At Christmas I no more desire a rose
Than wish a snow in May's new-fangled shows;
But like of each thing that in season grows.
So you, to study now it is too late, 108
Climb o'er the house to unlock the little gate.
King. Well, sit you out: go home, Berowne: adieu!
Ber. No, my good lord; I have sworn to stay with you:
And though I have for barbarism spoke more 112
Than for that angel knowledge you can say,
Yet confident I'll keep what I have sworn,
And bide the penance of each three years' day.
Give me the paper; let me read the same; 116
And to the strictest decrees I'll write my name.
King. How well this yielding rescues thee from shame!
Ber. 'Item. That no woman shall come with-
in a mile of my court.' Hath this been pro- 120
claimed?
Long. Four days ago.
Ber. Let's see the penalty. 'On pain of losing
her tongue.' Who devised this penalty? 124
Long. Marry, that did I.
Ber. Sweet lord, and why?
Long. To fright them hence with that dread penalty.
[Ber.] A dangerous law against gentility!
'Item. If any man be seen to talk with a wo- 128
man within the term of three years, he shall
endure such public shame as the rest of the
court can possibly devise.'
106 new-fangled shows; cf. n.
109 Cf. n.
110 sit you out: withdraw
114 confident: I am confident; cf. n.
115 each three years' day: each day for three years
119 Item: likewise
127 gentility: courtesy
