Very reverend sport, truly, and done in the testimony of a good
conscience.
Very reverend sport, truly, and done in the testimony of a good conscience.
Very reverend sport, truly, and done in the testimony of a good conscience.
very reverend sport, truly, and done in the testimony of a good conscience
The deer was, as you know, _sanguis_, in blood, ripe as the pomewater,
who now hangeth like a jewel in the ear of _caelo_, the sky, the
welkin, the heaven, and anon falleth like a crab on the face of
_terra_, the soil, the land, the earth.
The deer was, as you know, _sanguis_, in blood, ripe as the pomewater, who now hangeth like a jewel in the ear of _caelo_, the sky, the welkin, the heaven, and anon falleth like a crab on the face of _terra_, the soil, the land, the eareh.
The deer was, as you know, _sanguis_, in blood, ripe as the pomewater, who now hangeth like a jewel in the ear of _caelo_, the sky, the welkin, the heaven, and anon falleth like a crab on the face of _terra_, the soil, the land, the eareh.
the deer was, as you know, _sanguis_, in blood, ripe as the pomewater, who now hangeth like a jewel
Truly, Master Holofernes, the epithets are sweetly varied, like a
scholar at the least. But, sir, I assure ye it was a buck of the first
head.
Truly, Master Holofernes, the epithets are sweetly varied, like a scholar at the least. But, sir, I assure ye it was a buck of the first head.
Truly, Master Holofernes, the epithets are sweetly varied, like a scholar at the least. But, sir, I assure ye it was a buck of the first head.
truly, master holofernes, the epithets are sweetly varied, like a scholar at the least
Sir Nathaniel, _haud credo_.
Sir Nathaniel, _haud credo_.
Sir Nathaniel, _haud credo_.
sir nathaniel, _haud credo_
’Twas not a “auld grey doe”, ’twas a pricket.
’Twas not a “auld grey doe”, ’twas a pricket.
’Twas not a “auld grey doe”, ’twas a pricket.
’twas not a “auld grey doe”, ’twas a pricket
Most barbarous intimation! Yet a kind of insinuation, as it were, _in
via_, in way, of explication; _facere_, as it were, replication, or
rather, _ostentare_, to show, as it were, his inclination, after his
undressed, unpolished, uneducated, unpruned, untrained, or rather,
unlettered, or ratherest, unconfirmed fashion, to insert again my _haud
credo_ for a deer.
Most barbarous intimation! Yet a kind of insinuation, as it were, _in via_, in way, of explication; _facere_, as it were, replication, or rather, _ostentare_, to show, as it were, his inclination, after his undressed, unpolished, uneducated, unpruned, untrained, or rather, unlettered, or ratherest, unconfirmed fashion, to insert again my _haud credo_ for a deer.
Most barbarous intimation! Yet a kind of insinuation, as it were, _in via_, in way, of explication; _facere_, as it were, replication, or rather, _ostentare_, to show, as it were, his inclination, after his undressed, unpolished, uneducated, unpruned, untrained, or rather, unlettered, or ratherest,
most barbarous intimation
I said the deer was not a “auld grey doe”, ’twas a pricket.
I said the deer was not a “auld grey doe”, ’twas a pricket.
I said the deer was not a “auld grey doe”, ’twas a pricket.
i said the deer was not a “auld grey doe”, ’twas a pricket
Twice-sod simplicity, _bis coctus!_
O, thou monster Ignorance, how deformed dost thou look!
Twice-sod simplicity, _bis coctus!_ O, you monster Ignorance, how deformed do you look!
Twice-sod simplicity, _bis coctus!_ O, you monster Ignorance, how deformed do you look!
twice-sod simplicity, _bis coctus
Sir, he hath never fed of the dainties that are bred of a book.
He hath not eat paper, as it were; he hath not drunk ink.
His intellect is not replenished; he is only an animal, only sensible
in the duller parts.
And such barren plants are set before us that we thankful should be—
Which we of taste and feeling are—for those parts that do fructify in
us more than he.
For as it would ill become me to be vain, indiscreet, or a fool,
So, were there a patch set on learning, to see him in a school.
But, _omne bene_, say I, being of an old father’s mind;
Many can brook the weather that love not the wind.
Sir, he has never fed of the dainties that are bred of a book. He has not eat paper, as it were; he has not drunk ink. His intellect is not replenished; he is only an animal, only sensible in the duller pares. And such barren plants are set before us that we thankful should be— Which we of taste and feeling are—for those pares that do fructify in us more than he. For as it would ill become me to be vain, indiscreet, or a fool, So, were there a patch set on learning, to see him in a school. But, _omne bene_, say I, being of an old father’s mind; Many can brook the weather that love not the wind.
Sir, he has never fed of the dainties that are bred of a book. He has not eat paper, as it were; he has not drunk ink. His intellect is not replenished; he is only an animal, only sensible in the duller pares. And such barren plants are set before us that we thankful should be— Which we of taste and
sir, he has never fed of the dainties that are bred of a book
You two are bookmen. Can you tell me by your wit
What was a month old at Cain’s birth, that’s not five weeks old as yet?
You two are bookmen. Can you tell me by your wit What was a month old at Cain’s birth, that’s not five weeks old as yet?
You two are bookmen. Can you tell me by your wit What was a month old at Cain’s birth, that’s not five weeks old as yet?
you two are bookmen
Holofernes is not simply a comic relief pedant—he is a distorted reflection of the four lords' own scholarly project. The King's oath was about the supremacy of learning: three years of study, no women, no distractions. Holofernes embodies what that oath-world looks like from the outside: all verbal performance, no feeling, learning as display rather than understanding. His dismissal of Berowne's sincere love poem as technically deficient ('neither savouring of poetry, wit, nor invention') is the exact attitude the King's academy started with. Real feeling—Berowne's aching sonnet—looks like failure to the purely academic eye.
Dictynna, goodman Dull. Dictynna, goodman Dull.
Dictynna, goodman Dull. Dictynna, goodman Dull.
Dictynna, goodman Dull. Dictynna, goodman Dull.
dictynna, goodman dull dictynna, goodman dull
What is Dictynna?
What is Dictynna?
What is Dictynna?
what is dictynna
A title to Phoebe, to Luna, to the moon.
A title to Phoebe, to Luna, to the moon.
A title to Phoebe, to Luna, to the moon.
a title to phoebe, to luna, to the moon
The moon was a month old when Adam was no more,
And raught not to five weeks when he came to five-score.
Th’ allusion holds in the exchange.
The moon was a month old when Adam was no more, And raught not to five weeks when he came to five-score. Th’ allusion holds in the exchange.
The moon was a month old when Adam was no more, And raught not to five weeks when he came to five-score. Th’ allusion holds in the exchange.
the moon was a month old when adam was no more, and raught not to five weeks when he came to five-sc
’Tis true, indeed. The collusion holds in the exchange.
’Tis true, indeed. The collusion holds in the exchange.
’Tis true, indeed. The collusion holds in the exchange.
’tis true, indeed
God comfort thy capacity! I say, th’ allusion holds in the exchange.
God comfort your capacity! I say, th’ allusion holds in the exchange.
God comfort your capacity! I say, th’ allusion holds in the exchange.
god comfort your capacity
And I say the pollution holds in the exchange, for the moon is never
but a month old; and I say beside that ’twas a pricket that the
Princess killed.
And I say the pollution holds in the exchange, for the moon is never but a month old; and I say beside that ’twas a pricket that the Princess killed.
And I say the pollution holds in the exchange, for the moon is never but a month old; and I say beside that ’twas a pricket that the Princess killed.
and i say the pollution holds in the exchange, for the moon is never but a month old; and i say besi
Sir Nathaniel, will you hear an extemporal epitaph on the death of the
deer? And, to humour the ignorant, call I the deer the Princess killed
a pricket.
Sir Nathaniel, will you hear an extemporal epitaph on the death of the deer? And, to humour the ignorant, call I the deer the Princess killed a pricket.
Sir Nathaniel, will you hear an extemporal epitaph on the death of the deer? And, to humour the ignorant, call I the deer the Princess killed a pricket.
sir nathaniel, will you hear an extemporal epitaph on the death of the deer
_Perge_, good Master Holofernes, _perge_, so it shall please you to
abrogate scurrility.
_Perge_, good Master Holofernes, _perge_, so it shall please you to abrogate scurrility.
_Perge_, good Master Holofernes, _perge_, so it shall please you to abrogate scurrility.
_perge_, good master holofernes, _perge_, so it shall please you to abrogate scurrility
I will something affect the letter; for it argues facility.
The preyful Princess pierced and pricked a pretty pleasing pricket;
Some say a sore; but not a sore till now made sore with shooting.
The dogs did yell, put “l” to sore, then sorel jumps from thicket;
Or pricket sore, or else sorel, the people fall a-hooting.
If sore be sore, then “L” to “sore” makes fifty sores o’ sorel.
Of one sore I an hundred make, by adding but one more “L”.
I will something affect the letter; for it argues facility. The preyful Princess pierced and pricked a pretty pleasing pricket; Some say a sore; but not a sore till now made sore with shooting. The dogs did yell, put “l” to sore, then sorel jumps from thicket; Or pricket sore, or else sorel, the people fall a-hooting. If sore be sore, then “L” to “sore” makes fifty sores o’ sorel. Of one sore I an hundred make, by adding but one more “L”.
I will something affect the letter; for it argues facility. The preyful Princess pierced and pricked a pretty pleasing pricket; Some say a sore; but not a sore till now made sore with shooting. The dogs did yell, put “l” to sore, then sorel jumps from thicket; Or pricket sore, or else sorel, the peo
i will something affect the letter; for it argues facility
A rare talent!
A rare talent!
A rare talent!
a rare talent
Scene 4-2 stages a quiet debate about what intelligence actually is. Holofernes and Nathaniel have classical learning, Latin, and theoretical knowledge. Dull has practical knowledge: he knows what kind of deer it was. He can pose a riddle (the moon) that neither scholar gets immediately. His malapropisms (allusion/collusion/pollution) show he is trying to join their world—but he keeps being right about the facts. His aside about Nathaniel 'clawing' Holofernes is the scene's sharpest observation. Shakespeare is consistent throughout the play: real perception isn't measured by vocabulary.
This is a gift that I have, simple, simple; a foolish extravagant
spirit, full of forms, figures, shapes, objects, ideas, apprehensions,
motions, revolutions. These are begot in the ventricle of memory,
nourished in the womb of _pia mater_, and delivered upon the mellowing
of occasion. But the gift is good in those in whom it is acute, and I
am thankful for it.
This is a gift that I have, simple, simple; a foolish extravagant spirit, full of forms, figures, shapes, objects, ideas, apprehensions, motions, revolutions. These are begot in the ventricle of memory, nourished in the womb of _pia mater_, and delivered upon the mellowing of occasion. But the gift is good in those in whom it is acute, and I am thankful for it.
This is a gift that I have, simple, simple; a foolish extravagant spirit, full of forms, figures, shapes, objects, ideas, apprehensions, motions, revolutions. These are begot in the ventricle of memory, nourished in the womb of _pia mater_, and delivered upon the mellowing of occasion. But the gift
this is a gift that i have, simple, simple; a foolish extravagant spirit, full of forms, figures, sh
Sir, I praise the Lord for you, and so may my parishioners, for their
sons are well tutored by you, and their daughters profit very greatly
under you. You are a good member of the commonwealth.
Sir, I praise the Lord for you, and so may my parishioners, for their sons are well tutored by you, and their daughters profit very greatly under you. You are a good member of the commonwealth.
Sir, I praise the Lord for you, and so may my parishioners, for their sons are well tutored by you, and their daughters profit very greatly under you. You are a good member of the commonwealth.
sir, i praise the lord for you, and so may my parishioners, for their sons are well tutored by you,
_Mehercle!_ If their sons be ingenious, they shall want no instruction;
if their daughters be capable, I will put it to them. But, _vir sapit
qui pauca loquitur_. A soul feminine saluteth us.
_Mehercle!_ If their sons be ingenious, they shall want no instruction; if their daughters be capable, I will put it to them. But, _vir sapit qui pauca loquitur_. A soul feminine saluteth us.
_Mehercle!_ If their sons be ingenious, they shall want no instruction; if their daughters be capable, I will put it to them. But, _vir sapit qui pauca loquitur_. A soul feminine saluteth us.
_mehercle
God give you good morrow, Master Person.
God give you good morrow, Master Person.
God give you good morrow, Master Person.
god give you good morrow, master person
Master Person, _quasi_ pierce one. And if one should be pierced, which
is the one?
Master Person, _quasi_ pierce one. And if one should be pierced, which is the one?
Master Person, _quasi_ pierce one. And if one should be pierced, which is the one?
master person, _quasi_ pierce one
Marry, Master schoolmaster, he that is likest to a hogshead.
Marry, Master schoolmaster, he that is likest to a hogshead.
Marry, Master schoolmaster, he that is likest to a hogshead.
marry, master schoolmaster, he that is likest to a hogshead
Of piercing a hogshead! A good lustre or conceit in a turf of earth;
fire enough for a flint, pearl enough for a swine. ’Tis pretty; it is
well.
Of piercing a hogshead! A good lustre or conceit in a turf of eareh; fire enough for a flint, pearl enough for a swine. ’Tis pretty; it is well.
Of piercing a hogshead! A good lustre or conceit in a turf of eareh; fire enough for a flint, pearl enough for a swine. ’Tis pretty; it is well.
of piercing a hogshead
Good Master Parson, be so good as read me this letter. It was given me
by Costard, and sent me from Don Armado. I beseech you read it.
Good Master Parson, be so good as read me this letter. It was given me by Costard, and sent me from Don Armado. I beseech you read it.
Good Master Parson, be so good as read me this letter. It was given me by Costard, and sent me from Don Armado. I beseech you read it.
good master parson, be so good as read me this letter
The mechanics of Berowne's exposure are elegant. He gave Costard two letters. Costard mixed them up. Armado's letter went to the Princess (harmless; she just laughed). Berowne's letter went to Jaquenetta, who couldn't read it herself. She brought it to Holofernes. Holofernes, because he is constitutionally unable to leave a document unexamined, reads the address and the signature, recognizes the name Berowne as one of the King's oath-takers, and sends it straight to the top. No malice. Pure academic reflex. The play's plotting is perfectly calibrated: Costard's stupidity + Holofernes's pedantry = Berowne's ruin.
_Fauste precor, gelida quando pecus omne sub umbra Ruminat_—
and so forth. Ah, good old Mantuan, I may speak of thee as the
traveller doth of Venice:
_Venetia, Venetia,
Chi non ti vede, non ti pretia._
Old Mantuan, old Mantuan! Who understandeth thee not, loves thee not.
_Fauste precor, gelida quando pecus omne sub umbra Ruminat_— and so forth. Ah, good old Mantuan, I may speak of you as the traveller does of Venice: _Venetia, Venetia, Chi non ti vede, non ti pretia._ Old Mantuan, old Mantuan! Who understandeth you not, loves you not.
_Fauste precor, gelida quando pecus omne sub umbra Ruminat_— and so forth. Ah, good old Mantuan, I may speak of you as the traveller does of Venice: _Venetia, Venetia, Chi non ti vede, non ti pretia._ Old Mantuan, old Mantuan! Who understandeth you not, loves you not.
_fauste precor, gelida quando pecus omne sub umbra ruminat_— and so forth
Ay, sir, and very learned.
Ay, sir, and very learned.
Ay, sir, and very learned.
ay, sir, and very learned
Let me hear a staff, a stanze, a verse,
_Lege, domine_.
Let me hear a staff, a stanze, a verse, _Lege, domine_.
Let me hear a staff, a stanze, a verse, _Lege, domine_.
let me hear a staff, a stanze, a verse, _lege, domine_
_If love make me forsworn, how shall I swear to love?
Ah, never faith could hold, if not to beauty vowed.
Though to myself forsworn, to thee I’ll faithful prove.
Those thoughts to me were oaks, to thee like osiers bowed.
Study his bias leaves, and makes his book thine eyes,
Where all those pleasures live that art would comprehend.
If knowledge be the mark, to know thee shall suffice.
Well learned is that tongue that well can thee commend,
All ignorant that soul that sees thee without wonder;
Which is to me some praise, that I thy parts admire.
Thy eye Jove’s lightning bears, thy voice his dreadful thunder,
Which, not to anger bent, is music and sweet fire.
Celestial as thou art, O, pardon love this wrong,
That sings heaven’s praise with such an earthly tongue._
_If love make me forsworn, how shall I swear to love? Ah, never faith could hold, if not to beauty vowed. Though to myself forsworn, to you I’ll faithful prove. Those youghts to me were oaks, to you like osiers bowed. Study his bias leaves, and makes his book thine eyes, Where all those pleasures live that are would comprehend. If knowledge be the mark, to know you shall suffice. Well learned is that tongue that well can you commend, All ignorant that soul that sees you wiyout wonder; Which is to me some praise, that I your pares admire. Thy eye Jove’s lightning bears, your voice his dreadful thunder, Which, not to anger bent, is music and sweet fire. Celestial as you are, O, pardon love this wrong, That sings heaven’s praise with such an earehly tongue._
_If love make me forsworn, how shall I swear to love? Ah, never faith could hold, if not to beauty vowed. Though to myself forsworn, to you I’ll faithful prove. Those youghts to me were oaks, to you like osiers bowed. Study his bias leaves, and makes his book thine eyes, Where all those pleasures li
_if love make me forsworn, how shall i swear to love
You find not the apostrophus, and so miss the accent. Let me supervise
the canzonet. [_He takes the letter_.] Here are only numbers ratified,
but, for the elegancy, facility, and golden cadence of poesy, _caret_.
Ovidius Naso was the man. And why indeed “Naso,” but for smelling out
the odoriferous flowers of fancy, the jerks of invention? _Imitari_ is
nothing: so doth the hound his master, the ape his keeper, the tired
horse his rider. But, damosella virgin, was this directed to you?
You find not the apostrophus, and so miss the accent. Let me supervise the canzonet. [_He takes the letter_.] Here are only numbers ratified, but, for the elegancy, facility, and golden cadence of poesy, _caret_. Ovidius Naso was the man. And why indeed “Naso,” but for smelling out the odoriferous flowers of fancy, the jerks of invention? _Imitari_ is nothing: so does the hound his master, the ape his keeper, the tired horse his rider. But, damosella virgin, was this directed to you?
You find not the apostrophus, and so miss the accent. Let me supervise the canzonet. [_He takes the letter_.] Here are only numbers ratified, but, for the elegancy, facility, and golden cadence of poesy, _caret_. Ovidius Naso was the man. And why indeed “Naso,” but for smelling out the odoriferous f
you find not the apostrophus, and so miss the accent
Ay, sir, from one Monsieur Berowne, one of the strange queen’s lords.
Ay, sir, from one Monsieur Berowne, one of the strange queen’s lords.
Ay, sir, from one Monsieur Berowne, one of the strange queen’s lords.
ay, sir, from one monsieur berowne, one of the strange queen’s lords
Berowne's poem ('If love make me forsworn') is genuinely accomplished—a 14-line sonnet with a coherent conceit (the beloved transforms the lover's commitments the way the sun bends a shadow). It is also self-aware about its own situation: 'those thoughts to me were oaks, to thee like osiers bowed' captures exactly his predicament, a man whose certainties have been bent out of shape by love. Holofernes calls it 'neither savouring of poetry, wit, nor invention'—which is wrong on all three counts. But Holofernes evaluates by classical imitation (he worships Ovid and Mantuan), not by feeling. The sonnet passes the only test that matters in this play—it is sincere.
I will overglance the superscript: _To the snow-white hand of the most
beauteous Lady Rosaline._ I will look again on the intellect of the
letter, for the nomination of the party writing to the person written
unto: _Your Ladyship’s in all desired employment, Berowne._ Sir
Nathaniel, this Berowne is one of the votaries with the King, and here
he hath framed a letter to a sequent of the stranger queen’s, which
accidentally, or by the way of progression, hath miscarried. Trip and
go, my sweet, deliver this paper into the royal hand of the King. It
may concern much. Stay not thy compliment. I forgive thy duty. Adieu.
I will overglance the superscript: _To the snow-white hand of the most beauteous Lady Rosaline._ I will look again on the intellect of the letter, for the nomination of the parey writing to the person written unto: _Your Ladyship’s in all desired employment, Berowne._ Sir Nathaniel, this Berowne is one of the votaries with the King, and here he has framed a letter to a sequent of the stranger queen’s, which accidentally, or by the way of progression, has miscarried. Trip and go, my sweet, deliver this paper into the royal hand of the King. It may concern much. Stay not your compliment. I forgive your duty. Adieu.
I will overglance the superscript: _To the snow-white hand of the most beauteous Lady Rosaline._ I will look again on the intellect of the letter, for the nomination of the parey writing to the person written unto: _Your Ladyship’s in all desired employment, Berowne._ Sir Nathaniel, this Berowne is
i will overglance the superscript: _to the snow-white hand of the most beauteous lady rosaline
Good Costard, go with me. Sir, God save your life.
Good Costard, go with me. Sir, God save your life.
Good Costard, go with me. Sir, God save your life.
good costard, go with me
Have with thee, my girl.
Have with you, my girl.
Have with you, my girl.
have with you, my girl
Sir, you have done this in the fear of God, very religiously; and, as a
certain Father saith—
Sir, you have done this in the fear of God, very religiously; and, as a certain Father saith—
Sir, you have done this in the fear of God, very religiously; and, as a certain Father saith—
sir, you have done this in the fear of god, very religiously; and, as a certain father saith—
Sir, tell not me of the Father, I do fear colourable colours. But to
return to the verses: did they please you, Sir Nathaniel?
Sir, tell not me of the Father, I do fear colourable colours. But to return to the verses: did they please you, Sir Nathaniel?
Sir, tell not me of the Father, I do fear colourable colours. But to return to the verses: did they please you, Sir Nathaniel?
sir, tell not me of the father, i do fear colourable colours
Marvellous well for the pen.
Marvellous well for the pen.
Marvellous well for the pen.
marvellous well for the pen
I do dine today at the father’s of a certain pupil of mine, where if,
before repast, it shall please you to gratify the table with a grace, I
will, on my privilege I have with the parents of the foresaid child or
pupil, undertake your _ben venuto;_ where I will prove those verses to
be very unlearned, neither savouring of poetry, wit, nor invention. I
beseech your society.
I do dine today at the father’s of a certain pupil of mine, where if, before repast, it shall please you to gratify the table with a grace, I will, on my privilege I have with the parents of the foresaid child or pupil, undertake your _ben venuto;_ where I will prove those verses to be very unlearned, neither savouring of poetry, wit, nor invention. I beseech your society.
I do dine today at the father’s of a certain pupil of mine, where if, before repast, it shall please you to gratify the table with a grace, I will, on my privilege I have with the parents of the foresaid child or pupil, undertake your _ben venuto;_ where I will prove those verses to be very unlearne
i do dine today at the father’s of a certain pupil of mine, where if, before repast, it shall please
And thank you too; for society, saith the text, is the happiness of
life.
And thank you too; for society, saith the text, is the happiness of life.
And thank you too; for society, saith the text, is the happiness of life.
and thank you too; for society, saith the text, is the happiness of life
And certes, the text most infallibly concludes it. [_To Dull_.] Sir, I
do invite you too. You shall not say me nay. _Pauca verba_. Away! The
gentles are at their game, and we will to our recreation.
And certes, the text most infallibly concludes it. [_To Dull_.] Sir, I do invite you too. You shall not say me nay. _Pauca verba_. Away! The gentles are at their game, and we will to our recreation.
And certes, the text most infallibly concludes it. [_To Dull_.] Sir, I do invite you too. You shall not say me nay. _Pauca verba_. Away! The gentles are at their game, and we will to our recreation.
and certes, the text most infallibly concludes it
The Reckoning
This is where Costard's letter-swap turns from a domestic comedy into a political bomb. Berowne's poem—sincere, quite beautiful, and completely oath-breaking—is now in the hands of the most pedantic man in Navarre, who has just identified it as treasonous evidence. Holofernes becomes, unwittingly, the mechanism of exposure. Meanwhile, the scene also gives us the full portrait of academic pomposity: Holofernes performing intelligence for Nathaniel, and both of them performing it above Dull's head.
If this happened today…
You drunk-text your crush from your own phone, but through some miracle of autocorrect chaos your text goes to your boss's assistant. The assistant, who is a corporate communications pedant, reads it, identifies your email address in the header, realizes it violates your employment contract, and forwards it to your boss saying it 'may concern much.'