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.
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
