# Scene II explained — Love’s Labour’s Lost

> Chapter companion for Love’s Labour’s Lost by William Shakespeare.

## What happens

Holofernes, Sir Nathaniel, and Dull engage in pedantic wordplay about a deer hunt. Jaquenetta and Costard enter with a letter from Don Armado, which Holofernes reads and identifies as being from Biron to Rosaline. Holofernes criticizes the verses and invites Nathaniel to dine with him, where he will prove the poem unlearned.

## Themes in this chapter

### Wit and Language

Holofernes and Nathaniel engage in elaborate wordplay and Latin quotations, while Dull's literal-mindedness contrasts with their pedantry.

### Folly of Learning

Holofernes' excessive erudition and criticism of the poem highlight the absurdity of overvaluing academic display.

### Deception and Disguise

The letter from Biron to Rosaline is misdelivered, leading to confusion and potential deception.

## Character check-ins

### Holofernes

The pedantic schoolmaster who critiques the letter and verses, displaying his learning and wit.

### Sir Nathaniel

The curate who admires Holofernes' learning and is invited to dine.

### Anthony Dull

The constable who misunderstands Holofernes' Latin and wordplay.

### Jaquenetta

Brings the letter from Armado to Holofernes for reading.

### Costard

Accompanies Jaquenetta and delivers the letter.

### Biron

Identified as the author of the letter to Rosaline, though not present.

## Key lines

> vir sapit qui pauca loquitur

He is wise who speaks little.

_Holofernes quotes a Latin proverb as Jaquenetta and Costard enter._

> Fauste, precor gelida quando pecus omne sub umbra Ruminat

Faustus, I pray, when all the flock rests in the cool shade, chewing the cud.

_Holofernes begins quoting the Renaissance poet Mantuan before breaking off._

> If love make me forsworn, how shall I swear to love?

If love causes me to break my oath, how can I swear to love faithfully?

_Opening line of Biron's poem read by Nathaniel._

> Ovidius Naso was the man: and why, indeed, Naso, but for smelling out the odouriferous flowers of fancy

Ovid was the master, and he was called Naso because he could sniff out the sweet flowers of imagination.

_Holofernes praises Ovid for his poetic invention._

> The preyful princess pierced and prick'd a pretty pleasing pricket

The predatory princess stabbed a handsome young deer.

_Holofernes' alliterative epitaph for the deer killed by the princess._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/love_s_labour_s_lost_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-ii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/love_s_labour_s_lost_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/love_s_labour_s_lost_se/chapters