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  • Title: Love's Labor's Lost (Quarto 1, 1598)
  • Editor: Timothy Billings

  • Copyright Timothy Billings. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: Timothy Billings
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Love's Labor's Lost (Quarto 1, 1598)

    called Loues Labor's lost.

    Whether the three Worthis shall come in or no?
    Ber. What, are there but three?
    Clow. No sir, but it is vara fine,
    2430For euerie one pursents three.
    Bero. And three times thrice is nine.
    Clow. Not so sir, vnder correction sir, I hope it is not so.
    You cannot beg vs sir, I can assure you sir, we know what
    we know: I hope sir three times thrice sir.
    2435Bero. Is not nine.
    Clow. Vnder correction sir we know where-vntill it doth
    amount.
    Bero. By Ioue, I all wayes tooke three threes for nine.
    Clow. O Lord sir, it were pittie you should get your liuing
    2440by reckning sir.
    Bero. How much is it?
    Clow. O Lord sir, the parties themselues, the actors sir
    will shew wher-vntill it doth amount: for mine owne part, I
    am (as thy say, but to parfect one man in one poore man)
    2445Pompion the great sir.
    Bero. Art thou one of the Worthies?
    Clow. It pleased them to thinke me worthie of Pompey
    the great: for mine owne part I know not the degree of the
    Worthy, but I am to stand for him.
    2450Bero. Goe bid them prepare.
    Clow. We wil turne it finely off sir, we wil take some care. ( Exit.
    King. Berowne, they will shame vs: let them not approch.
    2455Bero. We are shame proofe my Lord: & tis some policie
    To haue one show worse then the Kings and his company.
    King. I say they shall not come.
    Quee. Nay my good Lord let me ore'rule you now.
    2460That sport best pleases, that doth best know how:
    Where zeale striues to content, and the contentes
    Dies in the zeale of that which it presentes:
    Their forme confounded, makes most forme in myrth,
    When great thinges labouring perish in their byrth.
    2465Bero. A right description of our sport my Lord.
    Enter Bragart.
    Brag. Annoynted, I implore so much expence of thy royal
    sweete