1<PLAY> 2<TITLE>All's Well That Ends Well</TITLE> 3 4<FM> 5<P>ASCII text placed in the public domain by Moby Lexical Tools, 1992.</P> 6<P>SGML markup by Jon Bosak, 1992-1994.</P> 7<P>XML version by Jon Bosak, 1996-1999.</P> 8<P>The XML markup in this version is Copyright © 1999 Jon Bosak. 9This work may freely be distributed on condition that it not be 10modified or altered in any way.</P> 11</FM> 12 13<PERSONAE> 14<TITLE>Dramatis Personae</TITLE> 15 16<PERSONA>KING OF FRANCE</PERSONA> 17<PERSONA>DUKE OF FLORENCE</PERSONA> 18<PERSONA>BERTRAM, Count of Rousillon.</PERSONA> 19<PERSONA>LAFEU, an old lord.</PERSONA> 20<PERSONA>PAROLLES, a follower of Bertram.</PERSONA> 21 22<PGROUP> 23<PERSONA>Steward</PERSONA> 24<PERSONA>Clown</PERSONA> 25<GRPDESCR>servants to the Countess of Rousillon.</GRPDESCR> 26</PGROUP> 27 28<PERSONA>A Page. </PERSONA> 29<PERSONA>COUNTESS OF ROUSILLON, mother to Bertram. </PERSONA> 30<PERSONA>HELENA, a gentlewoman protected by the Countess.</PERSONA> 31<PERSONA>An old Widow of Florence. </PERSONA> 32<PERSONA>DIANA, daughter to the Widow.</PERSONA> 33 34<PGROUP> 35<PERSONA>VIOLENTA</PERSONA> 36<PERSONA>MARIANA</PERSONA> 37<GRPDESCR>neighbours and friends to the Widow.</GRPDESCR> 38</PGROUP> 39 40<PERSONA>Lords, Officers, Soldiers, &c., French and Florentine.</PERSONA> 41</PERSONAE> 42 43<SCNDESCR>SCENE Rousillon; Paris; Florence; Marseilles.</SCNDESCR> 44 45<PLAYSUBT>ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL</PLAYSUBT> 46 47<ACT><TITLE>ACT I</TITLE> 48 49<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE I. Rousillon. The COUNT's palace.</TITLE> 50<STAGEDIR>Enter BERTRAM, the COUNTESS of Rousillon, HELENA, 51and LAFEU, all in black</STAGEDIR> 52 53<SPEECH> 54<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 55<LINE>In delivering my son from me, I bury a second husband.</LINE> 56</SPEECH> 57 58<SPEECH> 59<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 60<LINE>And I in going, madam, weep o'er my father's death</LINE> 61<LINE>anew: but I must attend his majesty's command, to</LINE> 62<LINE>whom I am now in ward, evermore in subjection.</LINE> 63</SPEECH> 64 65<SPEECH> 66<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 67<LINE>You shall find of the king a husband, madam; you,</LINE> 68<LINE>sir, a father: he that so generally is at all times</LINE> 69<LINE>good must of necessity hold his virtue to you; whose</LINE> 70<LINE>worthiness would stir it up where it wanted rather</LINE> 71<LINE>than lack it where there is such abundance.</LINE> 72</SPEECH> 73 74<SPEECH> 75<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 76<LINE>What hope is there of his majesty's amendment?</LINE> 77</SPEECH> 78 79<SPEECH> 80<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 81<LINE>He hath abandoned his physicians, madam; under whose</LINE> 82<LINE>practises he hath persecuted time with hope, and</LINE> 83<LINE>finds no other advantage in the process but only the</LINE> 84<LINE>losing of hope by time.</LINE> 85</SPEECH> 86 87<SPEECH> 88<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 89<LINE>This young gentlewoman had a father,--O, that</LINE> 90<LINE>'had'! how sad a passage 'tis!--whose skill was</LINE> 91<LINE>almost as great as his honesty; had it stretched so</LINE> 92<LINE>far, would have made nature immortal, and death</LINE> 93<LINE>should have play for lack of work. Would, for the</LINE> 94<LINE>king's sake, he were living! I think it would be</LINE> 95<LINE>the death of the king's disease.</LINE> 96</SPEECH> 97 98<SPEECH> 99<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 100<LINE>How called you the man you speak of, madam?</LINE> 101</SPEECH> 102 103<SPEECH> 104<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 105<LINE>He was famous, sir, in his profession, and it was</LINE> 106<LINE>his great right to be so: Gerard de Narbon.</LINE> 107</SPEECH> 108 109<SPEECH> 110<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 111<LINE>He was excellent indeed, madam: the king very</LINE> 112<LINE>lately spoke of him admiringly and mourningly: he</LINE> 113<LINE>was skilful enough to have lived still, if knowledge</LINE> 114<LINE>could be set up against mortality.</LINE> 115</SPEECH> 116 117<SPEECH> 118<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 119<LINE>What is it, my good lord, the king languishes of?</LINE> 120</SPEECH> 121 122<SPEECH> 123<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 124<LINE>A fistula, my lord.</LINE> 125</SPEECH> 126 127<SPEECH> 128<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 129<LINE>I heard not of it before.</LINE> 130</SPEECH> 131 132<SPEECH> 133<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 134<LINE>I would it were not notorious. Was this gentlewoman</LINE> 135<LINE>the daughter of Gerard de Narbon?</LINE> 136</SPEECH> 137 138<SPEECH> 139<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 140<LINE>His sole child, my lord, and bequeathed to my</LINE> 141<LINE>overlooking. I have those hopes of her good that</LINE> 142<LINE>her education promises; her dispositions she</LINE> 143<LINE>inherits, which makes fair gifts fairer; for where</LINE> 144<LINE>an unclean mind carries virtuous qualities, there</LINE> 145<LINE>commendations go with pity; they are virtues and</LINE> 146<LINE>traitors too; in her they are the better for their</LINE> 147<LINE>simpleness; she derives her honesty and achieves her goodness.</LINE> 148</SPEECH> 149 150<SPEECH> 151<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 152<LINE>Your commendations, madam, get from her tears.</LINE> 153</SPEECH> 154 155<SPEECH> 156<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 157<LINE>'Tis the best brine a maiden can season her praise</LINE> 158<LINE>in. The remembrance of her father never approaches</LINE> 159<LINE>her heart but the tyranny of her sorrows takes all</LINE> 160<LINE>livelihood from her cheek. No more of this, Helena;</LINE> 161<LINE>go to, no more; lest it be rather thought you affect</LINE> 162<LINE>a sorrow than have it.</LINE> 163</SPEECH> 164 165<SPEECH> 166<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 167<LINE>I do affect a sorrow indeed, but I have it too.</LINE> 168</SPEECH> 169 170<SPEECH> 171<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 172<LINE>Moderate lamentation is the right of the dead,</LINE> 173<LINE>excessive grief the enemy to the living.</LINE> 174</SPEECH> 175 176<SPEECH> 177<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 178<LINE>If the living be enemy to the grief, the excess</LINE> 179<LINE>makes it soon mortal.</LINE> 180</SPEECH> 181 182<SPEECH> 183<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 184<LINE>Madam, I desire your holy wishes.</LINE> 185</SPEECH> 186 187<SPEECH> 188<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 189<LINE>How understand we that?</LINE> 190</SPEECH> 191 192<SPEECH> 193<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 194<LINE>Be thou blest, Bertram, and succeed thy father</LINE> 195<LINE>In manners, as in shape! thy blood and virtue</LINE> 196<LINE>Contend for empire in thee, and thy goodness</LINE> 197<LINE>Share with thy birthright! Love all, trust a few,</LINE> 198<LINE>Do wrong to none: be able for thine enemy</LINE> 199<LINE>Rather in power than use, and keep thy friend</LINE> 200<LINE>Under thy own life's key: be cheque'd for silence,</LINE> 201<LINE>But never tax'd for speech. What heaven more will,</LINE> 202<LINE>That thee may furnish and my prayers pluck down,</LINE> 203<LINE>Fall on thy head! Farewell, my lord;</LINE> 204<LINE>'Tis an unseason'd courtier; good my lord,</LINE> 205<LINE>Advise him.</LINE> 206</SPEECH> 207 208<SPEECH> 209<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 210<LINE>He cannot want the best</LINE> 211<LINE>That shall attend his love.</LINE> 212</SPEECH> 213 214<SPEECH> 215<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 216<LINE>Heaven bless him! Farewell, Bertram.</LINE> 217</SPEECH> 218 219<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 220 221<SPEECH> 222<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 223<LINE><STAGEDIR>To HELENA</STAGEDIR> The best wishes that can be forged in</LINE> 224<LINE>your thoughts be servants to you! Be comfortable</LINE> 225<LINE>to my mother, your mistress, and make much of her.</LINE> 226</SPEECH> 227 228<SPEECH> 229<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 230<LINE>Farewell, pretty lady: you must hold the credit of</LINE> 231<LINE>your father.</LINE> 232</SPEECH> 233 234<STAGEDIR>Exeunt BERTRAM and LAFEU</STAGEDIR> 235 236<SPEECH> 237<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 238<LINE>O, were that all! I think not on my father;</LINE> 239<LINE>And these great tears grace his remembrance more</LINE> 240<LINE>Than those I shed for him. What was he like?</LINE> 241<LINE>I have forgot him: my imagination</LINE> 242<LINE>Carries no favour in't but Bertram's.</LINE> 243<LINE>I am undone: there is no living, none,</LINE> 244<LINE>If Bertram be away. 'Twere all one</LINE> 245<LINE>That I should love a bright particular star</LINE> 246<LINE>And think to wed it, he is so above me:</LINE> 247<LINE>In his bright radiance and collateral light</LINE> 248<LINE>Must I be comforted, not in his sphere.</LINE> 249<LINE>The ambition in my love thus plagues itself:</LINE> 250<LINE>The hind that would be mated by the lion</LINE> 251<LINE>Must die for love. 'Twas pretty, though plague,</LINE> 252<LINE>To see him every hour; to sit and draw</LINE> 253<LINE>His arched brows, his hawking eye, his curls,</LINE> 254<LINE>In our heart's table; heart too capable</LINE> 255<LINE>Of every line and trick of his sweet favour:</LINE> 256<LINE>But now he's gone, and my idolatrous fancy</LINE> 257<LINE>Must sanctify his reliques. Who comes here?</LINE> 258<STAGEDIR>Enter PAROLLES</STAGEDIR> 259<STAGEDIR>Aside</STAGEDIR> 260<LINE>One that goes with him: I love him for his sake;</LINE> 261<LINE>And yet I know him a notorious liar,</LINE> 262<LINE>Think him a great way fool, solely a coward;</LINE> 263<LINE>Yet these fixed evils sit so fit in him,</LINE> 264<LINE>That they take place, when virtue's steely bones</LINE> 265<LINE>Look bleak i' the cold wind: withal, full oft we see</LINE> 266<LINE>Cold wisdom waiting on superfluous folly.</LINE> 267</SPEECH> 268 269<SPEECH> 270<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 271<LINE>Save you, fair queen!</LINE> 272</SPEECH> 273 274<SPEECH> 275<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 276<LINE>And you, monarch!</LINE> 277</SPEECH> 278 279<SPEECH> 280<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 281<LINE>No.</LINE> 282</SPEECH> 283 284<SPEECH> 285<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 286<LINE>And no.</LINE> 287</SPEECH> 288 289<SPEECH> 290<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 291<LINE>Are you meditating on virginity?</LINE> 292</SPEECH> 293 294<SPEECH> 295<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 296<LINE>Ay. You have some stain of soldier in you: let me</LINE> 297<LINE>ask you a question. Man is enemy to virginity; how</LINE> 298<LINE>may we barricado it against him?</LINE> 299</SPEECH> 300 301<SPEECH> 302<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 303<LINE>Keep him out.</LINE> 304</SPEECH> 305 306<SPEECH> 307<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 308<LINE>But he assails; and our virginity, though valiant,</LINE> 309<LINE>in the defence yet is weak: unfold to us some</LINE> 310<LINE>warlike resistance.</LINE> 311</SPEECH> 312 313<SPEECH> 314<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 315<LINE>There is none: man, sitting down before you, will</LINE> 316<LINE>undermine you and blow you up.</LINE> 317</SPEECH> 318 319<SPEECH> 320<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 321<LINE>Bless our poor virginity from underminers and</LINE> 322<LINE>blowers up! Is there no military policy, how</LINE> 323<LINE>virgins might blow up men?</LINE> 324</SPEECH> 325 326<SPEECH> 327<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 328<LINE>Virginity being blown down, man will quicklier be</LINE> 329<LINE>blown up: marry, in blowing him down again, with</LINE> 330<LINE>the breach yourselves made, you lose your city. It</LINE> 331<LINE>is not politic in the commonwealth of nature to</LINE> 332<LINE>preserve virginity. Loss of virginity is rational</LINE> 333<LINE>increase and there was never virgin got till</LINE> 334<LINE>virginity was first lost. That you were made of is</LINE> 335<LINE>metal to make virgins. Virginity by being once lost</LINE> 336<LINE>may be ten times found; by being ever kept, it is</LINE> 337<LINE>ever lost: 'tis too cold a companion; away with 't!</LINE> 338</SPEECH> 339 340<SPEECH> 341<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 342<LINE>I will stand for 't a little, though therefore I die a virgin.</LINE> 343</SPEECH> 344 345<SPEECH> 346<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 347<LINE>There's little can be said in 't; 'tis against the</LINE> 348<LINE>rule of nature. To speak on the part of virginity,</LINE> 349<LINE>is to accuse your mothers; which is most infallible</LINE> 350<LINE>disobedience. He that hangs himself is a virgin:</LINE> 351<LINE>virginity murders itself and should be buried in</LINE> 352<LINE>highways out of all sanctified limit, as a desperate</LINE> 353<LINE>offendress against nature. Virginity breeds mites,</LINE> 354<LINE>much like a cheese; consumes itself to the very</LINE> 355<LINE>paring, and so dies with feeding his own stomach.</LINE> 356<LINE>Besides, virginity is peevish, proud, idle, made of</LINE> 357<LINE>self-love, which is the most inhibited sin in the</LINE> 358<LINE>canon. Keep it not; you cannot choose but loose</LINE> 359<LINE>by't: out with 't! within ten year it will make</LINE> 360<LINE>itself ten, which is a goodly increase; and the</LINE> 361<LINE>principal itself not much the worse: away with 't!</LINE> 362</SPEECH> 363 364<SPEECH> 365<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 366<LINE>How might one do, sir, to lose it to her own liking?</LINE> 367</SPEECH> 368 369<SPEECH> 370<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 371<LINE>Let me see: marry, ill, to like him that ne'er it</LINE> 372<LINE>likes. 'Tis a commodity will lose the gloss with</LINE> 373<LINE>lying; the longer kept, the less worth: off with 't</LINE> 374<LINE>while 'tis vendible; answer the time of request.</LINE> 375<LINE>Virginity, like an old courtier, wears her cap out</LINE> 376<LINE>of fashion: richly suited, but unsuitable: just</LINE> 377<LINE>like the brooch and the tooth-pick, which wear not</LINE> 378<LINE>now. Your date is better in your pie and your</LINE> 379<LINE>porridge than in your cheek; and your virginity,</LINE> 380<LINE>your old virginity, is like one of our French</LINE> 381<LINE>withered pears, it looks ill, it eats drily; marry,</LINE> 382<LINE>'tis a withered pear; it was formerly better;</LINE> 383<LINE>marry, yet 'tis a withered pear: will you anything with it?</LINE> 384</SPEECH> 385 386<SPEECH> 387<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 388<LINE>Not my virginity yet</LINE> 389<LINE>There shall your master have a thousand loves,</LINE> 390<LINE>A mother and a mistress and a friend,</LINE> 391<LINE>A phoenix, captain and an enemy,</LINE> 392<LINE>A guide, a goddess, and a sovereign,</LINE> 393<LINE>A counsellor, a traitress, and a dear;</LINE> 394<LINE>His humble ambition, proud humility,</LINE> 395<LINE>His jarring concord, and his discord dulcet,</LINE> 396<LINE>His faith, his sweet disaster; with a world</LINE> 397<LINE>Of pretty, fond, adoptious christendoms,</LINE> 398<LINE>That blinking Cupid gossips. Now shall he--</LINE> 399<LINE>I know not what he shall. God send him well!</LINE> 400<LINE>The court's a learning place, and he is one--</LINE> 401</SPEECH> 402 403<SPEECH> 404<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 405<LINE>What one, i' faith?</LINE> 406</SPEECH> 407 408<SPEECH> 409<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 410<LINE>That I wish well. 'Tis pity--</LINE> 411</SPEECH> 412 413<SPEECH> 414<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 415<LINE>What's pity?</LINE> 416</SPEECH> 417 418<SPEECH> 419<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 420<LINE>That wishing well had not a body in't,</LINE> 421<LINE>Which might be felt; that we, the poorer born,</LINE> 422<LINE>Whose baser stars do shut us up in wishes,</LINE> 423<LINE>Might with effects of them follow our friends,</LINE> 424<LINE>And show what we alone must think, which never</LINE> 425<LINE>Return us thanks.</LINE> 426</SPEECH> 427 428<STAGEDIR>Enter Page</STAGEDIR> 429 430<SPEECH> 431<SPEAKER>Page</SPEAKER> 432<LINE>Monsieur Parolles, my lord calls for you.</LINE> 433</SPEECH> 434 435<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 436 437<SPEECH> 438<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 439<LINE>Little Helen, farewell; if I can remember thee, I</LINE> 440<LINE>will think of thee at court.</LINE> 441</SPEECH> 442 443<SPEECH> 444<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 445<LINE>Monsieur Parolles, you were born under a charitable star.</LINE> 446</SPEECH> 447 448<SPEECH> 449<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 450<LINE>Under Mars, I.</LINE> 451</SPEECH> 452 453<SPEECH> 454<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 455<LINE>I especially think, under Mars.</LINE> 456</SPEECH> 457 458<SPEECH> 459<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 460<LINE>Why under Mars?</LINE> 461</SPEECH> 462 463<SPEECH> 464<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 465<LINE>The wars have so kept you under that you must needs</LINE> 466<LINE>be born under Mars.</LINE> 467</SPEECH> 468 469<SPEECH> 470<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 471<LINE>When he was predominant.</LINE> 472</SPEECH> 473 474<SPEECH> 475<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 476<LINE>When he was retrograde, I think, rather.</LINE> 477</SPEECH> 478 479<SPEECH> 480<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 481<LINE>Why think you so?</LINE> 482</SPEECH> 483 484<SPEECH> 485<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 486<LINE>You go so much backward when you fight.</LINE> 487</SPEECH> 488 489<SPEECH> 490<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 491<LINE>That's for advantage.</LINE> 492</SPEECH> 493 494<SPEECH> 495<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 496<LINE>So is running away, when fear proposes the safety;</LINE> 497<LINE>but the composition that your valour and fear makes</LINE> 498<LINE>in you is a virtue of a good wing, and I like the wear well.</LINE> 499</SPEECH> 500 501<SPEECH> 502<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 503<LINE>I am so full of businesses, I cannot answer thee</LINE> 504<LINE>acutely. I will return perfect courtier; in the</LINE> 505<LINE>which, my instruction shall serve to naturalize</LINE> 506<LINE>thee, so thou wilt be capable of a courtier's</LINE> 507<LINE>counsel and understand what advice shall thrust upon</LINE> 508<LINE>thee; else thou diest in thine unthankfulness, and</LINE> 509<LINE>thine ignorance makes thee away: farewell. When</LINE> 510<LINE>thou hast leisure, say thy prayers; when thou hast</LINE> 511<LINE>none, remember thy friends; get thee a good husband,</LINE> 512<LINE>and use him as he uses thee; so, farewell.</LINE> 513</SPEECH> 514 515<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 516 517<SPEECH> 518<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 519<LINE>Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie,</LINE> 520<LINE>Which we ascribe to heaven: the fated sky</LINE> 521<LINE>Gives us free scope, only doth backward pull</LINE> 522<LINE>Our slow designs when we ourselves are dull.</LINE> 523<LINE>What power is it which mounts my love so high,</LINE> 524<LINE>That makes me see, and cannot feed mine eye?</LINE> 525<LINE>The mightiest space in fortune nature brings</LINE> 526<LINE>To join like likes and kiss like native things.</LINE> 527<LINE>Impossible be strange attempts to those</LINE> 528<LINE>That weigh their pains in sense and do suppose</LINE> 529<LINE>What hath been cannot be: who ever strove</LINE> 530<LINE>So show her merit, that did miss her love?</LINE> 531<LINE>The king's disease--my project may deceive me,</LINE> 532<LINE>But my intents are fix'd and will not leave me.</LINE> 533</SPEECH> 534 535<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 536</SCENE> 537 538<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE II. Paris. The KING's palace.</TITLE> 539<STAGEDIR>Flourish of cornets. Enter the KING of France, 540with letters, and divers Attendants</STAGEDIR> 541 542<SPEECH> 543<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 544<LINE>The Florentines and Senoys are by the ears;</LINE> 545<LINE>Have fought with equal fortune and continue</LINE> 546<LINE>A braving war.</LINE> 547</SPEECH> 548 549<SPEECH> 550<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 551<LINE>So 'tis reported, sir.</LINE> 552</SPEECH> 553 554<SPEECH> 555<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 556<LINE>Nay, 'tis most credible; we here received it</LINE> 557<LINE>A certainty, vouch'd from our cousin Austria,</LINE> 558<LINE>With caution that the Florentine will move us</LINE> 559<LINE>For speedy aid; wherein our dearest friend</LINE> 560<LINE>Prejudicates the business and would seem</LINE> 561<LINE>To have us make denial.</LINE> 562</SPEECH> 563 564<SPEECH> 565<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 566<LINE>His love and wisdom,</LINE> 567<LINE>Approved so to your majesty, may plead</LINE> 568<LINE>For amplest credence.</LINE> 569</SPEECH> 570 571<SPEECH> 572<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 573<LINE>He hath arm'd our answer,</LINE> 574<LINE>And Florence is denied before he comes:</LINE> 575<LINE>Yet, for our gentlemen that mean to see</LINE> 576<LINE>The Tuscan service, freely have they leave</LINE> 577<LINE>To stand on either part.</LINE> 578</SPEECH> 579 580<SPEECH> 581<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 582<LINE>It well may serve</LINE> 583<LINE>A nursery to our gentry, who are sick</LINE> 584<LINE>For breathing and exploit.</LINE> 585</SPEECH> 586 587<SPEECH> 588<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 589<LINE>What's he comes here?</LINE> 590</SPEECH> 591 592<STAGEDIR>Enter BERTRAM, LAFEU, and PAROLLES</STAGEDIR> 593 594<SPEECH> 595<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 596<LINE>It is the Count Rousillon, my good lord,</LINE> 597<LINE>Young Bertram.</LINE> 598</SPEECH> 599 600<SPEECH> 601<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 602<LINE>Youth, thou bear'st thy father's face;</LINE> 603<LINE>Frank nature, rather curious than in haste,</LINE> 604<LINE>Hath well composed thee. Thy father's moral parts</LINE> 605<LINE>Mayst thou inherit too! Welcome to Paris.</LINE> 606</SPEECH> 607 608<SPEECH> 609<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 610<LINE>My thanks and duty are your majesty's.</LINE> 611</SPEECH> 612 613<SPEECH> 614<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 615<LINE>I would I had that corporal soundness now,</LINE> 616<LINE>As when thy father and myself in friendship</LINE> 617<LINE>First tried our soldiership! He did look far</LINE> 618<LINE>Into the service of the time and was</LINE> 619<LINE>Discipled of the bravest: he lasted long;</LINE> 620<LINE>But on us both did haggish age steal on</LINE> 621<LINE>And wore us out of act. It much repairs me</LINE> 622<LINE>To talk of your good father. In his youth</LINE> 623<LINE>He had the wit which I can well observe</LINE> 624<LINE>To-day in our young lords; but they may jest</LINE> 625<LINE>Till their own scorn return to them unnoted</LINE> 626<LINE>Ere they can hide their levity in honour;</LINE> 627<LINE>So like a courtier, contempt nor bitterness</LINE> 628<LINE>Were in his pride or sharpness; if they were,</LINE> 629<LINE>His equal had awaked them, and his honour,</LINE> 630<LINE>Clock to itself, knew the true minute when</LINE> 631<LINE>Exception bid him speak, and at this time</LINE> 632<LINE>His tongue obey'd his hand: who were below him</LINE> 633<LINE>He used as creatures of another place</LINE> 634<LINE>And bow'd his eminent top to their low ranks,</LINE> 635<LINE>Making them proud of his humility,</LINE> 636<LINE>In their poor praise he humbled. Such a man</LINE> 637<LINE>Might be a copy to these younger times;</LINE> 638<LINE>Which, follow'd well, would demonstrate them now</LINE> 639<LINE>But goers backward.</LINE> 640</SPEECH> 641 642<SPEECH> 643<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 644<LINE>His good remembrance, sir,</LINE> 645<LINE>Lies richer in your thoughts than on his tomb;</LINE> 646<LINE>So in approof lives not his epitaph</LINE> 647<LINE>As in your royal speech.</LINE> 648</SPEECH> 649 650<SPEECH> 651<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 652<LINE>Would I were with him! He would always say--</LINE> 653<LINE>Methinks I hear him now; his plausive words</LINE> 654<LINE>He scatter'd not in ears, but grafted them,</LINE> 655<LINE>To grow there and to bear,--'Let me not live,'--</LINE> 656<LINE>This his good melancholy oft began,</LINE> 657<LINE>On the catastrophe and heel of pastime,</LINE> 658<LINE>When it was out,--'Let me not live,' quoth he,</LINE> 659<LINE>'After my flame lacks oil, to be the snuff</LINE> 660<LINE>Of younger spirits, whose apprehensive senses</LINE> 661<LINE>All but new things disdain; whose judgments are</LINE> 662<LINE>Mere fathers of their garments; whose constancies</LINE> 663<LINE>Expire before their fashions.' This he wish'd;</LINE> 664<LINE>I after him do after him wish too,</LINE> 665<LINE>Since I nor wax nor honey can bring home,</LINE> 666<LINE>I quickly were dissolved from my hive,</LINE> 667<LINE>To give some labourers room.</LINE> 668</SPEECH> 669 670<SPEECH> 671<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 672<LINE>You are loved, sir:</LINE> 673<LINE>They that least lend it you shall lack you first.</LINE> 674</SPEECH> 675 676<SPEECH> 677<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 678<LINE>I fill a place, I know't. How long is't, count,</LINE> 679<LINE>Since the physician at your father's died?</LINE> 680<LINE>He was much famed.</LINE> 681</SPEECH> 682 683<SPEECH> 684<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 685<LINE>Some six months since, my lord.</LINE> 686</SPEECH> 687 688<SPEECH> 689<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 690<LINE>If he were living, I would try him yet.</LINE> 691<LINE>Lend me an arm; the rest have worn me out</LINE> 692<LINE>With several applications; nature and sickness</LINE> 693<LINE>Debate it at their leisure. Welcome, count;</LINE> 694<LINE>My son's no dearer.</LINE> 695</SPEECH> 696 697<SPEECH> 698<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 699<LINE>Thank your majesty.</LINE> 700</SPEECH> 701 702<STAGEDIR>Exeunt. Flourish</STAGEDIR> 703</SCENE> 704 705<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE III. Rousillon. The COUNT's palace.</TITLE> 706<STAGEDIR>Enter COUNTESS, Steward, and Clown</STAGEDIR> 707 708<SPEECH> 709<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 710<LINE>I will now hear; what say you of this gentlewoman?</LINE> 711</SPEECH> 712 713<SPEECH> 714<SPEAKER>Steward</SPEAKER> 715<LINE>Madam, the care I have had to even your content, I</LINE> 716<LINE>wish might be found in the calendar of my past</LINE> 717<LINE>endeavours; for then we wound our modesty and make</LINE> 718<LINE>foul the clearness of our deservings, when of</LINE> 719<LINE>ourselves we publish them.</LINE> 720</SPEECH> 721 722<SPEECH> 723<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 724<LINE>What does this knave here? Get you gone, sirrah:</LINE> 725<LINE>the complaints I have heard of you I do not all</LINE> 726<LINE>believe: 'tis my slowness that I do not; for I know</LINE> 727<LINE>you lack not folly to commit them, and have ability</LINE> 728<LINE>enough to make such knaveries yours.</LINE> 729</SPEECH> 730 731<SPEECH> 732<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 733<LINE>'Tis not unknown to you, madam, I am a poor fellow.</LINE> 734</SPEECH> 735 736<SPEECH> 737<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 738<LINE>Well, sir.</LINE> 739</SPEECH> 740 741<SPEECH> 742<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 743<LINE>No, madam, 'tis not so well that I am poor, though</LINE> 744<LINE>many of the rich are damned: but, if I may have</LINE> 745<LINE>your ladyship's good will to go to the world, Isbel</LINE> 746<LINE>the woman and I will do as we may.</LINE> 747</SPEECH> 748 749<SPEECH> 750<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 751<LINE>Wilt thou needs be a beggar?</LINE> 752</SPEECH> 753 754<SPEECH> 755<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 756<LINE>I do beg your good will in this case.</LINE> 757</SPEECH> 758 759<SPEECH> 760<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 761<LINE>In what case?</LINE> 762</SPEECH> 763 764<SPEECH> 765<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 766<LINE>In Isbel's case and mine own. Service is no</LINE> 767<LINE>heritage: and I think I shall never have the</LINE> 768<LINE>blessing of God till I have issue o' my body; for</LINE> 769<LINE>they say barnes are blessings.</LINE> 770</SPEECH> 771 772<SPEECH> 773<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 774<LINE>Tell me thy reason why thou wilt marry.</LINE> 775</SPEECH> 776 777<SPEECH> 778<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 779<LINE>My poor body, madam, requires it: I am driven on</LINE> 780<LINE>by the flesh; and he must needs go that the devil drives.</LINE> 781</SPEECH> 782 783<SPEECH> 784<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 785<LINE>Is this all your worship's reason?</LINE> 786</SPEECH> 787 788<SPEECH> 789<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 790<LINE>Faith, madam, I have other holy reasons such as they</LINE> 791<LINE>are.</LINE> 792</SPEECH> 793 794<SPEECH> 795<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 796<LINE>May the world know them?</LINE> 797</SPEECH> 798 799<SPEECH> 800<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 801<LINE>I have been, madam, a wicked creature, as you and</LINE> 802<LINE>all flesh and blood are; and, indeed, I do marry</LINE> 803<LINE>that I may repent.</LINE> 804</SPEECH> 805 806<SPEECH> 807<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 808<LINE>Thy marriage, sooner than thy wickedness.</LINE> 809</SPEECH> 810 811<SPEECH> 812<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 813<LINE>I am out o' friends, madam; and I hope to have</LINE> 814<LINE>friends for my wife's sake.</LINE> 815</SPEECH> 816 817<SPEECH> 818<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 819<LINE>Such friends are thine enemies, knave.</LINE> 820</SPEECH> 821 822<SPEECH> 823<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 824<LINE>You're shallow, madam, in great friends; for the</LINE> 825<LINE>knaves come to do that for me which I am aweary of.</LINE> 826<LINE>He that ears my land spares my team and gives me</LINE> 827<LINE>leave to in the crop; if I be his cuckold, he's my</LINE> 828<LINE>drudge: he that comforts my wife is the cherisher</LINE> 829<LINE>of my flesh and blood; he that cherishes my flesh</LINE> 830<LINE>and blood loves my flesh and blood; he that loves my</LINE> 831<LINE>flesh and blood is my friend: ergo, he that kisses</LINE> 832<LINE>my wife is my friend. If men could be contented to</LINE> 833<LINE>be what they are, there were no fear in marriage;</LINE> 834<LINE>for young Charbon the Puritan and old Poysam the</LINE> 835<LINE>Papist, howsome'er their hearts are severed in</LINE> 836<LINE>religion, their heads are both one; they may jowl</LINE> 837<LINE>horns together, like any deer i' the herd.</LINE> 838</SPEECH> 839 840<SPEECH> 841<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 842<LINE>Wilt thou ever be a foul-mouthed and calumnious knave?</LINE> 843</SPEECH> 844 845<SPEECH> 846<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 847<LINE>A prophet I, madam; and I speak the truth the next</LINE> 848<LINE>way:</LINE> 849<LINE>For I the ballad will repeat,</LINE> 850<LINE>Which men full true shall find;</LINE> 851<LINE>Your marriage comes by destiny,</LINE> 852<LINE>Your cuckoo sings by kind.</LINE> 853</SPEECH> 854 855<SPEECH> 856<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 857<LINE>Get you gone, sir; I'll talk with you more anon.</LINE> 858</SPEECH> 859 860<SPEECH> 861<SPEAKER>Steward</SPEAKER> 862<LINE>May it please you, madam, that he bid Helen come to</LINE> 863<LINE>you: of her I am to speak.</LINE> 864</SPEECH> 865 866<SPEECH> 867<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 868<LINE>Sirrah, tell my gentlewoman I would speak with her;</LINE> 869<LINE>Helen, I mean.</LINE> 870</SPEECH> 871 872<SPEECH> 873<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 874<LINE>Was this fair face the cause, quoth she,</LINE> 875<LINE>Why the Grecians sacked Troy?</LINE> 876<LINE>Fond done, done fond,</LINE> 877<LINE>Was this King Priam's joy?</LINE> 878<LINE>With that she sighed as she stood,</LINE> 879<LINE>With that she sighed as she stood,</LINE> 880<LINE>And gave this sentence then;</LINE> 881<LINE>Among nine bad if one be good,</LINE> 882<LINE>Among nine bad if one be good,</LINE> 883<LINE>There's yet one good in ten.</LINE> 884</SPEECH> 885 886<SPEECH> 887<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 888<LINE>What, one good in ten? you corrupt the song, sirrah.</LINE> 889</SPEECH> 890 891<SPEECH> 892<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 893<LINE>One good woman in ten, madam; which is a purifying</LINE> 894<LINE>o' the song: would God would serve the world so all</LINE> 895<LINE>the year! we'ld find no fault with the tithe-woman,</LINE> 896<LINE>if I were the parson. One in ten, quoth a'! An we</LINE> 897<LINE>might have a good woman born but one every blazing</LINE> 898<LINE>star, or at an earthquake, 'twould mend the lottery</LINE> 899<LINE>well: a man may draw his heart out, ere a' pluck</LINE> 900<LINE>one.</LINE> 901</SPEECH> 902 903<SPEECH> 904<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 905<LINE>You'll be gone, sir knave, and do as I command you.</LINE> 906</SPEECH> 907 908<SPEECH> 909<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 910<LINE>That man should be at woman's command, and yet no</LINE> 911<LINE>hurt done! Though honesty be no puritan, yet it</LINE> 912<LINE>will do no hurt; it will wear the surplice of</LINE> 913<LINE>humility over the black gown of a big heart. I am</LINE> 914<LINE>going, forsooth: the business is for Helen to come hither.</LINE> 915</SPEECH> 916 917<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 918 919<SPEECH> 920<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 921<LINE>Well, now.</LINE> 922</SPEECH> 923 924<SPEECH> 925<SPEAKER>Steward</SPEAKER> 926<LINE>I know, madam, you love your gentlewoman entirely.</LINE> 927</SPEECH> 928 929<SPEECH> 930<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 931<LINE>Faith, I do: her father bequeathed her to me; and</LINE> 932<LINE>she herself, without other advantage, may lawfully</LINE> 933<LINE>make title to as much love as she finds: there is</LINE> 934<LINE>more owing her than is paid; and more shall be paid</LINE> 935<LINE>her than she'll demand.</LINE> 936</SPEECH> 937 938<SPEECH> 939<SPEAKER>Steward</SPEAKER> 940<LINE>Madam, I was very late more near her than I think</LINE> 941<LINE>she wished me: alone she was, and did communicate</LINE> 942<LINE>to herself her own words to her own ears; she</LINE> 943<LINE>thought, I dare vow for her, they touched not any</LINE> 944<LINE>stranger sense. Her matter was, she loved your son:</LINE> 945<LINE>Fortune, she said, was no goddess, that had put</LINE> 946<LINE>such difference betwixt their two estates; Love no</LINE> 947<LINE>god, that would not extend his might, only where</LINE> 948<LINE>qualities were level; Dian no queen of virgins, that</LINE> 949<LINE>would suffer her poor knight surprised, without</LINE> 950<LINE>rescue in the first assault or ransom afterward.</LINE> 951<LINE>This she delivered in the most bitter touch of</LINE> 952<LINE>sorrow that e'er I heard virgin exclaim in: which I</LINE> 953<LINE>held my duty speedily to acquaint you withal;</LINE> 954<LINE>sithence, in the loss that may happen, it concerns</LINE> 955<LINE>you something to know it.</LINE> 956</SPEECH> 957 958<SPEECH> 959<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 960<LINE>You have discharged this honestly; keep it to</LINE> 961<LINE>yourself: many likelihoods informed me of this</LINE> 962<LINE>before, which hung so tottering in the balance that</LINE> 963<LINE>I could neither believe nor misdoubt. Pray you,</LINE> 964<LINE>leave me: stall this in your bosom; and I thank you</LINE> 965<LINE>for your honest care: I will speak with you further anon.</LINE> 966<STAGEDIR>Exit Steward</STAGEDIR> 967<STAGEDIR>Enter HELENA</STAGEDIR> 968<LINE>Even so it was with me when I was young:</LINE> 969<LINE>If ever we are nature's, these are ours; this thorn</LINE> 970<LINE>Doth to our rose of youth rightly belong;</LINE> 971<LINE>Our blood to us, this to our blood is born;</LINE> 972<LINE>It is the show and seal of nature's truth,</LINE> 973<LINE>Where love's strong passion is impress'd in youth:</LINE> 974<LINE>By our remembrances of days foregone,</LINE> 975<LINE>Such were our faults, or then we thought them none.</LINE> 976<LINE>Her eye is sick on't: I observe her now.</LINE> 977</SPEECH> 978 979<SPEECH> 980<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 981<LINE>What is your pleasure, madam?</LINE> 982</SPEECH> 983 984<SPEECH> 985<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 986<LINE>You know, Helen,</LINE> 987<LINE>I am a mother to you.</LINE> 988</SPEECH> 989 990<SPEECH> 991<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 992<LINE>Mine honourable mistress.</LINE> 993</SPEECH> 994 995<SPEECH> 996<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 997<LINE>Nay, a mother:</LINE> 998<LINE>Why not a mother? When I said 'a mother,'</LINE> 999<LINE>Methought you saw a serpent: what's in 'mother,'</LINE> 1000<LINE>That you start at it? I say, I am your mother;</LINE> 1001<LINE>And put you in the catalogue of those</LINE> 1002<LINE>That were enwombed mine: 'tis often seen</LINE> 1003<LINE>Adoption strives with nature and choice breeds</LINE> 1004<LINE>A native slip to us from foreign seeds:</LINE> 1005<LINE>You ne'er oppress'd me with a mother's groan,</LINE> 1006<LINE>Yet I express to you a mother's care:</LINE> 1007<LINE>God's mercy, maiden! does it curd thy blood</LINE> 1008<LINE>To say I am thy mother? What's the matter,</LINE> 1009<LINE>That this distemper'd messenger of wet,</LINE> 1010<LINE>The many-colour'd Iris, rounds thine eye?</LINE> 1011<LINE>Why? that you are my daughter?</LINE> 1012</SPEECH> 1013 1014<SPEECH> 1015<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1016<LINE>That I am not.</LINE> 1017</SPEECH> 1018 1019<SPEECH> 1020<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1021<LINE>I say, I am your mother.</LINE> 1022</SPEECH> 1023 1024<SPEECH> 1025<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1026<LINE>Pardon, madam;</LINE> 1027<LINE>The Count Rousillon cannot be my brother:</LINE> 1028<LINE>I am from humble, he from honour'd name;</LINE> 1029<LINE>No note upon my parents, his all noble:</LINE> 1030<LINE>My master, my dear lord he is; and I</LINE> 1031<LINE>His servant live, and will his vassal die:</LINE> 1032<LINE>He must not be my brother.</LINE> 1033</SPEECH> 1034 1035<SPEECH> 1036<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1037<LINE>Nor I your mother?</LINE> 1038</SPEECH> 1039 1040<SPEECH> 1041<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1042<LINE>You are my mother, madam; would you were,--</LINE> 1043<LINE>So that my lord your son were not my brother,--</LINE> 1044<LINE>Indeed my mother! or were you both our mothers,</LINE> 1045<LINE>I care no more for than I do for heaven,</LINE> 1046<LINE>So I were not his sister. Can't no other,</LINE> 1047<LINE>But, I your daughter, he must be my brother?</LINE> 1048</SPEECH> 1049 1050<SPEECH> 1051<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1052<LINE>Yes, Helen, you might be my daughter-in-law:</LINE> 1053<LINE>God shield you mean it not! daughter and mother</LINE> 1054<LINE>So strive upon your pulse. What, pale again?</LINE> 1055<LINE>My fear hath catch'd your fondness: now I see</LINE> 1056<LINE>The mystery of your loneliness, and find</LINE> 1057<LINE>Your salt tears' head: now to all sense 'tis gross</LINE> 1058<LINE>You love my son; invention is ashamed,</LINE> 1059<LINE>Against the proclamation of thy passion,</LINE> 1060<LINE>To say thou dost not: therefore tell me true;</LINE> 1061<LINE>But tell me then, 'tis so; for, look thy cheeks</LINE> 1062<LINE>Confess it, th' one to th' other; and thine eyes</LINE> 1063<LINE>See it so grossly shown in thy behaviors</LINE> 1064<LINE>That in their kind they speak it: only sin</LINE> 1065<LINE>And hellish obstinacy tie thy tongue,</LINE> 1066<LINE>That truth should be suspected. Speak, is't so?</LINE> 1067<LINE>If it be so, you have wound a goodly clew;</LINE> 1068<LINE>If it be not, forswear't: howe'er, I charge thee,</LINE> 1069<LINE>As heaven shall work in me for thine avail,</LINE> 1070<LINE>Tell me truly.</LINE> 1071</SPEECH> 1072 1073<SPEECH> 1074<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1075<LINE>Good madam, pardon me!</LINE> 1076</SPEECH> 1077 1078<SPEECH> 1079<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1080<LINE>Do you love my son?</LINE> 1081</SPEECH> 1082 1083<SPEECH> 1084<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1085<LINE>Your pardon, noble mistress!</LINE> 1086</SPEECH> 1087 1088<SPEECH> 1089<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1090<LINE>Love you my son?</LINE> 1091</SPEECH> 1092 1093<SPEECH> 1094<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1095<LINE>Do not you love him, madam?</LINE> 1096</SPEECH> 1097 1098<SPEECH> 1099<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1100<LINE>Go not about; my love hath in't a bond,</LINE> 1101<LINE>Whereof the world takes note: come, come, disclose</LINE> 1102<LINE>The state of your affection; for your passions</LINE> 1103<LINE>Have to the full appeach'd.</LINE> 1104</SPEECH> 1105 1106<SPEECH> 1107<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1108<LINE>Then, I confess,</LINE> 1109<LINE>Here on my knee, before high heaven and you,</LINE> 1110<LINE>That before you, and next unto high heaven,</LINE> 1111<LINE>I love your son.</LINE> 1112<LINE>My friends were poor, but honest; so's my love:</LINE> 1113<LINE>Be not offended; for it hurts not him</LINE> 1114<LINE>That he is loved of me: I follow him not</LINE> 1115<LINE>By any token of presumptuous suit;</LINE> 1116<LINE>Nor would I have him till I do deserve him;</LINE> 1117<LINE>Yet never know how that desert should be.</LINE> 1118<LINE>I know I love in vain, strive against hope;</LINE> 1119<LINE>Yet in this captious and intenible sieve</LINE> 1120<LINE>I still pour in the waters of my love</LINE> 1121<LINE>And lack not to lose still: thus, Indian-like,</LINE> 1122<LINE>Religious in mine error, I adore</LINE> 1123<LINE>The sun, that looks upon his worshipper,</LINE> 1124<LINE>But knows of him no more. My dearest madam,</LINE> 1125<LINE>Let not your hate encounter with my love</LINE> 1126<LINE>For loving where you do: but if yourself,</LINE> 1127<LINE>Whose aged honour cites a virtuous youth,</LINE> 1128<LINE>Did ever in so true a flame of liking</LINE> 1129<LINE>Wish chastely and love dearly, that your Dian</LINE> 1130<LINE>Was both herself and love: O, then, give pity</LINE> 1131<LINE>To her, whose state is such that cannot choose</LINE> 1132<LINE>But lend and give where she is sure to lose;</LINE> 1133<LINE>That seeks not to find that her search implies,</LINE> 1134<LINE>But riddle-like lives sweetly where she dies!</LINE> 1135</SPEECH> 1136 1137<SPEECH> 1138<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1139<LINE>Had you not lately an intent,--speak truly,--</LINE> 1140<LINE>To go to Paris?</LINE> 1141</SPEECH> 1142 1143<SPEECH> 1144<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1145<LINE>Madam, I had.</LINE> 1146</SPEECH> 1147 1148<SPEECH> 1149<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1150<LINE>Wherefore? tell true.</LINE> 1151</SPEECH> 1152 1153<SPEECH> 1154<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1155<LINE>I will tell truth; by grace itself I swear.</LINE> 1156<LINE>You know my father left me some prescriptions</LINE> 1157<LINE>Of rare and proved effects, such as his reading</LINE> 1158<LINE>And manifest experience had collected</LINE> 1159<LINE>For general sovereignty; and that he will'd me</LINE> 1160<LINE>In heedfull'st reservation to bestow them,</LINE> 1161<LINE>As notes whose faculties inclusive were</LINE> 1162<LINE>More than they were in note: amongst the rest,</LINE> 1163<LINE>There is a remedy, approved, set down,</LINE> 1164<LINE>To cure the desperate languishings whereof</LINE> 1165<LINE>The king is render'd lost.</LINE> 1166</SPEECH> 1167 1168<SPEECH> 1169<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1170<LINE>This was your motive</LINE> 1171<LINE>For Paris, was it? speak.</LINE> 1172</SPEECH> 1173 1174<SPEECH> 1175<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1176<LINE>My lord your son made me to think of this;</LINE> 1177<LINE>Else Paris and the medicine and the king</LINE> 1178<LINE>Had from the conversation of my thoughts</LINE> 1179<LINE>Haply been absent then.</LINE> 1180</SPEECH> 1181 1182<SPEECH> 1183<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1184<LINE>But think you, Helen,</LINE> 1185<LINE>If you should tender your supposed aid,</LINE> 1186<LINE>He would receive it? he and his physicians</LINE> 1187<LINE>Are of a mind; he, that they cannot help him,</LINE> 1188<LINE>They, that they cannot help: how shall they credit</LINE> 1189<LINE>A poor unlearned virgin, when the schools,</LINE> 1190<LINE>Embowell'd of their doctrine, have left off</LINE> 1191<LINE>The danger to itself?</LINE> 1192</SPEECH> 1193 1194<SPEECH> 1195<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1196<LINE>There's something in't,</LINE> 1197<LINE>More than my father's skill, which was the greatest</LINE> 1198<LINE>Of his profession, that his good receipt</LINE> 1199<LINE>Shall for my legacy be sanctified</LINE> 1200<LINE>By the luckiest stars in heaven: and, would your honour</LINE> 1201<LINE>But give me leave to try success, I'ld venture</LINE> 1202<LINE>The well-lost life of mine on his grace's cure</LINE> 1203<LINE>By such a day and hour.</LINE> 1204</SPEECH> 1205 1206<SPEECH> 1207<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1208<LINE>Dost thou believe't?</LINE> 1209</SPEECH> 1210 1211<SPEECH> 1212<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1213<LINE>Ay, madam, knowingly.</LINE> 1214</SPEECH> 1215 1216<SPEECH> 1217<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1218<LINE>Why, Helen, thou shalt have my leave and love,</LINE> 1219<LINE>Means and attendants and my loving greetings</LINE> 1220<LINE>To those of mine in court: I'll stay at home</LINE> 1221<LINE>And pray God's blessing into thy attempt:</LINE> 1222<LINE>Be gone to-morrow; and be sure of this,</LINE> 1223<LINE>What I can help thee to thou shalt not miss.</LINE> 1224</SPEECH> 1225 1226<STAGEDIR>Exeunt</STAGEDIR> 1227</SCENE> 1228 1229</ACT> 1230 1231<ACT><TITLE>ACT II</TITLE> 1232 1233<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE I. Paris. The KING's palace.</TITLE> 1234<STAGEDIR>Flourish of cornets. Enter the KING, attended 1235with divers young Lords taking leave for the 1236Florentine war; BERTRAM, and PAROLLES</STAGEDIR> 1237 1238<SPEECH> 1239<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 1240<LINE>Farewell, young lords; these warlike principles</LINE> 1241<LINE>Do not throw from you: and you, my lords, farewell:</LINE> 1242<LINE>Share the advice betwixt you; if both gain, all</LINE> 1243<LINE>The gift doth stretch itself as 'tis received,</LINE> 1244<LINE>And is enough for both.</LINE> 1245</SPEECH> 1246 1247<SPEECH> 1248<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 1249<LINE>'Tis our hope, sir,</LINE> 1250<LINE>After well enter'd soldiers, to return</LINE> 1251<LINE>And find your grace in health.</LINE> 1252</SPEECH> 1253 1254<SPEECH> 1255<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 1256<LINE>No, no, it cannot be; and yet my heart</LINE> 1257<LINE>Will not confess he owes the malady</LINE> 1258<LINE>That doth my life besiege. Farewell, young lords;</LINE> 1259<LINE>Whether I live or die, be you the sons</LINE> 1260<LINE>Of worthy Frenchmen: let higher Italy,--</LINE> 1261<LINE>Those bated that inherit but the fall</LINE> 1262<LINE>Of the last monarchy,--see that you come</LINE> 1263<LINE>Not to woo honour, but to wed it; when</LINE> 1264<LINE>The bravest questant shrinks, find what you seek,</LINE> 1265<LINE>That fame may cry you loud: I say, farewell.</LINE> 1266</SPEECH> 1267 1268<SPEECH> 1269<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 1270<LINE>Health, at your bidding, serve your majesty!</LINE> 1271</SPEECH> 1272 1273<SPEECH> 1274<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 1275<LINE>Those girls of Italy, take heed of them:</LINE> 1276<LINE>They say, our French lack language to deny,</LINE> 1277<LINE>If they demand: beware of being captives,</LINE> 1278<LINE>Before you serve.</LINE> 1279</SPEECH> 1280 1281<SPEECH> 1282<SPEAKER>Both</SPEAKER> 1283<LINE>Our hearts receive your warnings.</LINE> 1284</SPEECH> 1285 1286<SPEECH> 1287<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 1288<LINE>Farewell. Come hither to me.</LINE> 1289</SPEECH> 1290 1291<STAGEDIR>Exit, attended</STAGEDIR> 1292 1293<SPEECH> 1294<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 1295<LINE>O, my sweet lord, that you will stay behind us!</LINE> 1296</SPEECH> 1297 1298<SPEECH> 1299<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 1300<LINE>'Tis not his fault, the spark.</LINE> 1301</SPEECH> 1302 1303<SPEECH> 1304<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 1305<LINE>O, 'tis brave wars!</LINE> 1306</SPEECH> 1307 1308<SPEECH> 1309<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 1310<LINE>Most admirable: I have seen those wars.</LINE> 1311</SPEECH> 1312 1313<SPEECH> 1314<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 1315<LINE>I am commanded here, and kept a coil with</LINE> 1316<LINE>'Too young' and 'the next year' and ''tis too early.'</LINE> 1317</SPEECH> 1318 1319<SPEECH> 1320<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 1321<LINE>An thy mind stand to't, boy, steal away bravely.</LINE> 1322</SPEECH> 1323 1324<SPEECH> 1325<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 1326<LINE>I shall stay here the forehorse to a smock,</LINE> 1327<LINE>Creaking my shoes on the plain masonry,</LINE> 1328<LINE>Till honour be bought up and no sword worn</LINE> 1329<LINE>But one to dance with! By heaven, I'll steal away.</LINE> 1330</SPEECH> 1331 1332<SPEECH> 1333<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 1334<LINE>There's honour in the theft.</LINE> 1335</SPEECH> 1336 1337<SPEECH> 1338<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 1339<LINE>Commit it, count.</LINE> 1340</SPEECH> 1341 1342<SPEECH> 1343<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 1344<LINE>I am your accessary; and so, farewell.</LINE> 1345</SPEECH> 1346 1347<SPEECH> 1348<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 1349<LINE>I grow to you, and our parting is a tortured body.</LINE> 1350</SPEECH> 1351 1352<SPEECH> 1353<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 1354<LINE>Farewell, captain.</LINE> 1355</SPEECH> 1356 1357<SPEECH> 1358<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 1359<LINE>Sweet Monsieur Parolles!</LINE> 1360</SPEECH> 1361 1362<SPEECH> 1363<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 1364<LINE>Noble heroes, my sword and yours are kin. Good</LINE> 1365<LINE>sparks and lustrous, a word, good metals: you shall</LINE> 1366<LINE>find in the regiment of the Spinii one Captain</LINE> 1367<LINE>Spurio, with his cicatrice, an emblem of war, here</LINE> 1368<LINE>on his sinister cheek; it was this very sword</LINE> 1369<LINE>entrenched it: say to him, I live; and observe his</LINE> 1370<LINE>reports for me.</LINE> 1371</SPEECH> 1372 1373<SPEECH> 1374<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 1375<LINE>We shall, noble captain.</LINE> 1376</SPEECH> 1377 1378<STAGEDIR>Exeunt Lords</STAGEDIR> 1379 1380<SPEECH> 1381<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 1382<LINE>Mars dote on you for his novices! what will ye do?</LINE> 1383</SPEECH> 1384 1385<SPEECH> 1386<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 1387<LINE>Stay: the king.</LINE> 1388</SPEECH> 1389 1390<STAGEDIR>Re-enter KING. BERTRAM and PAROLLES retire</STAGEDIR> 1391 1392<SPEECH> 1393<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 1394<LINE><STAGEDIR>To BERTRAM</STAGEDIR> Use a more spacious ceremony to the</LINE> 1395<LINE>noble lords; you have restrained yourself within the</LINE> 1396<LINE>list of too cold an adieu: be more expressive to</LINE> 1397<LINE>them: for they wear themselves in the cap of the</LINE> 1398<LINE>time, there do muster true gait, eat, speak, and</LINE> 1399<LINE>move under the influence of the most received star;</LINE> 1400<LINE>and though the devil lead the measure, such are to</LINE> 1401<LINE>be followed: after them, and take a more dilated farewell.</LINE> 1402</SPEECH> 1403 1404<SPEECH> 1405<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 1406<LINE>And I will do so.</LINE> 1407</SPEECH> 1408 1409<SPEECH> 1410<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 1411<LINE>Worthy fellows; and like to prove most sinewy sword-men.</LINE> 1412</SPEECH> 1413 1414<STAGEDIR>Exeunt BERTRAM and PAROLLES</STAGEDIR> 1415<STAGEDIR>Enter LAFEU</STAGEDIR> 1416 1417<SPEECH> 1418<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 1419<LINE><STAGEDIR>Kneeling</STAGEDIR> Pardon, my lord, for me and for my tidings.</LINE> 1420</SPEECH> 1421 1422<SPEECH> 1423<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 1424<LINE>I'll fee thee to stand up.</LINE> 1425</SPEECH> 1426 1427<SPEECH> 1428<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 1429<LINE>Then here's a man stands, that has brought his pardon.</LINE> 1430<LINE>I would you had kneel'd, my lord, to ask me mercy,</LINE> 1431<LINE>And that at my bidding you could so stand up.</LINE> 1432</SPEECH> 1433 1434<SPEECH> 1435<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 1436<LINE>I would I had; so I had broke thy pate,</LINE> 1437<LINE>And ask'd thee mercy for't.</LINE> 1438</SPEECH> 1439 1440<SPEECH> 1441<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 1442<LINE>Good faith, across: but, my good lord 'tis thus;</LINE> 1443<LINE>Will you be cured of your infirmity?</LINE> 1444</SPEECH> 1445 1446<SPEECH> 1447<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 1448<LINE>No.</LINE> 1449</SPEECH> 1450 1451<SPEECH> 1452<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 1453<LINE>O, will you eat no grapes, my royal fox?</LINE> 1454<LINE>Yes, but you will my noble grapes, an if</LINE> 1455<LINE>My royal fox could reach them: I have seen a medicine</LINE> 1456<LINE>That's able to breathe life into a stone,</LINE> 1457<LINE>Quicken a rock, and make you dance canary</LINE> 1458<LINE>With spritely fire and motion; whose simple touch,</LINE> 1459<LINE>Is powerful to araise King Pepin, nay,</LINE> 1460<LINE>To give great Charlemain a pen in's hand,</LINE> 1461<LINE>And write to her a love-line.</LINE> 1462</SPEECH> 1463 1464<SPEECH> 1465<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 1466<LINE>What 'her' is this?</LINE> 1467</SPEECH> 1468 1469<SPEECH> 1470<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 1471<LINE>Why, Doctor She: my lord, there's one arrived,</LINE> 1472<LINE>If you will see her: now, by my faith and honour,</LINE> 1473<LINE>If seriously I may convey my thoughts</LINE> 1474<LINE>In this my light deliverance, I have spoke</LINE> 1475<LINE>With one that, in her sex, her years, profession,</LINE> 1476<LINE>Wisdom and constancy, hath amazed me more</LINE> 1477<LINE>Than I dare blame my weakness: will you see her</LINE> 1478<LINE>For that is her demand, and know her business?</LINE> 1479<LINE>That done, laugh well at me.</LINE> 1480</SPEECH> 1481 1482<SPEECH> 1483<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 1484<LINE>Now, good Lafeu,</LINE> 1485<LINE>Bring in the admiration; that we with thee</LINE> 1486<LINE>May spend our wonder too, or take off thine</LINE> 1487<LINE>By wondering how thou took'st it.</LINE> 1488</SPEECH> 1489 1490<SPEECH> 1491<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 1492<LINE>Nay, I'll fit you,</LINE> 1493<LINE>And not be all day neither.</LINE> 1494</SPEECH> 1495 1496<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 1497 1498<SPEECH> 1499<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 1500<LINE>Thus he his special nothing ever prologues.</LINE> 1501</SPEECH> 1502 1503<STAGEDIR>Re-enter LAFEU, with HELENA</STAGEDIR> 1504 1505<SPEECH> 1506<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 1507<LINE>Nay, come your ways.</LINE> 1508</SPEECH> 1509 1510<SPEECH> 1511<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 1512<LINE>This haste hath wings indeed.</LINE> 1513</SPEECH> 1514 1515<SPEECH> 1516<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 1517<LINE>Nay, come your ways:</LINE> 1518<LINE>This is his majesty; say your mind to him:</LINE> 1519<LINE>A traitor you do look like; but such traitors</LINE> 1520<LINE>His majesty seldom fears: I am Cressid's uncle,</LINE> 1521<LINE>That dare leave two together; fare you well.</LINE> 1522</SPEECH> 1523 1524<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 1525 1526<SPEECH> 1527<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 1528<LINE>Now, fair one, does your business follow us?</LINE> 1529</SPEECH> 1530 1531<SPEECH> 1532<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1533<LINE>Ay, my good lord.</LINE> 1534<LINE>Gerard de Narbon was my father;</LINE> 1535<LINE>In what he did profess, well found.</LINE> 1536</SPEECH> 1537 1538<SPEECH> 1539<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 1540<LINE>I knew him.</LINE> 1541</SPEECH> 1542 1543<SPEECH> 1544<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1545<LINE>The rather will I spare my praises towards him:</LINE> 1546<LINE>Knowing him is enough. On's bed of death</LINE> 1547<LINE>Many receipts he gave me: chiefly one.</LINE> 1548<LINE>Which, as the dearest issue of his practise,</LINE> 1549<LINE>And of his old experience the oily darling,</LINE> 1550<LINE>He bade me store up, as a triple eye,</LINE> 1551<LINE>Safer than mine own two, more dear; I have so;</LINE> 1552<LINE>And hearing your high majesty is touch'd</LINE> 1553<LINE>With that malignant cause wherein the honour</LINE> 1554<LINE>Of my dear father's gift stands chief in power,</LINE> 1555<LINE>I come to tender it and my appliance</LINE> 1556<LINE>With all bound humbleness.</LINE> 1557</SPEECH> 1558 1559<SPEECH> 1560<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 1561<LINE>We thank you, maiden;</LINE> 1562<LINE>But may not be so credulous of cure,</LINE> 1563<LINE>When our most learned doctors leave us and</LINE> 1564<LINE>The congregated college have concluded</LINE> 1565<LINE>That labouring art can never ransom nature</LINE> 1566<LINE>From her inaidible estate; I say we must not</LINE> 1567<LINE>So stain our judgment, or corrupt our hope,</LINE> 1568<LINE>To prostitute our past-cure malady</LINE> 1569<LINE>To empirics, or to dissever so</LINE> 1570<LINE>Our great self and our credit, to esteem</LINE> 1571<LINE>A senseless help when help past sense we deem.</LINE> 1572</SPEECH> 1573 1574<SPEECH> 1575<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1576<LINE>My duty then shall pay me for my pains:</LINE> 1577<LINE>I will no more enforce mine office on you.</LINE> 1578<LINE>Humbly entreating from your royal thoughts</LINE> 1579<LINE>A modest one, to bear me back a again.</LINE> 1580</SPEECH> 1581 1582<SPEECH> 1583<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 1584<LINE>I cannot give thee less, to be call'd grateful:</LINE> 1585<LINE>Thou thought'st to help me; and such thanks I give</LINE> 1586<LINE>As one near death to those that wish him live:</LINE> 1587<LINE>But what at full I know, thou know'st no part,</LINE> 1588<LINE>I knowing all my peril, thou no art.</LINE> 1589</SPEECH> 1590 1591<SPEECH> 1592<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1593<LINE>What I can do can do no hurt to try,</LINE> 1594<LINE>Since you set up your rest 'gainst remedy.</LINE> 1595<LINE>He that of greatest works is finisher</LINE> 1596<LINE>Oft does them by the weakest minister:</LINE> 1597<LINE>So holy writ in babes hath judgment shown,</LINE> 1598<LINE>When judges have been babes; great floods have flown</LINE> 1599<LINE>From simple sources, and great seas have dried</LINE> 1600<LINE>When miracles have by the greatest been denied.</LINE> 1601<LINE>Oft expectation fails and most oft there</LINE> 1602<LINE>Where most it promises, and oft it hits</LINE> 1603<LINE>Where hope is coldest and despair most fits.</LINE> 1604</SPEECH> 1605 1606<SPEECH> 1607<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 1608<LINE>I must not hear thee; fare thee well, kind maid;</LINE> 1609<LINE>Thy pains not used must by thyself be paid:</LINE> 1610<LINE>Proffers not took reap thanks for their reward.</LINE> 1611</SPEECH> 1612 1613<SPEECH> 1614<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1615<LINE>Inspired merit so by breath is barr'd:</LINE> 1616<LINE>It is not so with Him that all things knows</LINE> 1617<LINE>As 'tis with us that square our guess by shows;</LINE> 1618<LINE>But most it is presumption in us when</LINE> 1619<LINE>The help of heaven we count the act of men.</LINE> 1620<LINE>Dear sir, to my endeavours give consent;</LINE> 1621<LINE>Of heaven, not me, make an experiment.</LINE> 1622<LINE>I am not an impostor that proclaim</LINE> 1623<LINE>Myself against the level of mine aim;</LINE> 1624<LINE>But know I think and think I know most sure</LINE> 1625<LINE>My art is not past power nor you past cure.</LINE> 1626</SPEECH> 1627 1628<SPEECH> 1629<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 1630<LINE>Are thou so confident? within what space</LINE> 1631<LINE>Hopest thou my cure?</LINE> 1632</SPEECH> 1633 1634<SPEECH> 1635<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1636<LINE>The great'st grace lending grace</LINE> 1637<LINE>Ere twice the horses of the sun shall bring</LINE> 1638<LINE>Their fiery torcher his diurnal ring,</LINE> 1639<LINE>Ere twice in murk and occidental damp</LINE> 1640<LINE>Moist Hesperus hath quench'd his sleepy lamp,</LINE> 1641<LINE>Or four and twenty times the pilot's glass</LINE> 1642<LINE>Hath told the thievish minutes how they pass,</LINE> 1643<LINE>What is infirm from your sound parts shall fly,</LINE> 1644<LINE>Health shall live free and sickness freely die.</LINE> 1645</SPEECH> 1646 1647<SPEECH> 1648<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 1649<LINE>Upon thy certainty and confidence</LINE> 1650<LINE>What darest thou venture?</LINE> 1651</SPEECH> 1652 1653<SPEECH> 1654<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1655<LINE>Tax of impudence,</LINE> 1656<LINE>A strumpet's boldness, a divulged shame</LINE> 1657<LINE>Traduced by odious ballads: my maiden's name</LINE> 1658<LINE>Sear'd otherwise; nay, worse--if worse--extended</LINE> 1659<LINE>With vilest torture let my life be ended.</LINE> 1660</SPEECH> 1661 1662<SPEECH> 1663<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 1664<LINE>Methinks in thee some blessed spirit doth speak</LINE> 1665<LINE>His powerful sound within an organ weak:</LINE> 1666<LINE>And what impossibility would slay</LINE> 1667<LINE>In common sense, sense saves another way.</LINE> 1668<LINE>Thy life is dear; for all that life can rate</LINE> 1669<LINE>Worth name of life in thee hath estimate,</LINE> 1670<LINE>Youth, beauty, wisdom, courage, all</LINE> 1671<LINE>That happiness and prime can happy call:</LINE> 1672<LINE>Thou this to hazard needs must intimate</LINE> 1673<LINE>Skill infinite or monstrous desperate.</LINE> 1674<LINE>Sweet practiser, thy physic I will try,</LINE> 1675<LINE>That ministers thine own death if I die.</LINE> 1676</SPEECH> 1677 1678<SPEECH> 1679<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1680<LINE>If I break time, or flinch in property</LINE> 1681<LINE>Of what I spoke, unpitied let me die,</LINE> 1682<LINE>And well deserved: not helping, death's my fee;</LINE> 1683<LINE>But, if I help, what do you promise me?</LINE> 1684</SPEECH> 1685 1686<SPEECH> 1687<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 1688<LINE>Make thy demand.</LINE> 1689</SPEECH> 1690 1691<SPEECH> 1692<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1693<LINE>But will you make it even?</LINE> 1694</SPEECH> 1695 1696<SPEECH> 1697<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 1698<LINE>Ay, by my sceptre and my hopes of heaven.</LINE> 1699</SPEECH> 1700 1701<SPEECH> 1702<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1703<LINE>Then shalt thou give me with thy kingly hand</LINE> 1704<LINE>What husband in thy power I will command:</LINE> 1705<LINE>Exempted be from me the arrogance</LINE> 1706<LINE>To choose from forth the royal blood of France,</LINE> 1707<LINE>My low and humble name to propagate</LINE> 1708<LINE>With any branch or image of thy state;</LINE> 1709<LINE>But such a one, thy vassal, whom I know</LINE> 1710<LINE>Is free for me to ask, thee to bestow.</LINE> 1711</SPEECH> 1712 1713<SPEECH> 1714<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 1715<LINE>Here is my hand; the premises observed,</LINE> 1716<LINE>Thy will by my performance shall be served:</LINE> 1717<LINE>So make the choice of thy own time, for I,</LINE> 1718<LINE>Thy resolved patient, on thee still rely.</LINE> 1719<LINE>More should I question thee, and more I must,</LINE> 1720<LINE>Though more to know could not be more to trust,</LINE> 1721<LINE>From whence thou camest, how tended on: but rest</LINE> 1722<LINE>Unquestion'd welcome and undoubted blest.</LINE> 1723<LINE>Give me some help here, ho! If thou proceed</LINE> 1724<LINE>As high as word, my deed shall match thy meed.</LINE> 1725</SPEECH> 1726 1727<STAGEDIR>Flourish. Exeunt</STAGEDIR> 1728</SCENE> 1729 1730<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE II. Rousillon. The COUNT's palace.</TITLE> 1731<STAGEDIR>Enter COUNTESS and Clown</STAGEDIR> 1732 1733<SPEECH> 1734<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1735<LINE>Come on, sir; I shall now put you to the height of</LINE> 1736<LINE>your breeding.</LINE> 1737</SPEECH> 1738 1739<SPEECH> 1740<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 1741<LINE>I will show myself highly fed and lowly taught: I</LINE> 1742<LINE>know my business is but to the court.</LINE> 1743</SPEECH> 1744 1745<SPEECH> 1746<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1747<LINE>To the court! why, what place make you special,</LINE> 1748<LINE>when you put off that with such contempt? But to the court!</LINE> 1749</SPEECH> 1750 1751<SPEECH> 1752<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 1753<LINE>Truly, madam, if God have lent a man any manners, he</LINE> 1754<LINE>may easily put it off at court: he that cannot make</LINE> 1755<LINE>a leg, put off's cap, kiss his hand and say nothing,</LINE> 1756<LINE>has neither leg, hands, lip, nor cap; and indeed</LINE> 1757<LINE>such a fellow, to say precisely, were not for the</LINE> 1758<LINE>court; but for me, I have an answer will serve all</LINE> 1759<LINE>men.</LINE> 1760</SPEECH> 1761 1762<SPEECH> 1763<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1764<LINE>Marry, that's a bountiful answer that fits all</LINE> 1765<LINE>questions.</LINE> 1766</SPEECH> 1767 1768<SPEECH> 1769<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 1770<LINE>It is like a barber's chair that fits all buttocks,</LINE> 1771<LINE>the pin-buttock, the quatch-buttock, the brawn</LINE> 1772<LINE>buttock, or any buttock.</LINE> 1773</SPEECH> 1774 1775<SPEECH> 1776<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1777<LINE>Will your answer serve fit to all questions?</LINE> 1778</SPEECH> 1779 1780<SPEECH> 1781<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 1782<LINE>As fit as ten groats is for the hand of an attorney,</LINE> 1783<LINE>as your French crown for your taffeta punk, as Tib's</LINE> 1784<LINE>rush for Tom's forefinger, as a pancake for Shrove</LINE> 1785<LINE>Tuesday, a morris for May-day, as the nail to his</LINE> 1786<LINE>hole, the cuckold to his horn, as a scolding queen</LINE> 1787<LINE>to a wrangling knave, as the nun's lip to the</LINE> 1788<LINE>friar's mouth, nay, as the pudding to his skin.</LINE> 1789</SPEECH> 1790 1791<SPEECH> 1792<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1793<LINE>Have you, I say, an answer of such fitness for all</LINE> 1794<LINE>questions?</LINE> 1795</SPEECH> 1796 1797<SPEECH> 1798<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 1799<LINE>From below your duke to beneath your constable, it</LINE> 1800<LINE>will fit any question.</LINE> 1801</SPEECH> 1802 1803<SPEECH> 1804<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1805<LINE>It must be an answer of most monstrous size that</LINE> 1806<LINE>must fit all demands.</LINE> 1807</SPEECH> 1808 1809<SPEECH> 1810<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 1811<LINE>But a trifle neither, in good faith, if the learned</LINE> 1812<LINE>should speak truth of it: here it is, and all that</LINE> 1813<LINE>belongs to't. Ask me if I am a courtier: it shall</LINE> 1814<LINE>do you no harm to learn.</LINE> 1815</SPEECH> 1816 1817<SPEECH> 1818<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1819<LINE>To be young again, if we could: I will be a fool in</LINE> 1820<LINE>question, hoping to be the wiser by your answer. I</LINE> 1821<LINE>pray you, sir, are you a courtier?</LINE> 1822</SPEECH> 1823 1824<SPEECH> 1825<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 1826<LINE>O Lord, sir! There's a simple putting off. More,</LINE> 1827<LINE>more, a hundred of them.</LINE> 1828</SPEECH> 1829 1830<SPEECH> 1831<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1832<LINE>Sir, I am a poor friend of yours, that loves you.</LINE> 1833</SPEECH> 1834 1835<SPEECH> 1836<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 1837<LINE>O Lord, sir! Thick, thick, spare not me.</LINE> 1838</SPEECH> 1839 1840<SPEECH> 1841<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1842<LINE>I think, sir, you can eat none of this homely meat.</LINE> 1843</SPEECH> 1844 1845<SPEECH> 1846<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 1847<LINE>O Lord, sir! Nay, put me to't, I warrant you.</LINE> 1848</SPEECH> 1849 1850<SPEECH> 1851<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1852<LINE>You were lately whipped, sir, as I think.</LINE> 1853</SPEECH> 1854 1855<SPEECH> 1856<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 1857<LINE>O Lord, sir! spare not me.</LINE> 1858</SPEECH> 1859 1860<SPEECH> 1861<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1862<LINE>Do you cry, 'O Lord, sir!' at your whipping, and</LINE> 1863<LINE>'spare not me?' Indeed your 'O Lord, sir!' is very</LINE> 1864<LINE>sequent to your whipping: you would answer very well</LINE> 1865<LINE>to a whipping, if you were but bound to't.</LINE> 1866</SPEECH> 1867 1868<SPEECH> 1869<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 1870<LINE>I ne'er had worse luck in my life in my 'O Lord,</LINE> 1871<LINE>sir!' I see things may serve long, but not serve ever.</LINE> 1872</SPEECH> 1873 1874<SPEECH> 1875<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1876<LINE>I play the noble housewife with the time</LINE> 1877<LINE>To entertain't so merrily with a fool.</LINE> 1878</SPEECH> 1879 1880<SPEECH> 1881<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 1882<LINE>O Lord, sir! why, there't serves well again.</LINE> 1883</SPEECH> 1884 1885<SPEECH> 1886<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1887<LINE>An end, sir; to your business. Give Helen this,</LINE> 1888<LINE>And urge her to a present answer back:</LINE> 1889<LINE>Commend me to my kinsmen and my son:</LINE> 1890<LINE>This is not much.</LINE> 1891</SPEECH> 1892 1893<SPEECH> 1894<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 1895<LINE>Not much commendation to them.</LINE> 1896</SPEECH> 1897 1898<SPEECH> 1899<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1900<LINE>Not much employment for you: you understand me?</LINE> 1901</SPEECH> 1902 1903<SPEECH> 1904<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 1905<LINE>Most fruitfully: I am there before my legs.</LINE> 1906</SPEECH> 1907 1908<SPEECH> 1909<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1910<LINE>Haste you again.</LINE> 1911</SPEECH> 1912 1913<STAGEDIR>Exeunt severally</STAGEDIR> 1914</SCENE> 1915 1916<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE III. Paris. The KING's palace.</TITLE> 1917<STAGEDIR>Enter BERTRAM, LAFEU, and PAROLLES</STAGEDIR> 1918 1919<SPEECH> 1920<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 1921<LINE>They say miracles are past; and we have our</LINE> 1922<LINE>philosophical persons, to make modern and familiar,</LINE> 1923<LINE>things supernatural and causeless. Hence is it that</LINE> 1924<LINE>we make trifles of terrors, ensconcing ourselves</LINE> 1925<LINE>into seeming knowledge, when we should submit</LINE> 1926<LINE>ourselves to an unknown fear.</LINE> 1927</SPEECH> 1928 1929<SPEECH> 1930<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 1931<LINE>Why, 'tis the rarest argument of wonder that hath</LINE> 1932<LINE>shot out in our latter times.</LINE> 1933</SPEECH> 1934 1935<SPEECH> 1936<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 1937<LINE>And so 'tis.</LINE> 1938</SPEECH> 1939 1940<SPEECH> 1941<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 1942<LINE>To be relinquish'd of the artists,--</LINE> 1943</SPEECH> 1944 1945<SPEECH> 1946<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 1947<LINE>So I say.</LINE> 1948</SPEECH> 1949 1950<SPEECH> 1951<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 1952<LINE>Both of Galen and Paracelsus.</LINE> 1953</SPEECH> 1954 1955<SPEECH> 1956<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 1957<LINE>So I say.</LINE> 1958</SPEECH> 1959 1960<SPEECH> 1961<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 1962<LINE>Of all the learned and authentic fellows,--</LINE> 1963</SPEECH> 1964 1965<SPEECH> 1966<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 1967<LINE>Right; so I say.</LINE> 1968</SPEECH> 1969 1970<SPEECH> 1971<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 1972<LINE>That gave him out incurable,--</LINE> 1973</SPEECH> 1974 1975<SPEECH> 1976<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 1977<LINE>Why, there 'tis; so say I too.</LINE> 1978</SPEECH> 1979 1980<SPEECH> 1981<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 1982<LINE>Not to be helped,--</LINE> 1983</SPEECH> 1984 1985<SPEECH> 1986<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 1987<LINE>Right; as 'twere, a man assured of a--</LINE> 1988</SPEECH> 1989 1990<SPEECH> 1991<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 1992<LINE>Uncertain life, and sure death.</LINE> 1993</SPEECH> 1994 1995<SPEECH> 1996<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 1997<LINE>Just, you say well; so would I have said.</LINE> 1998</SPEECH> 1999 2000<SPEECH> 2001<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2002<LINE>I may truly say, it is a novelty to the world.</LINE> 2003</SPEECH> 2004 2005<SPEECH> 2006<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2007<LINE>It is, indeed: if you will have it in showing, you</LINE> 2008<LINE>shall read it in--what do you call there?</LINE> 2009</SPEECH> 2010 2011<SPEECH> 2012<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2013<LINE>A showing of a heavenly effect in an earthly actor.</LINE> 2014</SPEECH> 2015 2016<SPEECH> 2017<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2018<LINE>That's it; I would have said the very same.</LINE> 2019</SPEECH> 2020 2021<SPEECH> 2022<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2023<LINE>Why, your dolphin is not lustier: 'fore me,</LINE> 2024<LINE>I speak in respect--</LINE> 2025</SPEECH> 2026 2027<SPEECH> 2028<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2029<LINE>Nay, 'tis strange, 'tis very strange, that is the</LINE> 2030<LINE>brief and the tedious of it; and he's of a most</LINE> 2031<LINE>facinerious spirit that will not acknowledge it to be the--</LINE> 2032</SPEECH> 2033 2034<SPEECH> 2035<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2036<LINE>Very hand of heaven.</LINE> 2037</SPEECH> 2038 2039<SPEECH> 2040<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2041<LINE>Ay, so I say.</LINE> 2042</SPEECH> 2043 2044<SPEECH> 2045<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2046<LINE>In a most weak--</LINE> 2047<STAGEDIR>pausing</STAGEDIR> 2048<LINE>and debile minister, great power, great</LINE> 2049<LINE>transcendence: which should, indeed, give us a</LINE> 2050<LINE>further use to be made than alone the recovery of</LINE> 2051<LINE>the king, as to be--</LINE> 2052<STAGEDIR>pausing</STAGEDIR> 2053<LINE>generally thankful.</LINE> 2054</SPEECH> 2055 2056<SPEECH> 2057<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2058<LINE>I would have said it; you say well. Here comes the king.</LINE> 2059</SPEECH> 2060 2061<STAGEDIR>Enter KING, HELENA, and Attendants. LAFEU and 2062PAROLLES retire</STAGEDIR> 2063 2064<SPEECH> 2065<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2066<LINE>Lustig, as the Dutchman says: I'll like a maid the</LINE> 2067<LINE>better, whilst I have a tooth in my head: why, he's</LINE> 2068<LINE>able to lead her a coranto.</LINE> 2069</SPEECH> 2070 2071<SPEECH> 2072<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2073<LINE>Mort du vinaigre! is not this Helen?</LINE> 2074</SPEECH> 2075 2076<SPEECH> 2077<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2078<LINE>'Fore God, I think so.</LINE> 2079</SPEECH> 2080 2081<SPEECH> 2082<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 2083<LINE>Go, call before me all the lords in court.</LINE> 2084<LINE>Sit, my preserver, by thy patient's side;</LINE> 2085<LINE>And with this healthful hand, whose banish'd sense</LINE> 2086<LINE>Thou hast repeal'd, a second time receive</LINE> 2087<LINE>The confirmation of my promised gift,</LINE> 2088<LINE>Which but attends thy naming.</LINE> 2089<STAGEDIR>Enter three or four Lords</STAGEDIR> 2090<LINE>Fair maid, send forth thine eye: this youthful parcel</LINE> 2091<LINE>Of noble bachelors stand at my bestowing,</LINE> 2092<LINE>O'er whom both sovereign power and father's voice</LINE> 2093<LINE>I have to use: thy frank election make;</LINE> 2094<LINE>Thou hast power to choose, and they none to forsake.</LINE> 2095</SPEECH> 2096 2097<SPEECH> 2098<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2099<LINE>To each of you one fair and virtuous mistress</LINE> 2100<LINE>Fall, when Love please! marry, to each, but one!</LINE> 2101</SPEECH> 2102 2103<SPEECH> 2104<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2105<LINE>I'ld give bay Curtal and his furniture,</LINE> 2106<LINE>My mouth no more were broken than these boys',</LINE> 2107<LINE>And writ as little beard.</LINE> 2108</SPEECH> 2109 2110<SPEECH> 2111<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 2112<LINE>Peruse them well:</LINE> 2113<LINE>Not one of those but had a noble father.</LINE> 2114</SPEECH> 2115 2116<SPEECH> 2117<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2118<LINE>Gentlemen,</LINE> 2119<LINE>Heaven hath through me restored the king to health.</LINE> 2120</SPEECH> 2121 2122<SPEECH> 2123<SPEAKER>All</SPEAKER> 2124<LINE>We understand it, and thank heaven for you.</LINE> 2125</SPEECH> 2126 2127<SPEECH> 2128<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2129<LINE>I am a simple maid, and therein wealthiest,</LINE> 2130<LINE>That I protest I simply am a maid.</LINE> 2131<LINE>Please it your majesty, I have done already:</LINE> 2132<LINE>The blushes in my cheeks thus whisper me,</LINE> 2133<LINE>'We blush that thou shouldst choose; but, be refused,</LINE> 2134<LINE>Let the white death sit on thy cheek for ever;</LINE> 2135<LINE>We'll ne'er come there again.'</LINE> 2136</SPEECH> 2137 2138<SPEECH> 2139<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 2140<LINE>Make choice; and, see,</LINE> 2141<LINE>Who shuns thy love shuns all his love in me.</LINE> 2142</SPEECH> 2143 2144<SPEECH> 2145<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2146<LINE>Now, Dian, from thy altar do I fly,</LINE> 2147<LINE>And to imperial Love, that god most high,</LINE> 2148<LINE>Do my sighs stream. Sir, will you hear my suit?</LINE> 2149</SPEECH> 2150 2151<SPEECH> 2152<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 2153<LINE>And grant it.</LINE> 2154</SPEECH> 2155 2156<SPEECH> 2157<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2158<LINE>Thanks, sir; all the rest is mute.</LINE> 2159</SPEECH> 2160 2161<SPEECH> 2162<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2163<LINE>I had rather be in this choice than throw ames-ace</LINE> 2164<LINE>for my life.</LINE> 2165</SPEECH> 2166 2167<SPEECH> 2168<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2169<LINE>The honour, sir, that flames in your fair eyes,</LINE> 2170<LINE>Before I speak, too threateningly replies:</LINE> 2171<LINE>Love make your fortunes twenty times above</LINE> 2172<LINE>Her that so wishes and her humble love!</LINE> 2173</SPEECH> 2174 2175<SPEECH> 2176<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 2177<LINE>No better, if you please.</LINE> 2178</SPEECH> 2179 2180<SPEECH> 2181<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2182<LINE>My wish receive,</LINE> 2183<LINE>Which great Love grant! and so, I take my leave.</LINE> 2184</SPEECH> 2185 2186<SPEECH> 2187<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2188<LINE>Do all they deny her? An they were sons of mine,</LINE> 2189<LINE>I'd have them whipped; or I would send them to the</LINE> 2190<LINE>Turk, to make eunuchs of.</LINE> 2191</SPEECH> 2192 2193<SPEECH> 2194<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2195<LINE>Be not afraid that I your hand should take;</LINE> 2196<LINE>I'll never do you wrong for your own sake:</LINE> 2197<LINE>Blessing upon your vows! and in your bed</LINE> 2198<LINE>Find fairer fortune, if you ever wed!</LINE> 2199</SPEECH> 2200 2201<SPEECH> 2202<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2203<LINE>These boys are boys of ice, they'll none have her:</LINE> 2204<LINE>sure, they are bastards to the English; the French</LINE> 2205<LINE>ne'er got 'em.</LINE> 2206</SPEECH> 2207 2208<SPEECH> 2209<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2210<LINE>You are too young, too happy, and too good,</LINE> 2211<LINE>To make yourself a son out of my blood.</LINE> 2212</SPEECH> 2213 2214<SPEECH> 2215<SPEAKER>Fourth Lord</SPEAKER> 2216<LINE>Fair one, I think not so.</LINE> 2217</SPEECH> 2218 2219<SPEECH> 2220<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2221<LINE>There's one grape yet; I am sure thy father drunk</LINE> 2222<LINE>wine: but if thou be'st not an ass, I am a youth</LINE> 2223<LINE>of fourteen; I have known thee already.</LINE> 2224</SPEECH> 2225 2226<SPEECH> 2227<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2228<LINE><STAGEDIR>To BERTRAM</STAGEDIR> I dare not say I take you; but I give</LINE> 2229<LINE>Me and my service, ever whilst I live,</LINE> 2230<LINE>Into your guiding power. This is the man.</LINE> 2231</SPEECH> 2232 2233<SPEECH> 2234<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 2235<LINE>Why, then, young Bertram, take her; she's thy wife.</LINE> 2236</SPEECH> 2237 2238<SPEECH> 2239<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 2240<LINE>My wife, my liege! I shall beseech your highness,</LINE> 2241<LINE>In such a business give me leave to use</LINE> 2242<LINE>The help of mine own eyes.</LINE> 2243</SPEECH> 2244 2245<SPEECH> 2246<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 2247<LINE>Know'st thou not, Bertram,</LINE> 2248<LINE>What she has done for me?</LINE> 2249</SPEECH> 2250 2251<SPEECH> 2252<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 2253<LINE>Yes, my good lord;</LINE> 2254<LINE>But never hope to know why I should marry her.</LINE> 2255</SPEECH> 2256 2257<SPEECH> 2258<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 2259<LINE>Thou know'st she has raised me from my sickly bed.</LINE> 2260</SPEECH> 2261 2262<SPEECH> 2263<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 2264<LINE>But follows it, my lord, to bring me down</LINE> 2265<LINE>Must answer for your raising? I know her well:</LINE> 2266<LINE>She had her breeding at my father's charge.</LINE> 2267<LINE>A poor physician's daughter my wife! Disdain</LINE> 2268<LINE>Rather corrupt me ever!</LINE> 2269</SPEECH> 2270 2271<SPEECH> 2272<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 2273<LINE>'Tis only title thou disdain'st in her, the which</LINE> 2274<LINE>I can build up. Strange is it that our bloods,</LINE> 2275<LINE>Of colour, weight, and heat, pour'd all together,</LINE> 2276<LINE>Would quite confound distinction, yet stand off</LINE> 2277<LINE>In differences so mighty. If she be</LINE> 2278<LINE>All that is virtuous, save what thou dislikest,</LINE> 2279<LINE>A poor physician's daughter, thou dislikest</LINE> 2280<LINE>Of virtue for the name: but do not so:</LINE> 2281<LINE>From lowest place when virtuous things proceed,</LINE> 2282<LINE>The place is dignified by the doer's deed:</LINE> 2283<LINE>Where great additions swell's, and virtue none,</LINE> 2284<LINE>It is a dropsied honour. Good alone</LINE> 2285<LINE>Is good without a name. Vileness is so:</LINE> 2286<LINE>The property by what it is should go,</LINE> 2287<LINE>Not by the title. She is young, wise, fair;</LINE> 2288<LINE>In these to nature she's immediate heir,</LINE> 2289<LINE>And these breed honour: that is honour's scorn,</LINE> 2290<LINE>Which challenges itself as honour's born</LINE> 2291<LINE>And is not like the sire: honours thrive,</LINE> 2292<LINE>When rather from our acts we them derive</LINE> 2293<LINE>Than our foregoers: the mere word's a slave</LINE> 2294<LINE>Debosh'd on every tomb, on every grave</LINE> 2295<LINE>A lying trophy, and as oft is dumb</LINE> 2296<LINE>Where dust and damn'd oblivion is the tomb</LINE> 2297<LINE>Of honour'd bones indeed. What should be said?</LINE> 2298<LINE>If thou canst like this creature as a maid,</LINE> 2299<LINE>I can create the rest: virtue and she</LINE> 2300<LINE>Is her own dower; honour and wealth from me.</LINE> 2301</SPEECH> 2302 2303<SPEECH> 2304<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 2305<LINE>I cannot love her, nor will strive to do't.</LINE> 2306</SPEECH> 2307 2308<SPEECH> 2309<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 2310<LINE>Thou wrong'st thyself, if thou shouldst strive to choose.</LINE> 2311</SPEECH> 2312 2313<SPEECH> 2314<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2315<LINE>That you are well restored, my lord, I'm glad:</LINE> 2316<LINE>Let the rest go.</LINE> 2317</SPEECH> 2318 2319<SPEECH> 2320<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 2321<LINE>My honour's at the stake; which to defeat,</LINE> 2322<LINE>I must produce my power. Here, take her hand,</LINE> 2323<LINE>Proud scornful boy, unworthy this good gift;</LINE> 2324<LINE>That dost in vile misprision shackle up</LINE> 2325<LINE>My love and her desert; that canst not dream,</LINE> 2326<LINE>We, poising us in her defective scale,</LINE> 2327<LINE>Shall weigh thee to the beam; that wilt not know,</LINE> 2328<LINE>It is in us to plant thine honour where</LINE> 2329<LINE>We please to have it grow. Cheque thy contempt:</LINE> 2330<LINE>Obey our will, which travails in thy good:</LINE> 2331<LINE>Believe not thy disdain, but presently</LINE> 2332<LINE>Do thine own fortunes that obedient right</LINE> 2333<LINE>Which both thy duty owes and our power claims;</LINE> 2334<LINE>Or I will throw thee from my care for ever</LINE> 2335<LINE>Into the staggers and the careless lapse</LINE> 2336<LINE>Of youth and ignorance; both my revenge and hate</LINE> 2337<LINE>Loosing upon thee, in the name of justice,</LINE> 2338<LINE>Without all terms of pity. Speak; thine answer.</LINE> 2339</SPEECH> 2340 2341<SPEECH> 2342<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 2343<LINE>Pardon, my gracious lord; for I submit</LINE> 2344<LINE>My fancy to your eyes: when I consider</LINE> 2345<LINE>What great creation and what dole of honour</LINE> 2346<LINE>Flies where you bid it, I find that she, which late</LINE> 2347<LINE>Was in my nobler thoughts most base, is now</LINE> 2348<LINE>The praised of the king; who, so ennobled,</LINE> 2349<LINE>Is as 'twere born so.</LINE> 2350</SPEECH> 2351 2352<SPEECH> 2353<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 2354<LINE>Take her by the hand,</LINE> 2355<LINE>And tell her she is thine: to whom I promise</LINE> 2356<LINE>A counterpoise, if not to thy estate</LINE> 2357<LINE>A balance more replete.</LINE> 2358</SPEECH> 2359 2360<SPEECH> 2361<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 2362<LINE>I take her hand.</LINE> 2363</SPEECH> 2364 2365<SPEECH> 2366<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 2367<LINE>Good fortune and the favour of the king</LINE> 2368<LINE>Smile upon this contract; whose ceremony</LINE> 2369<LINE>Shall seem expedient on the now-born brief,</LINE> 2370<LINE>And be perform'd to-night: the solemn feast</LINE> 2371<LINE>Shall more attend upon the coming space,</LINE> 2372<LINE>Expecting absent friends. As thou lovest her,</LINE> 2373<LINE>Thy love's to me religious; else, does err.</LINE> 2374</SPEECH> 2375 2376<STAGEDIR>Exeunt all but LAFEU and PAROLLES</STAGEDIR> 2377 2378<SPEECH> 2379<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2380<LINE><STAGEDIR>Advancing</STAGEDIR> Do you hear, monsieur? a word with you.</LINE> 2381</SPEECH> 2382 2383<SPEECH> 2384<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2385<LINE>Your pleasure, sir?</LINE> 2386</SPEECH> 2387 2388<SPEECH> 2389<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2390<LINE>Your lord and master did well to make his</LINE> 2391<LINE>recantation.</LINE> 2392</SPEECH> 2393 2394<SPEECH> 2395<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2396<LINE>Recantation! My lord! my master!</LINE> 2397</SPEECH> 2398 2399<SPEECH> 2400<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2401<LINE>Ay; is it not a language I speak?</LINE> 2402</SPEECH> 2403 2404<SPEECH> 2405<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2406<LINE>A most harsh one, and not to be understood without</LINE> 2407<LINE>bloody succeeding. My master!</LINE> 2408</SPEECH> 2409 2410<SPEECH> 2411<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2412<LINE>Are you companion to the Count Rousillon?</LINE> 2413</SPEECH> 2414 2415<SPEECH> 2416<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2417<LINE>To any count, to all counts, to what is man.</LINE> 2418</SPEECH> 2419 2420<SPEECH> 2421<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2422<LINE>To what is count's man: count's master is of</LINE> 2423<LINE>another style.</LINE> 2424</SPEECH> 2425 2426<SPEECH> 2427<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2428<LINE>You are too old, sir; let it satisfy you, you are too old.</LINE> 2429</SPEECH> 2430 2431<SPEECH> 2432<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2433<LINE>I must tell thee, sirrah, I write man; to which</LINE> 2434<LINE>title age cannot bring thee.</LINE> 2435</SPEECH> 2436 2437<SPEECH> 2438<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2439<LINE>What I dare too well do, I dare not do.</LINE> 2440</SPEECH> 2441 2442<SPEECH> 2443<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2444<LINE>I did think thee, for two ordinaries, to be a pretty</LINE> 2445<LINE>wise fellow; thou didst make tolerable vent of thy</LINE> 2446<LINE>travel; it might pass: yet the scarfs and the</LINE> 2447<LINE>bannerets about thee did manifoldly dissuade me from</LINE> 2448<LINE>believing thee a vessel of too great a burthen. I</LINE> 2449<LINE>have now found thee; when I lose thee again, I care</LINE> 2450<LINE>not: yet art thou good for nothing but taking up; and</LINE> 2451<LINE>that thou't scarce worth.</LINE> 2452</SPEECH> 2453 2454<SPEECH> 2455<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2456<LINE>Hadst thou not the privilege of antiquity upon thee,--</LINE> 2457</SPEECH> 2458 2459<SPEECH> 2460<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2461<LINE>Do not plunge thyself too far in anger, lest thou</LINE> 2462<LINE>hasten thy trial; which if--Lord have mercy on thee</LINE> 2463<LINE>for a hen! So, my good window of lattice, fare thee</LINE> 2464<LINE>well: thy casement I need not open, for I look</LINE> 2465<LINE>through thee. Give me thy hand.</LINE> 2466</SPEECH> 2467 2468<SPEECH> 2469<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2470<LINE>My lord, you give me most egregious indignity.</LINE> 2471</SPEECH> 2472 2473<SPEECH> 2474<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2475<LINE>Ay, with all my heart; and thou art worthy of it.</LINE> 2476</SPEECH> 2477 2478<SPEECH> 2479<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2480<LINE>I have not, my lord, deserved it.</LINE> 2481</SPEECH> 2482 2483<SPEECH> 2484<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2485<LINE>Yes, good faith, every dram of it; and I will not</LINE> 2486<LINE>bate thee a scruple.</LINE> 2487</SPEECH> 2488 2489<SPEECH> 2490<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2491<LINE>Well, I shall be wiser.</LINE> 2492</SPEECH> 2493 2494<SPEECH> 2495<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2496<LINE>Even as soon as thou canst, for thou hast to pull at</LINE> 2497<LINE>a smack o' the contrary. If ever thou be'st bound</LINE> 2498<LINE>in thy scarf and beaten, thou shalt find what it is</LINE> 2499<LINE>to be proud of thy bondage. I have a desire to hold</LINE> 2500<LINE>my acquaintance with thee, or rather my knowledge,</LINE> 2501<LINE>that I may say in the default, he is a man I know.</LINE> 2502</SPEECH> 2503 2504<SPEECH> 2505<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2506<LINE>My lord, you do me most insupportable vexation.</LINE> 2507</SPEECH> 2508 2509<SPEECH> 2510<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2511<LINE>I would it were hell-pains for thy sake, and my poor</LINE> 2512<LINE>doing eternal: for doing I am past: as I will by</LINE> 2513<LINE>thee, in what motion age will give me leave.</LINE> 2514</SPEECH> 2515 2516<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 2517 2518<SPEECH> 2519<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2520<LINE>Well, thou hast a son shall take this disgrace off</LINE> 2521<LINE>me; scurvy, old, filthy, scurvy lord! Well, I must</LINE> 2522<LINE>be patient; there is no fettering of authority.</LINE> 2523<LINE>I'll beat him, by my life, if I can meet him with</LINE> 2524<LINE>any convenience, an he were double and double a</LINE> 2525<LINE>lord. I'll have no more pity of his age than I</LINE> 2526<LINE>would of--I'll beat him, an if I could but meet him again.</LINE> 2527</SPEECH> 2528 2529<STAGEDIR>Re-enter LAFEU</STAGEDIR> 2530 2531<SPEECH> 2532<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2533<LINE>Sirrah, your lord and master's married; there's news</LINE> 2534<LINE>for you: you have a new mistress.</LINE> 2535</SPEECH> 2536 2537<SPEECH> 2538<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2539<LINE>I most unfeignedly beseech your lordship to make</LINE> 2540<LINE>some reservation of your wrongs: he is my good</LINE> 2541<LINE>lord: whom I serve above is my master.</LINE> 2542</SPEECH> 2543 2544<SPEECH> 2545<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2546<LINE>Who? God?</LINE> 2547</SPEECH> 2548 2549<SPEECH> 2550<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2551<LINE>Ay, sir.</LINE> 2552</SPEECH> 2553 2554<SPEECH> 2555<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2556<LINE>The devil it is that's thy master. Why dost thou</LINE> 2557<LINE>garter up thy arms o' this fashion? dost make hose of</LINE> 2558<LINE>sleeves? do other servants so? Thou wert best set</LINE> 2559<LINE>thy lower part where thy nose stands. By mine</LINE> 2560<LINE>honour, if I were but two hours younger, I'ld beat</LINE> 2561<LINE>thee: methinks, thou art a general offence, and</LINE> 2562<LINE>every man should beat thee: I think thou wast</LINE> 2563<LINE>created for men to breathe themselves upon thee.</LINE> 2564</SPEECH> 2565 2566<SPEECH> 2567<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2568<LINE>This is hard and undeserved measure, my lord.</LINE> 2569</SPEECH> 2570 2571<SPEECH> 2572<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2573<LINE>Go to, sir; you were beaten in Italy for picking a</LINE> 2574<LINE>kernel out of a pomegranate; you are a vagabond and</LINE> 2575<LINE>no true traveller: you are more saucy with lords</LINE> 2576<LINE>and honourable personages than the commission of your</LINE> 2577<LINE>birth and virtue gives you heraldry. You are not</LINE> 2578<LINE>worth another word, else I'ld call you knave. I leave you.</LINE> 2579</SPEECH> 2580 2581<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 2582 2583<SPEECH> 2584<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2585<LINE>Good, very good; it is so then: good, very good;</LINE> 2586<LINE>let it be concealed awhile.</LINE> 2587</SPEECH> 2588 2589<STAGEDIR>Re-enter BERTRAM</STAGEDIR> 2590 2591<SPEECH> 2592<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 2593<LINE>Undone, and forfeited to cares for ever!</LINE> 2594</SPEECH> 2595 2596<SPEECH> 2597<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2598<LINE>What's the matter, sweet-heart?</LINE> 2599</SPEECH> 2600 2601<SPEECH> 2602<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 2603<LINE>Although before the solemn priest I have sworn,</LINE> 2604<LINE>I will not bed her.</LINE> 2605</SPEECH> 2606 2607<SPEECH> 2608<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2609<LINE>What, what, sweet-heart?</LINE> 2610</SPEECH> 2611 2612<SPEECH> 2613<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 2614<LINE>O my Parolles, they have married me!</LINE> 2615<LINE>I'll to the Tuscan wars, and never bed her.</LINE> 2616</SPEECH> 2617 2618<SPEECH> 2619<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2620<LINE>France is a dog-hole, and it no more merits</LINE> 2621<LINE>The tread of a man's foot: to the wars!</LINE> 2622</SPEECH> 2623 2624<SPEECH> 2625<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 2626<LINE>There's letters from my mother: what the import is,</LINE> 2627<LINE>I know not yet.</LINE> 2628</SPEECH> 2629 2630<SPEECH> 2631<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2632<LINE>Ay, that would be known. To the wars, my boy, to the wars!</LINE> 2633<LINE>He wears his honour in a box unseen,</LINE> 2634<LINE>That hugs his kicky-wicky here at home,</LINE> 2635<LINE>Spending his manly marrow in her arms,</LINE> 2636<LINE>Which should sustain the bound and high curvet</LINE> 2637<LINE>Of Mars's fiery steed. To other regions</LINE> 2638<LINE>France is a stable; we that dwell in't jades;</LINE> 2639<LINE>Therefore, to the war!</LINE> 2640</SPEECH> 2641 2642<SPEECH> 2643<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 2644<LINE>It shall be so: I'll send her to my house,</LINE> 2645<LINE>Acquaint my mother with my hate to her,</LINE> 2646<LINE>And wherefore I am fled; write to the king</LINE> 2647<LINE>That which I durst not speak; his present gift</LINE> 2648<LINE>Shall furnish me to those Italian fields,</LINE> 2649<LINE>Where noble fellows strike: war is no strife</LINE> 2650<LINE>To the dark house and the detested wife.</LINE> 2651</SPEECH> 2652 2653<SPEECH> 2654<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2655<LINE>Will this capriccio hold in thee? art sure?</LINE> 2656</SPEECH> 2657 2658<SPEECH> 2659<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 2660<LINE>Go with me to my chamber, and advise me.</LINE> 2661<LINE>I'll send her straight away: to-morrow</LINE> 2662<LINE>I'll to the wars, she to her single sorrow.</LINE> 2663</SPEECH> 2664 2665<SPEECH> 2666<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2667<LINE>Why, these balls bound; there's noise in it. 'Tis hard:</LINE> 2668<LINE>A young man married is a man that's marr'd:</LINE> 2669<LINE>Therefore away, and leave her bravely; go:</LINE> 2670<LINE>The king has done you wrong: but, hush, 'tis so.</LINE> 2671</SPEECH> 2672 2673<STAGEDIR>Exeunt</STAGEDIR> 2674</SCENE> 2675 2676<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE IV. Paris. The KING's palace.</TITLE> 2677<STAGEDIR>Enter HELENA and Clown</STAGEDIR> 2678 2679<SPEECH> 2680<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2681<LINE>My mother greets me kindly; is she well?</LINE> 2682</SPEECH> 2683 2684<SPEECH> 2685<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 2686<LINE>She is not well; but yet she has her health: she's</LINE> 2687<LINE>very merry; but yet she is not well: but thanks be</LINE> 2688<LINE>given, she's very well and wants nothing i', the</LINE> 2689<LINE>world; but yet she is not well.</LINE> 2690</SPEECH> 2691 2692<SPEECH> 2693<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2694<LINE>If she be very well, what does she ail, that she's</LINE> 2695<LINE>not very well?</LINE> 2696</SPEECH> 2697 2698<SPEECH> 2699<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 2700<LINE>Truly, she's very well indeed, but for two things.</LINE> 2701</SPEECH> 2702 2703<SPEECH> 2704<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2705<LINE>What two things?</LINE> 2706</SPEECH> 2707 2708<SPEECH> 2709<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 2710<LINE>One, that she's not in heaven, whither God send her</LINE> 2711<LINE>quickly! the other that she's in earth, from whence</LINE> 2712<LINE>God send her quickly!</LINE> 2713</SPEECH> 2714 2715<STAGEDIR>Enter PAROLLES</STAGEDIR> 2716 2717<SPEECH> 2718<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2719<LINE>Bless you, my fortunate lady!</LINE> 2720</SPEECH> 2721 2722<SPEECH> 2723<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2724<LINE>I hope, sir, I have your good will to have mine own</LINE> 2725<LINE>good fortunes.</LINE> 2726</SPEECH> 2727 2728<SPEECH> 2729<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2730<LINE>You had my prayers to lead them on; and to keep them</LINE> 2731<LINE>on, have them still. O, my knave, how does my old lady?</LINE> 2732</SPEECH> 2733 2734<SPEECH> 2735<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 2736<LINE>So that you had her wrinkles and I her money,</LINE> 2737<LINE>I would she did as you say.</LINE> 2738</SPEECH> 2739 2740<SPEECH> 2741<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2742<LINE>Why, I say nothing.</LINE> 2743</SPEECH> 2744 2745<SPEECH> 2746<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 2747<LINE>Marry, you are the wiser man; for many a man's</LINE> 2748<LINE>tongue shakes out his master's undoing: to say</LINE> 2749<LINE>nothing, to do nothing, to know nothing, and to have</LINE> 2750<LINE>nothing, is to be a great part of your title; which</LINE> 2751<LINE>is within a very little of nothing.</LINE> 2752</SPEECH> 2753 2754<SPEECH> 2755<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2756<LINE>Away! thou'rt a knave.</LINE> 2757</SPEECH> 2758 2759<SPEECH> 2760<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 2761<LINE>You should have said, sir, before a knave thou'rt a</LINE> 2762<LINE>knave; that's, before me thou'rt a knave: this had</LINE> 2763<LINE>been truth, sir.</LINE> 2764</SPEECH> 2765 2766<SPEECH> 2767<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2768<LINE>Go to, thou art a witty fool; I have found thee.</LINE> 2769</SPEECH> 2770 2771<SPEECH> 2772<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 2773<LINE>Did you find me in yourself, sir? or were you</LINE> 2774<LINE>taught to find me? The search, sir, was profitable;</LINE> 2775<LINE>and much fool may you find in you, even to the</LINE> 2776<LINE>world's pleasure and the increase of laughter.</LINE> 2777</SPEECH> 2778 2779<SPEECH> 2780<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2781<LINE>A good knave, i' faith, and well fed.</LINE> 2782<LINE>Madam, my lord will go away to-night;</LINE> 2783<LINE>A very serious business calls on him.</LINE> 2784<LINE>The great prerogative and rite of love,</LINE> 2785<LINE>Which, as your due, time claims, he does acknowledge;</LINE> 2786<LINE>But puts it off to a compell'd restraint;</LINE> 2787<LINE>Whose want, and whose delay, is strew'd with sweets,</LINE> 2788<LINE>Which they distil now in the curbed time,</LINE> 2789<LINE>To make the coming hour o'erflow with joy</LINE> 2790<LINE>And pleasure drown the brim.</LINE> 2791</SPEECH> 2792 2793<SPEECH> 2794<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2795<LINE>What's his will else?</LINE> 2796</SPEECH> 2797 2798<SPEECH> 2799<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2800<LINE>That you will take your instant leave o' the king</LINE> 2801<LINE>And make this haste as your own good proceeding,</LINE> 2802<LINE>Strengthen'd with what apology you think</LINE> 2803<LINE>May make it probable need.</LINE> 2804</SPEECH> 2805 2806<SPEECH> 2807<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2808<LINE>What more commands he?</LINE> 2809</SPEECH> 2810 2811<SPEECH> 2812<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2813<LINE>That, having this obtain'd, you presently</LINE> 2814<LINE>Attend his further pleasure.</LINE> 2815</SPEECH> 2816 2817<SPEECH> 2818<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2819<LINE>In every thing I wait upon his will.</LINE> 2820</SPEECH> 2821 2822<SPEECH> 2823<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2824<LINE>I shall report it so.</LINE> 2825</SPEECH> 2826 2827<SPEECH> 2828<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2829<LINE>I pray you.</LINE> 2830<STAGEDIR>Exit PAROLLES</STAGEDIR> 2831<LINE>Come, sirrah.</LINE> 2832</SPEECH> 2833 2834<STAGEDIR>Exeunt</STAGEDIR> 2835</SCENE> 2836 2837<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE V. Paris. The KING's palace.</TITLE> 2838<STAGEDIR>Enter LAFEU and BERTRAM</STAGEDIR> 2839 2840<SPEECH> 2841<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2842<LINE>But I hope your lordship thinks not him a soldier.</LINE> 2843</SPEECH> 2844 2845<SPEECH> 2846<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 2847<LINE>Yes, my lord, and of very valiant approof.</LINE> 2848</SPEECH> 2849 2850<SPEECH> 2851<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2852<LINE>You have it from his own deliverance.</LINE> 2853</SPEECH> 2854 2855<SPEECH> 2856<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 2857<LINE>And by other warranted testimony.</LINE> 2858</SPEECH> 2859 2860<SPEECH> 2861<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2862<LINE>Then my dial goes not true: I took this lark for a bunting.</LINE> 2863</SPEECH> 2864 2865<SPEECH> 2866<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 2867<LINE>I do assure you, my lord, he is very great in</LINE> 2868<LINE>knowledge and accordingly valiant.</LINE> 2869</SPEECH> 2870 2871<SPEECH> 2872<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2873<LINE>I have then sinned against his experience and</LINE> 2874<LINE>transgressed against his valour; and my state that</LINE> 2875<LINE>way is dangerous, since I cannot yet find in my</LINE> 2876<LINE>heart to repent. Here he comes: I pray you, make</LINE> 2877<LINE>us friends; I will pursue the amity.</LINE> 2878</SPEECH> 2879 2880<STAGEDIR>Enter PAROLLES</STAGEDIR> 2881 2882<SPEECH> 2883<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2884<LINE><STAGEDIR>To BERTRAM</STAGEDIR> These things shall be done, sir.</LINE> 2885</SPEECH> 2886 2887<SPEECH> 2888<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2889<LINE>Pray you, sir, who's his tailor?</LINE> 2890</SPEECH> 2891 2892<SPEECH> 2893<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2894<LINE>Sir?</LINE> 2895</SPEECH> 2896 2897<SPEECH> 2898<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2899<LINE>O, I know him well, I, sir; he, sir, 's a good</LINE> 2900<LINE>workman, a very good tailor.</LINE> 2901</SPEECH> 2902 2903<SPEECH> 2904<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 2905<LINE><STAGEDIR>Aside to PAROLLES</STAGEDIR> Is she gone to the king?</LINE> 2906</SPEECH> 2907 2908<SPEECH> 2909<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2910<LINE>She is.</LINE> 2911</SPEECH> 2912 2913<SPEECH> 2914<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 2915<LINE>Will she away to-night?</LINE> 2916</SPEECH> 2917 2918<SPEECH> 2919<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2920<LINE>As you'll have her.</LINE> 2921</SPEECH> 2922 2923<SPEECH> 2924<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 2925<LINE>I have writ my letters, casketed my treasure,</LINE> 2926<LINE>Given order for our horses; and to-night,</LINE> 2927<LINE>When I should take possession of the bride,</LINE> 2928<LINE>End ere I do begin.</LINE> 2929</SPEECH> 2930 2931<SPEECH> 2932<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2933<LINE>A good traveller is something at the latter end of a</LINE> 2934<LINE>dinner; but one that lies three thirds and uses a</LINE> 2935<LINE>known truth to pass a thousand nothings with, should</LINE> 2936<LINE>be once heard and thrice beaten. God save you, captain.</LINE> 2937</SPEECH> 2938 2939<SPEECH> 2940<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 2941<LINE>Is there any unkindness between my lord and you, monsieur?</LINE> 2942</SPEECH> 2943 2944<SPEECH> 2945<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2946<LINE>I know not how I have deserved to run into my lord's</LINE> 2947<LINE>displeasure.</LINE> 2948</SPEECH> 2949 2950<SPEECH> 2951<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2952<LINE>You have made shift to run into 't, boots and spurs</LINE> 2953<LINE>and all, like him that leaped into the custard; and</LINE> 2954<LINE>out of it you'll run again, rather than suffer</LINE> 2955<LINE>question for your residence.</LINE> 2956</SPEECH> 2957 2958<SPEECH> 2959<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 2960<LINE>It may be you have mistaken him, my lord.</LINE> 2961</SPEECH> 2962 2963<SPEECH> 2964<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2965<LINE>And shall do so ever, though I took him at 's</LINE> 2966<LINE>prayers. Fare you well, my lord; and believe this</LINE> 2967<LINE>of me, there can be no kernel in this light nut; the</LINE> 2968<LINE>soul of this man is his clothes. Trust him not in</LINE> 2969<LINE>matter of heavy consequence; I have kept of them</LINE> 2970<LINE>tame, and know their natures. Farewell, monsieur:</LINE> 2971<LINE>I have spoken better of you than you have or will to</LINE> 2972<LINE>deserve at my hand; but we must do good against evil.</LINE> 2973</SPEECH> 2974 2975<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 2976 2977<SPEECH> 2978<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2979<LINE>An idle lord. I swear.</LINE> 2980</SPEECH> 2981 2982<SPEECH> 2983<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 2984<LINE>I think so.</LINE> 2985</SPEECH> 2986 2987<SPEECH> 2988<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2989<LINE>Why, do you not know him?</LINE> 2990</SPEECH> 2991 2992<SPEECH> 2993<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 2994<LINE>Yes, I do know him well, and common speech</LINE> 2995<LINE>Gives him a worthy pass. Here comes my clog.</LINE> 2996</SPEECH> 2997 2998<STAGEDIR>Enter HELENA</STAGEDIR> 2999 3000<SPEECH> 3001<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3002<LINE>I have, sir, as I was commanded from you,</LINE> 3003<LINE>Spoke with the king and have procured his leave</LINE> 3004<LINE>For present parting; only he desires</LINE> 3005<LINE>Some private speech with you.</LINE> 3006</SPEECH> 3007 3008<SPEECH> 3009<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 3010<LINE>I shall obey his will.</LINE> 3011<LINE>You must not marvel, Helen, at my course,</LINE> 3012<LINE>Which holds not colour with the time, nor does</LINE> 3013<LINE>The ministration and required office</LINE> 3014<LINE>On my particular. Prepared I was not</LINE> 3015<LINE>For such a business; therefore am I found</LINE> 3016<LINE>So much unsettled: this drives me to entreat you</LINE> 3017<LINE>That presently you take our way for home;</LINE> 3018<LINE>And rather muse than ask why I entreat you,</LINE> 3019<LINE>For my respects are better than they seem</LINE> 3020<LINE>And my appointments have in them a need</LINE> 3021<LINE>Greater than shows itself at the first view</LINE> 3022<LINE>To you that know them not. This to my mother:</LINE> 3023<STAGEDIR>Giving a letter</STAGEDIR> 3024<LINE>'Twill be two days ere I shall see you, so</LINE> 3025<LINE>I leave you to your wisdom.</LINE> 3026</SPEECH> 3027 3028<SPEECH> 3029<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3030<LINE>Sir, I can nothing say,</LINE> 3031<LINE>But that I am your most obedient servant.</LINE> 3032</SPEECH> 3033 3034<SPEECH> 3035<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 3036<LINE>Come, come, no more of that.</LINE> 3037</SPEECH> 3038 3039<SPEECH> 3040<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3041<LINE>And ever shall</LINE> 3042<LINE>With true observance seek to eke out that</LINE> 3043<LINE>Wherein toward me my homely stars have fail'd</LINE> 3044<LINE>To equal my great fortune.</LINE> 3045</SPEECH> 3046 3047<SPEECH> 3048<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 3049<LINE>Let that go:</LINE> 3050<LINE>My haste is very great: farewell; hie home.</LINE> 3051</SPEECH> 3052 3053<SPEECH> 3054<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3055<LINE>Pray, sir, your pardon.</LINE> 3056</SPEECH> 3057 3058<SPEECH> 3059<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 3060<LINE>Well, what would you say?</LINE> 3061</SPEECH> 3062 3063<SPEECH> 3064<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3065<LINE>I am not worthy of the wealth I owe,</LINE> 3066<LINE>Nor dare I say 'tis mine, and yet it is;</LINE> 3067<LINE>But, like a timorous thief, most fain would steal</LINE> 3068<LINE>What law does vouch mine own.</LINE> 3069</SPEECH> 3070 3071<SPEECH> 3072<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 3073<LINE>What would you have?</LINE> 3074</SPEECH> 3075 3076<SPEECH> 3077<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3078<LINE>Something; and scarce so much: nothing, indeed.</LINE> 3079<LINE>I would not tell you what I would, my lord:</LINE> 3080<LINE>Faith yes;</LINE> 3081<LINE>Strangers and foes do sunder, and not kiss.</LINE> 3082</SPEECH> 3083 3084<SPEECH> 3085<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 3086<LINE>I pray you, stay not, but in haste to horse.</LINE> 3087</SPEECH> 3088 3089<SPEECH> 3090<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3091<LINE>I shall not break your bidding, good my lord.</LINE> 3092</SPEECH> 3093 3094<SPEECH> 3095<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 3096<LINE>Where are my other men, monsieur? Farewell.</LINE> 3097<STAGEDIR>Exit HELENA</STAGEDIR> 3098<LINE>Go thou toward home; where I will never come</LINE> 3099<LINE>Whilst I can shake my sword or hear the drum.</LINE> 3100<LINE>Away, and for our flight.</LINE> 3101</SPEECH> 3102 3103<SPEECH> 3104<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 3105<LINE>Bravely, coragio!</LINE> 3106</SPEECH> 3107 3108<STAGEDIR>Exeunt</STAGEDIR> 3109</SCENE> 3110 3111</ACT> 3112 3113<ACT><TITLE>ACT III</TITLE> 3114 3115<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE I. Florence. The DUKE's palace.</TITLE> 3116<STAGEDIR>Flourish. Enter the DUKE of Florence attended; 3117the two Frenchmen, with a troop of soldiers.</STAGEDIR> 3118 3119<SPEECH> 3120<SPEAKER>DUKE</SPEAKER> 3121<LINE>So that from point to point now have you heard</LINE> 3122<LINE>The fundamental reasons of this war,</LINE> 3123<LINE>Whose great decision hath much blood let forth</LINE> 3124<LINE>And more thirsts after.</LINE> 3125</SPEECH> 3126 3127<SPEECH> 3128<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 3129<LINE>Holy seems the quarrel</LINE> 3130<LINE>Upon your grace's part; black and fearful</LINE> 3131<LINE>On the opposer.</LINE> 3132</SPEECH> 3133 3134<SPEECH> 3135<SPEAKER>DUKE</SPEAKER> 3136<LINE>Therefore we marvel much our cousin France</LINE> 3137<LINE>Would in so just a business shut his bosom</LINE> 3138<LINE>Against our borrowing prayers.</LINE> 3139</SPEECH> 3140 3141<SPEECH> 3142<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 3143<LINE>Good my lord,</LINE> 3144<LINE>The reasons of our state I cannot yield,</LINE> 3145<LINE>But like a common and an outward man,</LINE> 3146<LINE>That the great figure of a council frames</LINE> 3147<LINE>By self-unable motion: therefore dare not</LINE> 3148<LINE>Say what I think of it, since I have found</LINE> 3149<LINE>Myself in my incertain grounds to fail</LINE> 3150<LINE>As often as I guess'd.</LINE> 3151</SPEECH> 3152 3153<SPEECH> 3154<SPEAKER>DUKE</SPEAKER> 3155<LINE>Be it his pleasure.</LINE> 3156</SPEECH> 3157 3158<SPEECH> 3159<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 3160<LINE>But I am sure the younger of our nature,</LINE> 3161<LINE>That surfeit on their ease, will day by day</LINE> 3162<LINE>Come here for physic.</LINE> 3163</SPEECH> 3164 3165<SPEECH> 3166<SPEAKER>DUKE</SPEAKER> 3167<LINE>Welcome shall they be;</LINE> 3168<LINE>And all the honours that can fly from us</LINE> 3169<LINE>Shall on them settle. You know your places well;</LINE> 3170<LINE>When better fall, for your avails they fell:</LINE> 3171<LINE>To-morrow to the field.</LINE> 3172</SPEECH> 3173 3174<STAGEDIR>Flourish. Exeunt</STAGEDIR> 3175</SCENE> 3176 3177<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE II. Rousillon. The COUNT's palace.</TITLE> 3178<STAGEDIR>Enter COUNTESS and Clown</STAGEDIR> 3179 3180<SPEECH> 3181<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 3182<LINE>It hath happened all as I would have had it, save</LINE> 3183<LINE>that he comes not along with her.</LINE> 3184</SPEECH> 3185 3186<SPEECH> 3187<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 3188<LINE>By my troth, I take my young lord to be a very</LINE> 3189<LINE>melancholy man.</LINE> 3190</SPEECH> 3191 3192<SPEECH> 3193<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 3194<LINE>By what observance, I pray you?</LINE> 3195</SPEECH> 3196 3197<SPEECH> 3198<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 3199<LINE>Why, he will look upon his boot and sing; mend the</LINE> 3200<LINE>ruff and sing; ask questions and sing; pick his</LINE> 3201<LINE>teeth and sing. I know a man that had this trick of</LINE> 3202<LINE>melancholy sold a goodly manor for a song.</LINE> 3203</SPEECH> 3204 3205<SPEECH> 3206<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 3207<LINE>Let me see what he writes, and when he means to come.</LINE> 3208</SPEECH> 3209 3210<STAGEDIR>Opening a letter</STAGEDIR> 3211 3212<SPEECH> 3213<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 3214<LINE>I have no mind to Isbel since I was at court: our</LINE> 3215<LINE>old ling and our Isbels o' the country are nothing</LINE> 3216<LINE>like your old ling and your Isbels o' the court:</LINE> 3217<LINE>the brains of my Cupid's knocked out, and I begin to</LINE> 3218<LINE>love, as an old man loves money, with no stomach.</LINE> 3219</SPEECH> 3220 3221<SPEECH> 3222<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 3223<LINE>What have we here?</LINE> 3224</SPEECH> 3225 3226<SPEECH> 3227<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 3228<LINE>E'en that you have there.</LINE> 3229</SPEECH> 3230 3231<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 3232 3233<SPEECH> 3234<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 3235<LINE><STAGEDIR>Reads</STAGEDIR> I have sent you a daughter-in-law: she hath</LINE> 3236<LINE>recovered the king, and undone me. I have wedded</LINE> 3237<LINE>her, not bedded her; and sworn to make the 'not'</LINE> 3238<LINE>eternal. You shall hear I am run away: know it</LINE> 3239<LINE>before the report come. If there be breadth enough</LINE> 3240<LINE>in the world, I will hold a long distance. My duty</LINE> 3241<LINE>to you. Your unfortunate son,</LINE> 3242<LINE>BERTRAM.</LINE> 3243<LINE>This is not well, rash and unbridled boy.</LINE> 3244<LINE>To fly the favours of so good a king;</LINE> 3245<LINE>To pluck his indignation on thy head</LINE> 3246<LINE>By the misprising of a maid too virtuous</LINE> 3247<LINE>For the contempt of empire.</LINE> 3248</SPEECH> 3249 3250<STAGEDIR>Re-enter Clown</STAGEDIR> 3251 3252<SPEECH> 3253<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 3254<LINE>O madam, yonder is heavy news within between two</LINE> 3255<LINE>soldiers and my young lady!</LINE> 3256</SPEECH> 3257 3258<SPEECH> 3259<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 3260<LINE>What is the matter?</LINE> 3261</SPEECH> 3262 3263<SPEECH> 3264<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 3265<LINE>Nay, there is some comfort in the news, some</LINE> 3266<LINE>comfort; your son will not be killed so soon as I</LINE> 3267<LINE>thought he would.</LINE> 3268</SPEECH> 3269 3270<SPEECH> 3271<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 3272<LINE>Why should he be killed?</LINE> 3273</SPEECH> 3274 3275<SPEECH> 3276<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 3277<LINE>So say I, madam, if he run away, as I hear he does:</LINE> 3278<LINE>the danger is in standing to't; that's the loss of</LINE> 3279<LINE>men, though it be the getting of children. Here</LINE> 3280<LINE>they come will tell you more: for my part, I only</LINE> 3281<LINE>hear your son was run away.</LINE> 3282</SPEECH> 3283 3284<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 3285<STAGEDIR>Enter HELENA, and two Gentlemen</STAGEDIR> 3286 3287<SPEECH> 3288<SPEAKER>First Gentleman</SPEAKER> 3289<LINE>Save you, good madam.</LINE> 3290</SPEECH> 3291 3292<SPEECH> 3293<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3294<LINE>Madam, my lord is gone, for ever gone.</LINE> 3295</SPEECH> 3296 3297<SPEECH> 3298<SPEAKER>Second Gentleman</SPEAKER> 3299<LINE>Do not say so.</LINE> 3300</SPEECH> 3301 3302<SPEECH> 3303<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 3304<LINE>Think upon patience. Pray you, gentlemen,</LINE> 3305<LINE>I have felt so many quirks of joy and grief,</LINE> 3306<LINE>That the first face of neither, on the start,</LINE> 3307<LINE>Can woman me unto't: where is my son, I pray you?</LINE> 3308</SPEECH> 3309 3310<SPEECH> 3311<SPEAKER>Second Gentleman</SPEAKER> 3312<LINE>Madam, he's gone to serve the duke of Florence:</LINE> 3313<LINE>We met him thitherward; for thence we came,</LINE> 3314<LINE>And, after some dispatch in hand at court,</LINE> 3315<LINE>Thither we bend again.</LINE> 3316</SPEECH> 3317 3318<SPEECH> 3319<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3320<LINE>Look on his letter, madam; here's my passport.</LINE> 3321<STAGEDIR>Reads</STAGEDIR> 3322<LINE>When thou canst get the ring upon my finger which</LINE> 3323<LINE>never shall come off, and show me a child begotten</LINE> 3324<LINE>of thy body that I am father to, then call me</LINE> 3325<LINE>husband: but in such a 'then' I write a 'never.'</LINE> 3326<LINE>This is a dreadful sentence.</LINE> 3327</SPEECH> 3328 3329<SPEECH> 3330<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 3331<LINE>Brought you this letter, gentlemen?</LINE> 3332</SPEECH> 3333 3334<SPEECH> 3335<SPEAKER>First Gentleman</SPEAKER> 3336<LINE>Ay, madam;</LINE> 3337<LINE>And for the contents' sake are sorry for our pain.</LINE> 3338</SPEECH> 3339 3340<SPEECH> 3341<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 3342<LINE>I prithee, lady, have a better cheer;</LINE> 3343<LINE>If thou engrossest all the griefs are thine,</LINE> 3344<LINE>Thou robb'st me of a moiety: he was my son;</LINE> 3345<LINE>But I do wash his name out of my blood,</LINE> 3346<LINE>And thou art all my child. Towards Florence is he?</LINE> 3347</SPEECH> 3348 3349<SPEECH> 3350<SPEAKER>Second Gentleman</SPEAKER> 3351<LINE>Ay, madam.</LINE> 3352</SPEECH> 3353 3354<SPEECH> 3355<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 3356<LINE>And to be a soldier?</LINE> 3357</SPEECH> 3358 3359<SPEECH> 3360<SPEAKER>Second Gentleman</SPEAKER> 3361<LINE>Such is his noble purpose; and believe 't,</LINE> 3362<LINE>The duke will lay upon him all the honour</LINE> 3363<LINE>That good convenience claims.</LINE> 3364</SPEECH> 3365 3366<SPEECH> 3367<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 3368<LINE>Return you thither?</LINE> 3369</SPEECH> 3370 3371<SPEECH> 3372<SPEAKER>First Gentleman</SPEAKER> 3373<LINE>Ay, madam, with the swiftest wing of speed.</LINE> 3374</SPEECH> 3375 3376<SPEECH> 3377<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3378<LINE><STAGEDIR>Reads</STAGEDIR> Till I have no wife I have nothing in France.</LINE> 3379<LINE>'Tis bitter.</LINE> 3380</SPEECH> 3381 3382<SPEECH> 3383<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 3384<LINE>Find you that there?</LINE> 3385</SPEECH> 3386 3387<SPEECH> 3388<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3389<LINE>Ay, madam.</LINE> 3390</SPEECH> 3391 3392<SPEECH> 3393<SPEAKER>First Gentleman</SPEAKER> 3394<LINE>'Tis but the boldness of his hand, haply, which his</LINE> 3395<LINE>heart was not consenting to.</LINE> 3396</SPEECH> 3397 3398<SPEECH> 3399<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 3400<LINE>Nothing in France, until he have no wife!</LINE> 3401<LINE>There's nothing here that is too good for him</LINE> 3402<LINE>But only she; and she deserves a lord</LINE> 3403<LINE>That twenty such rude boys might tend upon</LINE> 3404<LINE>And call her hourly mistress. Who was with him?</LINE> 3405</SPEECH> 3406 3407<SPEECH> 3408<SPEAKER>First Gentleman</SPEAKER> 3409<LINE>A servant only, and a gentleman</LINE> 3410<LINE>Which I have sometime known.</LINE> 3411</SPEECH> 3412 3413<SPEECH> 3414<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 3415<LINE>Parolles, was it not?</LINE> 3416</SPEECH> 3417 3418<SPEECH> 3419<SPEAKER>First Gentleman</SPEAKER> 3420<LINE>Ay, my good lady, he.</LINE> 3421</SPEECH> 3422 3423<SPEECH> 3424<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 3425<LINE>A very tainted fellow, and full of wickedness.</LINE> 3426<LINE>My son corrupts a well-derived nature</LINE> 3427<LINE>With his inducement.</LINE> 3428</SPEECH> 3429 3430<SPEECH> 3431<SPEAKER>First Gentleman</SPEAKER> 3432<LINE>Indeed, good lady,</LINE> 3433<LINE>The fellow has a deal of that too much,</LINE> 3434<LINE>Which holds him much to have.</LINE> 3435</SPEECH> 3436 3437<SPEECH> 3438<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 3439<LINE>You're welcome, gentlemen.</LINE> 3440<LINE>I will entreat you, when you see my son,</LINE> 3441<LINE>To tell him that his sword can never win</LINE> 3442<LINE>The honour that he loses: more I'll entreat you</LINE> 3443<LINE>Written to bear along.</LINE> 3444</SPEECH> 3445 3446<SPEECH> 3447<SPEAKER>Second Gentleman</SPEAKER> 3448<LINE>We serve you, madam,</LINE> 3449<LINE>In that and all your worthiest affairs.</LINE> 3450</SPEECH> 3451 3452<SPEECH> 3453<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 3454<LINE>Not so, but as we change our courtesies.</LINE> 3455<LINE>Will you draw near!</LINE> 3456</SPEECH> 3457 3458<STAGEDIR>Exeunt COUNTESS and Gentlemen</STAGEDIR> 3459 3460<SPEECH> 3461<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3462<LINE>'Till I have no wife, I have nothing in France.'</LINE> 3463<LINE>Nothing in France, until he has no wife!</LINE> 3464<LINE>Thou shalt have none, Rousillon, none in France;</LINE> 3465<LINE>Then hast thou all again. Poor lord! is't I</LINE> 3466<LINE>That chase thee from thy country and expose</LINE> 3467<LINE>Those tender limbs of thine to the event</LINE> 3468<LINE>Of the none-sparing war? and is it I</LINE> 3469<LINE>That drive thee from the sportive court, where thou</LINE> 3470<LINE>Wast shot at with fair eyes, to be the mark</LINE> 3471<LINE>Of smoky muskets? O you leaden messengers,</LINE> 3472<LINE>That ride upon the violent speed of fire,</LINE> 3473<LINE>Fly with false aim; move the still-peering air,</LINE> 3474<LINE>That sings with piercing; do not touch my lord.</LINE> 3475<LINE>Whoever shoots at him, I set him there;</LINE> 3476<LINE>Whoever charges on his forward breast,</LINE> 3477<LINE>I am the caitiff that do hold him to't;</LINE> 3478<LINE>And, though I kill him not, I am the cause</LINE> 3479<LINE>His death was so effected: better 'twere</LINE> 3480<LINE>I met the ravin lion when he roar'd</LINE> 3481<LINE>With sharp constraint of hunger; better 'twere</LINE> 3482<LINE>That all the miseries which nature owes</LINE> 3483<LINE>Were mine at once. No, come thou home, Rousillon,</LINE> 3484<LINE>Whence honour but of danger wins a scar,</LINE> 3485<LINE>As oft it loses all: I will be gone;</LINE> 3486<LINE>My being here it is that holds thee hence:</LINE> 3487<LINE>Shall I stay here to do't? no, no, although</LINE> 3488<LINE>The air of paradise did fan the house</LINE> 3489<LINE>And angels officed all: I will be gone,</LINE> 3490<LINE>That pitiful rumour may report my flight,</LINE> 3491<LINE>To consolate thine ear. Come, night; end, day!</LINE> 3492<LINE>For with the dark, poor thief, I'll steal away.</LINE> 3493</SPEECH> 3494 3495<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 3496</SCENE> 3497 3498<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE III. Florence. Before the DUKE's palace.</TITLE> 3499<STAGEDIR>Flourish. Enter the DUKE of Florence, BERTRAM, 3500PAROLLES, Soldiers, Drum, and Trumpets</STAGEDIR> 3501 3502<SPEECH> 3503<SPEAKER>DUKE</SPEAKER> 3504<LINE>The general of our horse thou art; and we,</LINE> 3505<LINE>Great in our hope, lay our best love and credence</LINE> 3506<LINE>Upon thy promising fortune.</LINE> 3507</SPEECH> 3508 3509<SPEECH> 3510<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 3511<LINE>Sir, it is</LINE> 3512<LINE>A charge too heavy for my strength, but yet</LINE> 3513<LINE>We'll strive to bear it for your worthy sake</LINE> 3514<LINE>To the extreme edge of hazard.</LINE> 3515</SPEECH> 3516 3517<SPEECH> 3518<SPEAKER>DUKE</SPEAKER> 3519<LINE>Then go thou forth;</LINE> 3520<LINE>And fortune play upon thy prosperous helm,</LINE> 3521<LINE>As thy auspicious mistress!</LINE> 3522</SPEECH> 3523 3524<SPEECH> 3525<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 3526<LINE>This very day,</LINE> 3527<LINE>Great Mars, I put myself into thy file:</LINE> 3528<LINE>Make me but like my thoughts, and I shall prove</LINE> 3529<LINE>A lover of thy drum, hater of love.</LINE> 3530</SPEECH> 3531 3532<STAGEDIR>Exeunt</STAGEDIR> 3533</SCENE> 3534 3535<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE IV. Rousillon. The COUNT's palace.</TITLE> 3536<STAGEDIR>Enter COUNTESS and Steward</STAGEDIR> 3537 3538<SPEECH> 3539<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 3540<LINE>Alas! and would you take the letter of her?</LINE> 3541<LINE>Might you not know she would do as she has done,</LINE> 3542<LINE>By sending me a letter? Read it again.</LINE> 3543</SPEECH> 3544 3545<SPEECH> 3546<SPEAKER>Steward</SPEAKER> 3547<LINE><STAGEDIR>Reads</STAGEDIR></LINE> 3548<LINE>I am Saint Jaques' pilgrim, thither gone:</LINE> 3549<LINE>Ambitious love hath so in me offended,</LINE> 3550<LINE>That barefoot plod I the cold ground upon,</LINE> 3551<LINE>With sainted vow my faults to have amended.</LINE> 3552<LINE>Write, write, that from the bloody course of war</LINE> 3553<LINE>My dearest master, your dear son, may hie:</LINE> 3554<LINE>Bless him at home in peace, whilst I from far</LINE> 3555<LINE>His name with zealous fervor sanctify:</LINE> 3556<LINE>His taken labours bid him me forgive;</LINE> 3557<LINE>I, his despiteful Juno, sent him forth</LINE> 3558<LINE>From courtly friends, with camping foes to live,</LINE> 3559<LINE>Where death and danger dogs the heels of worth:</LINE> 3560<LINE>He is too good and fair for death and me:</LINE> 3561<LINE>Whom I myself embrace, to set him free.</LINE> 3562</SPEECH> 3563 3564<SPEECH> 3565<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 3566<LINE>Ah, what sharp stings are in her mildest words!</LINE> 3567<LINE>Rinaldo, you did never lack advice so much,</LINE> 3568<LINE>As letting her pass so: had I spoke with her,</LINE> 3569<LINE>I could have well diverted her intents,</LINE> 3570<LINE>Which thus she hath prevented.</LINE> 3571</SPEECH> 3572 3573<SPEECH> 3574<SPEAKER>Steward</SPEAKER> 3575<LINE>Pardon me, madam:</LINE> 3576<LINE>If I had given you this at over-night,</LINE> 3577<LINE>She might have been o'erta'en; and yet she writes,</LINE> 3578<LINE>Pursuit would be but vain.</LINE> 3579</SPEECH> 3580 3581<SPEECH> 3582<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 3583<LINE>What angel shall</LINE> 3584<LINE>Bless this unworthy husband? he cannot thrive,</LINE> 3585<LINE>Unless her prayers, whom heaven delights to hear</LINE> 3586<LINE>And loves to grant, reprieve him from the wrath</LINE> 3587<LINE>Of greatest justice. Write, write, Rinaldo,</LINE> 3588<LINE>To this unworthy husband of his wife;</LINE> 3589<LINE>Let every word weigh heavy of her worth</LINE> 3590<LINE>That he does weigh too light: my greatest grief.</LINE> 3591<LINE>Though little he do feel it, set down sharply.</LINE> 3592<LINE>Dispatch the most convenient messenger:</LINE> 3593<LINE>When haply he shall hear that she is gone,</LINE> 3594<LINE>He will return; and hope I may that she,</LINE> 3595<LINE>Hearing so much, will speed her foot again,</LINE> 3596<LINE>Led hither by pure love: which of them both</LINE> 3597<LINE>Is dearest to me. I have no skill in sense</LINE> 3598<LINE>To make distinction: provide this messenger:</LINE> 3599<LINE>My heart is heavy and mine age is weak;</LINE> 3600<LINE>Grief would have tears, and sorrow bids me speak.</LINE> 3601</SPEECH> 3602 3603<STAGEDIR>Exeunt</STAGEDIR> 3604</SCENE> 3605 3606<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE V. Florence. Without the walls. A tucket afar off.</TITLE> 3607<STAGEDIR>Enter an old Widow of Florence, DIANA, VIOLENTA, 3608and MARIANA, with other Citizens</STAGEDIR> 3609 3610<SPEECH> 3611<SPEAKER>Widow</SPEAKER> 3612<LINE>Nay, come; for if they do approach the city, we</LINE> 3613<LINE>shall lose all the sight.</LINE> 3614</SPEECH> 3615 3616<SPEECH> 3617<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 3618<LINE>They say the French count has done most honourable service.</LINE> 3619</SPEECH> 3620 3621<SPEECH> 3622<SPEAKER>Widow</SPEAKER> 3623<LINE>It is reported that he has taken their greatest</LINE> 3624<LINE>commander; and that with his own hand he slew the</LINE> 3625<LINE>duke's brother.</LINE> 3626<STAGEDIR>Tucket</STAGEDIR> 3627<LINE>We have lost our labour; they are gone a contrary</LINE> 3628<LINE>way: hark! you may know by their trumpets.</LINE> 3629</SPEECH> 3630 3631<SPEECH> 3632<SPEAKER>MARIANA</SPEAKER> 3633<LINE>Come, let's return again, and suffice ourselves with</LINE> 3634<LINE>the report of it. Well, Diana, take heed of this</LINE> 3635<LINE>French earl: the honour of a maid is her name; and</LINE> 3636<LINE>no legacy is so rich as honesty.</LINE> 3637</SPEECH> 3638 3639<SPEECH> 3640<SPEAKER>Widow</SPEAKER> 3641<LINE>I have told my neighbour how you have been solicited</LINE> 3642<LINE>by a gentleman his companion.</LINE> 3643</SPEECH> 3644 3645<SPEECH> 3646<SPEAKER>MARIANA</SPEAKER> 3647<LINE>I know that knave; hang him! one Parolles: a</LINE> 3648<LINE>filthy officer he is in those suggestions for the</LINE> 3649<LINE>young earl. Beware of them, Diana; their promises,</LINE> 3650<LINE>enticements, oaths, tokens, and all these engines of</LINE> 3651<LINE>lust, are not the things they go under: many a maid</LINE> 3652<LINE>hath been seduced by them; and the misery is,</LINE> 3653<LINE>example, that so terrible shows in the wreck of</LINE> 3654<LINE>maidenhood, cannot for all that dissuade succession,</LINE> 3655<LINE>but that they are limed with the twigs that threaten</LINE> 3656<LINE>them. I hope I need not to advise you further; but</LINE> 3657<LINE>I hope your own grace will keep you where you are,</LINE> 3658<LINE>though there were no further danger known but the</LINE> 3659<LINE>modesty which is so lost.</LINE> 3660</SPEECH> 3661 3662<SPEECH> 3663<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 3664<LINE>You shall not need to fear me.</LINE> 3665</SPEECH> 3666 3667<SPEECH> 3668<SPEAKER>Widow</SPEAKER> 3669<LINE>I hope so.</LINE> 3670<STAGEDIR>Enter HELENA, disguised like a Pilgrim</STAGEDIR> 3671<LINE>Look, here comes a pilgrim: I know she will lie at</LINE> 3672<LINE>my house; thither they send one another: I'll</LINE> 3673<LINE>question her. God save you, pilgrim! whither are you bound?</LINE> 3674</SPEECH> 3675 3676<SPEECH> 3677<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3678<LINE>To Saint Jaques le Grand.</LINE> 3679<LINE>Where do the palmers lodge, I do beseech you?</LINE> 3680</SPEECH> 3681 3682<SPEECH> 3683<SPEAKER>Widow</SPEAKER> 3684<LINE>At the Saint Francis here beside the port.</LINE> 3685</SPEECH> 3686 3687<SPEECH> 3688<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3689<LINE>Is this the way?</LINE> 3690</SPEECH> 3691 3692<SPEECH> 3693<SPEAKER>Widow</SPEAKER> 3694<LINE>Ay, marry, is't.</LINE> 3695<STAGEDIR>A march afar</STAGEDIR> 3696<LINE>Hark you! they come this way.</LINE> 3697<LINE>If you will tarry, holy pilgrim,</LINE> 3698<LINE>But till the troops come by,</LINE> 3699<LINE>I will conduct you where you shall be lodged;</LINE> 3700<LINE>The rather, for I think I know your hostess</LINE> 3701<LINE>As ample as myself.</LINE> 3702</SPEECH> 3703 3704<SPEECH> 3705<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3706<LINE>Is it yourself?</LINE> 3707</SPEECH> 3708 3709<SPEECH> 3710<SPEAKER>Widow</SPEAKER> 3711<LINE>If you shall please so, pilgrim.</LINE> 3712</SPEECH> 3713 3714<SPEECH> 3715<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3716<LINE>I thank you, and will stay upon your leisure.</LINE> 3717</SPEECH> 3718 3719<SPEECH> 3720<SPEAKER>Widow</SPEAKER> 3721<LINE>You came, I think, from France?</LINE> 3722</SPEECH> 3723 3724<SPEECH> 3725<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3726<LINE>I did so.</LINE> 3727</SPEECH> 3728 3729<SPEECH> 3730<SPEAKER>Widow</SPEAKER> 3731<LINE>Here you shall see a countryman of yours</LINE> 3732<LINE>That has done worthy service.</LINE> 3733</SPEECH> 3734 3735<SPEECH> 3736<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3737<LINE>His name, I pray you.</LINE> 3738</SPEECH> 3739 3740<SPEECH> 3741<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 3742<LINE>The Count Rousillon: know you such a one?</LINE> 3743</SPEECH> 3744 3745<SPEECH> 3746<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3747<LINE>But by the ear, that hears most nobly of him:</LINE> 3748<LINE>His face I know not.</LINE> 3749</SPEECH> 3750 3751<SPEECH> 3752<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 3753<LINE>Whatsome'er he is,</LINE> 3754<LINE>He's bravely taken here. He stole from France,</LINE> 3755<LINE>As 'tis reported, for the king had married him</LINE> 3756<LINE>Against his liking: think you it is so?</LINE> 3757</SPEECH> 3758 3759<SPEECH> 3760<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3761<LINE>Ay, surely, mere the truth: I know his lady.</LINE> 3762</SPEECH> 3763 3764<SPEECH> 3765<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 3766<LINE>There is a gentleman that serves the count</LINE> 3767<LINE>Reports but coarsely of her.</LINE> 3768</SPEECH> 3769 3770<SPEECH> 3771<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3772<LINE>What's his name?</LINE> 3773</SPEECH> 3774 3775<SPEECH> 3776<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 3777<LINE>Monsieur Parolles.</LINE> 3778</SPEECH> 3779 3780<SPEECH> 3781<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3782<LINE>O, I believe with him,</LINE> 3783<LINE>In argument of praise, or to the worth</LINE> 3784<LINE>Of the great count himself, she is too mean</LINE> 3785<LINE>To have her name repeated: all her deserving</LINE> 3786<LINE>Is a reserved honesty, and that</LINE> 3787<LINE>I have not heard examined.</LINE> 3788</SPEECH> 3789 3790<SPEECH> 3791<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 3792<LINE>Alas, poor lady!</LINE> 3793<LINE>'Tis a hard bondage to become the wife</LINE> 3794<LINE>Of a detesting lord.</LINE> 3795</SPEECH> 3796 3797<SPEECH> 3798<SPEAKER>Widow</SPEAKER> 3799<LINE>I warrant, good creature, wheresoe'er she is,</LINE> 3800<LINE>Her heart weighs sadly: this young maid might do her</LINE> 3801<LINE>A shrewd turn, if she pleased.</LINE> 3802</SPEECH> 3803 3804<SPEECH> 3805<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3806<LINE>How do you mean?</LINE> 3807<LINE>May be the amorous count solicits her</LINE> 3808<LINE>In the unlawful purpose.</LINE> 3809</SPEECH> 3810 3811<SPEECH> 3812<SPEAKER>Widow</SPEAKER> 3813<LINE>He does indeed;</LINE> 3814<LINE>And brokes with all that can in such a suit</LINE> 3815<LINE>Corrupt the tender honour of a maid:</LINE> 3816<LINE>But she is arm'd for him and keeps her guard</LINE> 3817<LINE>In honestest defence.</LINE> 3818</SPEECH> 3819 3820<SPEECH> 3821<SPEAKER>MARIANA</SPEAKER> 3822<LINE>The gods forbid else!</LINE> 3823</SPEECH> 3824 3825<SPEECH> 3826<SPEAKER>Widow</SPEAKER> 3827<LINE>So, now they come:</LINE> 3828<STAGEDIR>Drum and Colours</STAGEDIR> 3829<STAGEDIR>Enter BERTRAM, PAROLLES, and the whole army</STAGEDIR> 3830<LINE>That is Antonio, the duke's eldest son;</LINE> 3831<LINE>That, Escalus.</LINE> 3832</SPEECH> 3833 3834<SPEECH> 3835<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3836<LINE>Which is the Frenchman?</LINE> 3837</SPEECH> 3838 3839<SPEECH> 3840<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 3841<LINE>He;</LINE> 3842<LINE>That with the plume: 'tis a most gallant fellow.</LINE> 3843<LINE>I would he loved his wife: if he were honester</LINE> 3844<LINE>He were much goodlier: is't not a handsome gentleman?</LINE> 3845</SPEECH> 3846 3847<SPEECH> 3848<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3849<LINE>I like him well.</LINE> 3850</SPEECH> 3851 3852<SPEECH> 3853<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 3854<LINE>'Tis pity he is not honest: yond's that same knave</LINE> 3855<LINE>That leads him to these places: were I his lady,</LINE> 3856<LINE>I would Poison that vile rascal.</LINE> 3857</SPEECH> 3858 3859<SPEECH> 3860<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3861<LINE>Which is he?</LINE> 3862</SPEECH> 3863 3864<SPEECH> 3865<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 3866<LINE>That jack-an-apes with scarfs: why is he melancholy?</LINE> 3867</SPEECH> 3868 3869<SPEECH> 3870<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3871<LINE>Perchance he's hurt i' the battle.</LINE> 3872</SPEECH> 3873 3874<SPEECH> 3875<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 3876<LINE>Lose our drum! well.</LINE> 3877</SPEECH> 3878 3879<SPEECH> 3880<SPEAKER>MARIANA</SPEAKER> 3881<LINE>He's shrewdly vexed at something: look, he has spied us.</LINE> 3882</SPEECH> 3883 3884<SPEECH> 3885<SPEAKER>Widow</SPEAKER> 3886<LINE>Marry, hang you!</LINE> 3887</SPEECH> 3888 3889<SPEECH> 3890<SPEAKER>MARIANA</SPEAKER> 3891<LINE>And your courtesy, for a ring-carrier!</LINE> 3892</SPEECH> 3893 3894<STAGEDIR>Exeunt BERTRAM, PAROLLES, and army</STAGEDIR> 3895 3896<SPEECH> 3897<SPEAKER>Widow</SPEAKER> 3898<LINE>The troop is past. Come, pilgrim, I will bring you</LINE> 3899<LINE>Where you shall host: of enjoin'd penitents</LINE> 3900<LINE>There's four or five, to great Saint Jaques bound,</LINE> 3901<LINE>Already at my house.</LINE> 3902</SPEECH> 3903 3904<SPEECH> 3905<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3906<LINE>I humbly thank you:</LINE> 3907<LINE>Please it this matron and this gentle maid</LINE> 3908<LINE>To eat with us to-night, the charge and thanking</LINE> 3909<LINE>Shall be for me; and, to requite you further,</LINE> 3910<LINE>I will bestow some precepts of this virgin</LINE> 3911<LINE>Worthy the note.</LINE> 3912</SPEECH> 3913 3914<SPEECH> 3915<SPEAKER>BOTH</SPEAKER> 3916<LINE>We'll take your offer kindly.</LINE> 3917</SPEECH> 3918 3919<STAGEDIR>Exeunt</STAGEDIR> 3920</SCENE> 3921 3922<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE VI. Camp before Florence.</TITLE> 3923<STAGEDIR>Enter BERTRAM and the two French Lords</STAGEDIR> 3924 3925<SPEECH> 3926<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 3927<LINE>Nay, good my lord, put him to't; let him have his</LINE> 3928<LINE>way.</LINE> 3929</SPEECH> 3930 3931<SPEECH> 3932<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 3933<LINE>If your lordship find him not a hilding, hold me no</LINE> 3934<LINE>more in your respect.</LINE> 3935</SPEECH> 3936 3937<SPEECH> 3938<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 3939<LINE>On my life, my lord, a bubble.</LINE> 3940</SPEECH> 3941 3942<SPEECH> 3943<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 3944<LINE>Do you think I am so far deceived in him?</LINE> 3945</SPEECH> 3946 3947<SPEECH> 3948<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 3949<LINE>Believe it, my lord, in mine own direct knowledge,</LINE> 3950<LINE>without any malice, but to speak of him as my</LINE> 3951<LINE>kinsman, he's a most notable coward, an infinite and</LINE> 3952<LINE>endless liar, an hourly promise-breaker, the owner</LINE> 3953<LINE>of no one good quality worthy your lordship's</LINE> 3954<LINE>entertainment.</LINE> 3955</SPEECH> 3956 3957<SPEECH> 3958<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 3959<LINE>It were fit you knew him; lest, reposing too far in</LINE> 3960<LINE>his virtue, which he hath not, he might at some</LINE> 3961<LINE>great and trusty business in a main danger fail you.</LINE> 3962</SPEECH> 3963 3964<SPEECH> 3965<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 3966<LINE>I would I knew in what particular action to try him.</LINE> 3967</SPEECH> 3968 3969<SPEECH> 3970<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 3971<LINE>None better than to let him fetch off his drum,</LINE> 3972<LINE>which you hear him so confidently undertake to do.</LINE> 3973</SPEECH> 3974 3975<SPEECH> 3976<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 3977<LINE>I, with a troop of Florentines, will suddenly</LINE> 3978<LINE>surprise him; such I will have, whom I am sure he</LINE> 3979<LINE>knows not from the enemy: we will bind and hoodwink</LINE> 3980<LINE>him so, that he shall suppose no other but that he</LINE> 3981<LINE>is carried into the leaguer of the adversaries, when</LINE> 3982<LINE>we bring him to our own tents. Be but your lordship</LINE> 3983<LINE>present at his examination: if he do not, for the</LINE> 3984<LINE>promise of his life and in the highest compulsion of</LINE> 3985<LINE>base fear, offer to betray you and deliver all the</LINE> 3986<LINE>intelligence in his power against you, and that with</LINE> 3987<LINE>the divine forfeit of his soul upon oath, never</LINE> 3988<LINE>trust my judgment in any thing.</LINE> 3989</SPEECH> 3990 3991<SPEECH> 3992<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 3993<LINE>O, for the love of laughter, let him fetch his drum;</LINE> 3994<LINE>he says he has a stratagem for't: when your</LINE> 3995<LINE>lordship sees the bottom of his success in't, and to</LINE> 3996<LINE>what metal this counterfeit lump of ore will be</LINE> 3997<LINE>melted, if you give him not John Drum's</LINE> 3998<LINE>entertainment, your inclining cannot be removed.</LINE> 3999<LINE>Here he comes.</LINE> 4000</SPEECH> 4001 4002<STAGEDIR>Enter PAROLLES</STAGEDIR> 4003 4004<SPEECH> 4005<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4006<LINE><STAGEDIR>Aside to BERTRAM</STAGEDIR> O, for the love of laughter,</LINE> 4007<LINE>hinder not the honour of his design: let him fetch</LINE> 4008<LINE>off his drum in any hand.</LINE> 4009</SPEECH> 4010 4011<SPEECH> 4012<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4013<LINE>How now, monsieur! this drum sticks sorely in your</LINE> 4014<LINE>disposition.</LINE> 4015</SPEECH> 4016 4017<SPEECH> 4018<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 4019<LINE>A pox on't, let it go; 'tis but a drum.</LINE> 4020</SPEECH> 4021 4022<SPEECH> 4023<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 4024<LINE>'But a drum'! is't 'but a drum'? A drum so lost!</LINE> 4025<LINE>There was excellent command,--to charge in with our</LINE> 4026<LINE>horse upon our own wings, and to rend our own soldiers!</LINE> 4027</SPEECH> 4028 4029<SPEECH> 4030<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 4031<LINE>That was not to be blamed in the command of the</LINE> 4032<LINE>service: it was a disaster of war that Caesar</LINE> 4033<LINE>himself could not have prevented, if he had been</LINE> 4034<LINE>there to command.</LINE> 4035</SPEECH> 4036 4037<SPEECH> 4038<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4039<LINE>Well, we cannot greatly condemn our success: some</LINE> 4040<LINE>dishonour we had in the loss of that drum; but it is</LINE> 4041<LINE>not to be recovered.</LINE> 4042</SPEECH> 4043 4044<SPEECH> 4045<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 4046<LINE>It might have been recovered.</LINE> 4047</SPEECH> 4048 4049<SPEECH> 4050<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4051<LINE>It might; but it is not now.</LINE> 4052</SPEECH> 4053 4054<SPEECH> 4055<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 4056<LINE>It is to be recovered: but that the merit of</LINE> 4057<LINE>service is seldom attributed to the true and exact</LINE> 4058<LINE>performer, I would have that drum or another, or</LINE> 4059<LINE>'hic jacet.'</LINE> 4060</SPEECH> 4061 4062<SPEECH> 4063<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4064<LINE>Why, if you have a stomach, to't, monsieur: if you</LINE> 4065<LINE>think your mystery in stratagem can bring this</LINE> 4066<LINE>instrument of honour again into his native quarter,</LINE> 4067<LINE>be magnanimous in the enterprise and go on; I will</LINE> 4068<LINE>grace the attempt for a worthy exploit: if you</LINE> 4069<LINE>speed well in it, the duke shall both speak of it.</LINE> 4070<LINE>and extend to you what further becomes his</LINE> 4071<LINE>greatness, even to the utmost syllable of your</LINE> 4072<LINE>worthiness.</LINE> 4073</SPEECH> 4074 4075<SPEECH> 4076<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 4077<LINE>By the hand of a soldier, I will undertake it.</LINE> 4078</SPEECH> 4079 4080<SPEECH> 4081<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4082<LINE>But you must not now slumber in it.</LINE> 4083</SPEECH> 4084 4085<SPEECH> 4086<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 4087<LINE>I'll about it this evening: and I will presently</LINE> 4088<LINE>pen down my dilemmas, encourage myself in my</LINE> 4089<LINE>certainty, put myself into my mortal preparation;</LINE> 4090<LINE>and by midnight look to hear further from me.</LINE> 4091</SPEECH> 4092 4093<SPEECH> 4094<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4095<LINE>May I be bold to acquaint his grace you are gone about it?</LINE> 4096</SPEECH> 4097 4098<SPEECH> 4099<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 4100<LINE>I know not what the success will be, my lord; but</LINE> 4101<LINE>the attempt I vow.</LINE> 4102</SPEECH> 4103 4104<SPEECH> 4105<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4106<LINE>I know thou'rt valiant; and, to the possibility of</LINE> 4107<LINE>thy soldiership, will subscribe for thee. Farewell.</LINE> 4108</SPEECH> 4109 4110<SPEECH> 4111<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 4112<LINE>I love not many words.</LINE> 4113</SPEECH> 4114 4115<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 4116 4117<SPEECH> 4118<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4119<LINE>No more than a fish loves water. Is not this a</LINE> 4120<LINE>strange fellow, my lord, that so confidently seems</LINE> 4121<LINE>to undertake this business, which he knows is not to</LINE> 4122<LINE>be done; damns himself to do and dares better be</LINE> 4123<LINE>damned than to do't?</LINE> 4124</SPEECH> 4125 4126<SPEECH> 4127<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 4128<LINE>You do not know him, my lord, as we do: certain it</LINE> 4129<LINE>is that he will steal himself into a man's favour and</LINE> 4130<LINE>for a week escape a great deal of discoveries; but</LINE> 4131<LINE>when you find him out, you have him ever after.</LINE> 4132</SPEECH> 4133 4134<SPEECH> 4135<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4136<LINE>Why, do you think he will make no deed at all of</LINE> 4137<LINE>this that so seriously he does address himself unto?</LINE> 4138</SPEECH> 4139 4140<SPEECH> 4141<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4142<LINE>None in the world; but return with an invention and</LINE> 4143<LINE>clap upon you two or three probable lies: but we</LINE> 4144<LINE>have almost embossed him; you shall see his fall</LINE> 4145<LINE>to-night; for indeed he is not for your lordship's respect.</LINE> 4146</SPEECH> 4147 4148<SPEECH> 4149<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 4150<LINE>We'll make you some sport with the fox ere we case</LINE> 4151<LINE>him. He was first smoked by the old lord Lafeu:</LINE> 4152<LINE>when his disguise and he is parted, tell me what a</LINE> 4153<LINE>sprat you shall find him; which you shall see this</LINE> 4154<LINE>very night.</LINE> 4155</SPEECH> 4156 4157<SPEECH> 4158<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4159<LINE>I must go look my twigs: he shall be caught.</LINE> 4160</SPEECH> 4161 4162<SPEECH> 4163<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4164<LINE>Your brother he shall go along with me.</LINE> 4165</SPEECH> 4166 4167<SPEECH> 4168<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4169<LINE>As't please your lordship: I'll leave you.</LINE> 4170</SPEECH> 4171 4172<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 4173 4174<SPEECH> 4175<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4176<LINE>Now will I lead you to the house, and show you</LINE> 4177<LINE>The lass I spoke of.</LINE> 4178</SPEECH> 4179 4180<SPEECH> 4181<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 4182<LINE>But you say she's honest.</LINE> 4183</SPEECH> 4184 4185<SPEECH> 4186<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4187<LINE>That's all the fault: I spoke with her but once</LINE> 4188<LINE>And found her wondrous cold; but I sent to her,</LINE> 4189<LINE>By this same coxcomb that we have i' the wind,</LINE> 4190<LINE>Tokens and letters which she did re-send;</LINE> 4191<LINE>And this is all I have done. She's a fair creature:</LINE> 4192<LINE>Will you go see her?</LINE> 4193</SPEECH> 4194 4195<SPEECH> 4196<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 4197<LINE>With all my heart, my lord.</LINE> 4198</SPEECH> 4199 4200<STAGEDIR>Exeunt</STAGEDIR> 4201</SCENE> 4202 4203<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE VII. Florence. The Widow's house.</TITLE> 4204<STAGEDIR>Enter HELENA and Widow</STAGEDIR> 4205 4206<SPEECH> 4207<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 4208<LINE>If you misdoubt me that I am not she,</LINE> 4209<LINE>I know not how I shall assure you further,</LINE> 4210<LINE>But I shall lose the grounds I work upon.</LINE> 4211</SPEECH> 4212 4213<SPEECH> 4214<SPEAKER>Widow</SPEAKER> 4215<LINE>Though my estate be fallen, I was well born,</LINE> 4216<LINE>Nothing acquainted with these businesses;</LINE> 4217<LINE>And would not put my reputation now</LINE> 4218<LINE>In any staining act.</LINE> 4219</SPEECH> 4220 4221<SPEECH> 4222<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 4223<LINE>Nor would I wish you.</LINE> 4224<LINE>First, give me trust, the count he is my husband,</LINE> 4225<LINE>And what to your sworn counsel I have spoken</LINE> 4226<LINE>Is so from word to word; and then you cannot,</LINE> 4227<LINE>By the good aid that I of you shall borrow,</LINE> 4228<LINE>Err in bestowing it.</LINE> 4229</SPEECH> 4230 4231<SPEECH> 4232<SPEAKER>Widow</SPEAKER> 4233<LINE>I should believe you:</LINE> 4234<LINE>For you have show'd me that which well approves</LINE> 4235<LINE>You're great in fortune.</LINE> 4236</SPEECH> 4237 4238<SPEECH> 4239<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 4240<LINE>Take this purse of gold,</LINE> 4241<LINE>And let me buy your friendly help thus far,</LINE> 4242<LINE>Which I will over-pay and pay again</LINE> 4243<LINE>When I have found it. The count he wooes your daughter,</LINE> 4244<LINE>Lays down his wanton siege before her beauty,</LINE> 4245<LINE>Resolved to carry her: let her in fine consent,</LINE> 4246<LINE>As we'll direct her how 'tis best to bear it.</LINE> 4247<LINE>Now his important blood will nought deny</LINE> 4248<LINE>That she'll demand: a ring the county wears,</LINE> 4249<LINE>That downward hath succeeded in his house</LINE> 4250<LINE>From son to son, some four or five descents</LINE> 4251<LINE>Since the first father wore it: this ring he holds</LINE> 4252<LINE>In most rich choice; yet in his idle fire,</LINE> 4253<LINE>To buy his will, it would not seem too dear,</LINE> 4254<LINE>Howe'er repented after.</LINE> 4255</SPEECH> 4256 4257<SPEECH> 4258<SPEAKER>Widow</SPEAKER> 4259<LINE>Now I see</LINE> 4260<LINE>The bottom of your purpose.</LINE> 4261</SPEECH> 4262 4263<SPEECH> 4264<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 4265<LINE>You see it lawful, then: it is no more,</LINE> 4266<LINE>But that your daughter, ere she seems as won,</LINE> 4267<LINE>Desires this ring; appoints him an encounter;</LINE> 4268<LINE>In fine, delivers me to fill the time,</LINE> 4269<LINE>Herself most chastely absent: after this,</LINE> 4270<LINE>To marry her, I'll add three thousand crowns</LINE> 4271<LINE>To what is passed already.</LINE> 4272</SPEECH> 4273 4274<SPEECH> 4275<SPEAKER>Widow</SPEAKER> 4276<LINE>I have yielded:</LINE> 4277<LINE>Instruct my daughter how she shall persever,</LINE> 4278<LINE>That time and place with this deceit so lawful</LINE> 4279<LINE>May prove coherent. Every night he comes</LINE> 4280<LINE>With musics of all sorts and songs composed</LINE> 4281<LINE>To her unworthiness: it nothing steads us</LINE> 4282<LINE>To chide him from our eaves; for he persists</LINE> 4283<LINE>As if his life lay on't.</LINE> 4284</SPEECH> 4285 4286<SPEECH> 4287<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 4288<LINE>Why then to-night</LINE> 4289<LINE>Let us assay our plot; which, if it speed,</LINE> 4290<LINE>Is wicked meaning in a lawful deed</LINE> 4291<LINE>And lawful meaning in a lawful act,</LINE> 4292<LINE>Where both not sin, and yet a sinful fact:</LINE> 4293<LINE>But let's about it.</LINE> 4294</SPEECH> 4295 4296<STAGEDIR>Exeunt</STAGEDIR> 4297</SCENE> 4298 4299</ACT> 4300 4301<ACT><TITLE>ACT IV</TITLE> 4302 4303<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE I. Without the Florentine camp.</TITLE> 4304<STAGEDIR>Enter Second French Lord, with five or six other 4305Soldiers in ambush</STAGEDIR> 4306 4307<SPEECH> 4308<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4309<LINE>He can come no other way but by this hedge-corner.</LINE> 4310<LINE>When you sally upon him, speak what terrible</LINE> 4311<LINE>language you will: though you understand it not</LINE> 4312<LINE>yourselves, no matter; for we must not seem to</LINE> 4313<LINE>understand him, unless some one among us whom we</LINE> 4314<LINE>must produce for an interpreter.</LINE> 4315</SPEECH> 4316 4317<SPEECH> 4318<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 4319<LINE>Good captain, let me be the interpreter.</LINE> 4320</SPEECH> 4321 4322<SPEECH> 4323<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4324<LINE>Art not acquainted with him? knows he not thy voice?</LINE> 4325</SPEECH> 4326 4327<SPEECH> 4328<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 4329<LINE>No, sir, I warrant you.</LINE> 4330</SPEECH> 4331 4332<SPEECH> 4333<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4334<LINE>But what linsey-woolsey hast thou to speak to us again?</LINE> 4335</SPEECH> 4336 4337<SPEECH> 4338<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 4339<LINE>E'en such as you speak to me.</LINE> 4340</SPEECH> 4341 4342<SPEECH> 4343<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4344<LINE>He must think us some band of strangers i' the</LINE> 4345<LINE>adversary's entertainment. Now he hath a smack of</LINE> 4346<LINE>all neighbouring languages; therefore we must every</LINE> 4347<LINE>one be a man of his own fancy, not to know what we</LINE> 4348<LINE>speak one to another; so we seem to know, is to</LINE> 4349<LINE>know straight our purpose: choughs' language,</LINE> 4350<LINE>gabble enough, and good enough. As for you,</LINE> 4351<LINE>interpreter, you must seem very politic. But couch,</LINE> 4352<LINE>ho! here he comes, to beguile two hours in a sleep,</LINE> 4353<LINE>and then to return and swear the lies he forges.</LINE> 4354</SPEECH> 4355 4356<STAGEDIR>Enter PAROLLES</STAGEDIR> 4357 4358<SPEECH> 4359<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 4360<LINE>Ten o'clock: within these three hours 'twill be</LINE> 4361<LINE>time enough to go home. What shall I say I have</LINE> 4362<LINE>done? It must be a very plausive invention that</LINE> 4363<LINE>carries it: they begin to smoke me; and disgraces</LINE> 4364<LINE>have of late knocked too often at my door. I find</LINE> 4365<LINE>my tongue is too foolhardy; but my heart hath the</LINE> 4366<LINE>fear of Mars before it and of his creatures, not</LINE> 4367<LINE>daring the reports of my tongue.</LINE> 4368</SPEECH> 4369 4370<SPEECH> 4371<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4372<LINE>This is the first truth that e'er thine own tongue</LINE> 4373<LINE>was guilty of.</LINE> 4374</SPEECH> 4375 4376<SPEECH> 4377<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 4378<LINE>What the devil should move me to undertake the</LINE> 4379<LINE>recovery of this drum, being not ignorant of the</LINE> 4380<LINE>impossibility, and knowing I had no such purpose? I</LINE> 4381<LINE>must give myself some hurts, and say I got them in</LINE> 4382<LINE>exploit: yet slight ones will not carry it; they</LINE> 4383<LINE>will say, 'Came you off with so little?' and great</LINE> 4384<LINE>ones I dare not give. Wherefore, what's the</LINE> 4385<LINE>instance? Tongue, I must put you into a</LINE> 4386<LINE>butter-woman's mouth and buy myself another of</LINE> 4387<LINE>Bajazet's mule, if you prattle me into these perils.</LINE> 4388</SPEECH> 4389 4390<SPEECH> 4391<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4392<LINE>Is it possible he should know what he is, and be</LINE> 4393<LINE>that he is?</LINE> 4394</SPEECH> 4395 4396<SPEECH> 4397<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 4398<LINE>I would the cutting of my garments would serve the</LINE> 4399<LINE>turn, or the breaking of my Spanish sword.</LINE> 4400</SPEECH> 4401 4402<SPEECH> 4403<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4404<LINE>We cannot afford you so.</LINE> 4405</SPEECH> 4406 4407<SPEECH> 4408<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 4409<LINE>Or the baring of my beard; and to say it was in</LINE> 4410<LINE>stratagem.</LINE> 4411</SPEECH> 4412 4413<SPEECH> 4414<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4415<LINE>'Twould not do.</LINE> 4416</SPEECH> 4417 4418<SPEECH> 4419<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 4420<LINE>Or to drown my clothes, and say I was stripped.</LINE> 4421</SPEECH> 4422 4423<SPEECH> 4424<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4425<LINE>Hardly serve.</LINE> 4426</SPEECH> 4427 4428<SPEECH> 4429<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 4430<LINE>Though I swore I leaped from the window of the citadel.</LINE> 4431</SPEECH> 4432 4433<SPEECH> 4434<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4435<LINE>How deep?</LINE> 4436</SPEECH> 4437 4438<SPEECH> 4439<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 4440<LINE>Thirty fathom.</LINE> 4441</SPEECH> 4442 4443<SPEECH> 4444<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4445<LINE>Three great oaths would scarce make that be believed.</LINE> 4446</SPEECH> 4447 4448<SPEECH> 4449<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 4450<LINE>I would I had any drum of the enemy's: I would swear</LINE> 4451<LINE>I recovered it.</LINE> 4452</SPEECH> 4453 4454<SPEECH> 4455<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4456<LINE>You shall hear one anon.</LINE> 4457</SPEECH> 4458 4459<SPEECH> 4460<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 4461<LINE>A drum now of the enemy's,--</LINE> 4462</SPEECH> 4463 4464<STAGEDIR>Alarum within</STAGEDIR> 4465 4466<SPEECH> 4467<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4468<LINE>Throca movousus, cargo, cargo, cargo.</LINE> 4469</SPEECH> 4470 4471<SPEECH> 4472<SPEAKER>All</SPEAKER> 4473<LINE>Cargo, cargo, cargo, villiando par corbo, cargo.</LINE> 4474</SPEECH> 4475 4476<SPEECH> 4477<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 4478<LINE>O, ransom, ransom! do not hide mine eyes.</LINE> 4479</SPEECH> 4480 4481<STAGEDIR>They seize and blindfold him</STAGEDIR> 4482 4483<SPEECH> 4484<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 4485<LINE>Boskos thromuldo boskos.</LINE> 4486</SPEECH> 4487 4488<SPEECH> 4489<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 4490<LINE>I know you are the Muskos' regiment:</LINE> 4491<LINE>And I shall lose my life for want of language;</LINE> 4492<LINE>If there be here German, or Dane, low Dutch,</LINE> 4493<LINE>Italian, or French, let him speak to me; I'll</LINE> 4494<LINE>Discover that which shall undo the Florentine.</LINE> 4495</SPEECH> 4496 4497<SPEECH> 4498<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 4499<LINE>Boskos vauvado: I understand thee, and can speak</LINE> 4500<LINE>thy tongue. Kerely bonto, sir, betake thee to thy</LINE> 4501<LINE>faith, for seventeen poniards are at thy bosom.</LINE> 4502</SPEECH> 4503 4504<SPEECH> 4505<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 4506<LINE>O!</LINE> 4507</SPEECH> 4508 4509<SPEECH> 4510<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 4511<LINE>O, pray, pray, pray! Manka revania dulche.</LINE> 4512</SPEECH> 4513 4514<SPEECH> 4515<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4516<LINE>Oscorbidulchos volivorco.</LINE> 4517</SPEECH> 4518 4519<SPEECH> 4520<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 4521<LINE>The general is content to spare thee yet;</LINE> 4522<LINE>And, hoodwink'd as thou art, will lead thee on</LINE> 4523<LINE>To gather from thee: haply thou mayst inform</LINE> 4524<LINE>Something to save thy life.</LINE> 4525</SPEECH> 4526 4527<SPEECH> 4528<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 4529<LINE>O, let me live!</LINE> 4530<LINE>And all the secrets of our camp I'll show,</LINE> 4531<LINE>Their force, their purposes; nay, I'll speak that</LINE> 4532<LINE>Which you will wonder at.</LINE> 4533</SPEECH> 4534 4535<SPEECH> 4536<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 4537<LINE>But wilt thou faithfully?</LINE> 4538</SPEECH> 4539 4540<SPEECH> 4541<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 4542<LINE>If I do not, damn me.</LINE> 4543</SPEECH> 4544 4545<SPEECH> 4546<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 4547<LINE>Acordo linta.</LINE> 4548<LINE>Come on; thou art granted space.</LINE> 4549</SPEECH> 4550 4551<STAGEDIR>Exit, with PAROLLES guarded. A short alarum within</STAGEDIR> 4552 4553<SPEECH> 4554<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4555<LINE>Go, tell the Count Rousillon, and my brother,</LINE> 4556<LINE>We have caught the woodcock, and will keep him muffled</LINE> 4557<LINE>Till we do hear from them.</LINE> 4558</SPEECH> 4559 4560<SPEECH> 4561<SPEAKER>Second Soldier</SPEAKER> 4562<LINE>Captain, I will.</LINE> 4563</SPEECH> 4564 4565<SPEECH> 4566<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4567<LINE>A' will betray us all unto ourselves:</LINE> 4568<LINE>Inform on that.</LINE> 4569</SPEECH> 4570 4571<SPEECH> 4572<SPEAKER>Second Soldier</SPEAKER> 4573<LINE>So I will, sir.</LINE> 4574</SPEECH> 4575 4576<SPEECH> 4577<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4578<LINE>Till then I'll keep him dark and safely lock'd.</LINE> 4579</SPEECH> 4580 4581<STAGEDIR>Exeunt</STAGEDIR> 4582</SCENE> 4583 4584<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE II. Florence. The Widow's house.</TITLE> 4585<STAGEDIR>Enter BERTRAM and DIANA</STAGEDIR> 4586 4587<SPEECH> 4588<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4589<LINE>They told me that your name was Fontibell.</LINE> 4590</SPEECH> 4591 4592<SPEECH> 4593<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 4594<LINE>No, my good lord, Diana.</LINE> 4595</SPEECH> 4596 4597<SPEECH> 4598<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4599<LINE>Titled goddess;</LINE> 4600<LINE>And worth it, with addition! But, fair soul,</LINE> 4601<LINE>In your fine frame hath love no quality?</LINE> 4602<LINE>If quick fire of youth light not your mind,</LINE> 4603<LINE>You are no maiden, but a monument:</LINE> 4604<LINE>When you are dead, you should be such a one</LINE> 4605<LINE>As you are now, for you are cold and stem;</LINE> 4606<LINE>And now you should be as your mother was</LINE> 4607<LINE>When your sweet self was got.</LINE> 4608</SPEECH> 4609 4610<SPEECH> 4611<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 4612<LINE>She then was honest.</LINE> 4613</SPEECH> 4614 4615<SPEECH> 4616<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4617<LINE>So should you be.</LINE> 4618</SPEECH> 4619 4620<SPEECH> 4621<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 4622<LINE>No:</LINE> 4623<LINE>My mother did but duty; such, my lord,</LINE> 4624<LINE>As you owe to your wife.</LINE> 4625</SPEECH> 4626 4627<SPEECH> 4628<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4629<LINE>No more o' that;</LINE> 4630<LINE>I prithee, do not strive against my vows:</LINE> 4631<LINE>I was compell'd to her; but I love thee</LINE> 4632<LINE>By love's own sweet constraint, and will for ever</LINE> 4633<LINE>Do thee all rights of service.</LINE> 4634</SPEECH> 4635 4636<SPEECH> 4637<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 4638<LINE>Ay, so you serve us</LINE> 4639<LINE>Till we serve you; but when you have our roses,</LINE> 4640<LINE>You barely leave our thorns to prick ourselves</LINE> 4641<LINE>And mock us with our bareness.</LINE> 4642</SPEECH> 4643 4644<SPEECH> 4645<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4646<LINE>How have I sworn!</LINE> 4647</SPEECH> 4648 4649<SPEECH> 4650<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 4651<LINE>'Tis not the many oaths that makes the truth,</LINE> 4652<LINE>But the plain single vow that is vow'd true.</LINE> 4653<LINE>What is not holy, that we swear not by,</LINE> 4654<LINE>But take the High'st to witness: then, pray you, tell me,</LINE> 4655<LINE>If I should swear by God's great attributes,</LINE> 4656<LINE>I loved you dearly, would you believe my oaths,</LINE> 4657<LINE>When I did love you ill? This has no holding,</LINE> 4658<LINE>To swear by him whom I protest to love,</LINE> 4659<LINE>That I will work against him: therefore your oaths</LINE> 4660<LINE>Are words and poor conditions, but unseal'd,</LINE> 4661<LINE>At least in my opinion.</LINE> 4662</SPEECH> 4663 4664<SPEECH> 4665<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4666<LINE>Change it, change it;</LINE> 4667<LINE>Be not so holy-cruel: love is holy;</LINE> 4668<LINE>And my integrity ne'er knew the crafts</LINE> 4669<LINE>That you do charge men with. Stand no more off,</LINE> 4670<LINE>But give thyself unto my sick desires,</LINE> 4671<LINE>Who then recover: say thou art mine, and ever</LINE> 4672<LINE>My love as it begins shall so persever.</LINE> 4673</SPEECH> 4674 4675<SPEECH> 4676<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 4677<LINE>I see that men make ropes in such a scarre</LINE> 4678<LINE>That we'll forsake ourselves. Give me that ring.</LINE> 4679</SPEECH> 4680 4681<SPEECH> 4682<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4683<LINE>I'll lend it thee, my dear; but have no power</LINE> 4684<LINE>To give it from me.</LINE> 4685</SPEECH> 4686 4687<SPEECH> 4688<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 4689<LINE>Will you not, my lord?</LINE> 4690</SPEECH> 4691 4692<SPEECH> 4693<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4694<LINE>It is an honour 'longing to our house,</LINE> 4695<LINE>Bequeathed down from many ancestors;</LINE> 4696<LINE>Which were the greatest obloquy i' the world</LINE> 4697<LINE>In me to lose.</LINE> 4698</SPEECH> 4699 4700<SPEECH> 4701<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 4702<LINE>Mine honour's such a ring:</LINE> 4703<LINE>My chastity's the jewel of our house,</LINE> 4704<LINE>Bequeathed down from many ancestors;</LINE> 4705<LINE>Which were the greatest obloquy i' the world</LINE> 4706<LINE>In me to lose: thus your own proper wisdom</LINE> 4707<LINE>Brings in the champion Honour on my part,</LINE> 4708<LINE>Against your vain assault.</LINE> 4709</SPEECH> 4710 4711<SPEECH> 4712<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4713<LINE>Here, take my ring:</LINE> 4714<LINE>My house, mine honour, yea, my life, be thine,</LINE> 4715<LINE>And I'll be bid by thee.</LINE> 4716</SPEECH> 4717 4718<SPEECH> 4719<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 4720<LINE>When midnight comes, knock at my chamber-window:</LINE> 4721<LINE>I'll order take my mother shall not hear.</LINE> 4722<LINE>Now will I charge you in the band of truth,</LINE> 4723<LINE>When you have conquer'd my yet maiden bed,</LINE> 4724<LINE>Remain there but an hour, nor speak to me:</LINE> 4725<LINE>My reasons are most strong; and you shall know them</LINE> 4726<LINE>When back again this ring shall be deliver'd:</LINE> 4727<LINE>And on your finger in the night I'll put</LINE> 4728<LINE>Another ring, that what in time proceeds</LINE> 4729<LINE>May token to the future our past deeds.</LINE> 4730<LINE>Adieu, till then; then, fail not. You have won</LINE> 4731<LINE>A wife of me, though there my hope be done.</LINE> 4732</SPEECH> 4733 4734<SPEECH> 4735<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4736<LINE>A heaven on earth I have won by wooing thee.</LINE> 4737</SPEECH> 4738 4739<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 4740 4741<SPEECH> 4742<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 4743<LINE>For which live long to thank both heaven and me!</LINE> 4744<LINE>You may so in the end.</LINE> 4745<LINE>My mother told me just how he would woo,</LINE> 4746<LINE>As if she sat in 's heart; she says all men</LINE> 4747<LINE>Have the like oaths: he had sworn to marry me</LINE> 4748<LINE>When his wife's dead; therefore I'll lie with him</LINE> 4749<LINE>When I am buried. Since Frenchmen are so braid,</LINE> 4750<LINE>Marry that will, I live and die a maid:</LINE> 4751<LINE>Only in this disguise I think't no sin</LINE> 4752<LINE>To cozen him that would unjustly win.</LINE> 4753</SPEECH> 4754 4755<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 4756</SCENE> 4757 4758<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE III. The Florentine camp.</TITLE> 4759<STAGEDIR>Enter the two French Lords and some two or three Soldiers</STAGEDIR> 4760 4761<SPEECH> 4762<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 4763<LINE>You have not given him his mother's letter?</LINE> 4764</SPEECH> 4765 4766<SPEECH> 4767<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4768<LINE>I have delivered it an hour since: there is</LINE> 4769<LINE>something in't that stings his nature; for on the</LINE> 4770<LINE>reading it he changed almost into another man.</LINE> 4771</SPEECH> 4772 4773<SPEECH> 4774<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 4775<LINE>He has much worthy blame laid upon him for shaking</LINE> 4776<LINE>off so good a wife and so sweet a lady.</LINE> 4777</SPEECH> 4778 4779<SPEECH> 4780<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4781<LINE>Especially he hath incurred the everlasting</LINE> 4782<LINE>displeasure of the king, who had even tuned his</LINE> 4783<LINE>bounty to sing happiness to him. I will tell you a</LINE> 4784<LINE>thing, but you shall let it dwell darkly with you.</LINE> 4785</SPEECH> 4786 4787<SPEECH> 4788<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 4789<LINE>When you have spoken it, 'tis dead, and I am the</LINE> 4790<LINE>grave of it.</LINE> 4791</SPEECH> 4792 4793<SPEECH> 4794<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4795<LINE>He hath perverted a young gentlewoman here in</LINE> 4796<LINE>Florence, of a most chaste renown; and this night he</LINE> 4797<LINE>fleshes his will in the spoil of her honour: he hath</LINE> 4798<LINE>given her his monumental ring, and thinks himself</LINE> 4799<LINE>made in the unchaste composition.</LINE> 4800</SPEECH> 4801 4802<SPEECH> 4803<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 4804<LINE>Now, God delay our rebellion! as we are ourselves,</LINE> 4805<LINE>what things are we!</LINE> 4806</SPEECH> 4807 4808<SPEECH> 4809<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4810<LINE>Merely our own traitors. And as in the common course</LINE> 4811<LINE>of all treasons, we still see them reveal</LINE> 4812<LINE>themselves, till they attain to their abhorred ends,</LINE> 4813<LINE>so he that in this action contrives against his own</LINE> 4814<LINE>nobility, in his proper stream o'erflows himself.</LINE> 4815</SPEECH> 4816 4817<SPEECH> 4818<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 4819<LINE>Is it not meant damnable in us, to be trumpeters of</LINE> 4820<LINE>our unlawful intents? We shall not then have his</LINE> 4821<LINE>company to-night?</LINE> 4822</SPEECH> 4823 4824<SPEECH> 4825<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4826<LINE>Not till after midnight; for he is dieted to his hour.</LINE> 4827</SPEECH> 4828 4829<SPEECH> 4830<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 4831<LINE>That approaches apace; I would gladly have him see</LINE> 4832<LINE>his company anatomized, that he might take a measure</LINE> 4833<LINE>of his own judgments, wherein so curiously he had</LINE> 4834<LINE>set this counterfeit.</LINE> 4835</SPEECH> 4836 4837<SPEECH> 4838<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4839<LINE>We will not meddle with him till he come; for his</LINE> 4840<LINE>presence must be the whip of the other.</LINE> 4841</SPEECH> 4842 4843<SPEECH> 4844<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 4845<LINE>In the mean time, what hear you of these wars?</LINE> 4846</SPEECH> 4847 4848<SPEECH> 4849<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4850<LINE>I hear there is an overture of peace.</LINE> 4851</SPEECH> 4852 4853<SPEECH> 4854<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 4855<LINE>Nay, I assure you, a peace concluded.</LINE> 4856</SPEECH> 4857 4858<SPEECH> 4859<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4860<LINE>What will Count Rousillon do then? will he travel</LINE> 4861<LINE>higher, or return again into France?</LINE> 4862</SPEECH> 4863 4864<SPEECH> 4865<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 4866<LINE>I perceive, by this demand, you are not altogether</LINE> 4867<LINE>of his council.</LINE> 4868</SPEECH> 4869 4870<SPEECH> 4871<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4872<LINE>Let it be forbid, sir; so should I be a great deal</LINE> 4873<LINE>of his act.</LINE> 4874</SPEECH> 4875 4876<SPEECH> 4877<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 4878<LINE>Sir, his wife some two months since fled from his</LINE> 4879<LINE>house: her pretence is a pilgrimage to Saint Jaques</LINE> 4880<LINE>le Grand; which holy undertaking with most austere</LINE> 4881<LINE>sanctimony she accomplished; and, there residing the</LINE> 4882<LINE>tenderness of her nature became as a prey to her</LINE> 4883<LINE>grief; in fine, made a groan of her last breath, and</LINE> 4884<LINE>now she sings in heaven.</LINE> 4885</SPEECH> 4886 4887<SPEECH> 4888<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4889<LINE>How is this justified?</LINE> 4890</SPEECH> 4891 4892<SPEECH> 4893<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 4894<LINE>The stronger part of it by her own letters, which</LINE> 4895<LINE>makes her story true, even to the point of her</LINE> 4896<LINE>death: her death itself, which could not be her</LINE> 4897<LINE>office to say is come, was faithfully confirmed by</LINE> 4898<LINE>the rector of the place.</LINE> 4899</SPEECH> 4900 4901<SPEECH> 4902<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4903<LINE>Hath the count all this intelligence?</LINE> 4904</SPEECH> 4905 4906<SPEECH> 4907<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 4908<LINE>Ay, and the particular confirmations, point from</LINE> 4909<LINE>point, so to the full arming of the verity.</LINE> 4910</SPEECH> 4911 4912<SPEECH> 4913<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4914<LINE>I am heartily sorry that he'll be glad of this.</LINE> 4915</SPEECH> 4916 4917<SPEECH> 4918<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 4919<LINE>How mightily sometimes we make us comforts of our losses!</LINE> 4920</SPEECH> 4921 4922<SPEECH> 4923<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4924<LINE>And how mightily some other times we drown our gain</LINE> 4925<LINE>in tears! The great dignity that his valour hath</LINE> 4926<LINE>here acquired for him shall at home be encountered</LINE> 4927<LINE>with a shame as ample.</LINE> 4928</SPEECH> 4929 4930<SPEECH> 4931<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 4932<LINE>The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and</LINE> 4933<LINE>ill together: our virtues would be proud, if our</LINE> 4934<LINE>faults whipped them not; and our crimes would</LINE> 4935<LINE>despair, if they were not cherished by our virtues.</LINE> 4936<STAGEDIR>Enter a Messenger</STAGEDIR> 4937<LINE>How now! where's your master?</LINE> 4938</SPEECH> 4939 4940<SPEECH> 4941<SPEAKER>Servant</SPEAKER> 4942<LINE>He met the duke in the street, sir, of whom he hath</LINE> 4943<LINE>taken a solemn leave: his lordship will next</LINE> 4944<LINE>morning for France. The duke hath offered him</LINE> 4945<LINE>letters of commendations to the king.</LINE> 4946</SPEECH> 4947 4948<SPEECH> 4949<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4950<LINE>They shall be no more than needful there, if they</LINE> 4951<LINE>were more than they can commend.</LINE> 4952</SPEECH> 4953 4954<SPEECH> 4955<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 4956<LINE>They cannot be too sweet for the king's tartness.</LINE> 4957<LINE>Here's his lordship now.</LINE> 4958<STAGEDIR>Enter BERTRAM</STAGEDIR> 4959<LINE>How now, my lord! is't not after midnight?</LINE> 4960</SPEECH> 4961 4962<SPEECH> 4963<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4964<LINE>I have to-night dispatched sixteen businesses, a</LINE> 4965<LINE>month's length a-piece, by an abstract of success:</LINE> 4966<LINE>I have congied with the duke, done my adieu with his</LINE> 4967<LINE>nearest; buried a wife, mourned for her; writ to my</LINE> 4968<LINE>lady mother I am returning; entertained my convoy;</LINE> 4969<LINE>and between these main parcels of dispatch effected</LINE> 4970<LINE>many nicer needs; the last was the greatest, but</LINE> 4971<LINE>that I have not ended yet.</LINE> 4972</SPEECH> 4973 4974<SPEECH> 4975<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4976<LINE>If the business be of any difficulty, and this</LINE> 4977<LINE>morning your departure hence, it requires haste of</LINE> 4978<LINE>your lordship.</LINE> 4979</SPEECH> 4980 4981<SPEECH> 4982<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4983<LINE>I mean, the business is not ended, as fearing to</LINE> 4984<LINE>hear of it hereafter. But shall we have this</LINE> 4985<LINE>dialogue between the fool and the soldier? Come,</LINE> 4986<LINE>bring forth this counterfeit module, he has deceived</LINE> 4987<LINE>me, like a double-meaning prophesier.</LINE> 4988</SPEECH> 4989 4990<SPEECH> 4991<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4992<LINE>Bring him forth: has sat i' the stocks all night,</LINE> 4993<LINE>poor gallant knave.</LINE> 4994</SPEECH> 4995 4996<SPEECH> 4997<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4998<LINE>No matter: his heels have deserved it, in usurping</LINE> 4999<LINE>his spurs so long. How does he carry himself?</LINE> 5000</SPEECH> 5001 5002<SPEECH> 5003<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 5004<LINE>I have told your lordship already, the stocks carry</LINE> 5005<LINE>him. But to answer you as you would be understood;</LINE> 5006<LINE>he weeps like a wench that had shed her milk: he</LINE> 5007<LINE>hath confessed himself to Morgan, whom he supposes</LINE> 5008<LINE>to be a friar, from the time of his remembrance to</LINE> 5009<LINE>this very instant disaster of his setting i' the</LINE> 5010<LINE>stocks: and what think you he hath confessed?</LINE> 5011</SPEECH> 5012 5013<SPEECH> 5014<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 5015<LINE>Nothing of me, has a'?</LINE> 5016</SPEECH> 5017 5018<SPEECH> 5019<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 5020<LINE>His confession is taken, and it shall be read to his</LINE> 5021<LINE>face: if your lordship be in't, as I believe you</LINE> 5022<LINE>are, you must have the patience to hear it.</LINE> 5023</SPEECH> 5024 5025<STAGEDIR>Enter PAROLLES guarded, and First Soldier</STAGEDIR> 5026 5027<SPEECH> 5028<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 5029<LINE>A plague upon him! muffled! he can say nothing of</LINE> 5030<LINE>me: hush, hush!</LINE> 5031</SPEECH> 5032 5033<SPEECH> 5034<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 5035<LINE>Hoodman comes! Portotartarosa</LINE> 5036</SPEECH> 5037 5038<SPEECH> 5039<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5040<LINE>He calls for the tortures: what will you say</LINE> 5041<LINE>without 'em?</LINE> 5042</SPEECH> 5043 5044<SPEECH> 5045<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5046<LINE>I will confess what I know without constraint: if</LINE> 5047<LINE>ye pinch me like a pasty, I can say no more.</LINE> 5048</SPEECH> 5049 5050<SPEECH> 5051<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5052<LINE>Bosko chimurcho.</LINE> 5053</SPEECH> 5054 5055<SPEECH> 5056<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 5057<LINE>Boblibindo chicurmurco.</LINE> 5058</SPEECH> 5059 5060<SPEECH> 5061<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5062<LINE>You are a merciful general. Our general bids you</LINE> 5063<LINE>answer to what I shall ask you out of a note.</LINE> 5064</SPEECH> 5065 5066<SPEECH> 5067<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5068<LINE>And truly, as I hope to live.</LINE> 5069</SPEECH> 5070 5071<SPEECH> 5072<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5073<LINE><STAGEDIR>Reads</STAGEDIR> 'First demand of him how many horse the</LINE> 5074<LINE>duke is strong.' What say you to that?</LINE> 5075</SPEECH> 5076 5077<SPEECH> 5078<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5079<LINE>Five or six thousand; but very weak and</LINE> 5080<LINE>unserviceable: the troops are all scattered, and</LINE> 5081<LINE>the commanders very poor rogues, upon my reputation</LINE> 5082<LINE>and credit and as I hope to live.</LINE> 5083</SPEECH> 5084 5085<SPEECH> 5086<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5087<LINE>Shall I set down your answer so?</LINE> 5088</SPEECH> 5089 5090<SPEECH> 5091<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5092<LINE>Do: I'll take the sacrament on't, how and which way you will.</LINE> 5093</SPEECH> 5094 5095<SPEECH> 5096<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 5097<LINE>All's one to him. What a past-saving slave is this!</LINE> 5098</SPEECH> 5099 5100<SPEECH> 5101<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 5102<LINE>You're deceived, my lord: this is Monsieur</LINE> 5103<LINE>Parolles, the gallant militarist,--that was his own</LINE> 5104<LINE>phrase,--that had the whole theoric of war in the</LINE> 5105<LINE>knot of his scarf, and the practise in the chape of</LINE> 5106<LINE>his dagger.</LINE> 5107</SPEECH> 5108 5109<SPEECH> 5110<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 5111<LINE>I will never trust a man again for keeping his sword</LINE> 5112<LINE>clean. nor believe he can have every thing in him</LINE> 5113<LINE>by wearing his apparel neatly.</LINE> 5114</SPEECH> 5115 5116<SPEECH> 5117<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5118<LINE>Well, that's set down.</LINE> 5119</SPEECH> 5120 5121<SPEECH> 5122<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5123<LINE>Five or six thousand horse, I said,-- I will say</LINE> 5124<LINE>true,--or thereabouts, set down, for I'll speak truth.</LINE> 5125</SPEECH> 5126 5127<SPEECH> 5128<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 5129<LINE>He's very near the truth in this.</LINE> 5130</SPEECH> 5131 5132<SPEECH> 5133<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 5134<LINE>But I con him no thanks for't, in the nature he</LINE> 5135<LINE>delivers it.</LINE> 5136</SPEECH> 5137 5138<SPEECH> 5139<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5140<LINE>Poor rogues, I pray you, say.</LINE> 5141</SPEECH> 5142 5143<SPEECH> 5144<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5145<LINE>Well, that's set down.</LINE> 5146</SPEECH> 5147 5148<SPEECH> 5149<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5150<LINE>I humbly thank you, sir: a truth's a truth, the</LINE> 5151<LINE>rogues are marvellous poor.</LINE> 5152</SPEECH> 5153 5154<SPEECH> 5155<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5156<LINE><STAGEDIR>Reads</STAGEDIR> 'Demand of him, of what strength they are</LINE> 5157<LINE>a-foot.' What say you to that?</LINE> 5158</SPEECH> 5159 5160<SPEECH> 5161<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5162<LINE>By my troth, sir, if I were to live this present</LINE> 5163<LINE>hour, I will tell true. Let me see: Spurio, a</LINE> 5164<LINE>hundred and fifty; Sebastian, so many; Corambus, so</LINE> 5165<LINE>many; Jaques, so many; Guiltian, Cosmo, Lodowick,</LINE> 5166<LINE>and Gratii, two hundred and fifty each; mine own</LINE> 5167<LINE>company, Chitopher, Vaumond, Bentii, two hundred and</LINE> 5168<LINE>fifty each: so that the muster-file, rotten and</LINE> 5169<LINE>sound, upon my life, amounts not to fifteen thousand</LINE> 5170<LINE>poll; half of the which dare not shake snow from off</LINE> 5171<LINE>their cassocks, lest they shake themselves to pieces.</LINE> 5172</SPEECH> 5173 5174<SPEECH> 5175<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 5176<LINE>What shall be done to him?</LINE> 5177</SPEECH> 5178 5179<SPEECH> 5180<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 5181<LINE>Nothing, but let him have thanks. Demand of him my</LINE> 5182<LINE>condition, and what credit I have with the duke.</LINE> 5183</SPEECH> 5184 5185<SPEECH> 5186<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5187<LINE>Well, that's set down.</LINE> 5188<STAGEDIR>Reads</STAGEDIR> 5189<LINE>'You shall demand of him, whether one Captain Dumain</LINE> 5190<LINE>be i' the camp, a Frenchman; what his reputation is</LINE> 5191<LINE>with the duke; what his valour, honesty, and</LINE> 5192<LINE>expertness in wars; or whether he thinks it were not</LINE> 5193<LINE>possible, with well-weighing sums of gold, to</LINE> 5194<LINE>corrupt him to revolt.' What say you to this? what</LINE> 5195<LINE>do you know of it?</LINE> 5196</SPEECH> 5197 5198<SPEECH> 5199<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5200<LINE>I beseech you, let me answer to the particular of</LINE> 5201<LINE>the inter'gatories: demand them singly.</LINE> 5202</SPEECH> 5203 5204<SPEECH> 5205<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5206<LINE>Do you know this Captain Dumain?</LINE> 5207</SPEECH> 5208 5209<SPEECH> 5210<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5211<LINE>I know him: a' was a botcher's 'prentice in Paris,</LINE> 5212<LINE>from whence he was whipped for getting the shrieve's</LINE> 5213<LINE>fool with child,--a dumb innocent, that could not</LINE> 5214<LINE>say him nay.</LINE> 5215</SPEECH> 5216 5217<SPEECH> 5218<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 5219<LINE>Nay, by your leave, hold your hands; though I know</LINE> 5220<LINE>his brains are forfeit to the next tile that falls.</LINE> 5221</SPEECH> 5222 5223<SPEECH> 5224<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5225<LINE>Well, is this captain in the duke of Florence's camp?</LINE> 5226</SPEECH> 5227 5228<SPEECH> 5229<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5230<LINE>Upon my knowledge, he is, and lousy.</LINE> 5231</SPEECH> 5232 5233<SPEECH> 5234<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 5235<LINE>Nay look not so upon me; we shall hear of your</LINE> 5236<LINE>lordship anon.</LINE> 5237</SPEECH> 5238 5239<SPEECH> 5240<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5241<LINE>What is his reputation with the duke?</LINE> 5242</SPEECH> 5243 5244<SPEECH> 5245<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5246<LINE>The duke knows him for no other but a poor officer</LINE> 5247<LINE>of mine; and writ to me this other day to turn him</LINE> 5248<LINE>out o' the band: I think I have his letter in my pocket.</LINE> 5249</SPEECH> 5250 5251<SPEECH> 5252<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5253<LINE>Marry, we'll search.</LINE> 5254</SPEECH> 5255 5256<SPEECH> 5257<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5258<LINE>In good sadness, I do not know; either it is there,</LINE> 5259<LINE>or it is upon a file with the duke's other letters</LINE> 5260<LINE>in my tent.</LINE> 5261</SPEECH> 5262 5263<SPEECH> 5264<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5265<LINE>Here 'tis; here's a paper: shall I read it to you?</LINE> 5266</SPEECH> 5267 5268<SPEECH> 5269<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5270<LINE>I do not know if it be it or no.</LINE> 5271</SPEECH> 5272 5273<SPEECH> 5274<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 5275<LINE>Our interpreter does it well.</LINE> 5276</SPEECH> 5277 5278<SPEECH> 5279<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 5280<LINE>Excellently.</LINE> 5281</SPEECH> 5282 5283<SPEECH> 5284<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5285<LINE><STAGEDIR>Reads</STAGEDIR> 'Dian, the count's a fool, and full of gold,'--</LINE> 5286</SPEECH> 5287 5288<SPEECH> 5289<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5290<LINE>That is not the duke's letter, sir; that is an</LINE> 5291<LINE>advertisement to a proper maid in Florence, one</LINE> 5292<LINE>Diana, to take heed of the allurement of one Count</LINE> 5293<LINE>Rousillon, a foolish idle boy, but for all that very</LINE> 5294<LINE>ruttish: I pray you, sir, put it up again.</LINE> 5295</SPEECH> 5296 5297<SPEECH> 5298<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5299<LINE>Nay, I'll read it first, by your favour.</LINE> 5300</SPEECH> 5301 5302<SPEECH> 5303<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5304<LINE>My meaning in't, I protest, was very honest in the</LINE> 5305<LINE>behalf of the maid; for I knew the young count to be</LINE> 5306<LINE>a dangerous and lascivious boy, who is a whale to</LINE> 5307<LINE>virginity and devours up all the fry it finds.</LINE> 5308</SPEECH> 5309 5310<SPEECH> 5311<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 5312<LINE>Damnable both-sides rogue!</LINE> 5313</SPEECH> 5314 5315<SPEECH> 5316<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5317<LINE><STAGEDIR>Reads</STAGEDIR> 'When he swears oaths, bid him drop gold, and take it;</LINE> 5318<LINE>After he scores, he never pays the score:</LINE> 5319<LINE>Half won is match well made; match, and well make it;</LINE> 5320<LINE>He ne'er pays after-debts, take it before;</LINE> 5321<LINE>And say a soldier, Dian, told thee this,</LINE> 5322<LINE>Men are to mell with, boys are not to kiss:</LINE> 5323<LINE>For count of this, the count's a fool, I know it,</LINE> 5324<LINE>Who pays before, but not when he does owe it.</LINE> 5325<LINE>Thine, as he vowed to thee in thine ear,</LINE> 5326<LINE>PAROLLES.'</LINE> 5327</SPEECH> 5328 5329<SPEECH> 5330<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 5331<LINE>He shall be whipped through the army with this rhyme</LINE> 5332<LINE>in's forehead.</LINE> 5333</SPEECH> 5334 5335<SPEECH> 5336<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 5337<LINE>This is your devoted friend, sir, the manifold</LINE> 5338<LINE>linguist and the armipotent soldier.</LINE> 5339</SPEECH> 5340 5341<SPEECH> 5342<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 5343<LINE>I could endure any thing before but a cat, and now</LINE> 5344<LINE>he's a cat to me.</LINE> 5345</SPEECH> 5346 5347<SPEECH> 5348<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5349<LINE>I perceive, sir, by the general's looks, we shall be</LINE> 5350<LINE>fain to hang you.</LINE> 5351</SPEECH> 5352 5353<SPEECH> 5354<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5355<LINE>My life, sir, in any case: not that I am afraid to</LINE> 5356<LINE>die; but that, my offences being many, I would</LINE> 5357<LINE>repent out the remainder of nature: let me live,</LINE> 5358<LINE>sir, in a dungeon, i' the stocks, or any where, so I may live.</LINE> 5359</SPEECH> 5360 5361<SPEECH> 5362<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5363<LINE>We'll see what may be done, so you confess freely;</LINE> 5364<LINE>therefore, once more to this Captain Dumain: you</LINE> 5365<LINE>have answered to his reputation with the duke and to</LINE> 5366<LINE>his valour: what is his honesty?</LINE> 5367</SPEECH> 5368 5369<SPEECH> 5370<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5371<LINE>He will steal, sir, an egg out of a cloister: for</LINE> 5372<LINE>rapes and ravishments he parallels Nessus: he</LINE> 5373<LINE>professes not keeping of oaths; in breaking 'em he</LINE> 5374<LINE>is stronger than Hercules: he will lie, sir, with</LINE> 5375<LINE>such volubility, that you would think truth were a</LINE> 5376<LINE>fool: drunkenness is his best virtue, for he will</LINE> 5377<LINE>be swine-drunk; and in his sleep he does little</LINE> 5378<LINE>harm, save to his bed-clothes about him; but they</LINE> 5379<LINE>know his conditions and lay him in straw. I have but</LINE> 5380<LINE>little more to say, sir, of his honesty: he has</LINE> 5381<LINE>every thing that an honest man should not have; what</LINE> 5382<LINE>an honest man should have, he has nothing.</LINE> 5383</SPEECH> 5384 5385<SPEECH> 5386<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 5387<LINE>I begin to love him for this.</LINE> 5388</SPEECH> 5389 5390<SPEECH> 5391<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 5392<LINE>For this description of thine honesty? A pox upon</LINE> 5393<LINE>him for me, he's more and more a cat.</LINE> 5394</SPEECH> 5395 5396<SPEECH> 5397<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5398<LINE>What say you to his expertness in war?</LINE> 5399</SPEECH> 5400 5401<SPEECH> 5402<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5403<LINE>Faith, sir, he has led the drum before the English</LINE> 5404<LINE>tragedians; to belie him, I will not, and more of</LINE> 5405<LINE>his soldiership I know not; except, in that country</LINE> 5406<LINE>he had the honour to be the officer at a place there</LINE> 5407<LINE>called Mile-end, to instruct for the doubling of</LINE> 5408<LINE>files: I would do the man what honour I can, but of</LINE> 5409<LINE>this I am not certain.</LINE> 5410</SPEECH> 5411 5412<SPEECH> 5413<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 5414<LINE>He hath out-villained villany so far, that the</LINE> 5415<LINE>rarity redeems him.</LINE> 5416</SPEECH> 5417 5418<SPEECH> 5419<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 5420<LINE>A pox on him, he's a cat still.</LINE> 5421</SPEECH> 5422 5423<SPEECH> 5424<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5425<LINE>His qualities being at this poor price, I need not</LINE> 5426<LINE>to ask you if gold will corrupt him to revolt.</LINE> 5427</SPEECH> 5428 5429<SPEECH> 5430<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5431<LINE>Sir, for a quart d'ecu he will sell the fee-simple</LINE> 5432<LINE>of his salvation, the inheritance of it; and cut the</LINE> 5433<LINE>entail from all remainders, and a perpetual</LINE> 5434<LINE>succession for it perpetually.</LINE> 5435</SPEECH> 5436 5437<SPEECH> 5438<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5439<LINE>What's his brother, the other Captain Dumain?</LINE> 5440</SPEECH> 5441 5442<SPEECH> 5443<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 5444<LINE>Why does be ask him of me?</LINE> 5445</SPEECH> 5446 5447<SPEECH> 5448<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5449<LINE>What's he?</LINE> 5450</SPEECH> 5451 5452<SPEECH> 5453<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5454<LINE>E'en a crow o' the same nest; not altogether so</LINE> 5455<LINE>great as the first in goodness, but greater a great</LINE> 5456<LINE>deal in evil: he excels his brother for a coward,</LINE> 5457<LINE>yet his brother is reputed one of the best that is:</LINE> 5458<LINE>in a retreat he outruns any lackey; marry, in coming</LINE> 5459<LINE>on he has the cramp.</LINE> 5460</SPEECH> 5461 5462<SPEECH> 5463<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5464<LINE>If your life be saved, will you undertake to betray</LINE> 5465<LINE>the Florentine?</LINE> 5466</SPEECH> 5467 5468<SPEECH> 5469<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5470<LINE>Ay, and the captain of his horse, Count Rousillon.</LINE> 5471</SPEECH> 5472 5473<SPEECH> 5474<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5475<LINE>I'll whisper with the general, and know his pleasure.</LINE> 5476</SPEECH> 5477 5478<SPEECH> 5479<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5480<LINE><STAGEDIR>Aside</STAGEDIR> I'll no more drumming; a plague of all</LINE> 5481<LINE>drums! Only to seem to deserve well, and to</LINE> 5482<LINE>beguile the supposition of that lascivious young boy</LINE> 5483<LINE>the count, have I run into this danger. Yet who</LINE> 5484<LINE>would have suspected an ambush where I was taken?</LINE> 5485</SPEECH> 5486 5487<SPEECH> 5488<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5489<LINE>There is no remedy, sir, but you must die: the</LINE> 5490<LINE>general says, you that have so traitorously</LINE> 5491<LINE>discovered the secrets of your army and made such</LINE> 5492<LINE>pestiferous reports of men very nobly held, can</LINE> 5493<LINE>serve the world for no honest use; therefore you</LINE> 5494<LINE>must die. Come, headsman, off with his head.</LINE> 5495</SPEECH> 5496 5497<SPEECH> 5498<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5499<LINE>O Lord, sir, let me live, or let me see my death!</LINE> 5500</SPEECH> 5501 5502<SPEECH> 5503<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 5504<LINE>That shall you, and take your leave of all your friends.</LINE> 5505<STAGEDIR>Unblinding him</STAGEDIR> 5506<LINE>So, look about you: know you any here?</LINE> 5507</SPEECH> 5508 5509<SPEECH> 5510<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 5511<LINE>Good morrow, noble captain.</LINE> 5512</SPEECH> 5513 5514<SPEECH> 5515<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 5516<LINE>God bless you, Captain Parolles.</LINE> 5517</SPEECH> 5518 5519<SPEECH> 5520<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 5521<LINE>God save you, noble captain.</LINE> 5522</SPEECH> 5523 5524<SPEECH> 5525<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 5526<LINE>Captain, what greeting will you to my Lord Lafeu?</LINE> 5527<LINE>I am for France.</LINE> 5528</SPEECH> 5529 5530<SPEECH> 5531<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 5532<LINE>Good captain, will you give me a copy of the sonnet</LINE> 5533<LINE>you writ to Diana in behalf of the Count Rousillon?</LINE> 5534<LINE>an I were not a very coward, I'ld compel it of you:</LINE> 5535<LINE>but fare you well.</LINE> 5536</SPEECH> 5537 5538<STAGEDIR>Exeunt BERTRAM and Lords</STAGEDIR> 5539 5540<SPEECH> 5541<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5542<LINE>You are undone, captain, all but your scarf; that</LINE> 5543<LINE>has a knot on't yet</LINE> 5544</SPEECH> 5545 5546<SPEECH> 5547<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5548<LINE>Who cannot be crushed with a plot?</LINE> 5549</SPEECH> 5550 5551<SPEECH> 5552<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5553<LINE>If you could find out a country where but women were</LINE> 5554<LINE>that had received so much shame, you might begin an</LINE> 5555<LINE>impudent nation. Fare ye well, sir; I am for France</LINE> 5556<LINE>too: we shall speak of you there.</LINE> 5557</SPEECH> 5558 5559<STAGEDIR>Exit with Soldiers</STAGEDIR> 5560 5561<SPEECH> 5562<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5563<LINE>Yet am I thankful: if my heart were great,</LINE> 5564<LINE>'Twould burst at this. Captain I'll be no more;</LINE> 5565<LINE>But I will eat and drink, and sleep as soft</LINE> 5566<LINE>As captain shall: simply the thing I am</LINE> 5567<LINE>Shall make me live. Who knows himself a braggart,</LINE> 5568<LINE>Let him fear this, for it will come to pass</LINE> 5569<LINE>that every braggart shall be found an ass.</LINE> 5570<LINE>Rust, sword? cool, blushes! and, Parolles, live</LINE> 5571<LINE>Safest in shame! being fool'd, by foolery thrive!</LINE> 5572<LINE>There's place and means for every man alive.</LINE> 5573<LINE>I'll after them.</LINE> 5574</SPEECH> 5575 5576<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 5577</SCENE> 5578 5579<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE IV. Florence. The Widow's house.</TITLE> 5580<STAGEDIR>Enter HELENA, Widow, and DIANA</STAGEDIR> 5581 5582<SPEECH> 5583<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 5584<LINE>That you may well perceive I have not wrong'd you,</LINE> 5585<LINE>One of the greatest in the Christian world</LINE> 5586<LINE>Shall be my surety; 'fore whose throne 'tis needful,</LINE> 5587<LINE>Ere I can perfect mine intents, to kneel:</LINE> 5588<LINE>Time was, I did him a desired office,</LINE> 5589<LINE>Dear almost as his life; which gratitude</LINE> 5590<LINE>Through flinty Tartar's bosom would peep forth,</LINE> 5591<LINE>And answer, thanks: I duly am inform'd</LINE> 5592<LINE>His grace is at Marseilles; to which place</LINE> 5593<LINE>We have convenient convoy. You must know</LINE> 5594<LINE>I am supposed dead: the army breaking,</LINE> 5595<LINE>My husband hies him home; where, heaven aiding,</LINE> 5596<LINE>And by the leave of my good lord the king,</LINE> 5597<LINE>We'll be before our welcome.</LINE> 5598</SPEECH> 5599 5600<SPEECH> 5601<SPEAKER>Widow</SPEAKER> 5602<LINE>Gentle madam,</LINE> 5603<LINE>You never had a servant to whose trust</LINE> 5604<LINE>Your business was more welcome.</LINE> 5605</SPEECH> 5606 5607<SPEECH> 5608<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 5609<LINE>Nor you, mistress,</LINE> 5610<LINE>Ever a friend whose thoughts more truly labour</LINE> 5611<LINE>To recompense your love: doubt not but heaven</LINE> 5612<LINE>Hath brought me up to be your daughter's dower,</LINE> 5613<LINE>As it hath fated her to be my motive</LINE> 5614<LINE>And helper to a husband. But, O strange men!</LINE> 5615<LINE>That can such sweet use make of what they hate,</LINE> 5616<LINE>When saucy trusting of the cozen'd thoughts</LINE> 5617<LINE>Defiles the pitchy night: so lust doth play</LINE> 5618<LINE>With what it loathes for that which is away.</LINE> 5619<LINE>But more of this hereafter. You, Diana,</LINE> 5620<LINE>Under my poor instructions yet must suffer</LINE> 5621<LINE>Something in my behalf.</LINE> 5622</SPEECH> 5623 5624<SPEECH> 5625<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 5626<LINE>Let death and honesty</LINE> 5627<LINE>Go with your impositions, I am yours</LINE> 5628<LINE>Upon your will to suffer.</LINE> 5629</SPEECH> 5630 5631<SPEECH> 5632<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 5633<LINE>Yet, I pray you:</LINE> 5634<LINE>But with the word the time will bring on summer,</LINE> 5635<LINE>When briers shall have leaves as well as thorns,</LINE> 5636<LINE>And be as sweet as sharp. We must away;</LINE> 5637<LINE>Our wagon is prepared, and time revives us:</LINE> 5638<LINE>All's well that ends well; still the fine's the crown;</LINE> 5639<LINE>Whate'er the course, the end is the renown.</LINE> 5640</SPEECH> 5641 5642<STAGEDIR>Exeunt</STAGEDIR> 5643</SCENE> 5644 5645<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE V. Rousillon. The COUNT's palace.</TITLE> 5646<STAGEDIR>Enter COUNTESS, LAFEU, and Clown</STAGEDIR> 5647 5648<SPEECH> 5649<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 5650<LINE>No, no, no, your son was misled with a snipt-taffeta</LINE> 5651<LINE>fellow there, whose villanous saffron would have</LINE> 5652<LINE>made all the unbaked and doughy youth of a nation in</LINE> 5653<LINE>his colour: your daughter-in-law had been alive at</LINE> 5654<LINE>this hour, and your son here at home, more advanced</LINE> 5655<LINE>by the king than by that red-tailed humble-bee I speak of.</LINE> 5656</SPEECH> 5657 5658<SPEECH> 5659<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 5660<LINE>I would I had not known him; it was the death of the</LINE> 5661<LINE>most virtuous gentlewoman that ever nature had</LINE> 5662<LINE>praise for creating. If she had partaken of my</LINE> 5663<LINE>flesh, and cost me the dearest groans of a mother, I</LINE> 5664<LINE>could not have owed her a more rooted love.</LINE> 5665</SPEECH> 5666 5667<SPEECH> 5668<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 5669<LINE>'Twas a good lady, 'twas a good lady: we may pick a</LINE> 5670<LINE>thousand salads ere we light on such another herb.</LINE> 5671</SPEECH> 5672 5673<SPEECH> 5674<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 5675<LINE>Indeed, sir, she was the sweet marjoram of the</LINE> 5676<LINE>salad, or rather, the herb of grace.</LINE> 5677</SPEECH> 5678 5679<SPEECH> 5680<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 5681<LINE>They are not herbs, you knave; they are nose-herbs.</LINE> 5682</SPEECH> 5683 5684<SPEECH> 5685<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 5686<LINE>I am no great Nebuchadnezzar, sir; I have not much</LINE> 5687<LINE>skill in grass.</LINE> 5688</SPEECH> 5689 5690<SPEECH> 5691<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 5692<LINE>Whether dost thou profess thyself, a knave or a fool?</LINE> 5693</SPEECH> 5694 5695<SPEECH> 5696<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 5697<LINE>A fool, sir, at a woman's service, and a knave at a man's.</LINE> 5698</SPEECH> 5699 5700<SPEECH> 5701<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 5702<LINE>Your distinction?</LINE> 5703</SPEECH> 5704 5705<SPEECH> 5706<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 5707<LINE>I would cozen the man of his wife and do his service.</LINE> 5708</SPEECH> 5709 5710<SPEECH> 5711<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 5712<LINE>So you were a knave at his service, indeed.</LINE> 5713</SPEECH> 5714 5715<SPEECH> 5716<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 5717<LINE>And I would give his wife my bauble, sir, to do her service.</LINE> 5718</SPEECH> 5719 5720<SPEECH> 5721<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 5722<LINE>I will subscribe for thee, thou art both knave and fool.</LINE> 5723</SPEECH> 5724 5725<SPEECH> 5726<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 5727<LINE>At your service.</LINE> 5728</SPEECH> 5729 5730<SPEECH> 5731<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 5732<LINE>No, no, no.</LINE> 5733</SPEECH> 5734 5735<SPEECH> 5736<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 5737<LINE>Why, sir, if I cannot serve you, I can serve as</LINE> 5738<LINE>great a prince as you are.</LINE> 5739</SPEECH> 5740 5741<SPEECH> 5742<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 5743<LINE>Who's that? a Frenchman?</LINE> 5744</SPEECH> 5745 5746<SPEECH> 5747<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 5748<LINE>Faith, sir, a' has an English name; but his fisnomy</LINE> 5749<LINE>is more hotter in France than there.</LINE> 5750</SPEECH> 5751 5752<SPEECH> 5753<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 5754<LINE>What prince is that?</LINE> 5755</SPEECH> 5756 5757<SPEECH> 5758<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 5759<LINE>The black prince, sir; alias, the prince of</LINE> 5760<LINE>darkness; alias, the devil.</LINE> 5761</SPEECH> 5762 5763<SPEECH> 5764<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 5765<LINE>Hold thee, there's my purse: I give thee not this</LINE> 5766<LINE>to suggest thee from thy master thou talkest of;</LINE> 5767<LINE>serve him still.</LINE> 5768</SPEECH> 5769 5770<SPEECH> 5771<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 5772<LINE>I am a woodland fellow, sir, that always loved a</LINE> 5773<LINE>great fire; and the master I speak of ever keeps a</LINE> 5774<LINE>good fire. But, sure, he is the prince of the</LINE> 5775<LINE>world; let his nobility remain in's court. I am for</LINE> 5776<LINE>the house with the narrow gate, which I take to be</LINE> 5777<LINE>too little for pomp to enter: some that humble</LINE> 5778<LINE>themselves may; but the many will be too chill and</LINE> 5779<LINE>tender, and they'll be for the flowery way that</LINE> 5780<LINE>leads to the broad gate and the great fire.</LINE> 5781</SPEECH> 5782 5783<SPEECH> 5784<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 5785<LINE>Go thy ways, I begin to be aweary of thee; and I</LINE> 5786<LINE>tell thee so before, because I would not fall out</LINE> 5787<LINE>with thee. Go thy ways: let my horses be well</LINE> 5788<LINE>looked to, without any tricks.</LINE> 5789</SPEECH> 5790 5791<SPEECH> 5792<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 5793<LINE>If I put any tricks upon 'em, sir, they shall be</LINE> 5794<LINE>jades' tricks; which are their own right by the law of nature.</LINE> 5795</SPEECH> 5796 5797<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 5798 5799<SPEECH> 5800<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 5801<LINE>A shrewd knave and an unhappy.</LINE> 5802</SPEECH> 5803 5804<SPEECH> 5805<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 5806<LINE>So he is. My lord that's gone made himself much</LINE> 5807<LINE>sport out of him: by his authority he remains here,</LINE> 5808<LINE>which he thinks is a patent for his sauciness; and,</LINE> 5809<LINE>indeed, he has no pace, but runs where he will.</LINE> 5810</SPEECH> 5811 5812<SPEECH> 5813<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 5814<LINE>I like him well; 'tis not amiss. And I was about to</LINE> 5815<LINE>tell you, since I heard of the good lady's death and</LINE> 5816<LINE>that my lord your son was upon his return home, I</LINE> 5817<LINE>moved the king my master to speak in the behalf of</LINE> 5818<LINE>my daughter; which, in the minority of them both,</LINE> 5819<LINE>his majesty, out of a self-gracious remembrance, did</LINE> 5820<LINE>first propose: his highness hath promised me to do</LINE> 5821<LINE>it: and, to stop up the displeasure he hath</LINE> 5822<LINE>conceived against your son, there is no fitter</LINE> 5823<LINE>matter. How does your ladyship like it?</LINE> 5824</SPEECH> 5825 5826<SPEECH> 5827<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 5828<LINE>With very much content, my lord; and I wish it</LINE> 5829<LINE>happily effected.</LINE> 5830</SPEECH> 5831 5832<SPEECH> 5833<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 5834<LINE>His highness comes post from Marseilles, of as able</LINE> 5835<LINE>body as when he numbered thirty: he will be here</LINE> 5836<LINE>to-morrow, or I am deceived by him that in such</LINE> 5837<LINE>intelligence hath seldom failed.</LINE> 5838</SPEECH> 5839 5840<SPEECH> 5841<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 5842<LINE>It rejoices me, that I hope I shall see him ere I</LINE> 5843<LINE>die. I have letters that my son will be here</LINE> 5844<LINE>to-night: I shall beseech your lordship to remain</LINE> 5845<LINE>with me till they meet together.</LINE> 5846</SPEECH> 5847 5848<SPEECH> 5849<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 5850<LINE>Madam, I was thinking with what manners I might</LINE> 5851<LINE>safely be admitted.</LINE> 5852</SPEECH> 5853 5854<SPEECH> 5855<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 5856<LINE>You need but plead your honourable privilege.</LINE> 5857</SPEECH> 5858 5859<SPEECH> 5860<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 5861<LINE>Lady, of that I have made a bold charter; but I</LINE> 5862<LINE>thank my God it holds yet.</LINE> 5863</SPEECH> 5864 5865<STAGEDIR>Re-enter Clown</STAGEDIR> 5866 5867<SPEECH> 5868<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 5869<LINE>O madam, yonder's my lord your son with a patch of</LINE> 5870<LINE>velvet on's face: whether there be a scar under't</LINE> 5871<LINE>or no, the velvet knows; but 'tis a goodly patch of</LINE> 5872<LINE>velvet: his left cheek is a cheek of two pile and a</LINE> 5873<LINE>half, but his right cheek is worn bare.</LINE> 5874</SPEECH> 5875 5876<SPEECH> 5877<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 5878<LINE>A scar nobly got, or a noble scar, is a good livery</LINE> 5879<LINE>of honour; so belike is that.</LINE> 5880</SPEECH> 5881 5882<SPEECH> 5883<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 5884<LINE>But it is your carbonadoed face.</LINE> 5885</SPEECH> 5886 5887<SPEECH> 5888<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 5889<LINE>Let us go see your son, I pray you: I long to talk</LINE> 5890<LINE>with the young noble soldier.</LINE> 5891</SPEECH> 5892 5893<SPEECH> 5894<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 5895<LINE>Faith there's a dozen of 'em, with delicate fine</LINE> 5896<LINE>hats and most courteous feathers, which bow the head</LINE> 5897<LINE>and nod at every man.</LINE> 5898</SPEECH> 5899 5900<STAGEDIR>Exeunt</STAGEDIR> 5901</SCENE> 5902 5903</ACT> 5904 5905<ACT><TITLE>ACT V</TITLE> 5906 5907<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE I. Marseilles. A street.</TITLE> 5908<STAGEDIR>Enter HELENA, Widow, and DIANA, with two 5909Attendants</STAGEDIR> 5910 5911<SPEECH> 5912<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 5913<LINE>But this exceeding posting day and night</LINE> 5914<LINE>Must wear your spirits low; we cannot help it:</LINE> 5915<LINE>But since you have made the days and nights as one,</LINE> 5916<LINE>To wear your gentle limbs in my affairs,</LINE> 5917<LINE>Be bold you do so grow in my requital</LINE> 5918<LINE>As nothing can unroot you. In happy time;</LINE> 5919<STAGEDIR>Enter a Gentleman</STAGEDIR> 5920<LINE>This man may help me to his majesty's ear,</LINE> 5921<LINE>If he would spend his power. God save you, sir.</LINE> 5922</SPEECH> 5923 5924<SPEECH> 5925<SPEAKER>Gentleman</SPEAKER> 5926<LINE>And you.</LINE> 5927</SPEECH> 5928 5929<SPEECH> 5930<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 5931<LINE>Sir, I have seen you in the court of France.</LINE> 5932</SPEECH> 5933 5934<SPEECH> 5935<SPEAKER>Gentleman</SPEAKER> 5936<LINE>I have been sometimes there.</LINE> 5937</SPEECH> 5938 5939<SPEECH> 5940<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 5941<LINE>I do presume, sir, that you are not fallen</LINE> 5942<LINE>From the report that goes upon your goodness;</LINE> 5943<LINE>An therefore, goaded with most sharp occasions,</LINE> 5944<LINE>Which lay nice manners by, I put you to</LINE> 5945<LINE>The use of your own virtues, for the which</LINE> 5946<LINE>I shall continue thankful.</LINE> 5947</SPEECH> 5948 5949<SPEECH> 5950<SPEAKER>Gentleman</SPEAKER> 5951<LINE>What's your will?</LINE> 5952</SPEECH> 5953 5954<SPEECH> 5955<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 5956<LINE>That it will please you</LINE> 5957<LINE>To give this poor petition to the king,</LINE> 5958<LINE>And aid me with that store of power you have</LINE> 5959<LINE>To come into his presence.</LINE> 5960</SPEECH> 5961 5962<SPEECH> 5963<SPEAKER>Gentleman</SPEAKER> 5964<LINE>The king's not here.</LINE> 5965</SPEECH> 5966 5967<SPEECH> 5968<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 5969<LINE>Not here, sir!</LINE> 5970</SPEECH> 5971 5972<SPEECH> 5973<SPEAKER>Gentleman</SPEAKER> 5974<LINE>Not, indeed:</LINE> 5975<LINE>He hence removed last night and with more haste</LINE> 5976<LINE>Than is his use.</LINE> 5977</SPEECH> 5978 5979<SPEECH> 5980<SPEAKER>Widow</SPEAKER> 5981<LINE>Lord, how we lose our pains!</LINE> 5982</SPEECH> 5983 5984<SPEECH> 5985<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 5986<LINE>All's well that ends well yet,</LINE> 5987<LINE>Though time seem so adverse and means unfit.</LINE> 5988<LINE>I do beseech you, whither is he gone?</LINE> 5989</SPEECH> 5990 5991<SPEECH> 5992<SPEAKER>Gentleman</SPEAKER> 5993<LINE>Marry, as I take it, to Rousillon;</LINE> 5994<LINE>Whither I am going.</LINE> 5995</SPEECH> 5996 5997<SPEECH> 5998<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 5999<LINE>I do beseech you, sir,</LINE> 6000<LINE>Since you are like to see the king before me,</LINE> 6001<LINE>Commend the paper to his gracious hand,</LINE> 6002<LINE>Which I presume shall render you no blame</LINE> 6003<LINE>But rather make you thank your pains for it.</LINE> 6004<LINE>I will come after you with what good speed</LINE> 6005<LINE>Our means will make us means.</LINE> 6006</SPEECH> 6007 6008<SPEECH> 6009<SPEAKER>Gentleman</SPEAKER> 6010<LINE>This I'll do for you.</LINE> 6011</SPEECH> 6012 6013<SPEECH> 6014<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 6015<LINE>And you shall find yourself to be well thank'd,</LINE> 6016<LINE>Whate'er falls more. We must to horse again.</LINE> 6017<LINE>Go, go, provide.</LINE> 6018</SPEECH> 6019 6020<STAGEDIR>Exeunt</STAGEDIR> 6021</SCENE> 6022 6023<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE II. Rousillon. Before the COUNT's palace.</TITLE> 6024<STAGEDIR>Enter Clown, and PAROLLES, following</STAGEDIR> 6025 6026<SPEECH> 6027<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 6028<LINE>Good Monsieur Lavache, give my Lord Lafeu this</LINE> 6029<LINE>letter: I have ere now, sir, been better known to</LINE> 6030<LINE>you, when I have held familiarity with fresher</LINE> 6031<LINE>clothes; but I am now, sir, muddied in fortune's</LINE> 6032<LINE>mood, and smell somewhat strong of her strong</LINE> 6033<LINE>displeasure.</LINE> 6034</SPEECH> 6035 6036<SPEECH> 6037<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 6038<LINE>Truly, fortune's displeasure is but sluttish, if it</LINE> 6039<LINE>smell so strongly as thou speakest of: I will</LINE> 6040<LINE>henceforth eat no fish of fortune's buttering.</LINE> 6041<LINE>Prithee, allow the wind.</LINE> 6042</SPEECH> 6043 6044<SPEECH> 6045<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 6046<LINE>Nay, you need not to stop your nose, sir; I spake</LINE> 6047<LINE>but by a metaphor.</LINE> 6048</SPEECH> 6049 6050<SPEECH> 6051<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 6052<LINE>Indeed, sir, if your metaphor stink, I will stop my</LINE> 6053<LINE>nose; or against any man's metaphor. Prithee, get</LINE> 6054<LINE>thee further.</LINE> 6055</SPEECH> 6056 6057<SPEECH> 6058<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 6059<LINE>Pray you, sir, deliver me this paper.</LINE> 6060</SPEECH> 6061 6062<SPEECH> 6063<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 6064<LINE>Foh! prithee, stand away: a paper from fortune's</LINE> 6065<LINE>close-stool to give to a nobleman! Look, here he</LINE> 6066<LINE>comes himself.</LINE> 6067<STAGEDIR>Enter LAFEU</STAGEDIR> 6068<LINE>Here is a purr of fortune's, sir, or of fortune's</LINE> 6069<LINE>cat,--but not a musk-cat,--that has fallen into the</LINE> 6070<LINE>unclean fishpond of her displeasure, and, as he</LINE> 6071<LINE>says, is muddied withal: pray you, sir, use the</LINE> 6072<LINE>carp as you may; for he looks like a poor, decayed,</LINE> 6073<LINE>ingenious, foolish, rascally knave. I do pity his</LINE> 6074<LINE>distress in my similes of comfort and leave him to</LINE> 6075<LINE>your lordship.</LINE> 6076</SPEECH> 6077 6078<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 6079 6080<SPEECH> 6081<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 6082<LINE>My lord, I am a man whom fortune hath cruelly</LINE> 6083<LINE>scratched.</LINE> 6084</SPEECH> 6085 6086<SPEECH> 6087<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 6088<LINE>And what would you have me to do? 'Tis too late to</LINE> 6089<LINE>pare her nails now. Wherein have you played the</LINE> 6090<LINE>knave with fortune, that she should scratch you, who</LINE> 6091<LINE>of herself is a good lady and would not have knaves</LINE> 6092<LINE>thrive long under her? There's a quart d'ecu for</LINE> 6093<LINE>you: let the justices make you and fortune friends:</LINE> 6094<LINE>I am for other business.</LINE> 6095</SPEECH> 6096 6097<SPEECH> 6098<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 6099<LINE>I beseech your honour to hear me one single word.</LINE> 6100</SPEECH> 6101 6102<SPEECH> 6103<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 6104<LINE>You beg a single penny more: come, you shall ha't;</LINE> 6105<LINE>save your word.</LINE> 6106</SPEECH> 6107 6108<SPEECH> 6109<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 6110<LINE>My name, my good lord, is Parolles.</LINE> 6111</SPEECH> 6112 6113<SPEECH> 6114<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 6115<LINE>You beg more than 'word,' then. Cox my passion!</LINE> 6116<LINE>give me your hand. How does your drum?</LINE> 6117</SPEECH> 6118 6119<SPEECH> 6120<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 6121<LINE>O my good lord, you were the first that found me!</LINE> 6122</SPEECH> 6123 6124<SPEECH> 6125<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 6126<LINE>Was I, in sooth? and I was the first that lost thee.</LINE> 6127</SPEECH> 6128 6129<SPEECH> 6130<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 6131<LINE>It lies in you, my lord, to bring me in some grace,</LINE> 6132<LINE>for you did bring me out.</LINE> 6133</SPEECH> 6134 6135<SPEECH> 6136<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 6137<LINE>Out upon thee, knave! dost thou put upon me at once</LINE> 6138<LINE>both the office of God and the devil? One brings</LINE> 6139<LINE>thee in grace and the other brings thee out.</LINE> 6140<STAGEDIR>Trumpets sound</STAGEDIR> 6141<LINE>The king's coming; I know by his trumpets. Sirrah,</LINE> 6142<LINE>inquire further after me; I had talk of you last</LINE> 6143<LINE>night: though you are a fool and a knave, you shall</LINE> 6144<LINE>eat; go to, follow.</LINE> 6145</SPEECH> 6146 6147<SPEECH> 6148<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 6149<LINE>I praise God for you.</LINE> 6150</SPEECH> 6151 6152<STAGEDIR>Exeunt</STAGEDIR> 6153</SCENE> 6154 6155<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE III. Rousillon. The COUNT's palace.</TITLE> 6156<STAGEDIR>Flourish. Enter KING, COUNTESS, LAFEU, the two 6157French Lords, with Attendants</STAGEDIR> 6158 6159<SPEECH> 6160<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6161<LINE>We lost a jewel of her; and our esteem</LINE> 6162<LINE>Was made much poorer by it: but your son,</LINE> 6163<LINE>As mad in folly, lack'd the sense to know</LINE> 6164<LINE>Her estimation home.</LINE> 6165</SPEECH> 6166 6167<SPEECH> 6168<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 6169<LINE>'Tis past, my liege;</LINE> 6170<LINE>And I beseech your majesty to make it</LINE> 6171<LINE>Natural rebellion, done i' the blaze of youth;</LINE> 6172<LINE>When oil and fire, too strong for reason's force,</LINE> 6173<LINE>O'erbears it and burns on.</LINE> 6174</SPEECH> 6175 6176<SPEECH> 6177<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6178<LINE>My honour'd lady,</LINE> 6179<LINE>I have forgiven and forgotten all;</LINE> 6180<LINE>Though my revenges were high bent upon him,</LINE> 6181<LINE>And watch'd the time to shoot.</LINE> 6182</SPEECH> 6183 6184<SPEECH> 6185<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 6186<LINE>This I must say,</LINE> 6187<LINE>But first I beg my pardon, the young lord</LINE> 6188<LINE>Did to his majesty, his mother and his lady</LINE> 6189<LINE>Offence of mighty note; but to himself</LINE> 6190<LINE>The greatest wrong of all. He lost a wife</LINE> 6191<LINE>Whose beauty did astonish the survey</LINE> 6192<LINE>Of richest eyes, whose words all ears took captive,</LINE> 6193<LINE>Whose dear perfection hearts that scorn'd to serve</LINE> 6194<LINE>Humbly call'd mistress.</LINE> 6195</SPEECH> 6196 6197<SPEECH> 6198<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6199<LINE>Praising what is lost</LINE> 6200<LINE>Makes the remembrance dear. Well, call him hither;</LINE> 6201<LINE>We are reconciled, and the first view shall kill</LINE> 6202<LINE>All repetition: let him not ask our pardon;</LINE> 6203<LINE>The nature of his great offence is dead,</LINE> 6204<LINE>And deeper than oblivion we do bury</LINE> 6205<LINE>The incensing relics of it: let him approach,</LINE> 6206<LINE>A stranger, no offender; and inform him</LINE> 6207<LINE>So 'tis our will he should.</LINE> 6208</SPEECH> 6209 6210<SPEECH> 6211<SPEAKER>Gentleman</SPEAKER> 6212<LINE>I shall, my liege.</LINE> 6213</SPEECH> 6214 6215<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 6216 6217<SPEECH> 6218<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6219<LINE>What says he to your daughter? have you spoke?</LINE> 6220</SPEECH> 6221 6222<SPEECH> 6223<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 6224<LINE>All that he is hath reference to your highness.</LINE> 6225</SPEECH> 6226 6227<SPEECH> 6228<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6229<LINE>Then shall we have a match. I have letters sent me</LINE> 6230<LINE>That set him high in fame.</LINE> 6231</SPEECH> 6232 6233<STAGEDIR>Enter BERTRAM</STAGEDIR> 6234 6235<SPEECH> 6236<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 6237<LINE>He looks well on't.</LINE> 6238</SPEECH> 6239 6240<SPEECH> 6241<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6242<LINE>I am not a day of season,</LINE> 6243<LINE>For thou mayst see a sunshine and a hail</LINE> 6244<LINE>In me at once: but to the brightest beams</LINE> 6245<LINE>Distracted clouds give way; so stand thou forth;</LINE> 6246<LINE>The time is fair again.</LINE> 6247</SPEECH> 6248 6249<SPEECH> 6250<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 6251<LINE>My high-repented blames,</LINE> 6252<LINE>Dear sovereign, pardon to me.</LINE> 6253</SPEECH> 6254 6255<SPEECH> 6256<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6257<LINE>All is whole;</LINE> 6258<LINE>Not one word more of the consumed time.</LINE> 6259<LINE>Let's take the instant by the forward top;</LINE> 6260<LINE>For we are old, and on our quick'st decrees</LINE> 6261<LINE>The inaudible and noiseless foot of Time</LINE> 6262<LINE>Steals ere we can effect them. You remember</LINE> 6263<LINE>The daughter of this lord?</LINE> 6264</SPEECH> 6265 6266<SPEECH> 6267<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 6268<LINE>Admiringly, my liege, at first</LINE> 6269<LINE>I stuck my choice upon her, ere my heart</LINE> 6270<LINE>Durst make too bold a herald of my tongue</LINE> 6271<LINE>Where the impression of mine eye infixing,</LINE> 6272<LINE>Contempt his scornful perspective did lend me,</LINE> 6273<LINE>Which warp'd the line of every other favour;</LINE> 6274<LINE>Scorn'd a fair colour, or express'd it stolen;</LINE> 6275<LINE>Extended or contracted all proportions</LINE> 6276<LINE>To a most hideous object: thence it came</LINE> 6277<LINE>That she whom all men praised and whom myself,</LINE> 6278<LINE>Since I have lost, have loved, was in mine eye</LINE> 6279<LINE>The dust that did offend it.</LINE> 6280</SPEECH> 6281 6282<SPEECH> 6283<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6284<LINE>Well excused:</LINE> 6285<LINE>That thou didst love her, strikes some scores away</LINE> 6286<LINE>From the great compt: but love that comes too late,</LINE> 6287<LINE>Like a remorseful pardon slowly carried,</LINE> 6288<LINE>To the great sender turns a sour offence,</LINE> 6289<LINE>Crying, 'That's good that's gone.' Our rash faults</LINE> 6290<LINE>Make trivial price of serious things we have,</LINE> 6291<LINE>Not knowing them until we know their grave:</LINE> 6292<LINE>Oft our displeasures, to ourselves unjust,</LINE> 6293<LINE>Destroy our friends and after weep their dust</LINE> 6294<LINE>Our own love waking cries to see what's done,</LINE> 6295<LINE>While shame full late sleeps out the afternoon.</LINE> 6296<LINE>Be this sweet Helen's knell, and now forget her.</LINE> 6297<LINE>Send forth your amorous token for fair Maudlin:</LINE> 6298<LINE>The main consents are had; and here we'll stay</LINE> 6299<LINE>To see our widower's second marriage-day.</LINE> 6300</SPEECH> 6301 6302<SPEECH> 6303<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 6304<LINE>Which better than the first, O dear heaven, bless!</LINE> 6305<LINE>Or, ere they meet, in me, O nature, cesse!</LINE> 6306</SPEECH> 6307 6308<SPEECH> 6309<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 6310<LINE>Come on, my son, in whom my house's name</LINE> 6311<LINE>Must be digested, give a favour from you</LINE> 6312<LINE>To sparkle in the spirits of my daughter,</LINE> 6313<LINE>That she may quickly come.</LINE> 6314<STAGEDIR>BERTRAM gives a ring</STAGEDIR> 6315<LINE>By my old beard,</LINE> 6316<LINE>And every hair that's on't, Helen, that's dead,</LINE> 6317<LINE>Was a sweet creature: such a ring as this,</LINE> 6318<LINE>The last that e'er I took her at court,</LINE> 6319<LINE>I saw upon her finger.</LINE> 6320</SPEECH> 6321 6322<SPEECH> 6323<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 6324<LINE>Hers it was not.</LINE> 6325</SPEECH> 6326 6327<SPEECH> 6328<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6329<LINE>Now, pray you, let me see it; for mine eye,</LINE> 6330<LINE>While I was speaking, oft was fasten'd to't.</LINE> 6331<LINE>This ring was mine; and, when I gave it Helen,</LINE> 6332<LINE>I bade her, if her fortunes ever stood</LINE> 6333<LINE>Necessitied to help, that by this token</LINE> 6334<LINE>I would relieve her. Had you that craft, to reave</LINE> 6335<LINE>her</LINE> 6336<LINE>Of what should stead her most?</LINE> 6337</SPEECH> 6338 6339<SPEECH> 6340<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 6341<LINE>My gracious sovereign,</LINE> 6342<LINE>Howe'er it pleases you to take it so,</LINE> 6343<LINE>The ring was never hers.</LINE> 6344</SPEECH> 6345 6346<SPEECH> 6347<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 6348<LINE>Son, on my life,</LINE> 6349<LINE>I have seen her wear it; and she reckon'd it</LINE> 6350<LINE>At her life's rate.</LINE> 6351</SPEECH> 6352 6353<SPEECH> 6354<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 6355<LINE>I am sure I saw her wear it.</LINE> 6356</SPEECH> 6357 6358<SPEECH> 6359<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 6360<LINE>You are deceived, my lord; she never saw it:</LINE> 6361<LINE>In Florence was it from a casement thrown me,</LINE> 6362<LINE>Wrapp'd in a paper, which contain'd the name</LINE> 6363<LINE>Of her that threw it: noble she was, and thought</LINE> 6364<LINE>I stood engaged: but when I had subscribed</LINE> 6365<LINE>To mine own fortune and inform'd her fully</LINE> 6366<LINE>I could not answer in that course of honour</LINE> 6367<LINE>As she had made the overture, she ceased</LINE> 6368<LINE>In heavy satisfaction and would never</LINE> 6369<LINE>Receive the ring again.</LINE> 6370</SPEECH> 6371 6372<SPEECH> 6373<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6374<LINE>Plutus himself,</LINE> 6375<LINE>That knows the tinct and multiplying medicine,</LINE> 6376<LINE>Hath not in nature's mystery more science</LINE> 6377<LINE>Than I have in this ring: 'twas mine, 'twas Helen's,</LINE> 6378<LINE>Whoever gave it you. Then, if you know</LINE> 6379<LINE>That you are well acquainted with yourself,</LINE> 6380<LINE>Confess 'twas hers, and by what rough enforcement</LINE> 6381<LINE>You got it from her: she call'd the saints to surety</LINE> 6382<LINE>That she would never put it from her finger,</LINE> 6383<LINE>Unless she gave it to yourself in bed,</LINE> 6384<LINE>Where you have never come, or sent it us</LINE> 6385<LINE>Upon her great disaster.</LINE> 6386</SPEECH> 6387 6388<SPEECH> 6389<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 6390<LINE>She never saw it.</LINE> 6391</SPEECH> 6392 6393<SPEECH> 6394<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6395<LINE>Thou speak'st it falsely, as I love mine honour;</LINE> 6396<LINE>And makest conjectural fears to come into me</LINE> 6397<LINE>Which I would fain shut out. If it should prove</LINE> 6398<LINE>That thou art so inhuman,--'twill not prove so;--</LINE> 6399<LINE>And yet I know not: thou didst hate her deadly,</LINE> 6400<LINE>And she is dead; which nothing, but to close</LINE> 6401<LINE>Her eyes myself, could win me to believe,</LINE> 6402<LINE>More than to see this ring. Take him away.</LINE> 6403<STAGEDIR>Guards seize BERTRAM</STAGEDIR> 6404<LINE>My fore-past proofs, howe'er the matter fall,</LINE> 6405<LINE>Shall tax my fears of little vanity,</LINE> 6406<LINE>Having vainly fear'd too little. Away with him!</LINE> 6407<LINE>We'll sift this matter further.</LINE> 6408</SPEECH> 6409 6410<SPEECH> 6411<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 6412<LINE>If you shall prove</LINE> 6413<LINE>This ring was ever hers, you shall as easy</LINE> 6414<LINE>Prove that I husbanded her bed in Florence,</LINE> 6415<LINE>Where yet she never was.</LINE> 6416</SPEECH> 6417 6418<STAGEDIR>Exit, guarded</STAGEDIR> 6419 6420<SPEECH> 6421<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6422<LINE>I am wrapp'd in dismal thinkings.</LINE> 6423</SPEECH> 6424 6425<STAGEDIR>Enter a Gentleman</STAGEDIR> 6426 6427<SPEECH> 6428<SPEAKER>Gentleman</SPEAKER> 6429<LINE>Gracious sovereign,</LINE> 6430<LINE>Whether I have been to blame or no, I know not:</LINE> 6431<LINE>Here's a petition from a Florentine,</LINE> 6432<LINE>Who hath for four or five removes come short</LINE> 6433<LINE>To tender it herself. I undertook it,</LINE> 6434<LINE>Vanquish'd thereto by the fair grace and speech</LINE> 6435<LINE>Of the poor suppliant, who by this I know</LINE> 6436<LINE>Is here attending: her business looks in her</LINE> 6437<LINE>With an importing visage; and she told me,</LINE> 6438<LINE>In a sweet verbal brief, it did concern</LINE> 6439<LINE>Your highness with herself.</LINE> 6440</SPEECH> 6441 6442<SPEECH> 6443<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6444<LINE><STAGEDIR>Reads</STAGEDIR> Upon his many protestations to marry me</LINE> 6445<LINE>when his wife was dead, I blush to say it, he won</LINE> 6446<LINE>me. Now is the Count Rousillon a widower: his vows</LINE> 6447<LINE>are forfeited to me, and my honour's paid to him. He</LINE> 6448<LINE>stole from Florence, taking no leave, and I follow</LINE> 6449<LINE>him to his country for justice: grant it me, O</LINE> 6450<LINE>king! in you it best lies; otherwise a seducer</LINE> 6451<LINE>flourishes, and a poor maid is undone.</LINE> 6452<LINE>DIANA CAPILET.</LINE> 6453</SPEECH> 6454 6455<SPEECH> 6456<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 6457<LINE>I will buy me a son-in-law in a fair, and toll for</LINE> 6458<LINE>this: I'll none of him.</LINE> 6459</SPEECH> 6460 6461<SPEECH> 6462<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6463<LINE>The heavens have thought well on thee Lafeu,</LINE> 6464<LINE>To bring forth this discovery. Seek these suitors:</LINE> 6465<LINE>Go speedily and bring again the count.</LINE> 6466<LINE>I am afeard the life of Helen, lady,</LINE> 6467<LINE>Was foully snatch'd.</LINE> 6468</SPEECH> 6469 6470<SPEECH> 6471<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 6472<LINE>Now, justice on the doers!</LINE> 6473</SPEECH> 6474 6475<STAGEDIR>Re-enter BERTRAM, guarded</STAGEDIR> 6476 6477<SPEECH> 6478<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6479<LINE>I wonder, sir, sith wives are monsters to you,</LINE> 6480<LINE>And that you fly them as you swear them lordship,</LINE> 6481<LINE>Yet you desire to marry.</LINE> 6482<STAGEDIR>Enter Widow and DIANA</STAGEDIR> 6483<LINE>What woman's that?</LINE> 6484</SPEECH> 6485 6486<SPEECH> 6487<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 6488<LINE>I am, my lord, a wretched Florentine,</LINE> 6489<LINE>Derived from the ancient Capilet:</LINE> 6490<LINE>My suit, as I do understand, you know,</LINE> 6491<LINE>And therefore know how far I may be pitied.</LINE> 6492</SPEECH> 6493 6494<SPEECH> 6495<SPEAKER>Widow</SPEAKER> 6496<LINE>I am her mother, sir, whose age and honour</LINE> 6497<LINE>Both suffer under this complaint we bring,</LINE> 6498<LINE>And both shall cease, without your remedy.</LINE> 6499</SPEECH> 6500 6501<SPEECH> 6502<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6503<LINE>Come hither, count; do you know these women?</LINE> 6504</SPEECH> 6505 6506<SPEECH> 6507<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 6508<LINE>My lord, I neither can nor will deny</LINE> 6509<LINE>But that I know them: do they charge me further?</LINE> 6510</SPEECH> 6511 6512<SPEECH> 6513<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 6514<LINE>Why do you look so strange upon your wife?</LINE> 6515</SPEECH> 6516 6517<SPEECH> 6518<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 6519<LINE>She's none of mine, my lord.</LINE> 6520</SPEECH> 6521 6522<SPEECH> 6523<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 6524<LINE>If you shall marry,</LINE> 6525<LINE>You give away this hand, and that is mine;</LINE> 6526<LINE>You give away heaven's vows, and those are mine;</LINE> 6527<LINE>You give away myself, which is known mine;</LINE> 6528<LINE>For I by vow am so embodied yours,</LINE> 6529<LINE>That she which marries you must marry me,</LINE> 6530<LINE>Either both or none.</LINE> 6531</SPEECH> 6532 6533<SPEECH> 6534<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 6535<LINE>Your reputation comes too short for my daughter; you</LINE> 6536<LINE>are no husband for her.</LINE> 6537</SPEECH> 6538 6539<SPEECH> 6540<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 6541<LINE>My lord, this is a fond and desperate creature,</LINE> 6542<LINE>Whom sometime I have laugh'd with: let your highness</LINE> 6543<LINE>Lay a more noble thought upon mine honour</LINE> 6544<LINE>Than for to think that I would sink it here.</LINE> 6545</SPEECH> 6546 6547<SPEECH> 6548<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6549<LINE>Sir, for my thoughts, you have them ill to friend</LINE> 6550<LINE>Till your deeds gain them: fairer prove your honour</LINE> 6551<LINE>Than in my thought it lies.</LINE> 6552</SPEECH> 6553 6554<SPEECH> 6555<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 6556<LINE>Good my lord,</LINE> 6557<LINE>Ask him upon his oath, if he does think</LINE> 6558<LINE>He had not my virginity.</LINE> 6559</SPEECH> 6560 6561<SPEECH> 6562<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6563<LINE>What say'st thou to her?</LINE> 6564</SPEECH> 6565 6566<SPEECH> 6567<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 6568<LINE>She's impudent, my lord,</LINE> 6569<LINE>And was a common gamester to the camp.</LINE> 6570</SPEECH> 6571 6572<SPEECH> 6573<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 6574<LINE>He does me wrong, my lord; if I were so,</LINE> 6575<LINE>He might have bought me at a common price:</LINE> 6576<LINE>Do not believe him. O, behold this ring,</LINE> 6577<LINE>Whose high respect and rich validity</LINE> 6578<LINE>Did lack a parallel; yet for all that</LINE> 6579<LINE>He gave it to a commoner o' the camp,</LINE> 6580<LINE>If I be one.</LINE> 6581</SPEECH> 6582 6583<SPEECH> 6584<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 6585<LINE>He blushes, and 'tis it:</LINE> 6586<LINE>Of six preceding ancestors, that gem,</LINE> 6587<LINE>Conferr'd by testament to the sequent issue,</LINE> 6588<LINE>Hath it been owed and worn. This is his wife;</LINE> 6589<LINE>That ring's a thousand proofs.</LINE> 6590</SPEECH> 6591 6592<SPEECH> 6593<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6594<LINE>Methought you said</LINE> 6595<LINE>You saw one here in court could witness it.</LINE> 6596</SPEECH> 6597 6598<SPEECH> 6599<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 6600<LINE>I did, my lord, but loath am to produce</LINE> 6601<LINE>So bad an instrument: his name's Parolles.</LINE> 6602</SPEECH> 6603 6604<SPEECH> 6605<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 6606<LINE>I saw the man to-day, if man he be.</LINE> 6607</SPEECH> 6608 6609<SPEECH> 6610<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6611<LINE>Find him, and bring him hither.</LINE> 6612</SPEECH> 6613 6614<STAGEDIR>Exit an Attendant</STAGEDIR> 6615 6616<SPEECH> 6617<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 6618<LINE>What of him?</LINE> 6619<LINE>He's quoted for a most perfidious slave,</LINE> 6620<LINE>With all the spots o' the world tax'd and debosh'd;</LINE> 6621<LINE>Whose nature sickens but to speak a truth.</LINE> 6622<LINE>Am I or that or this for what he'll utter,</LINE> 6623<LINE>That will speak any thing?</LINE> 6624</SPEECH> 6625 6626<SPEECH> 6627<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6628<LINE>She hath that ring of yours.</LINE> 6629</SPEECH> 6630 6631<SPEECH> 6632<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 6633<LINE>I think she has: certain it is I liked her,</LINE> 6634<LINE>And boarded her i' the wanton way of youth:</LINE> 6635<LINE>She knew her distance and did angle for me,</LINE> 6636<LINE>Madding my eagerness with her restraint,</LINE> 6637<LINE>As all impediments in fancy's course</LINE> 6638<LINE>Are motives of more fancy; and, in fine,</LINE> 6639<LINE>Her infinite cunning, with her modern grace,</LINE> 6640<LINE>Subdued me to her rate: she got the ring;</LINE> 6641<LINE>And I had that which any inferior might</LINE> 6642<LINE>At market-price have bought.</LINE> 6643</SPEECH> 6644 6645<SPEECH> 6646<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 6647<LINE>I must be patient:</LINE> 6648<LINE>You, that have turn'd off a first so noble wife,</LINE> 6649<LINE>May justly diet me. I pray you yet;</LINE> 6650<LINE>Since you lack virtue, I will lose a husband;</LINE> 6651<LINE>Send for your ring, I will return it home,</LINE> 6652<LINE>And give me mine again.</LINE> 6653</SPEECH> 6654 6655<SPEECH> 6656<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 6657<LINE>I have it not.</LINE> 6658</SPEECH> 6659 6660<SPEECH> 6661<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6662<LINE>What ring was yours, I pray you?</LINE> 6663</SPEECH> 6664 6665<SPEECH> 6666<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 6667<LINE>Sir, much like</LINE> 6668<LINE>The same upon your finger.</LINE> 6669</SPEECH> 6670 6671<SPEECH> 6672<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6673<LINE>Know you this ring? this ring was his of late.</LINE> 6674</SPEECH> 6675 6676<SPEECH> 6677<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 6678<LINE>And this was it I gave him, being abed.</LINE> 6679</SPEECH> 6680 6681<SPEECH> 6682<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6683<LINE>The story then goes false, you threw it him</LINE> 6684<LINE>Out of a casement.</LINE> 6685</SPEECH> 6686 6687<SPEECH> 6688<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 6689<LINE>I have spoke the truth.</LINE> 6690</SPEECH> 6691 6692<STAGEDIR>Enter PAROLLES</STAGEDIR> 6693 6694<SPEECH> 6695<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 6696<LINE>My lord, I do confess the ring was hers.</LINE> 6697</SPEECH> 6698 6699<SPEECH> 6700<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6701<LINE>You boggle shrewdly, every feather stars you.</LINE> 6702<LINE>Is this the man you speak of?</LINE> 6703</SPEECH> 6704 6705<SPEECH> 6706<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 6707<LINE>Ay, my lord.</LINE> 6708</SPEECH> 6709 6710<SPEECH> 6711<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6712<LINE>Tell me, sirrah, but tell me true, I charge you,</LINE> 6713<LINE>Not fearing the displeasure of your master,</LINE> 6714<LINE>Which on your just proceeding I'll keep off,</LINE> 6715<LINE>By him and by this woman here what know you?</LINE> 6716</SPEECH> 6717 6718<SPEECH> 6719<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 6720<LINE>So please your majesty, my master hath been an</LINE> 6721<LINE>honourable gentleman: tricks he hath had in him,</LINE> 6722<LINE>which gentlemen have.</LINE> 6723</SPEECH> 6724 6725<SPEECH> 6726<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6727<LINE>Come, come, to the purpose: did he love this woman?</LINE> 6728</SPEECH> 6729 6730<SPEECH> 6731<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 6732<LINE>Faith, sir, he did love her; but how?</LINE> 6733</SPEECH> 6734 6735<SPEECH> 6736<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6737<LINE>How, I pray you?</LINE> 6738</SPEECH> 6739 6740<SPEECH> 6741<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 6742<LINE>He did love her, sir, as a gentleman loves a woman.</LINE> 6743</SPEECH> 6744 6745<SPEECH> 6746<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6747<LINE>How is that?</LINE> 6748</SPEECH> 6749 6750<SPEECH> 6751<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 6752<LINE>He loved her, sir, and loved her not.</LINE> 6753</SPEECH> 6754 6755<SPEECH> 6756<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6757<LINE>As thou art a knave, and no knave. What an</LINE> 6758<LINE>equivocal companion is this!</LINE> 6759</SPEECH> 6760 6761<SPEECH> 6762<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 6763<LINE>I am a poor man, and at your majesty's command.</LINE> 6764</SPEECH> 6765 6766<SPEECH> 6767<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 6768<LINE>He's a good drum, my lord, but a naughty orator.</LINE> 6769</SPEECH> 6770 6771<SPEECH> 6772<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 6773<LINE>Do you know he promised me marriage?</LINE> 6774</SPEECH> 6775 6776<SPEECH> 6777<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 6778<LINE>Faith, I know more than I'll speak.</LINE> 6779</SPEECH> 6780 6781<SPEECH> 6782<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6783<LINE>But wilt thou not speak all thou knowest?</LINE> 6784</SPEECH> 6785 6786<SPEECH> 6787<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 6788<LINE>Yes, so please your majesty. I did go between them,</LINE> 6789<LINE>as I said; but more than that, he loved her: for</LINE> 6790<LINE>indeed he was mad for her, and talked of Satan and</LINE> 6791<LINE>of Limbo and of Furies and I know not what: yet I</LINE> 6792<LINE>was in that credit with them at that time that I</LINE> 6793<LINE>knew of their going to bed, and of other motions,</LINE> 6794<LINE>as promising her marriage, and things which would</LINE> 6795<LINE>derive me ill will to speak of; therefore I will not</LINE> 6796<LINE>speak what I know.</LINE> 6797</SPEECH> 6798 6799<SPEECH> 6800<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6801<LINE>Thou hast spoken all already, unless thou canst say</LINE> 6802<LINE>they are married: but thou art too fine in thy</LINE> 6803<LINE>evidence; therefore stand aside.</LINE> 6804<LINE>This ring, you say, was yours?</LINE> 6805</SPEECH> 6806 6807<SPEECH> 6808<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 6809<LINE>Ay, my good lord.</LINE> 6810</SPEECH> 6811 6812<SPEECH> 6813<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6814<LINE>Where did you buy it? or who gave it you?</LINE> 6815</SPEECH> 6816 6817<SPEECH> 6818<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 6819<LINE>It was not given me, nor I did not buy it.</LINE> 6820</SPEECH> 6821 6822<SPEECH> 6823<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6824<LINE>Who lent it you?</LINE> 6825</SPEECH> 6826 6827<SPEECH> 6828<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 6829<LINE>It was not lent me neither.</LINE> 6830</SPEECH> 6831 6832<SPEECH> 6833<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6834<LINE>Where did you find it, then?</LINE> 6835</SPEECH> 6836 6837<SPEECH> 6838<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 6839<LINE>I found it not.</LINE> 6840</SPEECH> 6841 6842<SPEECH> 6843<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6844<LINE>If it were yours by none of all these ways,</LINE> 6845<LINE>How could you give it him?</LINE> 6846</SPEECH> 6847 6848<SPEECH> 6849<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 6850<LINE>I never gave it him.</LINE> 6851</SPEECH> 6852 6853<SPEECH> 6854<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 6855<LINE>This woman's an easy glove, my lord; she goes off</LINE> 6856<LINE>and on at pleasure.</LINE> 6857</SPEECH> 6858 6859<SPEECH> 6860<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6861<LINE>This ring was mine; I gave it his first wife.</LINE> 6862</SPEECH> 6863 6864<SPEECH> 6865<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 6866<LINE>It might be yours or hers, for aught I know.</LINE> 6867</SPEECH> 6868 6869<SPEECH> 6870<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6871<LINE>Take her away; I do not like her now;</LINE> 6872<LINE>To prison with her: and away with him.</LINE> 6873<LINE>Unless thou tell'st me where thou hadst this ring,</LINE> 6874<LINE>Thou diest within this hour.</LINE> 6875</SPEECH> 6876 6877<SPEECH> 6878<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 6879<LINE>I'll never tell you.</LINE> 6880</SPEECH> 6881 6882<SPEECH> 6883<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6884<LINE>Take her away.</LINE> 6885</SPEECH> 6886 6887<SPEECH> 6888<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 6889<LINE>I'll put in bail, my liege.</LINE> 6890</SPEECH> 6891 6892<SPEECH> 6893<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6894<LINE>I think thee now some common customer.</LINE> 6895</SPEECH> 6896 6897<SPEECH> 6898<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 6899<LINE>By Jove, if ever I knew man, 'twas you.</LINE> 6900</SPEECH> 6901 6902<SPEECH> 6903<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6904<LINE>Wherefore hast thou accused him all this while?</LINE> 6905</SPEECH> 6906 6907<SPEECH> 6908<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 6909<LINE>Because he's guilty, and he is not guilty:</LINE> 6910<LINE>He knows I am no maid, and he'll swear to't;</LINE> 6911<LINE>I'll swear I am a maid, and he knows not.</LINE> 6912<LINE>Great king, I am no strumpet, by my life;</LINE> 6913<LINE>I am either maid, or else this old man's wife.</LINE> 6914</SPEECH> 6915 6916<SPEECH> 6917<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6918<LINE>She does abuse our ears: to prison with her.</LINE> 6919</SPEECH> 6920 6921<SPEECH> 6922<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 6923<LINE>Good mother, fetch my bail. Stay, royal sir:</LINE> 6924<STAGEDIR>Exit Widow</STAGEDIR> 6925<LINE>The jeweller that owes the ring is sent for,</LINE> 6926<LINE>And he shall surety me. But for this lord,</LINE> 6927<LINE>Who hath abused me, as he knows himself,</LINE> 6928<LINE>Though yet he never harm'd me, here I quit him:</LINE> 6929<LINE>He knows himself my bed he hath defiled;</LINE> 6930<LINE>And at that time he got his wife with child:</LINE> 6931<LINE>Dead though she be, she feels her young one kick:</LINE> 6932<LINE>So there's my riddle: one that's dead is quick:</LINE> 6933<LINE>And now behold the meaning.</LINE> 6934</SPEECH> 6935 6936<STAGEDIR>Re-enter Widow, with HELENA</STAGEDIR> 6937 6938<SPEECH> 6939<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6940<LINE>Is there no exorcist</LINE> 6941<LINE>Beguiles the truer office of mine eyes?</LINE> 6942<LINE>Is't real that I see?</LINE> 6943</SPEECH> 6944 6945<SPEECH> 6946<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 6947<LINE>No, my good lord;</LINE> 6948<LINE>'Tis but the shadow of a wife you see,</LINE> 6949<LINE>The name and not the thing.</LINE> 6950</SPEECH> 6951 6952<SPEECH> 6953<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 6954<LINE>Both, both. O, pardon!</LINE> 6955</SPEECH> 6956 6957<SPEECH> 6958<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 6959<LINE>O my good lord, when I was like this maid,</LINE> 6960<LINE>I found you wondrous kind. There is your ring;</LINE> 6961<LINE>And, look you, here's your letter; this it says:</LINE> 6962<LINE>'When from my finger you can get this ring</LINE> 6963<LINE>And are by me with child,' &c. This is done:</LINE> 6964<LINE>Will you be mine, now you are doubly won?</LINE> 6965</SPEECH> 6966 6967<SPEECH> 6968<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 6969<LINE>If she, my liege, can make me know this clearly,</LINE> 6970<LINE>I'll love her dearly, ever, ever dearly.</LINE> 6971</SPEECH> 6972 6973<SPEECH> 6974<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 6975<LINE>If it appear not plain and prove untrue,</LINE> 6976<LINE>Deadly divorce step between me and you!</LINE> 6977<LINE>O my dear mother, do I see you living?</LINE> 6978</SPEECH> 6979 6980<SPEECH> 6981<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 6982<LINE>Mine eyes smell onions; I shall weep anon:</LINE> 6983<STAGEDIR>To PAROLLES</STAGEDIR> 6984<LINE>Good Tom Drum, lend me a handkercher: so,</LINE> 6985<LINE>I thank thee: wait on me home, I'll make sport with thee:</LINE> 6986<LINE>Let thy courtesies alone, they are scurvy ones.</LINE> 6987</SPEECH> 6988 6989<SPEECH> 6990<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6991<LINE>Let us from point to point this story know,</LINE> 6992<LINE>To make the even truth in pleasure flow.</LINE> 6993<STAGEDIR>To DIANA</STAGEDIR> 6994<LINE>If thou be'st yet a fresh uncropped flower,</LINE> 6995<LINE>Choose thou thy husband, and I'll pay thy dower;</LINE> 6996<LINE>For I can guess that by thy honest aid</LINE> 6997<LINE>Thou keep'st a wife herself, thyself a maid.</LINE> 6998<LINE>Of that and all the progress, more or less,</LINE> 6999<LINE>Resolvedly more leisure shall express:</LINE> 7000<LINE>All yet seems well; and if it end so meet,</LINE> 7001<LINE>The bitter past, more welcome is the sweet.</LINE> 7002</SPEECH> 7003<STAGEDIR>Flourish</STAGEDIR> 7004</SCENE> 7005 7006<EPILOGUE><TITLE>EPILOGUE</TITLE> 7007<SPEECH> 7008<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 7009<LINE>The king's a beggar, now the play is done:</LINE> 7010<LINE>All is well ended, if this suit be won,</LINE> 7011<LINE>That you express content; which we will pay,</LINE> 7012<LINE>With strife to please you, day exceeding day:</LINE> 7013<LINE>Ours be your patience then, and yours our parts;</LINE> 7014<LINE>Your gentle hands lend us, and take our hearts.</LINE> 7015</SPEECH> 7016 7017<STAGEDIR>Exeunt</STAGEDIR> 7018</EPILOGUE> 7019</ACT> 7020</PLAY> 7021