King. Ay, the best for the worst. But, sirrah,
what say you to this? 280
Cost. Sir, I confess the wench.
King. Did you hear the proclamation?
Cost. I do confess much of the hearing it, but
little of the marking of it. 284
King. It was proclaimed a year's imprison-
ment to be taken with a wench.
Cost. I was taken with none, sir: I was taken
with a damsel. 288
King. Well, it was proclaimed 'damsel.'
Cost. This was no damsel neither, sir: she
was a virgin.
King. It is so varied too; for it was pro-
claimed 'virgin.' 293
Cost. If it were, I deny her virginity: I was
taken with a maid.
King. This maid will not serve your turn, sir. 296
Cost. This maid will serve my turn, sir.
King. Sir, I will pronounce your sentence:
you shall fast a week with bran and water.
Cost. I had rather pray a month with mutton 300
and porridge.
King. And Don Armado shall be your keeper.
My Lord Berowne, see him deliver'd o'er:
And go we, lords, to put in practice that 304
Which each to other hath so strongly sworn.
[Exeunt King, Longaville, and Dumaine.]
Ber. I'll lay my head to any good man's hat,
These oaths and laws will prove an idle scorn.
Sirrah, come on. 308
Cost. I suffer for the truth, sir: for true it is
284 marking of: paying attention to
288 damsel: a young unmarried woman of good birth
300 mutton: slang for 'loose woman'
306 lay: wager
