Page:Love's Labour's Lost (1925) Yale.djvu/35

Love's Labour's Lost, II. i

I hear your grace hath sworn out house-keeping:

'Tis deadly sin to keep that oath, my lord,

And sin to break it.

But pardon me, I am too sudden-bold:

To teach a teacher ill beseemeth me.

Vouchsafe to read the purpose of my coming,

And suddenly resolve me in my suit.

King. Madam, I will, if suddenly I may.

Prin. You will the sooner that I were away,

For you'll prove perjur'd if you make me stay.

Ber. Did not I dance with you in Brabant once?

Ros. Did not I dance with you in Brabant once?

Ber. I know you did.

Ros. How needless was it then

To ask the question!

Ber. You must not be so quick.

Ros. 'Tis 'long of you that spur me with such questions.

Ber. Your wit's too hot, it speeds too fast, 'twill tire.

Ros. Not till it leave the rider in the mire.

Ber. What time o' day?

Ros. The hour that fools should ask.

Ber. Now fair befall your mask!

Ros. Fair fall the face it covers!

Ber. And send you many lovers!

Ros. Amen, so you be none.

Ber. Nay, then will I be gone.

King. Madam, your father here doth intimate

The payment of a hundred thousand crowns;

Being but the one half of an entire sum

Disbursed by my father in his wars.

But say that he, or we,—as neither have,—

 104 sworn out house-keeping: forsworn hospitality

110 suddenly: quickly

118 'long: along, because

123 fair befall: mercy on

130 Cf. n.

