Page 2421 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

We will read it, I swear. [60]
Break the neck of the wax, and everyone give ear.

BOY ET

(reading) By heaven, that thou art fair is most infallible; true that thou art
beauteous; truth itself that thou art lovely. More fairer than fair, beautiful
than beauteous, truer than truth itself, have commiseration on thy heroical
vassal. [65] The magnanimous and most illustrate King Cophetua set eye
upon the pernicious and most indubitate beggar Zenelophon, and he it was
that might rightly say Veni, vidi, vici; which to anatomize in the vulgar - O
base and obscure vulgar! - videlicet, he came, see, and overcame. He
came, [70] one; see, two; overcame, three. Who came? The king. Why did
he come? To see. Why did he see? To overcome. To whom came he? To
the beggar. What saw he? The beggar. Who overcame he? The beggar.
The conclusion is victory. On whose side? The king’s. The captive is
enriched. On [75] whose side? The beggar’s. The catastrophe is a nuptial.
On whose side? The king’s. No; on both in one, or one in both. I am the
king, for so stands the comparison, thou the beggar, for so witnesseth thy
lowliness. Shall I command thy love? I may. Shall I enforce thy love? I
could. Shall I entreat thy [80] love? I will. What shalt thou exchange for
rags? Robes. For tittles? Titles. For thyself? Me. Thus, expecting thy reply, I
profane my lips on thy foot, my eyes on thy picture, and my heart on thy
every part.

Thine in the dearest design of industry, [85]
Don Adriano de Armado

Thus dost thou hear the Nemean lion roar
’Gainst thee, thou lamb, that standest as his
prey.

Submissive fall his princely feet before,
And he from forage will incline to play. [90]

But if thou strive, poor soul, what art thou then?
Food for his rage, repasture for his den.

PRINCESS

What plume of feathers is he that indited this letter?
What vane? What weathercock? Did you ever hear better?

BOY ET

I am much deceived but I remember the style. [95]

PRINCESS