The Shakespeare Book

88

A

t the court of Navarre,

King Ferdinand tells his

lords that, to be successful,

they must study and renounce

women for three years. Dumaine

and Longueville agree but Biron is

reluctant. The king agrees that he

must make an exception for the

Princess of France who is soon to

arrive. Biron, seeing that rules can

be bent, agrees to the oath. The

pompous Armado has Costard

imprisoned, saying that he saw him

with Jaquenetta, and then reveals

that he is in love with Jaquenetta.

The Princess of France arrives. Her

LOVE’S LABOUR’S LOST

ladies each praise one of the lords

so warmly that the princess swears

they must be in love. The princess

plays at being offended by her cool

reception from the king. Biron and

Rosaline spar verbally and Dumaine

and Longueville ask Katharine and

Maria’s names. Boyet insists that

the king is in love with the princess,

and the ladies tease him for being

a “love-monger.”

Armado asks the boy Mote to

sing to Jaquenetta for him, but

Mote and Costard make fun of him.

Armado sets Costard free on the

condition that he takes a letter to

DRAMATIS

PERSONAE

Ferdinand King of Navarre.

Biron Lord attending to the

king. He is surprised to fall in

love with Rosaline.

Longueville Lord attending

to the king. He woos Maria.

Dumaine Lord attending to

the king. He woos Katharine.

Princess of France A

diplomat, a skilled huntress,

and a beauty. Later she

becomes Queen of France.

Rosaline Lady attending to

the princess. Biron falls for her.

Maria Lady attending to the

princess. She falls in love with

Longueville.

Katharine Lady attending to

the princess. She falls in love

with Dumaine.

Lord Boyet French lord

attending to the princess

who acts as a go-between.

Marcadé Messenger.

Don Adriano de Armado

A pretentious Spaniard. He

falls in love with Jaquenetta.

Mote Armado’s clever

page boy.

Costard Simple country fellow.

Jaquenetta A dairymaid.

Sir Nathaniel A curate.

Holofernes A schoolmaster

who fills his speech with Latin

(or an approximation of Latin).

Dull A simple constable.

He understands very little.

1.2

2.1

1.1

1.1

2.1

Armado has

Costard imprisoned

and confesses that he

is in love with

Jaquenetta.

In Navarre, King

Ferdinand asks that

his lords study, fast,

sleep little, and avoid

women for three years.

The Spaniard Armado

sends a letter saying that

he saw Costard

“consorting” with

Jaquenetta.

The King of Navarre

and the princess discuss

Aquitaine while Biron

verbally spars with

Rosaline.

The Princess of

France arrives with

her ladies and is

encamped in a field.

Act 1 Act 2