Love's Labour's Lost
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Act I
scene III
Act II
scene I
Act III
scene I
Act IV
scene IIIIII
Act V
scene III
First folio
Modern text
Definitions
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Enter the Pedant, Curate and Dull.Enter Holofernes, Nathaniel, and Dull LLL V.i.1
Pedant. HOLOFERNES 
Satis quid sufficit.Satis quod sufficit.satis...
that is enough which suffices		LLL V.i.1
Curat. NATHANIEL 
I praise God for you sir, your reasons atI praise God for you, sir. Your reasons atreason (n.)
observation, remark, point		LLL V.i.2
dinner haue beene sharpe & sententious: pleasantdinner have been sharp and sententious, pleasantsententious (adj.)
full of wise remarks, ready with acute observations, pithy		LLL V.i.3
sharp (adj.)

old form: sharpe
subtle, delicate, acute
without scurrillity, witty without affection, audaciouswithout scurrility, witty without affection, audaciousscurrility (n.)

old form: scurrillity
bawdry, indecent language		LLL V.i.4
affection (n.)
affectation, posing, artificiality
without impudency, learned without opinion, and without impudency, learned without opinion, andimpudency (n.)
impudence, effrontery, presumption		LLL V.i.5
opinion (n.)
arrogance, self-conceit, hubris
strange without heresie: I did conuerse this quondam strange without heresy. I did converse this quondamquondam (adj.)
former, erstwhile, previous		LLL V.i.6
day with a companion of the Kings, who is intituled,day with a companion of the King's, who is entitled,entitule, intitule (v.)
entitle, grace with the name of		LLL V.i.7
nominated, or called, Don Adriano de Armatho.nominated, or called Don Adriano de Armado.nominate (v.)
name, specify, designate [as]		LLL V.i.8
Ped. HOLOFERNES 
Noui hominum tanquam te, His humour isNovi hominem tanquam te. His humour ishumour (n.)
mood, disposition, frame of mind, temperament [as determined by bodily fluids]		LLL V.i.9
novi...

old form: Noui
I know the man as well as I know you
lofty, his discourse peremptorie: his tongue filed, hislofty, his discourse peremptory, his tongue filed, hisperemptory (adj.)

old form: peremptorie
determined, resolved, absolutely decided		LLL V.i.10
filed (adj.)
refined, smooth, polished
eye ambitious, his gate maiesticall, and his generalleye ambitious, his gait majestical, and his generalmajestical (adj.)

old form: maiesticall
grand, stately		LLL V.i.11
gait (n.)

old form: gate
manner of walking, bearing, movement
behauiour vaine, ridiculous, and thrasonicall. He is toobehaviour vain, ridiculous, and thrasonical. He is toothrasonical (adj.)

old form: thrasonicall
boastful, bragging, vainglorious		LLL V.i.12
picked, too spruce, too affected, too odde, as it were,picked, too spruce, too affected, too odd, as it were,odd (adj.)

old form: odde
eccentric, peculiar, unusual		LLL V.i.13
picked (adj.)
fastidious, neat, foppish
spruce (adj.)
over-elegant, smart
too peregrinat, as I may call it.too peregrinate, as I may call it.peregrinate (adj.)

old form: peregrinat
affectedly foreign, cosmopolitan		LLL V.i.14
Curat. NATHANIEL 
A most singular and choise Epithat, A most singular and choice epithet.epithet (n.)

old form: Epithat
turn of phrase, expression		LLL V.i.15
choice (adj.)

old form: choise
appropriate, fitting, well-chosen
Draw out his Table-booke.He draws out his table-booktable-book (n.)

old form: Table-booke
notebook, memo pad, memorandum book		LLL V.i.16
Peda. HOLOFERNES 
He draweth out the thred of his verbositie, He draweth out the thread of his verbosity LLL V.i.16
finer then the staple of his argument. I abhor suchfiner than the staple of his argument. I abhor suchstaple (n.)
fibre, texture, material		LLL V.i.17
argument (n.)
subject, point, theme, target
phanaticall phantasims, such insociable and poynt deuisefanatical phantasimes, such insociable and point-deviceinsociable (adj.)
intolerable, impossible to associate with		LLL V.i.18
point-device, point-devise (adj.)

old form: poynt deuise
immaculate, affectedly precise, trim to the point of perfection
phantasime (n.)

old form: phantasims
one full of fancies, extravagantly behaved individual
fanatical (adj.)
extravagant, flamboyant, over-the-top
companions, such rackers of ortagriphie, as to companions, such rackers of orthography, as toorthography (n.)

old form: ortagriphie
correct spelling		LLL V.i.19
racker (n.)
torturer, tormentor
speake dout fine, when he should say doubt; det,speak ‘dout’ sine ‘b’ when he should say ‘doubt,’ ‘det’ LLL V.i.20
when he shold pronounce debt; d e b t, not detwhen he should pronounce ‘debt’ – d, e, b, t, not d, e, LLL V.i.21
he clepeth a Calf, Caufe: halfe, haufe: neighbour t. He clepeth a calf ‘cauf’, half ‘hauf’; neighbourclepe (v.), past forms clept, yclept
[archaism] call, name, style		LLL V.i.22
vocatur nebour; neigh abreuiated ne: this isvocatur ‘nebor’, neigh abbreviated ‘ne’. This is LLL V.i.23
abhominable, which he would call abhominable itabhominable, which he would call ‘abominable.’ Itabhominable (adj.)
abominable [from the mistaken etymology ‘ab homine’]		LLL V.i.24
insinuateth me of infamie: ne inteligis domine, toinsinuateth me of insanie. Ne intelligis, domine? Toinsinuate (v.)
turn, introduce [to], instil [with]		LLL V.i.25
insanie (n.)
frenzy, madness, lunacy
ne...
do you understand, sir?
make franticke, lunaticke?make frantic, lunatic. LLL V.i.26
Cura. NATHANIEL 
Laus deo, bene intelligo.Laus Deo, bone intelligo.laus...
God be praised, I understand good		LLL V.i.27
Peda. HOLOFERNES 
Bome boon for boon prescian, a little Bone? ‘ Bone ’ for ‘ bene ’! Priscian a littlePriscian (n.)
[pron: 'prisian] Latin grammarian, 6th-c		LLL V.i.28
scratcht, 'twil serue. scratched; 'twill serve. LLL V.i.29
Enter Armado, Mote, and Costard LLL V.i.30
Curat. NATHANIEL 
Vides ne quis venit?Videsne quis venit?videsne...
do you see who is coming?		LLL V.i.30
Peda. HOLOFERNES 
Video, & gaudio.Video et gaudeo.video...
I see and I rejoice		LLL V.i.31
Brag. ARMADO 
Chirra.Chirrah!chirrah (int.)

old form: Chirra
[unclear usage; perhaps attempting a greeting in Greek] sirrah		LLL V.i.32
Peda. HOLOFERNES 
Quari Chirra, not Sirra?Quare ‘ chirrah ’, not ‘ sirrah ’?sirrah (n.)
sir [commanding, insulting, or familiar, depending on context]		LLL V.i.33
Brag. ARMADO 
Men of peace well incountred.Men of peace, well encountered. LLL V.i.34
Ped. HOLOFERNES 
Most millitarie sir salutation.Most military sir, salutation. LLL V.i.35
Boy. MOTE  
(to Costard) LLL V.i.36
They haue beene at a great feast ofThey have been at a great feast of LLL V.i.36
Languages, and stolne the scraps.languages and stolen the scraps. LLL V.i.37
Clow. COSTARD  
(to Mote) LLL V.i.38.1
O they haue liu'd long on the almes-basketO, they have lived long on the alms-basketalms-basket (n.)

old form: almes-basket
basket containing offerings to be given out for charity		LLL V.i.38
of words. I maruell thy M. hath not eatenof words. I marvel thy master hath not eaten LLL V.i.39
thee for a word, for thou art not so long by the head as thee for a word, for thou art not so long by the head as LLL V.i.40
honorificabilitudinitatibus: Thou art easier swallowedhonorificabilitudinitatibus. Thou art easier swallowed LLL V.i.41
then a flapdragon. than a flap-dragon.flap-dragon (n.)

old form: flapdragon
tiny sweetmeat, small cake		LLL V.i.42
Page. MOTE 
Peace, the peale begins.Peace! The peal begins. LLL V.i.43
Brag. ARMADO  
(to Holofernes) LLL V.i.44.1
Mounsier, are you not lettred?Monsieur, are you not lettered?lettered (adj.)

old form: lettred
learned, literate, educated		LLL V.i.44
Page. MOTE 
Yes, yes, he teaches boyes the Horne-booke: What isYes, yes! He teaches boys the horn-book. What ishornbook, horn-book (n.)

old form: Horne-booke
[teaching device] leaf of paper, protected by a piece of thin horn, showing the letters of the alphabet and other information		LLL V.i.45
Ab speld backward with the horn on his head?a, b, spelt backward with the horn on his head? LLL V.i.46
Peda. HOLOFERNES 
Ba, puericia with a horne added.Ba, pueritia, with a horn added. LLL V.i.47
Pag. MOTE 
Ba most seely Sheepe, with a horne: you heareBa, most silly sheep with a horn. You hear his LLL V.i.48
his learning.learning. LLL V.i.49
Peda. HOLOFERNES 
Quis quis, thou Consonant?Quis, quis, thou consonant?consonant (n.)
little thing, nonentity		LLL V.i.50
Pag. MOTE 
The last of the fiue Vowels if You repeat them, orThe last of the five vowels, if you repeat them; or LLL V.i.51
the fift if I.the fifth, if I. LLL V.i.52
Peda. HOLOFERNES 
I will repeat them: a e I.I will repeat them: a, e, i – LLL V.i.53
Pag. MOTE 
The Sheepe, the other two concludes it o u.The sheep. The other two concludes it – o, u. LLL V.i.54
Brag. ARMADO 
Now by the salt waue of the mediteranium, aNow, by the salt wave of the Mediterraneum, aMediterraneum (n.)
Mediterranean Sea		LLL V.i.55
sweet tutch, a quicke venewe of wit, snip snap, quicksweet touch, a quick venue of wit! Snip, snap, quickwit (n.)
mental sharpness, acumen, quickness, ingenuity		LLL V.i.56
touch (n.)

old form: tutch
hit
venue (n.)

old form: venewe
[fencing] sword-thrust, assault, thrust
& home, it reioyceth my intellect, true wit.and home! It rejoiceth my intellect. True wit!home (adv.)
into the heart of the enemy, to the target		LLL V.i.57
Page. MOTE 
Offered by a childe to an olde man: which isOffered by a child to an old man – which is LLL V.i.58
wit-old.wit-old.wit-old (adj.)
cuckold		LLL V.i.59
Peda. HOLOFERNES 
What is the figure? What is the figure?What is the figure? What is the figure?figure (n.)
figure of speech, device, piece of rhetoric		LLL V.i.60
Page. MOTE 
Hornes.Horns. LLL V.i.61
Peda. HOLOFERNES 
Thou disputes like an Infant: goe whip thyThou disputes like an infant. Go, whip thy LLL V.i.62
Gigge.gig.gig (n.)

old form: Gigge
spinning-top		LLL V.i.63
Pag. MOTE 
Lend me your Horne to make one, and I will whipLend me your horn to make one, and I will whip LLL V.i.64
about your Infamie vnum cita a gigge of a Cuckolds horne.about your infamy manu cita. A gig of a cuckold's horn!manu...
with a ready hand		LLL V.i.65
 
cuckold (n.)
[mocking name] man with an unfaithful wife
Clow. COSTARD 
And I had but one penny in the world, thouAn I had but one penny in the world, thouand, an (conj.)
if, even if		LLL V.i.66
shouldst haue it to buy Ginger bread: Hold, there is theshouldst have it to buy gingerbread. Hold, there is the LLL V.i.67
very Remuneration I had of thy Maister, thou halfpennyvery remuneration I had of thy master, thou halfpenny LLL V.i.68
purse of wit, thou Pidgeon-egge of discretion. O & thepurse of wit, thou pigeon-egg of discretion. O, an theand, an (conj.)
if, whether		LLL V.i.69
heauens were so pleased, that thou wert but my Bastard;heavens were so pleased that thou wert but my bastard, LLL V.i.70
What a ioyfull father wouldst thou make mee? Goe to,what a joyful father wouldst thou make me! Go to, LLL V.i.71
thou hast it ad dungil, at the fingers ends, as they thou hast it ad dunghill, at the fingers' ends, as they LLL V.i.72
say.say. LLL V.i.73
Peda. HOLOFERNES 
Oh I smell false Latine, dunghel for O, I smell false Latin! ‘ Dunghill ’ forfalse (adj.)
wrong, mistaken		LLL V.i.74
vnguem.‘ unguem ’.unguem (n.)
nail; ad unguem 'to a nicety' 		LLL V.i.75
Brag. ARMADO 
Arts-man preambulat, we will bee singledArts-man, preambulate. We will be singuledpreambulate (v.)

old form: preambulat
walk forth, go in front		LLL V.i.76
singule (v.)

old form: singled
set apart, distinguish
arts-man (n.)
man of learning, scholar
from the barbarous. Do you not educate youth at thefrom the barbarous. Do you not educate youth at the LLL V.i.77
Charg-house on the top of the Mountaine?charge-house on the top of the mountain?charge-house (n.)

old form: Charg-house
school, college		LLL V.i.78
Peda.HOLOFERNES 
Or Mons the hill.Or mons, the hill. LLL V.i.79
Brag. ARMADO 
At your sweet pleasure, for the Mountaine.At your sweet pleasure, for the mountain. LLL V.i.80
Peda. HOLOFERNES 
I doe sans question.I do, sans question. LLL V.i.81
Bra. ARMADO 
Sir, it is the Kings most sweet pleasure andSir, it is the King's most sweet pleasure and LLL V.i.82
affection, to congratulate the Princesse at her Pauilion, inaffection to congratulate the Princess at her pavilion incongratulate (v.)
salute, pay respects to		LLL V.i.83
the posteriors of this day, which the rude multitudethe posteriors of this day, which the rude multitudeposterior (n.)
[facetious] hind part, later part		LLL V.i.84
rude (adj.)
ignorant, unlearned, uneducated
call the after-noone.call the afternoon. LLL V.i.85
Ped. HOLOFERNES 
The posterior of the day, most generous The posterior of the day, most generousgenerous (adj.)
well-bred, mannerly, noble-minded		LLL V.i.86
sir, is liable, congruent, and measurable for thesir, is liable, congruent, and measurable for themeasurable (adj.)
fitting, apt, suitable		LLL V.i.87
liable (adj.)
fitting, apt, suitable
congruent (adj.)
fitting, apt, suitable
after-noone: the word is well culd, chose, sweet, andafternoon. The word is well culled, choice, sweet, andcull (v.)

old form: culd
select, pick out, choose		LLL V.i.88
apt I doe assure you sir, I doe assure.apt, I do assure you, sir, I do assure. LLL V.i.89
Brag. ARMADO 
Sir, the King is a noble Gentleman, and mySir, the King is a noble gentleman, and my LLL V.i.90
familiar, I doe assure ye very good friend: for what isfamiliar, I do assure ye, very good friend. For what isfamiliar (n.)
close friend, intimate associate		LLL V.i.91
inward betweene vs, let it passe. I doe beseech theeinward between us, let it pass – I do beseech thee,inward (adj.)
secret, private, undisclosed		LLL V.i.92
remember thy curtesie. I beseech thee apparell thyremember thy courtesy; I beseech thee, apparel thyapparel (v.)

old form: apparell
cover, put a hat on		LLL V.i.93
head: and among other importunate & most serioushead. And among other importunate and most seriousimportunate (adj.)
persistent, pressing, insistent		LLL V.i.94
designes, and of great import indeed too: but let thatdesigns, and of great import indeed, too – but let thatdesign (n.)

old form: designes
undertaking, purpose, enterprise		LLL V.i.95
passe, for I must tell thee it will please his Grace (by thepass; for I must tell thee, it will please his grace, by the LLL V.i.96
world) sometime to leane vpon my poore shoulder, andworld, sometime to lean upon my poor shoulder, andsometime (adv.)
sometimes, now and then		LLL V.i.97
with his royall finger thus dallie with my excrement,with his royal finger thus dally with my excrement,excrement (n.)
outgrowth [of hair]		LLL V.i.98
dally (v.)

old form: dallie
deal lightly, play about, tease
with my mustachio: but sweet heart, let that passe. Bywith my mustachio – but, sweet heart, let that pass. Bymustachio (n.)
moustache		LLL V.i.99
the world I recount no fable, some certaine speciallthe world, I recount no fable! Some certain special LLL V.i.100
honours it pleaseth his greatnesse to impart to Armado honours it pleaseth his greatness to impart to Armado, LLL V.i.101
a Souldier, a man of trauell, that hath seene the world:a soldier, a man of travel, that hath seen the world – LLL V.i.102
but let that passe; the very all of all is: but sweetbut let that pass. The very all of all is – but, sweetall of all
sum of everything		LLL V.i.103
heart I do implore secrecie, that the King would haueheart, I do implore secrecy – that the King would have LLL V.i.104
mee present the Princesse (sweet chucke) with someme present the Princess – sweet chuck – with somechuck (n.)

old form: chucke
chicken, chick [usually as a term of endearment]		LLL V.i.105
delightfull ostentation, or show, or pageant, or anticke, or delightful ostentation, or show, or pageant, or antic, orostentation (n.)
public show, display, exhibition		LLL V.i.106
antic, antick(e), antique (n.)
bizarre dance, fantastic spectacle, grotesque entertainment
fire-worke: Now, vnderstanding that the Curate and your firework. Now, understanding that the curate and yourcurate (n.)
parish priest, parson		LLL V.i.107
sweet self are good at such eruptions, and sodainesweet self are good at such eruptions and suddeneruption (n.)
outburst of merriment, sally of wit		LLL V.i.108
breaking out of myrth (as it were) I haue acquaintedbreaking out of mirth, as it were, I have acquainted LLL V.i.109
you withall, to the end to craue your assistance.you withal, to the end to crave your assistance.crave (v.)

old form: craue
beg, entreat, request		LLL V.i.110
Peda. HOLOFERNES 
Sir, you shall present before her the NineSir, you shall present before her the Nine LLL V.i.111
Worthies. Sir Holofernes, as concerning some entertainmentWorthies. Sir Nathaniel, as concerning some entertainment LLL V.i.112
of time, some show in the posterior of this day,of time, some show in the posterior of this day,posterior (n.)
[facetious] hind part, later part		LLL V.i.113
to bee rendred by our assistants the Kings command:to be rendered by our assistance, the King's command, LLL V.i.114
and this most gallant, illustrate and learned Gentleman,and this most gallant, illustrate, and learned gentleman,illustrate (adj.)
illustrious, resplendent, renowned		LLL V.i.115
before the Princesse: I say none so fit as to present thebefore the Princess – I say, none so fit as to present the LLL V.i.116
Nine Worthies.Nine Worthies. LLL V.i.117
Curat. NATHANIEL 
Where will you finde men worthy enough toWhere will you find men worthy enough to LLL V.i.118
present them?present them? LLL V.i.119
Peda. HOLOFERNES 
Iosua, your selfe: my selfe, and this gallant gentleman Joshua, yourself; this gallant gentleman,Joshua (n.)
in the Bible, an Israelite leader		LLL V.i.120
Iudas Machabeus; this Swaine (because of his greatJudas Maccabaeus; this swain, because of his greatswain (n.)

old form: Swaine
[contemptuous] rustic, yokel, fellow		LLL V.i.121
Judas Maccabaeus
[maka'bayus] in the Bible, leader of a Jewish revolt, 2nd-c BC
limme or ioynt) shall passe Pompey the great, the Page limb or joint, shall pass Pompey the Great; the page,pass (v.)

old form: passe
represent, impersonate, perform		LLL V.i.122
Pompey the Great (n.)
Roman politician and general, 1st-c BC
Hercules.Hercules –Hercules (n.)
[Roman form of Heracles] proverbial for his mythical physical strength and miraculous achievements		LLL V.i.123
Brag. ARMADO 
Pardon sir, error: He is not quantitie enoughPardon, sir – error! He is not quantity enough LLL V.i.124
for that Worthies thumb, hee is not so big as the end offor that Worthy's thumb; he is not so big as the end of LLL V.i.125
his Club.his club. LLL V.i.126
Peda. HOLOFERNES 
Shall I haue audience? he shall present Shall I have audience? He shall presentaudience (n.)
hearing, attention, reception		LLL V.i.127
Hercules in minoritie: his enter and exit shall bee stranglingHercules in minority. His enter and exit shall be stranglingminority (n.)

old form: minoritie
under-age period, earlier youth, childhood		LLL V.i.128
enter (n.)
entrance, entering, arrival
a Snake; and I will haue an Apologie for thata snake; and I will have an apology for thatapology (n.)

old form: Apologie
formal justification, explanation		LLL V.i.129
purpose.purpose.purpose (n.)
intention, aim, plan		LLL V.i.130
Pag. MOTE 
An excellent deuice: so if any of the audience hisse,An excellent device! So if any of the audience hiss,device (n.)

old form: deuice
plan, scheme, intention		LLL V.i.131
you may cry, Well done Hercules, now thou crushest you may cry ‘ Well done, Hercules! Now thou crushest LLL V.i.132
the Snake; that is the way to make an offence gracious,the snake!’ That is the way to make an offence gracious, LLL V.i.133
though few haue the grace to doe it.though few have the grace to do it. LLL V.i.134
Brag. ARMADO 
For the rest of the Worthies?For the rest of the Worthies? LLL V.i.135
Peda. HOLOFERNES 
I will play three my selfe.I will play three myself. LLL V.i.136
Pag. MOTE 
Thrice worthy Gentleman.Thrice-worthy gentleman! LLL V.i.137
Brag. ARMADO 
Shall I tell you a thing?Shall I tell you a thing? LLL V.i.138
Peda. HOLOFERNES 
We attend.We attend.attend (v.)
listen [to], pay attention [to]		LLL V.i.139
Brag. ARMADO 
We will haue, if this fadge not, an Antique. IWe will have, if this fadge not, an antic. Ifadge (v.)
succeed, be suitable, turn out well		LLL V.i.140
antic, antick(e), antique (n.)
bizarre dance, fantastic spectacle, grotesque entertainment
beseech you follow.beseech you, follow. LLL V.i.141
Ped. HOLOFERNES 
Via good-man Dull, thou hast spoken noVia, goodman Dull! Thou hast spoken nogoodman (adj.)

old form: good-man
[title for a person under the rank of gentleman] mister, master		LLL V.i.142
via, fia (int.)
come / go on, hurry up
word all this while.word all this while. LLL V.i.143
Dull. DULL 
Nor vnderstood none neither sir.Nor understood none neither, sir. LLL V.i.144
Ped. HOLOFERNES 
Alone, we will employ thee.Allons! We will employ thee. LLL V.i.145
Dull. DULL 
Ile make one in a dance, or so: or I will play onI'll make one in a dance, or so; or I will play onmake one
join in the action, take part		LLL V.i.146
the taber to the Worthies, & let them dance thethe tabor to the Worthies, and let them dance thetabor (n.)

old form: taber
type of small drum, especially used in revelling		LLL V.i.147
hey.hay.hay (n.)

old form: hey
type of winding country dance		LLL V.i.148
Ped. HOLOFERNES 
Most Dull, honest Dull, to our sportMost dull, honest Dull! To our sport,sport (n.)
recreation, amusement, entertainment		LLL V.i.149
away.away! LLL V.i.150
Exit.Exeunt LLL V.i.150
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