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Shakespeare on Stage
Original Shakespeare Company, Comedie of Errors. To Jun. 22, 2013.
SIP Editors, King Henry VIII. To Aug. 4, 2013.
SIP Editors, Measure for Measure. To Aug. 4, 2013.
Original Shakespeare Company, As You Like It. To Jun. 23, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, All's Well That Ends Well. To Nov. 29, 2013.
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Love's Labor's Lost (Quarto 1, 1598)

Author: William Shakespeare
Not Peer Reviewed

King. O paradox, Blacke is the badge of Hell,
The hue of dungions, and the Schoole of night:
1605And beauties crest becomes the heauens well.
Ber. Diuels soonest tempt resembling spirites of light.
O if in blacke my Ladyes browes be deckt,
It mournes, that painting vsurping haire
Should rauish dooters with a false aspect:
1610And therefore is she borne to make blacke fayre.
Her fauour turnes the fashion of the dayes,
For natiue blood is counted paynting now:
And therefore redd that would auoyde disprayse,
Paintes it selfe blacke, to imitate her brow.
1615Duma. To looke like her are Chimnie-sweepers blake.
Long. And since her time are Colliers counted bright.
King. And Æthiops of their sweete complexion crake.
Duma. Darke needes no Candles now, for darke is light.
Ber. Your Mistresses dare neuer come in raine,
1620For feare their colours should be washt away.
King. Twere good yours did: for sir to tell you plaine,
Ile finde a fayrer face not washt to day.
Ber. Ile proue her faire, or talke till doomse-day heere.
King. No Diuel will fright thee then so much as shee.
1625Duma. I neuer knew man holde vile stuffe so deare.
Long. Looke, heer's thy loue, my foote and her face see.
Ber. O if the streetes were paued with thine eyes,
Her feete were much too daintie for such tread.
Duma. O vile, then as she goes what vpward lyes?
1630The streete should see as she walkt ouer head.
King. But what of this, are we not all in loue?
Ber. O nothing so sure, and thereby all forsworne.
King. Then leaue this chat, and good Berowne now proue
Our louing lawfull, and our fayth not torne.
1635Duma. I marie there, some flatterie for this euyll.
Long. O some authoritie how to proceede,
Some tricks, some quillets, how to cheate the diuell.
Duma. Some salue for periurie.
Ber. O tis more then neede.
1640Haue at you then affections men at armes,
F2
Consi-
A pleasant conceited Comedie: