FERDINAND – King of Navarre
BIRON, LONGAVILLE, DUMAIN – lords attending on the King
BOYET, MERCADE – lords attending on the PRINCESS OF FRANCE
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO – a fantastical Spaniard
SIR NATHANIEL – a curate
HOLOFERNES – a schoolmaster
DULL – a constable
COSTARD – a clown
MOTH – page to ARMADO
A forester
PRINCESS OF FRANCE
ROSALINE, MARIA, KATHERINE – ladies attending on the PRINCESS
JACQUENETTA – a country wench
Officers and others – attendants on the KING and PRINCESS
PLAY
Navarre.
ACT I
Scene i: Navarre. A park, with a palace in it.
Scene ii: Another part of the park.
ACT II
Scene i: Another part of the park. A pavilion and tents at a distance.
ACT III”
Scene i: A part of the park.
ACT IV
Scene i: A part of the park.
Scene ii: Another part of the park.
Scene iii: Another part of the park.
ACT V
Scene i: Another part of the park.
Scene ii: Another part of the park. Before the Princess’ pavilion.
Act I: Scene ii
DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO: I do affect the very ground, which is base, where her shoe, which is baser, guided by her foot, which is basest, doth tread. I shall be forsworn, – which is a great argument of falsehood, – if I love. And how can that be true love which is falsely attempted? Love is a familiar; love is a devil; there is no evil angel but love. Yet Samson was so tempted, – and he had an excellent strength: yet was Solomon so seduced, – and he had a very good wit. Cupid’s buttshaft is too hard for Hercules’ club, and therefore too much odds for a Spaniard’s rapier. The first and second cause will not serve my turn; the passado he respects not, the duello he regards not: his disgrace is to be called boy; but his glory is to subdue men. Adieu, valour! rust, rapier! be still, drum! for your manager is in love; yea, he loveth. Assist me, some extemporal god of rhyme, for I am sure I shall turn sonneteer. Devise, wit; write, pen; for I am for whole volumes of folio.
