If you are arm'd to do, as sworn to do,
Subscribe to your deep oaths, and keep it too.
Long. I am resolv'd; 'tis but a three years' fast: 24
The mind shall banquet, though the body pine:
Fat paunches have lean pates, and dainty bits
Make rich the ribs, but bankrupt quite the wits.
Dum. My loving lord, Dumaine is mortified: 28
The grosser manner of these world's delights
He throws upon the gross world's baser slaves:
To love, to wealth, to pomp, I pine and die;
With all these living in philosophy. 32
Ber. I can but say their protestation over;
So much, dear liege, I have already sworn,
That is, to live and study here three years.
But there are other strict observances; 36
As, not to see a woman in that term,
Which I hope well is not enrolled there:
And one day in a week to touch no food,
And but one meal on every day beside; 40
The which I hope is not enrolled there:
And then, to sleep but three hours in the night,
And not be seen to wink of all the day,—
When I was wont to think no harm all night 44
And make a dark night too of half the day,—
Which I hope well is not enrolled there.
O! these are barren tasks, too hard to keep,
Not to see ladies, study, fast, not sleep. 48
King. Your oath is pass'd to pass away from these.
Ber. Let me say no, my liege, an if you please.
I only swore to study with your Grace,
22 arm'd: ready
26 pates: heads
27 wits: faculties of the mind
28 mortified: dead so far as pleasures and passions are concerned
32 all these: i.e. love, wealth, pomp
38 there: i.e. in the schedule
43 wink of: close the eyes during
47 barren: fruitless, futile
50 an if: if
