He speaks in a slightly elevated register compared to everyone else — he's a courtier professionally and performs the role even in private. Watch for how he mediates between the two groups while always sliding slightly in favor of whichever woman he's nearest.
Now, madam, summon up your dearest spirits.
Consider who the King your father sends,
To whom he sends, and what’s his embassy.
Yourself, held precious in the world’s esteem,
To parley with the sole inheritor
Of all perfections that a man may owe,
Matchless Navarre; the plea of no less weight
Than Aquitaine, a dowry for a queen.
Be now as prodigal of all dear grace
As Nature was in making graces dear
When she did starve the general world beside
And prodigally gave them all to you.
Now, madam, gather your courage and composure. Consider who the King, your father, sends, To whom he sends, and what his message is. You yourself, held precious by the world, To meet with the sole inheritor Of all the perfection a man can possess, Matchless Navarre; a settlement of weight No less than Aquitaine, a dowry for a queen. Be now as generous with all your grace As Nature was in creating such grace When she impoverished all the rest of the world And lavishly gave all her gifts to you.
Alright madam, pull yourself together here. Think about who your father sent, who he's sending to, and what message he's giving. You're considered valuable by everyone in the world, and you're about to meet the only guy who has all the qualities you could want in a man—Navarre. He's offering Aquitaine as your dowry, which is huge. Pretty much act like you're loaded with charm the way nature was when she created charm—she basically left nothing for anyone else and gave it all to you.
get ready to meet navarre he's got everything no one else comes close don't hold back on being charming
She speaks with the precision of someone who has been underestimated her whole life and has learned to preempt it — her first speech strips Boyet's flattery bare before he's finished. Watch for how she redirects every compliment back into business.
Good Lord Boyet, my beauty, though but mean,
Needs not the painted flourish of your praise.
Beauty is bought by judgement of the eye,
Not uttered by base sale of chapmen’s tongues.
I am less proud to hear you tell my worth
Than you much willing to be counted wise
In spending your wit in the praise of mine.
But now to task the tasker: good Boyet,
You are not ignorant, all-telling fame
Doth noise abroad Navarre hath made a vow,
Till painful study shall outwear three years,
No woman may approach his silent court.
Therefore to’s seemeth it a needful course,
Before we enter his forbidden gates,
To know his pleasure; and in that behalf,
Bold of your worthiness, we single you
As our best-moving fair solicitor.
Tell him the daughter of the King of France,
On serious business craving quick dispatch,
Importunes personal conference with his Grace.
Haste, signify so much, while we attend,
Like humble-visaged suitors, his high will.
Good Lord Boyet, my beauty, though modest, Needs not the ornamental praise you offer. Beauty is judged by what the eye perceives, Not proclaimed by the cheap speech of merchants. I am less proud to hear you praise my worth Than you are eager to be thought clever In using your wit to praise me. But now I turn the tables: good Boyet, You are not unaware that widespread reports Announce that Navarre has sworn an oath: Until difficult study wears out three years, No woman may enter his silent court. Therefore it seems a necessary course, Before we enter his forbidden gates, To discover his pleasure and intention; And trusting your excellence and good faith, we choose you As our best advocate and representative. Tell him the daughter of the King of France, With serious business requiring quick action, Asks for a personal meeting with his Grace. Go quickly, convey this, while we remain here, Like humble suitors, awaiting his decision.
Look, Boyet, my beauty isn't anything special, and I don't need you piling on compliments to make me feel better. Beauty is something people see with their eyes, not something you sell with flowery words. I'm not really impressed by you talking about how great I am—I'm more interested in the fact that you're clearly trying to sound clever by doing it. But let me ask you something important: you know Navarre took an oath, right? He's sworn to study for three years without letting any women near his court. So before we even get to his gates, we need to find out what he's actually planning. Since you're good at this stuff, we want you to be our spokesperson. Tell him the French King's daughter needs to meet with him right away about serious business. Go tell him that while we wait out here like we're begging for his attention.
go tell navarre we need to talk serious business send him a message from the king's daughter
Proud of employment, willingly I go.
Proud of the task, I willingly go.
I'm honored to do this, I'll go right away.
happy to go
All pride is willing pride, and yours is so.
All pride that comes willingly is yours in nature.
Yeah, and your pride is exactly the willing kind.
and you've got plenty of it
Who are the votaries, my loving lords,
That are vow-fellows with this virtuous Duke?
Who are the devoted oath-takers, my lords, who swore vows alongside this virtuous Duke?
Who are these people who made the same oath as the Duke?
who swore with the duke?
Lord Longaville is one.
Lord Longaville is one of them.
One of the guys is Lord Longaville.
longaville's one of them
Know you the man?
Do you know this man?
You know who he is?
you know him?
The quietest of the three ladies, but she catalogues Longaville's flaws with the precision of someone who has done her research. Watch for how she uses description as a form of gentle warning.
I know him, madam. At a marriage feast
Between Lord Perigort and the beauteous heir
Of Jaques Falconbridge, solemnized
In Normandy, saw I this Longaville.
A man of sovereign parts, he is esteemed,
Well fitted in arts, glorious in arms.
Nothing becomes him ill that he would well.
The only soil of his fair virtue’s gloss,
If virtue’s gloss will stain with any soil,
Is a sharp wit matched with too blunt a will,
Whose edge hath power to cut, whose will still wills
It should none spare that come within his power.
I know him, madam. At a marriage celebration Between Lord Perigort and the beautiful heir Of Jacques Falconbridge, solemnized In Normandy, I saw this Longaville. A man of outstanding talents, he is esteemed, Well educated in the arts, glorious in arms. Nothing makes him look bad when he does well. The only flaw in his fine virtue's shine, If virtue's shine can be stained at all, Is a sharp wit paired with too stubborn a will, Whose sharpness can cut, whose will still wishes It should spare no one who comes within his power.
Yeah, I know him. I saw him at a wedding in Normandy for Lord Perigort marrying the daughter of Jacques Falconbridge. He's really talented and respected—good with books and weapons both. He's pretty much good at whatever he tries. The only problem with him, if you can even call it that, is he's got a quick tongue but he's too stubborn. His wit is razor-sharp and he'll use it to hurt anyone he can get at.
i saw him at a wedding super talented guy but his wit is mean and he's stubborn
Some merry mocking lord, belike. Is’t so?
So he is probably some playful mocking lord, is he?
So he's like this funny guy who makes fun of people?
so he's a mocker?
They say so most that most his humours know.
Those who know his character best say so mostly.
Yeah, that's what people say who actually know him.
those who know him best say yes
Such short-lived wits do wither as they grow.
Who are the rest?
Such quick-witted people wither as they grow. Who are the other men?
People like that burn out pretty fast when they get older. Who are the rest of these guys?
quick wits burn out who else is there?
She gives Dumaine the most generous description of any of the lords but shuts Boyet down with perfect economy. Watch for how her warmth and her firmness coexist without contradiction.
The young Dumaine, a well-accomplished youth,
Of all that virtue love for virtue loved;
Most power to do most harm, least knowing ill,
For he hath wit to make an ill shape good,
And shape to win grace though he had no wit.
I saw him at the Duke Alençon’s once;
And much too little of that good I saw
Is my report to his great worthiness.
The young Dumaine, a well-accomplished youth, Of all that virtue loves for its own sake; Most ability to do the most damage, least knowing evil, Because he has wit enough to make a poor appearance look good, And appearance enough to gain favor though he had no wit. I saw him once at the Duke Alençon's; And much too little of that goodness I saw Is what I could say about his great worth.
Dumaine is this young guy who's really well put together, loves virtue for its own sake. He's got the ability to hurt people but doesn't know evil very well. He's clever enough to make himself look good even if his appearance wasn't great, and his looks are good enough that he'd be fine even without being clever. I saw him at the Duke Alençon's place once. Honestly, everything good I saw in him is too little to say about how great he actually is.
dumaine's the young talented one smart and good-looking really virtuous too
Her wit is faster even than Berowne's — she uses his own moves against him and ends exchanges before he can. Watch for how she phrases every line so it can mean exactly what it says and exactly the opposite.
Another of these students at that time
Was there with him, if I have heard a truth.
Berowne they call him, but a merrier man,
Within the limit of becoming mirth,
I never spent an hour’s talk withal.
His eye begets occasion for his wit,
For every object that the one doth catch
The other turns to a mirth-moving jest,
Which his fair tongue, conceit’s expositor,
Delivers in such apt and gracious words
That aged ears play truant at his tales,
And younger hearings are quite ravished,
So sweet and voluble is his discourse.
There was another of these scholars studying at that time Who was there with him, if what I have heard is true. Berowne they call him, but a more entertaining man, Within the bounds of proper cheer, I never spent an hour's conversation with. His eye creates opportunities for his wit, Because every object that his eye catches, His mind turns into a laugh-producing joke, Which his fair tongue, wisdom's interpreter, Delivers in such fitting and graceful words That old people abandon all discipline to hear his stories, And younger ears are completely enchanted, Because his speech is so sweet and flowing.
Then there's Berowne, another one of those guys studying with them. From what I've heard, he's the funniest person I've ever spent time with—and I mean genuinely funny, nothing crude. His eye sees things and his brain immediately makes jokes out of them. Whatever he looks at, his mind turns it into something hilarious, and his tongue delivers it in such beautiful, smooth language that even old people get drawn in and forget themselves listening to him. Younger people are totally captivated because the way he talks is just so good.
berowne's hilarious super charming everyone loves listening to him
God bless my ladies! Are they all in love,
That every one her own hath garnished
With such bedecking ornaments of praise?
God protect my ladies! Are they all in love, That each of them has decorated Herself with such impressive compliments of praise?
Come on! Are all you ladies in love? Because you're all gushing about these guys with praise like you've never seen anything.
are you all in love? you're praising them way too much
Here comes Boyet.
Here comes Boyet.
Here comes Boyet.
here comes boyet
Now, what admittance, lord?
Now, what is his answer, lord?
So what did he say?
so what's his answer?
Navarre had notice of your fair approach,
And he and his competitors in oath
Were all addressed to meet you, gentle lady,
Before I came. Marry, thus much I have learned:
He rather means to lodge you in the field,
Like one that comes here to besiege his court,
Than seek a dispensation for his oath,
To let you enter his unpeopled house.
Navarre received news of your beautiful approach, And he and his oath-bound companions Were all ready to meet you, gentle lady, Before I arrived. However, here is what I learned: He plans to lodge you in the fields, Like someone who comes here to besiege his court, Rather than seek an exception to his oath, To allow you to enter his empty house.
Navarre heard you were coming and he and his friends were all set to meet you before I even got there. But here's the thing: he's planning to put you up outside in the fields instead of letting you into his house. It's like he's treating you like an enemy army laying siege to his place rather than finding a way around his oath.
navarre's keeping you outside in the fields not letting you in his house says his oath won't allow it
Here comes Navarre.
Here comes the King of Navarre.
Here comes Navarre.
navarre's here
Fair Princess, welcome to the court of Navarre.
Beautiful Princess, welcome to the court of Navarre.
Welcome to Navarre, your Highness.
welcome to navarre
“Fair” I give you back again, and “welcome” I have not yet. The roof of
this court is too high to be yours, and welcome to the wide fields too
base to be mine.
The word "fair" I give back to you, and "welcome" I have not yet received. The roof of this court is too high to be yours to offer, and the open fields too low to be mine.
I'll give you "fair" right back, but I'm not accepting "welcome" yet. This building is too grand for you to own, and camping outside is too basic for me.
keep your welcome the fields are beneath me
You shall be welcome, madam, to my court.
You will be welcome, madam, in my court.
I promise you'll be welcome in my palace.
you will be welcome
The Aquitaine negotiation isn't just background — it's the reason the Princess is here, and Shakespeare gives it enough detail to feel real. Aquitaine was one of the most valuable and fought-over provinces in medieval and Renaissance Europe, constantly changing hands between French and English (and French and Spanish) kings. In the play, it stands as a pledge for a debt that the King of Navarre may or may not have received — creating a diplomatic impasse that neither party can resolve without the missing receipts. What's brilliant about this setup is that it gives the Princess entirely legitimate business to conduct: she's not here to pursue romance, she has a job to do, and the oath-keepers who refuse to admit her are also obstructing real state business. The comedy and the politics are perfectly entangled. The King can't win: letting her in breaks his oath; keeping her out breaks the code of hospitality and may cost him Aquitaine.
I will be welcome then. Conduct me thither.
Then I will accept your welcome. Lead me inside.
Then I accept. Take me in.
then let's go
Hear me, dear lady. I have sworn an oath.
Listen to me, dear lady. I have sworn an oath.
Wait, hear me out. I made an oath.
i made an oath
Our Lady help my lord! He’ll be forsworn.
May Our Lady help my lord! He will break his oath.
Oh God, he's going to break his promise.
he's gonna break it
Not for the world, fair madam, by my will.
Not at all, beautiful madam, I assure you by my will.
No way, I'm not breaking it. I swear.
no i won't
Why, will shall break it; will, and nothing else.
But your will would break it; will, and nothing else.
Your willingness is exactly what would break it—your will is the only thing keeping you out right now.
your will's the problem
Your ladyship is ignorant what it is.
Your Highness does not understand what this oath means.
You don't get what my oath actually is.
you don't get it
Were my lord so, his ignorance were wise,
Where now his knowledge must prove ignorance.
I hear your Grace hath sworn out housekeeping.
’Tis deadly sin to keep that oath, my lord,
And sin to break it.
But pardon me, I am too sudden bold.
To teach a teacher ill beseemeth me.
Vouchsafe to read the purpose of my coming,
And suddenly resolve me in my suit.
If my lord understood the situation as I do, his ignorance would be wisdom, But as it stands, his knowledge is actually ignorance. I understand you have sworn to avoid household life. It is mortal sin to keep that oath, my lord, And sin to break it. But forgive me, I speak too boldly. A student correcting a teacher is unbecoming. Please consider the purpose of my coming, And give me an answer quickly to my request.
If you understood things the way I do, not knowing would actually be smart. But right now, what you think you know is backwards. I hear you've sworn to lock yourself away from the world, which sounds virtuous. But keeping that oath is actually wrong, and breaking it is also wrong. Look, I'm sorry, I shouldn't be telling you this stuff. A student doesn't correct a teacher. Just read the message from my father about why I'm here and tell me what you think.
you've sworn the wrong thing keeping it is wrong breaking it is wrong just hear my request
Madam, I will, if suddenly I may.
Madam, I will hear you, if you will state it quickly.
I'll listen, but make it fast.
ok tell me fast
You will the sooner that I were away,
For you’ll prove perjured if you make me stay.
You will want me to leave all the sooner, Because you will break your oath if you let me stay.
You'll want me gone quickly anyway, because if you let me stay you'll have broken your promise.
you want me gone cuz letting me stay breaks your oath
[_To Rosaline_.] Did not I dance with you in Brabant once?
Didn't we dance together once in Brabant?
Didn't we dance together before, in Brabant?
didnt we dance in brabant once?
Did not I dance with you in Brabant once?
Did we not dance together in Brabant once?
Didn't we dance together in Brabant once?
we danced in brabant
I know you did.
I remember we did.
Yeah, we did.
yep
How needless was it then
To ask the question!
What a waste of time that question was, When you already knew the answer!
Then why'd you just ask me? That was stupid.
why ask then? stupid
You must not be so quick.
You should not respond so sharply.
Don't be so mean about it.
be nicer
’Tis long of you that spur me with such questions.
It is your fault that you provoke me with such questions.
You're the one who keeps asking annoying questions.
ur questions provoke me
Your wit’s too hot, it speeds too fast, ’twill tire.
Your mind is too sharp; it moves too fast; it will exhaust itself.
Your wit is too intense. It's running too hot and it'll burn out.
your wit's too hot it'll burn out
Not till it leave the rider in the mire.
Not until it abandons the rider in the mud.
Not until it throws me off into the dirt.
not till i crash
What time o’ day?
What time of day is it?
What time is it?
what time?
The hour that fools should ask.
The hour that stupid people should ask about.
The time when only an idiot would ask.
fool's hour
Now fair befall your mask.
May good fortune bless your mask.
Hope your mask looks good.
nice mask
Fair fall the face it covers.
Good fortune fall upon the face beneath it.
Hope the face under it is lucky.
good luck to your face
And send you many lovers!
And grant you many lovers!
And may you have tons of admirers!
hope u get tons of lovers
Amen, so you be none.
May that be true, as long as you don't have any.
Yeah, as long as they're not for you.
not for u tho
Nay, then will I be gone.
Well then I will leave.
Well then I'm out.
i'm leaving
Shakespeare engineers the pairings in this scene with mechanical precision: Maria describes Longaville and will spend the play orbiting him. Katharine describes Dumaine — and holds off Boyet's advances with the same sharp precision that she later uses with Dumaine. Rosaline volunteers Berowne. The ladies are not naive: the descriptions they give are accurate character analyses that reveal as much about the analyst as the analysed. Maria notes Longaville's 'too blunt will.' Katharine notes Dumaine could make 'an ill shape good.' Rosaline notes Berowne's eyes 'beget occasion for his wit' — which is exactly how he will fall in love with her later. They've done their research. The question the play poses quietly in this scene is: which group entered this garden more prepared? The men have their oath. The women have dossiers.
Madam, your father here doth intimate
The payment of a hundred thousand crowns,
Being but the one half of an entire sum
Disbursed by my father in his wars.
But say that he or we, as neither have,
Received that sum, yet there remains unpaid
A hundred thousand more, in surety of the which
One part of Aquitaine is bound to us,
Although not valued to the money’s worth.
If then the King your father will restore
But that one half which is unsatisfied,
We will give up our right in Aquitaine,
And hold fair friendship with his majesty.
But that, it seems, he little purposeth;
For here he doth demand to have repaid
A hundred thousand crowns, and not demands,
On payment of a hundred thousand crowns,
To have his title live in Aquitaine,
Which we much rather had depart withal,
And have the money by our father lent,
Than Aquitaine, so gelded as it is.
Dear Princess, were not his requests so far
From reason’s yielding, your fair self should make
A yielding ’gainst some reason in my breast,
And go well satisfied to France again.
Madam, your father here states The payment of one hundred thousand crowns, Being only half of the entire sum Paid out by my father in his wars. But let us say that he or we, as neither have, Received that sum, still there remains unpaid A hundred thousand more, as security for which One region of Aquitaine is bound to us, Although not worth the money itself. If then your father the King will restore Only that half which is still unpaid, We will give up our claim to Aquitaine, And keep friendly relations with his majesty. But that, it seems, he does not truly intend; Because he demands to have back One hundred thousand crowns, and does not ask, Upon payment of one hundred thousand crowns, To have his title returned to Aquitaine, Which we would much rather keep, And have the money my father lent, Than give up Aquitaine, which is already reduced. Dear Princess, if his demands were not so far From what reason would suggest, your beauty would make Me willing to compromise, even against my better judgment, And you would return to France satisfied.
Your father says he's owed one hundred thousand crowns. That's only half of what my father spent fighting wars. But okay, say neither of us actually received that money—there's still another hundred thousand he owes, which is why we're holding onto Aquitaine as a guarantee. The thing is, your father isn't just asking to be released from debt by getting back Aquitaine. He wants the money back and he wants Aquitaine too. That's not reasonable. If he'd be happy just getting half the money back, we'd give up Aquitaine and be friends. But since he wants everything, I can't just let you go without getting something settled, even though you're beautiful and I'd like to.
your dad owes a lot of money he wants aquitaine too that's not fair i like you but i can't just give in
You do the King my father too much wrong,
And wrong the reputation of your name,
In so unseeming to confess receipt
Of that which hath so faithfully been paid.
You wrong the King my father greatly, And you damage your own reputation, By denying so dishonestly that you received That which has been paid so faithfully.
You're seriously disrespecting my father and hurting your own reputation by claiming you never got money that was clearly paid.
you're disrespecting my dad he paid you already
I do protest I never heard of it;
And, if you prove it, I’ll repay it back
Or yield up Aquitaine.
I swear I have never heard of it; And if you can prove it, I will repay it Or give up Aquitaine.
I'm telling you I've never heard of this payment. If you can prove it happened, I'll pay it back or give you Aquitaine.
i never heard of it prove it and i'll pay
We arrest your word.
Boyet, you can produce acquittances
For such a sum from special officers
Of Charles his father.
We hold you to your word. Boyet, you can produce the receipts For such a sum from the official treasurers Of King Charles's court.
You're stuck with that promise. Boyet, you've got the receipts from the French treasury officers, right? They'll show the payment.
we're holding you to it boyet has the receipts
Satisfy me so.
Satisfy me so.
Satisfy me so.
satisfy me so
So please your Grace, the packet is not come
Where that and other specialties are bound.
Tomorrow you shall have a sight of them.
If it please your Grace, the documents are not arrived Where those and other official papers are sealed. Tomorrow you will be able to see them.
Your Majesty, the packet with all the paperwork hasn't gotten here yet. You'll see everything tomorrow.
docs aren't here yet tomorrow
It shall suffice me; at which interview
All liberal reason I will yield unto.
Meantime receive such welcome at my hand
As honour, without breach of honour, may
Make tender of to thy true worthiness.
You may not come, fair Princess, in my gates,
But here without you shall be so received
As you shall deem yourself lodged in my heart,
Though so denied fair harbour in my house.
Your own good thoughts excuse me, and farewell.
Tomorrow shall we visit you again.
That will be enough for me; at which meeting I will yield to any reasonable argument. Meanwhile, receive the kind welcome I can give Without violating my honor— I can offer hospitality to your genuine worth. You cannot enter my gates, fair Princess, But outside my doors you will be received As if you were lodged in my very heart, Even though I must deny you proper shelter in my house. Your own good judgment will excuse me, and farewell. Tomorrow we will visit you again.
That's good enough for me. When we see those documents, I'll accept whatever they show is fair. For now, I want to welcome you as best I can without breaking my oath—you deserve real hospitality. You can't come inside my house, but out here you'll be treated like you're living in my heart. Even though I have to keep you outside, you'll get everything else. I hope you understand and I hope this is okay. We'll come back tomorrow to see you.
welcome but not inside you'll be treated well outside i'm sorry see you tomorrow
Sweet health and fair desires consort your Grace.
May you have good health and pleasant desires as your companions.
I hope you stay healthy and happy.
stay well and happy
Thy own wish wish I thee in every place.
I wish for you whatever you wish for yourself, in every place.
I wish you get whatever you want, wherever you go.
hope u get what u want
Lady, I will commend you to mine own heart.
Lady, I will place your memory in my own heart.
I'm going to keep you in my heart.
you're in my heart
Pray you, do my commendations; I would be glad to see it.
Please do so; I would be happy to see it.
Sure, and I'd love to see what you've got in there.
i'd love to see
I would you heard it groan.
I wish you could hear it groan.
I wish you could hear it crying.
wish you could hear it suffer
Is the fool sick?
Is this simpleton ill?
Is he losing it?
is he sick?
Sick at the heart.
Sick with love.
Yeah, lovesick.
lovesick
Alack, let it blood.
Well, you should have blood drawn as treatment.
Then you need to get bled.
get bled then
Would that do it good?
Would that actually help?
Would that fix it?
would that help?
My physic says “ay”.
According to my medical knowledge, yes.
Yeah, that's what the medical books say.
yeah probably
Will you prick’t with your eye?
Would you do the bloodletting with your eye?
You gonna do it with a look?
with your eye?
_Non point_, with my knife.
No, with my knife.
Nope, with my blade.
my knife
Now, God save thy life.
May God protect your life.
Well, may God keep you alive.
god protect u
And yours from long living.
And may yours be spared from a long life.
And I hope you don't live a long time.
die soon
I cannot stay thanksgiving.
I cannot stop to offer thanks.
I don't have time to say thank you.
no time for thanks
Sir, I pray you, a word. What lady is that same?
Sir, I ask you, a word. What lady is that same one?
Hey, excuse me. Who's that lady?
who's that lady?
Chunks 2-1-040 through 2-1-076 are one of the most compressed romantic exchanges in Shakespeare: twenty-odd lines in which two people dance around mutual recognition without ever saying it plainly. Berowne opens with 'Did not I dance with you in Brabant?' — which she returns verbatim, daring him to confirm or deny. When he says 'I know you did,' she says 'then why did you ask?' He says she's too quick; she says he makes her quick. He says she'll tire; she says not before she unseats him. The whole thing ends with his awkward 'What time of day?' — pure deflection — which she answers with 'the hour that fools ask.' He wishes her mask well; she wishes him short-lived. Neither says 'I know you.' Neither needs to. The verbal sparring is an exact substitute for what neither will admit. Keep watching for how this exact rhythm — advance, parry, retreat, deflect — defines every exchange between them through the play.
The heir of Alençon, Katharine her name.
The heir of Alençon, called Katharine.
That's the Alençon heiress, Katharine.
katharine of alençon
A gallant lady. Monsieur, fare you well.
A fine lady. Good fellow, farewell.
She seems really great. Well, see you.
nice lady. bye
I beseech you a word. What is she in the white?
I ask you, a word. What is the lady in white?
Can I ask you something? Who's the woman in white?
who's the lady in white?
A woman sometimes, an you saw her in the light.
A woman sometimes, if you saw her in daylight.
Well, she looks like a woman if you see her in proper light.
a woman maybe in daylight
Perchance light in the light. I desire her name.
Perhaps she seems flighty in the light. I want to know her name.
Maybe she seems shallow in the daylight. I want her name though.
what's her name?
She hath but one for herself; to desire that were a shame.
She has only one name for herself; to ask for another would be improper.
She's got one name and that's all she needs. Asking for another would be weird.
she's got one name
Pray you, sir, whose daughter?
I ask you, sir, whose daughter is she?
Whose daughter is she?
whose daughter?
Her mother’s, I have heard.
Her mother's, from what I have heard.
Her mother's, from what I hear.
her mom's daughter
God’s blessing on your beard!
May God bless your beard!
What does that even mean?
what?
Good sir, be not offended.
She is an heir of Falconbridge.
Good sir, do not be upset. She is an heir of Falconbridge.
Don't be offended. She's from the Falconbridge family.
don't worry she's a falconbridge
Nay, my choler is ended.
She is a most sweet lady.
No, my anger is gone. She is a most sweet lady.
Okay, I'm not mad anymore. She seems really sweet.
ok i'm chill she's sweet
Not unlike, sir; that may be.
Probably so, sir; that might be true.
Yeah, maybe. That could be right.
probably
What’s her name in the cap?
What is the name of the lady in the hat?
What's the name of the one in the hat?
what's the one in the hat?
Rosaline, by good hap.
Rosaline, by good fortune.
Rosaline. Lucky for you.
rosaline
Is she wedded or no?
Is she married or not?
Is she married?
married?
To her will, sir, or so.
To her own desires, sir, or something like that.
To whoever she wants, basically.
to herself i guess
You are welcome, sir. Adieu.
You are welcome, sir. Farewell.
Well, nice talking to you. See you.
bye
Farewell to me, sir, and welcome to you.
Goodbye to you, sir, and welcome to you.
See you later, and welcome.
bye, welcome
That last is Berowne, the merry madcap lord.
Not a word with him but a jest.
That last one is Berowne, the cheerful wild lord. Every word from him is a joke.
That's Berowne, the fun-loving crazy guy. Everything that comes out of his mouth is a joke.
that's berowne, the wild one everything he says is a joke
And every jest but a word.
And every joke is also just a word.
And every joke he makes is basically just a word.
every punchline is just a word
It was well done of you to take him at his word.
It was good of you to take what he said seriously.
It was smart of you to actually believe what he said.
smart move trusting him
Boyet's closing speech about the King's infatuation (chunks 2-1-116 to 2-1-122) is the play's most inventive description of falling in love — and it's delivered by a man who is professionally calibrated to observe desire in others. He functions in this play as a kind of chorus-figure for the romantic subplot: he notices, reports, and comments on emotion with the detachment of a nature documentary narrator. But his detachment is also his limitation: he reads desire perfectly and feels none of the drama of it. The ladies mock him as 'Cupid's grandfather' — he's old enough to know everything about love and beyond the stage where it moves him. This makes him the ideal observer for a play that is as much about the observation of love as the experience of it. He is what everyone else in the play is trying not to be: someone for whom desire is spectacle, not experience.
I was as willing to grapple as he was to board.
I was just as ready to engage as he was to attack.
I was just as eager to go at it as he was.
i was ready as he was
Two hot sheeps, marry!
Two passionate people, seriously!
Two hot-headed people, wow!
two passionate people lol
And wherefore not ships?
No sheep, sweet lamb, unless we feed on your lips.
And why not ships instead? No sheep, dear one, unless we eat from your lips.
And why not ships then? No sheep, sweetheart, unless I can feed on your lips.
why not ships? no sheep unless i can taste your lips
You sheep and I pasture. Shall that finish the jest?
You're the sheep and I'm the pasture. Does that finish the joke?
So you're the sheep and I'm the field. Does that settle it?
you're sheep, i'm the pasture that end this?
So you grant pasture for me.
So you're allowing me a place to graze.
So you're giving me access to your field.
so i can have your pasture
Not so, gentle beast.
My lips are no common, though several they be.
Not really, sweet animal. My lips aren't public property, even though they belong to me alone.
Not a chance, buddy. My lips aren't public, even if they're just mine.
nope, beast my lips aren't public
Belonging to whom?
Belonging to whom?
Belonging to whom?
belonging to whom
To my fortunes and me.
To my own future and to me.
To me and my own life.
they're just mine
Good wits will be jangling; but, gentles, agree.
This civil war of wits were much better used
On Navarre and his bookmen, for here ’tis abused.
Clever people will keep bickering; but friends, get along. This witty argument would be much better aimed At Navarre and his scholars, because here it's being wasted.
Witty people are always going to argue, but come on, you guys, settle down. This clever bickering would be much better directed at Navarre and his scholars instead of wasting it here.
stop arguing, friends use your wit on navarre instead
If my observation, which very seldom lies,
By the heart’s still rhetoric disclosed with eyes,
Deceive me not now, Navarre is infected.
If my ability to read people, which is rarely wrong, Based on what I see in the eyes and the heart's silent language, Don't fool me now, then Navarre is lovesick.
If my eye for reading people—and I'm usually right— Based on what I see in someone's eyes and how their heart speaks, Isn't failing me now, then Navarre's definitely lovesick.
navarre's lovesick i can tell by his eyes
With what?
With what?
With what?
with what
With that which we lovers entitle “affected”.
With what lovers call being lovesick.
With what we call being head over heels.
lovesickness
Your reason.
Your reason.
Your reason.
your reason
Why, all his behaviours did make their retire
To the court of his eye, peeping thorough desire.
His heart, like an agate, with your print impressed,
Proud with his form, in his eye pride expressed.
His tongue, all impatient to speak and not see,
Did stumble with haste in his eyesight to be;
All senses to that sense did make their repair,
To feel only looking on fairest of fair.
Methought all his senses were locked in his eye,
As jewels in crystal for some prince to buy;
Who, tend’ring their own worth from where they were glassed,
Did point you to buy them, along as you passed.
His face’s own margent did quote such amazes
That all eyes saw his eyes enchanted with gazes.
I’ll give you Aquitaine, and all that is his,
An you give him for my sake but one loving kiss.
Here's why: all his attention has retreated to his eyes, revealing his desire. His heart is like a stone bearing your impression, Proud in his form, and his eyes show that pride. His tongue, desperate to speak yet unable to stop looking, Stumbles over itself in its eagerness just to keep watching; All his other senses abandon themselves to sight, To experience only by looking at the most beautiful person. It seems all his senses are locked in his eyes, Like jewels in crystal for a prince to purchase; Jewels that display their own value from where they're set, And point to you as an invitation as you pass. His very face shows such wonder That everyone can see his eyes are bewitched by you. I'll hand over Aquitaine and everything he owns, If you give him for my sake just one loving kiss.
Well, here's what's happening: all his attention has moved to his eyes, completely showing how much he wants you. His heart is marked by you like a stone has an imprint, He's proud of himself, and his eyes make that crystal clear. His tongue wants to speak but he can't stop staring, Tripping over itself just trying to keep looking at you; Every single sense he has gives up and focuses only on sight, He can only feel anything by looking at you—the most beautiful person there is. All his senses are basically locked in his eyes, Like valuable gems locked behind glass for a prince to buy; Those gems just sitting there showing off how valuable they are, Almost begging you to want them as you walk past. His entire face is screaming with wonder So loudly that everyone can see his eyes are completely captivated by you. I'll give you an entire territory and everything this guy owns, If you just give him one loving kiss for me.
he's obsessed with you can't stop staring all his senses locked on you like gems on display everyone sees he's captivated i'll give aquitaine if you kiss him
Come, to our pavilion. Boyet is disposed.
Come, let's go to our tent. Boyet is in a joking mood.
Let's go to our pavilion. Boyet's feeling chatty.
let's go, boyet's being silly
But to speak that in words which his eye hath disclosed.
I only have made a mouth of his eye
By adding a tongue which I know will not lie.
I'm just putting into words what his eyes have already revealed. I've simply given his eyes the ability to speak By adding a tongue—my words—which I know won't lie.
I'm just saying out loud what his eyes already showed. I've basically given his eyes the ability to talk By adding my words as their voice, and I promise my words are true.
i'm saying what his eyes already showed i gave his eyes a tongue, and i'm not lying
Thou art an old love-monger, and speakest skilfully.
You're an old hand at selling romance, and you speak skillfully.
You're an old romantic smooth-talker, and you're really good at it.
old love dealer you talk real smooth
He is Cupid’s grandfather, and learns news of him.
He's so experienced in love he's practically Cupid's grandfather, and he learns the latest from Cupid.
He's ancient when it comes to love—basically Cupid's grandfather—and he's always getting the latest gossip from him.
he's cupid's grandfather always learning love secrets
Then was Venus like her mother; for her father is but grim.
Then Venus must have been like her mother, because her father is quite stern.
Then Venus's mother must have been something else, because her father is pretty serious.
venus's mom must be strong if her dad's that serious
Do you hear, my mad wenches?
Are you listening, you wild women?
Hey, are you crazy women paying attention?
you girls listening?
No.
No.
No.
no
What, then, do you see?
What, then, are you looking at?
So what's caught your attention?
what're you looking at?
Ay, our way to be gone.
Yes, the way out for us.
Yeah, the exit.
yeah the way out
You are too hard for me.
You're too much for me.
You're too sharp for me.
you got me
The Reckoning
The play tilts on its axis in this scene: the women arrive and they are, flatly, better at this than the men. The Princess strips the King's welcome bare in three lines, and every subsequent exchange between lord and lady runs the same way — the women win. We leave with the delightful suspicion that five marriages and a very embarrassing oath-breaking are now inevitable.
If this happened today…
A French tech executive flies to a startup campus in Silicon Valley for a meeting about a major licensing dispute involving money her father's company paid years ago. The startup founder — who has publicly committed to a 'no meetings, heads-down work' policy with his co-founders — meets her in the parking lot because he literally cannot invite her inside. She produces the receipts (figuratively: her legal team has the documentation). He says he hasn't seen those documents. She says: check your email, we'll send them tomorrow. Meanwhile, one of his engineers slides up to her assistant to ask if that woman in the blue jacket is single. She is not. None of this is going according to anyone's plan.