, the earth.
NATHANIEL Truly, Master Holofernes, the epithets are sweetly varied, like a scholar at the least. But, sir, I 10 assure you, it was a buck of the first head.	NATHANIEL Truly, Master Holofernes, the epithets are sweetly varied, like a scholar at the least. But, sir, I assure you, it was a buck of the first head.
HOLOFERNES Sir Nathaniel, haud credo.	HOLOFERNES Sir Nathaniel, haud credo In Latin, haud credo* means “I don’t believe it.”* haud credo .
DULL ’Twas not a haud credo, ’twas a pricket.	DULL It wasn’t a haud credo Rusty in his understanding of Latin, Dull thinks he hears “old grey doe” when Holofernes says haud credo. haud credo , it was a two-year-old buck.
HOLOFERNES Most barbarous intimation! Yet a kind of insinuation, as it were, in via, in way, of explication; 15 facere, as it were, replication, or rather, ostentare, to show, as it were, his inclination, after his undressed, unpolished, uneducated, unpruned, untrained, or rather unlettered, or ratherest, unconfirmed fashion, to insert again my haud credo for a deer.	HOLOFERNES Most barbarous intimation! Yet a kind of insinuation, as it were, in via, in way, of explication; facere, as it were, replication, or rather, ostentare, to show, as it were, his inclination, after his undressed, unpolished, uneducated, unpruned, untrained, or rather unlettered, or ratherest, unconfirmed fashion, to insert again my haud credo for a deer.
DULL 20 I said the deer was not a haud credo, ’twas a pricket.	DULL I said the deer was not a haud credo, ’twas a pricket.
HOLOFERNES Twice-sod simplicity, bis coctus! O thou monster ignorance, how deformed dost thou look!	HOLOFERNES Twice-sod simplicity, bis coctus! O thou monster ignorance, how deformed dost thou look!
NATHANIEL 25 Sir, he hath never fed of the dainties that are bred in a book. He hath not eat paper, as it were; he hath not drunk ink. His intellect is not replenished. He is only an animal, only sensible in the duller parts. 30 And such barren plants are set before us that we thankful should be— Which we of taste and feeling are—for those parts that do fructify in us more than he. For as it would ill become me to be vain, indiscreet, 35 or a fool, So were there a patch set on learning, to see him in a school. But omne bene, say I, being of an old father’s mind: Many can brook the weather that love not the wind.	NATHANIEL Sir, he hath never fed of the dainties that are bred in a book. He hath not eat paper, as it were; he hath not drunk ink. His intellect is not replenished. He is only an animal, only sensible in the duller parts. And such barren plants are set before us that we thankful should be— Which we of taste and feeling are—for those parts that do fructify in us more than he. For as it would ill become me to be vain, indiscreet, or a fool, So were there a patch set on learning, to see him in a school. But omne bene, say I, being of an old father’s mind: Many can brook the weather that love not the wind.
DULL 40 You two are bookmen. Can you tell me by your wit What was a month old at Cain’s birth that’s not five weeks old as yet?	DULL You two are bookmen. Can you tell me by your wit What was a month old at Cain’s birth that’s not five weeks old as yet?
HOLOFERNES Dictynna, goodman Dull, Dictynna, goodman Dull.	HOLOFERNES Dictynna, goodman Dull, Dictynna, goodman Dull.
DULL 45 What is “dictima”?	DULL What is “dictima”?
NATHANIEL A title to Phoebe, to Luna, to the moon.	NATHANIEL A title to Phoebe, to Luna, to the moon.
HOLOFERNES The moon was a month old when Adam was no more. And raught not to five weeks when he came to 50 fivescore. Th’ allusion holds in the exchange.	HOLOFERNES The moon was a month old when Adam was no more. And raught not to five weeks when he came to fivescore. Th’ allusion holds in the exchange.
DULL ’Tis true indeed. The collusion holds in the exchange.	DULL ’Tis true indeed. The collusion holds in the exchange.
HOLOFERNES God comfort thy capacity! I say, th’ allusion 55 holds in the exchange.	HOLOFERNES God comfort thy capacity! I say, th’ allusion holds in the exchange.
DULL And I say the pollution holds in the exchange, for the moon is never but a month old. And I say besides that, ’twas a pricket that the Princess killed.	DULL And I say the pollution holds in the exchange, for the moon is never but a month old. And I say besides that, ’twas a pricket that the Princess killed.
HOLOFERNES Sir Nathaniel, will you hear an extemporal 60 epitaph on the death of the deer? And, to humor the ignorant, call I the deer the Princess killed a pricket.	HOLOFERNES Sir Nathaniel, will you hear an extemporal epitaph on the death of the deer? And, to humor the ignorant, call I the deer the Princess killed a pricket.
NATHANIEL Perge, good Master Holofernes, perge, so it shall please you to abrogate scurrility.	NATHANIEL Perge, good Master Holofernes, perge, so it shall please you to abrogate scurrility.
HOLOFERNES 65 I will something affect the letter, for it argues facility. The preyful princess pierced and pricked a pretty pleasing pricket, Some say a sore, but not a sore till now made 70 sore with shooting. The dogs did yell. Put “l” to “sore,” then sorel jumps from thicket, Or pricket sore, or else sorel. The people fall a-hooting. 75 If sore be sore, then “L” to “sore” makes fifty sores o’ sorel. Of one sore I an hundred make by adding but one more “L.”	HOLOFERNES I will something affect the letter, for it argues facility. The preyful princess pierced and pricked a pretty pleasing pricket, Some say a sore, but not a sore till now made sore with shooting. The dogs did yell. Put “l” to “sore,” then sorel jumps from thicket, Or pricket sore, or else sorel. The people fall a-hooting. If sore be sore, then “L” to “sore” makes fifty sores o’ sorel. Of one sore I an hundred make by adding but one more “L.”
NATHANIEL A rare talent.	NATHANIEL A rare talent.
DULL, aside 80 If a talent be a claw, look how he claws him with a talent.	DULL, aside If a talent be a claw, look how he claws him with a talent.
HOLOFERNES This is a gift that I have, simple, simple— a foolish extravagant spirit, full of forms, figures, shapes, objects, ideas, apprehensions, motions, 85 revolutions. These are begot in the ventricle of memory, nourished in the womb of pia mater, and delivered upon the mellowing of occasion. But the gift is good in those in whom it is acute, and I am thankful for it.	HOLOFERNES It’s a gift I have, simple as that. I’m a silly, fanciful person, full of words, figures of speech, shapes, conceptions, ideas, opinions, feelings, ruminations. These are developed in the depths of the mind, nourished in the brain’s pia mater The pia mater is a thin membrane that lies on the surface of the brain. pia mater , and delivered when the occasion suits it. It’s a good gift for clever people, and I’m thankful for it.
NATHANIEL 90 Sir, I praise the Lord for you, and so may my parishioners, for their sons are well tutored by you, and their daughters profit very greatly under you. You are a good member of the commonwealth.	NATHANIEL Sir, I praise the Lord for you, and so may my parishioners, for their sons are well tutored by you, and their daughters profit very greatly under you. You are a good member of the commonwealth.
HOLOFERNES 95 Mehercle, if their sons be ingenious, they shall want no instruction; if their daughters be capable, I will put it to them. But Vir sapis qui pauca loquitur. A soul feminine saluteth us.	HOLOFERNES Mehercle, if their sons be ingenious, they shall want no instruction; if their daughters be capable, I will put it to them. But Vir sapis qui pauca loquitur. A soul feminine saluteth us.
Enter JAQUENETTA and the CLOWN COSTARD.	Enter JAQUENETTA and the CLOWN COSTARD.
JAQUENETTA, to NATHANIEL God give you good morrow, 100 Master Person.	JAQUENETTA, to NATHANIEL God give you good morrow, Master Person.
HOLOFERNES Master Person, quasi pierce one. And if one should be pierced, which is the one?	HOLOFERNES Master Person, quasi pierce one. And if one should be pierced, which is the one?
COSTARD Marry, Master Schoolmaster, he that is likeliest to a hogshead.	COSTARD Marry, Master Schoolmaster, he that is likeliest to a hogshead.
HOLOFERNES 105 Of piercing a hogshead! A good luster of conceit in a turf of earth; fire enough for a flint, pearl enough for a swine. ’Tis pretty, it is well.	HOLOFERNES Of piercing a hogshead! A good luster of conceit in a turf of earth; fire enough for a flint, pearl enough for a swine. ’Tis pretty, it is well.
JAQUENETTA, to NATHANIEL Good Master Parson, be so good as read me this letter. It was given me by 110 Costard, and sent me from Don Armado. I beseech you, read it.	JAQUENETTA, to NATHANIEL Good Master Parson, be so good as read me this letter. It was given me by Costard, and sent me from Don Armado. I beseech you, read it.
She hands NATHANIEL a paper, which he looks at.	She hands NATHANIEL a paper, which he looks at.
HOLOFERNES Facile precor gelida quando peccas omnia sub umbra. Ruminat— and so forth. Ah, good old Mantuan! I may speak of 115 thee as the traveler doth of Venice: Venetia, Venetia, Chi non ti vede, non ti pretia. Old Mantuan, old Mantuan! Who understandeth thee not, loves thee not. (He sings.) Ut, re, sol, la, 120 mi, fa. (To NATHANIEL.) Under pardon, sir, what are the contents? Or rather, as Horace says in his— (Looking at the letter.) What, my soul, verses?	HOLOFERNES “While the cattle chew the fat in the cool shade, I beg you...”—and so forth. Ah, the good old poet Mantuanus These are some of the opening lines to the Eclogues of Baptist Mantuan, by Italian poet Baptista Mantuanus: “While the cattle chew/in the cool shade their cud...” Mantuanus! I will speak about you like a traveler does of Venice: Venice, Venice, Anyone who does not see you, does not appreciate you This is a common Italian proverb. you . Good old Mantuanus, good old Mantuanus! Anyone who doesn’t understand you, doesn’t love you. (He sings.) Do, re, mi, fa, so, la Holofernes starts to sing scales here. la . (To NATHANIEL.) Pardon me, sir, what are the contents of the letter? Or rather, as Horace says in his— (Looking at the letter.) What am I best at? Verses?
NATHANIEL Ay, sir, and very learned.	NATHANIEL Ay, sir, and very learned.
HOLOFERNES Let me hear a staff, a stanza, a verse, 125 Lege, domine.	HOLOFERNES Let me hear a staff, a stanza, a verse, Lege, domine.
NATHANIEL, reads If love make me forsworn, how shall I swear to love? Ah, never faith could hold, if not to beauty vowed! Though to myself forsworn, to thee I’ll faithful prove. Those thoughts to me were oaks, to thee like osiers 130 bowed. Study his bias leaves and makes his book thine eyes, Where all those pleasures live that art would comprehend. If knowledge be the mark, to know thee shall suffice. 135 Well-learnèd is that tongue that well can thee commend. All ignorant that soul that sees thee without wonder; Which is to me some praise that I thy parts admire. Thy eye Jove’s lightning bears, thy voice his dreadful 140 thunder, Which, not to anger bent, is music and sweet fire. Celestial as thou art, O, pardon love this wrong, That sings heaven’s praise with such an earthly tongue.	NATHANIEL, reads If love make me forsworn, how shall I swear to love? Ah, never faith could hold, if not to beauty vowed! Though to myself forsworn, to thee I’ll faithful prove. Those thoughts to me were oaks, to thee like osiers bowed. Study his bias leaves and makes his book thine eyes, Where all those pleasures live that art would comprehend. If knowledge be the mark, to know thee shall suffice. Well-learnèd is that tongue that well can thee commend. All ignorant that soul that sees thee without wonder; Which is to me some praise that I thy parts admire. Thy eye Jove’s lightning bears, thy voice his dreadful thunder, Which, not to anger bent, is music and sweet fire. Celestial as thou art, O, pardon love this wrong, That sings heaven’s praise with such an earthly tongue.
HOLOFERNES You find not the apostrophus, and so 145 miss the accent. Let me supervise the canzonet. He takes the paper. Here are only numbers ratified, but, for the elegancy, facility, and golden cadence of poesy— caret. Ovidius Naso was the man. And why indeed “Naso,” but for smelling out the odoriferous 150 flowers of fancy, the jerks of invention? Imitari is nothing: so doth the hound his master, the ape his keeper, the tired horse his rider.—But damosella virgin, was this directed to you?	HOLOFERNES You find not the apostrophus, and so miss the accent. Let me supervise the canzonet. He takes the paper. Here are only numbers ratified, but, for the elegancy, facility, and golden cadence of poesy— caret. Ovidius Naso was the man. And why indeed “Naso,” but for smelling out the odoriferous flowers of fancy, the jerks of invention? Imitari is nothing: so doth the hound his master, the ape his keeper, the tired horse his rider.—But damosella virgin, was this directed to you?
JAQUENETTA Ay, sir, from one Monsieur Berowne, one 155 of the strange queen’s lords.	JAQUENETTA Ay, sir, from one Monsieur Berowne, one of the strange queen’s lords.
HOLOFERNES I will overglance the superscript: “To the snow-white hand of the most beauteous Lady Rosaline.” I will look again on the intellect of the letter for the nomination of the party writing to 160 the person written unto: “Your Ladyship’s in all desired employment, Berowne.” Sir Nathaniel, this Berowne is one of the votaries with the King, and here he hath framed a letter to a sequent of the stranger queen’s: which accidentally, or by the way 165 of progression, hath miscarried. To JAQUENETTA. Trip and go, my sweet. Deliver this paper into the royal hand of the King. It may concern much. Stay not thy compliment. I forgive thy duty. Adieu.	HOLOFERNES I will overglance the superscript: “To the snow-white hand of the most beauteous Lady Rosaline.” I will look again on the intellect of the letter for the nomination of the party writing to the person written unto: “Your Ladyship’s in all desired employment, Berowne.” Sir Nathaniel, this Berowne is one of the votaries with the King, and here he hath framed a letter to a sequent of the stranger queen’s: which accidentally, or by the way of progression, hath miscarried. To JAQUENETTA. Trip and go, my sweet. Deliver this paper into the royal hand of the King. It may concern much. Stay not thy compliment. I forgive thy duty. Adieu.
JAQUENETTA Good Costard, go with me.—Sir, God 170 save your life.	JAQUENETTA Good Costard, go with me.—Sir, God save your life.
COSTARD Have with thee, my girl.	COSTARD Have with thee, my girl.
COSTARD and JAQUENETTA exit.	COSTARD and JAQUENETTA exit.
NATHANIEL Sir, you have done this in the fear of God very religiously; and, as a certain Father saith—	NATHANIEL Sir, you have done this in the fear of God very religiously; and, as a certain Father saith—
HOLOFERNES Sir, tell not me of the Father. I do fear 175 colorable colors. But to return to the verses: did they please you, Sir Nathaniel?	HOLOFERNES Sir, tell not me of the Father. I do fear colorable colors. But to return to the verses: did they please you, Sir Nathaniel?
NATHANIEL Marvelous well for the pen.	NATHANIEL Marvelous well for the pen.
HOLOFERNES I do dine today at the father’s of a certain pupil of mine, where if, before repast, it shall 180 please you to gratify the table with a grace, I will, on my privilege I have with the parents of the foresaid child or pupil, undertake your ben venuto; where I will prove those verses to be very unlearned, neither savoring of poetry, wit, nor invention. 185 I beseech your society.	HOLOFERNES I do dine today at the father’s of a certain pupil of mine, where if, before repast, it shall please you to gratify the table with a grace, I will, on my privilege I have with the parents of the foresaid child or pupil, undertake your ben venuto; where I will prove those verses to be very unlearned, neither savoring of poetry, wit, nor invention. I beseech your society.
NATHANIEL And thank you too; for society, saith the text, is the happiness of life.	NATHANIEL And thank you too; for society, saith the text, is the happiness of life.
HOLOFERNES And certes the text most infallibly concludes it. To DULL. Sir, I do invite you too. You shall 190 not say me nay. Pauca verba. Away! The gentles are at their game, and we will to our recreation.	HOLOFERNES And certes the text most infallibly concludes it. To DULL. Sir, I do invite you too. You shall not say me nay. Pauca verba. Away! The gentles are at their game, and we will to our recreation.
They exit.	They exit.