How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Act.Scene.Line)
Quote #1
ARMADO
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. (1.2.183-185)
Here's how it works in this play: if you fall in love, you become a poet. We see this happen again and again with each of the men. It is interesting, though, that the women do not seem to express their feelings in writing like the men do. Why might this be the case?
Quote #2
HOLOFERNES
This is a gift that I have, simple, simple—
a foolish extravagant spirit, full of forms,
figures, shapes, objects, ideas, apprehensions, motions,
revolutions. These are begot in the ventricle
of memory, nourished in the womb of pia mater,
and delivered upon the mellowing of occasion. (4.2.82-87)
For Holofernes, more is always more (and never less). We can see from this quote that he takes great pains to create lists, and this list is representative of his tendency to list in general. He never met a list he didn't like.
Quote #3
HOLOFERNES
You find not the apostrophus, and so
miss the accent. Let me supervise the canzonet.(4.2.144-145)
Holofernes sees himself as the expert on all things literary.
Quote #4
HOLOFERNES
I will prove those verses to be very unlearned,
neither savoring of poetry, wit, nor invention.
I beseech your society. (4.2.183-185)
Holofernes will critique Berowne's letter in depth. These two have in common that they can't stand any writing but their own.
Quote #5
BEROWNE
By heaven, I do love, and it hath taught me to
rhyme, and to be melancholy. And here is part of my
rhyme, and here my melancholy. (4.3.12-14)
Just a few lines earlier, Berowne was calling to be hanged if he loves. But here he accepts his love and begins to understand emotionally his own argument in the first scene – that love can bring knowledge, too.
Quote #6
LONGAVILLE
I fear these stubborn lines lack power to move.
[Reads.] O sweet Maria, empress of my love—
These numbers will I tear, and write in prose. (4.3.53-55)
Longaville suffers a writer's insecurity and thinks he should give up on this poetry stuff. By "numbers" he means the meter in his poem.
Quote #7
BEROWNE
For when would you, my liege, or you, or you,
In leaden contemplation have found out
Such fiery numbers as the prompting eyes
Of beauty's tutors have enriched you with? (4.3.314-317)
Berowne brings home the message of the play: love teaches.
Quote #8
BOY, aside to Costard
They have been at a great feast
of languages and stolen the scraps.
COSTARD, aside to Boy
O, they have lived long on the
almsbasket of words. (5.1.38-41)
These two humble servants see Holofernes and Nathaniel's linguistic pomp for what it is – intellectual leftovers. Shakespeare often gave lowly characters sharp insight.
Quote #9
PRINCESS
Nothing but this? Yes, as much love in rhyme
As would be crammed up in a sheet of paper
Writ o' both sides the leaf, margent and all, (5.2.6-8)
The Princess doesn't seem to recognize the literary genius in her hands, perhaps because the King has yet to learn the value of editing.
Quote #10
BEROWNE
Taffeta phrases, silken terms precise,
Three-piled hyperboles, spruce affectation,
Figures pedanticall—these summer flies
Have blown me full of maggot ostentation. (5.2.442-445)
Berowne is swearing off ornate speeches for love of Rosaline, but can't help himself from "three-piling" words.