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| Character | Don Armado?Moth??? | |
|---|---|---|
| Scene type / Who are | Friends, Giving advice on relationships | |
| Type | Serio-comic | |
| Period | Renaissance | |
| Genre | Comedy | |
| Description | Don Armado confesses to his page Moth that he has fallen in love with Jaquenetta | |
| Location | ACT II, Scene 1 | |
Summary
The King of Navarre, together with his three lords Berowne, Longaville and Dumaine, make an oath to scolarship for three years. In order to dedicate themselves to their studies they swear to fasting, to give up women and to sleep as little as possible. The King decides not to allow any women in his court. Don Armado, a Spaniard who is visiting the king, falls in love with Jaquenetta, a country girl. He writes a love letter to her and asks Costant, the court fool, to deliver the letter to her.
In this scene Don Armado confesses to his page Moth that he is in love with a country girl, Jaquenetta. Moth tries to comfort him by mentioning other great men who have fallen in love, listing Samson and Hercules.
In this scene Don Armado confesses to his page Moth that he is in love with a country girl, Jaquenetta. Moth tries to comfort him by mentioning other great men who have fallen in love, listing Samson and Hercules.
Written by Administrator
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| [SCENE II. The same.] [Enter DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO and MOTH] DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO Boy, what sign is it when a man of great spirit grows melancholy? MOTH A great sign, sir, that he will look sad. DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO Why, sadness is one and the self-same thing, dear imp. MOTH No, no; O Lord, sir, no. DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO How canst thou part sadness and melancholy, my tender juvenal? MOTH By a familiar demonstration of the working, my tough senior. DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO Why tough senior? why tough senior? MOTH Why tender juvenal? why tender juvenal? DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO I spoke it, tender juvenal, as a congruent epitheton appertaining to thy young days, which we may nominate tender. MOTH And I, tough senior, as an appertinent title to your old time, which we may name tough. DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO Pretty and apt. MOTH How mean you, sir? I pretty, and my saying apt? or I apt, and my saying pretty? DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO Thou pretty, because little. MOTH Little pretty, because little. Wherefore apt? DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO And therefore apt, because quick. MOTH Speak you this in my praise, master? DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO In thy condign praise. MOTH I will praise an eel with the same praise. DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO What, that an eel is ingenious? MOTH That an eel is quick. DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO I do say thou art quick in answers: thou heatest my blood. MOTH I am answered, sir. DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO I love not to be crossed. MOTH [Aside] He speaks the mere contrary; crosses love not him. DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO I have promised to study three years with the duke. MOTH You may do it in an hour, sir. DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO Impossible. MOTH How many is one thrice told? DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO I am ill at reckoning; it fitteth the spirit of a tapster. MOTH You are a gentleman and a gamester, sir. DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO I confess both: they are both the varnish of a complete man. MOTH Then, I am sure, you know how much the gross sum of deuce-ace amounts to. DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO It doth amount to one more than two. MOTH Which the base vulgar do call three. DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO True. MOTH Why, sir, is this such a piece of study? Now here is three studied, ere ye'll thrice wink: and how easy it is to put 'years' to the word 'three,' and study three years in two words, the dancing horse will tell you. DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO A most fine figure! MOTH To prove you a cipher. DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO I will hereupon confess I am in love: and as it is base for a soldier to love, so am I in love with a base wench. If drawing my sword against the humour of affection would deliver me from the reprobate thought of it, I would take Desire prisoner, and ransom him to any French courtier for a new-devised courtesy. I think scorn to sigh: methinks I should outswear Cupid. Comfort, me, boy: what great men have been in love? MOTH Hercules, master. DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO Most sweet Hercules! More authority, dear boy, name more; and, sweet my child, let them be men of good repute and carriage. MOTH Samson, master: he was a man of good carriage, great carriage, for he carried the town-gates on his back like a porter: and he was in love. DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO O well-knit Samson! strong-jointed Samson! I do excel thee in my rapier as much as thou didst me in carrying gates. I am in love too. Who was Samson's love, my dear Moth? MOTH A woman, master. DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO Of what complexion? MOTH Of all the four, or the three, or the two, or one of the four. DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO Tell me precisely of what complexion. MOTH Of the sea-water green, sir. DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO Is that one of the four complexions? MOTH As I have read, sir; and the best of them too. DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO Green indeed is the colour of lovers; but to have a love of that colour, methinks Samson had small reason for it. He surely affected her for her wit. MOTH It was so, sir; for she had a green wit. DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO My love is most immaculate white and red. MOTH Most maculate thoughts, master, are masked under such colours. DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO Define, define, well-educated infant. MOTH My father's wit and my mother's tongue, assist me! DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO Sweet invocation of a child; most pretty and pathetical! MOTH If she be made of white and red, Her faults will ne'er be known, For blushing cheeks by faults are bred And fears by pale white shown: Then if she fear, or be to blame, By this you shall not know, For still her cheeks possess the same Which native she doth owe. A dangerous rhyme, master, against the reason of white and red. DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO Is there not a ballad, boy, of the King and the Beggar? MOTH The world was very guilty of such a ballad some three ages since: but I think now 'tis not to be found; or, if it were, it would neither serve for the writing nor the tune. DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO I will have that subject newly writ o'er, that I may example my digression by some mighty precedent. Boy, I do love that country girl that I took in the park with the rational hind Costard: she deserves well. MOTH [Aside] To be whipped; and yet a better love than my master. DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO Sing, boy; my spirit grows heavy in love. MOTH And that's great marvel, loving a light wench. DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO I say, sing. MOTH Forbear till this company be past. |
