-
Notifications
You must be signed in to change notification settings - Fork 1
/
All 's Well That Ends Well 27.html
1 lines (1 loc) · 199 KB
/
All 's Well That Ends Well 27.html
1
<span id = 518 ></span><span id = 519 ><h3>SCENE I. Rousillon. The COUNT's palace.</h3><blockquote><i>Enter BERTRAM, the COUNTESS of Rousillon, HELENA, and LAFEU, all in black</i></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>In delivering my son from me, I bury a second husband.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>And I in going, madam, weep o'er my father's death</a><br /><a>anew: but I must attend his majesty's command, to</a><br /><a>whom I am now in ward, evermore in subjection.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>You shall find of the king a husband, madam; you,</a><br /><a>sir, a father: he that so generally is at all times</a><br /><a>good must of necessity hold his virtue to you; whose</a><br /><a>worthiness would stir it up where it wanted rather</a><br /><a>than lack it where there is such abundance.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>What hope is there of his majesty's amendment?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>He hath abandoned his physicians, madam; under whose</a><br /><a>practises he hath persecuted time with hope, and</a><br /><a>finds no other advantage in the process but only the</a><br /><a>losing of hope by time.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>This young gentlewoman had a father,--O, that</a><br /><a>'had'! how sad a passage 'tis!--whose skill was</a><br /><a>almost as great as his honesty; had it stretched so</a><br /><a>far, would have made nature immortal, and death</a><br /><a>should have play for lack of work. Would, for the</a><br /><a>king's sake, he were living! I think it would be</a><br /><a>the death of the king's disease.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>How called you the man you speak of, madam?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>He was famous, sir, in his profession, and it was</a><br /><a>his great right to be so: Gerard de Narbon.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>He was excellent indeed, madam: the king very</a><br /><a>lately spoke of him admiringly and mourningly: he</a><br /><a>was skilful enough to have lived still, if knowledge</a><br /><a>could be set up against mortality.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>What is it, my good lord, the king languishes of?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>A fistula, my lord.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>I heard not of it before.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>I would it were not notorious. Was this gentlewoman</a><br /><a>the daughter of Gerard de Narbon?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>His sole child, my lord, and bequeathed to my</a><br /><a>overlooking. I have those hopes of her good that</a><br /><a>her education promises; her dispositions she</a><br /><a>inherits, which makes fair gifts fairer; for where</a><br /><a>an unclean mind carries virtuous qualities, there</a><br /><a>commendations go with pity; they are virtues and</a><br /><a>traitors too; in her they are the better for their</a><br /><a>simpleness; she derives her honesty and achieves her goodness.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>Your commendations, madam, get from her tears.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>'Tis the best brine a maiden can season her praise</a><br /><a>in. The remembrance of her father never approaches</a><br /><a>her heart but the tyranny of her sorrows takes all</a><br /><a>livelihood from her cheek. No more of this, Helena;</a><br /><a>go to, no more; lest it be rather thought you affect</a><br /><a>a sorrow than have it.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>I do affect a sorrow indeed, but I have it too.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>Moderate lamentation is the right of the dead,</a><br /><a>excessive grief the enemy to the living.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>If the living be enemy to the grief, the excess</a><br /><a>makes it soon mortal.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>Madam, I desire your holy wishes.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>How understand we that?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>Be thou blest, Bertram, and succeed thy father</a><br /><a>In manners, as in shape! thy blood and virtue</a><br /><a>Contend for empire in thee, and thy goodness</a><br /><a>Share with thy birthright! Love all, trust a few,</a><br /><a>Do wrong to none: be able for thine enemy</a><br /><a>Rather in power than use, and keep thy friend</a><br /><a>Under thy own life's key: be cheque'd for silence,</a><br /><a>But never tax'd for speech. What heaven more will,</a><br /><a>That thee may furnish and my prayers pluck down,</a><br /><a>Fall on thy head! Farewell, my lord;</a><br /><a>'Tis an unseason'd courtier; good my lord,</a><br /><a>Advise him.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a> He cannot want the best</a><br /><a>That shall attend his love.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>Heaven bless him! Farewell, Bertram.</a><br /><p><i>Exit</i></p></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>[To HELENA] The best wishes that can be forged in</a><br /><a>your thoughts be servants to you! Be comfortable</a><br /><a>to my mother, your mistress, and make much of her.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>Farewell, pretty lady: you must hold the credit of</a><br /><a>your father.</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt BERTRAM and LAFEU</i></p></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>O, were that all! I think not on my father;</a><br /><a>And these great tears grace his remembrance more</a><br /><a>Than those I shed for him. What was he like?</a><br /><a>I have forgot him: my imagination</a><br /><a>Carries no favour in't but Bertram's.</a><br /><a>I am undone: there is no living, none,</a><br /><a>If Bertram be away. 'Twere all one</a><br /><a>That I should love a bright particular star</a><br /><a>And think to wed it, he is so above me:</a><br /><a>In his bright radiance and collateral light</a><br /><a>Must I be comforted, not in his sphere.</a><br /><a>The ambition in my love thus plagues itself:</a><br /><a>The hind that would be mated by the lion</a><br /><a>Must die for love. 'Twas pretty, though plague,</a><br /><a>To see him every hour; to sit and draw</a><br /><a>His arched brows, his hawking eye, his curls,</a><br /><a>In our heart's table; heart too capable</a><br /><a>Of every line and trick of his sweet favour:</a><br /><a>But now he's gone, and my idolatrous fancy</a><br /><a>Must sanctify his reliques. Who comes here?</a><br /><p><i>Enter PAROLLES</i></p><p><i>Aside</i></p><a>One that goes with him: I love him for his sake;</a><br /><a>And yet I know him a notorious liar,</a><br /><a>Think him a great way fool, solely a coward;</a><br /><a>Yet these fixed evils sit so fit in him,</a><br /><a>That they take place, when virtue's steely bones</a><br /><a>Look bleak i' the cold wind: withal, full oft we see</a><br /><a>Cold wisdom waiting on superfluous folly.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Save you, fair queen!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>And you, monarch!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>No.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>And no.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Are you meditating on virginity?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>Ay. You have some stain of soldier in you: let me</a><br /><a>ask you a question. Man is enemy to virginity; how</a><br /><a>may we barricado it against him?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Keep him out.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>But he assails; and our virginity, though valiant,</a><br /><a>in the defence yet is weak: unfold to us some</a><br /><a>warlike resistance.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>There is none: man, sitting down before you, will</a><br /><a>undermine you and blow you up.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>Bless our poor virginity from underminers and</a><br /><a>blowers up! Is there no military policy, how</a><br /><a>virgins might blow up men?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Virginity being blown down, man will quicklier be</a><br /><a>blown up: marry, in blowing him down again, with</a><br /><a>the breach yourselves made, you lose your city. It</a><br /><a>is not politic in the commonwealth of nature to</a><br /><a>preserve virginity. Loss of virginity is rational</a><br /><a>increase and there was never virgin got till</a><br /><a>virginity was first lost. That you were made of is</a><br /><a>metal to make virgins. Virginity by being once lost</a><br /><a>may be ten times found; by being ever kept, it is</a><br /><a>ever lost: 'tis too cold a companion; away with 't!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>I will stand for 't a little, though therefore I die a virgin.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>There's little can be said in 't; 'tis against the</a><br /><a>rule of nature. To speak on the part of virginity,</a><br /><a>is to accuse your mothers; which is most infallible</a><br /><a>disobedience. He that hangs himself is a virgin:</a><br /><a>virginity murders itself and should be buried in</a><br /><a>highways out of all sanctified limit, as a desperate</a><br /><a>offendress against nature. Virginity breeds mites,</a><br /><a>much like a cheese; consumes itself to the very</a><br /><a>paring, and so dies with feeding his own stomach.</a><br /><a>Besides, virginity is peevish, proud, idle, made of</a><br /><a>self-love, which is the most inhibited sin in the</a><br /><a>canon. Keep it not; you cannot choose but loose</a><br /><a>by't: out with 't! within ten year it will make</a><br /><a>itself ten, which is a goodly increase; and the</a><br /><a>principal itself not much the worse: away with 't!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>How might one do, sir, to lose it to her own liking?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Let me see: marry, ill, to like him that ne'er it</a><br /><a>likes. 'Tis a commodity will lose the gloss with</a><br /><a>lying; the longer kept, the less worth: off with 't</a><br /><a>while 'tis vendible; answer the time of request.</a><br /><a>Virginity, like an old courtier, wears her cap out</a><br /><a>of fashion: richly suited, but unsuitable: just</a><br /><a>like the brooch and the tooth-pick, which wear not</a><br /><a>now. Your date is better in your pie and your</a><br /><a>porridge than in your cheek; and your virginity,</a><br /><a>your old virginity, is like one of our French</a><br /><a>withered pears, it looks ill, it eats drily; marry,</a><br /><a>'tis a withered pear; it was formerly better;</a><br /><a>marry, yet 'tis a withered pear: will you anything with it?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>Not my virginity yet [ ]</a><br /><a>There shall your master have a thousand loves,</a><br /><a>A mother and a mistress and a friend,</a><br /><a>A phoenix, captain and an enemy,</a><br /><a>A guide, a goddess, and a sovereign,</a><br /><a>A counsellor, a traitress, and a dear;</a><br /><a>His humble ambition, proud humility,</a><br /><a>His jarring concord, and his discord dulcet,</a><br /><a>His faith, his sweet disaster; with a world</a><br /><a>Of pretty, fond, adoptious christendoms,</a><br /><a>That blinking Cupid gossips. Now shall he--</a><br /><a>I know not what he shall. God send him well!</a><br /><a>The court's a learning place, and he is one--</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>What one, i' faith?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>That I wish well. 'Tis pity--</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>What's pity?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>That wishing well had not a body in't,</a><br /><a>Which might be felt; that we, the poorer born,</a><br /><a>Whose baser stars do shut us up in wishes,</a><br /><a>Might with effects of them follow our friends,</a><br /><a>And show what we alone must think, which never</a><br /><a>Return us thanks.</a><br /><p><i>Enter Page</i></p></blockquote><a><b>Page</b></a><blockquote><a>Monsieur Parolles, my lord calls for you.</a><br /><p><i>Exit</i></p></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Little Helen, farewell; if I can remember thee, I</a><br /><a>will think of thee at court.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>Monsieur Parolles, you were born under a charitable star.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Under Mars, I.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>I especially think, under Mars.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Why under Mars?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>The wars have so kept you under that you must needs</a><br /><a>be born under Mars.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>When he was predominant.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>When he was retrograde, I think, rather.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Why think you so?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>You go so much backward when you fight.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>That's for advantage.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>So is running away, when fear proposes the safety;</a><br /><a>but the composition that your valour and fear makes</a><br /><a>in you is a virtue of a good wing, and I like the wear well.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>I am so full of businesses, I cannot answer thee</a><br /><a>acutely. I will return perfect courtier; in the</a><br /><a>which, my instruction shall serve to naturalize</a><br /><a>thee, so thou wilt be capable of a courtier's</a><br /><a>counsel and understand what advice shall thrust upon</a><br /><a>thee; else thou diest in thine unthankfulness, and</a><br /><a>thine ignorance makes thee away: farewell. When</a><br /><a>thou hast leisure, say thy prayers; when thou hast</a><br /><a>none, remember thy friends; get thee a good husband,</a><br /><a>and use him as he uses thee; so, farewell.</a><br /><p><i>Exit</i></p></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie,</a><br /><a>Which we ascribe to heaven: the fated sky</a><br /><a>Gives us free scope, only doth backward pull</a><br /><a>Our slow designs when we ourselves are dull.</a><br /><a>What power is it which mounts my love so high,</a><br /><a>That makes me see, and cannot feed mine eye?</a><br /><a>The mightiest space in fortune nature brings</a><br /><a>To join like likes and kiss like native things.</a><br /><a>Impossible be strange attempts to those</a><br /><a>That weigh their pains in sense and do suppose</a><br /><a>What hath been cannot be: who ever strove</a><br /><a>So show her merit, that did miss her love?</a><br /><a>The king's disease--my project may deceive me,</a><br /><a>But my intents are fix'd and will not leave me.</a><br /><p><i>Exit</i></p></blockquote></span><span id = 520 ><h3>SCENE II. Paris. The KING's palace.</h3><blockquote><i>Flourish of cornets. Enter the KING of France, with letters, and divers Attendants</i></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>The Florentines and Senoys are by the ears;</a><br /><a>Have fought with equal fortune and continue</a><br /><a>A braving war.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a> So 'tis reported, sir.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>Nay, 'tis most credible; we here received it</a><br /><a>A certainty, vouch'd from our cousin Austria,</a><br /><a>With caution that the Florentine will move us</a><br /><a>For speedy aid; wherein our dearest friend</a><br /><a>Prejudicates the business and would seem</a><br /><a>To have us make denial.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>His love and wisdom,</a><br /><a>Approved so to your majesty, may plead</a><br /><a>For amplest credence.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>He hath arm'd our answer,</a><br /><a>And Florence is denied before he comes:</a><br /><a>Yet, for our gentlemen that mean to see</a><br /><a>The Tuscan service, freely have they leave</a><br /><a>To stand on either part.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>It well may serve</a><br /><a>A nursery to our gentry, who are sick</a><br /><a>For breathing and exploit.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>What's he comes here?</a><br /><p><i>Enter BERTRAM, LAFEU, and PAROLLES</i></p></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>It is the Count Rousillon, my good lord,</a><br /><a>Young Bertram.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a> Youth, thou bear'st thy father's face;</a><br /><a>Frank nature, rather curious than in haste,</a><br /><a>Hath well composed thee. Thy father's moral parts</a><br /><a>Mayst thou inherit too! Welcome to Paris.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>My thanks and duty are your majesty's.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>I would I had that corporal soundness now,</a><br /><a>As when thy father and myself in friendship</a><br /><a>First tried our soldiership! He did look far</a><br /><a>Into the service of the time and was</a><br /><a>Discipled of the bravest: he lasted long;</a><br /><a>But on us both did haggish age steal on</a><br /><a>And wore us out of act. It much repairs me</a><br /><a>To talk of your good father. In his youth</a><br /><a>He had the wit which I can well observe</a><br /><a>To-day in our young lords; but they may jest</a><br /><a>Till their own scorn return to them unnoted</a><br /><a>Ere they can hide their levity in honour;</a><br /><a>So like a courtier, contempt nor bitterness</a><br /><a>Were in his pride or sharpness; if they were,</a><br /><a>His equal had awaked them, and his honour,</a><br /><a>Clock to itself, knew the true minute when</a><br /><a>Exception bid him speak, and at this time</a><br /><a>His tongue obey'd his hand: who were below him</a><br /><a>He used as creatures of another place</a><br /><a>And bow'd his eminent top to their low ranks,</a><br /><a>Making them proud of his humility,</a><br /><a>In their poor praise he humbled. Such a man</a><br /><a>Might be a copy to these younger times;</a><br /><a>Which, follow'd well, would demonstrate them now</a><br /><a>But goers backward.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>His good remembrance, sir,</a><br /><a>Lies richer in your thoughts than on his tomb;</a><br /><a>So in approof lives not his epitaph</a><br /><a>As in your royal speech.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>Would I were with him! He would always say--</a><br /><a>Methinks I hear him now; his plausive words</a><br /><a>He scatter'd not in ears, but grafted them,</a><br /><a>To grow there and to bear,--'Let me not live,'--</a><br /><a>This his good melancholy oft began,</a><br /><a>On the catastrophe and heel of pastime,</a><br /><a>When it was out,--'Let me not live,' quoth he,</a><br /><a>'After my flame lacks oil, to be the snuff</a><br /><a>Of younger spirits, whose apprehensive senses</a><br /><a>All but new things disdain; whose judgments are</a><br /><a>Mere fathers of their garments; whose constancies</a><br /><a>Expire before their fashions.' This he wish'd;</a><br /><a>I after him do after him wish too,</a><br /><a>Since I nor wax nor honey can bring home,</a><br /><a>I quickly were dissolved from my hive,</a><br /><a>To give some labourers room.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>You are loved, sir:</a><br /><a>They that least lend it you shall lack you first.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>I fill a place, I know't. How long is't, count,</a><br /><a>Since the physician at your father's died?</a><br /><a>He was much famed.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a> Some six months since, my lord.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>If he were living, I would try him yet.</a><br /><a>Lend me an arm; the rest have worn me out</a><br /><a>With several applications; nature and sickness</a><br /><a>Debate it at their leisure. Welcome, count;</a><br /><a>My son's no dearer.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>Thank your majesty.</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt. Flourish</i></p></blockquote></span><span id = 521 ><h3>SCENE III. Rousillon. The COUNT's palace.</h3><blockquote><i>Enter COUNTESS, Steward, and Clown</i></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>I will now hear; what say you of this gentlewoman?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Steward</b></a><blockquote><a>Madam, the care I have had to even your content, I</a><br /><a>wish might be found in the calendar of my past</a><br /><a>endeavours; for then we wound our modesty and make</a><br /><a>foul the clearness of our deservings, when of</a><br /><a>ourselves we publish them.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>What does this knave here? Get you gone, sirrah:</a><br /><a>the complaints I have heard of you I do not all</a><br /><a>believe: 'tis my slowness that I do not; for I know</a><br /><a>you lack not folly to commit them, and have ability</a><br /><a>enough to make such knaveries yours.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>'Tis not unknown to you, madam, I am a poor fellow.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>Well, sir.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>No, madam, 'tis not so well that I am poor, though</a><br /><a>many of the rich are damned: but, if I may have</a><br /><a>your ladyship's good will to go to the world, Isbel</a><br /><a>the woman and I will do as we may.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>Wilt thou needs be a beggar?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>I do beg your good will in this case.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>In what case?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>In Isbel's case and mine own. Service is no</a><br /><a>heritage: and I think I shall never have the</a><br /><a>blessing of God till I have issue o' my body; for</a><br /><a>they say barnes are blessings.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>Tell me thy reason why thou wilt marry.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>My poor body, madam, requires it: I am driven on</a><br /><a>by the flesh; and he must needs go that the devil drives.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>Is this all your worship's reason?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>Faith, madam, I have other holy reasons such as they</a><br /><a>are.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>May the world know them?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>I have been, madam, a wicked creature, as you and</a><br /><a>all flesh and blood are; and, indeed, I do marry</a><br /><a>that I may repent.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>Thy marriage, sooner than thy wickedness.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>I am out o' friends, madam; and I hope to have</a><br /><a>friends for my wife's sake.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>Such friends are thine enemies, knave.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>You're shallow, madam, in great friends; for the</a><br /><a>knaves come to do that for me which I am aweary of.</a><br /><a>He that ears my land spares my team and gives me</a><br /><a>leave to in the crop; if I be his cuckold, he's my</a><br /><a>drudge: he that comforts my wife is the cherisher</a><br /><a>of my flesh and blood; he that cherishes my flesh</a><br /><a>and blood loves my flesh and blood; he that loves my</a><br /><a>flesh and blood is my friend: ergo, he that kisses</a><br /><a>my wife is my friend. If men could be contented to</a><br /><a>be what they are, there were no fear in marriage;</a><br /><a>for young Charbon the Puritan and old Poysam the</a><br /><a>Papist, howsome'er their hearts are severed in</a><br /><a>religion, their heads are both one; they may jowl</a><br /><a>horns together, like any deer i' the herd.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>Wilt thou ever be a foul-mouthed and calumnious knave?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>A prophet I, madam; and I speak the truth the next</a><br /><a>way:</a><br /><a>For I the ballad will repeat,</a><br /><a>Which men full true shall find;</a><br /><a>Your marriage comes by destiny,</a><br /><a>Your cuckoo sings by kind.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>Get you gone, sir; I'll talk with you more anon.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Steward</b></a><blockquote><a>May it please you, madam, that he bid Helen come to</a><br /><a>you: of her I am to speak.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>Sirrah, tell my gentlewoman I would speak with her;</a><br /><a>Helen, I mean.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a> Was this fair face the cause, quoth she,</a><br /><a>Why the Grecians sacked Troy?</a><br /><a>Fond done, done fond,</a><br /><a>Was this King Priam's joy?</a><br /><a>With that she sighed as she stood,</a><br /><a>With that she sighed as she stood,</a><br /><a>And gave this sentence then;</a><br /><a>Among nine bad if one be good,</a><br /><a>Among nine bad if one be good,</a><br /><a>There's yet one good in ten.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>What, one good in ten? you corrupt the song, sirrah.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>One good woman in ten, madam; which is a purifying</a><br /><a>o' the song: would God would serve the world so all</a><br /><a>the year! we'ld find no fault with the tithe-woman,</a><br /><a>if I were the parson. One in ten, quoth a'! An we</a><br /><a>might have a good woman born but one every blazing</a><br /><a>star, or at an earthquake, 'twould mend the lottery</a><br /><a>well: a man may draw his heart out, ere a' pluck</a><br /><a>one.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>You'll be gone, sir knave, and do as I command you.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>That man should be at woman's command, and yet no</a><br /><a>hurt done! Though honesty be no puritan, yet it</a><br /><a>will do no hurt; it will wear the surplice of</a><br /><a>humility over the black gown of a big heart. I am</a><br /><a>going, forsooth: the business is for Helen to come hither.</a><br /><p><i>Exit</i></p></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>Well, now.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Steward</b></a><blockquote><a>I know, madam, you love your gentlewoman entirely.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>Faith, I do: her father bequeathed her to me; and</a><br /><a>she herself, without other advantage, may lawfully</a><br /><a>make title to as much love as she finds: there is</a><br /><a>more owing her than is paid; and more shall be paid</a><br /><a>her than she'll demand.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Steward</b></a><blockquote><a>Madam, I was very late more near her than I think</a><br /><a>she wished me: alone she was, and did communicate</a><br /><a>to herself her own words to her own ears; she</a><br /><a>thought, I dare vow for her, they touched not any</a><br /><a>stranger sense. Her matter was, she loved your son:</a><br /><a>Fortune, she said, was no goddess, that had put</a><br /><a>such difference betwixt their two estates; Love no</a><br /><a>god, that would not extend his might, only where</a><br /><a>qualities were level; Dian no queen of virgins, that</a><br /><a>would suffer her poor knight surprised, without</a><br /><a>rescue in the first assault or ransom afterward.</a><br /><a>This she delivered in the most bitter touch of</a><br /><a>sorrow that e'er I heard virgin exclaim in: which I</a><br /><a>held my duty speedily to acquaint you withal;</a><br /><a>sithence, in the loss that may happen, it concerns</a><br /><a>you something to know it.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>You have discharged this honestly; keep it to</a><br /><a>yourself: many likelihoods informed me of this</a><br /><a>before, which hung so tottering in the balance that</a><br /><a>I could neither believe nor misdoubt. Pray you,</a><br /><a>leave me: stall this in your bosom; and I thank you</a><br /><a>for your honest care: I will speak with you further anon.</a><br /><p><i>Exit Steward</i></p><p><i>Enter HELENA</i></p><a>Even so it was with me when I was young:</a><br /><a>If ever we are nature's, these are ours; this thorn</a><br /><a>Doth to our rose of youth rightly belong;</a><br /><a>Our blood to us, this to our blood is born;</a><br /><a>It is the show and seal of nature's truth,</a><br /><a>Where love's strong passion is impress'd in youth:</a><br /><a>By our remembrances of days foregone,</a><br /><a>Such were our faults, or then we thought them none.</a><br /><a>Her eye is sick on't: I observe her now.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>What is your pleasure, madam?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>You know, Helen,</a><br /><a>I am a mother to you.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>Mine honourable mistress.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>Nay, a mother:</a><br /><a>Why not a mother? When I said 'a mother,'</a><br /><a>Methought you saw a serpent: what's in 'mother,'</a><br /><a>That you start at it? I say, I am your mother;</a><br /><a>And put you in the catalogue of those</a><br /><a>That were enwombed mine: 'tis often seen</a><br /><a>Adoption strives with nature and choice breeds</a><br /><a>A native slip to us from foreign seeds:</a><br /><a>You ne'er oppress'd me with a mother's groan,</a><br /><a>Yet I express to you a mother's care:</a><br /><a>God's mercy, maiden! does it curd thy blood</a><br /><a>To say I am thy mother? What's the matter,</a><br /><a>That this distemper'd messenger of wet,</a><br /><a>The many-colour'd Iris, rounds thine eye?</a><br /><a>Why? that you are my daughter?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>That I am not.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>I say, I am your mother.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>Pardon, madam;</a><br /><a>The Count Rousillon cannot be my brother:</a><br /><a>I am from humble, he from honour'd name;</a><br /><a>No note upon my parents, his all noble:</a><br /><a>My master, my dear lord he is; and I</a><br /><a>His servant live, and will his vassal die:</a><br /><a>He must not be my brother.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>Nor I your mother?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>You are my mother, madam; would you were,--</a><br /><a>So that my lord your son were not my brother,--</a><br /><a>Indeed my mother! or were you both our mothers,</a><br /><a>I care no more for than I do for heaven,</a><br /><a>So I were not his sister. Can't no other,</a><br /><a>But, I your daughter, he must be my brother?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>Yes, Helen, you might be my daughter-in-law:</a><br /><a>God shield you mean it not! daughter and mother</a><br /><a>So strive upon your pulse. What, pale again?</a><br /><a>My fear hath catch'd your fondness: now I see</a><br /><a>The mystery of your loneliness, and find</a><br /><a>Your salt tears' head: now to all sense 'tis gross</a><br /><a>You love my son; invention is ashamed,</a><br /><a>Against the proclamation of thy passion,</a><br /><a>To say thou dost not: therefore tell me true;</a><br /><a>But tell me then, 'tis so; for, look thy cheeks</a><br /><a>Confess it, th' one to th' other; and thine eyes</a><br /><a>See it so grossly shown in thy behaviors</a><br /><a>That in their kind they speak it: only sin</a><br /><a>And hellish obstinacy tie thy tongue,</a><br /><a>That truth should be suspected. Speak, is't so?</a><br /><a>If it be so, you have wound a goodly clew;</a><br /><a>If it be not, forswear't: howe'er, I charge thee,</a><br /><a>As heaven shall work in me for thine avail,</a><br /><a>Tell me truly.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a> Good madam, pardon me!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>Do you love my son?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>Your pardon, noble mistress!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>Love you my son?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a> Do not you love him, madam?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>Go not about; my love hath in't a bond,</a><br /><a>Whereof the world takes note: come, come, disclose</a><br /><a>The state of your affection; for your passions</a><br /><a>Have to the full appeach'd.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>Then, I confess,</a><br /><a>Here on my knee, before high heaven and you,</a><br /><a>That before you, and next unto high heaven,</a><br /><a>I love your son.</a><br /><a>My friends were poor, but honest; so's my love:</a><br /><a>Be not offended; for it hurts not him</a><br /><a>That he is loved of me: I follow him not</a><br /><a>By any token of presumptuous suit;</a><br /><a>Nor would I have him till I do deserve him;</a><br /><a>Yet never know how that desert should be.</a><br /><a>I know I love in vain, strive against hope;</a><br /><a>Yet in this captious and intenible sieve</a><br /><a>I still pour in the waters of my love</a><br /><a>And lack not to lose still: thus, Indian-like,</a><br /><a>Religious in mine error, I adore</a><br /><a>The sun, that looks upon his worshipper,</a><br /><a>But knows of him no more. My dearest madam,</a><br /><a>Let not your hate encounter with my love</a><br /><a>For loving where you do: but if yourself,</a><br /><a>Whose aged honour cites a virtuous youth,</a><br /><a>Did ever in so true a flame of liking</a><br /><a>Wish chastely and love dearly, that your Dian</a><br /><a>Was both herself and love: O, then, give pity</a><br /><a>To her, whose state is such that cannot choose</a><br /><a>But lend and give where she is sure to lose;</a><br /><a>That seeks not to find that her search implies,</a><br /><a>But riddle-like lives sweetly where she dies!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>Had you not lately an intent,--speak truly,--</a><br /><a>To go to Paris?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a> Madam, I had.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>Wherefore? tell true.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>I will tell truth; by grace itself I swear.</a><br /><a>You know my father left me some prescriptions</a><br /><a>Of rare and proved effects, such as his reading</a><br /><a>And manifest experience had collected</a><br /><a>For general sovereignty; and that he will'd me</a><br /><a>In heedfull'st reservation to bestow them,</a><br /><a>As notes whose faculties inclusive were</a><br /><a>More than they were in note: amongst the rest,</a><br /><a>There is a remedy, approved, set down,</a><br /><a>To cure the desperate languishings whereof</a><br /><a>The king is render'd lost.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>This was your motive</a><br /><a>For Paris, was it? speak.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>My lord your son made me to think of this;</a><br /><a>Else Paris and the medicine and the king</a><br /><a>Had from the conversation of my thoughts</a><br /><a>Haply been absent then.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>But think you, Helen,</a><br /><a>If you should tender your supposed aid,</a><br /><a>He would receive it? he and his physicians</a><br /><a>Are of a mind; he, that they cannot help him,</a><br /><a>They, that they cannot help: how shall they credit</a><br /><a>A poor unlearned virgin, when the schools,</a><br /><a>Embowell'd of their doctrine, have left off</a><br /><a>The danger to itself?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>There's something in't,</a><br /><a>More than my father's skill, which was the greatest</a><br /><a>Of his profession, that his good receipt</a><br /><a>Shall for my legacy be sanctified</a><br /><a>By the luckiest stars in heaven: and, would your honour</a><br /><a>But give me leave to try success, I'ld venture</a><br /><a>The well-lost life of mine on his grace's cure</a><br /><a>By such a day and hour.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>Dost thou believe't?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>Ay, madam, knowingly.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><a>Why, Helen, thou shalt have my leave and love,</a><br /><a>Means and attendants and my loving greetings</a><br /><a>To those of mine in court: I'll stay at home</a><br /><a>And pray God's blessing into thy attempt:</a><br /><a>Be gone to-morrow; and be sure of this,</a><br /><a>What I can help thee to thou shalt not miss.</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt</i></p></span><span id = 522 ></span><span id = 523 ><h3>SCENE I. Paris. The KING's palace.</h3><blockquote><i>Flourish of cornets. Enter the KING, attended with divers youngLords taking leave for the Florentine war; BERTRAM, and PAROLLES</i></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>Farewell, young lords; these warlike principles</a><br /><a>Do not throw from you: and you, my lords, farewell:</a><br /><a>Share the advice betwixt you; if both gain, all</a><br /><a>The gift doth stretch itself as 'tis received,</a><br /><a>And is enough for both.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>'Tis our hope, sir,</a><br /><a>After well enter'd soldiers, to return</a><br /><a>And find your grace in health.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>No, no, it cannot be; and yet my heart</a><br /><a>Will not confess he owes the malady</a><br /><a>That doth my life besiege. Farewell, young lords;</a><br /><a>Whether I live or die, be you the sons</a><br /><a>Of worthy Frenchmen: let higher Italy,--</a><br /><a>Those bated that inherit but the fall</a><br /><a>Of the last monarchy,--see that you come</a><br /><a>Not to woo honour, but to wed it; when</a><br /><a>The bravest questant shrinks, find what you seek,</a><br /><a>That fame may cry you loud: I say, farewell.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>Health, at your bidding, serve your majesty!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>Those girls of Italy, take heed of them:</a><br /><a>They say, our French lack language to deny,</a><br /><a>If they demand: beware of being captives,</a><br /><a>Before you serve.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Both</b></a><blockquote><a> Our hearts receive your warnings.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>Farewell. Come hither to me.</a><br /><p><i>Exit, attended</i></p></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>O, my sweet lord, that you will stay behind us!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>'Tis not his fault, the spark.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>O, 'tis brave wars!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Most admirable: I have seen those wars.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>I am commanded here, and kept a coil with</a><br /><a>'Too young' and 'the next year' and 'tis too early.'</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>An thy mind stand to't, boy, steal away bravely.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>I shall stay here the forehorse to a smock,</a><br /><a>Creaking my shoes on the plain masonry,</a><br /><a>Till honour be bought up and no sword worn</a><br /><a>But one to dance with! By heaven, I'll steal away.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>There's honour in the theft.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Commit it, count.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>I am your accessary; and so, farewell.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>I grow to you, and our parting is a tortured body.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>Farewell, captain.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>Sweet Monsieur Parolles!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Noble heroes, my sword and yours are kin. Good</a><br /><a>sparks and lustrous, a word, good metals: you shall</a><br /><a>find in the regiment of the Spinii one Captain</a><br /><a>Spurio, with his cicatrice, an emblem of war, here</a><br /><a>on his sinister cheek; it was this very sword</a><br /><a>entrenched it: say to him, I live; and observe his</a><br /><a>reports for me.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>We shall, noble captain.</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt Lords</i></p></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Mars dote on you for his novices! what will ye do?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>Stay: the king.</a><br /><p><i>Re-enter KING. BERTRAM and PAROLLES retire</i></p></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>[To BERTRAM] Use a more spacious ceremony to the</a><br /><a>noble lords; you have restrained yourself within the</a><br /><a>list of too cold an adieu: be more expressive to</a><br /><a>them: for they wear themselves in the cap of the</a><br /><a>time, there do muster true gait, eat, speak, and</a><br /><a>move under the influence of the most received star;</a><br /><a>and though the devil lead the measure, such are to</a><br /><a>be followed: after them, and take a more dilated farewell.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>And I will do so.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Worthy fellows; and like to prove most sinewy sword-men.</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt BERTRAM and PAROLLES</i></p><p><i>Enter LAFEU</i></p></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>[Kneeling] Pardon, my lord, for me and for my tidings.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>I'll fee thee to stand up.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>Then here's a man stands, that has brought his pardon.</a><br /><a>I would you had kneel'd, my lord, to ask me mercy,</a><br /><a>And that at my bidding you could so stand up.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>I would I had; so I had broke thy pate,</a><br /><a>And ask'd thee mercy for't.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>Good faith, across: but, my good lord 'tis thus;</a><br /><a>Will you be cured of your infirmity?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>No.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>O, will you eat no grapes, my royal fox?</a><br /><a>Yes, but you will my noble grapes, an if</a><br /><a>My royal fox could reach them: I have seen a medicine</a><br /><a>That's able to breathe life into a stone,</a><br /><a>Quicken a rock, and make you dance canary</a><br /><a>With spritely fire and motion; whose simple touch,</a><br /><a>Is powerful to araise King Pepin, nay,</a><br /><a>To give great Charlemain a pen in's hand,</a><br /><a>And write to her a love-line.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>What 'her' is this?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>Why, Doctor She: my lord, there's one arrived,</a><br /><a>If you will see her: now, by my faith and honour,</a><br /><a>If seriously I may convey my thoughts</a><br /><a>In this my light deliverance, I have spoke</a><br /><a>With one that, in her sex, her years, profession,</a><br /><a>Wisdom and constancy, hath amazed me more</a><br /><a>Than I dare blame my weakness: will you see her</a><br /><a>For that is her demand, and know her business?</a><br /><a>That done, laugh well at me.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>Now, good Lafeu,</a><br /><a>Bring in the admiration; that we with thee</a><br /><a>May spend our wonder too, or take off thine</a><br /><a>By wondering how thou took'st it.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>Nay, I'll fit you,</a><br /><a>And not be all day neither.</a><br /><p><i>Exit</i></p></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>Thus he his special nothing ever prologues.</a><br /><p><i>Re-enter LAFEU, with HELENA</i></p></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>Nay, come your ways.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>This haste hath wings indeed.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>Nay, come your ways:</a><br /><a>This is his majesty; say your mind to him:</a><br /><a>A traitor you do look like; but such traitors</a><br /><a>His majesty seldom fears: I am Cressid's uncle,</a><br /><a>That dare leave two together; fare you well.</a><br /><p><i>Exit</i></p></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>Now, fair one, does your business follow us?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>Ay, my good lord.</a><br /><a>Gerard de Narbon was my father;</a><br /><a>In what he did profess, well found.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>I knew him.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>The rather will I spare my praises towards him:</a><br /><a>Knowing him is enough. On's bed of death</a><br /><a>Many receipts he gave me: chiefly one.</a><br /><a>Which, as the dearest issue of his practise,</a><br /><a>And of his old experience the oily darling,</a><br /><a>He bade me store up, as a triple eye,</a><br /><a>Safer than mine own two, more dear; I have so;</a><br /><a>And hearing your high majesty is touch'd</a><br /><a>With that malignant cause wherein the honour</a><br /><a>Of my dear father's gift stands chief in power,</a><br /><a>I come to tender it and my appliance</a><br /><a>With all bound humbleness.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>We thank you, maiden;</a><br /><a>But may not be so credulous of cure,</a><br /><a>When our most learned doctors leave us and</a><br /><a>The congregated college have concluded</a><br /><a>That labouring art can never ransom nature</a><br /><a>From her inaidible estate; I say we must not</a><br /><a>So stain our judgment, or corrupt our hope,</a><br /><a>To prostitute our past-cure malady</a><br /><a>To empirics, or to dissever so</a><br /><a>Our great self and our credit, to esteem</a><br /><a>A senseless help when help past sense we deem.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>My duty then shall pay me for my pains:</a><br /><a>I will no more enforce mine office on you.</a><br /><a>Humbly entreating from your royal thoughts</a><br /><a>A modest one, to bear me back a again.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>I cannot give thee less, to be call'd grateful:</a><br /><a>Thou thought'st to help me; and such thanks I give</a><br /><a>As one near death to those that wish him live:</a><br /><a>But what at full I know, thou know'st no part,</a><br /><a>I knowing all my peril, thou no art.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>What I can do can do no hurt to try,</a><br /><a>Since you set up your rest 'gainst remedy.</a><br /><a>He that of greatest works is finisher</a><br /><a>Oft does them by the weakest minister:</a><br /><a>So holy writ in babes hath judgment shown,</a><br /><a>When judges have been babes; great floods have flown</a><br /><a>From simple sources, and great seas have dried</a><br /><a>When miracles have by the greatest been denied.</a><br /><a>Oft expectation fails and most oft there</a><br /><a>Where most it promises, and oft it hits</a><br /><a>Where hope is coldest and despair most fits.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>I must not hear thee; fare thee well, kind maid;</a><br /><a>Thy pains not used must by thyself be paid:</a><br /><a>Proffers not took reap thanks for their reward.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>Inspired merit so by breath is barr'd:</a><br /><a>It is not so with Him that all things knows</a><br /><a>As 'tis with us that square our guess by shows;</a><br /><a>But most it is presumption in us when</a><br /><a>The help of heaven we count the act of men.</a><br /><a>Dear sir, to my endeavours give consent;</a><br /><a>Of heaven, not me, make an experiment.</a><br /><a>I am not an impostor that proclaim</a><br /><a>Myself against the level of mine aim;</a><br /><a>But know I think and think I know most sure</a><br /><a>My art is not past power nor you past cure.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>Are thou so confident? within what space</a><br /><a>Hopest thou my cure?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>The great'st grace lending grace</a><br /><a>Ere twice the horses of the sun shall bring</a><br /><a>Their fiery torcher his diurnal ring,</a><br /><a>Ere twice in murk and occidental damp</a><br /><a>Moist Hesperus hath quench'd his sleepy lamp,</a><br /><a>Or four and twenty times the pilot's glass</a><br /><a>Hath told the thievish minutes how they pass,</a><br /><a>What is infirm from your sound parts shall fly,</a><br /><a>Health shall live free and sickness freely die.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>Upon thy certainty and confidence</a><br /><a>What darest thou venture?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>Tax of impudence,</a><br /><a>A strumpet's boldness, a divulged shame</a><br /><a>Traduced by odious ballads: my maiden's name</a><br /><a>Sear'd otherwise; nay, worse--if worse--extended</a><br /><a>With vilest torture let my life be ended.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>Methinks in thee some blessed spirit doth speak</a><br /><a>His powerful sound within an organ weak:</a><br /><a>And what impossibility would slay</a><br /><a>In common sense, sense saves another way.</a><br /><a>Thy life is dear; for all that life can rate</a><br /><a>Worth name of life in thee hath estimate,</a><br /><a>Youth, beauty, wisdom, courage, all</a><br /><a>That happiness and prime can happy call:</a><br /><a>Thou this to hazard needs must intimate</a><br /><a>Skill infinite or monstrous desperate.</a><br /><a>Sweet practiser, thy physic I will try,</a><br /><a>That ministers thine own death if I die.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>If I break time, or flinch in property</a><br /><a>Of what I spoke, unpitied let me die,</a><br /><a>And well deserved: not helping, death's my fee;</a><br /><a>But, if I help, what do you promise me?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>Make thy demand.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a> But will you make it even?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>Ay, by my sceptre and my hopes of heaven.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>Then shalt thou give me with thy kingly hand</a><br /><a>What husband in thy power I will command:</a><br /><a>Exempted be from me the arrogance</a><br /><a>To choose from forth the royal blood of France,</a><br /><a>My low and humble name to propagate</a><br /><a>With any branch or image of thy state;</a><br /><a>But such a one, thy vassal, whom I know</a><br /><a>Is free for me to ask, thee to bestow.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>Here is my hand; the premises observed,</a><br /><a>Thy will by my performance shall be served:</a><br /><a>So make the choice of thy own time, for I,</a><br /><a>Thy resolved patient, on thee still rely.</a><br /><a>More should I question thee, and more I must,</a><br /><a>Though more to know could not be more to trust,</a><br /><a>From whence thou camest, how tended on: but rest</a><br /><a>Unquestion'd welcome and undoubted blest.</a><br /><a>Give me some help here, ho! If thou proceed</a><br /><a>As high as word, my deed shall match thy meed.</a><br /><p><i>Flourish. Exeunt</i></p></blockquote></span><span id = 524 ><h3>SCENE II. Rousillon. The COUNT's palace.</h3><blockquote><i>Enter COUNTESS and Clown</i></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>Come on, sir; I shall now put you to the height of</a><br /><a>your breeding.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>I will show myself highly fed and lowly taught: I</a><br /><a>know my business is but to the court.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>To the court! why, what place make you special,</a><br /><a>when you put off that with such contempt? But to the court!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>Truly, madam, if God have lent a man any manners, he</a><br /><a>may easily put it off at court: he that cannot make</a><br /><a>a leg, put off's cap, kiss his hand and say nothing,</a><br /><a>has neither leg, hands, lip, nor cap; and indeed</a><br /><a>such a fellow, to say precisely, were not for the</a><br /><a>court; but for me, I have an answer will serve all</a><br /><a>men.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>Marry, that's a bountiful answer that fits all</a><br /><a>questions.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>It is like a barber's chair that fits all buttocks,</a><br /><a>the pin-buttock, the quatch-buttock, the brawn</a><br /><a>buttock, or any buttock.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>Will your answer serve fit to all questions?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>As fit as ten groats is for the hand of an attorney,</a><br /><a>as your French crown for your taffeta punk, as Tib's</a><br /><a>rush for Tom's forefinger, as a pancake for Shrove</a><br /><a>Tuesday, a morris for May-day, as the nail to his</a><br /><a>hole, the cuckold to his horn, as a scolding queen</a><br /><a>to a wrangling knave, as the nun's lip to the</a><br /><a>friar's mouth, nay, as the pudding to his skin.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>Have you, I say, an answer of such fitness for all</a><br /><a>questions?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>From below your duke to beneath your constable, it</a><br /><a>will fit any question.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>It must be an answer of most monstrous size that</a><br /><a>must fit all demands.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>But a trifle neither, in good faith, if the learned</a><br /><a>should speak truth of it: here it is, and all that</a><br /><a>belongs to't. Ask me if I am a courtier: it shall</a><br /><a>do you no harm to learn.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>To be young again, if we could: I will be a fool in</a><br /><a>question, hoping to be the wiser by your answer. I</a><br /><a>pray you, sir, are you a courtier?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>O Lord, sir! There's a simple putting off. More,</a><br /><a>more, a hundred of them.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>Sir, I am a poor friend of yours, that loves you.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>O Lord, sir! Thick, thick, spare not me.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>I think, sir, you can eat none of this homely meat.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>O Lord, sir! Nay, put me to't, I warrant you.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>You were lately whipped, sir, as I think.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>O Lord, sir! spare not me.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>Do you cry, 'O Lord, sir!' at your whipping, and</a><br /><a>'spare not me?' Indeed your 'O Lord, sir!' is very</a><br /><a>sequent to your whipping: you would answer very well</a><br /><a>to a whipping, if you were but bound to't.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>I ne'er had worse luck in my life in my 'O Lord,</a><br /><a>sir!' I see things may serve long, but not serve ever.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>I play the noble housewife with the time</a><br /><a>To entertain't so merrily with a fool.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>O Lord, sir! why, there't serves well again.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>An end, sir; to your business. Give Helen this,</a><br /><a>And urge her to a present answer back:</a><br /><a>Commend me to my kinsmen and my son:</a><br /><a>This is not much.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>Not much commendation to them.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>Not much employment for you: you understand me?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>Most fruitfully: I am there before my legs.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>Haste you again.</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt severally</i></p></blockquote></span><span id = 525 ><h3>SCENE III. Paris. The KING's palace.</h3><blockquote><i>Enter BERTRAM, LAFEU, and PAROLLES</i></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>They say miracles are past; and we have our</a><br /><a>philosophical persons, to make modern and familiar,</a><br /><a>things supernatural and causeless. Hence is it that</a><br /><a>we make trifles of terrors, ensconcing ourselves</a><br /><a>into seeming knowledge, when we should submit</a><br /><a>ourselves to an unknown fear.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Why, 'tis the rarest argument of wonder that hath</a><br /><a>shot out in our latter times.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>And so 'tis.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>To be relinquish'd of the artists,--</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>So I say.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>Both of Galen and Paracelsus.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>So I say.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>Of all the learned and authentic fellows,--</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Right; so I say.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>That gave him out incurable,--</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Why, there 'tis; so say I too.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>Not to be helped,--</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Right; as 'twere, a man assured of a--</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>Uncertain life, and sure death.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Just, you say well; so would I have said.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>I may truly say, it is a novelty to the world.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>It is, indeed: if you will have it in showing, you</a><br /><a>shall read it in--what do you call there?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>A showing of a heavenly effect in an earthly actor.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>That's it; I would have said the very same.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>Why, your dolphin is not lustier: 'fore me,</a><br /><a>I speak in respect--</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Nay, 'tis strange, 'tis very strange, that is the</a><br /><a>brief and the tedious of it; and he's of a most</a><br /><a>facinerious spirit that will not acknowledge it to be the--</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>Very hand of heaven.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Ay, so I say.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>In a most weak--</a><br /><p><i>pausing</i></p><a>and debile minister, great power, great</a><br /><a>transcendence: which should, indeed, give us a</a><br /><a>further use to be made than alone the recovery of</a><br /><a>the king, as to be--</a><br /><p><i>pausing</i></p><a>generally thankful.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>I would have said it; you say well. Here comes the king.</a><br /><p><i>Enter KING, HELENA, and Attendants. LAFEU and PAROLLES retire</i></p></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>Lustig, as the Dutchman says: I'll like a maid the</a><br /><a>better, whilst I have a tooth in my head: why, he's</a><br /><a>able to lead her a coranto.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Mort du vinaigre! is not this Helen?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>'Fore God, I think so.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>Go, call before me all the lords in court.</a><br /><a>Sit, my preserver, by thy patient's side;</a><br /><a>And with this healthful hand, whose banish'd sense</a><br /><a>Thou hast repeal'd, a second time receive</a><br /><a>The confirmation of my promised gift,</a><br /><a>Which but attends thy naming.</a><br /><p><i>Enter three or four Lords</i></p><a>Fair maid, send forth thine eye: this youthful parcel</a><br /><a>Of noble bachelors stand at my bestowing,</a><br /><a>O'er whom both sovereign power and father's voice</a><br /><a>I have to use: thy frank election make;</a><br /><a>Thou hast power to choose, and they none to forsake.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>To each of you one fair and virtuous mistress</a><br /><a>Fall, when Love please! marry, to each, but one!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>I'ld give bay Curtal and his furniture,</a><br /><a>My mouth no more were broken than these boys',</a><br /><a>And writ as little beard.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>Peruse them well:</a><br /><a>Not one of those but had a noble father.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>Gentlemen,</a><br /><a>Heaven hath through me restored the king to health.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>All</b></a><blockquote><a>We understand it, and thank heaven for you.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>I am a simple maid, and therein wealthiest,</a><br /><a>That I protest I simply am a maid.</a><br /><a>Please it your majesty, I have done already:</a><br /><a>The blushes in my cheeks thus whisper me,</a><br /><a>'We blush that thou shouldst choose; but, be refused,</a><br /><a>Let the white death sit on thy cheek for ever;</a><br /><a>We'll ne'er come there again.'</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>Make choice; and, see,</a><br /><a>Who shuns thy love shuns all his love in me.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>Now, Dian, from thy altar do I fly,</a><br /><a>And to imperial Love, that god most high,</a><br /><a>Do my sighs stream. Sir, will you hear my suit?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>And grant it.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a> Thanks, sir; all the rest is mute.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>I had rather be in this choice than throw ames-ace</a><br /><a>for my life.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>The honour, sir, that flames in your fair eyes,</a><br /><a>Before I speak, too threateningly replies:</a><br /><a>Love make your fortunes twenty times above</a><br /><a>Her that so wishes and her humble love!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>No better, if you please.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>My wish receive,</a><br /><a>Which great Love grant! and so, I take my leave.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>Do all they deny her? An they were sons of mine,</a><br /><a>I'd have them whipped; or I would send them to the</a><br /><a>Turk, to make eunuchs of.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>Be not afraid that I your hand should take;</a><br /><a>I'll never do you wrong for your own sake:</a><br /><a>Blessing upon your vows! and in your bed</a><br /><a>Find fairer fortune, if you ever wed!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>These boys are boys of ice, they'll none have her:</a><br /><a>sure, they are bastards to the English; the French</a><br /><a>ne'er got 'em.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>You are too young, too happy, and too good,</a><br /><a>To make yourself a son out of my blood.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Fourth Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>Fair one, I think not so.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>There's one grape yet; I am sure thy father drunk</a><br /><a>wine: but if thou be'st not an ass, I am a youth</a><br /><a>of fourteen; I have known thee already.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>[To BERTRAM] I dare not say I take you; but I give</a><br /><a>Me and my service, ever whilst I live,</a><br /><a>Into your guiding power. This is the man.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>Why, then, young Bertram, take her; she's thy wife.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>My wife, my liege! I shall beseech your highness,</a><br /><a>In such a business give me leave to use</a><br /><a>The help of mine own eyes.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>Know'st thou not, Bertram,</a><br /><a>What she has done for me?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>Yes, my good lord;</a><br /><a>But never hope to know why I should marry her.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>Thou know'st she has raised me from my sickly bed.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>But follows it, my lord, to bring me down</a><br /><a>Must answer for your raising? I know her well:</a><br /><a>She had her breeding at my father's charge.</a><br /><a>A poor physician's daughter my wife! Disdain</a><br /><a>Rather corrupt me ever!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>'Tis only title thou disdain'st in her, the which</a><br /><a>I can build up. Strange is it that our bloods,</a><br /><a>Of colour, weight, and heat, pour'd all together,</a><br /><a>Would quite confound distinction, yet stand off</a><br /><a>In differences so mighty. If she be</a><br /><a>All that is virtuous, save what thou dislikest,</a><br /><a>A poor physician's daughter, thou dislikest</a><br /><a>Of virtue for the name: but do not so:</a><br /><a>From lowest place when virtuous things proceed,</a><br /><a>The place is dignified by the doer's deed:</a><br /><a>Where great additions swell's, and virtue none,</a><br /><a>It is a dropsied honour. Good alone</a><br /><a>Is good without a name. Vileness is so:</a><br /><a>The property by what it is should go,</a><br /><a>Not by the title. She is young, wise, fair;</a><br /><a>In these to nature she's immediate heir,</a><br /><a>And these breed honour: that is honour's scorn,</a><br /><a>Which challenges itself as honour's born</a><br /><a>And is not like the sire: honours thrive,</a><br /><a>When rather from our acts we them derive</a><br /><a>Than our foregoers: the mere word's a slave</a><br /><a>Debosh'd on every tomb, on every grave</a><br /><a>A lying trophy, and as oft is dumb</a><br /><a>Where dust and damn'd oblivion is the tomb</a><br /><a>Of honour'd bones indeed. What should be said?</a><br /><a>If thou canst like this creature as a maid,</a><br /><a>I can create the rest: virtue and she</a><br /><a>Is her own dower; honour and wealth from me.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>I cannot love her, nor will strive to do't.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>Thou wrong'st thyself, if thou shouldst strive to choose.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>That you are well restored, my lord, I'm glad:</a><br /><a>Let the rest go.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>My honour's at the stake; which to defeat,</a><br /><a>I must produce my power. Here, take her hand,</a><br /><a>Proud scornful boy, unworthy this good gift;</a><br /><a>That dost in vile misprision shackle up</a><br /><a>My love and her desert; that canst not dream,</a><br /><a>We, poising us in her defective scale,</a><br /><a>Shall weigh thee to the beam; that wilt not know,</a><br /><a>It is in us to plant thine honour where</a><br /><a>We please to have it grow. Cheque thy contempt:</a><br /><a>Obey our will, which travails in thy good:</a><br /><a>Believe not thy disdain, but presently</a><br /><a>Do thine own fortunes that obedient right</a><br /><a>Which both thy duty owes and our power claims;</a><br /><a>Or I will throw thee from my care for ever</a><br /><a>Into the staggers and the careless lapse</a><br /><a>Of youth and ignorance; both my revenge and hate</a><br /><a>Loosing upon thee, in the name of justice,</a><br /><a>Without all terms of pity. Speak; thine answer.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>Pardon, my gracious lord; for I submit</a><br /><a>My fancy to your eyes: when I consider</a><br /><a>What great creation and what dole of honour</a><br /><a>Flies where you bid it, I find that she, which late</a><br /><a>Was in my nobler thoughts most base, is now</a><br /><a>The praised of the king; who, so ennobled,</a><br /><a>Is as 'twere born so.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>Take her by the hand,</a><br /><a>And tell her she is thine: to whom I promise</a><br /><a>A counterpoise, if not to thy estate</a><br /><a>A balance more replete.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>I take her hand.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>Good fortune and the favour of the king</a><br /><a>Smile upon this contract; whose ceremony</a><br /><a>Shall seem expedient on the now-born brief,</a><br /><a>And be perform'd to-night: the solemn feast</a><br /><a>Shall more attend upon the coming space,</a><br /><a>Expecting absent friends. As thou lovest her,</a><br /><a>Thy love's to me religious; else, does err.</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt all but LAFEU and PAROLLES</i></p></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>[Advancing] Do you hear, monsieur? a word with you.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Your pleasure, sir?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>Your lord and master did well to make his</a><br /><a>recantation.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Recantation! My lord! my master!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>Ay; is it not a language I speak?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>A most harsh one, and not to be understood without</a><br /><a>bloody succeeding. My master!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>Are you companion to the Count Rousillon?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>To any count, to all counts, to what is man.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>To what is count's man: count's master is of</a><br /><a>another style.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>You are too old, sir; let it satisfy you, you are too old.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>I must tell thee, sirrah, I write man; to which</a><br /><a>title age cannot bring thee.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>What I dare too well do, I dare not do.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>I did think thee, for two ordinaries, to be a pretty</a><br /><a>wise fellow; thou didst make tolerable vent of thy</a><br /><a>travel; it might pass: yet the scarfs and the</a><br /><a>bannerets about thee did manifoldly dissuade me from</a><br /><a>believing thee a vessel of too great a burthen. I</a><br /><a>have now found thee; when I lose thee again, I care</a><br /><a>not: yet art thou good for nothing but taking up; and</a><br /><a>that thou't scarce worth.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Hadst thou not the privilege of antiquity upon thee,--</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>Do not plunge thyself too far in anger, lest thou</a><br /><a>hasten thy trial; which if--Lord have mercy on thee</a><br /><a>for a hen! So, my good window of lattice, fare thee</a><br /><a>well: thy casement I need not open, for I look</a><br /><a>through thee. Give me thy hand.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>My lord, you give me most egregious indignity.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>Ay, with all my heart; and thou art worthy of it.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>I have not, my lord, deserved it.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>Yes, good faith, every dram of it; and I will not</a><br /><a>bate thee a scruple.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Well, I shall be wiser.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>Even as soon as thou canst, for thou hast to pull at</a><br /><a>a smack o' the contrary. If ever thou be'st bound</a><br /><a>in thy scarf and beaten, thou shalt find what it is</a><br /><a>to be proud of thy bondage. I have a desire to hold</a><br /><a>my acquaintance with thee, or rather my knowledge,</a><br /><a>that I may say in the default, he is a man I know.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>My lord, you do me most insupportable vexation.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>I would it were hell-pains for thy sake, and my poor</a><br /><a>doing eternal: for doing I am past: as I will by</a><br /><a>thee, in what motion age will give me leave.</a><br /><p><i>Exit</i></p></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Well, thou hast a son shall take this disgrace off</a><br /><a>me; scurvy, old, filthy, scurvy lord! Well, I must</a><br /><a>be patient; there is no fettering of authority.</a><br /><a>I'll beat him, by my life, if I can meet him with</a><br /><a>any convenience, an he were double and double a</a><br /><a>lord. I'll have no more pity of his age than I</a><br /><a>would of--I'll beat him, an if I could but meet him again.</a><br /><p><i>Re-enter LAFEU</i></p></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>Sirrah, your lord and master's married; there's news</a><br /><a>for you: you have a new mistress.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>I most unfeignedly beseech your lordship to make</a><br /><a>some reservation of your wrongs: he is my good</a><br /><a>lord: whom I serve above is my master.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>Who? God?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Ay, sir.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>The devil it is that's thy master. Why dost thou</a><br /><a>garter up thy arms o' this fashion? dost make hose of</a><br /><a>sleeves? do other servants so? Thou wert best set</a><br /><a>thy lower part where thy nose stands. By mine</a><br /><a>honour, if I were but two hours younger, I'ld beat</a><br /><a>thee: methinks, thou art a general offence, and</a><br /><a>every man should beat thee: I think thou wast</a><br /><a>created for men to breathe themselves upon thee.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>This is hard and undeserved measure, my lord.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>Go to, sir; you were beaten in Italy for picking a</a><br /><a>kernel out of a pomegranate; you are a vagabond and</a><br /><a>no true traveller: you are more saucy with lords</a><br /><a>and honourable personages than the commission of your</a><br /><a>birth and virtue gives you heraldry. You are not</a><br /><a>worth another word, else I'ld call you knave. I leave you.</a><br /><p><i>Exit</i></p></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Good, very good; it is so then: good, very good;</a><br /><a>let it be concealed awhile.</a><br /><p><i>Re-enter BERTRAM</i></p></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>Undone, and forfeited to cares for ever!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>What's the matter, sweet-heart?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>Although before the solemn priest I have sworn,</a><br /><a>I will not bed her.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>What, what, sweet-heart?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>O my Parolles, they have married me!</a><br /><a>I'll to the Tuscan wars, and never bed her.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>France is a dog-hole, and it no more merits</a><br /><a>The tread of a man's foot: to the wars!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>There's letters from my mother: what the import is,</a><br /><a>I know not yet.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Ay, that would be known. To the wars, my boy, to the wars!</a><br /><a>He wears his honour in a box unseen,</a><br /><a>That hugs his kicky-wicky here at home,</a><br /><a>Spending his manly marrow in her arms,</a><br /><a>Which should sustain the bound and high curvet</a><br /><a>Of Mars's fiery steed. To other regions</a><br /><a>France is a stable; we that dwell in't jades;</a><br /><a>Therefore, to the war!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>It shall be so: I'll send her to my house,</a><br /><a>Acquaint my mother with my hate to her,</a><br /><a>And wherefore I am fled; write to the king</a><br /><a>That which I durst not speak; his present gift</a><br /><a>Shall furnish me to those Italian fields,</a><br /><a>Where noble fellows strike: war is no strife</a><br /><a>To the dark house and the detested wife.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Will this capriccio hold in thee? art sure?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>Go with me to my chamber, and advise me.</a><br /><a>I'll send her straight away: to-morrow</a><br /><a>I'll to the wars, she to her single sorrow.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Why, these balls bound; there's noise in it. 'Tis hard:</a><br /><a>A young man married is a man that's marr'd:</a><br /><a>Therefore away, and leave her bravely; go:</a><br /><a>The king has done you wrong: but, hush, 'tis so.</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt</i></p></blockquote></span><span id = 526 ><h3>SCENE IV. Paris. The KING's palace.</h3><blockquote><i>Enter HELENA and Clown</i></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>My mother greets me kindly; is she well?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>She is not well; but yet she has her health: she's</a><br /><a>very merry; but yet she is not well: but thanks be</a><br /><a>given, she's very well and wants nothing i', the</a><br /><a>world; but yet she is not well.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>If she be very well, what does she ail, that she's</a><br /><a>not very well?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>Truly, she's very well indeed, but for two things.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>What two things?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>One, that she's not in heaven, whither God send her</a><br /><a>quickly! the other that she's in earth, from whence</a><br /><a>God send her quickly!</a><br /><p><i>Enter PAROLLES</i></p></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Bless you, my fortunate lady!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>I hope, sir, I have your good will to have mine own</a><br /><a>good fortunes.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>You had my prayers to lead them on; and to keep them</a><br /><a>on, have them still. O, my knave, how does my old lady?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>So that you had her wrinkles and I her money,</a><br /><a>I would she did as you say.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Why, I say nothing.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>Marry, you are the wiser man; for many a man's</a><br /><a>tongue shakes out his master's undoing: to say</a><br /><a>nothing, to do nothing, to know nothing, and to have</a><br /><a>nothing, is to be a great part of your title; which</a><br /><a>is within a very little of nothing.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Away! thou'rt a knave.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>You should have said, sir, before a knave thou'rt a</a><br /><a>knave; that's, before me thou'rt a knave: this had</a><br /><a>been truth, sir.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Go to, thou art a witty fool; I have found thee.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>Did you find me in yourself, sir? or were you</a><br /><a>taught to find me? The search, sir, was profitable;</a><br /><a>and much fool may you find in you, even to the</a><br /><a>world's pleasure and the increase of laughter.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>A good knave, i' faith, and well fed.</a><br /><a>Madam, my lord will go away to-night;</a><br /><a>A very serious business calls on him.</a><br /><a>The great prerogative and rite of love,</a><br /><a>Which, as your due, time claims, he does acknowledge;</a><br /><a>But puts it off to a compell'd restraint;</a><br /><a>Whose want, and whose delay, is strew'd with sweets,</a><br /><a>Which they distil now in the curbed time,</a><br /><a>To make the coming hour o'erflow with joy</a><br /><a>And pleasure drown the brim.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>What's his will else?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>That you will take your instant leave o' the king</a><br /><a>And make this haste as your own good proceeding,</a><br /><a>Strengthen'd with what apology you think</a><br /><a>May make it probable need.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>What more commands he?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>That, having this obtain'd, you presently</a><br /><a>Attend his further pleasure.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>In every thing I wait upon his will.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>I shall report it so.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>I pray you.</a><br /><p><i>Exit PAROLLES</i></p><a>Come, sirrah.</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt</i></p></blockquote></span><span id = 527 ><h3>SCENE V. Paris. The KING's palace.</h3><blockquote><i>Enter LAFEU and BERTRAM</i></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>But I hope your lordship thinks not him a soldier.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>Yes, my lord, and of very valiant approof.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>You have it from his own deliverance.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>And by other warranted testimony.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>Then my dial goes not true: I took this lark for a bunting.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>I do assure you, my lord, he is very great in</a><br /><a>knowledge and accordingly valiant.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>I have then sinned against his experience and</a><br /><a>transgressed against his valour; and my state that</a><br /><a>way is dangerous, since I cannot yet find in my</a><br /><a>heart to repent. Here he comes: I pray you, make</a><br /><a>us friends; I will pursue the amity.</a><br /><p><i>Enter PAROLLES</i></p></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>[To BERTRAM] These things shall be done, sir.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>Pray you, sir, who's his tailor?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Sir?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>O, I know him well, I, sir; he, sir, 's a good</a><br /><a>workman, a very good tailor.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>[Aside to PAROLLES] Is she gone to the king?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>She is.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>Will she away to-night?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>As you'll have her.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>I have writ my letters, casketed my treasure,</a><br /><a>Given order for our horses; and to-night,</a><br /><a>When I should take possession of the bride,</a><br /><a>End ere I do begin.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>A good traveller is something at the latter end of a</a><br /><a>dinner; but one that lies three thirds and uses a</a><br /><a>known truth to pass a thousand nothings with, should</a><br /><a>be once heard and thrice beaten. God save you, captain.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>Is there any unkindness between my lord and you, monsieur?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>I know not how I have deserved to run into my lord's</a><br /><a>displeasure.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>You have made shift to run into 't, boots and spurs</a><br /><a>and all, like him that leaped into the custard; and</a><br /><a>out of it you'll run again, rather than suffer</a><br /><a>question for your residence.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>It may be you have mistaken him, my lord.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>And shall do so ever, though I took him at 's</a><br /><a>prayers. Fare you well, my lord; and believe this</a><br /><a>of me, there can be no kernel in this light nut; the</a><br /><a>soul of this man is his clothes. Trust him not in</a><br /><a>matter of heavy consequence; I have kept of them</a><br /><a>tame, and know their natures. Farewell, monsieur:</a><br /><a>I have spoken better of you than you have or will to</a><br /><a>deserve at my hand; but we must do good against evil.</a><br /><p><i>Exit</i></p></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>An idle lord. I swear.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>I think so.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Why, do you not know him?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>Yes, I do know him well, and common speech</a><br /><a>Gives him a worthy pass. Here comes my clog.</a><br /><p><i>Enter HELENA</i></p></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>I have, sir, as I was commanded from you,</a><br /><a>Spoke with the king and have procured his leave</a><br /><a>For present parting; only he desires</a><br /><a>Some private speech with you.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>I shall obey his will.</a><br /><a>You must not marvel, Helen, at my course,</a><br /><a>Which holds not colour with the time, nor does</a><br /><a>The ministration and required office</a><br /><a>On my particular. Prepared I was not</a><br /><a>For such a business; therefore am I found</a><br /><a>So much unsettled: this drives me to entreat you</a><br /><a>That presently you take our way for home;</a><br /><a>And rather muse than ask why I entreat you,</a><br /><a>For my respects are better than they seem</a><br /><a>And my appointments have in them a need</a><br /><a>Greater than shows itself at the first view</a><br /><a>To you that know them not. This to my mother:</a><br /><p><i>Giving a letter</i></p><a>'Twill be two days ere I shall see you, so</a><br /><a>I leave you to your wisdom.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>Sir, I can nothing say,</a><br /><a>But that I am your most obedient servant.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>Come, come, no more of that.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>And ever shall</a><br /><a>With true observance seek to eke out that</a><br /><a>Wherein toward me my homely stars have fail'd</a><br /><a>To equal my great fortune.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>Let that go:</a><br /><a>My haste is very great: farewell; hie home.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>Pray, sir, your pardon.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>Well, what would you say?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>I am not worthy of the wealth I owe,</a><br /><a>Nor dare I say 'tis mine, and yet it is;</a><br /><a>But, like a timorous thief, most fain would steal</a><br /><a>What law does vouch mine own.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>What would you have?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>Something; and scarce so much: nothing, indeed.</a><br /><a>I would not tell you what I would, my lord:</a><br /><a>Faith yes;</a><br /><a>Strangers and foes do sunder, and not kiss.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>I pray you, stay not, but in haste to horse.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>I shall not break your bidding, good my lord.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>Where are my other men, monsieur? Farewell.</a><br /><p><i>Exit HELENA</i></p><a>Go thou toward home; where I will never come</a><br /><a>Whilst I can shake my sword or hear the drum.</a><br /><a>Away, and for our flight.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><a>Bravely, coragio!</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt</i></p></span><span id = 528 ></span><span id = 529 ><h3>SCENE I. Florence. The DUKE's palace.</h3><blockquote><i>Flourish. Enter the DUKE of Florence attended; the two Frenchmen, with a troop of soldiers.</i></blockquote><a><b>DUKE</b></a><blockquote><a>So that from point to point now have you heard</a><br /><a>The fundamental reasons of this war,</a><br /><a>Whose great decision hath much blood let forth</a><br /><a>And more thirsts after.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>Holy seems the quarrel</a><br /><a>Upon your grace's part; black and fearful</a><br /><a>On the opposer.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DUKE</b></a><blockquote><a>Therefore we marvel much our cousin France</a><br /><a>Would in so just a business shut his bosom</a><br /><a>Against our borrowing prayers.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>Good my lord,</a><br /><a>The reasons of our state I cannot yield,</a><br /><a>But like a common and an outward man,</a><br /><a>That the great figure of a council frames</a><br /><a>By self-unable motion: therefore dare not</a><br /><a>Say what I think of it, since I have found</a><br /><a>Myself in my incertain grounds to fail</a><br /><a>As often as I guess'd.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DUKE</b></a><blockquote><a>Be it his pleasure.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>But I am sure the younger of our nature,</a><br /><a>That surfeit on their ease, will day by day</a><br /><a>Come here for physic.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DUKE</b></a><blockquote><a>Welcome shall they be;</a><br /><a>And all the honours that can fly from us</a><br /><a>Shall on them settle. You know your places well;</a><br /><a>When better fall, for your avails they fell:</a><br /><a>To-morrow to the field.</a><br /><p><i>Flourish. Exeunt</i></p></blockquote></span><span id = 530 ><h3>SCENE II. Rousillon. The COUNT's palace.</h3><blockquote><i>Enter COUNTESS and Clown</i></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>It hath happened all as I would have had it, save</a><br /><a>that he comes not along with her.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>By my troth, I take my young lord to be a very</a><br /><a>melancholy man.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>By what observance, I pray you?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>Why, he will look upon his boot and sing; mend the</a><br /><a>ruff and sing; ask questions and sing; pick his</a><br /><a>teeth and sing. I know a man that had this trick of</a><br /><a>melancholy sold a goodly manor for a song.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>Let me see what he writes, and when he means to come.</a><br /><p><i>Opening a letter</i></p></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>I have no mind to Isbel since I was at court: our</a><br /><a>old ling and our Isbels o' the country are nothing</a><br /><a>like your old ling and your Isbels o' the court:</a><br /><a>the brains of my Cupid's knocked out, and I begin to</a><br /><a>love, as an old man loves money, with no stomach.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>What have we here?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>E'en that you have there.</a><br /><p><i>Exit</i></p></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>[Reads] I have sent you a daughter-in-law: she hath</a><br /><a>recovered the king, and undone me. I have wedded</a><br /><a>her, not bedded her; and sworn to make the 'not'</a><br /><a>eternal. You shall hear I am run away: know it</a><br /><a>before the report come. If there be breadth enough</a><br /><a>in the world, I will hold a long distance. My duty</a><br /><a>to you. Your unfortunate son,</a><br /><a>BERTRAM.</a><br /><a>This is not well, rash and unbridled boy.</a><br /><a>To fly the favours of so good a king;</a><br /><a>To pluck his indignation on thy head</a><br /><a>By the misprising of a maid too virtuous</a><br /><a>For the contempt of empire.</a><br /><p><i>Re-enter Clown</i></p></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>O madam, yonder is heavy news within between two</a><br /><a>soldiers and my young lady!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>What is the matter?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>Nay, there is some comfort in the news, some</a><br /><a>comfort; your son will not be killed so soon as I</a><br /><a>thought he would.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>Why should he be killed?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>So say I, madam, if he run away, as I hear he does:</a><br /><a>the danger is in standing to't; that's the loss of</a><br /><a>men, though it be the getting of children. Here</a><br /><a>they come will tell you more: for my part, I only</a><br /><a>hear your son was run away.</a><br /><p><i>Exit</i></p><p><i>Enter HELENA, and two Gentlemen</i></p></blockquote><a><b>First Gentleman</b></a><blockquote><a>Save you, good madam.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>Madam, my lord is gone, for ever gone.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Gentleman</b></a><blockquote><a>Do not say so.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>Think upon patience. Pray you, gentlemen,</a><br /><a>I have felt so many quirks of joy and grief,</a><br /><a>That the first face of neither, on the start,</a><br /><a>Can woman me unto't: where is my son, I pray you?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Gentleman</b></a><blockquote><a>Madam, he's gone to serve the duke of Florence:</a><br /><a>We met him thitherward; for thence we came,</a><br /><a>And, after some dispatch in hand at court,</a><br /><a>Thither we bend again.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>Look on his letter, madam; here's my passport.</a><br /><p><i>Reads</i></p><a>When thou canst get the ring upon my finger which</a><br /><a>never shall come off, and show me a child begotten</a><br /><a>of thy body that I am father to, then call me</a><br /><a>husband: but in such a 'then' I write a 'never.'</a><br /><a>This is a dreadful sentence.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>Brought you this letter, gentlemen?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Gentleman</b></a><blockquote><a>Ay, madam;</a><br /><a>And for the contents' sake are sorry for our pain.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>I prithee, lady, have a better cheer;</a><br /><a>If thou engrossest all the griefs are thine,</a><br /><a>Thou robb'st me of a moiety: he was my son;</a><br /><a>But I do wash his name out of my blood,</a><br /><a>And thou art all my child. Towards Florence is he?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Gentleman</b></a><blockquote><a>Ay, madam.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a> And to be a soldier?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Gentleman</b></a><blockquote><a>Such is his noble purpose; and believe 't,</a><br /><a>The duke will lay upon him all the honour</a><br /><a>That good convenience claims.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>Return you thither?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Gentleman</b></a><blockquote><a>Ay, madam, with the swiftest wing of speed.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>[Reads] Till I have no wife I have nothing in France.</a><br /><a>'Tis bitter.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a> Find you that there?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>Ay, madam.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Gentleman</b></a><blockquote><a>'Tis but the boldness of his hand, haply, which his</a><br /><a>heart was not consenting to.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>Nothing in France, until he have no wife!</a><br /><a>There's nothing here that is too good for him</a><br /><a>But only she; and she deserves a lord</a><br /><a>That twenty such rude boys might tend upon</a><br /><a>And call her hourly mistress. Who was with him?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Gentleman</b></a><blockquote><a>A servant only, and a gentleman</a><br /><a>Which I have sometime known.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>Parolles, was it not?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Gentleman</b></a><blockquote><a>Ay, my good lady, he.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>A very tainted fellow, and full of wickedness.</a><br /><a>My son corrupts a well-derived nature</a><br /><a>With his inducement.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Gentleman</b></a><blockquote><a>Indeed, good lady,</a><br /><a>The fellow has a deal of that too much,</a><br /><a>Which holds him much to have.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>You're welcome, gentlemen.</a><br /><a>I will entreat you, when you see my son,</a><br /><a>To tell him that his sword can never win</a><br /><a>The honour that he loses: more I'll entreat you</a><br /><a>Written to bear along.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Gentleman</b></a><blockquote><a>We serve you, madam,</a><br /><a>In that and all your worthiest affairs.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>Not so, but as we change our courtesies.</a><br /><a>Will you draw near!</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt COUNTESS and Gentlemen</i></p></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>'Till I have no wife, I have nothing in France.'</a><br /><a>Nothing in France, until he has no wife!</a><br /><a>Thou shalt have none, Rousillon, none in France;</a><br /><a>Then hast thou all again. Poor lord! is't I</a><br /><a>That chase thee from thy country and expose</a><br /><a>Those tender limbs of thine to the event</a><br /><a>Of the none-sparing war? and is it I</a><br /><a>That drive thee from the sportive court, where thou</a><br /><a>Wast shot at with fair eyes, to be the mark</a><br /><a>Of smoky muskets? O you leaden messengers,</a><br /><a>That ride upon the violent speed of fire,</a><br /><a>Fly with false aim; move the still-peering air,</a><br /><a>That sings with piercing; do not touch my lord.</a><br /><a>Whoever shoots at him, I set him there;</a><br /><a>Whoever charges on his forward breast,</a><br /><a>I am the caitiff that do hold him to't;</a><br /><a>And, though I kill him not, I am the cause</a><br /><a>His death was so effected: better 'twere</a><br /><a>I met the ravin lion when he roar'd</a><br /><a>With sharp constraint of hunger; better 'twere</a><br /><a>That all the miseries which nature owes</a><br /><a>Were mine at once. No, come thou home, Rousillon,</a><br /><a>Whence honour but of danger wins a scar,</a><br /><a>As oft it loses all: I will be gone;</a><br /><a>My being here it is that holds thee hence:</a><br /><a>Shall I stay here to do't? no, no, although</a><br /><a>The air of paradise did fan the house</a><br /><a>And angels officed all: I will be gone,</a><br /><a>That pitiful rumour may report my flight,</a><br /><a>To consolate thine ear. Come, night; end, day!</a><br /><a>For with the dark, poor thief, I'll steal away.</a><br /><p><i>Exit</i></p></blockquote></span><span id = 531 ><h3>SCENE III. Florence. Before the DUKE's palace.</h3><blockquote><i>Flourish. Enter the DUKE of Florence, BERTRAM, PAROLLES, Soldiers, Drum, and Trumpets</i></blockquote><a><b>DUKE</b></a><blockquote><a>The general of our horse thou art; and we,</a><br /><a>Great in our hope, lay our best love and credence</a><br /><a>Upon thy promising fortune.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>Sir, it is</a><br /><a>A charge too heavy for my strength, but yet</a><br /><a>We'll strive to bear it for your worthy sake</a><br /><a>To the extreme edge of hazard.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DUKE</b></a><blockquote><a>Then go thou forth;</a><br /><a>And fortune play upon thy prosperous helm,</a><br /><a>As thy auspicious mistress!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>This very day,</a><br /><a>Great Mars, I put myself into thy file:</a><br /><a>Make me but like my thoughts, and I shall prove</a><br /><a>A lover of thy drum, hater of love.</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt</i></p></blockquote></span><span id = 532 ><h3>SCENE IV. Rousillon. The COUNT's palace.</h3><blockquote><i>Enter COUNTESS and Steward</i></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>Alas! and would you take the letter of her?</a><br /><a>Might you not know she would do as she has done,</a><br /><a>By sending me a letter? Read it again.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Steward</b></a><blockquote><a>[Reads]</a><br /><a>I am Saint Jaques' pilgrim, thither gone:</a><br /><a>Ambitious love hath so in me offended,</a><br /><a>That barefoot plod I the cold ground upon,</a><br /><a>With sainted vow my faults to have amended.</a><br /><a>Write, write, that from the bloody course of war</a><br /><a>My dearest master, your dear son, may hie:</a><br /><a>Bless him at home in peace, whilst I from far</a><br /><a>His name with zealous fervor sanctify:</a><br /><a>His taken labours bid him me forgive;</a><br /><a>I, his despiteful Juno, sent him forth</a><br /><a>From courtly friends, with camping foes to live,</a><br /><a>Where death and danger dogs the heels of worth:</a><br /><a>He is too good and fair for death and me:</a><br /><a>Whom I myself embrace, to set him free.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>Ah, what sharp stings are in her mildest words!</a><br /><a>Rinaldo, you did never lack advice so much,</a><br /><a>As letting her pass so: had I spoke with her,</a><br /><a>I could have well diverted her intents,</a><br /><a>Which thus she hath prevented.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Steward</b></a><blockquote><a>Pardon me, madam:</a><br /><a>If I had given you this at over-night,</a><br /><a>She might have been o'erta'en; and yet she writes,</a><br /><a>Pursuit would be but vain.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>What angel shall</a><br /><a>Bless this unworthy husband? he cannot thrive,</a><br /><a>Unless her prayers, whom heaven delights to hear</a><br /><a>And loves to grant, reprieve him from the wrath</a><br /><a>Of greatest justice. Write, write, Rinaldo,</a><br /><a>To this unworthy husband of his wife;</a><br /><a>Let every word weigh heavy of her worth</a><br /><a>That he does weigh too light: my greatest grief.</a><br /><a>Though little he do feel it, set down sharply.</a><br /><a>Dispatch the most convenient messenger:</a><br /><a>When haply he shall hear that she is gone,</a><br /><a>He will return; and hope I may that she,</a><br /><a>Hearing so much, will speed her foot again,</a><br /><a>Led hither by pure love: which of them both</a><br /><a>Is dearest to me. I have no skill in sense</a><br /><a>To make distinction: provide this messenger:</a><br /><a>My heart is heavy and mine age is weak;</a><br /><a>Grief would have tears, and sorrow bids me speak.</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt</i></p></blockquote></span><span id = 533 ><h3>SCENE V. Florence. Without the walls. A tucket afar off.</h3><blockquote><i>Enter an old Widow of Florence, DIANA, VIOLENTA, and MARIANA, with other Citizens</i></blockquote><a><b>Widow</b></a><blockquote><a>Nay, come; for if they do approach the city, we</a><br /><a>shall lose all the sight.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DIANA</b></a><blockquote><a>They say the French count has done most honourable service.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Widow</b></a><blockquote><a>It is reported that he has taken their greatest</a><br /><a>commander; and that with his own hand he slew the</a><br /><a>duke's brother.</a><br /><p><i>Tucket</i></p><a>We have lost our labour; they are gone a contrary</a><br /><a>way: hark! you may know by their trumpets.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>MARIANA</b></a><blockquote><a>Come, let's return again, and suffice ourselves with</a><br /><a>the report of it. Well, Diana, take heed of this</a><br /><a>French earl: the honour of a maid is her name; and</a><br /><a>no legacy is so rich as honesty.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Widow</b></a><blockquote><a>I have told my neighbour how you have been solicited</a><br /><a>by a gentleman his companion.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>MARIANA</b></a><blockquote><a>I know that knave; hang him! one Parolles: a</a><br /><a>filthy officer he is in those suggestions for the</a><br /><a>young earl. Beware of them, Diana; their promises,</a><br /><a>enticements, oaths, tokens, and all these engines of</a><br /><a>lust, are not the things they go under: many a maid</a><br /><a>hath been seduced by them; and the misery is,</a><br /><a>example, that so terrible shows in the wreck of</a><br /><a>maidenhood, cannot for all that dissuade succession,</a><br /><a>but that they are limed with the twigs that threaten</a><br /><a>them. I hope I need not to advise you further; but</a><br /><a>I hope your own grace will keep you where you are,</a><br /><a>though there were no further danger known but the</a><br /><a>modesty which is so lost.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DIANA</b></a><blockquote><a>You shall not need to fear me.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Widow</b></a><blockquote><a>I hope so.</a><br /><p><i>Enter HELENA, disguised like a Pilgrim</i></p><a>Look, here comes a pilgrim: I know she will lie at</a><br /><a>my house; thither they send one another: I'll</a><br /><a>question her. God save you, pilgrim! whither are you bound?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>To Saint Jaques le Grand.</a><br /><a>Where do the palmers lodge, I do beseech you?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Widow</b></a><blockquote><a>At the Saint Francis here beside the port.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>Is this the way?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Widow</b></a><blockquote><a>Ay, marry, is't.</a><br /><p><i>A march afar</i></p><a>Hark you! they come this way.</a><br /><a>If you will tarry, holy pilgrim,</a><br /><a>But till the troops come by,</a><br /><a>I will conduct you where you shall be lodged;</a><br /><a>The rather, for I think I know your hostess</a><br /><a>As ample as myself.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>Is it yourself?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Widow</b></a><blockquote><a>If you shall please so, pilgrim.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>I thank you, and will stay upon your leisure.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Widow</b></a><blockquote><a>You came, I think, from France?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>I did so.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Widow</b></a><blockquote><a>Here you shall see a countryman of yours</a><br /><a>That has done worthy service.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>His name, I pray you.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DIANA</b></a><blockquote><a>The Count Rousillon: know you such a one?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>But by the ear, that hears most nobly of him:</a><br /><a>His face I know not.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DIANA</b></a><blockquote><a>Whatsome'er he is,</a><br /><a>He's bravely taken here. He stole from France,</a><br /><a>As 'tis reported, for the king had married him</a><br /><a>Against his liking: think you it is so?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>Ay, surely, mere the truth: I know his lady.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DIANA</b></a><blockquote><a>There is a gentleman that serves the count</a><br /><a>Reports but coarsely of her.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>What's his name?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DIANA</b></a><blockquote><a>Monsieur Parolles.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a> O, I believe with him,</a><br /><a>In argument of praise, or to the worth</a><br /><a>Of the great count himself, she is too mean</a><br /><a>To have her name repeated: all her deserving</a><br /><a>Is a reserved honesty, and that</a><br /><a>I have not heard examined.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DIANA</b></a><blockquote><a>Alas, poor lady!</a><br /><a>'Tis a hard bondage to become the wife</a><br /><a>Of a detesting lord.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Widow</b></a><blockquote><a>I warrant, good creature, wheresoe'er she is,</a><br /><a>Her heart weighs sadly: this young maid might do her</a><br /><a>A shrewd turn, if she pleased.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>How do you mean?</a><br /><a>May be the amorous count solicits her</a><br /><a>In the unlawful purpose.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Widow</b></a><blockquote><a>He does indeed;</a><br /><a>And brokes with all that can in such a suit</a><br /><a>Corrupt the tender honour of a maid:</a><br /><a>But she is arm'd for him and keeps her guard</a><br /><a>In honestest defence.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>MARIANA</b></a><blockquote><a>The gods forbid else!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Widow</b></a><blockquote><a>So, now they come:</a><br /><p><i>Drum and Colours</i></p><p><i>Enter BERTRAM, PAROLLES, and the whole army</i></p><a>That is Antonio, the duke's eldest son;</a><br /><a>That, Escalus.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a> Which is the Frenchman?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DIANA</b></a><blockquote><a>He;</a><br /><a>That with the plume: 'tis a most gallant fellow.</a><br /><a>I would he loved his wife: if he were honester</a><br /><a>He were much goodlier: is't not a handsome gentleman?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>I like him well.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DIANA</b></a><blockquote><a>'Tis pity he is not honest: yond's that same knave</a><br /><a>That leads him to these places: were I his lady,</a><br /><a>I would Poison that vile rascal.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>Which is he?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DIANA</b></a><blockquote><a>That jack-an-apes with scarfs: why is he melancholy?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>Perchance he's hurt i' the battle.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Lose our drum! well.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>MARIANA</b></a><blockquote><a>He's shrewdly vexed at something: look, he has spied us.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Widow</b></a><blockquote><a>Marry, hang you!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>MARIANA</b></a><blockquote><a>And your courtesy, for a ring-carrier!</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt BERTRAM, PAROLLES, and army</i></p></blockquote><a><b>Widow</b></a><blockquote><a>The troop is past. Come, pilgrim, I will bring you</a><br /><a>Where you shall host: of enjoin'd penitents</a><br /><a>There's four or five, to great Saint Jaques bound,</a><br /><a>Already at my house.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>I humbly thank you:</a><br /><a>Please it this matron and this gentle maid</a><br /><a>To eat with us to-night, the charge and thanking</a><br /><a>Shall be for me; and, to requite you further,</a><br /><a>I will bestow some precepts of this virgin</a><br /><a>Worthy the note.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BOTH</b></a><blockquote><a> We'll take your offer kindly.</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt</i></p></blockquote></span><span id = 534 ><h3>SCENE VI. Camp before Florence.</h3><blockquote><i>Enter BERTRAM and the two French Lords</i></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>Nay, good my lord, put him to't; let him have his</a><br /><a>way.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>If your lordship find him not a hilding, hold me no</a><br /><a>more in your respect.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>On my life, my lord, a bubble.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>Do you think I am so far deceived in him?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>Believe it, my lord, in mine own direct knowledge,</a><br /><a>without any malice, but to speak of him as my</a><br /><a>kinsman, he's a most notable coward, an infinite and</a><br /><a>endless liar, an hourly promise-breaker, the owner</a><br /><a>of no one good quality worthy your lordship's</a><br /><a>entertainment.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>It were fit you knew him; lest, reposing too far in</a><br /><a>his virtue, which he hath not, he might at some</a><br /><a>great and trusty business in a main danger fail you.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>I would I knew in what particular action to try him.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>None better than to let him fetch off his drum,</a><br /><a>which you hear him so confidently undertake to do.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>I, with a troop of Florentines, will suddenly</a><br /><a>surprise him; such I will have, whom I am sure he</a><br /><a>knows not from the enemy: we will bind and hoodwink</a><br /><a>him so, that he shall suppose no other but that he</a><br /><a>is carried into the leaguer of the adversaries, when</a><br /><a>we bring him to our own tents. Be but your lordship</a><br /><a>present at his examination: if he do not, for the</a><br /><a>promise of his life and in the highest compulsion of</a><br /><a>base fear, offer to betray you and deliver all the</a><br /><a>intelligence in his power against you, and that with</a><br /><a>the divine forfeit of his soul upon oath, never</a><br /><a>trust my judgment in any thing.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>O, for the love of laughter, let him fetch his drum;</a><br /><a>he says he has a stratagem for't: when your</a><br /><a>lordship sees the bottom of his success in't, and to</a><br /><a>what metal this counterfeit lump of ore will be</a><br /><a>melted, if you give him not John Drum's</a><br /><a>entertainment, your inclining cannot be removed.</a><br /><a>Here he comes.</a><br /><p><i>Enter PAROLLES</i></p></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>[Aside to BERTRAM] O, for the love of laughter,</a><br /><a>hinder not the honour of his design: let him fetch</a><br /><a>off his drum in any hand.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>How now, monsieur! this drum sticks sorely in your</a><br /><a>disposition.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>A pox on't, let it go; 'tis but a drum.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>'But a drum'! is't 'but a drum'? A drum so lost!</a><br /><a>There was excellent command,--to charge in with our</a><br /><a>horse upon our own wings, and to rend our own soldiers!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>That was not to be blamed in the command of the</a><br /><a>service: it was a disaster of war that Caesar</a><br /><a>himself could not have prevented, if he had been</a><br /><a>there to command.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>Well, we cannot greatly condemn our success: some</a><br /><a>dishonour we had in the loss of that drum; but it is</a><br /><a>not to be recovered.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>It might have been recovered.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>It might; but it is not now.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>It is to be recovered: but that the merit of</a><br /><a>service is seldom attributed to the true and exact</a><br /><a>performer, I would have that drum or another, or</a><br /><a>'hic jacet.'</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>Why, if you have a stomach, to't, monsieur: if you</a><br /><a>think your mystery in stratagem can bring this</a><br /><a>instrument of honour again into his native quarter,</a><br /><a>be magnanimous in the enterprise and go on; I will</a><br /><a>grace the attempt for a worthy exploit: if you</a><br /><a>speed well in it, the duke shall both speak of it.</a><br /><a>and extend to you what further becomes his</a><br /><a>greatness, even to the utmost syllable of your</a><br /><a>worthiness.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>By the hand of a soldier, I will undertake it.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>But you must not now slumber in it.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>I'll about it this evening: and I will presently</a><br /><a>pen down my dilemmas, encourage myself in my</a><br /><a>certainty, put myself into my mortal preparation;</a><br /><a>and by midnight look to hear further from me.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>May I be bold to acquaint his grace you are gone about it?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>I know not what the success will be, my lord; but</a><br /><a>the attempt I vow.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>I know thou'rt valiant; and, to the possibility of</a><br /><a>thy soldiership, will subscribe for thee. Farewell.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>I love not many words.</a><br /><p><i>Exit</i></p></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>No more than a fish loves water. Is not this a</a><br /><a>strange fellow, my lord, that so confidently seems</a><br /><a>to undertake this business, which he knows is not to</a><br /><a>be done; damns himself to do and dares better be</a><br /><a>damned than to do't?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>You do not know him, my lord, as we do: certain it</a><br /><a>is that he will steal himself into a man's favour and</a><br /><a>for a week escape a great deal of discoveries; but</a><br /><a>when you find him out, you have him ever after.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>Why, do you think he will make no deed at all of</a><br /><a>this that so seriously he does address himself unto?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>None in the world; but return with an invention and</a><br /><a>clap upon you two or three probable lies: but we</a><br /><a>have almost embossed him; you shall see his fall</a><br /><a>to-night; for indeed he is not for your lordship's respect.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>We'll make you some sport with the fox ere we case</a><br /><a>him. He was first smoked by the old lord Lafeu:</a><br /><a>when his disguise and he is parted, tell me what a</a><br /><a>sprat you shall find him; which you shall see this</a><br /><a>very night.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>I must go look my twigs: he shall be caught.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>Your brother he shall go along with me.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>As't please your lordship: I'll leave you.</a><br /><p><i>Exit</i></p></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>Now will I lead you to the house, and show you</a><br /><a>The lass I spoke of.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>But you say she's honest.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>That's all the fault: I spoke with her but once</a><br /><a>And found her wondrous cold; but I sent to her,</a><br /><a>By this same coxcomb that we have i' the wind,</a><br /><a>Tokens and letters which she did re-send;</a><br /><a>And this is all I have done. She's a fair creature:</a><br /><a>Will you go see her?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>With all my heart, my lord.</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt</i></p></blockquote></span><span id = 535 ><h3>SCENE VII. Florence. The Widow's house.</h3><blockquote><i>Enter HELENA and Widow</i></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>If you misdoubt me that I am not she,</a><br /><a>I know not how I shall assure you further,</a><br /><a>But I shall lose the grounds I work upon.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Widow</b></a><blockquote><a>Though my estate be fallen, I was well born,</a><br /><a>Nothing acquainted with these businesses;</a><br /><a>And would not put my reputation now</a><br /><a>In any staining act.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>Nor would I wish you.</a><br /><a>First, give me trust, the count he is my husband,</a><br /><a>And what to your sworn counsel I have spoken</a><br /><a>Is so from word to word; and then you cannot,</a><br /><a>By the good aid that I of you shall borrow,</a><br /><a>Err in bestowing it.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Widow</b></a><blockquote><a>I should believe you:</a><br /><a>For you have show'd me that which well approves</a><br /><a>You're great in fortune.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>Take this purse of gold,</a><br /><a>And let me buy your friendly help thus far,</a><br /><a>Which I will over-pay and pay again</a><br /><a>When I have found it. The count he wooes your daughter,</a><br /><a>Lays down his wanton siege before her beauty,</a><br /><a>Resolved to carry her: let her in fine consent,</a><br /><a>As we'll direct her how 'tis best to bear it.</a><br /><a>Now his important blood will nought deny</a><br /><a>That she'll demand: a ring the county wears,</a><br /><a>That downward hath succeeded in his house</a><br /><a>From son to son, some four or five descents</a><br /><a>Since the first father wore it: this ring he holds</a><br /><a>In most rich choice; yet in his idle fire,</a><br /><a>To buy his will, it would not seem too dear,</a><br /><a>Howe'er repented after.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Widow</b></a><blockquote><a>Now I see</a><br /><a>The bottom of your purpose.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>You see it lawful, then: it is no more,</a><br /><a>But that your daughter, ere she seems as won,</a><br /><a>Desires this ring; appoints him an encounter;</a><br /><a>In fine, delivers me to fill the time,</a><br /><a>Herself most chastely absent: after this,</a><br /><a>To marry her, I'll add three thousand crowns</a><br /><a>To what is passed already.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Widow</b></a><blockquote><a>I have yielded:</a><br /><a>Instruct my daughter how she shall persever,</a><br /><a>That time and place with this deceit so lawful</a><br /><a>May prove coherent. Every night he comes</a><br /><a>With musics of all sorts and songs composed</a><br /><a>To her unworthiness: it nothing steads us</a><br /><a>To chide him from our eaves; for he persists</a><br /><a>As if his life lay on't.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><a>Why then to-night</a><br /><a>Let us assay our plot; which, if it speed,</a><br /><a>Is wicked meaning in a lawful deed</a><br /><a>And lawful meaning in a lawful act,</a><br /><a>Where both not sin, and yet a sinful fact:</a><br /><a>But let's about it.</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt</i></p></span><span id = 536 ></span><span id = 537 ><h3>SCENE I. Without the Florentine camp.</h3><blockquote><i>Enter Second French Lord, with five or six other Soldiers in ambush</i></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>He can come no other way but by this hedge-corner.</a><br /><a>When you sally upon him, speak what terrible</a><br /><a>language you will: though you understand it not</a><br /><a>yourselves, no matter; for we must not seem to</a><br /><a>understand him, unless some one among us whom we</a><br /><a>must produce for an interpreter.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Soldier</b></a><blockquote><a>Good captain, let me be the interpreter.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>Art not acquainted with him? knows he not thy voice?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Soldier</b></a><blockquote><a>No, sir, I warrant you.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>But what linsey-woolsey hast thou to speak to us again?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Soldier</b></a><blockquote><a>E'en such as you speak to me.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>He must think us some band of strangers i' the</a><br /><a>adversary's entertainment. Now he hath a smack of</a><br /><a>all neighbouring languages; therefore we must every</a><br /><a>one be a man of his own fancy, not to know what we</a><br /><a>speak one to another; so we seem to know, is to</a><br /><a>know straight our purpose: choughs' language,</a><br /><a>gabble enough, and good enough. As for you,</a><br /><a>interpreter, you must seem very politic. But couch,</a><br /><a>ho! here he comes, to beguile two hours in a sleep,</a><br /><a>and then to return and swear the lies he forges.</a><br /><p><i>Enter PAROLLES</i></p></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Ten o'clock: within these three hours 'twill be</a><br /><a>time enough to go home. What shall I say I have</a><br /><a>done? It must be a very plausive invention that</a><br /><a>carries it: they begin to smoke me; and disgraces</a><br /><a>have of late knocked too often at my door. I find</a><br /><a>my tongue is too foolhardy; but my heart hath the</a><br /><a>fear of Mars before it and of his creatures, not</a><br /><a>daring the reports of my tongue.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>This is the first truth that e'er thine own tongue</a><br /><a>was guilty of.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>What the devil should move me to undertake the</a><br /><a>recovery of this drum, being not ignorant of the</a><br /><a>impossibility, and knowing I had no such purpose? I</a><br /><a>must give myself some hurts, and say I got them in</a><br /><a>exploit: yet slight ones will not carry it; they</a><br /><a>will say, 'Came you off with so little?' and great</a><br /><a>ones I dare not give. Wherefore, what's the</a><br /><a>instance? Tongue, I must put you into a</a><br /><a>butter-woman's mouth and buy myself another of</a><br /><a>Bajazet's mule, if you prattle me into these perils.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>Is it possible he should know what he is, and be</a><br /><a>that he is?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>I would the cutting of my garments would serve the</a><br /><a>turn, or the breaking of my Spanish sword.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>We cannot afford you so.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Or the baring of my beard; and to say it was in</a><br /><a>stratagem.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>'Twould not do.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Or to drown my clothes, and say I was stripped.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>Hardly serve.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Though I swore I leaped from the window of the citadel.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>How deep?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Thirty fathom.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>Three great oaths would scarce make that be believed.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>I would I had any drum of the enemy's: I would swear</a><br /><a>I recovered it.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>You shall hear one anon.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>A drum now of the enemy's,--</a><br /><p><i>Alarum within</i></p></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>Throca movousus, cargo, cargo, cargo.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>All</b></a><blockquote><a>Cargo, cargo, cargo, villiando par corbo, cargo.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>O, ransom, ransom! do not hide mine eyes.</a><br /><p><i>They seize and blindfold him</i></p></blockquote><a><b>First Soldier</b></a><blockquote><a>Boskos thromuldo boskos.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>I know you are the Muskos' regiment:</a><br /><a>And I shall lose my life for want of language;</a><br /><a>If there be here German, or Dane, low Dutch,</a><br /><a>Italian, or French, let him speak to me; I'll</a><br /><a>Discover that which shall undo the Florentine.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Soldier</b></a><blockquote><a>Boskos vauvado: I understand thee, and can speak</a><br /><a>thy tongue. Kerely bonto, sir, betake thee to thy</a><br /><a>faith, for seventeen poniards are at thy bosom.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>O!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Soldier</b></a><blockquote><a>O, pray, pray, pray! Manka revania dulche.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>Oscorbidulchos volivorco.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Soldier</b></a><blockquote><a>The general is content to spare thee yet;</a><br /><a>And, hoodwink'd as thou art, will lead thee on</a><br /><a>To gather from thee: haply thou mayst inform</a><br /><a>Something to save thy life.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>O, let me live!</a><br /><a>And all the secrets of our camp I'll show,</a><br /><a>Their force, their purposes; nay, I'll speak that</a><br /><a>Which you will wonder at.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Soldier</b></a><blockquote><a>But wilt thou faithfully?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>If I do not, damn me.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Soldier</b></a><blockquote><a>Acordo linta.</a><br /><a>Come on; thou art granted space.</a><br /><p><i>Exit, with PAROLLES guarded. A short alarum within</i></p></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>Go, tell the Count Rousillon, and my brother,</a><br /><a>We have caught the woodcock, and will keep him muffled</a><br /><a>Till we do hear from them.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Soldier</b></a><blockquote><a>Captain, I will.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>A' will betray us all unto ourselves:</a><br /><a>Inform on that.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Soldier</b></a><blockquote><a> So I will, sir.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>Till then I'll keep him dark and safely lock'd.</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt</i></p></blockquote></span><span id = 538 ><h3>SCENE II. Florence. The Widow's house.</h3><blockquote><i>Enter BERTRAM and DIANA</i></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>They told me that your name was Fontibell.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DIANA</b></a><blockquote><a>No, my good lord, Diana.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>Titled goddess;</a><br /><a>And worth it, with addition! But, fair soul,</a><br /><a>In your fine frame hath love no quality?</a><br /><a>If quick fire of youth light not your mind,</a><br /><a>You are no maiden, but a monument:</a><br /><a>When you are dead, you should be such a one</a><br /><a>As you are now, for you are cold and stem;</a><br /><a>And now you should be as your mother was</a><br /><a>When your sweet self was got.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DIANA</b></a><blockquote><a>She then was honest.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>So should you be.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DIANA</b></a><blockquote><a>No:</a><br /><a>My mother did but duty; such, my lord,</a><br /><a>As you owe to your wife.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>No more o' that;</a><br /><a>I prithee, do not strive against my vows:</a><br /><a>I was compell'd to her; but I love thee</a><br /><a>By love's own sweet constraint, and will for ever</a><br /><a>Do thee all rights of service.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DIANA</b></a><blockquote><a>Ay, so you serve us</a><br /><a>Till we serve you; but when you have our roses,</a><br /><a>You barely leave our thorns to prick ourselves</a><br /><a>And mock us with our bareness.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>How have I sworn!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DIANA</b></a><blockquote><a>'Tis not the many oaths that makes the truth,</a><br /><a>But the plain single vow that is vow'd true.</a><br /><a>What is not holy, that we swear not by,</a><br /><a>But take the High'st to witness: then, pray you, tell me,</a><br /><a>If I should swear by God's great attributes,</a><br /><a>I loved you dearly, would you believe my oaths,</a><br /><a>When I did love you ill? This has no holding,</a><br /><a>To swear by him whom I protest to love,</a><br /><a>That I will work against him: therefore your oaths</a><br /><a>Are words and poor conditions, but unseal'd,</a><br /><a>At least in my opinion.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>Change it, change it;</a><br /><a>Be not so holy-cruel: love is holy;</a><br /><a>And my integrity ne'er knew the crafts</a><br /><a>That you do charge men with. Stand no more off,</a><br /><a>But give thyself unto my sick desires,</a><br /><a>Who then recover: say thou art mine, and ever</a><br /><a>My love as it begins shall so persever.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DIANA</b></a><blockquote><a>I see that men make ropes in such a scarre</a><br /><a>That we'll forsake ourselves. Give me that ring.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>I'll lend it thee, my dear; but have no power</a><br /><a>To give it from me.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DIANA</b></a><blockquote><a>Will you not, my lord?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>It is an honour 'longing to our house,</a><br /><a>Bequeathed down from many ancestors;</a><br /><a>Which were the greatest obloquy i' the world</a><br /><a>In me to lose.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DIANA</b></a><blockquote><a> Mine honour's such a ring:</a><br /><a>My chastity's the jewel of our house,</a><br /><a>Bequeathed down from many ancestors;</a><br /><a>Which were the greatest obloquy i' the world</a><br /><a>In me to lose: thus your own proper wisdom</a><br /><a>Brings in the champion Honour on my part,</a><br /><a>Against your vain assault.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>Here, take my ring:</a><br /><a>My house, mine honour, yea, my life, be thine,</a><br /><a>And I'll be bid by thee.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DIANA</b></a><blockquote><a>When midnight comes, knock at my chamber-window:</a><br /><a>I'll order take my mother shall not hear.</a><br /><a>Now will I charge you in the band of truth,</a><br /><a>When you have conquer'd my yet maiden bed,</a><br /><a>Remain there but an hour, nor speak to me:</a><br /><a>My reasons are most strong; and you shall know them</a><br /><a>When back again this ring shall be deliver'd:</a><br /><a>And on your finger in the night I'll put</a><br /><a>Another ring, that what in time proceeds</a><br /><a>May token to the future our past deeds.</a><br /><a>Adieu, till then; then, fail not. You have won</a><br /><a>A wife of me, though there my hope be done.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>A heaven on earth I have won by wooing thee.</a><br /><p><i>Exit</i></p></blockquote><a><b>DIANA</b></a><blockquote><a>For which live long to thank both heaven and me!</a><br /><a>You may so in the end.</a><br /><a>My mother told me just how he would woo,</a><br /><a>As if she sat in 's heart; she says all men</a><br /><a>Have the like oaths: he had sworn to marry me</a><br /><a>When his wife's dead; therefore I'll lie with him</a><br /><a>When I am buried. Since Frenchmen are so braid,</a><br /><a>Marry that will, I live and die a maid:</a><br /><a>Only in this disguise I think't no sin</a><br /><a>To cozen him that would unjustly win.</a><br /><p><i>Exit</i></p></blockquote></span><span id = 539 ><h3>SCENE III. The Florentine camp.</h3><blockquote><i>Enter the two French Lords and some two or three Soldiers</i></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>You have not given him his mother's letter?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>I have delivered it an hour since: there is</a><br /><a>something in't that stings his nature; for on the</a><br /><a>reading it he changed almost into another man.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>He has much worthy blame laid upon him for shaking</a><br /><a>off so good a wife and so sweet a lady.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>Especially he hath incurred the everlasting</a><br /><a>displeasure of the king, who had even tuned his</a><br /><a>bounty to sing happiness to him. I will tell you a</a><br /><a>thing, but you shall let it dwell darkly with you.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>When you have spoken it, 'tis dead, and I am the</a><br /><a>grave of it.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>He hath perverted a young gentlewoman here in</a><br /><a>Florence, of a most chaste renown; and this night he</a><br /><a>fleshes his will in the spoil of her honour: he hath</a><br /><a>given her his monumental ring, and thinks himself</a><br /><a>made in the unchaste composition.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>Now, God delay our rebellion! as we are ourselves,</a><br /><a>what things are we!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>Merely our own traitors. And as in the common course</a><br /><a>of all treasons, we still see them reveal</a><br /><a>themselves, till they attain to their abhorred ends,</a><br /><a>so he that in this action contrives against his own</a><br /><a>nobility, in his proper stream o'erflows himself.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>Is it not meant damnable in us, to be trumpeters of</a><br /><a>our unlawful intents? We shall not then have his</a><br /><a>company to-night?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>Not till after midnight; for he is dieted to his hour.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>That approaches apace; I would gladly have him see</a><br /><a>his company anatomized, that he might take a measure</a><br /><a>of his own judgments, wherein so curiously he had</a><br /><a>set this counterfeit.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>We will not meddle with him till he come; for his</a><br /><a>presence must be the whip of the other.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>In the mean time, what hear you of these wars?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>I hear there is an overture of peace.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>Nay, I assure you, a peace concluded.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>What will Count Rousillon do then? will he travel</a><br /><a>higher, or return again into France?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>I perceive, by this demand, you are not altogether</a><br /><a>of his council.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>Let it be forbid, sir; so should I be a great deal</a><br /><a>of his act.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>Sir, his wife some two months since fled from his</a><br /><a>house: her pretence is a pilgrimage to Saint Jaques</a><br /><a>le Grand; which holy undertaking with most austere</a><br /><a>sanctimony she accomplished; and, there residing the</a><br /><a>tenderness of her nature became as a prey to her</a><br /><a>grief; in fine, made a groan of her last breath, and</a><br /><a>now she sings in heaven.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>How is this justified?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>The stronger part of it by her own letters, which</a><br /><a>makes her story true, even to the point of her</a><br /><a>death: her death itself, which could not be her</a><br /><a>office to say is come, was faithfully confirmed by</a><br /><a>the rector of the place.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>Hath the count all this intelligence?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>Ay, and the particular confirmations, point from</a><br /><a>point, so to the full arming of the verity.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>I am heartily sorry that he'll be glad of this.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>How mightily sometimes we make us comforts of our losses!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>And how mightily some other times we drown our gain</a><br /><a>in tears! The great dignity that his valour hath</a><br /><a>here acquired for him shall at home be encountered</a><br /><a>with a shame as ample.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and</a><br /><a>ill together: our virtues would be proud, if our</a><br /><a>faults whipped them not; and our crimes would</a><br /><a>despair, if they were not cherished by our virtues.</a><br /><p><i>Enter a Messenger</i></p><a>How now! where's your master?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Servant</b></a><blockquote><a>He met the duke in the street, sir, of whom he hath</a><br /><a>taken a solemn leave: his lordship will next</a><br /><a>morning for France. The duke hath offered him</a><br /><a>letters of commendations to the king.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>They shall be no more than needful there, if they</a><br /><a>were more than they can commend.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>They cannot be too sweet for the king's tartness.</a><br /><a>Here's his lordship now.</a><br /><p><i>Enter BERTRAM</i></p><a>How now, my lord! is't not after midnight?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>I have to-night dispatched sixteen businesses, a</a><br /><a>month's length a-piece, by an abstract of success:</a><br /><a>I have congied with the duke, done my adieu with his</a><br /><a>nearest; buried a wife, mourned for her; writ to my</a><br /><a>lady mother I am returning; entertained my convoy;</a><br /><a>and between these main parcels of dispatch effected</a><br /><a>many nicer needs; the last was the greatest, but</a><br /><a>that I have not ended yet.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>If the business be of any difficulty, and this</a><br /><a>morning your departure hence, it requires haste of</a><br /><a>your lordship.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>I mean, the business is not ended, as fearing to</a><br /><a>hear of it hereafter. But shall we have this</a><br /><a>dialogue between the fool and the soldier? Come,</a><br /><a>bring forth this counterfeit module, he has deceived</a><br /><a>me, like a double-meaning prophesier.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>Bring him forth: has sat i' the stocks all night,</a><br /><a>poor gallant knave.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>No matter: his heels have deserved it, in usurping</a><br /><a>his spurs so long. How does he carry himself?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>I have told your lordship already, the stocks carry</a><br /><a>him. But to answer you as you would be understood;</a><br /><a>he weeps like a wench that had shed her milk: he</a><br /><a>hath confessed himself to Morgan, whom he supposes</a><br /><a>to be a friar, from the time of his remembrance to</a><br /><a>this very instant disaster of his setting i' the</a><br /><a>stocks: and what think you he hath confessed?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>Nothing of me, has a'?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>His confession is taken, and it shall be read to his</a><br /><a>face: if your lordship be in't, as I believe you</a><br /><a>are, you must have the patience to hear it.</a><br /><p><i>Enter PAROLLES guarded, and First Soldier</i></p></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>A plague upon him! muffled! he can say nothing of</a><br /><a>me: hush, hush!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>Hoodman comes! Portotartarosa</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Soldier</b></a><blockquote><a>He calls for the tortures: what will you say</a><br /><a>without 'em?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>I will confess what I know without constraint: if</a><br /><a>ye pinch me like a pasty, I can say no more.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Soldier</b></a><blockquote><a>Bosko chimurcho.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>Boblibindo chicurmurco.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Soldier</b></a><blockquote><a>You are a merciful general. Our general bids you</a><br /><a>answer to what I shall ask you out of a note.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>And truly, as I hope to live.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Soldier</b></a><blockquote><a>[Reads] 'First demand of him how many horse the</a><br /><a>duke is strong.' What say you to that?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Five or six thousand; but very weak and</a><br /><a>unserviceable: the troops are all scattered, and</a><br /><a>the commanders very poor rogues, upon my reputation</a><br /><a>and credit and as I hope to live.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Soldier</b></a><blockquote><a>Shall I set down your answer so?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Do: I'll take the sacrament on't, how and which way you will.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>All's one to him. What a past-saving slave is this!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>You're deceived, my lord: this is Monsieur</a><br /><a>Parolles, the gallant militarist,--that was his own</a><br /><a>phrase,--that had the whole theoric of war in the</a><br /><a>knot of his scarf, and the practise in the chape of</a><br /><a>his dagger.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>I will never trust a man again for keeping his sword</a><br /><a>clean. nor believe he can have every thing in him</a><br /><a>by wearing his apparel neatly.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Soldier</b></a><blockquote><a>Well, that's set down.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Five or six thousand horse, I said,-- I will say</a><br /><a>true,--or thereabouts, set down, for I'll speak truth.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>He's very near the truth in this.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>But I con him no thanks for't, in the nature he</a><br /><a>delivers it.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Poor rogues, I pray you, say.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Soldier</b></a><blockquote><a>Well, that's set down.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>I humbly thank you, sir: a truth's a truth, the</a><br /><a>rogues are marvellous poor.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Soldier</b></a><blockquote><a>[Reads] 'Demand of him, of what strength they are</a><br /><a>a-foot.' What say you to that?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>By my troth, sir, if I were to live this present</a><br /><a>hour, I will tell true. Let me see: Spurio, a</a><br /><a>hundred and fifty; Sebastian, so many; Corambus, so</a><br /><a>many; Jaques, so many; Guiltian, Cosmo, Lodowick,</a><br /><a>and Gratii, two hundred and fifty each; mine own</a><br /><a>company, Chitopher, Vaumond, Bentii, two hundred and</a><br /><a>fifty each: so that the muster-file, rotten and</a><br /><a>sound, upon my life, amounts not to fifteen thousand</a><br /><a>poll; half of the which dare not shake snow from off</a><br /><a>their cassocks, lest they shake themselves to pieces.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>What shall be done to him?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>Nothing, but let him have thanks. Demand of him my</a><br /><a>condition, and what credit I have with the duke.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Soldier</b></a><blockquote><a>Well, that's set down.</a><br /><p><i>Reads</i></p><a>'You shall demand of him, whether one Captain Dumain</a><br /><a>be i' the camp, a Frenchman; what his reputation is</a><br /><a>with the duke; what his valour, honesty, and</a><br /><a>expertness in wars; or whether he thinks it were not</a><br /><a>possible, with well-weighing sums of gold, to</a><br /><a>corrupt him to revolt.' What say you to this? what</a><br /><a>do you know of it?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>I beseech you, let me answer to the particular of</a><br /><a>the inter'gatories: demand them singly.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Soldier</b></a><blockquote><a>Do you know this Captain Dumain?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>I know him: a' was a botcher's 'prentice in Paris,</a><br /><a>from whence he was whipped for getting the shrieve's</a><br /><a>fool with child,--a dumb innocent, that could not</a><br /><a>say him nay.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>Nay, by your leave, hold your hands; though I know</a><br /><a>his brains are forfeit to the next tile that falls.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Soldier</b></a><blockquote><a>Well, is this captain in the duke of Florence's camp?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Upon my knowledge, he is, and lousy.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>Nay look not so upon me; we shall hear of your</a><br /><a>lordship anon.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Soldier</b></a><blockquote><a>What is his reputation with the duke?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>The duke knows him for no other but a poor officer</a><br /><a>of mine; and writ to me this other day to turn him</a><br /><a>out o' the band: I think I have his letter in my pocket.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Soldier</b></a><blockquote><a>Marry, we'll search.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>In good sadness, I do not know; either it is there,</a><br /><a>or it is upon a file with the duke's other letters</a><br /><a>in my tent.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Soldier</b></a><blockquote><a>Here 'tis; here's a paper: shall I read it to you?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>I do not know if it be it or no.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>Our interpreter does it well.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>Excellently.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Soldier</b></a><blockquote><a>[Reads] 'Dian, the count's a fool, and full of gold,'--</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>That is not the duke's letter, sir; that is an</a><br /><a>advertisement to a proper maid in Florence, one</a><br /><a>Diana, to take heed of the allurement of one Count</a><br /><a>Rousillon, a foolish idle boy, but for all that very</a><br /><a>ruttish: I pray you, sir, put it up again.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Soldier</b></a><blockquote><a>Nay, I'll read it first, by your favour.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>My meaning in't, I protest, was very honest in the</a><br /><a>behalf of the maid; for I knew the young count to be</a><br /><a>a dangerous and lascivious boy, who is a whale to</a><br /><a>virginity and devours up all the fry it finds.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>Damnable both-sides rogue!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Soldier</b></a><blockquote><a>[Reads] 'When he swears oaths, bid him drop gold, and take it;</a><br /><a>After he scores, he never pays the score:</a><br /><a>Half won is match well made; match, and well make it;</a><br /><a>He ne'er pays after-debts, take it before;</a><br /><a>And say a soldier, Dian, told thee this,</a><br /><a>Men are to mell with, boys are not to kiss:</a><br /><a>For count of this, the count's a fool, I know it,</a><br /><a>Who pays before, but not when he does owe it.</a><br /><a>Thine, as he vowed to thee in thine ear,</a><br /><a>PAROLLES.'</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>He shall be whipped through the army with this rhyme</a><br /><a>in's forehead.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>This is your devoted friend, sir, the manifold</a><br /><a>linguist and the armipotent soldier.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>I could endure any thing before but a cat, and now</a><br /><a>he's a cat to me.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Soldier</b></a><blockquote><a>I perceive, sir, by the general's looks, we shall be</a><br /><a>fain to hang you.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>My life, sir, in any case: not that I am afraid to</a><br /><a>die; but that, my offences being many, I would</a><br /><a>repent out the remainder of nature: let me live,</a><br /><a>sir, in a dungeon, i' the stocks, or any where, so I may live.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Soldier</b></a><blockquote><a>We'll see what may be done, so you confess freely;</a><br /><a>therefore, once more to this Captain Dumain: you</a><br /><a>have answered to his reputation with the duke and to</a><br /><a>his valour: what is his honesty?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>He will steal, sir, an egg out of a cloister: for</a><br /><a>rapes and ravishments he parallels Nessus: he</a><br /><a>professes not keeping of oaths; in breaking 'em he</a><br /><a>is stronger than Hercules: he will lie, sir, with</a><br /><a>such volubility, that you would think truth were a</a><br /><a>fool: drunkenness is his best virtue, for he will</a><br /><a>be swine-drunk; and in his sleep he does little</a><br /><a>harm, save to his bed-clothes about him; but they</a><br /><a>know his conditions and lay him in straw. I have but</a><br /><a>little more to say, sir, of his honesty: he has</a><br /><a>every thing that an honest man should not have; what</a><br /><a>an honest man should have, he has nothing.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>I begin to love him for this.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>For this description of thine honesty? A pox upon</a><br /><a>him for me, he's more and more a cat.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Soldier</b></a><blockquote><a>What say you to his expertness in war?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Faith, sir, he has led the drum before the English</a><br /><a>tragedians; to belie him, I will not, and more of</a><br /><a>his soldiership I know not; except, in that country</a><br /><a>he had the honour to be the officer at a place there</a><br /><a>called Mile-end, to instruct for the doubling of</a><br /><a>files: I would do the man what honour I can, but of</a><br /><a>this I am not certain.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>He hath out-villained villany so far, that the</a><br /><a>rarity redeems him.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>A pox on him, he's a cat still.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Soldier</b></a><blockquote><a>His qualities being at this poor price, I need not</a><br /><a>to ask you if gold will corrupt him to revolt.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Sir, for a quart d'ecu he will sell the fee-simple</a><br /><a>of his salvation, the inheritance of it; and cut the</a><br /><a>entail from all remainders, and a perpetual</a><br /><a>succession for it perpetually.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Soldier</b></a><blockquote><a>What's his brother, the other Captain Dumain?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>Why does be ask him of me?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Soldier</b></a><blockquote><a>What's he?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>E'en a crow o' the same nest; not altogether so</a><br /><a>great as the first in goodness, but greater a great</a><br /><a>deal in evil: he excels his brother for a coward,</a><br /><a>yet his brother is reputed one of the best that is:</a><br /><a>in a retreat he outruns any lackey; marry, in coming</a><br /><a>on he has the cramp.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Soldier</b></a><blockquote><a>If your life be saved, will you undertake to betray</a><br /><a>the Florentine?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Ay, and the captain of his horse, Count Rousillon.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Soldier</b></a><blockquote><a>I'll whisper with the general, and know his pleasure.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>[Aside] I'll no more drumming; a plague of all</a><br /><a>drums! Only to seem to deserve well, and to</a><br /><a>beguile the supposition of that lascivious young boy</a><br /><a>the count, have I run into this danger. Yet who</a><br /><a>would have suspected an ambush where I was taken?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Soldier</b></a><blockquote><a>There is no remedy, sir, but you must die: the</a><br /><a>general says, you that have so traitorously</a><br /><a>discovered the secrets of your army and made such</a><br /><a>pestiferous reports of men very nobly held, can</a><br /><a>serve the world for no honest use; therefore you</a><br /><a>must die. Come, headsman, off with his head.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>O Lord, sir, let me live, or let me see my death!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>That shall you, and take your leave of all your friends.</a><br /><p><i>Unblinding him</i></p><a>So, look about you: know you any here?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>Good morrow, noble captain.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>God bless you, Captain Parolles.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>God save you, noble captain.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>Captain, what greeting will you to my Lord Lafeu?</a><br /><a>I am for France.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>Good captain, will you give me a copy of the sonnet</a><br /><a>you writ to Diana in behalf of the Count Rousillon?</a><br /><a>an I were not a very coward, I'ld compel it of you:</a><br /><a>but fare you well.</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt BERTRAM and Lords</i></p></blockquote><a><b>First Soldier</b></a><blockquote><a>You are undone, captain, all but your scarf; that</a><br /><a>has a knot on't yet</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Who cannot be crushed with a plot?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Soldier</b></a><blockquote><a>If you could find out a country where but women were</a><br /><a>that had received so much shame, you might begin an</a><br /><a>impudent nation. Fare ye well, sir; I am for France</a><br /><a>too: we shall speak of you there.</a><br /><p><i>Exit with Soldiers</i></p></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Yet am I thankful: if my heart were great,</a><br /><a>'Twould burst at this. Captain I'll be no more;</a><br /><a>But I will eat and drink, and sleep as soft</a><br /><a>As captain shall: simply the thing I am</a><br /><a>Shall make me live. Who knows himself a braggart,</a><br /><a>Let him fear this, for it will come to pass</a><br /><a>that every braggart shall be found an ass.</a><br /><a>Rust, sword? cool, blushes! and, Parolles, live</a><br /><a>Safest in shame! being fool'd, by foolery thrive!</a><br /><a>There's place and means for every man alive.</a><br /><a>I'll after them.</a><br /><p><i>Exit</i></p></blockquote></span><span id = 540 ><h3>SCENE IV. Florence. The Widow's house.</h3><blockquote><i>Enter HELENA, Widow, and DIANA</i></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>That you may well perceive I have not wrong'd you,</a><br /><a>One of the greatest in the Christian world</a><br /><a>Shall be my surety; 'fore whose throne 'tis needful,</a><br /><a>Ere I can perfect mine intents, to kneel:</a><br /><a>Time was, I did him a desired office,</a><br /><a>Dear almost as his life; which gratitude</a><br /><a>Through flinty Tartar's bosom would peep forth,</a><br /><a>And answer, thanks: I duly am inform'd</a><br /><a>His grace is at Marseilles; to which place</a><br /><a>We have convenient convoy. You must know</a><br /><a>I am supposed dead: the army breaking,</a><br /><a>My husband hies him home; where, heaven aiding,</a><br /><a>And by the leave of my good lord the king,</a><br /><a>We'll be before our welcome.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Widow</b></a><blockquote><a>Gentle madam,</a><br /><a>You never had a servant to whose trust</a><br /><a>Your business was more welcome.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>Nor you, mistress,</a><br /><a>Ever a friend whose thoughts more truly labour</a><br /><a>To recompense your love: doubt not but heaven</a><br /><a>Hath brought me up to be your daughter's dower,</a><br /><a>As it hath fated her to be my motive</a><br /><a>And helper to a husband. But, O strange men!</a><br /><a>That can such sweet use make of what they hate,</a><br /><a>When saucy trusting of the cozen'd thoughts</a><br /><a>Defiles the pitchy night: so lust doth play</a><br /><a>With what it loathes for that which is away.</a><br /><a>But more of this hereafter. You, Diana,</a><br /><a>Under my poor instructions yet must suffer</a><br /><a>Something in my behalf.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DIANA</b></a><blockquote><a>Let death and honesty</a><br /><a>Go with your impositions, I am yours</a><br /><a>Upon your will to suffer.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>Yet, I pray you:</a><br /><a>But with the word the time will bring on summer,</a><br /><a>When briers shall have leaves as well as thorns,</a><br /><a>And be as sweet as sharp. We must away;</a><br /><a>Our wagon is prepared, and time revives us:</a><br /><a>All's well that ends well; still the fine's the crown;</a><br /><a>Whate'er the course, the end is the renown.</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt</i></p></blockquote></span><span id = 541 ><h3>SCENE V. Rousillon. The COUNT's palace.</h3><blockquote><i>Enter COUNTESS, LAFEU, and Clown</i></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>No, no, no, your son was misled with a snipt-taffeta</a><br /><a>fellow there, whose villanous saffron would have</a><br /><a>made all the unbaked and doughy youth of a nation in</a><br /><a>his colour: your daughter-in-law had been alive at</a><br /><a>this hour, and your son here at home, more advanced</a><br /><a>by the king than by that red-tailed humble-bee I speak of.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>I would I had not known him; it was the death of the</a><br /><a>most virtuous gentlewoman that ever nature had</a><br /><a>praise for creating. If she had partaken of my</a><br /><a>flesh, and cost me the dearest groans of a mother, I</a><br /><a>could not have owed her a more rooted love.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>'Twas a good lady, 'twas a good lady: we may pick a</a><br /><a>thousand salads ere we light on such another herb.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>Indeed, sir, she was the sweet marjoram of the</a><br /><a>salad, or rather, the herb of grace.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>They are not herbs, you knave; they are nose-herbs.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>I am no great Nebuchadnezzar, sir; I have not much</a><br /><a>skill in grass.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>Whether dost thou profess thyself, a knave or a fool?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>A fool, sir, at a woman's service, and a knave at a man's.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>Your distinction?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>I would cozen the man of his wife and do his service.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>So you were a knave at his service, indeed.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>And I would give his wife my bauble, sir, to do her service.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>I will subscribe for thee, thou art both knave and fool.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>At your service.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>No, no, no.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>Why, sir, if I cannot serve you, I can serve as</a><br /><a>great a prince as you are.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>Who's that? a Frenchman?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>Faith, sir, a' has an English name; but his fisnomy</a><br /><a>is more hotter in France than there.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>What prince is that?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>The black prince, sir; alias, the prince of</a><br /><a>darkness; alias, the devil.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>Hold thee, there's my purse: I give thee not this</a><br /><a>to suggest thee from thy master thou talkest of;</a><br /><a>serve him still.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>I am a woodland fellow, sir, that always loved a</a><br /><a>great fire; and the master I speak of ever keeps a</a><br /><a>good fire. But, sure, he is the prince of the</a><br /><a>world; let his nobility remain in's court. I am for</a><br /><a>the house with the narrow gate, which I take to be</a><br /><a>too little for pomp to enter: some that humble</a><br /><a>themselves may; but the many will be too chill and</a><br /><a>tender, and they'll be for the flowery way that</a><br /><a>leads to the broad gate and the great fire.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>Go thy ways, I begin to be aweary of thee; and I</a><br /><a>tell thee so before, because I would not fall out</a><br /><a>with thee. Go thy ways: let my horses be well</a><br /><a>looked to, without any tricks.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>If I put any tricks upon 'em, sir, they shall be</a><br /><a>jades' tricks; which are their own right by the law of nature.</a><br /><p><i>Exit</i></p></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>A shrewd knave and an unhappy.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>So he is. My lord that's gone made himself much</a><br /><a>sport out of him: by his authority he remains here,</a><br /><a>which he thinks is a patent for his sauciness; and,</a><br /><a>indeed, he has no pace, but runs where he will.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>I like him well; 'tis not amiss. And I was about to</a><br /><a>tell you, since I heard of the good lady's death and</a><br /><a>that my lord your son was upon his return home, I</a><br /><a>moved the king my master to speak in the behalf of</a><br /><a>my daughter; which, in the minority of them both,</a><br /><a>his majesty, out of a self-gracious remembrance, did</a><br /><a>first propose: his highness hath promised me to do</a><br /><a>it: and, to stop up the displeasure he hath</a><br /><a>conceived against your son, there is no fitter</a><br /><a>matter. How does your ladyship like it?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>With very much content, my lord; and I wish it</a><br /><a>happily effected.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>His highness comes post from Marseilles, of as able</a><br /><a>body as when he numbered thirty: he will be here</a><br /><a>to-morrow, or I am deceived by him that in such</a><br /><a>intelligence hath seldom failed.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>It rejoices me, that I hope I shall see him ere I</a><br /><a>die. I have letters that my son will be here</a><br /><a>to-night: I shall beseech your lordship to remain</a><br /><a>with me till they meet together.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>Madam, I was thinking with what manners I might</a><br /><a>safely be admitted.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>You need but plead your honourable privilege.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>Lady, of that I have made a bold charter; but I</a><br /><a>thank my God it holds yet.</a><br /><p><i>Re-enter Clown</i></p></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>O madam, yonder's my lord your son with a patch of</a><br /><a>velvet on's face: whether there be a scar under't</a><br /><a>or no, the velvet knows; but 'tis a goodly patch of</a><br /><a>velvet: his left cheek is a cheek of two pile and a</a><br /><a>half, but his right cheek is worn bare.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>A scar nobly got, or a noble scar, is a good livery</a><br /><a>of honour; so belike is that.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>But it is your carbonadoed face.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>Let us go see your son, I pray you: I long to talk</a><br /><a>with the young noble soldier.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><a>Faith there's a dozen of 'em, with delicate fine</a><br /><a>hats and most courteous feathers, which bow the head</a><br /><a>and nod at every man.</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt</i></p></span><span id = 543 ></span><span id = 544 ><h3>SCENE I. Marseilles. A street.</h3><blockquote><i>Enter HELENA, Widow, and DIANA, with two Attendants</i></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>But this exceeding posting day and night</a><br /><a>Must wear your spirits low; we cannot help it:</a><br /><a>But since you have made the days and nights as one,</a><br /><a>To wear your gentle limbs in my affairs,</a><br /><a>Be bold you do so grow in my requital</a><br /><a>As nothing can unroot you. In happy time;</a><br /><p><i>Enter a Gentleman</i></p><a>This man may help me to his majesty's ear,</a><br /><a>If he would spend his power. God save you, sir.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Gentleman</b></a><blockquote><a>And you.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>Sir, I have seen you in the court of France.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Gentleman</b></a><blockquote><a>I have been sometimes there.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>I do presume, sir, that you are not fallen</a><br /><a>From the report that goes upon your goodness;</a><br /><a>An therefore, goaded with most sharp occasions,</a><br /><a>Which lay nice manners by, I put you to</a><br /><a>The use of your own virtues, for the which</a><br /><a>I shall continue thankful.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Gentleman</b></a><blockquote><a>What's your will?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>That it will please you</a><br /><a>To give this poor petition to the king,</a><br /><a>And aid me with that store of power you have</a><br /><a>To come into his presence.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Gentleman</b></a><blockquote><a>The king's not here.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>Not here, sir!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Gentleman</b></a><blockquote><a>Not, indeed:</a><br /><a>He hence removed last night and with more haste</a><br /><a>Than is his use.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Widow</b></a><blockquote><a> Lord, how we lose our pains!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL yet,</a><br /><a>Though time seem so adverse and means unfit.</a><br /><a>I do beseech you, whither is he gone?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Gentleman</b></a><blockquote><a>Marry, as I take it, to Rousillon;</a><br /><a>Whither I am going.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>I do beseech you, sir,</a><br /><a>Since you are like to see the king before me,</a><br /><a>Commend the paper to his gracious hand,</a><br /><a>Which I presume shall render you no blame</a><br /><a>But rather make you thank your pains for it.</a><br /><a>I will come after you with what good speed</a><br /><a>Our means will make us means.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Gentleman</b></a><blockquote><a>This I'll do for you.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>And you shall find yourself to be well thank'd,</a><br /><a>Whate'er falls more. We must to horse again.</a><br /><a>Go, go, provide.</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt</i></p></blockquote></span><span id = 545 ><h3>SCENE II. Rousillon. Before the COUNT's palace.</h3><blockquote><i>Enter Clown, and PAROLLES, following</i></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Good Monsieur Lavache, give my Lord Lafeu this</a><br /><a>letter: I have ere now, sir, been better known to</a><br /><a>you, when I have held familiarity with fresher</a><br /><a>clothes; but I am now, sir, muddied in fortune's</a><br /><a>mood, and smell somewhat strong of her strong</a><br /><a>displeasure.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>Truly, fortune's displeasure is but sluttish, if it</a><br /><a>smell so strongly as thou speakest of: I will</a><br /><a>henceforth eat no fish of fortune's buttering.</a><br /><a>Prithee, allow the wind.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Nay, you need not to stop your nose, sir; I spake</a><br /><a>but by a metaphor.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>Indeed, sir, if your metaphor stink, I will stop my</a><br /><a>nose; or against any man's metaphor. Prithee, get</a><br /><a>thee further.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Pray you, sir, deliver me this paper.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Clown</b></a><blockquote><a>Foh! prithee, stand away: a paper from fortune's</a><br /><a>close-stool to give to a nobleman! Look, here he</a><br /><a>comes himself.</a><br /><p><i>Enter LAFEU</i></p><a>Here is a purr of fortune's, sir, or of fortune's</a><br /><a>cat,--but not a musk-cat,--that has fallen into the</a><br /><a>unclean fishpond of her displeasure, and, as he</a><br /><a>says, is muddied withal: pray you, sir, use the</a><br /><a>carp as you may; for he looks like a poor, decayed,</a><br /><a>ingenious, foolish, rascally knave. I do pity his</a><br /><a>distress in my similes of comfort and leave him to</a><br /><a>your lordship.</a><br /><p><i>Exit</i></p></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>My lord, I am a man whom fortune hath cruelly</a><br /><a>scratched.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>And what would you have me to do? 'Tis too late to</a><br /><a>pare her nails now. Wherein have you played the</a><br /><a>knave with fortune, that she should scratch you, who</a><br /><a>of herself is a good lady and would not have knaves</a><br /><a>thrive long under her? There's a quart d'ecu for</a><br /><a>you: let the justices make you and fortune friends:</a><br /><a>I am for other business.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>I beseech your honour to hear me one single word.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>You beg a single penny more: come, you shall ha't;</a><br /><a>save your word.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>My name, my good lord, is Parolles.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>You beg more than 'word,' then. Cox my passion!</a><br /><a>give me your hand. How does your drum?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>O my good lord, you were the first that found me!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>Was I, in sooth? and I was the first that lost thee.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>It lies in you, my lord, to bring me in some grace,</a><br /><a>for you did bring me out.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>Out upon thee, knave! dost thou put upon me at once</a><br /><a>both the office of God and the devil? One brings</a><br /><a>thee in grace and the other brings thee out.</a><br /><p><i>Trumpets sound</i></p><a>The king's coming; I know by his trumpets. Sirrah,</a><br /><a>inquire further after me; I had talk of you last</a><br /><a>night: though you are a fool and a knave, you shall</a><br /><a>eat; go to, follow.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>I praise God for you.</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt</i></p></blockquote></span><span id = 546 ><h3>SCENE III. Rousillon. The COUNT's palace.</h3><blockquote><i>Flourish. Enter KING, COUNTESS, LAFEU, the two French Lords, with Attendants</i></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>We lost a jewel of her; and our esteem</a><br /><a>Was made much poorer by it: but your son,</a><br /><a>As mad in folly, lack'd the sense to know</a><br /><a>Her estimation home.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>'Tis past, my liege;</a><br /><a>And I beseech your majesty to make it</a><br /><a>Natural rebellion, done i' the blaze of youth;</a><br /><a>When oil and fire, too strong for reason's force,</a><br /><a>O'erbears it and burns on.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>My honour'd lady,</a><br /><a>I have forgiven and forgotten all;</a><br /><a>Though my revenges were high bent upon him,</a><br /><a>And watch'd the time to shoot.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>This I must say,</a><br /><a>But first I beg my pardon, the young lord</a><br /><a>Did to his majesty, his mother and his lady</a><br /><a>Offence of mighty note; but to himself</a><br /><a>The greatest wrong of all. He lost a wife</a><br /><a>Whose beauty did astonish the survey</a><br /><a>Of richest eyes, whose words all ears took captive,</a><br /><a>Whose dear perfection hearts that scorn'd to serve</a><br /><a>Humbly call'd mistress.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>Praising what is lost</a><br /><a>Makes the remembrance dear. Well, call him hither;</a><br /><a>We are reconciled, and the first view shall kill</a><br /><a>All repetition: let him not ask our pardon;</a><br /><a>The nature of his great offence is dead,</a><br /><a>And deeper than oblivion we do bury</a><br /><a>The incensing relics of it: let him approach,</a><br /><a>A stranger, no offender; and inform him</a><br /><a>So 'tis our will he should.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Gentleman</b></a><blockquote><a>I shall, my liege.</a><br /><p><i>Exit</i></p></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>What says he to your daughter? have you spoke?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>All that he is hath reference to your highness.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>Then shall we have a match. I have letters sent me</a><br /><a>That set him high in fame.</a><br /><p><i>Enter BERTRAM</i></p></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>He looks well on't.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>I am not a day of season,</a><br /><a>For thou mayst see a sunshine and a hail</a><br /><a>In me at once: but to the brightest beams</a><br /><a>Distracted clouds give way; so stand thou forth;</a><br /><a>The time is fair again.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>My high-repented blames,</a><br /><a>Dear sovereign, pardon to me.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>All is whole;</a><br /><a>Not one word more of the consumed time.</a><br /><a>Let's take the instant by the forward top;</a><br /><a>For we are old, and on our quick'st decrees</a><br /><a>The inaudible and noiseless foot of Time</a><br /><a>Steals ere we can effect them. You remember</a><br /><a>The daughter of this lord?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>Admiringly, my liege, at first</a><br /><a>I stuck my choice upon her, ere my heart</a><br /><a>Durst make too bold a herald of my tongue</a><br /><a>Where the impression of mine eye infixing,</a><br /><a>Contempt his scornful perspective did lend me,</a><br /><a>Which warp'd the line of every other favour;</a><br /><a>Scorn'd a fair colour, or express'd it stolen;</a><br /><a>Extended or contracted all proportions</a><br /><a>To a most hideous object: thence it came</a><br /><a>That she whom all men praised and whom myself,</a><br /><a>Since I have lost, have loved, was in mine eye</a><br /><a>The dust that did offend it.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>Well excused:</a><br /><a>That thou didst love her, strikes some scores away</a><br /><a>From the great compt: but love that comes too late,</a><br /><a>Like a remorseful pardon slowly carried,</a><br /><a>To the great sender turns a sour offence,</a><br /><a>Crying, 'That's good that's gone.' Our rash faults</a><br /><a>Make trivial price of serious things we have,</a><br /><a>Not knowing them until we know their grave:</a><br /><a>Oft our displeasures, to ourselves unjust,</a><br /><a>Destroy our friends and after weep their dust</a><br /><a>Our own love waking cries to see what's done,</a><br /><a>While shame full late sleeps out the afternoon.</a><br /><a>Be this sweet Helen's knell, and now forget her.</a><br /><a>Send forth your amorous token for fair Maudlin:</a><br /><a>The main consents are had; and here we'll stay</a><br /><a>To see our widower's second marriage-day.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>Which better than the first, O dear heaven, bless!</a><br /><a>Or, ere they meet, in me, O nature, cesse!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>Come on, my son, in whom my house's name</a><br /><a>Must be digested, give a favour from you</a><br /><a>To sparkle in the spirits of my daughter,</a><br /><a>That she may quickly come.</a><br /><p><i>BERTRAM gives a ring</i></p><a>By my old beard,</a><br /><a>And every hair that's on't, Helen, that's dead,</a><br /><a>Was a sweet creature: such a ring as this,</a><br /><a>The last that e'er I took her at court,</a><br /><a>I saw upon her finger.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>Hers it was not.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>Now, pray you, let me see it; for mine eye,</a><br /><a>While I was speaking, oft was fasten'd to't.</a><br /><a>This ring was mine; and, when I gave it Helen,</a><br /><a>I bade her, if her fortunes ever stood</a><br /><a>Necessitied to help, that by this token</a><br /><a>I would relieve her. Had you that craft, to reave</a><br /><a>her</a><br /><a>Of what should stead her most?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>My gracious sovereign,</a><br /><a>Howe'er it pleases you to take it so,</a><br /><a>The ring was never hers.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>Son, on my life,</a><br /><a>I have seen her wear it; and she reckon'd it</a><br /><a>At her life's rate.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>I am sure I saw her wear it.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>You are deceived, my lord; she never saw it:</a><br /><a>In Florence was it from a casement thrown me,</a><br /><a>Wrapp'd in a paper, which contain'd the name</a><br /><a>Of her that threw it: noble she was, and thought</a><br /><a>I stood engaged: but when I had subscribed</a><br /><a>To mine own fortune and inform'd her fully</a><br /><a>I could not answer in that course of honour</a><br /><a>As she had made the overture, she ceased</a><br /><a>In heavy satisfaction and would never</a><br /><a>Receive the ring again.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>Plutus himself,</a><br /><a>That knows the tinct and multiplying medicine,</a><br /><a>Hath not in nature's mystery more science</a><br /><a>Than I have in this ring: 'twas mine, 'twas Helen's,</a><br /><a>Whoever gave it you. Then, if you know</a><br /><a>That you are well acquainted with yourself,</a><br /><a>Confess 'twas hers, and by what rough enforcement</a><br /><a>You got it from her: she call'd the saints to surety</a><br /><a>That she would never put it from her finger,</a><br /><a>Unless she gave it to yourself in bed,</a><br /><a>Where you have never come, or sent it us</a><br /><a>Upon her great disaster.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>She never saw it.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>Thou speak'st it falsely, as I love mine honour;</a><br /><a>And makest conjectural fears to come into me</a><br /><a>Which I would fain shut out. If it should prove</a><br /><a>That thou art so inhuman,--'twill not prove so;--</a><br /><a>And yet I know not: thou didst hate her deadly,</a><br /><a>And she is dead; which nothing, but to close</a><br /><a>Her eyes myself, could win me to believe,</a><br /><a>More than to see this ring. Take him away.</a><br /><p><i>Guards seize BERTRAM</i></p><a>My fore-past proofs, howe'er the matter fall,</a><br /><a>Shall tax my fears of little vanity,</a><br /><a>Having vainly fear'd too little. Away with him!</a><br /><a>We'll sift this matter further.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>If you shall prove</a><br /><a>This ring was ever hers, you shall as easy</a><br /><a>Prove that I husbanded her bed in Florence,</a><br /><a>Where yet she never was.</a><br /><p><i>Exit, guarded</i></p></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>I am wrapp'd in dismal thinkings.</a><br /><p><i>Enter a Gentleman</i></p></blockquote><a><b>Gentleman</b></a><blockquote><a>Gracious sovereign,</a><br /><a>Whether I have been to blame or no, I know not:</a><br /><a>Here's a petition from a Florentine,</a><br /><a>Who hath for four or five removes come short</a><br /><a>To tender it herself. I undertook it,</a><br /><a>Vanquish'd thereto by the fair grace and speech</a><br /><a>Of the poor suppliant, who by this I know</a><br /><a>Is here attending: her business looks in her</a><br /><a>With an importing visage; and she told me,</a><br /><a>In a sweet verbal brief, it did concern</a><br /><a>Your highness with herself.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>[Reads] Upon his many protestations to marry me</a><br /><a>when his wife was dead, I blush to say it, he won</a><br /><a>me. Now is the Count Rousillon a widower: his vows</a><br /><a>are forfeited to me, and my honour's paid to him. He</a><br /><a>stole from Florence, taking no leave, and I follow</a><br /><a>him to his country for justice: grant it me, O</a><br /><a>king! in you it best lies; otherwise a seducer</a><br /><a>flourishes, and a poor maid is undone.</a><br /><a>DIANA CAPILET.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>I will buy me a son-in-law in a fair, and toll for</a><br /><a>this: I'll none of him.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>The heavens have thought well on thee Lafeu,</a><br /><a>To bring forth this discovery. Seek these suitors:</a><br /><a>Go speedily and bring again the count.</a><br /><a>I am afeard the life of Helen, lady,</a><br /><a>Was foully snatch'd.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a>Now, justice on the doers!</a><br /><p><i>Re-enter BERTRAM, guarded</i></p></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>I wonder, sir, sith wives are monsters to you,</a><br /><a>And that you fly them as you swear them lordship,</a><br /><a>Yet you desire to marry.</a><br /><p><i>Enter Widow and DIANA</i></p><a>What woman's that?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DIANA</b></a><blockquote><a>I am, my lord, a wretched Florentine,</a><br /><a>Derived from the ancient Capilet:</a><br /><a>My suit, as I do understand, you know,</a><br /><a>And therefore know how far I may be pitied.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Widow</b></a><blockquote><a>I am her mother, sir, whose age and honour</a><br /><a>Both suffer under this complaint we bring,</a><br /><a>And both shall cease, without your remedy.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>Come hither, count; do you know these women?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>My lord, I neither can nor will deny</a><br /><a>But that I know them: do they charge me further?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DIANA</b></a><blockquote><a>Why do you look so strange upon your wife?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>She's none of mine, my lord.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DIANA</b></a><blockquote><a>If you shall marry,</a><br /><a>You give away this hand, and that is mine;</a><br /><a>You give away heaven's vows, and those are mine;</a><br /><a>You give away myself, which is known mine;</a><br /><a>For I by vow am so embodied yours,</a><br /><a>That she which marries you must marry me,</a><br /><a>Either both or none.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>Your reputation comes too short for my daughter; you</a><br /><a>are no husband for her.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>My lord, this is a fond and desperate creature,</a><br /><a>Whom sometime I have laugh'd with: let your highness</a><br /><a>Lay a more noble thought upon mine honour</a><br /><a>Than for to think that I would sink it here.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>Sir, for my thoughts, you have them ill to friend</a><br /><a>Till your deeds gain them: fairer prove your honour</a><br /><a>Than in my thought it lies.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DIANA</b></a><blockquote><a>Good my lord,</a><br /><a>Ask him upon his oath, if he does think</a><br /><a>He had not my virginity.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>What say'st thou to her?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>She's impudent, my lord,</a><br /><a>And was a common gamester to the camp.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DIANA</b></a><blockquote><a>He does me wrong, my lord; if I were so,</a><br /><a>He might have bought me at a common price:</a><br /><a>Do not believe him. O, behold this ring,</a><br /><a>Whose high respect and rich validity</a><br /><a>Did lack a parallel; yet for all that</a><br /><a>He gave it to a commoner o' the camp,</a><br /><a>If I be one.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>COUNTESS</b></a><blockquote><a> He blushes, and 'tis it:</a><br /><a>Of six preceding ancestors, that gem,</a><br /><a>Conferr'd by testament to the sequent issue,</a><br /><a>Hath it been owed and worn. This is his wife;</a><br /><a>That ring's a thousand proofs.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>Methought you said</a><br /><a>You saw one here in court could witness it.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DIANA</b></a><blockquote><a>I did, my lord, but loath am to produce</a><br /><a>So bad an instrument: his name's Parolles.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>I saw the man to-day, if man he be.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>Find him, and bring him hither.</a><br /><p><i>Exit an Attendant</i></p></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>What of him?</a><br /><a>He's quoted for a most perfidious slave,</a><br /><a>With all the spots o' the world tax'd and debosh'd;</a><br /><a>Whose nature sickens but to speak a truth.</a><br /><a>Am I or that or this for what he'll utter,</a><br /><a>That will speak any thing?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>She hath that ring of yours.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>I think she has: certain it is I liked her,</a><br /><a>And boarded her i' the wanton way of youth:</a><br /><a>She knew her distance and did angle for me,</a><br /><a>Madding my eagerness with her restraint,</a><br /><a>As all impediments in fancy's course</a><br /><a>Are motives of more fancy; and, in fine,</a><br /><a>Her infinite cunning, with her modern grace,</a><br /><a>Subdued me to her rate: she got the ring;</a><br /><a>And I had that which any inferior might</a><br /><a>At market-price have bought.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DIANA</b></a><blockquote><a>I must be patient:</a><br /><a>You, that have turn'd off a first so noble wife,</a><br /><a>May justly diet me. I pray you yet;</a><br /><a>Since you lack virtue, I will lose a husband;</a><br /><a>Send for your ring, I will return it home,</a><br /><a>And give me mine again.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>I have it not.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>What ring was yours, I pray you?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DIANA</b></a><blockquote><a>Sir, much like</a><br /><a>The same upon your finger.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>Know you this ring? this ring was his of late.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DIANA</b></a><blockquote><a>And this was it I gave him, being abed.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>The story then goes false, you threw it him</a><br /><a>Out of a casement.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DIANA</b></a><blockquote><a> I have spoke the truth.</a><br /><p><i>Enter PAROLLES</i></p></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>My lord, I do confess the ring was hers.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>You boggle shrewdly, every feather stars you.</a><br /><a>Is this the man you speak of?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DIANA</b></a><blockquote><a>Ay, my lord.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>Tell me, sirrah, but tell me true, I charge you,</a><br /><a>Not fearing the displeasure of your master,</a><br /><a>Which on your just proceeding I'll keep off,</a><br /><a>By him and by this woman here what know you?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>So please your majesty, my master hath been an</a><br /><a>honourable gentleman: tricks he hath had in him,</a><br /><a>which gentlemen have.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>Come, come, to the purpose: did he love this woman?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Faith, sir, he did love her; but how?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>How, I pray you?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>He did love her, sir, as a gentleman loves a woman.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>How is that?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>He loved her, sir, and loved her not.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>As thou art a knave, and no knave. What an</a><br /><a>equivocal companion is this!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>I am a poor man, and at your majesty's command.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>He's a good drum, my lord, but a naughty orator.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DIANA</b></a><blockquote><a>Do you know he promised me marriage?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Faith, I know more than I'll speak.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>But wilt thou not speak all thou knowest?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>PAROLLES</b></a><blockquote><a>Yes, so please your majesty. I did go between them,</a><br /><a>as I said; but more than that, he loved her: for</a><br /><a>indeed he was mad for her, and talked of Satan and</a><br /><a>of Limbo and of Furies and I know not what: yet I</a><br /><a>was in that credit with them at that time that I</a><br /><a>knew of their going to bed, and of other motions,</a><br /><a>as promising her marriage, and things which would</a><br /><a>derive me ill will to speak of; therefore I will not</a><br /><a>speak what I know.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>Thou hast spoken all already, unless thou canst say</a><br /><a>they are married: but thou art too fine in thy</a><br /><a>evidence; therefore stand aside.</a><br /><a>This ring, you say, was yours?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DIANA</b></a><blockquote><a>Ay, my good lord.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>Where did you buy it? or who gave it you?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DIANA</b></a><blockquote><a>It was not given me, nor I did not buy it.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>Who lent it you?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DIANA</b></a><blockquote><a> It was not lent me neither.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>Where did you find it, then?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DIANA</b></a><blockquote><a>I found it not.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>If it were yours by none of all these ways,</a><br /><a>How could you give it him?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DIANA</b></a><blockquote><a>I never gave it him.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>This woman's an easy glove, my lord; she goes off</a><br /><a>and on at pleasure.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>This ring was mine; I gave it his first wife.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DIANA</b></a><blockquote><a>It might be yours or hers, for aught I know.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>Take her away; I do not like her now;</a><br /><a>To prison with her: and away with him.</a><br /><a>Unless thou tell'st me where thou hadst this ring,</a><br /><a>Thou diest within this hour.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DIANA</b></a><blockquote><a>I'll never tell you.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>Take her away.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DIANA</b></a><blockquote><a> I'll put in bail, my liege.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>I think thee now some common customer.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DIANA</b></a><blockquote><a>By Jove, if ever I knew man, 'twas you.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>Wherefore hast thou accused him all this while?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DIANA</b></a><blockquote><a>Because he's guilty, and he is not guilty:</a><br /><a>He knows I am no maid, and he'll swear to't;</a><br /><a>I'll swear I am a maid, and he knows not.</a><br /><a>Great king, I am no strumpet, by my life;</a><br /><a>I am either maid, or else this old man's wife.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>She does abuse our ears: to prison with her.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DIANA</b></a><blockquote><a>Good mother, fetch my bail. Stay, royal sir:</a><br /><p><i>Exit Widow</i></p><a>The jeweller that owes the ring is sent for,</a><br /><a>And he shall surety me. But for this lord,</a><br /><a>Who hath abused me, as he knows himself,</a><br /><a>Though yet he never harm'd me, here I quit him:</a><br /><a>He knows himself my bed he hath defiled;</a><br /><a>And at that time he got his wife with child:</a><br /><a>Dead though she be, she feels her young one kick:</a><br /><a>So there's my riddle: one that's dead is quick:</a><br /><a>And now behold the meaning.</a><br /><p><i>Re-enter Widow, with HELENA</i></p></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>Is there no exorcist</a><br /><a>Beguiles the truer office of mine eyes?</a><br /><a>Is't real that I see?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>No, my good lord;</a><br /><a>'Tis but the shadow of a wife you see,</a><br /><a>The name and not the thing.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>Both, both. O, pardon!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>O my good lord, when I was like this maid,</a><br /><a>I found you wondrous kind. There is your ring;</a><br /><a>And, look you, here's your letter; this it says:</a><br /><a>'When from my finger you can get this ring</a><br /><a>And are by me with child,' & c. This is done:</a><br /><a>Will you be mine, now you are doubly won?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BERTRAM</b></a><blockquote><a>If she, my liege, can make me know this clearly,</a><br /><a>I'll love her dearly, ever, ever dearly.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HELENA</b></a><blockquote><a>If it appear not plain and prove untrue,</a><br /><a>Deadly divorce step between me and you!</a><br /><a>O my dear mother, do I see you living?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LAFEU</b></a><blockquote><a>Mine eyes smell onions; I shall weep anon:</a><br /><p><i>To PAROLLES</i></p><a>Good Tom Drum, lend me a handkercher: so,</a><br /><a>I thank thee: wait on me home, I'll make sport with thee:</a><br /><a>Let thy courtesies alone, they are scurvy ones.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>Let us from point to point this story know,</a><br /><a>To make the even truth in pleasure flow.</a><br /><p><i>To DIANA</i></p><a>If thou be'st yet a fresh uncropped flower,</a><br /><a>Choose thou thy husband, and I'll pay thy dower;</a><br /><a>For I can guess that by thy honest aid</a><br /><a>Thou keep'st a wife herself, thyself a maid.</a><br /><a>Of that and all the progress, more or less,</a><br /><a>Resolvedly more leisure shall express:</a><br /><a>All yet seems well; and if it end so meet,</a><br /><a>The bitter past, more welcome is the sweet.</a><br /><p><i>Flourish</i></p><a>EPILOGUE</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>KING</b></a><blockquote><a>The king's a beggar, now the play is done:</a><br /><a>All is well ended, if this suit be won,</a><br /><a>That you express content; which we will pay,</a><br /><a>With strife to please you, day exceeding day:</a><br /><a>Ours be your patience then, and yours our parts;</a><br /><a>Your gentle hands lend us, and take our hearts.</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt</i></p></blockquote></span>