Love's Labour Lost

Characters

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

Setting

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.

Soliloquy

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.