He speaks in grand proclamations that slightly outrun his grasp of reality — idealism expressed with the confidence of someone who hasn't tested it. Watch for the gap between his rhetoric and his behavior.
Let fame, that all hunt after in their lives,
Live registered upon our brazen tombs,
And then grace us in the disgrace of death;
When, spite of cormorant devouring time,
Th’ endeavour of this present breath may buy
That honour which shall bate his scythe’s keen edge,
And make us heirs of all eternity.
Therefore, brave conquerors, for so you are
That war against your own affections
And the huge army of the world’s desires,
Our late edict shall strongly stand in force.
Navarre shall be the wonder of the world;
Our court shall be a little academe,
Still and contemplative in living art.
You three, Berowne, Dumaine and Longaville,
Have sworn for three years’ term to live with me,
My fellow-scholars, and to keep those statutes
That are recorded in this schedule here.
Your oaths are passed, and now subscribe your names,
That his own hand may strike his honour down
That violates the smallest branch herein.
If you are armed to do as sworn to do,
Subscribe to your deep oaths, and keep it too.
Let fame—which everyone hunts for in life—be recorded on our bronze tombs, then honor us even in death. When time, which devours all things, has done its worst, let what we accomplish now protect our reputation and dull its blade. We will become the heirs of immortality. Therefore, brave conquerors—you who war against your own desires and the world’s endless temptations—this new decree will stand firm. Navarre will be the marvel of the world. Our court will be a small academy, quiet and devoted to learning. You three—Berowne, Dumaine, and Longaville—have sworn to live with me for three years as fellow scholars and keep the rules written here. Your oaths are made; now sign your names so your own hand condemns you if you break the smallest rule. If you are committed to keeping these oaths, sign them now.
Look, everyone chases fame their whole lives. Let their achievements be carved on stone so people remember them after they’re dead. No matter what time destroys, what we accomplish will last forever. You three are brave because you’re fighting your own desires and all the world’s temptations. This rule is locked in. Navarre is going to be amazing. We’re turning our court into a little academy—quiet, scholarly, totally focused on thinking. You swore to stay with me for three years and follow these rules. You already made the oath, so sign now. If you break even one small thing, that’s on you. If you mean it, sign it.
we’re doing this three years no distractions navarre becomes legendary sign right now
The eager middle-manager of the group — he signs first, devises the harshest penalties, and speaks in tidy couplets. Watch for his earnestness as a marker of how far he has to fall.
I am resolved. ’Tis but a three years’ fast.
The mind shall banquet, though the body pine.
Fat paunches have lean pates, and dainty bits
Make rich the ribs, but bankrupt quite the wits.
I am resolved. It is only a three-year fast. The mind shall feast even though the body suffers from hunger. Fat bellies create empty heads, and luxuries dull the mind. All sensual pleasures cloud judgment. Therefore, I accept this oath with a clear conscience.
I'm in. Three years is nothing. Your mind can thrive even when your body is hungry. Rich food makes you lazy and stupid. Pleasure gets in the way of thinking clearly. So yeah, I'm signing this. Bring it on.
im in three years no food will sharpen my mind lets do this
He speaks with philosophical serenity — "Dumaine is mortified" — as if he is narrating a saint's life. Watch for the gap between this self-portrait and what he does the moment Kate shows up.
My loving lord, Dumaine is mortified.
The grosser manner of these world’s delights
He throws upon the gross world’s baser slaves.
To love, to wealth, to pomp, I pine and die,
With all these living in philosophy.
My loving lord, Dumaine is mortified by worldly desire. He throws away the grosser pleasures of the world to those who are slaves to them. I'd rather waste away than pursue love, wealth, and power, Living instead through pure philosophy.
Look, my lord, I'm done with worldly stuff. I'm giving up the gross pleasures people chase after and leaving all that for people who are slaves to their desires. Love, money, status—I'd rather die than go for those things. I'm all in on philosophy.
im over it. throwing out the gross stuff. love, money, status? nah. philosophy only 4 me now
The sharpest tongue in the room, and he knows it — he argues against every position he then adopts, and he's always right about the argument even when he loses the vote. Watch for him being the first to see through any pretense, including his own.
I can but say their protestation over.
So much, dear liege, I have already sworn,
That is, to live and study here three years.
But there are other strict observances:
As not to see a woman in that term,
Which I hope well is not enrolled there;
And one day in a week to touch no food,
And but one meal on every day beside,
The which I hope is not enrolled there;
And then to sleep but three hours in the night,
And not be seen to wink of all the day,
When I was wont to think no harm all night,
And make a dark night too of half the day,
Which I hope well is not enrolled there.
O, these are barren tasks, too hard to keep,
Not to see ladies, study, fast, not sleep.
I can only echo what you've already said. My lord, I've already sworn as much myself, to live and study here for three years. But there are other strict rules besides this: like not seeing any woman during that time— I hope that rule isn't written down there; and eating no food one day a week, and just one meal on every other day, which I hope isn't written down there either; and sleeping only three hours every night, and not closing my eyes once during the day— when I'm used to sleeping guilt-free all night and sleeping half the day away without worry. I hope that one isn't written down either. Oh, these are pointless tasks, too hard to follow! Not seeing women, study, fasting, no sleep.
Yeah, okay, I'm just repeating what everyone heard. I've sworn to it too—live and study here for three years. But man, there are all these other rules. You can't see a woman for three years—I really hope that's not on the list. And you can't eat on one day a week. Plus just one meal on the other days—hope that's not written down. And you only get three hours of sleep a night, and you can't even blink during the day. I'm used to sleeping all night and half the day too. I'm hoping that's not on there either. These are impossible! Not dating, studying constantly, starving, insomnia—come on.
yeah same oath. live & study 3 yrs. but all these other rules?? no women. no food. 3 hrs sleep. never blink. this is impossible
Your oath is passed to pass away from these.
You swore to keep away from all these things.
You already swore to stay away from all of that.
u swore to this already
Let me say no, my liege, an if you please.
I only swore to study with your Grace
And stay here in your court for three years’ space.
Let me say no, my lord, if you'll allow it. I only swore to study alongside you with grace and stay here in your court for three years.
Hold on, can I back out? I only swore to study with you and hang out here for three years.
wait can i say no? i only swore to study w u & stay 3 yrs
You swore to that, Berowne, and to the rest.
You swore to that, Berowne, and to everything else.
You already swore to all of it, Berowne.
u swore to everything
By yea and nay, sir, then I swore in jest.
What is the end of study, let me know?
Yes, well, I swore to it just joking around. What's the whole point of study anyway?
Yeah well I was just messing around when I swore. What even is study good for?
i was joking when i swore tho whats the point of study anyway?
Why, that to know which else we should not know.
Why, to know things we wouldn't otherwise learn.
To learn stuff you wouldn't know otherwise.
to learn stuff u wouldnt know
Things hid and barred, you mean, from common sense?
Things that are hidden and shut off from regular understanding?
You mean stuff that's secret and hidden from normal people?
like secret stuff most ppl dont know?
Ay, that is study’s god-like recompense.
Yes, that's study's godlike reward.
Yeah, that's what makes studying so great.
yep thats why study rocks
Come on, then, I will swear to study so,
To know the thing I am forbid to know:
As thus, to study where I well may dine,
When I to feast expressly am forbid;
Or study where to meet some mistress fine,
When mistresses from common sense are hid;
Or, having sworn too hard-a-keeping oath,
Study to break it, and not break my troth.
If study’s gain be thus, and this be so,
Study knows that which yet it doth not know.
Swear me to this, and I will ne’er say no.
Alright then, I'll swear to study like this: to know the thing I'm forbidden to know. For example, to study where I can eat well when eating is banned; or to study where to meet a beautiful woman when women are off-limits; or, having sworn too hard an oath to keep, to study how to break it without breaking my promise. If that's what study gets us, and if that's true, then study knows things it doesn't really know. Swear me to this, and I'll never say no.
Okay fine, I'll study like this: I'll study the thing I'm not supposed to know. Like, I'll study where to find a good meal when I'm supposed to starve. Or I'll study how to find a hot girl when girls are forbidden. Or I'll figure out how to break my oath without actually breaking my word. If that's what studying gets us, then study knows nothing while pretending to know something. Put me down for that and I'm in.
ok ill study like this: study the forbidden thing study where to eat when its banned study where to meet girls when theyre forbidden study how 2 break oaths without breaking word swear me to that im in
These be the stops that hinder study quite,
And train our intellects to vain delight.
These distractions are what hold study back, and they're training our minds toward empty pleasures.
That's exactly what ruins studying—it makes your brain focus on pointless fun instead.
thats what ruins study. makes ur brain chase pointless fun
Why, all delights are vain, but that most vain
Which, with pain purchased, doth inherit pain:
As painfully to pore upon a book
To seek the light of truth, while truth the while
Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look.
Light seeking light doth light of light beguile;
So, ere you find where light in darkness lies,
Your light grows dark by losing of your eyes.
Study me how to please the eye indeed
By fixing it upon a fairer eye,
Who dazzling so, that eye shall be his heed,
And give him light that it was blinded by.
Study is like the heaven’s glorious sun,
That will not be deep-searched with saucy looks;
Small have continual plodders ever won,
Save base authority from others’ books.
These earthly godfathers of heaven’s lights,
That give a name to every fixed star,
Have no more profit of their shining nights
Than those that walk and wot not what they are.
Too much to know is to know naught but fame,
And every godfather can give a name.
Why, all pleasures are pointless anyway, but the most pointless is the one bought with pain that only brings more pain. Like wearing yourself out reading a book to find truth, while truth itself blindly deceives the eye that looks at it. Searching for light with light destroys the light; so before you find where light hides in darkness, your light goes dark from straining your eyes. Instead, study how to please the eye by fixing it on a more beautiful eye. That eye, so bright, will be all you see, and it will light up what its beauty had blinded. Study is like the glorious sun in the sky, which doesn't want to be stared at rudely; Patient scholars have never won anything, except taking others' words from their books. These earth-bound guardians of heaven's lights, who name every distant star, get no more from their shining nights than those who walk without knowing what they are. Knowing too much means knowing nothing but fame, and everyone can give a name.
Look, all fun is pointless anyway, but the worst kind is something painful that just leads to more pain. Like you're killing yourself reading to find truth, but truth itself blinds you. If you search for light with light you destroy it. Before you figure out where light lives in the dark, you've destroyed your eyes trying. Instead, study beautiful eyes. A beautiful eye will dazzle you and light up what it blinded. Studying is like the sun—it doesn't want you staring directly at it. Hard workers never win anything except stealing what's in other people's books. We name stars and act like we're guardians of heaven's light, but we get nothing from our effort except we know their names. The more we claim to know, the less we actually know, and we're just famous for the names we give things.
all fun is pointless but pain is worse reading hurts & truth blinds u searching for light destroys light instead just look at beautiful eyes studying doesnt work. we just steal from books the more u claim to know the less u actually know we just give things names & call ourselves wise
How well he’s read, to reason against reading.
He's so well-read, and he uses that to argue against reading.
He knows so much and he's using it all to argue against learning.
hes super smart but using it 2 argue against studying
Proceeded well, to stop all good proceeding.
He's made great progress just to stop all progress.
He's gotten so far just to pull the plug on everything.
he went so far just 2 stop it all
He weeds the corn, and still lets grow the weeding.
He pulls out the corn and lets the weeds keep growing.
He's ripping out the good stuff and letting the trash grow.
ripping out good stuff letting trash grow
The spring is near when green geese are a-breeding.
Spring is coming when the young geese start breeding.
Spring's here when the young ducks start getting frisky.
spring is when ducks get busy breeding lol
The King's plan to turn his court into an 'academe' wasn't absurd to an Elizabethan audience — it was aspirational. The Platonic Academy at Florence, revived in the late 15th century under Lorenzo de' Medici, was a genuine cultural phenomenon: aristocrats gathering to philosophize, write poetry, and argue about the soul. Closer to Shakespeare's time, several English noblemen ran informal intellectual circles that aspired to exactly this ideal. What Shakespeare does is put this earnest Renaissance dream under comic pressure: the oath fails not because study is bad but because human desire is ungovernable. The play takes an idea the audience would have taken seriously and then shows it running aground on biology.
How follows that?
How follows that?
How follows that?
how follows that
Fit in his place and time.
It fits right in with the season.
It's perfectly timed for the time of year.
its perfect 4 the season
In reason nothing.
In reason nothing.
In reason nothing.
in reason nothing
Something then in rhyme.
Then let it be something in poetic verse.
Then make it rhyme, why not.
put it in poetry
Berowne is like an envious sneaping frost
That bites the first-born infants of the spring.
Berowne is like a bitter frost that comes early and kills the first-born babies of spring.
Berowne's like a mean frost that comes too soon and kills all the new spring flowers.
berowne is like frost killing baby spring flowers
Well, say I am. Why should proud summer boast
Before the birds have any cause to sing?
Why should I joy in any abortive birth?
At Christmas I no more desire a rose
Than wish a snow in May’s new-fangled shows,
But like of each thing that in season grows.
So you, to study now it is too late,
Climb o’er the house to unlock the little gate.
Well, say I am. But why should proud summer brag before the birds even have reason to sing? Why should I celebrate anything premature? At Christmas I don't want a rose any more than I'd want snow in May's new-fashioned displays. I like what grows in its proper season. So you, studying now when it's too late, climb over the house to unlock the small gate.
Alright, say I'm frost. But why would summer brag before birds even sing? Why celebrate something that's too early? At Christmas I don't want a rose. I don't want snow in May either. I like things that come when they're supposed to. So you, studying when you're past your prime, you're climbing over the roof to sneak out the back gate.
ok im frost. so what? summer shouldnt brag b4 birds sing. why celebrate early stuff? i like things in season. u studying late? ur sneaking over the roof
Well, sit you out. Go home, Berowne. Adieu.
Alright, then, sit this out. Go home, Berowne. Goodbye.
Okay, stay out of this then. Go home, Berowne. See you.
fine go home berowne bye
No, my good lord, I have sworn to stay with you,
And though I have for barbarism spoke more
Than for that angel knowledge you can say,
Yet confident I’ll keep what I have sworn
And bide the penance of each three years’ day.
Give me the paper, let me read the same,
And to the strictest decrees I’ll write my name.
No, my good lord, I have sworn to stay with you, and even though I've said more foolish things than about the scholarly knowledge you speak of, yet I'm confident I'll keep what I swore and accept the hardship of each three-year day. Give me the paper, let me read it myself, and I'll sign my name to the strictest laws.
No wait, my lord, I swore to stay with you. Even though I said a bunch of dumb things instead of smart stuff like you, I'll keep my oath and do the hard work for three years. Let me see that paper, and I'll sign my name to all those strict rules.
no wait im staying w u. i said dumb stuff but ill keep my oath & sign the paper
How well this yielding rescues thee from shame.
How good it is that you're giving in—it saves you from shame.
It's great that you're backing down. That saves you from looking stupid.
good move backing down saves u from shame
[_Reads_.] _Item, That no woman shall come within a mile of my court._
Hath this been proclaimed?
[Reading.] Item: No woman shall come within a mile of my court. Has this been announced?
[Reading.] Item: No women within a mile of the court. Has that been announced?
no women within a mile of court. announced?
Four days ago.
Four days ago.
Four days ago.
four days ago
Let’s see the penalty. [_Reads_.] _On pain of losing her tongue._ Who
devised this penalty?
Let me see the penalty. On pain of losing her tongue. Who came up with this punishment?
Let me check out the penalty. Lose her tongue? Who came up with that?
whats the penalty? lose her tongue?? who made that up?
Marry, that did I.
Actually, I did.
Yeah, that was me.
that was me
Sweet lord, and why?
My lord, but what was your reasoning?
My lord, why would you do that?
why tho
To fright them hence with that dread penalty.
To scare them away with that terrible punishment.
To freak them out and keep them away.
2 scare them off
A dangerous law against gentility.
A harsh law against good manners.
That's a brutal law against decent behavior.
thats brutal against being decent
[_Reads_.] _Item, If any man be seen to talk with a woman within the
term of three years, he shall endure such public shame as the rest of
the court can possibly devise._
This article, my liege, yourself must break,
For well you know here comes in embassy
The French King’s daughter, with yourself to speak—
A mild of grace and complete majesty—
About surrender up of Aquitaine
To her decrepit, sick, and bedrid father.
Therefore this article is made in vain,
Or vainly comes th’ admired Princess hither.
[Reading.] Item: If any man is seen talking to a woman within three years, he shall suffer whatever public shame the court can devise. Your Majesty, you must yourself break this rule, for you know the French King's daughter is coming to speak with you—a maiden full of grace and perfect majesty—about surrendering Aquitaine to her ailing, bedridden father. Therefore this rule is made pointless, or the Princess comes pointlessly.
[Reading.] Item: If any man talks to a woman within three years, the court will publicly shame him. But Sire, you must break your own rule, because the French King's daughter is arriving to speak with you—a graceful, majestic woman—about giving up Aquitaine to her sick, bedridden father. So either this rule is pointless, or she shouldn't be coming.
no man talks to women for 3 years or public shame but sire the french kings daughter comes talking to u about aquitaine for her sick dad so either this rule is pointless or she shouldnt be here
What say you, lords? Why, this was quite forgot.
What do you think, lords? Why, this was completely forgotten.
What do you all say? We totally forgot about this.
what do u think? we forgot about this
So study evermore is overshot.
While it doth study to have what it would,
It doth forget to do the thing it should;
And when it hath the thing it hunteth most,
’Tis won as towns with fire: so won, so lost.
So study always overshoots the mark. While it hunts for what it wants to gain, it forgets to do what it should; and when it finally gets what it chased, it's won like a city taken by fire: once won, immediately lost.
See, that's the problem with study. It chases after goals and forgets what it's supposed to do. And when you finally get what you were chasing, you've already burned it all down. You win and lose at the same time.
study always goes too far chases goals forgets duties wins like cities on fire - won & lost
We must of force dispense with this decree.
She must lie here on mere necessity.
We have to let this law go. She has to stay here out of sheer necessity.
We have to break this rule. She needs to be here no matter what.
we gotta break this rule. she has 2 stay
Necessity will make us all forsworn
Three thousand times within this three years’ space;
For every man with his affects is born,
Not by might mastered, but by special grace.
If I break faith, this word shall speak for me:
I am forsworn on mere necessity.
So to the laws at large I write my name,
And he that breaks them in the least degree
Stands in attainder of eternal shame.
Suggestions are to other as to me;
But I believe, although I seem so loath,
I am the last that will last keep his oath.
Necessity will make us all break our oaths three thousand times in these three years; because every person is born with desires that can't be controlled by force, only by God's grace. If I break my word, let this statement defend me: I'm breaking my oath only out of necessity. So I sign my name to the full laws, and whoever breaks them even slightly deserves eternal shame. Tempters come to everyone, including me, but I believe, despite how unwilling I seem, that I'm the last one who will actually keep his oath.
We're going to break these oaths constantly for three years because people are born with desires they can't fight. If I break my promise, say I had to. So I'm signing these laws, and if someone breaks even one tiny rule they deserve to be shamed forever. Temptations happen to everyone including me, but honestly, even though I sound reluctant, I think I'm actually the one who'll keep his oath.
well break these oaths constantly bc people r born with desires if i break my oath i had 2 im signing anyway breaking = eternal shame temptations come 2 everyone but maybe im the only one who keeps it lol
Berowne is the character who sees everything clearly — the oath is impossible, the enterprise is foolish, the French girls will undo them — and then does everything he criticizes anyway. This is a specific comic type: the self-aware fool. His intelligence doesn't protect him; it just means he can describe his own downfall with unusual precision. His great speech in 4-3, arguing that love is the source of all knowledge, is magnificent — and it's also special pleading by a man who's caught with his hand in the cookie jar. The play keeps him lovable because he never stops being honest about the discrepancy between what he knows and what he does.
But is there no quick recreation granted?
But is there no entertainment or leisure time allowed?
But isn't there any entertainment or fun allowed for us?
any fun allowed
Ay, that there is. Our court, you know, is haunted
With a refined traveller of Spain,
A man in all the world’s new fashion planted,
That hath a mint of phrases in his brain;
One who the music of his own vain tongue
Doth ravish like enchanting harmony,
A man of complements, whom right and wrong
Have chose as umpire of their mutiny.
This child of fancy, that Armado hight,
For interim to our studies shall relate
In high-born words the worth of many a knight
From tawny Spain lost in the world’s debate.
How you delight, my lords, I know not, I,
But I protest I love to hear him lie,
And I will use him for my minstrelsy.
Yes, and there is. Our court, you know, is visited by a refined traveler from Spain, a man shaped by all the world's new fashions, who has a treasure of phrases in his brain. One man whose own vain speech enchants like magical harmony. A man full of compliments, who right and wrong have chosen to be umpire of their dispute. This child of imagination, called Armado, will during our study time tell us stories in eloquent words about the glory of many knights from tawny Spain lost in the world's conflicts. I don't know how you gentlemen enjoy it, but I confess I love to hear him lie, and I'll use him as my entertainer.
Yeah, there's this refined Spanish traveler who hangs around court. He's totally fashionable and has this endless stream of phrases. His own voice enchants people like magic. He's full of compliments and decides disputes between right and wrong. This fantasist named Armado will tell us stories in fancy language about knights from Spain during our three years of study. I don't know what you think, but I actually love listening to him make stuff up, and I'm gonna use him as my entertainment.
theres this spanish guy at court super fashionable full of compliments armadon tells amazing stories & i love his lies im using him as my entertainment
Armado is a most illustrious wight,
A man of fire-new words, fashion’s own knight.
Armado is a most remarkable person, a man of brand-new words, fashion itself made into a knight.
Armado's incredible, a guy who invents new words and is basically fashion personified as a knight.
armadoS amazing invents new words = fashion knight
Costard the swain and he shall be our sport,
And so to study three years is but short.
Costard the peasant and he will be our entertainment, and so studying for three years becomes short.
Costard and Armado will be our entertainment, so three years of study will fly by.
costard & armado = entertainment so 3 yrs study goes fast
A constable who mangles official language with beautiful consistency — "I myself reprehend his own person" instead of "represent." Watch for his malapropisms as a running joke on the gap between institutional authority and actual wit.
Which is the Duke’s own person?
Who is the King?
Which one is the King?
whos the king?
This, fellow. What wouldst?
This one. What do you want?
That guy. What do you need?
this guy. u need something?
I myself reprehend his own person, for I am his Grace’s farborough. But
I would see his own person in flesh and blood.
I myself represent his own person, for I am his Grace's bailiff. But I want to see his actual person in flesh and blood.
I represent him officially—I'm the King's officer. But I actually want to meet him in person, face to face.
im the kings officer but i wanna see him in person
This is he.
This is he.
This is he.
this is he
Signior Arm… Arm… commends you. There’s villainy abroad. This letter
will tell you more.
Señor Armando sends his regards. There's trouble brewing. This letter will tell you more.
Señor Armando says hello. There's a problem. This letter has the details.
armandos message. theres trouble. read the letter
The clown who is also the most honest man in the scene — he confesses everything, argues about word choice with cheerful precision, and accepts his punishment with a shrug of genuine philosophy. Watch for him as the play's moral compass wrapped in foolishness.
Sir, the contempts thereof are as touching me.
Sir, this concerns me directly.
Sir, this is about me.
hey this is literally abt me
A letter from the magnificent Armado.
This letter comes from the splendid Armado.
A letter from the great Armado.
letter from armado
How long soever the matter, I hope in God for high words.
However long this takes, I hope for fancy words.
Whatever this letter says, I'm hoping for some really flowery language.
hoping 4 fancy words in this
A high hope for a low heaven. God grant us patience!
High hopes for low results. May God give us patience!
Expecting gold and getting dirt. God, give us patience!
high hopes low results god help us
To hear, or forbear laughing?
Should we listen or stop ourselves from laughing?
Should we listen seriously or try not to laugh?
listen seriously or laugh?
To hear meekly, sir, and to laugh moderately, or to forbear both.
Listen quietly, sir, and laugh gently, or hold back from both.
Listen respectfully and laugh quietly, or don't laugh at all.
listen quietly laugh gently or dont laugh
Well, sir, be it as the style shall give us cause to climb in the
merriness.
Well, sir, let the style of the letter give us reason to climb higher into amusement.
Alright sir, let's see how fancy the letter is before we decide how much to laugh.
lets see how fancy this letter is b4 we laugh
The matter is to me, sir, as concerning Jaquenetta. The manner of it
is, I was taken with the manner.
The matter is about me, sir, concerning Jaquenetta. The situation is, I was caught in the act.
Sir, this whole thing is about me and Jaquenetta. I was caught with her.
this is about me & jaquenetta. i got caught
In what manner?
In what manner?
In what manner?
in what manner
In manner and form following, sir, all those three. I was seen with her
in the manor-house, sitting with her upon the form, and taken following
her into the park, which, put together, is “in manner and form
following”. Now, sir, for the manner. It is the manner of a man to
speak to a woman. For the form—in some form.
In manner and form as follows, sir, all three of those words. I was seen with her in the manor house, sitting with her on a bench, and spotted following her into the park. All together, that's "in manner and form following." Now, sir, for the manner. It's the manner of a man to speak to a woman. For the form—in some form.
In manner and form following—all three words together, sir. I was seen with her at the manor, sitting on a bench with her, and someone saw me follow her into the park. Put it together and that's "in manner and form following." As for manner, well, it's the manner of men to talk to women. As for form—we were in some form or another.
in manner & form following = all those words seen w her at manor on bench followed her 2 park & men do talk 2 women in some form lol
There are three prohibitions in the oath: no women, minimal food, minimal sleep. Berowne objects to all three in order, and then the Princess arrives in Act 2 to make the no-women clause structurally impossible. This is the play's architecture at work. The oaths aren't broken through weakness of will — they're broken because the King forgot he had a diplomatic obligation that trumps the oath the day he made it. Shakespeare is suggesting something specific: that idealism divorced from reality doesn't just fail, it fails embarrassingly quickly, usually because you forgot something obvious. Keep watching for how each clause of the oath gets systematically demolished over the next four acts.
For the “following”, sir?
And what about the pursuing part of the story?
And as for the following part, sir?
& the following part?
As it shall follow in my correction, and God defend the right!
As it will come out in my punishment, with God defending justice!
That'll come out when I'm punished, and may God make sure justice is done!
thatll come out in my punishment god help justice
Will you hear this letter with attention?
Will you listen to this letter carefully?
Can everyone listen to this letter closely?
everyone listen 2 this
As we would hear an oracle.
As if we were hearing a prophet's words.
Like we're hearing wisdom from on high.
like hearing from a prophet
Such is the simplicity of man to hearken after the flesh.
That's how simple men are—they listen to the body's desires.
That's how stupid people are—they just listen to what their bodies want.
thats how dumb ppl r they just listen 2 their bodies
[_Reads_.] _Great deputy, the welkin’s vicegerent and sole dominator of
Navarre, my soul’s earth’s god and body’s fostering patron—_
[Reading.] Great deputy, representative of heaven and sole ruler of Navarre, my god of soul and body, my protector—
[Reading.] Great deputy, heaven's representative and sole ruler of Navarre, my spiritual and earthly god, my protector—
great deputy heaven's rep ruler of navarre my god and protector
Not a word of Costard yet.
Not one word about Costard yet.
And we haven't heard anything about Costard yet.
no mention of costard yet
[_Reads_.] _So it is—_
[Reading.] So it is—
[Reading.] Well, there we are—
yeah that's how it is
It may be so; but if he say it is so, he is, in telling true, but so.
It could be so, but if he says it's so, he's only telling the truth to say so.
Maybe it is, but if he says it is, he's just being truthful in his speaking.
maybe it is but if he says so hes just telling truth
Peace!
Peace!
Quiet.
shh
Be to me, and every man that dares not fight.
Peace to me and to every man who doesn't dare to fight.
Peace to me and to every coward.
peace 2 me & all cowards
No words!
No words!
Don't say anything.
say nothing
Of other men’s secrets, I beseech you.
Unless they're other men's secrets, I beg your pardon.
Unless I'm talking about other people's secrets, if you don't mind.
unless im talking about other ppl's secrets
[_Reads_.] _So it is, besieged with sable-coloured melancholy, I did
commend the black-oppressing humour to the most wholesome physic of thy
health-giving air; and, as I am a gentleman, betook myself to walk. The
time when? About the sixth hour, when beasts most graze, birds best
peck, and men sit down to that nourishment which is called supper. So
much for the time when. Now for the ground which? Which, I mean, I
walked upon. It is ycleped thy park. Then for the place, where? Where,
I mean, I did encounter that obscene and most preposterous event that
draweth from my snow-white pen the ebon-coloured ink, which here thou
viewest, beholdest, surveyest, or seest. But to the place where? It
standeth north-north-east and by east from the west corner of thy
curious-knotted garden. There did I see that low-spirited swain, that
base minnow of thy mirth—_
[Reading.] So it is—overwhelmed by dark sadness, I sought your health-giving air as medicine; and as a gentleman, I walked. When was this? About the sixth hour, when beasts graze, birds peck, and men sit down to supper. Where did I walk? In your park. At what location? North-northeast and by east from the west corner of your ornate garden. There I saw that low-spirited creature, that base joke of your court—
[Reading.] So it is—overcome with dark sadness, I sought your healing air as medicine, and like a gentleman, I took a walk. When? Around dinner time, when animals eat and men sit down to supper. Where? In your park. What location exactly? Northeast and by east from the west corner of your fancy garden. There I saw that pitiful, base creature—that amusement of your court—
im overwhelmed by sadness sought ur healing air went walking around dinner time in ur park northeast of ur garden saw that low base creature
Me?
Me?
Me?
me?
[_Reads_.] _That unlettered small-knowing soul—_
[Reading.] That uneducated, ignorant creature—
[Reading.] That illiterate, stupid fool—
that ignorant fool
Me?
Me?
Again?
me? again?
[_Reads_.] _That shallow vassal—_
[Reading.] That worthless servant—
[Reading.] That lowlife—
that lowlife
Still me?
Still me?
Still me?
still me?
[_Reads_.] _Which, as I remember, hight Costard—_
[Reading.] Who, as I remember, is called Costard—
[Reading.] Who, if I recall, is named Costard—
whos named costard
O me!
Oh me!
Oh no.
oh no
Armado's letter — with its 'great deputy, the welkin's vicegerent' and 'snow-white pen' and 'ebon-coloured ink' — is a precise satire of a real Elizabethan fashion called 'euphuism,' after John Lyly's novel Euphues (1578). Euphuism was characterized by elaborate parallel structures, excessive alliteration, and a compulsive need to say simple things in seventeen words. It was briefly fashionable among aristocrats and was already being mocked by the mid-1590s. Shakespeare is asking his audience to laugh at a prose style they'd have recognized as embarrassingly dated — which also means Armado is a walking period piece, a man tragically behind the fashion he thinks he's ahead of.
[_Reads_.] _Sorted and consorted, contrary to thy established
proclaimed edict and continent canon, which with, O, with—but with this
I passion to say wherewith—_
[Reading.] Associated and paired together, against your established and announced law and strict rule, which—O, with—but I grow passionate trying to say with what—
[Reading.] Grouped together, against your law and conduct rules, which—O, with—but I struggle to say exactly with whom—
paired together against ur law against ur rules which with... O... i struggle to say
With a wench.
With a wench.
With a wench.
with a wench
[_Reads_.] _With a child of our grandmother Eve, a female; or, for thy
more sweet understanding, a woman. Him, I, as my ever-esteemed duty
pricks me on, have sent to thee, to receive the meed of punishment, by
thy sweet Grace’s officer, Antony Dull, a man of good repute, carriage,
bearing, and estimation._
[Reading.] With a woman, a daughter of Eve; or, for your clearer understanding, a woman. Him, as my duty compels me, I have sent to you to receive punishment, through your Grace's officer, Antony Dull, a man of good reputation, bearing, and character.
[Reading.] With a woman, a daughter of Eve; or to put it plainly, a woman. Him, driven by my duty, I've sent to you for punishment, through your Grace's officer, Antony Dull, a respected man.
with a woman daughter of eve sent him to u for punishment via antony dull a respected guy
Me, an’t shall please you; I am Antony Dull.
Me, if it please you. I am Antony Dull.
That's me, if you don't mind. I'm Antony Dull.
thats me im antony dull
[_Reads_.] _For Jaquenetta, so is the weaker vessel called which I
apprehended with the aforesaid swain, I keep her as a vessel of thy
law’s fury, and shall, at the least of thy sweet notice, bring her to
trial. Thine, in all compliments of devoted and heartburning heat of
duty,
Don Adriano de Armado._
[Reads] As for Jaquenetta (for that is the name of the weaker vessel I caught with the aforementioned country fellow), I am holding her as a container for your law's anger, and at the slightest sign from Your Grace I will bring her to trial. Yours, with every courtesy of devoted and heart-scorching passion for duty, Don Adriano de Armado.
[Reads] And Jaquenetta, which is what the "weaker vessel" I caught with that yokel is called, I'm keeping in custody so she can feel the full force of your law. Just say the word and I'll haul her in for trial. Yours, burning with the most heartfelt, over-the-top devotion to duty, Don Adriano de Armado.
also got the girl, jaquenetta holding her till u want a trial soooo devotedly urs don adriano de armado
This is not so well as I looked for, but the best that ever I heard.
This isn't as good as I hoped for, but it's the best thing I've ever heard.
This isn't what I expected, but it's the most entertaining thing I've heard in a while.
not what i expected but its amazing
Ay, the best for the worst. But, sirrah, what say you to this?
Yes, the best for the worst. But listen, what do you make of this?
Yeah, the best of the worst. But what do you think of this?
whats ur take on this?
Sir, I confess the wench.
Sir, I admit to being with the woman.
Sir, I'm guilty. I was with her.
i confess i was w her
Did you hear the proclamation?
Did you hear the announcement?
Did you hear the rules?
u hear the announcement?
I do confess much of the hearing it, but little of the marking of it.
I heard a lot of it, but I didn't really pay attention.
I heard most of it but I wasn't really listening.
i heard it but wasnt really listening
It was proclaimed a year’s imprisonment to be taken with a wench.
It was announced that a year in prison is the punishment for being caught with a woman.
The rule is: one year in jail if you're caught with a woman.
rule: 1 yr jail if caught w woman
I was taken with none, sir. I was taken with a damsel.
I wasn't caught with a woman, sir. I was caught with a young lady.
Hold on sir—technically I was with a young lady, not just any woman.
actually it was a young lady not a woman
Well, it was proclaimed “damsel”.
Well, the announcement did say "young lady."
Well the rule said young lady too.
rule said young lady 2
This was no damsel neither, sir; she was a virgin.
This wasn't a young lady either, sir. She was a virgin.
She wasn't even a young lady, sir. She was a virgin.
she wasnt even a young lady she was a virgin
It is so varied too, for it was proclaimed “virgin”.
It's also changed, because the announcement did say "virgin."
Yeah the rule said virgin too.
rule said virgin 2
If it were, I deny her virginity. I was taken with a maid.
If it did, I deny her virginity. I was with a maid.
Then I deny she was a virgin. She was a maid.
nah she wasnt a virgin she was a maid tho
This maid will not serve your turn, sir.
That won't work as an excuse, sir.
That excuse isn't going to help you, sir.
thatll get u nowhere
This maid will serve my turn, sir.
That maid will serve my purpose, sir.
Well that maid serves my needs, sir.
that maid works 4 me
Sir, I will pronounce your sentence: you shall fast a week with bran
and water.
Sir, I will hand down your sentence: you shall fast for a week, eating only bran and water.
Sir, here's your punishment: you'll go hungry for a week, just bran and water.
ur punishment: week w bran & water only
I had rather pray a month with mutton and porridge.
I'd rather pray for a month and eat mutton and porridge.
I'd take a whole month of mutton and porridge over your bran water diet.
gimme mutton & porridge over ur bran water
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.
And Don Armado will be your guard. My Lord Berowne, see that he's handed over to him. And let's go, lords, to practice what each of us has sworn so strongly to do.
And Don Armado will watch you. Lord Berowne, make sure he goes with him. Now let's go, everyone, and start living up to our oaths.
armado is ur guard. berowne give him 2 armado. lets go practice our oaths
I’ll lay my head to any good man’s hat
These oaths and laws will prove an idle scorn.
Sirrah, come on.
I'll bet my head against any decent man's hat that these oaths and laws will turn out to be nothing but mockery. Come on, let's go.
I'd stake my life these oaths and laws are gonna be a total joke. Let's get out of here.
bet these oaths r gonna be jokes lets go
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.
I'm suffering for telling the truth, sir. It's true that I was caught with Jaquenetta, and Jaquenetta is an honest girl. So welcome now to this bitter reward! Sadness may smile at me again someday, and until then, let sorrow sit down and be comfortable.
I'm paying the price for being honest, sir. It's true I was with Jaquenetta, and she's a good girl. So here comes my punishment! Maybe my suffering will end someday, but for now I'm gonna sit with my sadness.
im suffering 4 truth & jaquenetta shes a good girl so im taking my punishment sadness sit down w me
The Reckoning
The play announces its central joke before it's even started: the oath is structurally doomed before the ink dries. Berowne sees it, says it out loud, and signs anyway — which is a different kind of folly than the other two. We leave feeling the comic inevitability of four young men who've just sprinted headlong into a wall they could plainly see.
If this happened today…
Picture four tech founders at an off-site who swear a "no distractions" pact for Q1 — no social media, no dating apps, no parties. They sign a shared Notion doc. One of them (Berowne) immediately points out that the CEO has a scheduled call with a supermodel investor that literally cannot be rescheduled. The CEO says, "Oh right, forgot about that." They all shrug and sign anyway. Then the office IT guy bursts in to report that one of the interns got caught fraternizing in the server room. Very much a Monday.