COSTARD.
O me!
KING.
[Reads.] Sorted and consorted, contrary to thy established proclaimed edict and continent canon, which with, O, with—but with this I passion to say wherewith—
COSTARD.
With a wench.
KING.
[Reads.] With a child of our grandmother Eve, a female; or, for thy more sweet understanding, a woman. Him, I, as my ever-esteemed duty pricks me on, have sent to thee, to receive the meed of punishment, by thy sweet Grace’s officer, Antony Dull, a man of good repute, carriage, bearing, and estimation.
DULL.
Me, an’t shall please you; I am Antony Dull.
KING.
[Reads.] For Jaquenetta, so is the weaker vessel called which I apprehended with the aforesaid swain, I keep her as a vessel of thy law’s fury, and shall, at the least of thy sweet notice, bring her to trial. Thine, in all compliments of devoted and heartburning heat of duty,
Don Adriano de Armado.
BEROWNE.
This is not so well as I looked for, but the best that ever I heard.
KING.
Ay, the best for the worst. But, sirrah, what say you to this?
COSTARD.
Sir, I confess the wench.
KING.
Did you hear the proclamation?