Enter FERDINAND king of Navarre, BIRON, LONGAVILLE and DUMAIN

FERDINAND king of Navarre, BIRON, LONGAVILLE and DUMAIN enter.

FERDINAND

Let fame, that all hunt after in their lives, Live register'd upon our brazen tombs And then grace us in the disgrace of death; When, spite of cormorant devouring Time, The endeavor of this present breath may buy That honour which shall bate his scythe's keen edge And make us heirs of all eternity. Therefore, brave conquerors,—for so you are, That war against your own affections And the huge army of the world's desires,— Our late edict shall strongly stand in force: Navarre shall be the wonder of the world; Our court shall be a little Academe, Still and contemplative in living art. You three, Biron, Dumain, and Longaville, Have sworn for three years' term to live with me My fellow-scholars, and to keep those statutes That are recorded in this schedule here: Your oaths are pass'd; and now subscribe your names, That his own hand may strike his honour down That violates the smallest branch herein: If you are arm'd to do as sworn to do, Subscribe to your deep oaths, and keep it too.

FERDINAND

Fame, the thing that we all want in our lives, should be engraved brazenly onto our tombs, commanding us respect even after death has destroyed us. In spite of time's quick passing, the things we have done while alive can embolden us to fight honorably against death and ensure we are remembered forever. Therefore, my brave conquerors, for that is what you are, our recent agreement will be binding and help us to fight the war against our own passions and the desires of this great world. Navarre will be the wonder of the world. Our court will be like a little university, a place to stop and think about how to live our lives. You three men, Biron, Dumain and Longaville, have promised to stay with me for three years as my fellow scholars, and to obey the rules that are written down in this agreement here. Your oaths have been pledged and now you must sign your names, so that if you break even the smallest detail of this agreement, you will have lost your honor by your own hand. If you are prepared to do what is written here, then sign your names and keep these promises.

LONGAVILLE

I am resolved; 'tis but a three years' fast: 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.

LONGAVILLE

I will do it; it is only three years! My mind will indulge in knowledge, even when my body goes hungry. Fat people are stupid, and delicious things makes the stomach larger, but intelligence and wit smaller. [He signs the oath]

DUMAIN

My loving lord, Dumain is mortified: 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.

DUMAIN

My loving lord, I am embarrassed by these things. The rude nature of these worldly pleasures should be left for the lowlifes of this world, like slaves. Let them love, indulge and do extravagant things, I will suffer and die with all the people who have chosen knowledge and wisdom instead.

BIRON

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; 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, 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 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!

BIRON

Now that they have finished talking, I feel that I have to say something. My dear lord, I have already promised to study here with you for three years. But as to the other things which you want us to promise: to not see a woman this entire time, which I hope is not written there; to fast for one day a week and to only eat one meal every other day, which I also hope is not written there; to only sleep for three hours every night and to not close your eyes at all during the day, when all I want is to sleep all night and for half of the day as well, I hope is not written there! Oh these tasks are pointless and will be too hard to keep, not to see women, to study, and to not even eat or sleep!

FERDINAND

Your oath is pass'd to pass away from these.

FERDINAND

In your oath you promise to give up these things.

BIRON

Let me say no, my liege, an if you please:I only swore to study with your graceAnd stay here in your court for three years' space.

BIRON

Then I must say no, my lord, since I only promised to study with you and stay in your court for three years.

LONGAVILLE

You swore to that, Biron, and to the rest.

LONGAVILLE

You swore to more than that Biron.

BIRON

By yea and nay, sir, then I swore in jest.What is the end of study? let me know.

BIRON

Perhaps I did, sir, but I was only joking. Tell me, what is the point of this study?

FERDINAND

Why, that to know, which else we should not know.

FERDINAND

Well, of course, to know things that we didn't know before.

BIRON

Things hid and barr'd, you mean, from common sense?

BIRON

Are you talking about things that common sense hides and conceals from us?