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Enter BEROWNE with a paper in his hand, alone.
Enter BEROWNE with a paper in his hand, alone.
BEROWNE  
The King, he is hunting the deer; I am
coursing myself. They have pitched a toil; I am
toiling in a pitch—pitch that defiles. Defile! A foul
word. Well, “set thee down, sorrow”; for so they
5
say the fool said, and so say I, and I the fool. Well
proved, wit. By the Lord, this love is as mad as Ajax.
It kills sheep, it kills me, I a sheep. Well proved
again, o’ my side. I will not love. If I do, hang me. I’
faith, I will not. O, but her eye! By this light, but for
10
her eye I would not love her; yes, for her two eyes.
Well, I do nothing in the world but lie, and lie in my
throat. By heaven, I do love, and it hath taught me to
rhyme, and to be melancholy. And here is part of my
rhyme, and here my melancholy. Well, she hath one
15
o’ my sonnets already. The clown bore it, the fool
sent it, and the lady hath it. Sweet clown, sweeter
fool, sweetest lady. By the world, I would not care a
pin, if the other three were in. Here comes one with
a paper. God give him grace to groan.
He stands aside.
BEROWNE  
The King, he is hunting the deer; I am
coursing myself. They have pitched a toil; I am
toiling in a pitch—pitch that defiles. Defile! A foul
word. Well, “set thee down, sorrow”; for so they
say the fool said, and so say I, and I the fool. Well
proved, wit. By the Lord, this love is as mad as Ajax.
It kills sheep, it kills me, I a sheep. Well proved
again, o’ my side. I will not love. If I do, hang me. I’
faith, I will not. O, but her eye! By this light, but for
her eye I would not love her; yes, for her two eyes.
Well, I do nothing in the world but lie, and lie in my
throat. By heaven, I do love, and it hath taught me to
rhyme, and to be melancholy. And here is part of my
rhyme, and here my melancholy. Well, she hath one
o’ my sonnets already. The clown bore it, the fool
sent it, and the lady hath it. Sweet clown, sweeter
fool, sweetest lady. By the world, I would not care a
pin, if the other three were in. Here comes one with
a paper. God give him grace to groan.
He stands aside.
THE KING entereth with a paper.
THE KING entereth with a paper.
KING  
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Ay me!
KING  
Ay me!
BEROWNE, aside
Shot, by heaven! Proceed, sweet
Cupid. Thou hast thumped him with thy birdbolt
under the left pap. In faith, secrets!
BEROWNE, aside
Shot, by heaven! Proceed, sweet
Cupid. Thou hast thumped him with thy birdbolt
under the left pap. In faith, secrets!
KING reads
So sweet a kiss the golden sun gives not
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To those fresh morning drops upon the rose
As thy eyebeams, when their fresh rays have smote
The night of dew that on my cheeks down flows.
Nor shines the silver moon one-half so bright
Through the transparent bosom of the deep
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As doth thy face, through tears of mine, give light.
Thou shin’st in every tear that I do weep.
No drop but as a coach doth carry thee;
So ridest thou triumphing in my woe.
Do but behold the tears that swell in me,
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And they thy glory through my grief will show.
But do not love thyself; then thou wilt keep
My tears for glasses, and still make me weep.
O queen of queens, how far dost thou excel
No thought can think, nor tongue of mortal tell.
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How shall she know my griefs? I’ll drop the paper.
   Sweet leaves, shade folly. Who is he comes here? 
KING reads
So sweet a kiss the golden sun gives not
To those fresh morning drops upon the rose
As thy eyebeams, when their fresh rays have smote
The night of dew that on my cheeks down flows.
Nor shines the silver moon one-half so bright
Through the transparent bosom of the deep
As doth thy face, through tears of mine, give light.
Thou shin’st in every tear that I do weep.
No drop but as a coach doth carry thee;
So ridest thou triumphing in my woe.
Do but behold the tears that swell in me,
And they thy glory through my grief will show.
But do not love thyself; then thou wilt keep
My tears for glasses, and still make me weep.
O queen of queens, how far dost thou excel
No thought can think, nor tongue of mortal tell.
How shall she know my griefs? I’ll drop the paper.
   Sweet leaves, shade folly. Who is he comes here? 
Enter LONGAVILLE, with papers. THE KING steps aside.
Enter LONGAVILLE, with papers. THE KING steps aside.
What, Longaville, and reading! Listen, ear.
What, Longaville, and reading! Listen, ear.
BEROWNE, aside
Now, in thy likeness, one more fool appear!
BEROWNE, aside
Now, in thy likeness, one more fool appear!
LONGAVILLE  
Ay me! I am forsworn.
LONGAVILLE  
Ay me! I am forsworn.
BEROWNE, aside
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Why, he comes in like a perjure, wearing papers!
BEROWNE, aside
Why, he comes in like a perjure, wearing papers!
KING, aside
In love, I hope! Sweet fellowship in shame.
KING, aside
In love, I hope! Sweet fellowship in shame.
BEROWNE, aside
One drunkard loves another of the name.
BEROWNE, aside
One drunkard loves another of the name.
LONGAVILLE  
Am I the first that have been perjured so?
LONGAVILLE  
Am I the first that have been perjured so?
BEROWNE, aside
I could put thee in comfort: not by two that I know.
50
Thou makest the triumviry, the corner-cap of
society,
The shape of love’s Tyburn, that hangs up simplicity.
BEROWNE, aside
I could put thee in comfort: not by two that I know.
Thou makest the triumviry, the corner-cap of
society,
The shape of love’s Tyburn, that hangs up simplicity.
LONGAVILLE  
I fear these stubborn lines lack power to move.
Reads. O sweet Maria, empress of my love—
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These numbers will I tear and write in prose.
LONGAVILLE  
I fear these stubborn lines lack power to move.
Reads. O sweet Maria, empress of my love—
These numbers will I tear and write in prose.
He tears the paper.
He tears the paper.
BEROWNE, aside
O, rhymes are guards on wanton Cupid’s hose.
Disfigure not his shop!
BEROWNE, aside
O, rhymes are guards on wanton Cupid’s hose.
Disfigure not his shop!
LONGAVILLE, taking another paper
This same shall go.
(He reads the sonnet.)
Did not the heavenly rhetoric of thine eye,
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’Gainst whom the world cannot hold argument,
Persuade my heart to this false perjury?
Vows for thee broke deserve not punishment.
A woman I forswore, but I will prove,
Thou being a goddess, I forswore not thee.
65 My vow was earthly, thou a heavenly love.
Thy grace being gained cures all disgrace in me.
Vows are but breath, and breath a vapor is.
Then thou, fair sun, which on my Earth dost
   shine,
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Exhal’st this vapor-vow; in thee it is.
If broken, then, it is no fault of mine.
If by me broke, what fool is not so wise
To lose an oath to win a paradise?
LONGAVILLE, taking another paper
This same shall go.
(He reads the sonnet.)
Did not the heavenly rhetoric of thine eye,
’Gainst whom the world cannot hold argument,
Persuade my heart to this false perjury?
Vows for thee broke deserve not punishment.
A woman I forswore, but I will prove,
Thou being a goddess, I forswore not thee.
65 My vow was earthly, thou a heavenly love.
Thy grace being gained cures all disgrace in me.
Vows are but breath, and breath a vapor is.
Then thou, fair sun, which on my Earth dost
   shine,
Exhal’st this vapor-vow; in thee it is.
If broken, then, it is no fault of mine.
If by me broke, what fool is not so wise
To lose an oath to win a paradise?
BEROWNE, aside
This is the liver vein, which makes flesh a deity,
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A green goose a goddess. Pure, pure idolatry.
God amend us, God amend. We are much out o’ th’
way.
BEROWNE, aside
This is the liver vein, which makes flesh a deity,
A green goose a goddess. Pure, pure idolatry.
God amend us, God amend. We are much out o’ th’
way.
LONGAVILLE  
By whom shall I send this?—Company? Stay.
He steps aside.
LONGAVILLE  
By whom shall I send this?—Company? Stay.
He steps aside.
Enter DUMAINE, with a paper.
Enter DUMAINE, with a paper.
BEROWNE, aside
All hid, all hid—an old infant play.
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Like a demigod here sit I in the sky,
And wretched fools’ secrets heedfully o’ereye.
More sacks to the mill. O heavens, I have my wish.
Dumaine transformed! Four woodcocks in a dish.
BEROWNE, aside
All hid, all hid—an old infant play.
Like a demigod here sit I in the sky,
And wretched fools’ secrets heedfully o’ereye.
More sacks to the mill. O heavens, I have my wish.
Dumaine transformed! Four woodcocks in a dish.
DUMAINE  
O most divine Kate!
DUMAINE  
O most divine Kate!
BEROWNE, aside
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O most profane coxcomb!
BEROWNE, aside
O most profane coxcomb!
DUMAINE  
By heaven, the wonder in a mortal eye!
DUMAINE  
By heaven, the wonder in a mortal eye!
BEROWNE, aside
By Earth, she is not, corporal. There you lie.
BEROWNE, aside
By Earth, she is not, corporal. There you lie.
DUMAINE  
Her amber hairs for foul hath amber quoted.
DUMAINE  
Her amber hairs for foul hath amber quoted.
BEROWNE, aside
An amber-colored raven was well noted.
BEROWNE, aside
An amber-colored raven was well noted.
DUMAINE  
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As upright as the cedar.
DUMAINE  
As upright as the cedar.
BEROWNE, aside
Stoop, I say.
Her shoulder is with child.
BEROWNE, aside
Stoop, I say.
Her shoulder is with child.
DUMAINE  
As fair as day.
DUMAINE  
As fair as day.
BEROWNE, aside
Ay, as some days, but then no sun must shine.
BEROWNE, aside
Ay, as some days, but then no sun must shine.
DUMAINE  
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O, that I had my wish!
DUMAINE  
O, that I had my wish!
LONGAVILLE, aside
And I had mine!
LONGAVILLE, aside
And I had mine!
KING, aside
And mine too, good Lord!
KING, aside
And mine too, good Lord!
BEROWNE, aside
Amen, so I had mine. Is not that a good word?
BEROWNE, aside
Amen, so I had mine. Is not that a good word?
DUMAINE  
I would forget her, but a fever she
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Reigns in my blood, and will remembered be.
DUMAINE  
I would forget her, but a fever she
Reigns in my blood, and will remembered be.
BEROWNE, aside
A fever in your blood? Why, then incision
Would let her out in saucers! Sweet misprision.
BEROWNE, aside
A fever in your blood? Why, then incision
Would let her out in saucers! Sweet misprision.
DUMAINE  
Once more I’ll read the ode that I have writ.
DUMAINE  
Once more I’ll read the ode that I have writ.
BEROWNE, aside
Once more I’ll mark how love can vary wit.
BEROWNE, aside
Once more I’ll mark how love can vary wit.
DUMAINE reads his sonnet.
105
On a day—alack the day!—
Love, whose month is ever May,
Spied a blossom passing fair,
Playing in the wanton air.
Through the velvet leaves the wind,
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All unseen, can passage find;
That the lover, sick to death,
Wished himself the heaven’s breath.
“Air,” quoth he, “thy cheeks may blow.
Air, would I might triumph so!”
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But, alack, my hand is sworn
Ne’er to pluck thee from thy thorn.
Vow, alack, for youth unmeet,
Youth so apt to pluck a sweet.
Do not call it sin in me
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That I am forsworn for thee—
Thou for whom Jove would swear
Juno but an Ethiope were,
And deny himself for Jove,
Turning mortal for thy love.
125
This will I send, and something else more plain
That shall express my true love’s fasting pain.
O, would the King, Berowne, and Longaville
Were lovers too! Ill to example ill
Would from my forehead wipe a perjured note,
130
For none offend where all alike do dote.
DUMAINE reads his sonnet
On a day—oh that day!—
Love, which always appears in May,
Saw a beautiful blooming flower
Blowing in the gentle air.
Through the silky leaves, the wind,
Invisiblee, finds a hidden passage;
And the lover, sick to death,
Wishes he, himself, was heaven’s breath.
“Divine air,” he says, “blowing from my cheeks.
What an honor it would be!”
But, alas, I swore with my own hand
Never to pluck you from your stalk.
This cursed vow is not for young men,
Given young men are so likely to pluck a sweet blossom.
Don’t call me sinful
that I have broken my oath for you—
You, for whom

Jove

In Roman religion, Jove, also known as Jupiter, is a god of the sky.

Jove would swear that

Juno

In Roman religion, Juno is the chief goddess and female counterpart to Jove/Jupiter. She was associated with all aspects of women, specifically their married life.

Juno was only an

African

In Shakespeare’s time—racist as it is—people with light skin were favored.

African ,
And take away his divinity
To become a human for your love.
I will send this and something else in less flowery language that will express how difficult it’s been to be apart. Oh, if only the King, Berowne, and Longaville had fallen in love too! If we were all bad, it would save me from being called a liar, because it wouldn’t be wrong if we all did it.
LONGAVILLE, coming forward
Dumaine, thy love is far from charity,
That in love’s grief desir’st society.
You may look pale, but I should blush, I know,
To be o’er-heard and taken napping so.
LONGAVILLE, coming forward
Dumaine, thy love is far from charity,
That in love’s grief desir’st society.
You may look pale, but I should blush, I know,
To be o’er-heard and taken napping so.
KING, coming forward
To LONGAVILLE.
135
Come, sir, you blush! As his, your
case is such.
You chide at him, offending twice as much.
You do not love Maria? Longaville
Did never sonnet for her sake compile,
140
Nor never lay his wreathèd arms athwart
His loving bosom to keep down his heart?
I have been closely shrouded in this bush
And marked you both, and for you both did blush.
I heard your guilty rhymes, observed your fashion,
145
Saw sighs reek from you, noted well your passion.
“Ay, me!” says one. “O Jove!” the other cries.
One, her hairs were gold, crystal the other’s eyes.
To LONGAVILLE. You would for paradise break faith
and troth,
To DUMAINE.
150
And Jove, for your love, would
infringe an oath.
What will Berowne say when that he shall hear
Faith infringed, which such zeal did swear?
How will he scorn, how will he spend his wit!
155
How will he triumph, leap, and laugh at it!
For all the wealth that ever I did see,
I would not have him know so much by me.
KING, coming forward
To LONGAVILLE.
Come, sir, you blush! As his, your
case is such.
You chide at him, offending twice as much.
You do not love Maria? Longaville
Did never sonnet for her sake compile,
Nor never lay his wreathèd arms athwart
His loving bosom to keep down his heart?
I have been closely shrouded in this bush
And marked you both, and for you both did blush.
I heard your guilty rhymes, observed your fashion,
Saw sighs reek from you, noted well your passion.
“Ay, me!” says one. “O Jove!” the other cries.
One, her hairs were gold, crystal the other’s eyes.
To LONGAVILLE. You would for paradise break faith
and troth,
To DUMAINE.
And Jove, for your love, would
infringe an oath.
What will Berowne say when that he shall hear
Faith infringed, which such zeal did swear?
How will he scorn, how will he spend his wit!
How will he triumph, leap, and laugh at it!
For all the wealth that ever I did see,
I would not have him know so much by me.
BEROWNE, coming forward
Now step I forth to whip hypocrisy.
Ah, good my liege, I pray thee pardon me.
160
Good heart, what grace hast thou thus to reprove
These worms for loving, that art most in love?
Your eyes do make no coaches; in your tears
There is no certain princess that appears.
You’ll not be perjured, ’tis a hateful thing!
165
Tush, none but minstrels like of sonneting!
But are you not ashamed? Nay, are you not,
All three of you, to be thus much o’ershot?
To LONGAVILLE. You found his mote, the King your
   mote did see,
170
But I a beam do find in each of three.
O, what a scene of fool’ry have I seen,
Of sighs, of groans, of sorrow, and of teen!
O me, with what strict patience have I sat,
To see a king transformèd to a gnat!
175
To see great Hercules whipping a gig,
And profound Solomon to tune a jig,
And Nestor play at pushpin with the boys,
And critic Timon laugh at idle toys.
Where lies thy grief, O tell me, good Dumaine?
180
And gentle Longaville, where lies thy pain?
And where my liege’s? All about the breast!
A caudle, ho!
BEROWNE, coming forward
Now step I forth to whip hypocrisy.
Ah, good my liege, I pray thee pardon me.
Good heart, what grace hast thou thus to reprove
These worms for loving, that art most in love?
Your eyes do make no coaches; in your tears
There is no certain princess that appears.
You’ll not be perjured, ’tis a hateful thing!
Tush, none but minstrels like of sonneting!
But are you not ashamed? Nay, are you not,
All three of you, to be thus much o’ershot?
To LONGAVILLE. You found his mote, the King your
   mote did see,
But I a beam do find in each of three.
O, what a scene of fool’ry have I seen,
Of sighs, of groans, of sorrow, and of teen!
O me, with what strict patience have I sat,
To see a king transformèd to a gnat!
To see great Hercules whipping a gig,
And profound Solomon to tune a jig,
And Nestor play at pushpin with the boys,
And critic Timon laugh at idle toys.
Where lies thy grief, O tell me, good Dumaine?
And gentle Longaville, where lies thy pain?
And where my liege’s? All about the breast!
A caudle, ho!
KING  
Too bitter is thy jest.
Are we betrayed thus to thy overview?
KING  
Too bitter is thy jest.
Are we betrayed thus to thy overview?
BEROWNE  
185
Not you to me, but I betrayed by you.
I, that am honest, I, that hold it sin
To break the vow I am engagèd in.
I am betrayed by keeping company
With men like you, men of inconstancy.
190
When shall you see me write a thing in rhyme?
Or groan for Joan? or spend a minute’s time
In pruning me? When shall you hear that I
Will praise a hand, a foot, a face, an eye,
A gait, a state, a brow, a breast, a waist,
195
A leg, a limb—
BEROWNE  
Not you to me, but I betrayed by you.
I, that am honest, I, that hold it sin
To break the vow I am engagèd in.
I am betrayed by keeping company
With men like you, men of inconstancy.
When shall you see me write a thing in rhyme?
Or groan for Joan? or spend a minute’s time
In pruning me? When shall you hear that I
Will praise a hand, a foot, a face, an eye,
A gait, a state, a brow, a breast, a waist,
A leg, a limb—
Enter JAQUENETTA, with a paper, and CLOWN COSTARD.
BEROWNE begins to exit.
Enter JAQUENETTA, with a paper, and CLOWN COSTARD.
BEROWNE begins to exit.
KING  
Soft, whither away so fast?
A true man, or a thief, that gallops so?
KING  
Soft, whither away so fast?
A true man, or a thief, that gallops so?
BEROWNE  
I post from love. Good lover, let me go.
BEROWNE  
I post from love. Good lover, let me go.
JAQUENETTA  
God bless the King.
JAQUENETTA  
God bless the King.
KING  
200
What present hast thou there?
KING  
What present hast thou there?
COSTARD  
Some certain treason.
COSTARD  
Some certain treason.
KING  
What makes treason here?
KING  
What makes treason here?
COSTARD  
Nay, it makes nothing, sir.
COSTARD  
Nay, it makes nothing, sir.
KING  
If it mar nothing neither,
205
The treason and you go in peace away together.
KING  
If it mar nothing neither,
The treason and you go in peace away together.
JAQUENETTA  
I beseech your Grace, let this letter be read.
Our person misdoubts it. ’Twas treason, he said.
JAQUENETTA  
I beseech your Grace, let this letter be read.
Our person misdoubts it. ’Twas treason, he said.
KING  
Berowne, read it over.
KING  
Berowne, read it over.
BEROWNE reads the letter.
BEROWNE reads the letter.
To JAQUENETTA. Where hadst thou it?
To JAQUENETTA. Where hadst thou it?
JAQUENETTA  
210
Of Costard.
JAQUENETTA  
Of Costard.
KING, to COSTARD Where hadst thou it?
KING, to COSTARD Where hadst thou it?
COSTARD  
Of Dun Adramadio, Dun Adramadio.
COSTARD  
Of Dun Adramadio, Dun Adramadio.
BEROWNE tears the paper.
BEROWNE tears the paper.
KING, to BEROWNE
How now, what is in you? Why dost thou tear it?
KING, to BEROWNE
How now, what is in you? Why dost thou tear it?
BEROWNE  
A toy, my liege, a toy. Your Grace needs not fear it.
BEROWNE  
A toy, my liege, a toy. Your Grace needs not fear it.
LONGAVILLE  
215
It did move him to passion, and therefore let’s hear
it.
LONGAVILLE  
It did move him to passion, and therefore let’s hear
it.
DUMAINE, picking up the papers
It is Berowne’s writing, and here is his name.
DUMAINE, picking up the papers
It is Berowne’s writing, and here is his name.
BEROWNE, to COSTARD
Ah, you whoreson loggerhead, you were born to do
me shame.—
220
Guilty, my lord, guilty. I confess, I confess.
BEROWNE, to COSTARD
Ah, you whoreson loggerhead, you were born to do
me shame.—
Guilty, my lord, guilty. I confess, I confess.
KING  
What?
KING  
What?
BEROWNE  
That you three fools lacked me fool to make up
the mess.
He, he, and you—and you, my liege—and I
225
Are pickpurses in love, and we deserve to die.
O, dismiss this audience, and I shall tell you more.
BEROWNE  
That you three fools lacked me fool to make up
the mess.
He, he, and you—and you, my liege—and I
Are pickpurses in love, and we deserve to die.
O, dismiss this audience, and I shall tell you more.
DUMAINE  
Now the number is even.
DUMAINE  
Now the number is even.
BEROWNE  
True, true, we are four.
Pointing to JAQUENETTA and COSTARD. Will these
230
turtles be gone?
BEROWNE  
True, true, we are four.
Pointing to JAQUENETTA and COSTARD. Will these
turtles be gone?
KING  
Hence, sirs. Away.
KING  
Hence, sirs. Away.
COSTARD  
Walk aside the true folk, and let the traitors stay.
COSTARD  
Walk aside the true folk, and let the traitors stay.
JAQUENETTA and COSTARD exit.
JAQUENETTA and COSTARD exit.
BEROWNE  
Sweet lords, sweet lovers, O, let us embrace.
As true we are as flesh and blood can be.
235
The sea will ebb and flow, heaven show his face;
Young blood doth not obey an old decree.
We cannot cross the cause why we were born;
Therefore of all hands must we be forsworn.
BEROWNE  
Sweet lords, sweet lovers, O, let us embrace.
As true we are as flesh and blood can be.
The sea will ebb and flow, heaven show his face;
Young blood doth not obey an old decree.
We cannot cross the cause why we were born;
Therefore of all hands must we be forsworn.
KING  
What, did these rent lines show some love of thine?
KING  
What, did these rent lines show some love of thine?
BEROWNE  
240
Did they, quoth you? Who sees the heavenly
   Rosaline
That, like a rude and savage man of Ind
At the first op’ning of the gorgeous East,
Bows not his vassal head and, strucken blind,
245
Kisses the base ground with obedient breast?
What peremptory eagle-sighted eye
Dares look upon the heaven of her brow
That is not blinded by her majesty?
BEROWNE  
Did they, quoth you? Who sees the heavenly
   Rosaline
That, like a rude and savage man of Ind
At the first op’ning of the gorgeous East,
Bows not his vassal head and, strucken blind,
Kisses the base ground with obedient breast?
What peremptory eagle-sighted eye
Dares look upon the heaven of her brow
That is not blinded by her majesty?
KING  
What zeal, what fury, hath inspired thee now?
250
My love, her mistress, is a gracious moon,
She an attending star scarce seen a light.
KING  
What zeal, what fury, hath inspired thee now?
My love, her mistress, is a gracious moon,
She an attending star scarce seen a light.
BEROWNE  
My eyes are then no eyes, nor I Berowne.
O, but for my love, day would turn to night!
Of all complexions the culled sovereignty
255
Do meet as at a fair in her fair cheek.
Where several worthies make one dignity,
Where nothing wants that want itself doth seek.
Lend me the flourish of all gentle tongues—
Fie, painted rhetoric! O, she needs it not!
260
To things of sale a seller’s praise belongs.
She passes praise. Then praise too short doth blot.
A withered hermit, fivescore winters worn,
Might shake off fifty, looking in her eye.
Beauty doth varnish age, as if newborn,
265
And gives the crutch the cradle’s infancy.
O, ’tis the sun that maketh all things shine!
BEROWNE  
My eyes are then no eyes, nor I Berowne.
O, but for my love, day would turn to night!
Of all complexions the culled sovereignty
Do meet as at a fair in her fair cheek.
Where several worthies make one dignity,
Where nothing wants that want itself doth seek.
Lend me the flourish of all gentle tongues—
Fie, painted rhetoric! O, she needs it not!
To things of sale a seller’s praise belongs.
She passes praise. Then praise too short doth blot.
A withered hermit, fivescore winters worn,
Might shake off fifty, looking in her eye.
Beauty doth varnish age, as if newborn,
And gives the crutch the cradle’s infancy.
O, ’tis the sun that maketh all things shine!
KING  
By heaven, thy love is black as ebony.
KING  
By heaven, thy love is black as ebony.
BEROWNE  
Is ebony like her? O word divine!
A wife of such wood were felicity.
270
O, who can give an oath? Where is a book,
That I may swear beauty doth beauty lack
If that she learn not of her eye to look?
No face is fair that is not full so black.
BEROWNE  
Is ebony like her? O word divine!
A wife of such wood were felicity.
O, who can give an oath? Where is a book,
That I may swear beauty doth beauty lack
If that she learn not of her eye to look?
No face is fair that is not full so black.
KING  
O, paradox! Black is the badge of hell,
275
The hue of dungeons and the school of night,
And beauty’s crest becomes the heavens well.
KING  
O, paradox! Black is the badge of hell,
The hue of dungeons and the school of night,
And beauty’s crest becomes the heavens well.
BEROWNE  
Devils soonest tempt, resembling spirits of light.
O, if in black my lady’s brows be decked,
It mourns that painting and usurping hair
280
Should ravish doters with a false aspect:
And therefore is she born to make black fair.
Her favor turns the fashion of the days,
For native blood is counted painting now.
And therefore red, that would avoid dispraise,
285
Paints itself black to imitate her brow.
BEROWNE  
Devils soonest tempt, resembling spirits of light.
O, if in black my lady’s brows be decked,
It mourns that painting and usurping hair
Should ravish doters with a false aspect:
And therefore is she born to make black fair.
Her favor turns the fashion of the days,
For native blood is counted painting now.
And therefore red, that would avoid dispraise,
Paints itself black to imitate her brow.
DUMAINE  
To look like her are chimney-sweepers black.
DUMAINE  
To look like her are chimney-sweepers black.
LONGAVILLE  
And since her time are colliers counted bright.
LONGAVILLE  
And since her time are colliers counted bright.
KING  
And Ethiopes of their sweet complexion crack.
KING  
And Ethiopes of their sweet complexion crack.
DUMAINE  
Dark needs no candles now, for dark is light.
DUMAINE  
Dark needs no candles now, for dark is light.
BEROWNE  
290
Your mistresses dare never come in rain,
For fear their colors should be washed away.
BEROWNE  
Your mistresses dare never come in rain,
For fear their colors should be washed away.
KING  
’Twere good yours did, for, sir, to tell you plain,
I’ll find a fairer face not washed today.
KING  
’Twere good yours did, for, sir, to tell you plain,
I’ll find a fairer face not washed today.
BEROWNE  
I’ll prove her fair, or talk till doomsday here.
BEROWNE  
I’ll prove her fair, or talk till doomsday here.
KING  
295
No devil will fright thee then so much as she.
KING  
No devil will fright thee then so much as she.
DUMAINE  
I never knew man hold vile stuff so dear.
DUMAINE  
I never knew man hold vile stuff so dear.
LONGAVILLE, showing his shoe
Look, here’s thy love; my foot and her face see.
LONGAVILLE, showing his shoe
Look, here’s thy love; my foot and her face see.
BEROWNE  
O, if the streets were pavèd with thine eyes.
Her feet were much too dainty for such tread.
BEROWNE  
O, if the streets were pavèd with thine eyes.
Her feet were much too dainty for such tread.
DUMAINE  
300
O vile! Then as she goes, what upward lies
The street should see as she walked overhead.
DUMAINE  
O vile! Then as she goes, what upward lies
The street should see as she walked overhead.
KING  
But what of this? Are we not all in love?
KING  
But what of this? Are we not all in love?
BEROWNE  
Nothing so sure, and thereby all forsworn.
BEROWNE  
Nothing so sure, and thereby all forsworn.
KING  
Then leave this chat, and, good Berowne, now prove
305
Our loving lawful, and our faith not torn.
KING  
Then leave this chat, and, good Berowne, now prove
Our loving lawful, and our faith not torn.
DUMAINE  
Ay, marry, there, some flattery for this evil.
DUMAINE  
Ay, marry, there, some flattery for this evil.
LONGAVILLE  
O, some authority how to proceed,
Some tricks, some quillets, how to cheat the devil.
LONGAVILLE  
O, some authority how to proceed,
Some tricks, some quillets, how to cheat the devil.
DUMAINE  
Some salve for perjury.
DUMAINE  
Some salve for perjury.
BEROWNE  
310
O, ’tis more than need.
Have at you, then, affection’s men-at-arms!
O, we have made a vow to study, lords,
And in that vow we have forsworn our books.
For when would you, my liege, or you, or you,
315
In leaden contemplation have found out
Such fiery numbers as the prompting eyes
Of beauty’s tutors have enriched you with?
Other slow arts entirely keep the brain
And therefore, finding barren practicers,
320
Scarce show a harvest of their heavy toil.
But love, first learnèd in a lady’s eyes,
Lives not alone immurèd in the brain,
But with the motion of all elements
Courses as swift as thought in every power,
325
And gives to every power a double power,
Above their functions and their offices.
It adds a precious seeing to the eye.
A lover’s eyes will gaze an eagle blind.
A lover’s ear will hear the lowest sound,
330
When the suspicious head of theft is stopped.
Love’s feeling is more soft and sensible
Than are the tender horns of cockled snails.
Love’s tongue proves dainty Bacchus gross in taste.
For valor, is not love a Hercules,
335
Still climbing trees in the Hesperides?
Subtle as Sphinx, as sweet and musical
As bright Apollo’s lute strung with his hair.
And when love speaks, the voice of all the gods
Make heaven drowsy with the harmony.
340
Never durst poet touch a pen to write
Until his ink were tempered with love’s sighs.
O, then his lines would ravish savage ears
And plant in tyrants mild humility.
From women’s eyes this doctrine I derive.
345
They sparkle still the right Promethean fire.
They are the books, the arts, the academes
That show, contain, and nourish all the world.
Else none at all in ought proves excellent.
Then fools you were these women to forswear,
350
Or, keeping what is sworn, you will prove fools.
For wisdom’s sake, a word that all men love,
Or for love’s sake, a word that loves all men,
Or for men’s sake, the authors of these women,
Or women’s sake, by whom we men are men,
355
Let us once lose our oaths to find ourselves,
Or else we lose ourselves to keep our oaths.
It is religion to be thus forsworn,
For charity itself fulfills the law,
And who can sever love from charity?
BEROWNE  
O, ’tis more than need.
Have at you, then, affection’s men-at-arms!
O, we have made a vow to study, lords,
And in that vow we have forsworn our books.
For when would you, my liege, or you, or you,
In leaden contemplation have found out
Such fiery numbers as the prompting eyes
Of beauty’s tutors have enriched you with?
Other slow arts entirely keep the brain
And therefore, finding barren practicers,
Scarce show a harvest of their heavy toil.
But love, first learnèd in a lady’s eyes,
Lives not alone immurèd in the brain,
But with the motion of all elements
Courses as swift as thought in every power,
And gives to every power a double power,
Above their functions and their offices.
It adds a precious seeing to the eye.
A lover’s eyes will gaze an eagle blind.
A lover’s ear will hear the lowest sound,
When the suspicious head of theft is stopped.
Love’s feeling is more soft and sensible
Than are the tender horns of cockled snails.
Love’s tongue proves dainty Bacchus gross in taste.
For valor, is not love a Hercules,
Still climbing trees in the Hesperides?
Subtle as Sphinx, as sweet and musical
As bright Apollo’s lute strung with his hair.
And when love speaks, the voice of all the gods
Make heaven drowsy with the harmony.
Never durst poet touch a pen to write
Until his ink were tempered with love’s sighs.
O, then his lines would ravish savage ears
And plant in tyrants mild humility.
From women’s eyes this doctrine I derive.
They sparkle still the right Promethean fire.
They are the books, the arts, the academes
That show, contain, and nourish all the world.
Else none at all in ought proves excellent.
Then fools you were these women to forswear,
Or, keeping what is sworn, you will prove fools.
For wisdom’s sake, a word that all men love,
Or for love’s sake, a word that loves all men,
Or for men’s sake, the authors of these women,
Or women’s sake, by whom we men are men,
Let us once lose our oaths to find ourselves,
Or else we lose ourselves to keep our oaths.
It is religion to be thus forsworn,
For charity itself fulfills the law,
And who can sever love from charity?
KING  
360
Saint Cupid, then, and, soldiers, to the field!
KING  
Saint Cupid, then, and, soldiers, to the field!
BEROWNE  
Advance your standards, and upon them, lords.
Pell-mell, down with them. But be first advised
In conflict that you get the sun of them.
BEROWNE  
Advance your standards, and upon them, lords.
Pell-mell, down with them. But be first advised
In conflict that you get the sun of them.
LONGAVILLE  
Now to plain dealing. Lay these glozes by.
365
Shall we resolve to woo these girls of France?
LONGAVILLE  
Now to plain dealing. Lay these glozes by.
Shall we resolve to woo these girls of France?
KING  
And win them, too. Therefore let us devise
Some entertainment for them in their tents.
KING  
And win them, too. Therefore let us devise
Some entertainment for them in their tents.
BEROWNE   
First, from the park let us conduct them thither.
Then homeward every man attach the hand
370
Of his fair mistress. In the afternoon
We will with some strange pastime solace them,
Such as the shortness of the time can shape;
For revels, dances, masques, and merry hours
Forerun fair love, strewing her way with flowers.
BEROWNE   
First, from the park let us conduct them thither.
Then homeward every man attach the hand
Of his fair mistress. In the afternoon
We will with some strange pastime solace them,
Such as the shortness of the time can shape;
For revels, dances, masques, and merry hours
Forerun fair love, strewing her way with flowers.
KING  
375
Away, away! No time shall be omitted
That will betime and may by us be fitted.
KING  
Away, away! No time shall be omitted
That will betime and may by us be fitted.
BEROWNE  
Allons! Allons! Sowed cockle reaped no corn,
And justice always whirls in equal measure.
Light wenches may prove plagues to men forsworn;
380
If so, our copper buys no better treasure.
BEROWNE
Allons!

Allons

In French, allons means “let’s go.”

Allons ! No wheat can be harvested by planting weeds, and justice is always dispensed fairly. Frivolous ladies might mean trouble for  us men who have broken our oaths. If so, our situation couldn’t be better.
They exit.
They exit.

Original Text

Modern Text
Enter BEROWNE with a paper in his hand, alone.
Enter BEROWNE with a paper in his hand, alone.
BEROWNE  
The King, he is hunting the deer; I am
coursing myself. They have pitched a toil; I am
toiling in a pitch—pitch that defiles. Defile! A foul
word. Well, “set thee down, sorrow”; for so they
5
say the fool said, and so say I, and I the fool. Well
proved, wit. By the Lord, this love is as mad as Ajax.
It kills sheep, it kills me, I a sheep. Well proved
again, o’ my side. I will not love. If I do, hang me. I’
faith, I will not. O, but her eye! By this light, but for
10
her eye I would not love her; yes, for her two eyes.
Well, I do nothing in the world but lie, and lie in my
throat. By heaven, I do love, and it hath taught me to
rhyme, and to be melancholy. And here is part of my
rhyme, and here my melancholy. Well, she hath one
15
o’ my sonnets already. The clown bore it, the fool
sent it, and the lady hath it. Sweet clown, sweeter
fool, sweetest lady. By the world, I would not care a
pin, if the other three were in. Here comes one with
a paper. God give him grace to groan.
He stands aside.
BEROWNE  
The King, he is hunting the deer; I am
coursing myself. They have pitched a toil; I am
toiling in a pitch—pitch that defiles. Defile! A foul
word. Well, “set thee down, sorrow”; for so they
say the fool said, and so say I, and I the fool. Well
proved, wit. By the Lord, this love is as mad as Ajax.
It kills sheep, it kills me, I a sheep. Well proved
again, o’ my side. I will not love. If I do, hang me. I’
faith, I will not. O, but her eye! By this light, but for
her eye I would not love her; yes, for her two eyes.
Well, I do nothing in the world but lie, and lie in my
throat. By heaven, I do love, and it hath taught me to
rhyme, and to be melancholy. And here is part of my
rhyme, and here my melancholy. Well, she hath one
o’ my sonnets already. The clown bore it, the fool
sent it, and the lady hath it. Sweet clown, sweeter
fool, sweetest lady. By the world, I would not care a
pin, if the other three were in. Here comes one with
a paper. God give him grace to groan.
He stands aside.
THE KING entereth with a paper.
THE KING entereth with a paper.
KING  
20
Ay me!
KING  
Ay me!
BEROWNE, aside
Shot, by heaven! Proceed, sweet
Cupid. Thou hast thumped him with thy birdbolt
under the left pap. In faith, secrets!
BEROWNE, aside
Shot, by heaven! Proceed, sweet
Cupid. Thou hast thumped him with thy birdbolt
under the left pap. In faith, secrets!
KING reads
So sweet a kiss the golden sun gives not
25
To those fresh morning drops upon the rose
As thy eyebeams, when their fresh rays have smote
The night of dew that on my cheeks down flows.
Nor shines the silver moon one-half so bright
Through the transparent bosom of the deep
30
As doth thy face, through tears of mine, give light.
Thou shin’st in every tear that I do weep.
No drop but as a coach doth carry thee;
So ridest thou triumphing in my woe.
Do but behold the tears that swell in me,
35
And they thy glory through my grief will show.
But do not love thyself; then thou wilt keep
My tears for glasses, and still make me weep.
O queen of queens, how far dost thou excel
No thought can think, nor tongue of mortal tell.
40
How shall she know my griefs? I’ll drop the paper.
   Sweet leaves, shade folly. Who is he comes here? 
KING reads
So sweet a kiss the golden sun gives not
To those fresh morning drops upon the rose
As thy eyebeams, when their fresh rays have smote
The night of dew that on my cheeks down flows.
Nor shines the silver moon one-half so bright
Through the transparent bosom of the deep
As doth thy face, through tears of mine, give light.
Thou shin’st in every tear that I do weep.
No drop but as a coach doth carry thee;
So ridest thou triumphing in my woe.
Do but behold the tears that swell in me,
And they thy glory through my grief will show.
But do not love thyself; then thou wilt keep
My tears for glasses, and still make me weep.
O queen of queens, how far dost thou excel
No thought can think, nor tongue of mortal tell.
How shall she know my griefs? I’ll drop the paper.
   Sweet leaves, shade folly. Who is he comes here? 
Enter LONGAVILLE, with papers. THE KING steps aside.
Enter LONGAVILLE, with papers. THE KING steps aside.
What, Longaville, and reading! Listen, ear.
What, Longaville, and reading! Listen, ear.
BEROWNE, aside
Now, in thy likeness, one more fool appear!
BEROWNE, aside
Now, in thy likeness, one more fool appear!
LONGAVILLE  
Ay me! I am forsworn.
LONGAVILLE  
Ay me! I am forsworn.
BEROWNE, aside
45
Why, he comes in like a perjure, wearing papers!
BEROWNE, aside
Why, he comes in like a perjure, wearing papers!
KING, aside
In love, I hope! Sweet fellowship in shame.
KING, aside
In love, I hope! Sweet fellowship in shame.
BEROWNE, aside
One drunkard loves another of the name.
BEROWNE, aside
One drunkard loves another of the name.
LONGAVILLE  
Am I the first that have been perjured so?
LONGAVILLE  
Am I the first that have been perjured so?
BEROWNE, aside
I could put thee in comfort: not by two that I know.
50
Thou makest the triumviry, the corner-cap of
society,
The shape of love’s Tyburn, that hangs up simplicity.
BEROWNE, aside
I could put thee in comfort: not by two that I know.
Thou makest the triumviry, the corner-cap of
society,
The shape of love’s Tyburn, that hangs up simplicity.
LONGAVILLE  
I fear these stubborn lines lack power to move.
Reads. O sweet Maria, empress of my love—
55
These numbers will I tear and write in prose.
LONGAVILLE  
I fear these stubborn lines lack power to move.
Reads. O sweet Maria, empress of my love—
These numbers will I tear and write in prose.
He tears the paper.
He tears the paper.
BEROWNE, aside
O, rhymes are guards on wanton Cupid’s hose.
Disfigure not his shop!
BEROWNE, aside
O, rhymes are guards on wanton Cupid’s hose.
Disfigure not his shop!
LONGAVILLE, taking another paper
This same shall go.
(He reads the sonnet.)
Did not the heavenly rhetoric of thine eye,
60
’Gainst whom the world cannot hold argument,
Persuade my heart to this false perjury?
Vows for thee broke deserve not punishment.
A woman I forswore, but I will prove,
Thou being a goddess, I forswore not thee.
65 My vow was earthly, thou a heavenly love.
Thy grace being gained cures all disgrace in me.
Vows are but breath, and breath a vapor is.
Then thou, fair sun, which on my Earth dost
   shine,
70
Exhal’st this vapor-vow; in thee it is.
If broken, then, it is no fault of mine.
If by me broke, what fool is not so wise
To lose an oath to win a paradise?
LONGAVILLE, taking another paper
This same shall go.
(He reads the sonnet.)
Did not the heavenly rhetoric of thine eye,
’Gainst whom the world cannot hold argument,
Persuade my heart to this false perjury?
Vows for thee broke deserve not punishment.
A woman I forswore, but I will prove,
Thou being a goddess, I forswore not thee.
65 My vow was earthly, thou a heavenly love.
Thy grace being gained cures all disgrace in me.
Vows are but breath, and breath a vapor is.
Then thou, fair sun, which on my Earth dost
   shine,
Exhal’st this vapor-vow; in thee it is.
If broken, then, it is no fault of mine.
If by me broke, what fool is not so wise
To lose an oath to win a paradise?
BEROWNE, aside
This is the liver vein, which makes flesh a deity,
75
A green goose a goddess. Pure, pure idolatry.
God amend us, God amend. We are much out o’ th’
way.
BEROWNE, aside
This is the liver vein, which makes flesh a deity,
A green goose a goddess. Pure, pure idolatry.
God amend us, God amend. We are much out o’ th’
way.
LONGAVILLE  
By whom shall I send this?—Company? Stay.
He steps aside.
LONGAVILLE  
By whom shall I send this?—Company? Stay.
He steps aside.
Enter DUMAINE, with a paper.
Enter DUMAINE, with a paper.
BEROWNE, aside
All hid, all hid—an old infant play.
80
Like a demigod here sit I in the sky,
And wretched fools’ secrets heedfully o’ereye.
More sacks to the mill. O heavens, I have my wish.
Dumaine transformed! Four woodcocks in a dish.
BEROWNE, aside
All hid, all hid—an old infant play.
Like a demigod here sit I in the sky,
And wretched fools’ secrets heedfully o’ereye.
More sacks to the mill. O heavens, I have my wish.
Dumaine transformed! Four woodcocks in a dish.
DUMAINE  
O most divine Kate!
DUMAINE  
O most divine Kate!
BEROWNE, aside
85
O most profane coxcomb!
BEROWNE, aside
O most profane coxcomb!
DUMAINE  
By heaven, the wonder in a mortal eye!
DUMAINE  
By heaven, the wonder in a mortal eye!
BEROWNE, aside
By Earth, she is not, corporal. There you lie.
BEROWNE, aside
By Earth, she is not, corporal. There you lie.
DUMAINE  
Her amber hairs for foul hath amber quoted.
DUMAINE  
Her amber hairs for foul hath amber quoted.
BEROWNE, aside
An amber-colored raven was well noted.
BEROWNE, aside
An amber-colored raven was well noted.
DUMAINE  
90
As upright as the cedar.
DUMAINE  
As upright as the cedar.
BEROWNE, aside
Stoop, I say.
Her shoulder is with child.
BEROWNE, aside
Stoop, I say.
Her shoulder is with child.
DUMAINE  
As fair as day.
DUMAINE  
As fair as day.
BEROWNE, aside
Ay, as some days, but then no sun must shine.
BEROWNE, aside
Ay, as some days, but then no sun must shine.
DUMAINE  
95
O, that I had my wish!
DUMAINE  
O, that I had my wish!
LONGAVILLE, aside
And I had mine!
LONGAVILLE, aside
And I had mine!
KING, aside
And mine too, good Lord!
KING, aside
And mine too, good Lord!
BEROWNE, aside
Amen, so I had mine. Is not that a good word?
BEROWNE, aside
Amen, so I had mine. Is not that a good word?
DUMAINE  
I would forget her, but a fever she
100
Reigns in my blood, and will remembered be.
DUMAINE  
I would forget her, but a fever she
Reigns in my blood, and will remembered be.
BEROWNE, aside
A fever in your blood? Why, then incision
Would let her out in saucers! Sweet misprision.
BEROWNE, aside
A fever in your blood? Why, then incision
Would let her out in saucers! Sweet misprision.
DUMAINE  
Once more I’ll read the ode that I have writ.
DUMAINE  
Once more I’ll read the ode that I have writ.
BEROWNE, aside
Once more I’ll mark how love can vary wit.
BEROWNE, aside
Once more I’ll mark how love can vary wit.
DUMAINE reads his sonnet.
105
On a day—alack the day!—
Love, whose month is ever May,
Spied a blossom passing fair,
Playing in the wanton air.
Through the velvet leaves the wind,
110
All unseen, can passage find;
That the lover, sick to death,
Wished himself the heaven’s breath.
“Air,” quoth he, “thy cheeks may blow.
Air, would I might triumph so!”
115
But, alack, my hand is sworn
Ne’er to pluck thee from thy thorn.
Vow, alack, for youth unmeet,
Youth so apt to pluck a sweet.
Do not call it sin in me
120
That I am forsworn for thee—
Thou for whom Jove would swear
Juno but an Ethiope were,
And deny himself for Jove,
Turning mortal for thy love.
125
This will I send, and something else more plain
That shall express my true love’s fasting pain.
O, would the King, Berowne, and Longaville
Were lovers too! Ill to example ill
Would from my forehead wipe a perjured note,
130
For none offend where all alike do dote.
DUMAINE reads his sonnet
On a day—oh that day!—
Love, which always appears in May,
Saw a beautiful blooming flower
Blowing in the gentle air.
Through the silky leaves, the wind,
Invisiblee, finds a hidden passage;
And the lover, sick to death,
Wishes he, himself, was heaven’s breath.
“Divine air,” he says, “blowing from my cheeks.
What an honor it would be!”
But, alas, I swore with my own hand
Never to pluck you from your stalk.
This cursed vow is not for young men,
Given young men are so likely to pluck a sweet blossom.
Don’t call me sinful
that I have broken my oath for you—
You, for whom

Jove

In Roman religion, Jove, also known as Jupiter, is a god of the sky.

Jove would swear that

Juno

In Roman religion, Juno is the chief goddess and female counterpart to Jove/Jupiter. She was associated with all aspects of women, specifically their married life.

Juno was only an

African

In Shakespeare’s time—racist as it is—people with light skin were favored.

African ,
And take away his divinity
To become a human for your love.
I will send this and something else in less flowery language that will express how difficult it’s been to be apart. Oh, if only the King, Berowne, and Longaville had fallen in love too! If we were all bad, it would save me from being called a liar, because it wouldn’t be wrong if we all did it.
LONGAVILLE, coming forward
Dumaine, thy love is far from charity,
That in love’s grief desir’st society.
You may look pale, but I should blush, I know,
To be o’er-heard and taken napping so.
LONGAVILLE, coming forward
Dumaine, thy love is far from charity,
That in love’s grief desir’st society.
You may look pale, but I should blush, I know,
To be o’er-heard and taken napping so.
KING, coming forward
To LONGAVILLE.
135
Come, sir, you blush! As his, your
case is such.
You chide at him, offending twice as much.
You do not love Maria? Longaville
Did never sonnet for her sake compile,
140
Nor never lay his wreathèd arms athwart
His loving bosom to keep down his heart?
I have been closely shrouded in this bush
And marked you both, and for you both did blush.
I heard your guilty rhymes, observed your fashion,
145
Saw sighs reek from you, noted well your passion.
“Ay, me!” says one. “O Jove!” the other cries.
One, her hairs were gold, crystal the other’s eyes.
To LONGAVILLE. You would for paradise break faith
and troth,
To DUMAINE.
150
And Jove, for your love, would
infringe an oath.
What will Berowne say when that he shall hear
Faith infringed, which such zeal did swear?
How will he scorn, how will he spend his wit!
155
How will he triumph, leap, and laugh at it!
For all the wealth that ever I did see,
I would not have him know so much by me.
KING, coming forward
To LONGAVILLE.
Come, sir, you blush! As his, your
case is such.
You chide at him, offending twice as much.
You do not love Maria? Longaville
Did never sonnet for her sake compile,
Nor never lay his wreathèd arms athwart
His loving bosom to keep down his heart?
I have been closely shrouded in this bush
And marked you both, and for you both did blush.
I heard your guilty rhymes, observed your fashion,
Saw sighs reek from you, noted well your passion.
“Ay, me!” says one. “O Jove!” the other cries.
One, her hairs were gold, crystal the other’s eyes.
To LONGAVILLE. You would for paradise break faith
and troth,
To DUMAINE.
And Jove, for your love, would
infringe an oath.
What will Berowne say when that he shall hear
Faith infringed, which such zeal did swear?
How will he scorn, how will he spend his wit!
How will he triumph, leap, and laugh at it!
For all the wealth that ever I did see,
I would not have him know so much by me.
BEROWNE, coming forward
Now step I forth to whip hypocrisy.
Ah, good my liege, I pray thee pardon me.
160
Good heart, what grace hast thou thus to reprove
These worms for loving, that art most in love?
Your eyes do make no coaches; in your tears
There is no certain princess that appears.
You’ll not be perjured, ’tis a hateful thing!
165
Tush, none but minstrels like of sonneting!
But are you not ashamed? Nay, are you not,
All three of you, to be thus much o’ershot?
To LONGAVILLE. You found his mote, the King your
   mote did see,
170
But I a beam do find in each of three.
O, what a scene of fool’ry have I seen,
Of sighs, of groans, of sorrow, and of teen!
O me, with what strict patience have I sat,
To see a king transformèd to a gnat!
175
To see great Hercules whipping a gig,
And profound Solomon to tune a jig,
And Nestor play at pushpin with the boys,
And critic Timon laugh at idle toys.
Where lies thy grief, O tell me, good Dumaine?
180
And gentle Longaville, where lies thy pain?
And where my liege’s? All about the breast!
A caudle, ho!
BEROWNE, coming forward
Now step I forth to whip hypocrisy.
Ah, good my liege, I pray thee pardon me.
Good heart, what grace hast thou thus to reprove
These worms for loving, that art most in love?
Your eyes do make no coaches; in your tears
There is no certain princess that appears.
You’ll not be perjured, ’tis a hateful thing!
Tush, none but minstrels like of sonneting!
But are you not ashamed? Nay, are you not,
All three of you, to be thus much o’ershot?
To LONGAVILLE. You found his mote, the King your
   mote did see,
But I a beam do find in each of three.
O, what a scene of fool’ry have I seen,
Of sighs, of groans, of sorrow, and of teen!
O me, with what strict patience have I sat,
To see a king transformèd to a gnat!
To see great Hercules whipping a gig,
And profound Solomon to tune a jig,
And Nestor play at pushpin with the boys,
And critic Timon laugh at idle toys.
Where lies thy grief, O tell me, good Dumaine?
And gentle Longaville, where lies thy pain?
And where my liege’s? All about the breast!
A caudle, ho!
KING  
Too bitter is thy jest.
Are we betrayed thus to thy overview?
KING  
Too bitter is thy jest.
Are we betrayed thus to thy overview?
BEROWNE  
185
Not you to me, but I betrayed by you.
I, that am honest, I, that hold it sin
To break the vow I am engagèd in.
I am betrayed by keeping company
With men like you, men of inconstancy.
190
When shall you see me write a thing in rhyme?
Or groan for Joan? or spend a minute’s time
In pruning me? When shall you hear that I
Will praise a hand, a foot, a face, an eye,
A gait, a state, a brow, a breast, a waist,
195
A leg, a limb—
BEROWNE  
Not you to me, but I betrayed by you.
I, that am honest, I, that hold it sin
To break the vow I am engagèd in.
I am betrayed by keeping company
With men like you, men of inconstancy.
When shall you see me write a thing in rhyme?
Or groan for Joan? or spend a minute’s time
In pruning me? When shall you hear that I
Will praise a hand, a foot, a face, an eye,
A gait, a state, a brow, a breast, a waist,
A leg, a limb—
Enter JAQUENETTA, with a paper, and CLOWN COSTARD.
BEROWNE begins to exit.
Enter JAQUENETTA, with a paper, and CLOWN COSTARD.
BEROWNE begins to exit.
KING  
Soft, whither away so fast?
A true man, or a thief, that gallops so?
KING  
Soft, whither away so fast?
A true man, or a thief, that gallops so?
BEROWNE  
I post from love. Good lover, let me go.
BEROWNE  
I post from love. Good lover, let me go.
JAQUENETTA  
God bless the King.
JAQUENETTA  
God bless the King.
KING  
200
What present hast thou there?
KING  
What present hast thou there?
COSTARD  
Some certain treason.
COSTARD  
Some certain treason.
KING  
What makes treason here?
KING  
What makes treason here?
COSTARD  
Nay, it makes nothing, sir.
COSTARD  
Nay, it makes nothing, sir.
KING  
If it mar nothing neither,
205
The treason and you go in peace away together.
KING  
If it mar nothing neither,
The treason and you go in peace away together.
JAQUENETTA  
I beseech your Grace, let this letter be read.
Our person misdoubts it. ’Twas treason, he said.
JAQUENETTA  
I beseech your Grace, let this letter be read.
Our person misdoubts it. ’Twas treason, he said.
KING  
Berowne, read it over.
KING  
Berowne, read it over.
BEROWNE reads the letter.
BEROWNE reads the letter.
To JAQUENETTA. Where hadst thou it?
To JAQUENETTA. Where hadst thou it?
JAQUENETTA  
210
Of Costard.
JAQUENETTA  
Of Costard.
KING, to COSTARD Where hadst thou it?
KING, to COSTARD Where hadst thou it?
COSTARD  
Of Dun Adramadio, Dun Adramadio.
COSTARD  
Of Dun Adramadio, Dun Adramadio.
BEROWNE tears the paper.
BEROWNE tears the paper.
KING, to BEROWNE
How now, what is in you? Why dost thou tear it?
KING, to BEROWNE
How now, what is in you? Why dost thou tear it?
BEROWNE  
A toy, my liege, a toy. Your Grace needs not fear it.
BEROWNE  
A toy, my liege, a toy. Your Grace needs not fear it.
LONGAVILLE  
215
It did move him to passion, and therefore let’s hear
it.
LONGAVILLE  
It did move him to passion, and therefore let’s hear
it.
DUMAINE, picking up the papers
It is Berowne’s writing, and here is his name.
DUMAINE, picking up the papers
It is Berowne’s writing, and here is his name.
BEROWNE, to COSTARD
Ah, you whoreson loggerhead, you were born to do
me shame.—
220
Guilty, my lord, guilty. I confess, I confess.
BEROWNE, to COSTARD
Ah, you whoreson loggerhead, you were born to do
me shame.—
Guilty, my lord, guilty. I confess, I confess.
KING  
What?
KING  
What?
BEROWNE  
That you three fools lacked me fool to make up
the mess.
He, he, and you—and you, my liege—and I
225
Are pickpurses in love, and we deserve to die.
O, dismiss this audience, and I shall tell you more.
BEROWNE  
That you three fools lacked me fool to make up
the mess.
He, he, and you—and you, my liege—and I
Are pickpurses in love, and we deserve to die.
O, dismiss this audience, and I shall tell you more.
DUMAINE  
Now the number is even.
DUMAINE  
Now the number is even.
BEROWNE  
True, true, we are four.
Pointing to JAQUENETTA and COSTARD. Will these
230
turtles be gone?
BEROWNE  
True, true, we are four.
Pointing to JAQUENETTA and COSTARD. Will these
turtles be gone?
KING  
Hence, sirs. Away.
KING  
Hence, sirs. Away.
COSTARD  
Walk aside the true folk, and let the traitors stay.
COSTARD  
Walk aside the true folk, and let the traitors stay.
JAQUENETTA and COSTARD exit.
JAQUENETTA and COSTARD exit.
BEROWNE  
Sweet lords, sweet lovers, O, let us embrace.
As true we are as flesh and blood can be.
235
The sea will ebb and flow, heaven show his face;
Young blood doth not obey an old decree.
We cannot cross the cause why we were born;
Therefore of all hands must we be forsworn.
BEROWNE  
Sweet lords, sweet lovers, O, let us embrace.
As true we are as flesh and blood can be.
The sea will ebb and flow, heaven show his face;
Young blood doth not obey an old decree.
We cannot cross the cause why we were born;
Therefore of all hands must we be forsworn.
KING  
What, did these rent lines show some love of thine?
KING  
What, did these rent lines show some love of thine?
BEROWNE  
240
Did they, quoth you? Who sees the heavenly
   Rosaline
That, like a rude and savage man of Ind
At the first op’ning of the gorgeous East,
Bows not his vassal head and, strucken blind,
245
Kisses the base ground with obedient breast?
What peremptory eagle-sighted eye
Dares look upon the heaven of her brow
That is not blinded by her majesty?
BEROWNE  
Did they, quoth you? Who sees the heavenly
   Rosaline
That, like a rude and savage man of Ind
At the first op’ning of the gorgeous East,
Bows not his vassal head and, strucken blind,
Kisses the base ground with obedient breast?
What peremptory eagle-sighted eye
Dares look upon the heaven of her brow
That is not blinded by her majesty?
KING  
What zeal, what fury, hath inspired thee now?
250
My love, her mistress, is a gracious moon,
She an attending star scarce seen a light.
KING  
What zeal, what fury, hath inspired thee now?
My love, her mistress, is a gracious moon,
She an attending star scarce seen a light.
BEROWNE  
My eyes are then no eyes, nor I Berowne.
O, but for my love, day would turn to night!
Of all complexions the culled sovereignty
255
Do meet as at a fair in her fair cheek.
Where several worthies make one dignity,
Where nothing wants that want itself doth seek.
Lend me the flourish of all gentle tongues—
Fie, painted rhetoric! O, she needs it not!
260
To things of sale a seller’s praise belongs.
She passes praise. Then praise too short doth blot.
A withered hermit, fivescore winters worn,
Might shake off fifty, looking in her eye.
Beauty doth varnish age, as if newborn,
265
And gives the crutch the cradle’s infancy.
O, ’tis the sun that maketh all things shine!
BEROWNE  
My eyes are then no eyes, nor I Berowne.
O, but for my love, day would turn to night!
Of all complexions the culled sovereignty
Do meet as at a fair in her fair cheek.
Where several worthies make one dignity,
Where nothing wants that want itself doth seek.
Lend me the flourish of all gentle tongues—
Fie, painted rhetoric! O, she needs it not!
To things of sale a seller’s praise belongs.
She passes praise. Then praise too short doth blot.
A withered hermit, fivescore winters worn,
Might shake off fifty, looking in her eye.
Beauty doth varnish age, as if newborn,
And gives the crutch the cradle’s infancy.
O, ’tis the sun that maketh all things shine!
KING  
By heaven, thy love is black as ebony.
KING  
By heaven, thy love is black as ebony.
BEROWNE  
Is ebony like her? O word divine!
A wife of such wood were felicity.
270
O, who can give an oath? Where is a book,
That I may swear beauty doth beauty lack
If that she learn not of her eye to look?
No face is fair that is not full so black.
BEROWNE  
Is ebony like her? O word divine!
A wife of such wood were felicity.
O, who can give an oath? Where is a book,
That I may swear beauty doth beauty lack
If that she learn not of her eye to look?
No face is fair that is not full so black.
KING  
O, paradox! Black is the badge of hell,
275
The hue of dungeons and the school of night,
And beauty’s crest becomes the heavens well.
KING  
O, paradox! Black is the badge of hell,
The hue of dungeons and the school of night,
And beauty’s crest becomes the heavens well.
BEROWNE  
Devils soonest tempt, resembling spirits of light.
O, if in black my lady’s brows be decked,
It mourns that painting and usurping hair
280
Should ravish doters with a false aspect:
And therefore is she born to make black fair.
Her favor turns the fashion of the days,
For native blood is counted painting now.
And therefore red, that would avoid dispraise,
285
Paints itself black to imitate her brow.
BEROWNE  
Devils soonest tempt, resembling spirits of light.
O, if in black my lady’s brows be decked,
It mourns that painting and usurping hair
Should ravish doters with a false aspect:
And therefore is she born to make black fair.
Her favor turns the fashion of the days,
For native blood is counted painting now.
And therefore red, that would avoid dispraise,
Paints itself black to imitate her brow.
DUMAINE  
To look like her are chimney-sweepers black.
DUMAINE  
To look like her are chimney-sweepers black.
LONGAVILLE  
And since her time are colliers counted bright.
LONGAVILLE  
And since her time are colliers counted bright.
KING  
And Ethiopes of their sweet complexion crack.
KING  
And Ethiopes of their sweet complexion crack.
DUMAINE  
Dark needs no candles now, for dark is light.
DUMAINE  
Dark needs no candles now, for dark is light.
BEROWNE  
290
Your mistresses dare never come in rain,
For fear their colors should be washed away.
BEROWNE  
Your mistresses dare never come in rain,
For fear their colors should be washed away.
KING  
’Twere good yours did, for, sir, to tell you plain,
I’ll find a fairer face not washed today.
KING  
’Twere good yours did, for, sir, to tell you plain,
I’ll find a fairer face not washed today.
BEROWNE  
I’ll prove her fair, or talk till doomsday here.
BEROWNE  
I’ll prove her fair, or talk till doomsday here.
KING  
295
No devil will fright thee then so much as she.
KING  
No devil will fright thee then so much as she.
DUMAINE  
I never knew man hold vile stuff so dear.
DUMAINE  
I never knew man hold vile stuff so dear.
LONGAVILLE, showing his shoe
Look, here’s thy love; my foot and her face see.
LONGAVILLE, showing his shoe
Look, here’s thy love; my foot and her face see.
BEROWNE  
O, if the streets were pavèd with thine eyes.
Her feet were much too dainty for such tread.
BEROWNE  
O, if the streets were pavèd with thine eyes.
Her feet were much too dainty for such tread.
DUMAINE  
300
O vile! Then as she goes, what upward lies
The street should see as she walked overhead.
DUMAINE  
O vile! Then as she goes, what upward lies
The street should see as she walked overhead.
KING  
But what of this? Are we not all in love?
KING  
But what of this? Are we not all in love?
BEROWNE  
Nothing so sure, and thereby all forsworn.
BEROWNE  
Nothing so sure, and thereby all forsworn.
KING  
Then leave this chat, and, good Berowne, now prove
305
Our loving lawful, and our faith not torn.
KING  
Then leave this chat, and, good Berowne, now prove
Our loving lawful, and our faith not torn.
DUMAINE  
Ay, marry, there, some flattery for this evil.
DUMAINE  
Ay, marry, there, some flattery for this evil.
LONGAVILLE  
O, some authority how to proceed,
Some tricks, some quillets, how to cheat the devil.
LONGAVILLE  
O, some authority how to proceed,
Some tricks, some quillets, how to cheat the devil.
DUMAINE  
Some salve for perjury.
DUMAINE  
Some salve for perjury.
BEROWNE  
310
O, ’tis more than need.
Have at you, then, affection’s men-at-arms!
O, we have made a vow to study, lords,
And in that vow we have forsworn our books.
For when would you, my liege, or you, or you,
315
In leaden contemplation have found out
Such fiery numbers as the prompting eyes
Of beauty’s tutors have enriched you with?
Other slow arts entirely keep the brain
And therefore, finding barren practicers,
320
Scarce show a harvest of their heavy toil.
But love, first learnèd in a lady’s eyes,
Lives not alone immurèd in the brain,
But with the motion of all elements
Courses as swift as thought in every power,
325
And gives to every power a double power,
Above their functions and their offices.
It adds a precious seeing to the eye.
A lover’s eyes will gaze an eagle blind.
A lover’s ear will hear the lowest sound,
330
When the suspicious head of theft is stopped.
Love’s feeling is more soft and sensible
Than are the tender horns of cockled snails.
Love’s tongue proves dainty Bacchus gross in taste.
For valor, is not love a Hercules,
335
Still climbing trees in the Hesperides?
Subtle as Sphinx, as sweet and musical
As bright Apollo’s lute strung with his hair.
And when love speaks, the voice of all the gods
Make heaven drowsy with the harmony.
340
Never durst poet touch a pen to write
Until his ink were tempered with love’s sighs.
O, then his lines would ravish savage ears
And plant in tyrants mild humility.
From women’s eyes this doctrine I derive.
345
They sparkle still the right Promethean fire.
They are the books, the arts, the academes
That show, contain, and nourish all the world.
Else none at all in ought proves excellent.
Then fools you were these women to forswear,
350
Or, keeping what is sworn, you will prove fools.
For wisdom’s sake, a word that all men love,
Or for love’s sake, a word that loves all men,
Or for men’s sake, the authors of these women,
Or women’s sake, by whom we men are men,
355
Let us once lose our oaths to find ourselves,
Or else we lose ourselves to keep our oaths.
It is religion to be thus forsworn,
For charity itself fulfills the law,
And who can sever love from charity?
BEROWNE  
O, ’tis more than need.
Have at you, then, affection’s men-at-arms!
O, we have made a vow to study, lords,
And in that vow we have forsworn our books.
For when would you, my liege, or you, or you,
In leaden contemplation have found out
Such fiery numbers as the prompting eyes
Of beauty’s tutors have enriched you with?
Other slow arts entirely keep the brain
And therefore, finding barren practicers,
Scarce show a harvest of their heavy toil.
But love, first learnèd in a lady’s eyes,
Lives not alone immurèd in the brain,
But with the motion of all elements
Courses as swift as thought in every power,
And gives to every power a double power,
Above their functions and their offices.
It adds a precious seeing to the eye.
A lover’s eyes will gaze an eagle blind.
A lover’s ear will hear the lowest sound,
When the suspicious head of theft is stopped.
Love’s feeling is more soft and sensible
Than are the tender horns of cockled snails.
Love’s tongue proves dainty Bacchus gross in taste.
For valor, is not love a Hercules,
Still climbing trees in the Hesperides?
Subtle as Sphinx, as sweet and musical
As bright Apollo’s lute strung with his hair.
And when love speaks, the voice of all the gods
Make heaven drowsy with the harmony.
Never durst poet touch a pen to write
Until his ink were tempered with love’s sighs.
O, then his lines would ravish savage ears
And plant in tyrants mild humility.
From women’s eyes this doctrine I derive.
They sparkle still the right Promethean fire.
They are the books, the arts, the academes
That show, contain, and nourish all the world.
Else none at all in ought proves excellent.
Then fools you were these women to forswear,
Or, keeping what is sworn, you will prove fools.
For wisdom’s sake, a word that all men love,
Or for love’s sake, a word that loves all men,
Or for men’s sake, the authors of these women,
Or women’s sake, by whom we men are men,
Let us once lose our oaths to find ourselves,
Or else we lose ourselves to keep our oaths.
It is religion to be thus forsworn,
For charity itself fulfills the law,
And who can sever love from charity?
KING  
360
Saint Cupid, then, and, soldiers, to the field!
KING  
Saint Cupid, then, and, soldiers, to the field!
BEROWNE  
Advance your standards, and upon them, lords.
Pell-mell, down with them. But be first advised
In conflict that you get the sun of them.
BEROWNE  
Advance your standards, and upon them, lords.
Pell-mell, down with them. But be first advised
In conflict that you get the sun of them.
LONGAVILLE  
Now to plain dealing. Lay these glozes by.
365
Shall we resolve to woo these girls of France?
LONGAVILLE  
Now to plain dealing. Lay these glozes by.
Shall we resolve to woo these girls of France?
KING  
And win them, too. Therefore let us devise
Some entertainment for them in their tents.
KING  
And win them, too. Therefore let us devise
Some entertainment for them in their tents.
BEROWNE   
First, from the park let us conduct them thither.
Then homeward every man attach the hand
370
Of his fair mistress. In the afternoon
We will with some strange pastime solace them,
Such as the shortness of the time can shape;
For revels, dances, masques, and merry hours
Forerun fair love, strewing her way with flowers.
BEROWNE   
First, from the park let us conduct them thither.
Then homeward every man attach the hand
Of his fair mistress. In the afternoon
We will with some strange pastime solace them,
Such as the shortness of the time can shape;
For revels, dances, masques, and merry hours
Forerun fair love, strewing her way with flowers.
KING  
375
Away, away! No time shall be omitted
That will betime and may by us be fitted.
KING  
Away, away! No time shall be omitted
That will betime and may by us be fitted.
BEROWNE  
Allons! Allons! Sowed cockle reaped no corn,
And justice always whirls in equal measure.
Light wenches may prove plagues to men forsworn;
380
If so, our copper buys no better treasure.
BEROWNE
Allons!

Allons

In French, allons means “let’s go.”

Allons ! No wheat can be harvested by planting weeds, and justice is always dispensed fairly. Frivolous ladies might mean trouble for  us men who have broken our oaths. If so, our situation couldn’t be better.
They exit.
They exit.
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