Page:Love's Labour's Lost (1925) Yale.djvu/86

74  Prin. Here comes Boyet, and mirth is in his face.

Boyet. O, I am stabb'd with laughter! Where's her Grace?

Prin. Thy news, Boyet?

Boyet. Prepare, madam, prepare!—

Arm, wenches, arm! encounters mounted are

Against your peace: Love doth approach disguis'd,

Armed in arguments; you'll be surpris'd:

Muster your wits; stand in your own defence;

Or hide your heads like cowards, and fly hence.

Prin. Saint Denis to Saint Cupid! What are they

That charge their breath against us? say, scout, say.

Boyet. Under the cool shade of a sycamore

I thought to close mine eyes some half an hour,

When, lo! to interrupt my purpos'd rest,

Toward that shade I might behold addrest

The king and his companions: warily

I stole into a neighbour thicket by,

And overheard what you shall overhear;

That, by and by, disguis'd they will be here.

Their herald is a pretty knavish page,

That well by heart hath conn'd his embassage:

Action and accent did they teach him there;

'Thus must thou speak, and thus thy body bear.'

And ever and anon they made a doubt

Presence majestical would put him out;

'For,' quoth the king, 'an angel shalt thou see;

Yet fear not thou, but speak audaciously.'

The boy replied, 'An angel is not evil;

I should have fear'd her had she been a devil.'

With that all laugh'd and clapp'd him on the shoulder,

Making the bold wag by their praises bolder.

 82 encounters: assailants

87 Saint Denis: patron saint of France

92 addrest: coming straight

96 by and by: soon

101 made a doubt: expressed fear

104 audaciously: boldly

