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Result number
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Work
The work is either a play, poem, or sonnet. The sonnets
are treated as single work with 154 parts.
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Character
Indicates who said the line. If it's a play or sonnet,
the character name is "Poet."
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Line
Shows where the line falls within the work.
The numbering is not keyed to any copyrighted numbering system found in a volume of
collected works (Arden, Oxford, etc.) The numbering starts at the beginning of the work, and does not
restart for each scene.
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Text
The line's full text, with keywords highlighted
within it, unless highlighting has been disabled by the user.
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1 |
Love's Labour's Lost
[I, 1] |
Biron |
35 |
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!
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2 |
Love's Labour's Lost
[I, 1] |
Biron |
74 |
Why, all delights are vain; but that most vain,
Which with pain purchased doth inherit pain:
As, painfully to pore upon a book
To seek the light of truth; while truth the while
Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look:
Light seeking light doth light of light beguile:
So, ere you find where light in darkness lies,
Your light grows dark by losing of your eyes.
Study me how to please the eye indeed
By fixing it upon a fairer eye,
Who dazzling so, that eye shall be his heed
And give him light that it was blinded by.
Study is like the heaven's glorious sun
That will not be deep-search'd with saucy looks:
Small have continual plodders ever won
Save base authority from others' books
These earthly godfathers of heaven's lights
That give a name to every fixed star
Have no more profit of their shining nights
Than those that walk and wot not what they are.
Too much to know is to know nought but fame;
And every godfather can give a name.
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3 |
Love's Labour's Lost
[I, 1] |
Ferdinand |
145 |
What say you, lords? Why, this was quite forgot.
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4 |
Love's Labour's Lost
[I, 1] |
Costard |
204 |
The matter is to me, sir, as concerning Jaquenetta.
The manner of it is, I was taken with the manner.
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5 |
Love's Labour's Lost
[I, 1] |
Costard |
207 |
In manner and form following, sir; all those three:
I was seen with her in the manor-house, sitting with
her upon the form, and taken following her into the
park; which, put together, is in manner and form
following. Now, sir, for the manner,—it is the
manner of a man to speak to a woman: for the form,—
in some form.
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6 |
Love's Labour's Lost
[I, 1] |
Ferdinand |
283 |
It was proclaimed a year's imprisonment, to be taken
with a wench.
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7 |
Love's Labour's Lost
[I, 1] |
Costard |
285 |
I was taken with none, sir: I was taken with a damsel.
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8 |
Love's Labour's Lost
[I, 1] |
Ferdinand |
286 |
Well, it was proclaimed 'damsel.'
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9 |
Love's Labour's Lost
[I, 1] |
Costard |
287 |
This was no damsel, neither, sir; she was a virgin.
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10 |
Love's Labour's Lost
[I, 1] |
Ferdinand |
288 |
It is so varied, too; for it was proclaimed 'virgin.'
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11 |
Love's Labour's Lost
[I, 1] |
Costard |
289 |
If it were, I deny her virginity: I was taken with a maid.
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12 |
Love's Labour's Lost
[I, 1] |
Costard |
303 |
I suffer for the truth, sir; for true it is, I was
taken with Jaquenetta, and Jaquenetta is a true
girl; and therefore welcome the sour cup of
prosperity! Affliction may one day smile again; and
till then, sit thee down, sorrow!
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13 |
Love's Labour's Lost
[I, 2] |
Moth |
373 |
Samson, master: he was a man of good carriage, great
carriage, for he carried the town-gates on his back
like a porter: and he was in love.
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14 |
Love's Labour's Lost
[I, 2] |
Don Adriano de Armado |
376 |
O well-knit Samson! strong-jointed Samson! I do
excel thee in my rapier as much as thou didst me in
carrying gates. I am in love too. Who was Samson's
love, my dear Moth?
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15 |
Love's Labour's Lost
[I, 2] |
Moth |
390 |
It was so, sir; for she had a green wit.
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16 |
Love's Labour's Lost
[I, 2] |
Moth |
409 |
The world was very guilty of such a ballad some
three ages since: but I think now 'tis not to be
found; or, if it were, it would neither serve for
the writing nor the tune.
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17 |
Love's Labour's Lost
[I, 2] |
Don Adriano de Armado |
463 |
I do affect the very ground, which is base, where
her shoe, which is baser, guided by her foot, which
is basest, doth tread. I shall be forsworn, which
is a great argument of falsehood, if I love. And
how can that be true love which is falsely
attempted? Love is a familiar; Love is a devil:
there is no evil angel but Love. Yet was Samson so
tempted, and he had an excellent strength; yet was
Solomon so seduced, and he had a very good wit.
Cupid's butt-shaft is too hard for Hercules' club;
and therefore too much odds for a Spaniard's rapier.
The first and second cause will not serve my turn;
the passado he respects not, the duello he regards
not: his disgrace is to be called boy; but his
glory is to subdue men. Adieu, valour! rust rapier!
be still, drum! for your manager is in love; yea,
he loveth. Assist me, some extemporal god of rhyme,
for I am sure I shall turn sonnet. Devise, wit;
write, pen; for I am for whole volumes in folio.
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18 |
Love's Labour's Lost
[II, 1] |
Boyet |
485 |
Now, madam, summon up your dearest spirits:
Consider who the king your father sends,
To whom he sends, and what's his embassy:
Yourself, held precious in the world's esteem,
To parley with the sole inheritor
Of all perfections that a man may owe,
Matchless Navarre; the plea of no less weight
Than Aquitaine, a dowry for a queen.
Be now as prodigal of all dear grace
As Nature was in making graces dear
When she did starve the general world beside
And prodigally gave them all to you.
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19 |
Love's Labour's Lost
[II, 1] |
Rosaline |
550 |
Another of these students at that time
Was there with him, if I have heard a truth.
Biron they call him; but a merrier man,
Within the limit of becoming mirth,
I never spent an hour's talk withal:
His eye begets occasion for his wit;
For every object that the one doth catch
The other turns to a mirth-moving jest,
Which his fair tongue, conceit's expositor,
Delivers in such apt and gracious words
That aged ears play truant at his tales
And younger hearings are quite ravished;
So sweet and voluble is his discourse.
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20 |
Love's Labour's Lost
[II, 1] |
Rosaline |
606 |
How needless was it then to ask the question!
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