Well, it was proclaim'd damsel.

COST. This was no damsel neither, sir, she was a virgin.

[KING]. It is so varied too, for it was proclaim'd virgin.

COST. If it were, I deny her virginity; I was taken with a maid.

KING. This maid will not serve your turn, sir.

COST. This maid will serve my turn, sir.

KING. Sir, I will pronounce your sentence: you shall fast a week with bran and water.

COST. I had rather pray a month with mutton and porridge.

KING.

And Don Armado shall be your keeper.

My Lord Berowne, see him delivered o'er,

And go we, lords, to put in practice that

Which each to other hath so strongly sworn.

 

[Exeunt King, Longaville, and Dumaine.]

 

BER.

I'll lay my head to any good man's hat,

These oaths and laws will prove an idle scorn.

Sirrah, come on.

COST. I suffer for the truth, sir; for true it is, I was taken with Jaquenetta, and Jaquenetta is a true girl, and therefore welcome the sour cup of prosperity! Affliction may one day smile again, and till then, sit thee down, sorrow!

 

Exeunt.

 

 

[Scene II]

Enter Armado and Moth, his page.

 

ARM. Boy, what sign is it when a man of great spirit grows melancholy?

MOTH. A great sign, sir, that he will look sad.

ARM. Why, sadness is one and the self-same thing, dear imp.

MOTH. No, no, O Lord, sir, no.

ARM. How canst thou part sadness and melancholy, my tender juvenal?

MOTH. By a familiar demonstration of the working, my tough signior.

ARM. Why tough signior? Why tough signior?

MOTH. Why tender juvenal? Why tender juvenal?

ARM. I spoke it tender juvenal as a congruent epitheton appertaining to thy young days, which we may nominate tender.

MOTH. And I tough signior as an appertinent title to your old time, which we may name tough.

ARM. Pretty and apt.

MOTH. How mean you, sir? I pretty, and my saying apt? or I apt, and my saying pretty?

ARM. Thou pretty, because little.

MOTH. Little pretty, because little. Wherefore apt?

ARM. And therefore apt, because quick.

MOTH. Speak you this in my praise, master?

ARM. In thy condign praise.

MOTH. I will praise an eel with the same praise.

ARM. What? that an eel is ingenious?

MOTH. That an eel is quick.

ARM.