Love's Labour's Lost

Roles

• Biron
• Ferdinand
• Longaville
• Dumain

About this piece

The four protagonists reveal they are in love and in turns scold each other

Summary

Ferdinand, the King of Navarre, together with his three lords Biron, Longaville and Dumaine, make an oath to scolarship for three years. In order to dedicate themselves to their studies they swear to fasting, to give up women and to sleep as little as possible. The King decides not to allow any women in his court. The daughter of the King of France, however, arrives with three women, Maria, Katherine and Rosaline. The King refuses to allow them in his house because he doesn't want to break his oath and meets them out in the field with his three lords. They all show interest in the three women and the king falls in love with the princess. One by one, they all break their oath by falling in love. In this scene the four male protagonists, Biron, King Ferdinand, Longaville and Dumain, reveal they have broken the oath. Biron enters first, reading a poem written for Rosaline. When he hears the king approach, he hides and overhears the king reading a love letter and confessing he is in love. When the king hears Longaville approach, he hides and overhears Longaville lament his love for Maria and so on. When Dumain enters and confesses his love for Kate, then Longaville comes out and scolds him for having broken the oath. Then the king comes out and scolds them both and then when Biron comes out they all realize they have broken the oath...

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