Synopsis

“Good heart, what grace hast thou, thus to reprove these worms for loving, that art most in love?."

The King and his lords (Berowne, Longaville, and Dumaine) have all sworn an oath that they will study, fast, and see no women for three years. Berowne tells his friends that the Princess of France and her train are enroute to Navarre on diplomatic business, and that they must receive the women at court. The King declares that the women will sleep outside in a tent. The men decide to take pleasure in the company of Don Adriano de Armado, a visiting Spanish knight who is ridiculously loquacious. Costard, the kingdom's well-known swain, appears in the custody of Dull, a constable. The King and his friends soon learn that Don Armado has arrested Costard for breaking the new rule of "No Women." The King decrees that Costard will fast for a week, and that Don Armado shall be his keeper.

In another part of the park, Don Armado muses on love with his page, Moth. Don Armado, despite the new rules in the kingdom, is wildly in love with the dairy maid Jaquenetta (who is also the object of Costard's affection). Don Armado begs Jaquenetta to meet him later so that he may confess his love to her.

The Princess and her train arrive, and Boyet (the women's governess) reminds the women that they are in Navarre on business. The King and his lords arrive to greet the women, and the King tells them that they may not enter the gates of his castle. The Princess asks about the acquisition of Aquitaine, and the King declares that France still owes Navarre 100,000 crowns. The Princess assures the King that the payment will arrive the next day. As the men leave, each secretly asks Boyet about one of the women.

Don Armado tells Costard that he will release him from his fast if he delivers a love letter to Jaquenetta. On his way, Costard runs into Berowne, who asks him to deliver a love letter to Rosaline. As the Princess and her ladies hunt in the park, Costard arrives with the wrong letter for Rosaline, giving her Don Armado's letter to Jaquenetta. Holofernes and Nathaniel, both scholars, watch from afar with Dull. Jaquenetta arrives with Berowne's letter and asks Holofernes to read it to her. Holofernes tells her to take the letter to the King since the letter is obviously against the new law.

Berowne, who is overjoyed to think of Rosaline reading his letter, overhears the King reading a sonnet for the Princess, and hides behind a tree. The King hides when Longaville enters with a letter for Maria, and Longaville hides when Dumaine enters with a letter for Katharine. One by one, each man confronts the others about their love letter until Berowne berates them all for breaking their oaths. But when Jaquenetta enters with Berowne's letter to Rosaline, the men forget their oath and pursue their lady loves.

Meanwhile, each woman marvels at the gifts they have received from their respective men. Boyet appears, saying that the men, dressed as Russians, are about to arrive. The women decide to mask themselves and switch favors, hoping each will woo the wrong woman. The men arrive, dance, and then each woos the wrong woman. The women give them a hard time, so the men leave and return in their regular clothes to invite the women to court. The women chastise them for breaking their oaths, and Berowne discovers that the women have played a trick on them. In the confusion, Costard arrives to announce the performance of "The Nine Worthies."

Don Armado, Holofernes, Nathaniel, Moth, and Costard perform a silly play within a play about great conquerors. The lords and ladies start to have fun with each other when Macarde arrives to announce the death of the King of France. The women prepare to leave when Berowne steps forward to say that the men are in love with the women. The women reply that they thought the men's wooing was in jest. The men insist, so the women tell the men that they will mourn for a year, but if after a year, all the men are still in love, they will consent to marriage. Each woman gives her man a difficult task, such a living a solitary life, or helping the poor, and each man agrees. Don Armado asks if the worthies may finish their play, and the King consents. The worthies sing songs about spring and winter. The women part from the men during the winter song in a moment of bittersweet reverie.