Love’s Labour’s Lost Act 3 – "As swift as lead, sir. . .Is that lead slow which is fired from a gun?"

Love’s Labour’s Lost  Act 3 – "As swift as lead, sir. . .Is that lead slow which is fired from a gun?"
I imagine Shakespeare worked closely with the actors of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men to develop his scripts in this period, particularly with his comedies. With the joining of companies in 1594 after the plague, Shakespeare probably had the unique opportunity of having 4 or 5 boy actors to play his strong female characters and 2 comic virtuosos or clowns for ‘Love’s Labour’s Lost’. The abundance of comic prowess is used by Shakespeare in Act 3 of this play.

Moth, the page, has a brief rude and witty comic repartee with Armado, his Spanish master. This interlude includes references to prostitutes but also includes comic bantering and clever witticism by Moth around revolving around wordplay and metaphors. This is evident when he says he can deliver a message:
"As swift as lead, sir. . . Is that lead slow which is fired from a gun?"

Armado eventually is able to get Moth to return with the clown Costard, so that Costard can deliver an important letter for Armado. Although Costard has broken his shin, his wit seems to be intact. Armado, Costard and Moth have a long discussion and word play on the nature of riddles and morality. In the end, Armado promises to set Costard free, on the condition that he delivers a letter to Jaquenetta whom Armado loves. Despite loving Jaquenetta himself, Costard is able to momentarily put aside his own love for Jaquenetta when Armado gives him ‘renumeration':
"Renumeration? Oh, that’s the Latin word for three farthings… Why, it is a fairer name than French crown."

Berowne enters and seeing Costard, he solicits him to deliver a love letter to Rosaline. After some confusion about when he wants the letter delivered, Costard and Berowne come to an agreement and Costard is given the letter and a shilling which Costard mistakenly and literally calls a gardon:
“O sweet gardon! Better than renumeration – elevenpence farthing better."
Berowne is left alone to “…love, sigh, sue, groan…” as he awaits a response to his letter of affection.