1<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> 2<PLAY> 3<TITLE>All's Well That Ends Well</TITLE> 4 5<FM> 6<P>ASCII text placed in the public domain by Moby Lexical Tools, 1992.</P> 7<P>SGML markup by Jon Bosak, 1992-1994.</P> 8<P>XML version by Jon Bosak, 1996-1999.</P> 9<P>The XML markup in this version is Copyright © 1999 Jon Bosak. 10This work may freely be distributed on condition that it not be 11modified or altered in any way.</P> 12</FM> 13 14<PERSONAE> 15<TITLE>Dramatis Personae</TITLE> 16 17<PERSONA>KING OF FRANCE</PERSONA> 18<PERSONA>DUKE OF FLORENCE</PERSONA> 19<PERSONA>BERTRAM, Count of Rousillon.</PERSONA> 20<PERSONA>LAFEU, an old lord.</PERSONA> 21<PERSONA>PAROLLES, a follower of Bertram.</PERSONA> 22 23<PGROUP> 24<PERSONA>Steward</PERSONA> 25<PERSONA>Clown</PERSONA> 26<GRPDESCR>servants to the Countess of Rousillon.</GRPDESCR> 27</PGROUP> 28 29<PERSONA>A Page. </PERSONA> 30<PERSONA>COUNTESS OF ROUSILLON, mother to Bertram. </PERSONA> 31<PERSONA>HELENA, a gentlewoman protected by the Countess.</PERSONA> 32<PERSONA>An old Widow of Florence. </PERSONA> 33<PERSONA>DIANA, daughter to the Widow.</PERSONA> 34 35<PGROUP> 36<PERSONA>VIOLENTA</PERSONA> 37<PERSONA>MARIANA</PERSONA> 38<GRPDESCR>neighbours and friends to the Widow.</GRPDESCR> 39</PGROUP> 40 41<PERSONA>Lords, Officers, Soldiers, &c., French and Florentine.</PERSONA> 42</PERSONAE> 43 44<SCNDESCR>SCENE Rousillon; Paris; Florence; Marseilles.</SCNDESCR> 45 46<PLAYSUBT>ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL</PLAYSUBT> 47 48<ACT><TITLE>ACT I</TITLE> 49 50<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE I. Rousillon. The COUNT's palace.</TITLE> 51<STAGEDIR>Enter BERTRAM, the COUNTESS of Rousillon, HELENA, 52and LAFEU, all in black</STAGEDIR> 53 54<SPEECH> 55<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 56<LINE>In delivering my son from me, I bury a second husband.</LINE> 57</SPEECH> 58 59<SPEECH> 60<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 61<LINE>And I in going, madam, weep o'er my father's death</LINE> 62<LINE>anew: but I must attend his majesty's command, to</LINE> 63<LINE>whom I am now in ward, evermore in subjection.</LINE> 64</SPEECH> 65 66<SPEECH> 67<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 68<LINE>You shall find of the king a husband, madam; you,</LINE> 69<LINE>sir, a father: he that so generally is at all times</LINE> 70<LINE>good must of necessity hold his virtue to you; whose</LINE> 71<LINE>worthiness would stir it up where it wanted rather</LINE> 72<LINE>than lack it where there is such abundance.</LINE> 73</SPEECH> 74 75<SPEECH> 76<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 77<LINE>What hope is there of his majesty's amendment?</LINE> 78</SPEECH> 79 80<SPEECH> 81<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 82<LINE>He hath abandoned his physicians, madam; under whose</LINE> 83<LINE>practises he hath persecuted time with hope, and</LINE> 84<LINE>finds no other advantage in the process but only the</LINE> 85<LINE>losing of hope by time.</LINE> 86</SPEECH> 87 88<SPEECH> 89<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 90<LINE>This young gentlewoman had a father,--O, that</LINE> 91<LINE>'had'! how sad a passage 'tis!--whose skill was</LINE> 92<LINE>almost as great as his honesty; had it stretched so</LINE> 93<LINE>far, would have made nature immortal, and death</LINE> 94<LINE>should have play for lack of work. Would, for the</LINE> 95<LINE>king's sake, he were living! I think it would be</LINE> 96<LINE>the death of the king's disease.</LINE> 97</SPEECH> 98 99<SPEECH> 100<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 101<LINE>How called you the man you speak of, madam?</LINE> 102</SPEECH> 103 104<SPEECH> 105<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 106<LINE>He was famous, sir, in his profession, and it was</LINE> 107<LINE>his great right to be so: Gerard de Narbon.</LINE> 108</SPEECH> 109 110<SPEECH> 111<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 112<LINE>He was excellent indeed, madam: the king very</LINE> 113<LINE>lately spoke of him admiringly and mourningly: he</LINE> 114<LINE>was skilful enough to have lived still, if knowledge</LINE> 115<LINE>could be set up against mortality.</LINE> 116</SPEECH> 117 118<SPEECH> 119<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 120<LINE>What is it, my good lord, the king languishes of?</LINE> 121</SPEECH> 122 123<SPEECH> 124<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 125<LINE>A fistula, my lord.</LINE> 126</SPEECH> 127 128<SPEECH> 129<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 130<LINE>I heard not of it before.</LINE> 131</SPEECH> 132 133<SPEECH> 134<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 135<LINE>I would it were not notorious. Was this gentlewoman</LINE> 136<LINE>the daughter of Gerard de Narbon?</LINE> 137</SPEECH> 138 139<SPEECH> 140<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 141<LINE>His sole child, my lord, and bequeathed to my</LINE> 142<LINE>overlooking. I have those hopes of her good that</LINE> 143<LINE>her education promises; her dispositions she</LINE> 144<LINE>inherits, which makes fair gifts fairer; for where</LINE> 145<LINE>an unclean mind carries virtuous qualities, there</LINE> 146<LINE>commendations go with pity; they are virtues and</LINE> 147<LINE>traitors too; in her they are the better for their</LINE> 148<LINE>simpleness; she derives her honesty and achieves her goodness.</LINE> 149</SPEECH> 150 151<SPEECH> 152<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 153<LINE>Your commendations, madam, get from her tears.</LINE> 154</SPEECH> 155 156<SPEECH> 157<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 158<LINE>'Tis the best brine a maiden can season her praise</LINE> 159<LINE>in. The remembrance of her father never approaches</LINE> 160<LINE>her heart but the tyranny of her sorrows takes all</LINE> 161<LINE>livelihood from her cheek. No more of this, Helena;</LINE> 162<LINE>go to, no more; lest it be rather thought you affect</LINE> 163<LINE>a sorrow than have it.</LINE> 164</SPEECH> 165 166<SPEECH> 167<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 168<LINE>I do affect a sorrow indeed, but I have it too.</LINE> 169</SPEECH> 170 171<SPEECH> 172<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 173<LINE>Moderate lamentation is the right of the dead,</LINE> 174<LINE>excessive grief the enemy to the living.</LINE> 175</SPEECH> 176 177<SPEECH> 178<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 179<LINE>If the living be enemy to the grief, the excess</LINE> 180<LINE>makes it soon mortal.</LINE> 181</SPEECH> 182 183<SPEECH> 184<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 185<LINE>Madam, I desire your holy wishes.</LINE> 186</SPEECH> 187 188<SPEECH> 189<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 190<LINE>How understand we that?</LINE> 191</SPEECH> 192 193<SPEECH> 194<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 195<LINE>Be thou blest, Bertram, and succeed thy father</LINE> 196<LINE>In manners, as in shape! thy blood and virtue</LINE> 197<LINE>Contend for empire in thee, and thy goodness</LINE> 198<LINE>Share with thy birthright! Love all, trust a few,</LINE> 199<LINE>Do wrong to none: be able for thine enemy</LINE> 200<LINE>Rather in power than use, and keep thy friend</LINE> 201<LINE>Under thy own life's key: be cheque'd for silence,</LINE> 202<LINE>But never tax'd for speech. What heaven more will,</LINE> 203<LINE>That thee may furnish and my prayers pluck down,</LINE> 204<LINE>Fall on thy head! Farewell, my lord;</LINE> 205<LINE>'Tis an unseason'd courtier; good my lord,</LINE> 206<LINE>Advise him.</LINE> 207</SPEECH> 208 209<SPEECH> 210<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 211<LINE>He cannot want the best</LINE> 212<LINE>That shall attend his love.</LINE> 213</SPEECH> 214 215<SPEECH> 216<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 217<LINE>Heaven bless him! Farewell, Bertram.</LINE> 218</SPEECH> 219 220<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 221 222<SPEECH> 223<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 224<LINE><STAGEDIR>To HELENA</STAGEDIR> The best wishes that can be forged in</LINE> 225<LINE>your thoughts be servants to you! Be comfortable</LINE> 226<LINE>to my mother, your mistress, and make much of her.</LINE> 227</SPEECH> 228 229<SPEECH> 230<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 231<LINE>Farewell, pretty lady: you must hold the credit of</LINE> 232<LINE>your father.</LINE> 233</SPEECH> 234 235<STAGEDIR>Exeunt BERTRAM and LAFEU</STAGEDIR> 236 237<SPEECH> 238<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 239<LINE>O, were that all! I think not on my father;</LINE> 240<LINE>And these great tears grace his remembrance more</LINE> 241<LINE>Than those I shed for him. What was he like?</LINE> 242<LINE>I have forgot him: my imagination</LINE> 243<LINE>Carries no favour in't but Bertram's.</LINE> 244<LINE>I am undone: there is no living, none,</LINE> 245<LINE>If Bertram be away. 'Twere all one</LINE> 246<LINE>That I should love a bright particular star</LINE> 247<LINE>And think to wed it, he is so above me:</LINE> 248<LINE>In his bright radiance and collateral light</LINE> 249<LINE>Must I be comforted, not in his sphere.</LINE> 250<LINE>The ambition in my love thus plagues itself:</LINE> 251<LINE>The hind that would be mated by the lion</LINE> 252<LINE>Must die for love. 'Twas pretty, though plague,</LINE> 253<LINE>To see him every hour; to sit and draw</LINE> 254<LINE>His arched brows, his hawking eye, his curls,</LINE> 255<LINE>In our heart's table; heart too capable</LINE> 256<LINE>Of every line and trick of his sweet favour:</LINE> 257<LINE>But now he's gone, and my idolatrous fancy</LINE> 258<LINE>Must sanctify his reliques. Who comes here?</LINE> 259<STAGEDIR>Enter PAROLLES</STAGEDIR> 260<STAGEDIR>Aside</STAGEDIR> 261<LINE>One that goes with him: I love him for his sake;</LINE> 262<LINE>And yet I know him a notorious liar,</LINE> 263<LINE>Think him a great way fool, solely a coward;</LINE> 264<LINE>Yet these fixed evils sit so fit in him,</LINE> 265<LINE>That they take place, when virtue's steely bones</LINE> 266<LINE>Look bleak i' the cold wind: withal, full oft we see</LINE> 267<LINE>Cold wisdom waiting on superfluous folly.</LINE> 268</SPEECH> 269 270<SPEECH> 271<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 272<LINE>Save you, fair queen!</LINE> 273</SPEECH> 274 275<SPEECH> 276<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 277<LINE>And you, monarch!</LINE> 278</SPEECH> 279 280<SPEECH> 281<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 282<LINE>No.</LINE> 283</SPEECH> 284 285<SPEECH> 286<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 287<LINE>And no.</LINE> 288</SPEECH> 289 290<SPEECH> 291<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 292<LINE>Are you meditating on virginity?</LINE> 293</SPEECH> 294 295<SPEECH> 296<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 297<LINE>Ay. You have some stain of soldier in you: let me</LINE> 298<LINE>ask you a question. Man is enemy to virginity; how</LINE> 299<LINE>may we barricado it against him?</LINE> 300</SPEECH> 301 302<SPEECH> 303<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 304<LINE>Keep him out.</LINE> 305</SPEECH> 306 307<SPEECH> 308<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 309<LINE>But he assails; and our virginity, though valiant,</LINE> 310<LINE>in the defence yet is weak: unfold to us some</LINE> 311<LINE>warlike resistance.</LINE> 312</SPEECH> 313 314<SPEECH> 315<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 316<LINE>There is none: man, sitting down before you, will</LINE> 317<LINE>undermine you and blow you up.</LINE> 318</SPEECH> 319 320<SPEECH> 321<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 322<LINE>Bless our poor virginity from underminers and</LINE> 323<LINE>blowers up! Is there no military policy, how</LINE> 324<LINE>virgins might blow up men?</LINE> 325</SPEECH> 326 327<SPEECH> 328<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 329<LINE>Virginity being blown down, man will quicklier be</LINE> 330<LINE>blown up: marry, in blowing him down again, with</LINE> 331<LINE>the breach yourselves made, you lose your city. It</LINE> 332<LINE>is not politic in the commonwealth of nature to</LINE> 333<LINE>preserve virginity. Loss of virginity is rational</LINE> 334<LINE>increase and there was never virgin got till</LINE> 335<LINE>virginity was first lost. That you were made of is</LINE> 336<LINE>metal to make virgins. Virginity by being once lost</LINE> 337<LINE>may be ten times found; by being ever kept, it is</LINE> 338<LINE>ever lost: 'tis too cold a companion; away with 't!</LINE> 339</SPEECH> 340 341<SPEECH> 342<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 343<LINE>I will stand for 't a little, though therefore I die a virgin.</LINE> 344</SPEECH> 345 346<SPEECH> 347<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 348<LINE>There's little can be said in 't; 'tis against the</LINE> 349<LINE>rule of nature. To speak on the part of virginity,</LINE> 350<LINE>is to accuse your mothers; which is most infallible</LINE> 351<LINE>disobedience. He that hangs himself is a virgin:</LINE> 352<LINE>virginity murders itself and should be buried in</LINE> 353<LINE>highways out of all sanctified limit, as a desperate</LINE> 354<LINE>offendress against nature. Virginity breeds mites,</LINE> 355<LINE>much like a cheese; consumes itself to the very</LINE> 356<LINE>paring, and so dies with feeding his own stomach.</LINE> 357<LINE>Besides, virginity is peevish, proud, idle, made of</LINE> 358<LINE>self-love, which is the most inhibited sin in the</LINE> 359<LINE>canon. Keep it not; you cannot choose but loose</LINE> 360<LINE>by't: out with 't! within ten year it will make</LINE> 361<LINE>itself ten, which is a goodly increase; and the</LINE> 362<LINE>principal itself not much the worse: away with 't!</LINE> 363</SPEECH> 364 365<SPEECH> 366<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 367<LINE>How might one do, sir, to lose it to her own liking?</LINE> 368</SPEECH> 369 370<SPEECH> 371<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 372<LINE>Let me see: marry, ill, to like him that ne'er it</LINE> 373<LINE>likes. 'Tis a commodity will lose the gloss with</LINE> 374<LINE>lying; the longer kept, the less worth: off with 't</LINE> 375<LINE>while 'tis vendible; answer the time of request.</LINE> 376<LINE>Virginity, like an old courtier, wears her cap out</LINE> 377<LINE>of fashion: richly suited, but unsuitable: just</LINE> 378<LINE>like the brooch and the tooth-pick, which wear not</LINE> 379<LINE>now. Your date is better in your pie and your</LINE> 380<LINE>porridge than in your cheek; and your virginity,</LINE> 381<LINE>your old virginity, is like one of our French</LINE> 382<LINE>withered pears, it looks ill, it eats drily; marry,</LINE> 383<LINE>'tis a withered pear; it was formerly better;</LINE> 384<LINE>marry, yet 'tis a withered pear: will you anything with it?</LINE> 385</SPEECH> 386 387<SPEECH> 388<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 389<LINE>Not my virginity yet</LINE> 390<LINE>There shall your master have a thousand loves,</LINE> 391<LINE>A mother and a mistress and a friend,</LINE> 392<LINE>A phoenix, captain and an enemy,</LINE> 393<LINE>A guide, a goddess, and a sovereign,</LINE> 394<LINE>A counsellor, a traitress, and a dear;</LINE> 395<LINE>His humble ambition, proud humility,</LINE> 396<LINE>His jarring concord, and his discord dulcet,</LINE> 397<LINE>His faith, his sweet disaster; with a world</LINE> 398<LINE>Of pretty, fond, adoptious christendoms,</LINE> 399<LINE>That blinking Cupid gossips. Now shall he--</LINE> 400<LINE>I know not what he shall. God send him well!</LINE> 401<LINE>The court's a learning place, and he is one--</LINE> 402</SPEECH> 403 404<SPEECH> 405<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 406<LINE>What one, i' faith?</LINE> 407</SPEECH> 408 409<SPEECH> 410<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 411<LINE>That I wish well. 'Tis pity--</LINE> 412</SPEECH> 413 414<SPEECH> 415<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 416<LINE>What's pity?</LINE> 417</SPEECH> 418 419<SPEECH> 420<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 421<LINE>That wishing well had not a body in't,</LINE> 422<LINE>Which might be felt; that we, the poorer born,</LINE> 423<LINE>Whose baser stars do shut us up in wishes,</LINE> 424<LINE>Might with effects of them follow our friends,</LINE> 425<LINE>And show what we alone must think, which never</LINE> 426<LINE>Return us thanks.</LINE> 427</SPEECH> 428 429<STAGEDIR>Enter Page</STAGEDIR> 430 431<SPEECH> 432<SPEAKER>Page</SPEAKER> 433<LINE>Monsieur Parolles, my lord calls for you.</LINE> 434</SPEECH> 435 436<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 437 438<SPEECH> 439<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 440<LINE>Little Helen, farewell; if I can remember thee, I</LINE> 441<LINE>will think of thee at court.</LINE> 442</SPEECH> 443 444<SPEECH> 445<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 446<LINE>Monsieur Parolles, you were born under a charitable star.</LINE> 447</SPEECH> 448 449<SPEECH> 450<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 451<LINE>Under Mars, I.</LINE> 452</SPEECH> 453 454<SPEECH> 455<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 456<LINE>I especially think, under Mars.</LINE> 457</SPEECH> 458 459<SPEECH> 460<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 461<LINE>Why under Mars?</LINE> 462</SPEECH> 463 464<SPEECH> 465<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 466<LINE>The wars have so kept you under that you must needs</LINE> 467<LINE>be born under Mars.</LINE> 468</SPEECH> 469 470<SPEECH> 471<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 472<LINE>When he was predominant.</LINE> 473</SPEECH> 474 475<SPEECH> 476<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 477<LINE>When he was retrograde, I think, rather.</LINE> 478</SPEECH> 479 480<SPEECH> 481<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 482<LINE>Why think you so?</LINE> 483</SPEECH> 484 485<SPEECH> 486<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 487<LINE>You go so much backward when you fight.</LINE> 488</SPEECH> 489 490<SPEECH> 491<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 492<LINE>That's for advantage.</LINE> 493</SPEECH> 494 495<SPEECH> 496<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 497<LINE>So is running away, when fear proposes the safety;</LINE> 498<LINE>but the composition that your valour and fear makes</LINE> 499<LINE>in you is a virtue of a good wing, and I like the wear well.</LINE> 500</SPEECH> 501 502<SPEECH> 503<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 504<LINE>I am so full of businesses, I cannot answer thee</LINE> 505<LINE>acutely. I will return perfect courtier; in the</LINE> 506<LINE>which, my instruction shall serve to naturalize</LINE> 507<LINE>thee, so thou wilt be capable of a courtier's</LINE> 508<LINE>counsel and understand what advice shall thrust upon</LINE> 509<LINE>thee; else thou diest in thine unthankfulness, and</LINE> 510<LINE>thine ignorance makes thee away: farewell. When</LINE> 511<LINE>thou hast leisure, say thy prayers; when thou hast</LINE> 512<LINE>none, remember thy friends; get thee a good husband,</LINE> 513<LINE>and use him as he uses thee; so, farewell.</LINE> 514</SPEECH> 515 516<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 517 518<SPEECH> 519<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 520<LINE>Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie,</LINE> 521<LINE>Which we ascribe to heaven: the fated sky</LINE> 522<LINE>Gives us free scope, only doth backward pull</LINE> 523<LINE>Our slow designs when we ourselves are dull.</LINE> 524<LINE>What power is it which mounts my love so high,</LINE> 525<LINE>That makes me see, and cannot feed mine eye?</LINE> 526<LINE>The mightiest space in fortune nature brings</LINE> 527<LINE>To join like likes and kiss like native things.</LINE> 528<LINE>Impossible be strange attempts to those</LINE> 529<LINE>That weigh their pains in sense and do suppose</LINE> 530<LINE>What hath been cannot be: who ever strove</LINE> 531<LINE>So show her merit, that did miss her love?</LINE> 532<LINE>The king's disease--my project may deceive me,</LINE> 533<LINE>But my intents are fix'd and will not leave me.</LINE> 534</SPEECH> 535 536<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 537</SCENE> 538 539<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE II. Paris. The KING's palace.</TITLE> 540<STAGEDIR>Flourish of cornets. Enter the KING of France, 541with letters, and divers Attendants</STAGEDIR> 542 543<SPEECH> 544<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 545<LINE>The Florentines and Senoys are by the ears;</LINE> 546<LINE>Have fought with equal fortune and continue</LINE> 547<LINE>A braving war.</LINE> 548</SPEECH> 549 550<SPEECH> 551<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 552<LINE>So 'tis reported, sir.</LINE> 553</SPEECH> 554 555<SPEECH> 556<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 557<LINE>Nay, 'tis most credible; we here received it</LINE> 558<LINE>A certainty, vouch'd from our cousin Austria,</LINE> 559<LINE>With caution that the Florentine will move us</LINE> 560<LINE>For speedy aid; wherein our dearest friend</LINE> 561<LINE>Prejudicates the business and would seem</LINE> 562<LINE>To have us make denial.</LINE> 563</SPEECH> 564 565<SPEECH> 566<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 567<LINE>His love and wisdom,</LINE> 568<LINE>Approved so to your majesty, may plead</LINE> 569<LINE>For amplest credence.</LINE> 570</SPEECH> 571 572<SPEECH> 573<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 574<LINE>He hath arm'd our answer,</LINE> 575<LINE>And Florence is denied before he comes:</LINE> 576<LINE>Yet, for our gentlemen that mean to see</LINE> 577<LINE>The Tuscan service, freely have they leave</LINE> 578<LINE>To stand on either part.</LINE> 579</SPEECH> 580 581<SPEECH> 582<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 583<LINE>It well may serve</LINE> 584<LINE>A nursery to our gentry, who are sick</LINE> 585<LINE>For breathing and exploit.</LINE> 586</SPEECH> 587 588<SPEECH> 589<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 590<LINE>What's he comes here?</LINE> 591</SPEECH> 592 593<STAGEDIR>Enter BERTRAM, LAFEU, and PAROLLES</STAGEDIR> 594 595<SPEECH> 596<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 597<LINE>It is the Count Rousillon, my good lord,</LINE> 598<LINE>Young Bertram.</LINE> 599</SPEECH> 600 601<SPEECH> 602<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 603<LINE>Youth, thou bear'st thy father's face;</LINE> 604<LINE>Frank nature, rather curious than in haste,</LINE> 605<LINE>Hath well composed thee. Thy father's moral parts</LINE> 606<LINE>Mayst thou inherit too! Welcome to Paris.</LINE> 607</SPEECH> 608 609<SPEECH> 610<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 611<LINE>My thanks and duty are your majesty's.</LINE> 612</SPEECH> 613 614<SPEECH> 615<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 616<LINE>I would I had that corporal soundness now,</LINE> 617<LINE>As when thy father and myself in friendship</LINE> 618<LINE>First tried our soldiership! He did look far</LINE> 619<LINE>Into the service of the time and was</LINE> 620<LINE>Discipled of the bravest: he lasted long;</LINE> 621<LINE>But on us both did haggish age steal on</LINE> 622<LINE>And wore us out of act. It much repairs me</LINE> 623<LINE>To talk of your good father. In his youth</LINE> 624<LINE>He had the wit which I can well observe</LINE> 625<LINE>To-day in our young lords; but they may jest</LINE> 626<LINE>Till their own scorn return to them unnoted</LINE> 627<LINE>Ere they can hide their levity in honour;</LINE> 628<LINE>So like a courtier, contempt nor bitterness</LINE> 629<LINE>Were in his pride or sharpness; if they were,</LINE> 630<LINE>His equal had awaked them, and his honour,</LINE> 631<LINE>Clock to itself, knew the true minute when</LINE> 632<LINE>Exception bid him speak, and at this time</LINE> 633<LINE>His tongue obey'd his hand: who were below him</LINE> 634<LINE>He used as creatures of another place</LINE> 635<LINE>And bow'd his eminent top to their low ranks,</LINE> 636<LINE>Making them proud of his humility,</LINE> 637<LINE>In their poor praise he humbled. Such a man</LINE> 638<LINE>Might be a copy to these younger times;</LINE> 639<LINE>Which, follow'd well, would demonstrate them now</LINE> 640<LINE>But goers backward.</LINE> 641</SPEECH> 642 643<SPEECH> 644<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 645<LINE>His good remembrance, sir,</LINE> 646<LINE>Lies richer in your thoughts than on his tomb;</LINE> 647<LINE>So in approof lives not his epitaph</LINE> 648<LINE>As in your royal speech.</LINE> 649</SPEECH> 650 651<SPEECH> 652<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 653<LINE>Would I were with him! He would always say--</LINE> 654<LINE>Methinks I hear him now; his plausive words</LINE> 655<LINE>He scatter'd not in ears, but grafted them,</LINE> 656<LINE>To grow there and to bear,--'Let me not live,'--</LINE> 657<LINE>This his good melancholy oft began,</LINE> 658<LINE>On the catastrophe and heel of pastime,</LINE> 659<LINE>When it was out,--'Let me not live,' quoth he,</LINE> 660<LINE>'After my flame lacks oil, to be the snuff</LINE> 661<LINE>Of younger spirits, whose apprehensive senses</LINE> 662<LINE>All but new things disdain; whose judgments are</LINE> 663<LINE>Mere fathers of their garments; whose constancies</LINE> 664<LINE>Expire before their fashions.' This he wish'd;</LINE> 665<LINE>I after him do after him wish too,</LINE> 666<LINE>Since I nor wax nor honey can bring home,</LINE> 667<LINE>I quickly were dissolved from my hive,</LINE> 668<LINE>To give some labourers room.</LINE> 669</SPEECH> 670 671<SPEECH> 672<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 673<LINE>You are loved, sir:</LINE> 674<LINE>They that least lend it you shall lack you first.</LINE> 675</SPEECH> 676 677<SPEECH> 678<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 679<LINE>I fill a place, I know't. How long is't, count,</LINE> 680<LINE>Since the physician at your father's died?</LINE> 681<LINE>He was much famed.</LINE> 682</SPEECH> 683 684<SPEECH> 685<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 686<LINE>Some six months since, my lord.</LINE> 687</SPEECH> 688 689<SPEECH> 690<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 691<LINE>If he were living, I would try him yet.</LINE> 692<LINE>Lend me an arm; the rest have worn me out</LINE> 693<LINE>With several applications; nature and sickness</LINE> 694<LINE>Debate it at their leisure. Welcome, count;</LINE> 695<LINE>My son's no dearer.</LINE> 696</SPEECH> 697 698<SPEECH> 699<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 700<LINE>Thank your majesty.</LINE> 701</SPEECH> 702 703<STAGEDIR>Exeunt. Flourish</STAGEDIR> 704</SCENE> 705 706<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE III. Rousillon. The COUNT's palace.</TITLE> 707<STAGEDIR>Enter COUNTESS, Steward, and Clown</STAGEDIR> 708 709<SPEECH> 710<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 711<LINE>I will now hear; what say you of this gentlewoman?</LINE> 712</SPEECH> 713 714<SPEECH> 715<SPEAKER>Steward</SPEAKER> 716<LINE>Madam, the care I have had to even your content, I</LINE> 717<LINE>wish might be found in the calendar of my past</LINE> 718<LINE>endeavours; for then we wound our modesty and make</LINE> 719<LINE>foul the clearness of our deservings, when of</LINE> 720<LINE>ourselves we publish them.</LINE> 721</SPEECH> 722 723<SPEECH> 724<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 725<LINE>What does this knave here? Get you gone, sirrah:</LINE> 726<LINE>the complaints I have heard of you I do not all</LINE> 727<LINE>believe: 'tis my slowness that I do not; for I know</LINE> 728<LINE>you lack not folly to commit them, and have ability</LINE> 729<LINE>enough to make such knaveries yours.</LINE> 730</SPEECH> 731 732<SPEECH> 733<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 734<LINE>'Tis not unknown to you, madam, I am a poor fellow.</LINE> 735</SPEECH> 736 737<SPEECH> 738<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 739<LINE>Well, sir.</LINE> 740</SPEECH> 741 742<SPEECH> 743<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 744<LINE>No, madam, 'tis not so well that I am poor, though</LINE> 745<LINE>many of the rich are damned: but, if I may have</LINE> 746<LINE>your ladyship's good will to go to the world, Isbel</LINE> 747<LINE>the woman and I will do as we may.</LINE> 748</SPEECH> 749 750<SPEECH> 751<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 752<LINE>Wilt thou needs be a beggar?</LINE> 753</SPEECH> 754 755<SPEECH> 756<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 757<LINE>I do beg your good will in this case.</LINE> 758</SPEECH> 759 760<SPEECH> 761<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 762<LINE>In what case?</LINE> 763</SPEECH> 764 765<SPEECH> 766<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 767<LINE>In Isbel's case and mine own. Service is no</LINE> 768<LINE>heritage: and I think I shall never have the</LINE> 769<LINE>blessing of God till I have issue o' my body; for</LINE> 770<LINE>they say barnes are blessings.</LINE> 771</SPEECH> 772 773<SPEECH> 774<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 775<LINE>Tell me thy reason why thou wilt marry.</LINE> 776</SPEECH> 777 778<SPEECH> 779<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 780<LINE>My poor body, madam, requires it: I am driven on</LINE> 781<LINE>by the flesh; and he must needs go that the devil drives.</LINE> 782</SPEECH> 783 784<SPEECH> 785<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 786<LINE>Is this all your worship's reason?</LINE> 787</SPEECH> 788 789<SPEECH> 790<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 791<LINE>Faith, madam, I have other holy reasons such as they</LINE> 792<LINE>are.</LINE> 793</SPEECH> 794 795<SPEECH> 796<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 797<LINE>May the world know them?</LINE> 798</SPEECH> 799 800<SPEECH> 801<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 802<LINE>I have been, madam, a wicked creature, as you and</LINE> 803<LINE>all flesh and blood are; and, indeed, I do marry</LINE> 804<LINE>that I may repent.</LINE> 805</SPEECH> 806 807<SPEECH> 808<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 809<LINE>Thy marriage, sooner than thy wickedness.</LINE> 810</SPEECH> 811 812<SPEECH> 813<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 814<LINE>I am out o' friends, madam; and I hope to have</LINE> 815<LINE>friends for my wife's sake.</LINE> 816</SPEECH> 817 818<SPEECH> 819<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 820<LINE>Such friends are thine enemies, knave.</LINE> 821</SPEECH> 822 823<SPEECH> 824<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 825<LINE>You're shallow, madam, in great friends; for the</LINE> 826<LINE>knaves come to do that for me which I am aweary of.</LINE> 827<LINE>He that ears my land spares my team and gives me</LINE> 828<LINE>leave to in the crop; if I be his cuckold, he's my</LINE> 829<LINE>drudge: he that comforts my wife is the cherisher</LINE> 830<LINE>of my flesh and blood; he that cherishes my flesh</LINE> 831<LINE>and blood loves my flesh and blood; he that loves my</LINE> 832<LINE>flesh and blood is my friend: ergo, he that kisses</LINE> 833<LINE>my wife is my friend. If men could be contented to</LINE> 834<LINE>be what they are, there were no fear in marriage;</LINE> 835<LINE>for young Charbon the Puritan and old Poysam the</LINE> 836<LINE>Papist, howsome'er their hearts are severed in</LINE> 837<LINE>religion, their heads are both one; they may jowl</LINE> 838<LINE>horns together, like any deer i' the herd.</LINE> 839</SPEECH> 840 841<SPEECH> 842<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 843<LINE>Wilt thou ever be a foul-mouthed and calumnious knave?</LINE> 844</SPEECH> 845 846<SPEECH> 847<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 848<LINE>A prophet I, madam; and I speak the truth the next</LINE> 849<LINE>way:</LINE> 850<LINE>For I the ballad will repeat,</LINE> 851<LINE>Which men full true shall find;</LINE> 852<LINE>Your marriage comes by destiny,</LINE> 853<LINE>Your cuckoo sings by kind.</LINE> 854</SPEECH> 855 856<SPEECH> 857<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 858<LINE>Get you gone, sir; I'll talk with you more anon.</LINE> 859</SPEECH> 860 861<SPEECH> 862<SPEAKER>Steward</SPEAKER> 863<LINE>May it please you, madam, that he bid Helen come to</LINE> 864<LINE>you: of her I am to speak.</LINE> 865</SPEECH> 866 867<SPEECH> 868<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 869<LINE>Sirrah, tell my gentlewoman I would speak with her;</LINE> 870<LINE>Helen, I mean.</LINE> 871</SPEECH> 872 873<SPEECH> 874<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 875<LINE>Was this fair face the cause, quoth she,</LINE> 876<LINE>Why the Grecians sacked Troy?</LINE> 877<LINE>Fond done, done fond,</LINE> 878<LINE>Was this King Priam's joy?</LINE> 879<LINE>With that she sighed as she stood,</LINE> 880<LINE>With that she sighed as she stood,</LINE> 881<LINE>And gave this sentence then;</LINE> 882<LINE>Among nine bad if one be good,</LINE> 883<LINE>Among nine bad if one be good,</LINE> 884<LINE>There's yet one good in ten.</LINE> 885</SPEECH> 886 887<SPEECH> 888<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 889<LINE>What, one good in ten? you corrupt the song, sirrah.</LINE> 890</SPEECH> 891 892<SPEECH> 893<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 894<LINE>One good woman in ten, madam; which is a purifying</LINE> 895<LINE>o' the song: would God would serve the world so all</LINE> 896<LINE>the year! we'ld find no fault with the tithe-woman,</LINE> 897<LINE>if I were the parson. One in ten, quoth a'! An we</LINE> 898<LINE>might have a good woman born but one every blazing</LINE> 899<LINE>star, or at an earthquake, 'twould mend the lottery</LINE> 900<LINE>well: a man may draw his heart out, ere a' pluck</LINE> 901<LINE>one.</LINE> 902</SPEECH> 903 904<SPEECH> 905<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 906<LINE>You'll be gone, sir knave, and do as I command you.</LINE> 907</SPEECH> 908 909<SPEECH> 910<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 911<LINE>That man should be at woman's command, and yet no</LINE> 912<LINE>hurt done! Though honesty be no puritan, yet it</LINE> 913<LINE>will do no hurt; it will wear the surplice of</LINE> 914<LINE>humility over the black gown of a big heart. I am</LINE> 915<LINE>going, forsooth: the business is for Helen to come hither.</LINE> 916</SPEECH> 917 918<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 919 920<SPEECH> 921<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 922<LINE>Well, now.</LINE> 923</SPEECH> 924 925<SPEECH> 926<SPEAKER>Steward</SPEAKER> 927<LINE>I know, madam, you love your gentlewoman entirely.</LINE> 928</SPEECH> 929 930<SPEECH> 931<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 932<LINE>Faith, I do: her father bequeathed her to me; and</LINE> 933<LINE>she herself, without other advantage, may lawfully</LINE> 934<LINE>make title to as much love as she finds: there is</LINE> 935<LINE>more owing her than is paid; and more shall be paid</LINE> 936<LINE>her than she'll demand.</LINE> 937</SPEECH> 938 939<SPEECH> 940<SPEAKER>Steward</SPEAKER> 941<LINE>Madam, I was very late more near her than I think</LINE> 942<LINE>she wished me: alone she was, and did communicate</LINE> 943<LINE>to herself her own words to her own ears; she</LINE> 944<LINE>thought, I dare vow for her, they touched not any</LINE> 945<LINE>stranger sense. Her matter was, she loved your son:</LINE> 946<LINE>Fortune, she said, was no goddess, that had put</LINE> 947<LINE>such difference betwixt their two estates; Love no</LINE> 948<LINE>god, that would not extend his might, only where</LINE> 949<LINE>qualities were level; Dian no queen of virgins, that</LINE> 950<LINE>would suffer her poor knight surprised, without</LINE> 951<LINE>rescue in the first assault or ransom afterward.</LINE> 952<LINE>This she delivered in the most bitter touch of</LINE> 953<LINE>sorrow that e'er I heard virgin exclaim in: which I</LINE> 954<LINE>held my duty speedily to acquaint you withal;</LINE> 955<LINE>sithence, in the loss that may happen, it concerns</LINE> 956<LINE>you something to know it.</LINE> 957</SPEECH> 958 959<SPEECH> 960<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 961<LINE>You have discharged this honestly; keep it to</LINE> 962<LINE>yourself: many likelihoods informed me of this</LINE> 963<LINE>before, which hung so tottering in the balance that</LINE> 964<LINE>I could neither believe nor misdoubt. Pray you,</LINE> 965<LINE>leave me: stall this in your bosom; and I thank you</LINE> 966<LINE>for your honest care: I will speak with you further anon.</LINE> 967<STAGEDIR>Exit Steward</STAGEDIR> 968<STAGEDIR>Enter HELENA</STAGEDIR> 969<LINE>Even so it was with me when I was young:</LINE> 970<LINE>If ever we are nature's, these are ours; this thorn</LINE> 971<LINE>Doth to our rose of youth rightly belong;</LINE> 972<LINE>Our blood to us, this to our blood is born;</LINE> 973<LINE>It is the show and seal of nature's truth,</LINE> 974<LINE>Where love's strong passion is impress'd in youth:</LINE> 975<LINE>By our remembrances of days foregone,</LINE> 976<LINE>Such were our faults, or then we thought them none.</LINE> 977<LINE>Her eye is sick on't: I observe her now.</LINE> 978</SPEECH> 979 980<SPEECH> 981<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 982<LINE>What is your pleasure, madam?</LINE> 983</SPEECH> 984 985<SPEECH> 986<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 987<LINE>You know, Helen,</LINE> 988<LINE>I am a mother to you.</LINE> 989</SPEECH> 990 991<SPEECH> 992<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 993<LINE>Mine honourable mistress.</LINE> 994</SPEECH> 995 996<SPEECH> 997<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 998<LINE>Nay, a mother:</LINE> 999<LINE>Why not a mother? When I said 'a mother,'</LINE> 1000<LINE>Methought you saw a serpent: what's in 'mother,'</LINE> 1001<LINE>That you start at it? I say, I am your mother;</LINE> 1002<LINE>And put you in the catalogue of those</LINE> 1003<LINE>That were enwombed mine: 'tis often seen</LINE> 1004<LINE>Adoption strives with nature and choice breeds</LINE> 1005<LINE>A native slip to us from foreign seeds:</LINE> 1006<LINE>You ne'er oppress'd me with a mother's groan,</LINE> 1007<LINE>Yet I express to you a mother's care:</LINE> 1008<LINE>God's mercy, maiden! does it curd thy blood</LINE> 1009<LINE>To say I am thy mother? What's the matter,</LINE> 1010<LINE>That this distemper'd messenger of wet,</LINE> 1011<LINE>The many-colour'd Iris, rounds thine eye?</LINE> 1012<LINE>Why? that you are my daughter?</LINE> 1013</SPEECH> 1014 1015<SPEECH> 1016<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1017<LINE>That I am not.</LINE> 1018</SPEECH> 1019 1020<SPEECH> 1021<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1022<LINE>I say, I am your mother.</LINE> 1023</SPEECH> 1024 1025<SPEECH> 1026<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1027<LINE>Pardon, madam;</LINE> 1028<LINE>The Count Rousillon cannot be my brother:</LINE> 1029<LINE>I am from humble, he from honour'd name;</LINE> 1030<LINE>No note upon my parents, his all noble:</LINE> 1031<LINE>My master, my dear lord he is; and I</LINE> 1032<LINE>His servant live, and will his vassal die:</LINE> 1033<LINE>He must not be my brother.</LINE> 1034</SPEECH> 1035 1036<SPEECH> 1037<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1038<LINE>Nor I your mother?</LINE> 1039</SPEECH> 1040 1041<SPEECH> 1042<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1043<LINE>You are my mother, madam; would you were,--</LINE> 1044<LINE>So that my lord your son were not my brother,--</LINE> 1045<LINE>Indeed my mother! or were you both our mothers,</LINE> 1046<LINE>I care no more for than I do for heaven,</LINE> 1047<LINE>So I were not his sister. Can't no other,</LINE> 1048<LINE>But, I your daughter, he must be my brother?</LINE> 1049</SPEECH> 1050 1051<SPEECH> 1052<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1053<LINE>Yes, Helen, you might be my daughter-in-law:</LINE> 1054<LINE>God shield you mean it not! daughter and mother</LINE> 1055<LINE>So strive upon your pulse. What, pale again?</LINE> 1056<LINE>My fear hath catch'd your fondness: now I see</LINE> 1057<LINE>The mystery of your loneliness, and find</LINE> 1058<LINE>Your salt tears' head: now to all sense 'tis gross</LINE> 1059<LINE>You love my son; invention is ashamed,</LINE> 1060<LINE>Against the proclamation of thy passion,</LINE> 1061<LINE>To say thou dost not: therefore tell me true;</LINE> 1062<LINE>But tell me then, 'tis so; for, look thy cheeks</LINE> 1063<LINE>Confess it, th' one to th' other; and thine eyes</LINE> 1064<LINE>See it so grossly shown in thy behaviors</LINE> 1065<LINE>That in their kind they speak it: only sin</LINE> 1066<LINE>And hellish obstinacy tie thy tongue,</LINE> 1067<LINE>That truth should be suspected. Speak, is't so?</LINE> 1068<LINE>If it be so, you have wound a goodly clew;</LINE> 1069<LINE>If it be not, forswear't: howe'er, I charge thee,</LINE> 1070<LINE>As heaven shall work in me for thine avail,</LINE> 1071<LINE>Tell me truly.</LINE> 1072</SPEECH> 1073 1074<SPEECH> 1075<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1076<LINE>Good madam, pardon me!</LINE> 1077</SPEECH> 1078 1079<SPEECH> 1080<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1081<LINE>Do you love my son?</LINE> 1082</SPEECH> 1083 1084<SPEECH> 1085<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1086<LINE>Your pardon, noble mistress!</LINE> 1087</SPEECH> 1088 1089<SPEECH> 1090<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1091<LINE>Love you my son?</LINE> 1092</SPEECH> 1093 1094<SPEECH> 1095<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1096<LINE>Do not you love him, madam?</LINE> 1097</SPEECH> 1098 1099<SPEECH> 1100<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1101<LINE>Go not about; my love hath in't a bond,</LINE> 1102<LINE>Whereof the world takes note: come, come, disclose</LINE> 1103<LINE>The state of your affection; for your passions</LINE> 1104<LINE>Have to the full appeach'd.</LINE> 1105</SPEECH> 1106 1107<SPEECH> 1108<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1109<LINE>Then, I confess,</LINE> 1110<LINE>Here on my knee, before high heaven and you,</LINE> 1111<LINE>That before you, and next unto high heaven,</LINE> 1112<LINE>I love your son.</LINE> 1113<LINE>My friends were poor, but honest; so's my love:</LINE> 1114<LINE>Be not offended; for it hurts not him</LINE> 1115<LINE>That he is loved of me: I follow him not</LINE> 1116<LINE>By any token of presumptuous suit;</LINE> 1117<LINE>Nor would I have him till I do deserve him;</LINE> 1118<LINE>Yet never know how that desert should be.</LINE> 1119<LINE>I know I love in vain, strive against hope;</LINE> 1120<LINE>Yet in this captious and intenible sieve</LINE> 1121<LINE>I still pour in the waters of my love</LINE> 1122<LINE>And lack not to lose still: thus, Indian-like,</LINE> 1123<LINE>Religious in mine error, I adore</LINE> 1124<LINE>The sun, that looks upon his worshipper,</LINE> 1125<LINE>But knows of him no more. My dearest madam,</LINE> 1126<LINE>Let not your hate encounter with my love</LINE> 1127<LINE>For loving where you do: but if yourself,</LINE> 1128<LINE>Whose aged honour cites a virtuous youth,</LINE> 1129<LINE>Did ever in so true a flame of liking</LINE> 1130<LINE>Wish chastely and love dearly, that your Dian</LINE> 1131<LINE>Was both herself and love: O, then, give pity</LINE> 1132<LINE>To her, whose state is such that cannot choose</LINE> 1133<LINE>But lend and give where she is sure to lose;</LINE> 1134<LINE>That seeks not to find that her search implies,</LINE> 1135<LINE>But riddle-like lives sweetly where she dies!</LINE> 1136</SPEECH> 1137 1138<SPEECH> 1139<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1140<LINE>Had you not lately an intent,--speak truly,--</LINE> 1141<LINE>To go to Paris?</LINE> 1142</SPEECH> 1143 1144<SPEECH> 1145<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1146<LINE>Madam, I had.</LINE> 1147</SPEECH> 1148 1149<SPEECH> 1150<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1151<LINE>Wherefore? tell true.</LINE> 1152</SPEECH> 1153 1154<SPEECH> 1155<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1156<LINE>I will tell truth; by grace itself I swear.</LINE> 1157<LINE>You know my father left me some prescriptions</LINE> 1158<LINE>Of rare and proved effects, such as his reading</LINE> 1159<LINE>And manifest experience had collected</LINE> 1160<LINE>For general sovereignty; and that he will'd me</LINE> 1161<LINE>In heedfull'st reservation to bestow them,</LINE> 1162<LINE>As notes whose faculties inclusive were</LINE> 1163<LINE>More than they were in note: amongst the rest,</LINE> 1164<LINE>There is a remedy, approved, set down,</LINE> 1165<LINE>To cure the desperate languishings whereof</LINE> 1166<LINE>The king is render'd lost.</LINE> 1167</SPEECH> 1168 1169<SPEECH> 1170<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1171<LINE>This was your motive</LINE> 1172<LINE>For Paris, was it? speak.</LINE> 1173</SPEECH> 1174 1175<SPEECH> 1176<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1177<LINE>My lord your son made me to think of this;</LINE> 1178<LINE>Else Paris and the medicine and the king</LINE> 1179<LINE>Had from the conversation of my thoughts</LINE> 1180<LINE>Haply been absent then.</LINE> 1181</SPEECH> 1182 1183<SPEECH> 1184<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1185<LINE>But think you, Helen,</LINE> 1186<LINE>If you should tender your supposed aid,</LINE> 1187<LINE>He would receive it? he and his physicians</LINE> 1188<LINE>Are of a mind; he, that they cannot help him,</LINE> 1189<LINE>They, that they cannot help: how shall they credit</LINE> 1190<LINE>A poor unlearned virgin, when the schools,</LINE> 1191<LINE>Embowell'd of their doctrine, have left off</LINE> 1192<LINE>The danger to itself?</LINE> 1193</SPEECH> 1194 1195<SPEECH> 1196<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1197<LINE>There's something in't,</LINE> 1198<LINE>More than my father's skill, which was the greatest</LINE> 1199<LINE>Of his profession, that his good receipt</LINE> 1200<LINE>Shall for my legacy be sanctified</LINE> 1201<LINE>By the luckiest stars in heaven: and, would your honour</LINE> 1202<LINE>But give me leave to try success, I'ld venture</LINE> 1203<LINE>The well-lost life of mine on his grace's cure</LINE> 1204<LINE>By such a day and hour.</LINE> 1205</SPEECH> 1206 1207<SPEECH> 1208<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1209<LINE>Dost thou believe't?</LINE> 1210</SPEECH> 1211 1212<SPEECH> 1213<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1214<LINE>Ay, madam, knowingly.</LINE> 1215</SPEECH> 1216 1217<SPEECH> 1218<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1219<LINE>Why, Helen, thou shalt have my leave and love,</LINE> 1220<LINE>Means and attendants and my loving greetings</LINE> 1221<LINE>To those of mine in court: I'll stay at home</LINE> 1222<LINE>And pray God's blessing into thy attempt:</LINE> 1223<LINE>Be gone to-morrow; and be sure of this,</LINE> 1224<LINE>What I can help thee to thou shalt not miss.</LINE> 1225</SPEECH> 1226 1227<STAGEDIR>Exeunt</STAGEDIR> 1228</SCENE> 1229 1230</ACT> 1231 1232<ACT><TITLE>ACT II</TITLE> 1233 1234<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE I. Paris. The KING's palace.</TITLE> 1235<STAGEDIR>Flourish of cornets. Enter the KING, attended 1236with divers young Lords taking leave for the 1237Florentine war; BERTRAM, and PAROLLES</STAGEDIR> 1238 1239<SPEECH> 1240<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 1241<LINE>Farewell, young lords; these warlike principles</LINE> 1242<LINE>Do not throw from you: and you, my lords, farewell:</LINE> 1243<LINE>Share the advice betwixt you; if both gain, all</LINE> 1244<LINE>The gift doth stretch itself as 'tis received,</LINE> 1245<LINE>And is enough for both.</LINE> 1246</SPEECH> 1247 1248<SPEECH> 1249<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 1250<LINE>'Tis our hope, sir,</LINE> 1251<LINE>After well enter'd soldiers, to return</LINE> 1252<LINE>And find your grace in health.</LINE> 1253</SPEECH> 1254 1255<SPEECH> 1256<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 1257<LINE>No, no, it cannot be; and yet my heart</LINE> 1258<LINE>Will not confess he owes the malady</LINE> 1259<LINE>That doth my life besiege. Farewell, young lords;</LINE> 1260<LINE>Whether I live or die, be you the sons</LINE> 1261<LINE>Of worthy Frenchmen: let higher Italy,--</LINE> 1262<LINE>Those bated that inherit but the fall</LINE> 1263<LINE>Of the last monarchy,--see that you come</LINE> 1264<LINE>Not to woo honour, but to wed it; when</LINE> 1265<LINE>The bravest questant shrinks, find what you seek,</LINE> 1266<LINE>That fame may cry you loud: I say, farewell.</LINE> 1267</SPEECH> 1268 1269<SPEECH> 1270<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 1271<LINE>Health, at your bidding, serve your majesty!</LINE> 1272</SPEECH> 1273 1274<SPEECH> 1275<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 1276<LINE>Those girls of Italy, take heed of them:</LINE> 1277<LINE>They say, our French lack language to deny,</LINE> 1278<LINE>If they demand: beware of being captives,</LINE> 1279<LINE>Before you serve.</LINE> 1280</SPEECH> 1281 1282<SPEECH> 1283<SPEAKER>Both</SPEAKER> 1284<LINE>Our hearts receive your warnings.</LINE> 1285</SPEECH> 1286 1287<SPEECH> 1288<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 1289<LINE>Farewell. Come hither to me.</LINE> 1290</SPEECH> 1291 1292<STAGEDIR>Exit, attended</STAGEDIR> 1293 1294<SPEECH> 1295<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 1296<LINE>O, my sweet lord, that you will stay behind us!</LINE> 1297</SPEECH> 1298 1299<SPEECH> 1300<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 1301<LINE>'Tis not his fault, the spark.</LINE> 1302</SPEECH> 1303 1304<SPEECH> 1305<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 1306<LINE>O, 'tis brave wars!</LINE> 1307</SPEECH> 1308 1309<SPEECH> 1310<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 1311<LINE>Most admirable: I have seen those wars.</LINE> 1312</SPEECH> 1313 1314<SPEECH> 1315<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 1316<LINE>I am commanded here, and kept a coil with</LINE> 1317<LINE>'Too young' and 'the next year' and ''tis too early.'</LINE> 1318</SPEECH> 1319 1320<SPEECH> 1321<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 1322<LINE>An thy mind stand to't, boy, steal away bravely.</LINE> 1323</SPEECH> 1324 1325<SPEECH> 1326<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 1327<LINE>I shall stay here the forehorse to a smock,</LINE> 1328<LINE>Creaking my shoes on the plain masonry,</LINE> 1329<LINE>Till honour be bought up and no sword worn</LINE> 1330<LINE>But one to dance with! By heaven, I'll steal away.</LINE> 1331</SPEECH> 1332 1333<SPEECH> 1334<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 1335<LINE>There's honour in the theft.</LINE> 1336</SPEECH> 1337 1338<SPEECH> 1339<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 1340<LINE>Commit it, count.</LINE> 1341</SPEECH> 1342 1343<SPEECH> 1344<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 1345<LINE>I am your accessary; and so, farewell.</LINE> 1346</SPEECH> 1347 1348<SPEECH> 1349<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 1350<LINE>I grow to you, and our parting is a tortured body.</LINE> 1351</SPEECH> 1352 1353<SPEECH> 1354<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 1355<LINE>Farewell, captain.</LINE> 1356</SPEECH> 1357 1358<SPEECH> 1359<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 1360<LINE>Sweet Monsieur Parolles!</LINE> 1361</SPEECH> 1362 1363<SPEECH> 1364<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 1365<LINE>Noble heroes, my sword and yours are kin. Good</LINE> 1366<LINE>sparks and lustrous, a word, good metals: you shall</LINE> 1367<LINE>find in the regiment of the Spinii one Captain</LINE> 1368<LINE>Spurio, with his cicatrice, an emblem of war, here</LINE> 1369<LINE>on his sinister cheek; it was this very sword</LINE> 1370<LINE>entrenched it: say to him, I live; and observe his</LINE> 1371<LINE>reports for me.</LINE> 1372</SPEECH> 1373 1374<SPEECH> 1375<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 1376<LINE>We shall, noble captain.</LINE> 1377</SPEECH> 1378 1379<STAGEDIR>Exeunt Lords</STAGEDIR> 1380 1381<SPEECH> 1382<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 1383<LINE>Mars dote on you for his novices! what will ye do?</LINE> 1384</SPEECH> 1385 1386<SPEECH> 1387<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 1388<LINE>Stay: the king.</LINE> 1389</SPEECH> 1390 1391<STAGEDIR>Re-enter KING. BERTRAM and PAROLLES retire</STAGEDIR> 1392 1393<SPEECH> 1394<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 1395<LINE><STAGEDIR>To BERTRAM</STAGEDIR> Use a more spacious ceremony to the</LINE> 1396<LINE>noble lords; you have restrained yourself within the</LINE> 1397<LINE>list of too cold an adieu: be more expressive to</LINE> 1398<LINE>them: for they wear themselves in the cap of the</LINE> 1399<LINE>time, there do muster true gait, eat, speak, and</LINE> 1400<LINE>move under the influence of the most received star;</LINE> 1401<LINE>and though the devil lead the measure, such are to</LINE> 1402<LINE>be followed: after them, and take a more dilated farewell.</LINE> 1403</SPEECH> 1404 1405<SPEECH> 1406<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 1407<LINE>And I will do so.</LINE> 1408</SPEECH> 1409 1410<SPEECH> 1411<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 1412<LINE>Worthy fellows; and like to prove most sinewy sword-men.</LINE> 1413</SPEECH> 1414 1415<STAGEDIR>Exeunt BERTRAM and PAROLLES</STAGEDIR> 1416<STAGEDIR>Enter LAFEU</STAGEDIR> 1417 1418<SPEECH> 1419<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 1420<LINE><STAGEDIR>Kneeling</STAGEDIR> Pardon, my lord, for me and for my tidings.</LINE> 1421</SPEECH> 1422 1423<SPEECH> 1424<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 1425<LINE>I'll fee thee to stand up.</LINE> 1426</SPEECH> 1427 1428<SPEECH> 1429<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 1430<LINE>Then here's a man stands, that has brought his pardon.</LINE> 1431<LINE>I would you had kneel'd, my lord, to ask me mercy,</LINE> 1432<LINE>And that at my bidding you could so stand up.</LINE> 1433</SPEECH> 1434 1435<SPEECH> 1436<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 1437<LINE>I would I had; so I had broke thy pate,</LINE> 1438<LINE>And ask'd thee mercy for't.</LINE> 1439</SPEECH> 1440 1441<SPEECH> 1442<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 1443<LINE>Good faith, across: but, my good lord 'tis thus;</LINE> 1444<LINE>Will you be cured of your infirmity?</LINE> 1445</SPEECH> 1446 1447<SPEECH> 1448<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 1449<LINE>No.</LINE> 1450</SPEECH> 1451 1452<SPEECH> 1453<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 1454<LINE>O, will you eat no grapes, my royal fox?</LINE> 1455<LINE>Yes, but you will my noble grapes, an if</LINE> 1456<LINE>My royal fox could reach them: I have seen a medicine</LINE> 1457<LINE>That's able to breathe life into a stone,</LINE> 1458<LINE>Quicken a rock, and make you dance canary</LINE> 1459<LINE>With spritely fire and motion; whose simple touch,</LINE> 1460<LINE>Is powerful to araise King Pepin, nay,</LINE> 1461<LINE>To give great Charlemain a pen in's hand,</LINE> 1462<LINE>And write to her a love-line.</LINE> 1463</SPEECH> 1464 1465<SPEECH> 1466<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 1467<LINE>What 'her' is this?</LINE> 1468</SPEECH> 1469 1470<SPEECH> 1471<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 1472<LINE>Why, Doctor She: my lord, there's one arrived,</LINE> 1473<LINE>If you will see her: now, by my faith and honour,</LINE> 1474<LINE>If seriously I may convey my thoughts</LINE> 1475<LINE>In this my light deliverance, I have spoke</LINE> 1476<LINE>With one that, in her sex, her years, profession,</LINE> 1477<LINE>Wisdom and constancy, hath amazed me more</LINE> 1478<LINE>Than I dare blame my weakness: will you see her</LINE> 1479<LINE>For that is her demand, and know her business?</LINE> 1480<LINE>That done, laugh well at me.</LINE> 1481</SPEECH> 1482 1483<SPEECH> 1484<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 1485<LINE>Now, good Lafeu,</LINE> 1486<LINE>Bring in the admiration; that we with thee</LINE> 1487<LINE>May spend our wonder too, or take off thine</LINE> 1488<LINE>By wondering how thou took'st it.</LINE> 1489</SPEECH> 1490 1491<SPEECH> 1492<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 1493<LINE>Nay, I'll fit you,</LINE> 1494<LINE>And not be all day neither.</LINE> 1495</SPEECH> 1496 1497<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 1498 1499<SPEECH> 1500<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 1501<LINE>Thus he his special nothing ever prologues.</LINE> 1502</SPEECH> 1503 1504<STAGEDIR>Re-enter LAFEU, with HELENA</STAGEDIR> 1505 1506<SPEECH> 1507<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 1508<LINE>Nay, come your ways.</LINE> 1509</SPEECH> 1510 1511<SPEECH> 1512<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 1513<LINE>This haste hath wings indeed.</LINE> 1514</SPEECH> 1515 1516<SPEECH> 1517<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 1518<LINE>Nay, come your ways:</LINE> 1519<LINE>This is his majesty; say your mind to him:</LINE> 1520<LINE>A traitor you do look like; but such traitors</LINE> 1521<LINE>His majesty seldom fears: I am Cressid's uncle,</LINE> 1522<LINE>That dare leave two together; fare you well.</LINE> 1523</SPEECH> 1524 1525<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 1526 1527<SPEECH> 1528<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 1529<LINE>Now, fair one, does your business follow us?</LINE> 1530</SPEECH> 1531 1532<SPEECH> 1533<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1534<LINE>Ay, my good lord.</LINE> 1535<LINE>Gerard de Narbon was my father;</LINE> 1536<LINE>In what he did profess, well found.</LINE> 1537</SPEECH> 1538 1539<SPEECH> 1540<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 1541<LINE>I knew him.</LINE> 1542</SPEECH> 1543 1544<SPEECH> 1545<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1546<LINE>The rather will I spare my praises towards him:</LINE> 1547<LINE>Knowing him is enough. On's bed of death</LINE> 1548<LINE>Many receipts he gave me: chiefly one.</LINE> 1549<LINE>Which, as the dearest issue of his practise,</LINE> 1550<LINE>And of his old experience the oily darling,</LINE> 1551<LINE>He bade me store up, as a triple eye,</LINE> 1552<LINE>Safer than mine own two, more dear; I have so;</LINE> 1553<LINE>And hearing your high majesty is touch'd</LINE> 1554<LINE>With that malignant cause wherein the honour</LINE> 1555<LINE>Of my dear father's gift stands chief in power,</LINE> 1556<LINE>I come to tender it and my appliance</LINE> 1557<LINE>With all bound humbleness.</LINE> 1558</SPEECH> 1559 1560<SPEECH> 1561<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 1562<LINE>We thank you, maiden;</LINE> 1563<LINE>But may not be so credulous of cure,</LINE> 1564<LINE>When our most learned doctors leave us and</LINE> 1565<LINE>The congregated college have concluded</LINE> 1566<LINE>That labouring art can never ransom nature</LINE> 1567<LINE>From her inaidible estate; I say we must not</LINE> 1568<LINE>So stain our judgment, or corrupt our hope,</LINE> 1569<LINE>To prostitute our past-cure malady</LINE> 1570<LINE>To empirics, or to dissever so</LINE> 1571<LINE>Our great self and our credit, to esteem</LINE> 1572<LINE>A senseless help when help past sense we deem.</LINE> 1573</SPEECH> 1574 1575<SPEECH> 1576<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1577<LINE>My duty then shall pay me for my pains:</LINE> 1578<LINE>I will no more enforce mine office on you.</LINE> 1579<LINE>Humbly entreating from your royal thoughts</LINE> 1580<LINE>A modest one, to bear me back a again.</LINE> 1581</SPEECH> 1582 1583<SPEECH> 1584<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 1585<LINE>I cannot give thee less, to be call'd grateful:</LINE> 1586<LINE>Thou thought'st to help me; and such thanks I give</LINE> 1587<LINE>As one near death to those that wish him live:</LINE> 1588<LINE>But what at full I know, thou know'st no part,</LINE> 1589<LINE>I knowing all my peril, thou no art.</LINE> 1590</SPEECH> 1591 1592<SPEECH> 1593<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1594<LINE>What I can do can do no hurt to try,</LINE> 1595<LINE>Since you set up your rest 'gainst remedy.</LINE> 1596<LINE>He that of greatest works is finisher</LINE> 1597<LINE>Oft does them by the weakest minister:</LINE> 1598<LINE>So holy writ in babes hath judgment shown,</LINE> 1599<LINE>When judges have been babes; great floods have flown</LINE> 1600<LINE>From simple sources, and great seas have dried</LINE> 1601<LINE>When miracles have by the greatest been denied.</LINE> 1602<LINE>Oft expectation fails and most oft there</LINE> 1603<LINE>Where most it promises, and oft it hits</LINE> 1604<LINE>Where hope is coldest and despair most fits.</LINE> 1605</SPEECH> 1606 1607<SPEECH> 1608<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 1609<LINE>I must not hear thee; fare thee well, kind maid;</LINE> 1610<LINE>Thy pains not used must by thyself be paid:</LINE> 1611<LINE>Proffers not took reap thanks for their reward.</LINE> 1612</SPEECH> 1613 1614<SPEECH> 1615<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1616<LINE>Inspired merit so by breath is barr'd:</LINE> 1617<LINE>It is not so with Him that all things knows</LINE> 1618<LINE>As 'tis with us that square our guess by shows;</LINE> 1619<LINE>But most it is presumption in us when</LINE> 1620<LINE>The help of heaven we count the act of men.</LINE> 1621<LINE>Dear sir, to my endeavours give consent;</LINE> 1622<LINE>Of heaven, not me, make an experiment.</LINE> 1623<LINE>I am not an impostor that proclaim</LINE> 1624<LINE>Myself against the level of mine aim;</LINE> 1625<LINE>But know I think and think I know most sure</LINE> 1626<LINE>My art is not past power nor you past cure.</LINE> 1627</SPEECH> 1628 1629<SPEECH> 1630<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 1631<LINE>Are thou so confident? within what space</LINE> 1632<LINE>Hopest thou my cure?</LINE> 1633</SPEECH> 1634 1635<SPEECH> 1636<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1637<LINE>The great'st grace lending grace</LINE> 1638<LINE>Ere twice the horses of the sun shall bring</LINE> 1639<LINE>Their fiery torcher his diurnal ring,</LINE> 1640<LINE>Ere twice in murk and occidental damp</LINE> 1641<LINE>Moist Hesperus hath quench'd his sleepy lamp,</LINE> 1642<LINE>Or four and twenty times the pilot's glass</LINE> 1643<LINE>Hath told the thievish minutes how they pass,</LINE> 1644<LINE>What is infirm from your sound parts shall fly,</LINE> 1645<LINE>Health shall live free and sickness freely die.</LINE> 1646</SPEECH> 1647 1648<SPEECH> 1649<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 1650<LINE>Upon thy certainty and confidence</LINE> 1651<LINE>What darest thou venture?</LINE> 1652</SPEECH> 1653 1654<SPEECH> 1655<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1656<LINE>Tax of impudence,</LINE> 1657<LINE>A strumpet's boldness, a divulged shame</LINE> 1658<LINE>Traduced by odious ballads: my maiden's name</LINE> 1659<LINE>Sear'd otherwise; nay, worse--if worse--extended</LINE> 1660<LINE>With vilest torture let my life be ended.</LINE> 1661</SPEECH> 1662 1663<SPEECH> 1664<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 1665<LINE>Methinks in thee some blessed spirit doth speak</LINE> 1666<LINE>His powerful sound within an organ weak:</LINE> 1667<LINE>And what impossibility would slay</LINE> 1668<LINE>In common sense, sense saves another way.</LINE> 1669<LINE>Thy life is dear; for all that life can rate</LINE> 1670<LINE>Worth name of life in thee hath estimate,</LINE> 1671<LINE>Youth, beauty, wisdom, courage, all</LINE> 1672<LINE>That happiness and prime can happy call:</LINE> 1673<LINE>Thou this to hazard needs must intimate</LINE> 1674<LINE>Skill infinite or monstrous desperate.</LINE> 1675<LINE>Sweet practiser, thy physic I will try,</LINE> 1676<LINE>That ministers thine own death if I die.</LINE> 1677</SPEECH> 1678 1679<SPEECH> 1680<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1681<LINE>If I break time, or flinch in property</LINE> 1682<LINE>Of what I spoke, unpitied let me die,</LINE> 1683<LINE>And well deserved: not helping, death's my fee;</LINE> 1684<LINE>But, if I help, what do you promise me?</LINE> 1685</SPEECH> 1686 1687<SPEECH> 1688<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 1689<LINE>Make thy demand.</LINE> 1690</SPEECH> 1691 1692<SPEECH> 1693<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1694<LINE>But will you make it even?</LINE> 1695</SPEECH> 1696 1697<SPEECH> 1698<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 1699<LINE>Ay, by my sceptre and my hopes of heaven.</LINE> 1700</SPEECH> 1701 1702<SPEECH> 1703<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 1704<LINE>Then shalt thou give me with thy kingly hand</LINE> 1705<LINE>What husband in thy power I will command:</LINE> 1706<LINE>Exempted be from me the arrogance</LINE> 1707<LINE>To choose from forth the royal blood of France,</LINE> 1708<LINE>My low and humble name to propagate</LINE> 1709<LINE>With any branch or image of thy state;</LINE> 1710<LINE>But such a one, thy vassal, whom I know</LINE> 1711<LINE>Is free for me to ask, thee to bestow.</LINE> 1712</SPEECH> 1713 1714<SPEECH> 1715<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 1716<LINE>Here is my hand; the premises observed,</LINE> 1717<LINE>Thy will by my performance shall be served:</LINE> 1718<LINE>So make the choice of thy own time, for I,</LINE> 1719<LINE>Thy resolved patient, on thee still rely.</LINE> 1720<LINE>More should I question thee, and more I must,</LINE> 1721<LINE>Though more to know could not be more to trust,</LINE> 1722<LINE>From whence thou camest, how tended on: but rest</LINE> 1723<LINE>Unquestion'd welcome and undoubted blest.</LINE> 1724<LINE>Give me some help here, ho! If thou proceed</LINE> 1725<LINE>As high as word, my deed shall match thy meed.</LINE> 1726</SPEECH> 1727 1728<STAGEDIR>Flourish. Exeunt</STAGEDIR> 1729</SCENE> 1730 1731<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE II. Rousillon. The COUNT's palace.</TITLE> 1732<STAGEDIR>Enter COUNTESS and Clown</STAGEDIR> 1733 1734<SPEECH> 1735<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1736<LINE>Come on, sir; I shall now put you to the height of</LINE> 1737<LINE>your breeding.</LINE> 1738</SPEECH> 1739 1740<SPEECH> 1741<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 1742<LINE>I will show myself highly fed and lowly taught: I</LINE> 1743<LINE>know my business is but to the court.</LINE> 1744</SPEECH> 1745 1746<SPEECH> 1747<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1748<LINE>To the court! why, what place make you special,</LINE> 1749<LINE>when you put off that with such contempt? But to the court!</LINE> 1750</SPEECH> 1751 1752<SPEECH> 1753<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 1754<LINE>Truly, madam, if God have lent a man any manners, he</LINE> 1755<LINE>may easily put it off at court: he that cannot make</LINE> 1756<LINE>a leg, put off's cap, kiss his hand and say nothing,</LINE> 1757<LINE>has neither leg, hands, lip, nor cap; and indeed</LINE> 1758<LINE>such a fellow, to say precisely, were not for the</LINE> 1759<LINE>court; but for me, I have an answer will serve all</LINE> 1760<LINE>men.</LINE> 1761</SPEECH> 1762 1763<SPEECH> 1764<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1765<LINE>Marry, that's a bountiful answer that fits all</LINE> 1766<LINE>questions.</LINE> 1767</SPEECH> 1768 1769<SPEECH> 1770<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 1771<LINE>It is like a barber's chair that fits all buttocks,</LINE> 1772<LINE>the pin-buttock, the quatch-buttock, the brawn</LINE> 1773<LINE>buttock, or any buttock.</LINE> 1774</SPEECH> 1775 1776<SPEECH> 1777<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1778<LINE>Will your answer serve fit to all questions?</LINE> 1779</SPEECH> 1780 1781<SPEECH> 1782<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 1783<LINE>As fit as ten groats is for the hand of an attorney,</LINE> 1784<LINE>as your French crown for your taffeta punk, as Tib's</LINE> 1785<LINE>rush for Tom's forefinger, as a pancake for Shrove</LINE> 1786<LINE>Tuesday, a morris for May-day, as the nail to his</LINE> 1787<LINE>hole, the cuckold to his horn, as a scolding queen</LINE> 1788<LINE>to a wrangling knave, as the nun's lip to the</LINE> 1789<LINE>friar's mouth, nay, as the pudding to his skin.</LINE> 1790</SPEECH> 1791 1792<SPEECH> 1793<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1794<LINE>Have you, I say, an answer of such fitness for all</LINE> 1795<LINE>questions?</LINE> 1796</SPEECH> 1797 1798<SPEECH> 1799<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 1800<LINE>From below your duke to beneath your constable, it</LINE> 1801<LINE>will fit any question.</LINE> 1802</SPEECH> 1803 1804<SPEECH> 1805<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1806<LINE>It must be an answer of most monstrous size that</LINE> 1807<LINE>must fit all demands.</LINE> 1808</SPEECH> 1809 1810<SPEECH> 1811<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 1812<LINE>But a trifle neither, in good faith, if the learned</LINE> 1813<LINE>should speak truth of it: here it is, and all that</LINE> 1814<LINE>belongs to't. Ask me if I am a courtier: it shall</LINE> 1815<LINE>do you no harm to learn.</LINE> 1816</SPEECH> 1817 1818<SPEECH> 1819<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1820<LINE>To be young again, if we could: I will be a fool in</LINE> 1821<LINE>question, hoping to be the wiser by your answer. I</LINE> 1822<LINE>pray you, sir, are you a courtier?</LINE> 1823</SPEECH> 1824 1825<SPEECH> 1826<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 1827<LINE>O Lord, sir! There's a simple putting off. More,</LINE> 1828<LINE>more, a hundred of them.</LINE> 1829</SPEECH> 1830 1831<SPEECH> 1832<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1833<LINE>Sir, I am a poor friend of yours, that loves you.</LINE> 1834</SPEECH> 1835 1836<SPEECH> 1837<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 1838<LINE>O Lord, sir! Thick, thick, spare not me.</LINE> 1839</SPEECH> 1840 1841<SPEECH> 1842<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1843<LINE>I think, sir, you can eat none of this homely meat.</LINE> 1844</SPEECH> 1845 1846<SPEECH> 1847<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 1848<LINE>O Lord, sir! Nay, put me to't, I warrant you.</LINE> 1849</SPEECH> 1850 1851<SPEECH> 1852<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1853<LINE>You were lately whipped, sir, as I think.</LINE> 1854</SPEECH> 1855 1856<SPEECH> 1857<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 1858<LINE>O Lord, sir! spare not me.</LINE> 1859</SPEECH> 1860 1861<SPEECH> 1862<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1863<LINE>Do you cry, 'O Lord, sir!' at your whipping, and</LINE> 1864<LINE>'spare not me?' Indeed your 'O Lord, sir!' is very</LINE> 1865<LINE>sequent to your whipping: you would answer very well</LINE> 1866<LINE>to a whipping, if you were but bound to't.</LINE> 1867</SPEECH> 1868 1869<SPEECH> 1870<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 1871<LINE>I ne'er had worse luck in my life in my 'O Lord,</LINE> 1872<LINE>sir!' I see things may serve long, but not serve ever.</LINE> 1873</SPEECH> 1874 1875<SPEECH> 1876<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1877<LINE>I play the noble housewife with the time</LINE> 1878<LINE>To entertain't so merrily with a fool.</LINE> 1879</SPEECH> 1880 1881<SPEECH> 1882<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 1883<LINE>O Lord, sir! why, there't serves well again.</LINE> 1884</SPEECH> 1885 1886<SPEECH> 1887<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1888<LINE>An end, sir; to your business. Give Helen this,</LINE> 1889<LINE>And urge her to a present answer back:</LINE> 1890<LINE>Commend me to my kinsmen and my son:</LINE> 1891<LINE>This is not much.</LINE> 1892</SPEECH> 1893 1894<SPEECH> 1895<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 1896<LINE>Not much commendation to them.</LINE> 1897</SPEECH> 1898 1899<SPEECH> 1900<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1901<LINE>Not much employment for you: you understand me?</LINE> 1902</SPEECH> 1903 1904<SPEECH> 1905<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 1906<LINE>Most fruitfully: I am there before my legs.</LINE> 1907</SPEECH> 1908 1909<SPEECH> 1910<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 1911<LINE>Haste you again.</LINE> 1912</SPEECH> 1913 1914<STAGEDIR>Exeunt severally</STAGEDIR> 1915</SCENE> 1916 1917<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE III. Paris. The KING's palace.</TITLE> 1918<STAGEDIR>Enter BERTRAM, LAFEU, and PAROLLES</STAGEDIR> 1919 1920<SPEECH> 1921<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 1922<LINE>They say miracles are past; and we have our</LINE> 1923<LINE>philosophical persons, to make modern and familiar,</LINE> 1924<LINE>things supernatural and causeless. Hence is it that</LINE> 1925<LINE>we make trifles of terrors, ensconcing ourselves</LINE> 1926<LINE>into seeming knowledge, when we should submit</LINE> 1927<LINE>ourselves to an unknown fear.</LINE> 1928</SPEECH> 1929 1930<SPEECH> 1931<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 1932<LINE>Why, 'tis the rarest argument of wonder that hath</LINE> 1933<LINE>shot out in our latter times.</LINE> 1934</SPEECH> 1935 1936<SPEECH> 1937<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 1938<LINE>And so 'tis.</LINE> 1939</SPEECH> 1940 1941<SPEECH> 1942<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 1943<LINE>To be relinquish'd of the artists,--</LINE> 1944</SPEECH> 1945 1946<SPEECH> 1947<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 1948<LINE>So I say.</LINE> 1949</SPEECH> 1950 1951<SPEECH> 1952<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 1953<LINE>Both of Galen and Paracelsus.</LINE> 1954</SPEECH> 1955 1956<SPEECH> 1957<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 1958<LINE>So I say.</LINE> 1959</SPEECH> 1960 1961<SPEECH> 1962<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 1963<LINE>Of all the learned and authentic fellows,--</LINE> 1964</SPEECH> 1965 1966<SPEECH> 1967<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 1968<LINE>Right; so I say.</LINE> 1969</SPEECH> 1970 1971<SPEECH> 1972<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 1973<LINE>That gave him out incurable,--</LINE> 1974</SPEECH> 1975 1976<SPEECH> 1977<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 1978<LINE>Why, there 'tis; so say I too.</LINE> 1979</SPEECH> 1980 1981<SPEECH> 1982<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 1983<LINE>Not to be helped,--</LINE> 1984</SPEECH> 1985 1986<SPEECH> 1987<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 1988<LINE>Right; as 'twere, a man assured of a--</LINE> 1989</SPEECH> 1990 1991<SPEECH> 1992<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 1993<LINE>Uncertain life, and sure death.</LINE> 1994</SPEECH> 1995 1996<SPEECH> 1997<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 1998<LINE>Just, you say well; so would I have said.</LINE> 1999</SPEECH> 2000 2001<SPEECH> 2002<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2003<LINE>I may truly say, it is a novelty to the world.</LINE> 2004</SPEECH> 2005 2006<SPEECH> 2007<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2008<LINE>It is, indeed: if you will have it in showing, you</LINE> 2009<LINE>shall read it in--what do you call there?</LINE> 2010</SPEECH> 2011 2012<SPEECH> 2013<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2014<LINE>A showing of a heavenly effect in an earthly actor.</LINE> 2015</SPEECH> 2016 2017<SPEECH> 2018<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2019<LINE>That's it; I would have said the very same.</LINE> 2020</SPEECH> 2021 2022<SPEECH> 2023<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2024<LINE>Why, your dolphin is not lustier: 'fore me,</LINE> 2025<LINE>I speak in respect--</LINE> 2026</SPEECH> 2027 2028<SPEECH> 2029<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2030<LINE>Nay, 'tis strange, 'tis very strange, that is the</LINE> 2031<LINE>brief and the tedious of it; and he's of a most</LINE> 2032<LINE>facinerious spirit that will not acknowledge it to be the--</LINE> 2033</SPEECH> 2034 2035<SPEECH> 2036<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2037<LINE>Very hand of heaven.</LINE> 2038</SPEECH> 2039 2040<SPEECH> 2041<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2042<LINE>Ay, so I say.</LINE> 2043</SPEECH> 2044 2045<SPEECH> 2046<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2047<LINE>In a most weak--</LINE> 2048<STAGEDIR>pausing</STAGEDIR> 2049<LINE>and debile minister, great power, great</LINE> 2050<LINE>transcendence: which should, indeed, give us a</LINE> 2051<LINE>further use to be made than alone the recovery of</LINE> 2052<LINE>the king, as to be--</LINE> 2053<STAGEDIR>pausing</STAGEDIR> 2054<LINE>generally thankful.</LINE> 2055</SPEECH> 2056 2057<SPEECH> 2058<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2059<LINE>I would have said it; you say well. Here comes the king.</LINE> 2060</SPEECH> 2061 2062<STAGEDIR>Enter KING, HELENA, and Attendants. LAFEU and 2063PAROLLES retire</STAGEDIR> 2064 2065<SPEECH> 2066<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2067<LINE>Lustig, as the Dutchman says: I'll like a maid the</LINE> 2068<LINE>better, whilst I have a tooth in my head: why, he's</LINE> 2069<LINE>able to lead her a coranto.</LINE> 2070</SPEECH> 2071 2072<SPEECH> 2073<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2074<LINE>Mort du vinaigre! is not this Helen?</LINE> 2075</SPEECH> 2076 2077<SPEECH> 2078<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2079<LINE>'Fore God, I think so.</LINE> 2080</SPEECH> 2081 2082<SPEECH> 2083<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 2084<LINE>Go, call before me all the lords in court.</LINE> 2085<LINE>Sit, my preserver, by thy patient's side;</LINE> 2086<LINE>And with this healthful hand, whose banish'd sense</LINE> 2087<LINE>Thou hast repeal'd, a second time receive</LINE> 2088<LINE>The confirmation of my promised gift,</LINE> 2089<LINE>Which but attends thy naming.</LINE> 2090<STAGEDIR>Enter three or four Lords</STAGEDIR> 2091<LINE>Fair maid, send forth thine eye: this youthful parcel</LINE> 2092<LINE>Of noble bachelors stand at my bestowing,</LINE> 2093<LINE>O'er whom both sovereign power and father's voice</LINE> 2094<LINE>I have to use: thy frank election make;</LINE> 2095<LINE>Thou hast power to choose, and they none to forsake.</LINE> 2096</SPEECH> 2097 2098<SPEECH> 2099<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2100<LINE>To each of you one fair and virtuous mistress</LINE> 2101<LINE>Fall, when Love please! marry, to each, but one!</LINE> 2102</SPEECH> 2103 2104<SPEECH> 2105<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2106<LINE>I'ld give bay Curtal and his furniture,</LINE> 2107<LINE>My mouth no more were broken than these boys',</LINE> 2108<LINE>And writ as little beard.</LINE> 2109</SPEECH> 2110 2111<SPEECH> 2112<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 2113<LINE>Peruse them well:</LINE> 2114<LINE>Not one of those but had a noble father.</LINE> 2115</SPEECH> 2116 2117<SPEECH> 2118<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2119<LINE>Gentlemen,</LINE> 2120<LINE>Heaven hath through me restored the king to health.</LINE> 2121</SPEECH> 2122 2123<SPEECH> 2124<SPEAKER>All</SPEAKER> 2125<LINE>We understand it, and thank heaven for you.</LINE> 2126</SPEECH> 2127 2128<SPEECH> 2129<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2130<LINE>I am a simple maid, and therein wealthiest,</LINE> 2131<LINE>That I protest I simply am a maid.</LINE> 2132<LINE>Please it your majesty, I have done already:</LINE> 2133<LINE>The blushes in my cheeks thus whisper me,</LINE> 2134<LINE>'We blush that thou shouldst choose; but, be refused,</LINE> 2135<LINE>Let the white death sit on thy cheek for ever;</LINE> 2136<LINE>We'll ne'er come there again.'</LINE> 2137</SPEECH> 2138 2139<SPEECH> 2140<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 2141<LINE>Make choice; and, see,</LINE> 2142<LINE>Who shuns thy love shuns all his love in me.</LINE> 2143</SPEECH> 2144 2145<SPEECH> 2146<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2147<LINE>Now, Dian, from thy altar do I fly,</LINE> 2148<LINE>And to imperial Love, that god most high,</LINE> 2149<LINE>Do my sighs stream. Sir, will you hear my suit?</LINE> 2150</SPEECH> 2151 2152<SPEECH> 2153<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 2154<LINE>And grant it.</LINE> 2155</SPEECH> 2156 2157<SPEECH> 2158<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2159<LINE>Thanks, sir; all the rest is mute.</LINE> 2160</SPEECH> 2161 2162<SPEECH> 2163<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2164<LINE>I had rather be in this choice than throw ames-ace</LINE> 2165<LINE>for my life.</LINE> 2166</SPEECH> 2167 2168<SPEECH> 2169<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2170<LINE>The honour, sir, that flames in your fair eyes,</LINE> 2171<LINE>Before I speak, too threateningly replies:</LINE> 2172<LINE>Love make your fortunes twenty times above</LINE> 2173<LINE>Her that so wishes and her humble love!</LINE> 2174</SPEECH> 2175 2176<SPEECH> 2177<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 2178<LINE>No better, if you please.</LINE> 2179</SPEECH> 2180 2181<SPEECH> 2182<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2183<LINE>My wish receive,</LINE> 2184<LINE>Which great Love grant! and so, I take my leave.</LINE> 2185</SPEECH> 2186 2187<SPEECH> 2188<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2189<LINE>Do all they deny her? An they were sons of mine,</LINE> 2190<LINE>I'd have them whipped; or I would send them to the</LINE> 2191<LINE>Turk, to make eunuchs of.</LINE> 2192</SPEECH> 2193 2194<SPEECH> 2195<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2196<LINE>Be not afraid that I your hand should take;</LINE> 2197<LINE>I'll never do you wrong for your own sake:</LINE> 2198<LINE>Blessing upon your vows! and in your bed</LINE> 2199<LINE>Find fairer fortune, if you ever wed!</LINE> 2200</SPEECH> 2201 2202<SPEECH> 2203<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2204<LINE>These boys are boys of ice, they'll none have her:</LINE> 2205<LINE>sure, they are bastards to the English; the French</LINE> 2206<LINE>ne'er got 'em.</LINE> 2207</SPEECH> 2208 2209<SPEECH> 2210<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2211<LINE>You are too young, too happy, and too good,</LINE> 2212<LINE>To make yourself a son out of my blood.</LINE> 2213</SPEECH> 2214 2215<SPEECH> 2216<SPEAKER>Fourth Lord</SPEAKER> 2217<LINE>Fair one, I think not so.</LINE> 2218</SPEECH> 2219 2220<SPEECH> 2221<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2222<LINE>There's one grape yet; I am sure thy father drunk</LINE> 2223<LINE>wine: but if thou be'st not an ass, I am a youth</LINE> 2224<LINE>of fourteen; I have known thee already.</LINE> 2225</SPEECH> 2226 2227<SPEECH> 2228<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2229<LINE><STAGEDIR>To BERTRAM</STAGEDIR> I dare not say I take you; but I give</LINE> 2230<LINE>Me and my service, ever whilst I live,</LINE> 2231<LINE>Into your guiding power. This is the man.</LINE> 2232</SPEECH> 2233 2234<SPEECH> 2235<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 2236<LINE>Why, then, young Bertram, take her; she's thy wife.</LINE> 2237</SPEECH> 2238 2239<SPEECH> 2240<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 2241<LINE>My wife, my liege! I shall beseech your highness,</LINE> 2242<LINE>In such a business give me leave to use</LINE> 2243<LINE>The help of mine own eyes.</LINE> 2244</SPEECH> 2245 2246<SPEECH> 2247<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 2248<LINE>Know'st thou not, Bertram,</LINE> 2249<LINE>What she has done for me?</LINE> 2250</SPEECH> 2251 2252<SPEECH> 2253<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 2254<LINE>Yes, my good lord;</LINE> 2255<LINE>But never hope to know why I should marry her.</LINE> 2256</SPEECH> 2257 2258<SPEECH> 2259<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 2260<LINE>Thou know'st she has raised me from my sickly bed.</LINE> 2261</SPEECH> 2262 2263<SPEECH> 2264<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 2265<LINE>But follows it, my lord, to bring me down</LINE> 2266<LINE>Must answer for your raising? I know her well:</LINE> 2267<LINE>She had her breeding at my father's charge.</LINE> 2268<LINE>A poor physician's daughter my wife! Disdain</LINE> 2269<LINE>Rather corrupt me ever!</LINE> 2270</SPEECH> 2271 2272<SPEECH> 2273<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 2274<LINE>'Tis only title thou disdain'st in her, the which</LINE> 2275<LINE>I can build up. Strange is it that our bloods,</LINE> 2276<LINE>Of colour, weight, and heat, pour'd all together,</LINE> 2277<LINE>Would quite confound distinction, yet stand off</LINE> 2278<LINE>In differences so mighty. If she be</LINE> 2279<LINE>All that is virtuous, save what thou dislikest,</LINE> 2280<LINE>A poor physician's daughter, thou dislikest</LINE> 2281<LINE>Of virtue for the name: but do not so:</LINE> 2282<LINE>From lowest place when virtuous things proceed,</LINE> 2283<LINE>The place is dignified by the doer's deed:</LINE> 2284<LINE>Where great additions swell's, and virtue none,</LINE> 2285<LINE>It is a dropsied honour. Good alone</LINE> 2286<LINE>Is good without a name. Vileness is so:</LINE> 2287<LINE>The property by what it is should go,</LINE> 2288<LINE>Not by the title. She is young, wise, fair;</LINE> 2289<LINE>In these to nature she's immediate heir,</LINE> 2290<LINE>And these breed honour: that is honour's scorn,</LINE> 2291<LINE>Which challenges itself as honour's born</LINE> 2292<LINE>And is not like the sire: honours thrive,</LINE> 2293<LINE>When rather from our acts we them derive</LINE> 2294<LINE>Than our foregoers: the mere word's a slave</LINE> 2295<LINE>Debosh'd on every tomb, on every grave</LINE> 2296<LINE>A lying trophy, and as oft is dumb</LINE> 2297<LINE>Where dust and damn'd oblivion is the tomb</LINE> 2298<LINE>Of honour'd bones indeed. What should be said?</LINE> 2299<LINE>If thou canst like this creature as a maid,</LINE> 2300<LINE>I can create the rest: virtue and she</LINE> 2301<LINE>Is her own dower; honour and wealth from me.</LINE> 2302</SPEECH> 2303 2304<SPEECH> 2305<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 2306<LINE>I cannot love her, nor will strive to do't.</LINE> 2307</SPEECH> 2308 2309<SPEECH> 2310<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 2311<LINE>Thou wrong'st thyself, if thou shouldst strive to choose.</LINE> 2312</SPEECH> 2313 2314<SPEECH> 2315<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2316<LINE>That you are well restored, my lord, I'm glad:</LINE> 2317<LINE>Let the rest go.</LINE> 2318</SPEECH> 2319 2320<SPEECH> 2321<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 2322<LINE>My honour's at the stake; which to defeat,</LINE> 2323<LINE>I must produce my power. Here, take her hand,</LINE> 2324<LINE>Proud scornful boy, unworthy this good gift;</LINE> 2325<LINE>That dost in vile misprision shackle up</LINE> 2326<LINE>My love and her desert; that canst not dream,</LINE> 2327<LINE>We, poising us in her defective scale,</LINE> 2328<LINE>Shall weigh thee to the beam; that wilt not know,</LINE> 2329<LINE>It is in us to plant thine honour where</LINE> 2330<LINE>We please to have it grow. Cheque thy contempt:</LINE> 2331<LINE>Obey our will, which travails in thy good:</LINE> 2332<LINE>Believe not thy disdain, but presently</LINE> 2333<LINE>Do thine own fortunes that obedient right</LINE> 2334<LINE>Which both thy duty owes and our power claims;</LINE> 2335<LINE>Or I will throw thee from my care for ever</LINE> 2336<LINE>Into the staggers and the careless lapse</LINE> 2337<LINE>Of youth and ignorance; both my revenge and hate</LINE> 2338<LINE>Loosing upon thee, in the name of justice,</LINE> 2339<LINE>Without all terms of pity. Speak; thine answer.</LINE> 2340</SPEECH> 2341 2342<SPEECH> 2343<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 2344<LINE>Pardon, my gracious lord; for I submit</LINE> 2345<LINE>My fancy to your eyes: when I consider</LINE> 2346<LINE>What great creation and what dole of honour</LINE> 2347<LINE>Flies where you bid it, I find that she, which late</LINE> 2348<LINE>Was in my nobler thoughts most base, is now</LINE> 2349<LINE>The praised of the king; who, so ennobled,</LINE> 2350<LINE>Is as 'twere born so.</LINE> 2351</SPEECH> 2352 2353<SPEECH> 2354<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 2355<LINE>Take her by the hand,</LINE> 2356<LINE>And tell her she is thine: to whom I promise</LINE> 2357<LINE>A counterpoise, if not to thy estate</LINE> 2358<LINE>A balance more replete.</LINE> 2359</SPEECH> 2360 2361<SPEECH> 2362<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 2363<LINE>I take her hand.</LINE> 2364</SPEECH> 2365 2366<SPEECH> 2367<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 2368<LINE>Good fortune and the favour of the king</LINE> 2369<LINE>Smile upon this contract; whose ceremony</LINE> 2370<LINE>Shall seem expedient on the now-born brief,</LINE> 2371<LINE>And be perform'd to-night: the solemn feast</LINE> 2372<LINE>Shall more attend upon the coming space,</LINE> 2373<LINE>Expecting absent friends. As thou lovest her,</LINE> 2374<LINE>Thy love's to me religious; else, does err.</LINE> 2375</SPEECH> 2376 2377<STAGEDIR>Exeunt all but LAFEU and PAROLLES</STAGEDIR> 2378 2379<SPEECH> 2380<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2381<LINE><STAGEDIR>Advancing</STAGEDIR> Do you hear, monsieur? a word with you.</LINE> 2382</SPEECH> 2383 2384<SPEECH> 2385<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2386<LINE>Your pleasure, sir?</LINE> 2387</SPEECH> 2388 2389<SPEECH> 2390<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2391<LINE>Your lord and master did well to make his</LINE> 2392<LINE>recantation.</LINE> 2393</SPEECH> 2394 2395<SPEECH> 2396<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2397<LINE>Recantation! My lord! my master!</LINE> 2398</SPEECH> 2399 2400<SPEECH> 2401<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2402<LINE>Ay; is it not a language I speak?</LINE> 2403</SPEECH> 2404 2405<SPEECH> 2406<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2407<LINE>A most harsh one, and not to be understood without</LINE> 2408<LINE>bloody succeeding. My master!</LINE> 2409</SPEECH> 2410 2411<SPEECH> 2412<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2413<LINE>Are you companion to the Count Rousillon?</LINE> 2414</SPEECH> 2415 2416<SPEECH> 2417<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2418<LINE>To any count, to all counts, to what is man.</LINE> 2419</SPEECH> 2420 2421<SPEECH> 2422<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2423<LINE>To what is count's man: count's master is of</LINE> 2424<LINE>another style.</LINE> 2425</SPEECH> 2426 2427<SPEECH> 2428<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2429<LINE>You are too old, sir; let it satisfy you, you are too old.</LINE> 2430</SPEECH> 2431 2432<SPEECH> 2433<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2434<LINE>I must tell thee, sirrah, I write man; to which</LINE> 2435<LINE>title age cannot bring thee.</LINE> 2436</SPEECH> 2437 2438<SPEECH> 2439<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2440<LINE>What I dare too well do, I dare not do.</LINE> 2441</SPEECH> 2442 2443<SPEECH> 2444<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2445<LINE>I did think thee, for two ordinaries, to be a pretty</LINE> 2446<LINE>wise fellow; thou didst make tolerable vent of thy</LINE> 2447<LINE>travel; it might pass: yet the scarfs and the</LINE> 2448<LINE>bannerets about thee did manifoldly dissuade me from</LINE> 2449<LINE>believing thee a vessel of too great a burthen. I</LINE> 2450<LINE>have now found thee; when I lose thee again, I care</LINE> 2451<LINE>not: yet art thou good for nothing but taking up; and</LINE> 2452<LINE>that thou't scarce worth.</LINE> 2453</SPEECH> 2454 2455<SPEECH> 2456<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2457<LINE>Hadst thou not the privilege of antiquity upon thee,--</LINE> 2458</SPEECH> 2459 2460<SPEECH> 2461<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2462<LINE>Do not plunge thyself too far in anger, lest thou</LINE> 2463<LINE>hasten thy trial; which if--Lord have mercy on thee</LINE> 2464<LINE>for a hen! So, my good window of lattice, fare thee</LINE> 2465<LINE>well: thy casement I need not open, for I look</LINE> 2466<LINE>through thee. Give me thy hand.</LINE> 2467</SPEECH> 2468 2469<SPEECH> 2470<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2471<LINE>My lord, you give me most egregious indignity.</LINE> 2472</SPEECH> 2473 2474<SPEECH> 2475<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2476<LINE>Ay, with all my heart; and thou art worthy of it.</LINE> 2477</SPEECH> 2478 2479<SPEECH> 2480<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2481<LINE>I have not, my lord, deserved it.</LINE> 2482</SPEECH> 2483 2484<SPEECH> 2485<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2486<LINE>Yes, good faith, every dram of it; and I will not</LINE> 2487<LINE>bate thee a scruple.</LINE> 2488</SPEECH> 2489 2490<SPEECH> 2491<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2492<LINE>Well, I shall be wiser.</LINE> 2493</SPEECH> 2494 2495<SPEECH> 2496<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2497<LINE>Even as soon as thou canst, for thou hast to pull at</LINE> 2498<LINE>a smack o' the contrary. If ever thou be'st bound</LINE> 2499<LINE>in thy scarf and beaten, thou shalt find what it is</LINE> 2500<LINE>to be proud of thy bondage. I have a desire to hold</LINE> 2501<LINE>my acquaintance with thee, or rather my knowledge,</LINE> 2502<LINE>that I may say in the default, he is a man I know.</LINE> 2503</SPEECH> 2504 2505<SPEECH> 2506<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2507<LINE>My lord, you do me most insupportable vexation.</LINE> 2508</SPEECH> 2509 2510<SPEECH> 2511<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2512<LINE>I would it were hell-pains for thy sake, and my poor</LINE> 2513<LINE>doing eternal: for doing I am past: as I will by</LINE> 2514<LINE>thee, in what motion age will give me leave.</LINE> 2515</SPEECH> 2516 2517<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 2518 2519<SPEECH> 2520<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2521<LINE>Well, thou hast a son shall take this disgrace off</LINE> 2522<LINE>me; scurvy, old, filthy, scurvy lord! Well, I must</LINE> 2523<LINE>be patient; there is no fettering of authority.</LINE> 2524<LINE>I'll beat him, by my life, if I can meet him with</LINE> 2525<LINE>any convenience, an he were double and double a</LINE> 2526<LINE>lord. I'll have no more pity of his age than I</LINE> 2527<LINE>would of--I'll beat him, an if I could but meet him again.</LINE> 2528</SPEECH> 2529 2530<STAGEDIR>Re-enter LAFEU</STAGEDIR> 2531 2532<SPEECH> 2533<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2534<LINE>Sirrah, your lord and master's married; there's news</LINE> 2535<LINE>for you: you have a new mistress.</LINE> 2536</SPEECH> 2537 2538<SPEECH> 2539<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2540<LINE>I most unfeignedly beseech your lordship to make</LINE> 2541<LINE>some reservation of your wrongs: he is my good</LINE> 2542<LINE>lord: whom I serve above is my master.</LINE> 2543</SPEECH> 2544 2545<SPEECH> 2546<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2547<LINE>Who? God?</LINE> 2548</SPEECH> 2549 2550<SPEECH> 2551<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2552<LINE>Ay, sir.</LINE> 2553</SPEECH> 2554 2555<SPEECH> 2556<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2557<LINE>The devil it is that's thy master. Why dost thou</LINE> 2558<LINE>garter up thy arms o' this fashion? dost make hose of</LINE> 2559<LINE>sleeves? do other servants so? Thou wert best set</LINE> 2560<LINE>thy lower part where thy nose stands. By mine</LINE> 2561<LINE>honour, if I were but two hours younger, I'ld beat</LINE> 2562<LINE>thee: methinks, thou art a general offence, and</LINE> 2563<LINE>every man should beat thee: I think thou wast</LINE> 2564<LINE>created for men to breathe themselves upon thee.</LINE> 2565</SPEECH> 2566 2567<SPEECH> 2568<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2569<LINE>This is hard and undeserved measure, my lord.</LINE> 2570</SPEECH> 2571 2572<SPEECH> 2573<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2574<LINE>Go to, sir; you were beaten in Italy for picking a</LINE> 2575<LINE>kernel out of a pomegranate; you are a vagabond and</LINE> 2576<LINE>no true traveller: you are more saucy with lords</LINE> 2577<LINE>and honourable personages than the commission of your</LINE> 2578<LINE>birth and virtue gives you heraldry. You are not</LINE> 2579<LINE>worth another word, else I'ld call you knave. I leave you.</LINE> 2580</SPEECH> 2581 2582<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 2583 2584<SPEECH> 2585<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2586<LINE>Good, very good; it is so then: good, very good;</LINE> 2587<LINE>let it be concealed awhile.</LINE> 2588</SPEECH> 2589 2590<STAGEDIR>Re-enter BERTRAM</STAGEDIR> 2591 2592<SPEECH> 2593<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 2594<LINE>Undone, and forfeited to cares for ever!</LINE> 2595</SPEECH> 2596 2597<SPEECH> 2598<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2599<LINE>What's the matter, sweet-heart?</LINE> 2600</SPEECH> 2601 2602<SPEECH> 2603<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 2604<LINE>Although before the solemn priest I have sworn,</LINE> 2605<LINE>I will not bed her.</LINE> 2606</SPEECH> 2607 2608<SPEECH> 2609<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2610<LINE>What, what, sweet-heart?</LINE> 2611</SPEECH> 2612 2613<SPEECH> 2614<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 2615<LINE>O my Parolles, they have married me!</LINE> 2616<LINE>I'll to the Tuscan wars, and never bed her.</LINE> 2617</SPEECH> 2618 2619<SPEECH> 2620<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2621<LINE>France is a dog-hole, and it no more merits</LINE> 2622<LINE>The tread of a man's foot: to the wars!</LINE> 2623</SPEECH> 2624 2625<SPEECH> 2626<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 2627<LINE>There's letters from my mother: what the import is,</LINE> 2628<LINE>I know not yet.</LINE> 2629</SPEECH> 2630 2631<SPEECH> 2632<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2633<LINE>Ay, that would be known. To the wars, my boy, to the wars!</LINE> 2634<LINE>He wears his honour in a box unseen,</LINE> 2635<LINE>That hugs his kicky-wicky here at home,</LINE> 2636<LINE>Spending his manly marrow in her arms,</LINE> 2637<LINE>Which should sustain the bound and high curvet</LINE> 2638<LINE>Of Mars's fiery steed. To other regions</LINE> 2639<LINE>France is a stable; we that dwell in't jades;</LINE> 2640<LINE>Therefore, to the war!</LINE> 2641</SPEECH> 2642 2643<SPEECH> 2644<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 2645<LINE>It shall be so: I'll send her to my house,</LINE> 2646<LINE>Acquaint my mother with my hate to her,</LINE> 2647<LINE>And wherefore I am fled; write to the king</LINE> 2648<LINE>That which I durst not speak; his present gift</LINE> 2649<LINE>Shall furnish me to those Italian fields,</LINE> 2650<LINE>Where noble fellows strike: war is no strife</LINE> 2651<LINE>To the dark house and the detested wife.</LINE> 2652</SPEECH> 2653 2654<SPEECH> 2655<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2656<LINE>Will this capriccio hold in thee? art sure?</LINE> 2657</SPEECH> 2658 2659<SPEECH> 2660<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 2661<LINE>Go with me to my chamber, and advise me.</LINE> 2662<LINE>I'll send her straight away: to-morrow</LINE> 2663<LINE>I'll to the wars, she to her single sorrow.</LINE> 2664</SPEECH> 2665 2666<SPEECH> 2667<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2668<LINE>Why, these balls bound; there's noise in it. 'Tis hard:</LINE> 2669<LINE>A young man married is a man that's marr'd:</LINE> 2670<LINE>Therefore away, and leave her bravely; go:</LINE> 2671<LINE>The king has done you wrong: but, hush, 'tis so.</LINE> 2672</SPEECH> 2673 2674<STAGEDIR>Exeunt</STAGEDIR> 2675</SCENE> 2676 2677<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE IV. Paris. The KING's palace.</TITLE> 2678<STAGEDIR>Enter HELENA and Clown</STAGEDIR> 2679 2680<SPEECH> 2681<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2682<LINE>My mother greets me kindly; is she well?</LINE> 2683</SPEECH> 2684 2685<SPEECH> 2686<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 2687<LINE>She is not well; but yet she has her health: she's</LINE> 2688<LINE>very merry; but yet she is not well: but thanks be</LINE> 2689<LINE>given, she's very well and wants nothing i', the</LINE> 2690<LINE>world; but yet she is not well.</LINE> 2691</SPEECH> 2692 2693<SPEECH> 2694<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2695<LINE>If she be very well, what does she ail, that she's</LINE> 2696<LINE>not very well?</LINE> 2697</SPEECH> 2698 2699<SPEECH> 2700<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 2701<LINE>Truly, she's very well indeed, but for two things.</LINE> 2702</SPEECH> 2703 2704<SPEECH> 2705<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2706<LINE>What two things?</LINE> 2707</SPEECH> 2708 2709<SPEECH> 2710<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 2711<LINE>One, that she's not in heaven, whither God send her</LINE> 2712<LINE>quickly! the other that she's in earth, from whence</LINE> 2713<LINE>God send her quickly!</LINE> 2714</SPEECH> 2715 2716<STAGEDIR>Enter PAROLLES</STAGEDIR> 2717 2718<SPEECH> 2719<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2720<LINE>Bless you, my fortunate lady!</LINE> 2721</SPEECH> 2722 2723<SPEECH> 2724<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2725<LINE>I hope, sir, I have your good will to have mine own</LINE> 2726<LINE>good fortunes.</LINE> 2727</SPEECH> 2728 2729<SPEECH> 2730<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2731<LINE>You had my prayers to lead them on; and to keep them</LINE> 2732<LINE>on, have them still. O, my knave, how does my old lady?</LINE> 2733</SPEECH> 2734 2735<SPEECH> 2736<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 2737<LINE>So that you had her wrinkles and I her money,</LINE> 2738<LINE>I would she did as you say.</LINE> 2739</SPEECH> 2740 2741<SPEECH> 2742<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2743<LINE>Why, I say nothing.</LINE> 2744</SPEECH> 2745 2746<SPEECH> 2747<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 2748<LINE>Marry, you are the wiser man; for many a man's</LINE> 2749<LINE>tongue shakes out his master's undoing: to say</LINE> 2750<LINE>nothing, to do nothing, to know nothing, and to have</LINE> 2751<LINE>nothing, is to be a great part of your title; which</LINE> 2752<LINE>is within a very little of nothing.</LINE> 2753</SPEECH> 2754 2755<SPEECH> 2756<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2757<LINE>Away! thou'rt a knave.</LINE> 2758</SPEECH> 2759 2760<SPEECH> 2761<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 2762<LINE>You should have said, sir, before a knave thou'rt a</LINE> 2763<LINE>knave; that's, before me thou'rt a knave: this had</LINE> 2764<LINE>been truth, sir.</LINE> 2765</SPEECH> 2766 2767<SPEECH> 2768<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2769<LINE>Go to, thou art a witty fool; I have found thee.</LINE> 2770</SPEECH> 2771 2772<SPEECH> 2773<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 2774<LINE>Did you find me in yourself, sir? or were you</LINE> 2775<LINE>taught to find me? The search, sir, was profitable;</LINE> 2776<LINE>and much fool may you find in you, even to the</LINE> 2777<LINE>world's pleasure and the increase of laughter.</LINE> 2778</SPEECH> 2779 2780<SPEECH> 2781<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2782<LINE>A good knave, i' faith, and well fed.</LINE> 2783<LINE>Madam, my lord will go away to-night;</LINE> 2784<LINE>A very serious business calls on him.</LINE> 2785<LINE>The great prerogative and rite of love,</LINE> 2786<LINE>Which, as your due, time claims, he does acknowledge;</LINE> 2787<LINE>But puts it off to a compell'd restraint;</LINE> 2788<LINE>Whose want, and whose delay, is strew'd with sweets,</LINE> 2789<LINE>Which they distil now in the curbed time,</LINE> 2790<LINE>To make the coming hour o'erflow with joy</LINE> 2791<LINE>And pleasure drown the brim.</LINE> 2792</SPEECH> 2793 2794<SPEECH> 2795<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2796<LINE>What's his will else?</LINE> 2797</SPEECH> 2798 2799<SPEECH> 2800<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2801<LINE>That you will take your instant leave o' the king</LINE> 2802<LINE>And make this haste as your own good proceeding,</LINE> 2803<LINE>Strengthen'd with what apology you think</LINE> 2804<LINE>May make it probable need.</LINE> 2805</SPEECH> 2806 2807<SPEECH> 2808<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2809<LINE>What more commands he?</LINE> 2810</SPEECH> 2811 2812<SPEECH> 2813<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2814<LINE>That, having this obtain'd, you presently</LINE> 2815<LINE>Attend his further pleasure.</LINE> 2816</SPEECH> 2817 2818<SPEECH> 2819<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2820<LINE>In every thing I wait upon his will.</LINE> 2821</SPEECH> 2822 2823<SPEECH> 2824<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2825<LINE>I shall report it so.</LINE> 2826</SPEECH> 2827 2828<SPEECH> 2829<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 2830<LINE>I pray you.</LINE> 2831<STAGEDIR>Exit PAROLLES</STAGEDIR> 2832<LINE>Come, sirrah.</LINE> 2833</SPEECH> 2834 2835<STAGEDIR>Exeunt</STAGEDIR> 2836</SCENE> 2837 2838<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE V. Paris. The KING's palace.</TITLE> 2839<STAGEDIR>Enter LAFEU and BERTRAM</STAGEDIR> 2840 2841<SPEECH> 2842<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2843<LINE>But I hope your lordship thinks not him a soldier.</LINE> 2844</SPEECH> 2845 2846<SPEECH> 2847<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 2848<LINE>Yes, my lord, and of very valiant approof.</LINE> 2849</SPEECH> 2850 2851<SPEECH> 2852<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2853<LINE>You have it from his own deliverance.</LINE> 2854</SPEECH> 2855 2856<SPEECH> 2857<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 2858<LINE>And by other warranted testimony.</LINE> 2859</SPEECH> 2860 2861<SPEECH> 2862<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2863<LINE>Then my dial goes not true: I took this lark for a bunting.</LINE> 2864</SPEECH> 2865 2866<SPEECH> 2867<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 2868<LINE>I do assure you, my lord, he is very great in</LINE> 2869<LINE>knowledge and accordingly valiant.</LINE> 2870</SPEECH> 2871 2872<SPEECH> 2873<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2874<LINE>I have then sinned against his experience and</LINE> 2875<LINE>transgressed against his valour; and my state that</LINE> 2876<LINE>way is dangerous, since I cannot yet find in my</LINE> 2877<LINE>heart to repent. Here he comes: I pray you, make</LINE> 2878<LINE>us friends; I will pursue the amity.</LINE> 2879</SPEECH> 2880 2881<STAGEDIR>Enter PAROLLES</STAGEDIR> 2882 2883<SPEECH> 2884<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2885<LINE><STAGEDIR>To BERTRAM</STAGEDIR> These things shall be done, sir.</LINE> 2886</SPEECH> 2887 2888<SPEECH> 2889<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2890<LINE>Pray you, sir, who's his tailor?</LINE> 2891</SPEECH> 2892 2893<SPEECH> 2894<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2895<LINE>Sir?</LINE> 2896</SPEECH> 2897 2898<SPEECH> 2899<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2900<LINE>O, I know him well, I, sir; he, sir, 's a good</LINE> 2901<LINE>workman, a very good tailor.</LINE> 2902</SPEECH> 2903 2904<SPEECH> 2905<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 2906<LINE><STAGEDIR>Aside to PAROLLES</STAGEDIR> Is she gone to the king?</LINE> 2907</SPEECH> 2908 2909<SPEECH> 2910<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2911<LINE>She is.</LINE> 2912</SPEECH> 2913 2914<SPEECH> 2915<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 2916<LINE>Will she away to-night?</LINE> 2917</SPEECH> 2918 2919<SPEECH> 2920<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2921<LINE>As you'll have her.</LINE> 2922</SPEECH> 2923 2924<SPEECH> 2925<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 2926<LINE>I have writ my letters, casketed my treasure,</LINE> 2927<LINE>Given order for our horses; and to-night,</LINE> 2928<LINE>When I should take possession of the bride,</LINE> 2929<LINE>End ere I do begin.</LINE> 2930</SPEECH> 2931 2932<SPEECH> 2933<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2934<LINE>A good traveller is something at the latter end of a</LINE> 2935<LINE>dinner; but one that lies three thirds and uses a</LINE> 2936<LINE>known truth to pass a thousand nothings with, should</LINE> 2937<LINE>be once heard and thrice beaten. God save you, captain.</LINE> 2938</SPEECH> 2939 2940<SPEECH> 2941<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 2942<LINE>Is there any unkindness between my lord and you, monsieur?</LINE> 2943</SPEECH> 2944 2945<SPEECH> 2946<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2947<LINE>I know not how I have deserved to run into my lord's</LINE> 2948<LINE>displeasure.</LINE> 2949</SPEECH> 2950 2951<SPEECH> 2952<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2953<LINE>You have made shift to run into 't, boots and spurs</LINE> 2954<LINE>and all, like him that leaped into the custard; and</LINE> 2955<LINE>out of it you'll run again, rather than suffer</LINE> 2956<LINE>question for your residence.</LINE> 2957</SPEECH> 2958 2959<SPEECH> 2960<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 2961<LINE>It may be you have mistaken him, my lord.</LINE> 2962</SPEECH> 2963 2964<SPEECH> 2965<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 2966<LINE>And shall do so ever, though I took him at 's</LINE> 2967<LINE>prayers. Fare you well, my lord; and believe this</LINE> 2968<LINE>of me, there can be no kernel in this light nut; the</LINE> 2969<LINE>soul of this man is his clothes. Trust him not in</LINE> 2970<LINE>matter of heavy consequence; I have kept of them</LINE> 2971<LINE>tame, and know their natures. Farewell, monsieur:</LINE> 2972<LINE>I have spoken better of you than you have or will to</LINE> 2973<LINE>deserve at my hand; but we must do good against evil.</LINE> 2974</SPEECH> 2975 2976<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 2977 2978<SPEECH> 2979<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2980<LINE>An idle lord. I swear.</LINE> 2981</SPEECH> 2982 2983<SPEECH> 2984<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 2985<LINE>I think so.</LINE> 2986</SPEECH> 2987 2988<SPEECH> 2989<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 2990<LINE>Why, do you not know him?</LINE> 2991</SPEECH> 2992 2993<SPEECH> 2994<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 2995<LINE>Yes, I do know him well, and common speech</LINE> 2996<LINE>Gives him a worthy pass. Here comes my clog.</LINE> 2997</SPEECH> 2998 2999<STAGEDIR>Enter HELENA</STAGEDIR> 3000 3001<SPEECH> 3002<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3003<LINE>I have, sir, as I was commanded from you,</LINE> 3004<LINE>Spoke with the king and have procured his leave</LINE> 3005<LINE>For present parting; only he desires</LINE> 3006<LINE>Some private speech with you.</LINE> 3007</SPEECH> 3008 3009<SPEECH> 3010<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 3011<LINE>I shall obey his will.</LINE> 3012<LINE>You must not marvel, Helen, at my course,</LINE> 3013<LINE>Which holds not colour with the time, nor does</LINE> 3014<LINE>The ministration and required office</LINE> 3015<LINE>On my particular. Prepared I was not</LINE> 3016<LINE>For such a business; therefore am I found</LINE> 3017<LINE>So much unsettled: this drives me to entreat you</LINE> 3018<LINE>That presently you take our way for home;</LINE> 3019<LINE>And rather muse than ask why I entreat you,</LINE> 3020<LINE>For my respects are better than they seem</LINE> 3021<LINE>And my appointments have in them a need</LINE> 3022<LINE>Greater than shows itself at the first view</LINE> 3023<LINE>To you that know them not. This to my mother:</LINE> 3024<STAGEDIR>Giving a letter</STAGEDIR> 3025<LINE>'Twill be two days ere I shall see you, so</LINE> 3026<LINE>I leave you to your wisdom.</LINE> 3027</SPEECH> 3028 3029<SPEECH> 3030<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3031<LINE>Sir, I can nothing say,</LINE> 3032<LINE>But that I am your most obedient servant.</LINE> 3033</SPEECH> 3034 3035<SPEECH> 3036<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 3037<LINE>Come, come, no more of that.</LINE> 3038</SPEECH> 3039 3040<SPEECH> 3041<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3042<LINE>And ever shall</LINE> 3043<LINE>With true observance seek to eke out that</LINE> 3044<LINE>Wherein toward me my homely stars have fail'd</LINE> 3045<LINE>To equal my great fortune.</LINE> 3046</SPEECH> 3047 3048<SPEECH> 3049<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 3050<LINE>Let that go:</LINE> 3051<LINE>My haste is very great: farewell; hie home.</LINE> 3052</SPEECH> 3053 3054<SPEECH> 3055<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3056<LINE>Pray, sir, your pardon.</LINE> 3057</SPEECH> 3058 3059<SPEECH> 3060<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 3061<LINE>Well, what would you say?</LINE> 3062</SPEECH> 3063 3064<SPEECH> 3065<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3066<LINE>I am not worthy of the wealth I owe,</LINE> 3067<LINE>Nor dare I say 'tis mine, and yet it is;</LINE> 3068<LINE>But, like a timorous thief, most fain would steal</LINE> 3069<LINE>What law does vouch mine own.</LINE> 3070</SPEECH> 3071 3072<SPEECH> 3073<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 3074<LINE>What would you have?</LINE> 3075</SPEECH> 3076 3077<SPEECH> 3078<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3079<LINE>Something; and scarce so much: nothing, indeed.</LINE> 3080<LINE>I would not tell you what I would, my lord:</LINE> 3081<LINE>Faith yes;</LINE> 3082<LINE>Strangers and foes do sunder, and not kiss.</LINE> 3083</SPEECH> 3084 3085<SPEECH> 3086<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 3087<LINE>I pray you, stay not, but in haste to horse.</LINE> 3088</SPEECH> 3089 3090<SPEECH> 3091<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3092<LINE>I shall not break your bidding, good my lord.</LINE> 3093</SPEECH> 3094 3095<SPEECH> 3096<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 3097<LINE>Where are my other men, monsieur? Farewell.</LINE> 3098<STAGEDIR>Exit HELENA</STAGEDIR> 3099<LINE>Go thou toward home; where I will never come</LINE> 3100<LINE>Whilst I can shake my sword or hear the drum.</LINE> 3101<LINE>Away, and for our flight.</LINE> 3102</SPEECH> 3103 3104<SPEECH> 3105<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 3106<LINE>Bravely, coragio!</LINE> 3107</SPEECH> 3108 3109<STAGEDIR>Exeunt</STAGEDIR> 3110</SCENE> 3111 3112</ACT> 3113 3114<ACT><TITLE>ACT III</TITLE> 3115 3116<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE I. Florence. The DUKE's palace.</TITLE> 3117<STAGEDIR>Flourish. Enter the DUKE of Florence attended; 3118the two Frenchmen, with a troop of soldiers.</STAGEDIR> 3119 3120<SPEECH> 3121<SPEAKER>DUKE</SPEAKER> 3122<LINE>So that from point to point now have you heard</LINE> 3123<LINE>The fundamental reasons of this war,</LINE> 3124<LINE>Whose great decision hath much blood let forth</LINE> 3125<LINE>And more thirsts after.</LINE> 3126</SPEECH> 3127 3128<SPEECH> 3129<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 3130<LINE>Holy seems the quarrel</LINE> 3131<LINE>Upon your grace's part; black and fearful</LINE> 3132<LINE>On the opposer.</LINE> 3133</SPEECH> 3134 3135<SPEECH> 3136<SPEAKER>DUKE</SPEAKER> 3137<LINE>Therefore we marvel much our cousin France</LINE> 3138<LINE>Would in so just a business shut his bosom</LINE> 3139<LINE>Against our borrowing prayers.</LINE> 3140</SPEECH> 3141 3142<SPEECH> 3143<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 3144<LINE>Good my lord,</LINE> 3145<LINE>The reasons of our state I cannot yield,</LINE> 3146<LINE>But like a common and an outward man,</LINE> 3147<LINE>That the great figure of a council frames</LINE> 3148<LINE>By self-unable motion: therefore dare not</LINE> 3149<LINE>Say what I think of it, since I have found</LINE> 3150<LINE>Myself in my incertain grounds to fail</LINE> 3151<LINE>As often as I guess'd.</LINE> 3152</SPEECH> 3153 3154<SPEECH> 3155<SPEAKER>DUKE</SPEAKER> 3156<LINE>Be it his pleasure.</LINE> 3157</SPEECH> 3158 3159<SPEECH> 3160<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 3161<LINE>But I am sure the younger of our nature,</LINE> 3162<LINE>That surfeit on their ease, will day by day</LINE> 3163<LINE>Come here for physic.</LINE> 3164</SPEECH> 3165 3166<SPEECH> 3167<SPEAKER>DUKE</SPEAKER> 3168<LINE>Welcome shall they be;</LINE> 3169<LINE>And all the honours that can fly from us</LINE> 3170<LINE>Shall on them settle. You know your places well;</LINE> 3171<LINE>When better fall, for your avails they fell:</LINE> 3172<LINE>To-morrow to the field.</LINE> 3173</SPEECH> 3174 3175<STAGEDIR>Flourish. Exeunt</STAGEDIR> 3176</SCENE> 3177 3178<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE II. Rousillon. The COUNT's palace.</TITLE> 3179<STAGEDIR>Enter COUNTESS and Clown</STAGEDIR> 3180 3181<SPEECH> 3182<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 3183<LINE>It hath happened all as I would have had it, save</LINE> 3184<LINE>that he comes not along with her.</LINE> 3185</SPEECH> 3186 3187<SPEECH> 3188<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 3189<LINE>By my troth, I take my young lord to be a very</LINE> 3190<LINE>melancholy man.</LINE> 3191</SPEECH> 3192 3193<SPEECH> 3194<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 3195<LINE>By what observance, I pray you?</LINE> 3196</SPEECH> 3197 3198<SPEECH> 3199<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 3200<LINE>Why, he will look upon his boot and sing; mend the</LINE> 3201<LINE>ruff and sing; ask questions and sing; pick his</LINE> 3202<LINE>teeth and sing. I know a man that had this trick of</LINE> 3203<LINE>melancholy sold a goodly manor for a song.</LINE> 3204</SPEECH> 3205 3206<SPEECH> 3207<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 3208<LINE>Let me see what he writes, and when he means to come.</LINE> 3209</SPEECH> 3210 3211<STAGEDIR>Opening a letter</STAGEDIR> 3212 3213<SPEECH> 3214<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 3215<LINE>I have no mind to Isbel since I was at court: our</LINE> 3216<LINE>old ling and our Isbels o' the country are nothing</LINE> 3217<LINE>like your old ling and your Isbels o' the court:</LINE> 3218<LINE>the brains of my Cupid's knocked out, and I begin to</LINE> 3219<LINE>love, as an old man loves money, with no stomach.</LINE> 3220</SPEECH> 3221 3222<SPEECH> 3223<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 3224<LINE>What have we here?</LINE> 3225</SPEECH> 3226 3227<SPEECH> 3228<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 3229<LINE>E'en that you have there.</LINE> 3230</SPEECH> 3231 3232<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 3233 3234<SPEECH> 3235<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 3236<LINE><STAGEDIR>Reads</STAGEDIR> I have sent you a daughter-in-law: she hath</LINE> 3237<LINE>recovered the king, and undone me. I have wedded</LINE> 3238<LINE>her, not bedded her; and sworn to make the 'not'</LINE> 3239<LINE>eternal. You shall hear I am run away: know it</LINE> 3240<LINE>before the report come. If there be breadth enough</LINE> 3241<LINE>in the world, I will hold a long distance. My duty</LINE> 3242<LINE>to you. Your unfortunate son,</LINE> 3243<LINE>BERTRAM.</LINE> 3244<LINE>This is not well, rash and unbridled boy.</LINE> 3245<LINE>To fly the favours of so good a king;</LINE> 3246<LINE>To pluck his indignation on thy head</LINE> 3247<LINE>By the misprising of a maid too virtuous</LINE> 3248<LINE>For the contempt of empire.</LINE> 3249</SPEECH> 3250 3251<STAGEDIR>Re-enter Clown</STAGEDIR> 3252 3253<SPEECH> 3254<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 3255<LINE>O madam, yonder is heavy news within between two</LINE> 3256<LINE>soldiers and my young lady!</LINE> 3257</SPEECH> 3258 3259<SPEECH> 3260<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 3261<LINE>What is the matter?</LINE> 3262</SPEECH> 3263 3264<SPEECH> 3265<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 3266<LINE>Nay, there is some comfort in the news, some</LINE> 3267<LINE>comfort; your son will not be killed so soon as I</LINE> 3268<LINE>thought he would.</LINE> 3269</SPEECH> 3270 3271<SPEECH> 3272<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 3273<LINE>Why should he be killed?</LINE> 3274</SPEECH> 3275 3276<SPEECH> 3277<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 3278<LINE>So say I, madam, if he run away, as I hear he does:</LINE> 3279<LINE>the danger is in standing to't; that's the loss of</LINE> 3280<LINE>men, though it be the getting of children. Here</LINE> 3281<LINE>they come will tell you more: for my part, I only</LINE> 3282<LINE>hear your son was run away.</LINE> 3283</SPEECH> 3284 3285<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 3286<STAGEDIR>Enter HELENA, and two Gentlemen</STAGEDIR> 3287 3288<SPEECH> 3289<SPEAKER>First Gentleman</SPEAKER> 3290<LINE>Save you, good madam.</LINE> 3291</SPEECH> 3292 3293<SPEECH> 3294<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3295<LINE>Madam, my lord is gone, for ever gone.</LINE> 3296</SPEECH> 3297 3298<SPEECH> 3299<SPEAKER>Second Gentleman</SPEAKER> 3300<LINE>Do not say so.</LINE> 3301</SPEECH> 3302 3303<SPEECH> 3304<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 3305<LINE>Think upon patience. Pray you, gentlemen,</LINE> 3306<LINE>I have felt so many quirks of joy and grief,</LINE> 3307<LINE>That the first face of neither, on the start,</LINE> 3308<LINE>Can woman me unto't: where is my son, I pray you?</LINE> 3309</SPEECH> 3310 3311<SPEECH> 3312<SPEAKER>Second Gentleman</SPEAKER> 3313<LINE>Madam, he's gone to serve the duke of Florence:</LINE> 3314<LINE>We met him thitherward; for thence we came,</LINE> 3315<LINE>And, after some dispatch in hand at court,</LINE> 3316<LINE>Thither we bend again.</LINE> 3317</SPEECH> 3318 3319<SPEECH> 3320<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3321<LINE>Look on his letter, madam; here's my passport.</LINE> 3322<STAGEDIR>Reads</STAGEDIR> 3323<LINE>When thou canst get the ring upon my finger which</LINE> 3324<LINE>never shall come off, and show me a child begotten</LINE> 3325<LINE>of thy body that I am father to, then call me</LINE> 3326<LINE>husband: but in such a 'then' I write a 'never.'</LINE> 3327<LINE>This is a dreadful sentence.</LINE> 3328</SPEECH> 3329 3330<SPEECH> 3331<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 3332<LINE>Brought you this letter, gentlemen?</LINE> 3333</SPEECH> 3334 3335<SPEECH> 3336<SPEAKER>First Gentleman</SPEAKER> 3337<LINE>Ay, madam;</LINE> 3338<LINE>And for the contents' sake are sorry for our pain.</LINE> 3339</SPEECH> 3340 3341<SPEECH> 3342<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 3343<LINE>I prithee, lady, have a better cheer;</LINE> 3344<LINE>If thou engrossest all the griefs are thine,</LINE> 3345<LINE>Thou robb'st me of a moiety: he was my son;</LINE> 3346<LINE>But I do wash his name out of my blood,</LINE> 3347<LINE>And thou art all my child. Towards Florence is he?</LINE> 3348</SPEECH> 3349 3350<SPEECH> 3351<SPEAKER>Second Gentleman</SPEAKER> 3352<LINE>Ay, madam.</LINE> 3353</SPEECH> 3354 3355<SPEECH> 3356<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 3357<LINE>And to be a soldier?</LINE> 3358</SPEECH> 3359 3360<SPEECH> 3361<SPEAKER>Second Gentleman</SPEAKER> 3362<LINE>Such is his noble purpose; and believe 't,</LINE> 3363<LINE>The duke will lay upon him all the honour</LINE> 3364<LINE>That good convenience claims.</LINE> 3365</SPEECH> 3366 3367<SPEECH> 3368<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 3369<LINE>Return you thither?</LINE> 3370</SPEECH> 3371 3372<SPEECH> 3373<SPEAKER>First Gentleman</SPEAKER> 3374<LINE>Ay, madam, with the swiftest wing of speed.</LINE> 3375</SPEECH> 3376 3377<SPEECH> 3378<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3379<LINE><STAGEDIR>Reads</STAGEDIR> Till I have no wife I have nothing in France.</LINE> 3380<LINE>'Tis bitter.</LINE> 3381</SPEECH> 3382 3383<SPEECH> 3384<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 3385<LINE>Find you that there?</LINE> 3386</SPEECH> 3387 3388<SPEECH> 3389<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3390<LINE>Ay, madam.</LINE> 3391</SPEECH> 3392 3393<SPEECH> 3394<SPEAKER>First Gentleman</SPEAKER> 3395<LINE>'Tis but the boldness of his hand, haply, which his</LINE> 3396<LINE>heart was not consenting to.</LINE> 3397</SPEECH> 3398 3399<SPEECH> 3400<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 3401<LINE>Nothing in France, until he have no wife!</LINE> 3402<LINE>There's nothing here that is too good for him</LINE> 3403<LINE>But only she; and she deserves a lord</LINE> 3404<LINE>That twenty such rude boys might tend upon</LINE> 3405<LINE>And call her hourly mistress. Who was with him?</LINE> 3406</SPEECH> 3407 3408<SPEECH> 3409<SPEAKER>First Gentleman</SPEAKER> 3410<LINE>A servant only, and a gentleman</LINE> 3411<LINE>Which I have sometime known.</LINE> 3412</SPEECH> 3413 3414<SPEECH> 3415<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 3416<LINE>Parolles, was it not?</LINE> 3417</SPEECH> 3418 3419<SPEECH> 3420<SPEAKER>First Gentleman</SPEAKER> 3421<LINE>Ay, my good lady, he.</LINE> 3422</SPEECH> 3423 3424<SPEECH> 3425<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 3426<LINE>A very tainted fellow, and full of wickedness.</LINE> 3427<LINE>My son corrupts a well-derived nature</LINE> 3428<LINE>With his inducement.</LINE> 3429</SPEECH> 3430 3431<SPEECH> 3432<SPEAKER>First Gentleman</SPEAKER> 3433<LINE>Indeed, good lady,</LINE> 3434<LINE>The fellow has a deal of that too much,</LINE> 3435<LINE>Which holds him much to have.</LINE> 3436</SPEECH> 3437 3438<SPEECH> 3439<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 3440<LINE>You're welcome, gentlemen.</LINE> 3441<LINE>I will entreat you, when you see my son,</LINE> 3442<LINE>To tell him that his sword can never win</LINE> 3443<LINE>The honour that he loses: more I'll entreat you</LINE> 3444<LINE>Written to bear along.</LINE> 3445</SPEECH> 3446 3447<SPEECH> 3448<SPEAKER>Second Gentleman</SPEAKER> 3449<LINE>We serve you, madam,</LINE> 3450<LINE>In that and all your worthiest affairs.</LINE> 3451</SPEECH> 3452 3453<SPEECH> 3454<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 3455<LINE>Not so, but as we change our courtesies.</LINE> 3456<LINE>Will you draw near!</LINE> 3457</SPEECH> 3458 3459<STAGEDIR>Exeunt COUNTESS and Gentlemen</STAGEDIR> 3460 3461<SPEECH> 3462<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3463<LINE>'Till I have no wife, I have nothing in France.'</LINE> 3464<LINE>Nothing in France, until he has no wife!</LINE> 3465<LINE>Thou shalt have none, Rousillon, none in France;</LINE> 3466<LINE>Then hast thou all again. Poor lord! is't I</LINE> 3467<LINE>That chase thee from thy country and expose</LINE> 3468<LINE>Those tender limbs of thine to the event</LINE> 3469<LINE>Of the none-sparing war? and is it I</LINE> 3470<LINE>That drive thee from the sportive court, where thou</LINE> 3471<LINE>Wast shot at with fair eyes, to be the mark</LINE> 3472<LINE>Of smoky muskets? O you leaden messengers,</LINE> 3473<LINE>That ride upon the violent speed of fire,</LINE> 3474<LINE>Fly with false aim; move the still-peering air,</LINE> 3475<LINE>That sings with piercing; do not touch my lord.</LINE> 3476<LINE>Whoever shoots at him, I set him there;</LINE> 3477<LINE>Whoever charges on his forward breast,</LINE> 3478<LINE>I am the caitiff that do hold him to't;</LINE> 3479<LINE>And, though I kill him not, I am the cause</LINE> 3480<LINE>His death was so effected: better 'twere</LINE> 3481<LINE>I met the ravin lion when he roar'd</LINE> 3482<LINE>With sharp constraint of hunger; better 'twere</LINE> 3483<LINE>That all the miseries which nature owes</LINE> 3484<LINE>Were mine at once. No, come thou home, Rousillon,</LINE> 3485<LINE>Whence honour but of danger wins a scar,</LINE> 3486<LINE>As oft it loses all: I will be gone;</LINE> 3487<LINE>My being here it is that holds thee hence:</LINE> 3488<LINE>Shall I stay here to do't? no, no, although</LINE> 3489<LINE>The air of paradise did fan the house</LINE> 3490<LINE>And angels officed all: I will be gone,</LINE> 3491<LINE>That pitiful rumour may report my flight,</LINE> 3492<LINE>To consolate thine ear. Come, night; end, day!</LINE> 3493<LINE>For with the dark, poor thief, I'll steal away.</LINE> 3494</SPEECH> 3495 3496<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 3497</SCENE> 3498 3499<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE III. Florence. Before the DUKE's palace.</TITLE> 3500<STAGEDIR>Flourish. Enter the DUKE of Florence, BERTRAM, 3501PAROLLES, Soldiers, Drum, and Trumpets</STAGEDIR> 3502 3503<SPEECH> 3504<SPEAKER>DUKE</SPEAKER> 3505<LINE>The general of our horse thou art; and we,</LINE> 3506<LINE>Great in our hope, lay our best love and credence</LINE> 3507<LINE>Upon thy promising fortune.</LINE> 3508</SPEECH> 3509 3510<SPEECH> 3511<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 3512<LINE>Sir, it is</LINE> 3513<LINE>A charge too heavy for my strength, but yet</LINE> 3514<LINE>We'll strive to bear it for your worthy sake</LINE> 3515<LINE>To the extreme edge of hazard.</LINE> 3516</SPEECH> 3517 3518<SPEECH> 3519<SPEAKER>DUKE</SPEAKER> 3520<LINE>Then go thou forth;</LINE> 3521<LINE>And fortune play upon thy prosperous helm,</LINE> 3522<LINE>As thy auspicious mistress!</LINE> 3523</SPEECH> 3524 3525<SPEECH> 3526<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 3527<LINE>This very day,</LINE> 3528<LINE>Great Mars, I put myself into thy file:</LINE> 3529<LINE>Make me but like my thoughts, and I shall prove</LINE> 3530<LINE>A lover of thy drum, hater of love.</LINE> 3531</SPEECH> 3532 3533<STAGEDIR>Exeunt</STAGEDIR> 3534</SCENE> 3535 3536<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE IV. Rousillon. The COUNT's palace.</TITLE> 3537<STAGEDIR>Enter COUNTESS and Steward</STAGEDIR> 3538 3539<SPEECH> 3540<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 3541<LINE>Alas! and would you take the letter of her?</LINE> 3542<LINE>Might you not know she would do as she has done,</LINE> 3543<LINE>By sending me a letter? Read it again.</LINE> 3544</SPEECH> 3545 3546<SPEECH> 3547<SPEAKER>Steward</SPEAKER> 3548<LINE><STAGEDIR>Reads</STAGEDIR></LINE> 3549<LINE>I am Saint Jaques' pilgrim, thither gone:</LINE> 3550<LINE>Ambitious love hath so in me offended,</LINE> 3551<LINE>That barefoot plod I the cold ground upon,</LINE> 3552<LINE>With sainted vow my faults to have amended.</LINE> 3553<LINE>Write, write, that from the bloody course of war</LINE> 3554<LINE>My dearest master, your dear son, may hie:</LINE> 3555<LINE>Bless him at home in peace, whilst I from far</LINE> 3556<LINE>His name with zealous fervor sanctify:</LINE> 3557<LINE>His taken labours bid him me forgive;</LINE> 3558<LINE>I, his despiteful Juno, sent him forth</LINE> 3559<LINE>From courtly friends, with camping foes to live,</LINE> 3560<LINE>Where death and danger dogs the heels of worth:</LINE> 3561<LINE>He is too good and fair for death and me:</LINE> 3562<LINE>Whom I myself embrace, to set him free.</LINE> 3563</SPEECH> 3564 3565<SPEECH> 3566<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 3567<LINE>Ah, what sharp stings are in her mildest words!</LINE> 3568<LINE>Rinaldo, you did never lack advice so much,</LINE> 3569<LINE>As letting her pass so: had I spoke with her,</LINE> 3570<LINE>I could have well diverted her intents,</LINE> 3571<LINE>Which thus she hath prevented.</LINE> 3572</SPEECH> 3573 3574<SPEECH> 3575<SPEAKER>Steward</SPEAKER> 3576<LINE>Pardon me, madam:</LINE> 3577<LINE>If I had given you this at over-night,</LINE> 3578<LINE>She might have been o'erta'en; and yet she writes,</LINE> 3579<LINE>Pursuit would be but vain.</LINE> 3580</SPEECH> 3581 3582<SPEECH> 3583<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 3584<LINE>What angel shall</LINE> 3585<LINE>Bless this unworthy husband? he cannot thrive,</LINE> 3586<LINE>Unless her prayers, whom heaven delights to hear</LINE> 3587<LINE>And loves to grant, reprieve him from the wrath</LINE> 3588<LINE>Of greatest justice. Write, write, Rinaldo,</LINE> 3589<LINE>To this unworthy husband of his wife;</LINE> 3590<LINE>Let every word weigh heavy of her worth</LINE> 3591<LINE>That he does weigh too light: my greatest grief.</LINE> 3592<LINE>Though little he do feel it, set down sharply.</LINE> 3593<LINE>Dispatch the most convenient messenger:</LINE> 3594<LINE>When haply he shall hear that she is gone,</LINE> 3595<LINE>He will return; and hope I may that she,</LINE> 3596<LINE>Hearing so much, will speed her foot again,</LINE> 3597<LINE>Led hither by pure love: which of them both</LINE> 3598<LINE>Is dearest to me. I have no skill in sense</LINE> 3599<LINE>To make distinction: provide this messenger:</LINE> 3600<LINE>My heart is heavy and mine age is weak;</LINE> 3601<LINE>Grief would have tears, and sorrow bids me speak.</LINE> 3602</SPEECH> 3603 3604<STAGEDIR>Exeunt</STAGEDIR> 3605</SCENE> 3606 3607<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE V. Florence. Without the walls. A tucket afar off.</TITLE> 3608<STAGEDIR>Enter an old Widow of Florence, DIANA, VIOLENTA, 3609and MARIANA, with other Citizens</STAGEDIR> 3610 3611<SPEECH> 3612<SPEAKER>Widow</SPEAKER> 3613<LINE>Nay, come; for if they do approach the city, we</LINE> 3614<LINE>shall lose all the sight.</LINE> 3615</SPEECH> 3616 3617<SPEECH> 3618<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 3619<LINE>They say the French count has done most honourable service.</LINE> 3620</SPEECH> 3621 3622<SPEECH> 3623<SPEAKER>Widow</SPEAKER> 3624<LINE>It is reported that he has taken their greatest</LINE> 3625<LINE>commander; and that with his own hand he slew the</LINE> 3626<LINE>duke's brother.</LINE> 3627<STAGEDIR>Tucket</STAGEDIR> 3628<LINE>We have lost our labour; they are gone a contrary</LINE> 3629<LINE>way: hark! you may know by their trumpets.</LINE> 3630</SPEECH> 3631 3632<SPEECH> 3633<SPEAKER>MARIANA</SPEAKER> 3634<LINE>Come, let's return again, and suffice ourselves with</LINE> 3635<LINE>the report of it. Well, Diana, take heed of this</LINE> 3636<LINE>French earl: the honour of a maid is her name; and</LINE> 3637<LINE>no legacy is so rich as honesty.</LINE> 3638</SPEECH> 3639 3640<SPEECH> 3641<SPEAKER>Widow</SPEAKER> 3642<LINE>I have told my neighbour how you have been solicited</LINE> 3643<LINE>by a gentleman his companion.</LINE> 3644</SPEECH> 3645 3646<SPEECH> 3647<SPEAKER>MARIANA</SPEAKER> 3648<LINE>I know that knave; hang him! one Parolles: a</LINE> 3649<LINE>filthy officer he is in those suggestions for the</LINE> 3650<LINE>young earl. Beware of them, Diana; their promises,</LINE> 3651<LINE>enticements, oaths, tokens, and all these engines of</LINE> 3652<LINE>lust, are not the things they go under: many a maid</LINE> 3653<LINE>hath been seduced by them; and the misery is,</LINE> 3654<LINE>example, that so terrible shows in the wreck of</LINE> 3655<LINE>maidenhood, cannot for all that dissuade succession,</LINE> 3656<LINE>but that they are limed with the twigs that threaten</LINE> 3657<LINE>them. I hope I need not to advise you further; but</LINE> 3658<LINE>I hope your own grace will keep you where you are,</LINE> 3659<LINE>though there were no further danger known but the</LINE> 3660<LINE>modesty which is so lost.</LINE> 3661</SPEECH> 3662 3663<SPEECH> 3664<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 3665<LINE>You shall not need to fear me.</LINE> 3666</SPEECH> 3667 3668<SPEECH> 3669<SPEAKER>Widow</SPEAKER> 3670<LINE>I hope so.</LINE> 3671<STAGEDIR>Enter HELENA, disguised like a Pilgrim</STAGEDIR> 3672<LINE>Look, here comes a pilgrim: I know she will lie at</LINE> 3673<LINE>my house; thither they send one another: I'll</LINE> 3674<LINE>question her. God save you, pilgrim! whither are you bound?</LINE> 3675</SPEECH> 3676 3677<SPEECH> 3678<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3679<LINE>To Saint Jaques le Grand.</LINE> 3680<LINE>Where do the palmers lodge, I do beseech you?</LINE> 3681</SPEECH> 3682 3683<SPEECH> 3684<SPEAKER>Widow</SPEAKER> 3685<LINE>At the Saint Francis here beside the port.</LINE> 3686</SPEECH> 3687 3688<SPEECH> 3689<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3690<LINE>Is this the way?</LINE> 3691</SPEECH> 3692 3693<SPEECH> 3694<SPEAKER>Widow</SPEAKER> 3695<LINE>Ay, marry, is't.</LINE> 3696<STAGEDIR>A march afar</STAGEDIR> 3697<LINE>Hark you! they come this way.</LINE> 3698<LINE>If you will tarry, holy pilgrim,</LINE> 3699<LINE>But till the troops come by,</LINE> 3700<LINE>I will conduct you where you shall be lodged;</LINE> 3701<LINE>The rather, for I think I know your hostess</LINE> 3702<LINE>As ample as myself.</LINE> 3703</SPEECH> 3704 3705<SPEECH> 3706<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3707<LINE>Is it yourself?</LINE> 3708</SPEECH> 3709 3710<SPEECH> 3711<SPEAKER>Widow</SPEAKER> 3712<LINE>If you shall please so, pilgrim.</LINE> 3713</SPEECH> 3714 3715<SPEECH> 3716<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3717<LINE>I thank you, and will stay upon your leisure.</LINE> 3718</SPEECH> 3719 3720<SPEECH> 3721<SPEAKER>Widow</SPEAKER> 3722<LINE>You came, I think, from France?</LINE> 3723</SPEECH> 3724 3725<SPEECH> 3726<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3727<LINE>I did so.</LINE> 3728</SPEECH> 3729 3730<SPEECH> 3731<SPEAKER>Widow</SPEAKER> 3732<LINE>Here you shall see a countryman of yours</LINE> 3733<LINE>That has done worthy service.</LINE> 3734</SPEECH> 3735 3736<SPEECH> 3737<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3738<LINE>His name, I pray you.</LINE> 3739</SPEECH> 3740 3741<SPEECH> 3742<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 3743<LINE>The Count Rousillon: know you such a one?</LINE> 3744</SPEECH> 3745 3746<SPEECH> 3747<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3748<LINE>But by the ear, that hears most nobly of him:</LINE> 3749<LINE>His face I know not.</LINE> 3750</SPEECH> 3751 3752<SPEECH> 3753<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 3754<LINE>Whatsome'er he is,</LINE> 3755<LINE>He's bravely taken here. He stole from France,</LINE> 3756<LINE>As 'tis reported, for the king had married him</LINE> 3757<LINE>Against his liking: think you it is so?</LINE> 3758</SPEECH> 3759 3760<SPEECH> 3761<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3762<LINE>Ay, surely, mere the truth: I know his lady.</LINE> 3763</SPEECH> 3764 3765<SPEECH> 3766<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 3767<LINE>There is a gentleman that serves the count</LINE> 3768<LINE>Reports but coarsely of her.</LINE> 3769</SPEECH> 3770 3771<SPEECH> 3772<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3773<LINE>What's his name?</LINE> 3774</SPEECH> 3775 3776<SPEECH> 3777<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 3778<LINE>Monsieur Parolles.</LINE> 3779</SPEECH> 3780 3781<SPEECH> 3782<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3783<LINE>O, I believe with him,</LINE> 3784<LINE>In argument of praise, or to the worth</LINE> 3785<LINE>Of the great count himself, she is too mean</LINE> 3786<LINE>To have her name repeated: all her deserving</LINE> 3787<LINE>Is a reserved honesty, and that</LINE> 3788<LINE>I have not heard examined.</LINE> 3789</SPEECH> 3790 3791<SPEECH> 3792<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 3793<LINE>Alas, poor lady!</LINE> 3794<LINE>'Tis a hard bondage to become the wife</LINE> 3795<LINE>Of a detesting lord.</LINE> 3796</SPEECH> 3797 3798<SPEECH> 3799<SPEAKER>Widow</SPEAKER> 3800<LINE>I warrant, good creature, wheresoe'er she is,</LINE> 3801<LINE>Her heart weighs sadly: this young maid might do her</LINE> 3802<LINE>A shrewd turn, if she pleased.</LINE> 3803</SPEECH> 3804 3805<SPEECH> 3806<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3807<LINE>How do you mean?</LINE> 3808<LINE>May be the amorous count solicits her</LINE> 3809<LINE>In the unlawful purpose.</LINE> 3810</SPEECH> 3811 3812<SPEECH> 3813<SPEAKER>Widow</SPEAKER> 3814<LINE>He does indeed;</LINE> 3815<LINE>And brokes with all that can in such a suit</LINE> 3816<LINE>Corrupt the tender honour of a maid:</LINE> 3817<LINE>But she is arm'd for him and keeps her guard</LINE> 3818<LINE>In honestest defence.</LINE> 3819</SPEECH> 3820 3821<SPEECH> 3822<SPEAKER>MARIANA</SPEAKER> 3823<LINE>The gods forbid else!</LINE> 3824</SPEECH> 3825 3826<SPEECH> 3827<SPEAKER>Widow</SPEAKER> 3828<LINE>So, now they come:</LINE> 3829<STAGEDIR>Drum and Colours</STAGEDIR> 3830<STAGEDIR>Enter BERTRAM, PAROLLES, and the whole army</STAGEDIR> 3831<LINE>That is Antonio, the duke's eldest son;</LINE> 3832<LINE>That, Escalus.</LINE> 3833</SPEECH> 3834 3835<SPEECH> 3836<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3837<LINE>Which is the Frenchman?</LINE> 3838</SPEECH> 3839 3840<SPEECH> 3841<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 3842<LINE>He;</LINE> 3843<LINE>That with the plume: 'tis a most gallant fellow.</LINE> 3844<LINE>I would he loved his wife: if he were honester</LINE> 3845<LINE>He were much goodlier: is't not a handsome gentleman?</LINE> 3846</SPEECH> 3847 3848<SPEECH> 3849<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3850<LINE>I like him well.</LINE> 3851</SPEECH> 3852 3853<SPEECH> 3854<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 3855<LINE>'Tis pity he is not honest: yond's that same knave</LINE> 3856<LINE>That leads him to these places: were I his lady,</LINE> 3857<LINE>I would Poison that vile rascal.</LINE> 3858</SPEECH> 3859 3860<SPEECH> 3861<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3862<LINE>Which is he?</LINE> 3863</SPEECH> 3864 3865<SPEECH> 3866<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 3867<LINE>That jack-an-apes with scarfs: why is he melancholy?</LINE> 3868</SPEECH> 3869 3870<SPEECH> 3871<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3872<LINE>Perchance he's hurt i' the battle.</LINE> 3873</SPEECH> 3874 3875<SPEECH> 3876<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 3877<LINE>Lose our drum! well.</LINE> 3878</SPEECH> 3879 3880<SPEECH> 3881<SPEAKER>MARIANA</SPEAKER> 3882<LINE>He's shrewdly vexed at something: look, he has spied us.</LINE> 3883</SPEECH> 3884 3885<SPEECH> 3886<SPEAKER>Widow</SPEAKER> 3887<LINE>Marry, hang you!</LINE> 3888</SPEECH> 3889 3890<SPEECH> 3891<SPEAKER>MARIANA</SPEAKER> 3892<LINE>And your courtesy, for a ring-carrier!</LINE> 3893</SPEECH> 3894 3895<STAGEDIR>Exeunt BERTRAM, PAROLLES, and army</STAGEDIR> 3896 3897<SPEECH> 3898<SPEAKER>Widow</SPEAKER> 3899<LINE>The troop is past. Come, pilgrim, I will bring you</LINE> 3900<LINE>Where you shall host: of enjoin'd penitents</LINE> 3901<LINE>There's four or five, to great Saint Jaques bound,</LINE> 3902<LINE>Already at my house.</LINE> 3903</SPEECH> 3904 3905<SPEECH> 3906<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 3907<LINE>I humbly thank you:</LINE> 3908<LINE>Please it this matron and this gentle maid</LINE> 3909<LINE>To eat with us to-night, the charge and thanking</LINE> 3910<LINE>Shall be for me; and, to requite you further,</LINE> 3911<LINE>I will bestow some precepts of this virgin</LINE> 3912<LINE>Worthy the note.</LINE> 3913</SPEECH> 3914 3915<SPEECH> 3916<SPEAKER>BOTH</SPEAKER> 3917<LINE>We'll take your offer kindly.</LINE> 3918</SPEECH> 3919 3920<STAGEDIR>Exeunt</STAGEDIR> 3921</SCENE> 3922 3923<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE VI. Camp before Florence.</TITLE> 3924<STAGEDIR>Enter BERTRAM and the two French Lords</STAGEDIR> 3925 3926<SPEECH> 3927<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 3928<LINE>Nay, good my lord, put him to't; let him have his</LINE> 3929<LINE>way.</LINE> 3930</SPEECH> 3931 3932<SPEECH> 3933<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 3934<LINE>If your lordship find him not a hilding, hold me no</LINE> 3935<LINE>more in your respect.</LINE> 3936</SPEECH> 3937 3938<SPEECH> 3939<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 3940<LINE>On my life, my lord, a bubble.</LINE> 3941</SPEECH> 3942 3943<SPEECH> 3944<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 3945<LINE>Do you think I am so far deceived in him?</LINE> 3946</SPEECH> 3947 3948<SPEECH> 3949<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 3950<LINE>Believe it, my lord, in mine own direct knowledge,</LINE> 3951<LINE>without any malice, but to speak of him as my</LINE> 3952<LINE>kinsman, he's a most notable coward, an infinite and</LINE> 3953<LINE>endless liar, an hourly promise-breaker, the owner</LINE> 3954<LINE>of no one good quality worthy your lordship's</LINE> 3955<LINE>entertainment.</LINE> 3956</SPEECH> 3957 3958<SPEECH> 3959<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 3960<LINE>It were fit you knew him; lest, reposing too far in</LINE> 3961<LINE>his virtue, which he hath not, he might at some</LINE> 3962<LINE>great and trusty business in a main danger fail you.</LINE> 3963</SPEECH> 3964 3965<SPEECH> 3966<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 3967<LINE>I would I knew in what particular action to try him.</LINE> 3968</SPEECH> 3969 3970<SPEECH> 3971<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 3972<LINE>None better than to let him fetch off his drum,</LINE> 3973<LINE>which you hear him so confidently undertake to do.</LINE> 3974</SPEECH> 3975 3976<SPEECH> 3977<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 3978<LINE>I, with a troop of Florentines, will suddenly</LINE> 3979<LINE>surprise him; such I will have, whom I am sure he</LINE> 3980<LINE>knows not from the enemy: we will bind and hoodwink</LINE> 3981<LINE>him so, that he shall suppose no other but that he</LINE> 3982<LINE>is carried into the leaguer of the adversaries, when</LINE> 3983<LINE>we bring him to our own tents. Be but your lordship</LINE> 3984<LINE>present at his examination: if he do not, for the</LINE> 3985<LINE>promise of his life and in the highest compulsion of</LINE> 3986<LINE>base fear, offer to betray you and deliver all the</LINE> 3987<LINE>intelligence in his power against you, and that with</LINE> 3988<LINE>the divine forfeit of his soul upon oath, never</LINE> 3989<LINE>trust my judgment in any thing.</LINE> 3990</SPEECH> 3991 3992<SPEECH> 3993<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 3994<LINE>O, for the love of laughter, let him fetch his drum;</LINE> 3995<LINE>he says he has a stratagem for't: when your</LINE> 3996<LINE>lordship sees the bottom of his success in't, and to</LINE> 3997<LINE>what metal this counterfeit lump of ore will be</LINE> 3998<LINE>melted, if you give him not John Drum's</LINE> 3999<LINE>entertainment, your inclining cannot be removed.</LINE> 4000<LINE>Here he comes.</LINE> 4001</SPEECH> 4002 4003<STAGEDIR>Enter PAROLLES</STAGEDIR> 4004 4005<SPEECH> 4006<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4007<LINE><STAGEDIR>Aside to BERTRAM</STAGEDIR> O, for the love of laughter,</LINE> 4008<LINE>hinder not the honour of his design: let him fetch</LINE> 4009<LINE>off his drum in any hand.</LINE> 4010</SPEECH> 4011 4012<SPEECH> 4013<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4014<LINE>How now, monsieur! this drum sticks sorely in your</LINE> 4015<LINE>disposition.</LINE> 4016</SPEECH> 4017 4018<SPEECH> 4019<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 4020<LINE>A pox on't, let it go; 'tis but a drum.</LINE> 4021</SPEECH> 4022 4023<SPEECH> 4024<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 4025<LINE>'But a drum'! is't 'but a drum'? A drum so lost!</LINE> 4026<LINE>There was excellent command,--to charge in with our</LINE> 4027<LINE>horse upon our own wings, and to rend our own soldiers!</LINE> 4028</SPEECH> 4029 4030<SPEECH> 4031<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 4032<LINE>That was not to be blamed in the command of the</LINE> 4033<LINE>service: it was a disaster of war that Caesar</LINE> 4034<LINE>himself could not have prevented, if he had been</LINE> 4035<LINE>there to command.</LINE> 4036</SPEECH> 4037 4038<SPEECH> 4039<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4040<LINE>Well, we cannot greatly condemn our success: some</LINE> 4041<LINE>dishonour we had in the loss of that drum; but it is</LINE> 4042<LINE>not to be recovered.</LINE> 4043</SPEECH> 4044 4045<SPEECH> 4046<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 4047<LINE>It might have been recovered.</LINE> 4048</SPEECH> 4049 4050<SPEECH> 4051<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4052<LINE>It might; but it is not now.</LINE> 4053</SPEECH> 4054 4055<SPEECH> 4056<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 4057<LINE>It is to be recovered: but that the merit of</LINE> 4058<LINE>service is seldom attributed to the true and exact</LINE> 4059<LINE>performer, I would have that drum or another, or</LINE> 4060<LINE>'hic jacet.'</LINE> 4061</SPEECH> 4062 4063<SPEECH> 4064<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4065<LINE>Why, if you have a stomach, to't, monsieur: if you</LINE> 4066<LINE>think your mystery in stratagem can bring this</LINE> 4067<LINE>instrument of honour again into his native quarter,</LINE> 4068<LINE>be magnanimous in the enterprise and go on; I will</LINE> 4069<LINE>grace the attempt for a worthy exploit: if you</LINE> 4070<LINE>speed well in it, the duke shall both speak of it.</LINE> 4071<LINE>and extend to you what further becomes his</LINE> 4072<LINE>greatness, even to the utmost syllable of your</LINE> 4073<LINE>worthiness.</LINE> 4074</SPEECH> 4075 4076<SPEECH> 4077<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 4078<LINE>By the hand of a soldier, I will undertake it.</LINE> 4079</SPEECH> 4080 4081<SPEECH> 4082<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4083<LINE>But you must not now slumber in it.</LINE> 4084</SPEECH> 4085 4086<SPEECH> 4087<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 4088<LINE>I'll about it this evening: and I will presently</LINE> 4089<LINE>pen down my dilemmas, encourage myself in my</LINE> 4090<LINE>certainty, put myself into my mortal preparation;</LINE> 4091<LINE>and by midnight look to hear further from me.</LINE> 4092</SPEECH> 4093 4094<SPEECH> 4095<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4096<LINE>May I be bold to acquaint his grace you are gone about it?</LINE> 4097</SPEECH> 4098 4099<SPEECH> 4100<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 4101<LINE>I know not what the success will be, my lord; but</LINE> 4102<LINE>the attempt I vow.</LINE> 4103</SPEECH> 4104 4105<SPEECH> 4106<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4107<LINE>I know thou'rt valiant; and, to the possibility of</LINE> 4108<LINE>thy soldiership, will subscribe for thee. Farewell.</LINE> 4109</SPEECH> 4110 4111<SPEECH> 4112<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 4113<LINE>I love not many words.</LINE> 4114</SPEECH> 4115 4116<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 4117 4118<SPEECH> 4119<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4120<LINE>No more than a fish loves water. Is not this a</LINE> 4121<LINE>strange fellow, my lord, that so confidently seems</LINE> 4122<LINE>to undertake this business, which he knows is not to</LINE> 4123<LINE>be done; damns himself to do and dares better be</LINE> 4124<LINE>damned than to do't?</LINE> 4125</SPEECH> 4126 4127<SPEECH> 4128<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 4129<LINE>You do not know him, my lord, as we do: certain it</LINE> 4130<LINE>is that he will steal himself into a man's favour and</LINE> 4131<LINE>for a week escape a great deal of discoveries; but</LINE> 4132<LINE>when you find him out, you have him ever after.</LINE> 4133</SPEECH> 4134 4135<SPEECH> 4136<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4137<LINE>Why, do you think he will make no deed at all of</LINE> 4138<LINE>this that so seriously he does address himself unto?</LINE> 4139</SPEECH> 4140 4141<SPEECH> 4142<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4143<LINE>None in the world; but return with an invention and</LINE> 4144<LINE>clap upon you two or three probable lies: but we</LINE> 4145<LINE>have almost embossed him; you shall see his fall</LINE> 4146<LINE>to-night; for indeed he is not for your lordship's respect.</LINE> 4147</SPEECH> 4148 4149<SPEECH> 4150<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 4151<LINE>We'll make you some sport with the fox ere we case</LINE> 4152<LINE>him. He was first smoked by the old lord Lafeu:</LINE> 4153<LINE>when his disguise and he is parted, tell me what a</LINE> 4154<LINE>sprat you shall find him; which you shall see this</LINE> 4155<LINE>very night.</LINE> 4156</SPEECH> 4157 4158<SPEECH> 4159<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4160<LINE>I must go look my twigs: he shall be caught.</LINE> 4161</SPEECH> 4162 4163<SPEECH> 4164<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4165<LINE>Your brother he shall go along with me.</LINE> 4166</SPEECH> 4167 4168<SPEECH> 4169<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4170<LINE>As't please your lordship: I'll leave you.</LINE> 4171</SPEECH> 4172 4173<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 4174 4175<SPEECH> 4176<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4177<LINE>Now will I lead you to the house, and show you</LINE> 4178<LINE>The lass I spoke of.</LINE> 4179</SPEECH> 4180 4181<SPEECH> 4182<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 4183<LINE>But you say she's honest.</LINE> 4184</SPEECH> 4185 4186<SPEECH> 4187<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4188<LINE>That's all the fault: I spoke with her but once</LINE> 4189<LINE>And found her wondrous cold; but I sent to her,</LINE> 4190<LINE>By this same coxcomb that we have i' the wind,</LINE> 4191<LINE>Tokens and letters which she did re-send;</LINE> 4192<LINE>And this is all I have done. She's a fair creature:</LINE> 4193<LINE>Will you go see her?</LINE> 4194</SPEECH> 4195 4196<SPEECH> 4197<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 4198<LINE>With all my heart, my lord.</LINE> 4199</SPEECH> 4200 4201<STAGEDIR>Exeunt</STAGEDIR> 4202</SCENE> 4203 4204<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE VII. Florence. The Widow's house.</TITLE> 4205<STAGEDIR>Enter HELENA and Widow</STAGEDIR> 4206 4207<SPEECH> 4208<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 4209<LINE>If you misdoubt me that I am not she,</LINE> 4210<LINE>I know not how I shall assure you further,</LINE> 4211<LINE>But I shall lose the grounds I work upon.</LINE> 4212</SPEECH> 4213 4214<SPEECH> 4215<SPEAKER>Widow</SPEAKER> 4216<LINE>Though my estate be fallen, I was well born,</LINE> 4217<LINE>Nothing acquainted with these businesses;</LINE> 4218<LINE>And would not put my reputation now</LINE> 4219<LINE>In any staining act.</LINE> 4220</SPEECH> 4221 4222<SPEECH> 4223<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 4224<LINE>Nor would I wish you.</LINE> 4225<LINE>First, give me trust, the count he is my husband,</LINE> 4226<LINE>And what to your sworn counsel I have spoken</LINE> 4227<LINE>Is so from word to word; and then you cannot,</LINE> 4228<LINE>By the good aid that I of you shall borrow,</LINE> 4229<LINE>Err in bestowing it.</LINE> 4230</SPEECH> 4231 4232<SPEECH> 4233<SPEAKER>Widow</SPEAKER> 4234<LINE>I should believe you:</LINE> 4235<LINE>For you have show'd me that which well approves</LINE> 4236<LINE>You're great in fortune.</LINE> 4237</SPEECH> 4238 4239<SPEECH> 4240<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 4241<LINE>Take this purse of gold,</LINE> 4242<LINE>And let me buy your friendly help thus far,</LINE> 4243<LINE>Which I will over-pay and pay again</LINE> 4244<LINE>When I have found it. The count he wooes your daughter,</LINE> 4245<LINE>Lays down his wanton siege before her beauty,</LINE> 4246<LINE>Resolved to carry her: let her in fine consent,</LINE> 4247<LINE>As we'll direct her how 'tis best to bear it.</LINE> 4248<LINE>Now his important blood will nought deny</LINE> 4249<LINE>That she'll demand: a ring the county wears,</LINE> 4250<LINE>That downward hath succeeded in his house</LINE> 4251<LINE>From son to son, some four or five descents</LINE> 4252<LINE>Since the first father wore it: this ring he holds</LINE> 4253<LINE>In most rich choice; yet in his idle fire,</LINE> 4254<LINE>To buy his will, it would not seem too dear,</LINE> 4255<LINE>Howe'er repented after.</LINE> 4256</SPEECH> 4257 4258<SPEECH> 4259<SPEAKER>Widow</SPEAKER> 4260<LINE>Now I see</LINE> 4261<LINE>The bottom of your purpose.</LINE> 4262</SPEECH> 4263 4264<SPEECH> 4265<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 4266<LINE>You see it lawful, then: it is no more,</LINE> 4267<LINE>But that your daughter, ere she seems as won,</LINE> 4268<LINE>Desires this ring; appoints him an encounter;</LINE> 4269<LINE>In fine, delivers me to fill the time,</LINE> 4270<LINE>Herself most chastely absent: after this,</LINE> 4271<LINE>To marry her, I'll add three thousand crowns</LINE> 4272<LINE>To what is passed already.</LINE> 4273</SPEECH> 4274 4275<SPEECH> 4276<SPEAKER>Widow</SPEAKER> 4277<LINE>I have yielded:</LINE> 4278<LINE>Instruct my daughter how she shall persever,</LINE> 4279<LINE>That time and place with this deceit so lawful</LINE> 4280<LINE>May prove coherent. Every night he comes</LINE> 4281<LINE>With musics of all sorts and songs composed</LINE> 4282<LINE>To her unworthiness: it nothing steads us</LINE> 4283<LINE>To chide him from our eaves; for he persists</LINE> 4284<LINE>As if his life lay on't.</LINE> 4285</SPEECH> 4286 4287<SPEECH> 4288<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 4289<LINE>Why then to-night</LINE> 4290<LINE>Let us assay our plot; which, if it speed,</LINE> 4291<LINE>Is wicked meaning in a lawful deed</LINE> 4292<LINE>And lawful meaning in a lawful act,</LINE> 4293<LINE>Where both not sin, and yet a sinful fact:</LINE> 4294<LINE>But let's about it.</LINE> 4295</SPEECH> 4296 4297<STAGEDIR>Exeunt</STAGEDIR> 4298</SCENE> 4299 4300</ACT> 4301 4302<ACT><TITLE>ACT IV</TITLE> 4303 4304<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE I. Without the Florentine camp.</TITLE> 4305<STAGEDIR>Enter Second French Lord, with five or six other 4306Soldiers in ambush</STAGEDIR> 4307 4308<SPEECH> 4309<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4310<LINE>He can come no other way but by this hedge-corner.</LINE> 4311<LINE>When you sally upon him, speak what terrible</LINE> 4312<LINE>language you will: though you understand it not</LINE> 4313<LINE>yourselves, no matter; for we must not seem to</LINE> 4314<LINE>understand him, unless some one among us whom we</LINE> 4315<LINE>must produce for an interpreter.</LINE> 4316</SPEECH> 4317 4318<SPEECH> 4319<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 4320<LINE>Good captain, let me be the interpreter.</LINE> 4321</SPEECH> 4322 4323<SPEECH> 4324<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4325<LINE>Art not acquainted with him? knows he not thy voice?</LINE> 4326</SPEECH> 4327 4328<SPEECH> 4329<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 4330<LINE>No, sir, I warrant you.</LINE> 4331</SPEECH> 4332 4333<SPEECH> 4334<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4335<LINE>But what linsey-woolsey hast thou to speak to us again?</LINE> 4336</SPEECH> 4337 4338<SPEECH> 4339<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 4340<LINE>E'en such as you speak to me.</LINE> 4341</SPEECH> 4342 4343<SPEECH> 4344<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4345<LINE>He must think us some band of strangers i' the</LINE> 4346<LINE>adversary's entertainment. Now he hath a smack of</LINE> 4347<LINE>all neighbouring languages; therefore we must every</LINE> 4348<LINE>one be a man of his own fancy, not to know what we</LINE> 4349<LINE>speak one to another; so we seem to know, is to</LINE> 4350<LINE>know straight our purpose: choughs' language,</LINE> 4351<LINE>gabble enough, and good enough. As for you,</LINE> 4352<LINE>interpreter, you must seem very politic. But couch,</LINE> 4353<LINE>ho! here he comes, to beguile two hours in a sleep,</LINE> 4354<LINE>and then to return and swear the lies he forges.</LINE> 4355</SPEECH> 4356 4357<STAGEDIR>Enter PAROLLES</STAGEDIR> 4358 4359<SPEECH> 4360<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 4361<LINE>Ten o'clock: within these three hours 'twill be</LINE> 4362<LINE>time enough to go home. What shall I say I have</LINE> 4363<LINE>done? It must be a very plausive invention that</LINE> 4364<LINE>carries it: they begin to smoke me; and disgraces</LINE> 4365<LINE>have of late knocked too often at my door. I find</LINE> 4366<LINE>my tongue is too foolhardy; but my heart hath the</LINE> 4367<LINE>fear of Mars before it and of his creatures, not</LINE> 4368<LINE>daring the reports of my tongue.</LINE> 4369</SPEECH> 4370 4371<SPEECH> 4372<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4373<LINE>This is the first truth that e'er thine own tongue</LINE> 4374<LINE>was guilty of.</LINE> 4375</SPEECH> 4376 4377<SPEECH> 4378<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 4379<LINE>What the devil should move me to undertake the</LINE> 4380<LINE>recovery of this drum, being not ignorant of the</LINE> 4381<LINE>impossibility, and knowing I had no such purpose? I</LINE> 4382<LINE>must give myself some hurts, and say I got them in</LINE> 4383<LINE>exploit: yet slight ones will not carry it; they</LINE> 4384<LINE>will say, 'Came you off with so little?' and great</LINE> 4385<LINE>ones I dare not give. Wherefore, what's the</LINE> 4386<LINE>instance? Tongue, I must put you into a</LINE> 4387<LINE>butter-woman's mouth and buy myself another of</LINE> 4388<LINE>Bajazet's mule, if you prattle me into these perils.</LINE> 4389</SPEECH> 4390 4391<SPEECH> 4392<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4393<LINE>Is it possible he should know what he is, and be</LINE> 4394<LINE>that he is?</LINE> 4395</SPEECH> 4396 4397<SPEECH> 4398<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 4399<LINE>I would the cutting of my garments would serve the</LINE> 4400<LINE>turn, or the breaking of my Spanish sword.</LINE> 4401</SPEECH> 4402 4403<SPEECH> 4404<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4405<LINE>We cannot afford you so.</LINE> 4406</SPEECH> 4407 4408<SPEECH> 4409<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 4410<LINE>Or the baring of my beard; and to say it was in</LINE> 4411<LINE>stratagem.</LINE> 4412</SPEECH> 4413 4414<SPEECH> 4415<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4416<LINE>'Twould not do.</LINE> 4417</SPEECH> 4418 4419<SPEECH> 4420<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 4421<LINE>Or to drown my clothes, and say I was stripped.</LINE> 4422</SPEECH> 4423 4424<SPEECH> 4425<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4426<LINE>Hardly serve.</LINE> 4427</SPEECH> 4428 4429<SPEECH> 4430<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 4431<LINE>Though I swore I leaped from the window of the citadel.</LINE> 4432</SPEECH> 4433 4434<SPEECH> 4435<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4436<LINE>How deep?</LINE> 4437</SPEECH> 4438 4439<SPEECH> 4440<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 4441<LINE>Thirty fathom.</LINE> 4442</SPEECH> 4443 4444<SPEECH> 4445<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4446<LINE>Three great oaths would scarce make that be believed.</LINE> 4447</SPEECH> 4448 4449<SPEECH> 4450<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 4451<LINE>I would I had any drum of the enemy's: I would swear</LINE> 4452<LINE>I recovered it.</LINE> 4453</SPEECH> 4454 4455<SPEECH> 4456<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4457<LINE>You shall hear one anon.</LINE> 4458</SPEECH> 4459 4460<SPEECH> 4461<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 4462<LINE>A drum now of the enemy's,--</LINE> 4463</SPEECH> 4464 4465<STAGEDIR>Alarum within</STAGEDIR> 4466 4467<SPEECH> 4468<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4469<LINE>Throca movousus, cargo, cargo, cargo.</LINE> 4470</SPEECH> 4471 4472<SPEECH> 4473<SPEAKER>All</SPEAKER> 4474<LINE>Cargo, cargo, cargo, villiando par corbo, cargo.</LINE> 4475</SPEECH> 4476 4477<SPEECH> 4478<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 4479<LINE>O, ransom, ransom! do not hide mine eyes.</LINE> 4480</SPEECH> 4481 4482<STAGEDIR>They seize and blindfold him</STAGEDIR> 4483 4484<SPEECH> 4485<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 4486<LINE>Boskos thromuldo boskos.</LINE> 4487</SPEECH> 4488 4489<SPEECH> 4490<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 4491<LINE>I know you are the Muskos' regiment:</LINE> 4492<LINE>And I shall lose my life for want of language;</LINE> 4493<LINE>If there be here German, or Dane, low Dutch,</LINE> 4494<LINE>Italian, or French, let him speak to me; I'll</LINE> 4495<LINE>Discover that which shall undo the Florentine.</LINE> 4496</SPEECH> 4497 4498<SPEECH> 4499<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 4500<LINE>Boskos vauvado: I understand thee, and can speak</LINE> 4501<LINE>thy tongue. Kerely bonto, sir, betake thee to thy</LINE> 4502<LINE>faith, for seventeen poniards are at thy bosom.</LINE> 4503</SPEECH> 4504 4505<SPEECH> 4506<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 4507<LINE>O!</LINE> 4508</SPEECH> 4509 4510<SPEECH> 4511<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 4512<LINE>O, pray, pray, pray! Manka revania dulche.</LINE> 4513</SPEECH> 4514 4515<SPEECH> 4516<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4517<LINE>Oscorbidulchos volivorco.</LINE> 4518</SPEECH> 4519 4520<SPEECH> 4521<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 4522<LINE>The general is content to spare thee yet;</LINE> 4523<LINE>And, hoodwink'd as thou art, will lead thee on</LINE> 4524<LINE>To gather from thee: haply thou mayst inform</LINE> 4525<LINE>Something to save thy life.</LINE> 4526</SPEECH> 4527 4528<SPEECH> 4529<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 4530<LINE>O, let me live!</LINE> 4531<LINE>And all the secrets of our camp I'll show,</LINE> 4532<LINE>Their force, their purposes; nay, I'll speak that</LINE> 4533<LINE>Which you will wonder at.</LINE> 4534</SPEECH> 4535 4536<SPEECH> 4537<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 4538<LINE>But wilt thou faithfully?</LINE> 4539</SPEECH> 4540 4541<SPEECH> 4542<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 4543<LINE>If I do not, damn me.</LINE> 4544</SPEECH> 4545 4546<SPEECH> 4547<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 4548<LINE>Acordo linta.</LINE> 4549<LINE>Come on; thou art granted space.</LINE> 4550</SPEECH> 4551 4552<STAGEDIR>Exit, with PAROLLES guarded. A short alarum within</STAGEDIR> 4553 4554<SPEECH> 4555<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4556<LINE>Go, tell the Count Rousillon, and my brother,</LINE> 4557<LINE>We have caught the woodcock, and will keep him muffled</LINE> 4558<LINE>Till we do hear from them.</LINE> 4559</SPEECH> 4560 4561<SPEECH> 4562<SPEAKER>Second Soldier</SPEAKER> 4563<LINE>Captain, I will.</LINE> 4564</SPEECH> 4565 4566<SPEECH> 4567<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4568<LINE>A' will betray us all unto ourselves:</LINE> 4569<LINE>Inform on that.</LINE> 4570</SPEECH> 4571 4572<SPEECH> 4573<SPEAKER>Second Soldier</SPEAKER> 4574<LINE>So I will, sir.</LINE> 4575</SPEECH> 4576 4577<SPEECH> 4578<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4579<LINE>Till then I'll keep him dark and safely lock'd.</LINE> 4580</SPEECH> 4581 4582<STAGEDIR>Exeunt</STAGEDIR> 4583</SCENE> 4584 4585<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE II. Florence. The Widow's house.</TITLE> 4586<STAGEDIR>Enter BERTRAM and DIANA</STAGEDIR> 4587 4588<SPEECH> 4589<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4590<LINE>They told me that your name was Fontibell.</LINE> 4591</SPEECH> 4592 4593<SPEECH> 4594<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 4595<LINE>No, my good lord, Diana.</LINE> 4596</SPEECH> 4597 4598<SPEECH> 4599<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4600<LINE>Titled goddess;</LINE> 4601<LINE>And worth it, with addition! But, fair soul,</LINE> 4602<LINE>In your fine frame hath love no quality?</LINE> 4603<LINE>If quick fire of youth light not your mind,</LINE> 4604<LINE>You are no maiden, but a monument:</LINE> 4605<LINE>When you are dead, you should be such a one</LINE> 4606<LINE>As you are now, for you are cold and stem;</LINE> 4607<LINE>And now you should be as your mother was</LINE> 4608<LINE>When your sweet self was got.</LINE> 4609</SPEECH> 4610 4611<SPEECH> 4612<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 4613<LINE>She then was honest.</LINE> 4614</SPEECH> 4615 4616<SPEECH> 4617<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4618<LINE>So should you be.</LINE> 4619</SPEECH> 4620 4621<SPEECH> 4622<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 4623<LINE>No:</LINE> 4624<LINE>My mother did but duty; such, my lord,</LINE> 4625<LINE>As you owe to your wife.</LINE> 4626</SPEECH> 4627 4628<SPEECH> 4629<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4630<LINE>No more o' that;</LINE> 4631<LINE>I prithee, do not strive against my vows:</LINE> 4632<LINE>I was compell'd to her; but I love thee</LINE> 4633<LINE>By love's own sweet constraint, and will for ever</LINE> 4634<LINE>Do thee all rights of service.</LINE> 4635</SPEECH> 4636 4637<SPEECH> 4638<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 4639<LINE>Ay, so you serve us</LINE> 4640<LINE>Till we serve you; but when you have our roses,</LINE> 4641<LINE>You barely leave our thorns to prick ourselves</LINE> 4642<LINE>And mock us with our bareness.</LINE> 4643</SPEECH> 4644 4645<SPEECH> 4646<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4647<LINE>How have I sworn!</LINE> 4648</SPEECH> 4649 4650<SPEECH> 4651<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 4652<LINE>'Tis not the many oaths that makes the truth,</LINE> 4653<LINE>But the plain single vow that is vow'd true.</LINE> 4654<LINE>What is not holy, that we swear not by,</LINE> 4655<LINE>But take the High'st to witness: then, pray you, tell me,</LINE> 4656<LINE>If I should swear by God's great attributes,</LINE> 4657<LINE>I loved you dearly, would you believe my oaths,</LINE> 4658<LINE>When I did love you ill? This has no holding,</LINE> 4659<LINE>To swear by him whom I protest to love,</LINE> 4660<LINE>That I will work against him: therefore your oaths</LINE> 4661<LINE>Are words and poor conditions, but unseal'd,</LINE> 4662<LINE>At least in my opinion.</LINE> 4663</SPEECH> 4664 4665<SPEECH> 4666<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4667<LINE>Change it, change it;</LINE> 4668<LINE>Be not so holy-cruel: love is holy;</LINE> 4669<LINE>And my integrity ne'er knew the crafts</LINE> 4670<LINE>That you do charge men with. Stand no more off,</LINE> 4671<LINE>But give thyself unto my sick desires,</LINE> 4672<LINE>Who then recover: say thou art mine, and ever</LINE> 4673<LINE>My love as it begins shall so persever.</LINE> 4674</SPEECH> 4675 4676<SPEECH> 4677<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 4678<LINE>I see that men make ropes in such a scarre</LINE> 4679<LINE>That we'll forsake ourselves. Give me that ring.</LINE> 4680</SPEECH> 4681 4682<SPEECH> 4683<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4684<LINE>I'll lend it thee, my dear; but have no power</LINE> 4685<LINE>To give it from me.</LINE> 4686</SPEECH> 4687 4688<SPEECH> 4689<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 4690<LINE>Will you not, my lord?</LINE> 4691</SPEECH> 4692 4693<SPEECH> 4694<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4695<LINE>It is an honour 'longing to our house,</LINE> 4696<LINE>Bequeathed down from many ancestors;</LINE> 4697<LINE>Which were the greatest obloquy i' the world</LINE> 4698<LINE>In me to lose.</LINE> 4699</SPEECH> 4700 4701<SPEECH> 4702<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 4703<LINE>Mine honour's such a ring:</LINE> 4704<LINE>My chastity's the jewel of our house,</LINE> 4705<LINE>Bequeathed down from many ancestors;</LINE> 4706<LINE>Which were the greatest obloquy i' the world</LINE> 4707<LINE>In me to lose: thus your own proper wisdom</LINE> 4708<LINE>Brings in the champion Honour on my part,</LINE> 4709<LINE>Against your vain assault.</LINE> 4710</SPEECH> 4711 4712<SPEECH> 4713<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4714<LINE>Here, take my ring:</LINE> 4715<LINE>My house, mine honour, yea, my life, be thine,</LINE> 4716<LINE>And I'll be bid by thee.</LINE> 4717</SPEECH> 4718 4719<SPEECH> 4720<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 4721<LINE>When midnight comes, knock at my chamber-window:</LINE> 4722<LINE>I'll order take my mother shall not hear.</LINE> 4723<LINE>Now will I charge you in the band of truth,</LINE> 4724<LINE>When you have conquer'd my yet maiden bed,</LINE> 4725<LINE>Remain there but an hour, nor speak to me:</LINE> 4726<LINE>My reasons are most strong; and you shall know them</LINE> 4727<LINE>When back again this ring shall be deliver'd:</LINE> 4728<LINE>And on your finger in the night I'll put</LINE> 4729<LINE>Another ring, that what in time proceeds</LINE> 4730<LINE>May token to the future our past deeds.</LINE> 4731<LINE>Adieu, till then; then, fail not. You have won</LINE> 4732<LINE>A wife of me, though there my hope be done.</LINE> 4733</SPEECH> 4734 4735<SPEECH> 4736<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4737<LINE>A heaven on earth I have won by wooing thee.</LINE> 4738</SPEECH> 4739 4740<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 4741 4742<SPEECH> 4743<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 4744<LINE>For which live long to thank both heaven and me!</LINE> 4745<LINE>You may so in the end.</LINE> 4746<LINE>My mother told me just how he would woo,</LINE> 4747<LINE>As if she sat in 's heart; she says all men</LINE> 4748<LINE>Have the like oaths: he had sworn to marry me</LINE> 4749<LINE>When his wife's dead; therefore I'll lie with him</LINE> 4750<LINE>When I am buried. Since Frenchmen are so braid,</LINE> 4751<LINE>Marry that will, I live and die a maid:</LINE> 4752<LINE>Only in this disguise I think't no sin</LINE> 4753<LINE>To cozen him that would unjustly win.</LINE> 4754</SPEECH> 4755 4756<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 4757</SCENE> 4758 4759<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE III. The Florentine camp.</TITLE> 4760<STAGEDIR>Enter the two French Lords and some two or three Soldiers</STAGEDIR> 4761 4762<SPEECH> 4763<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 4764<LINE>You have not given him his mother's letter?</LINE> 4765</SPEECH> 4766 4767<SPEECH> 4768<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4769<LINE>I have delivered it an hour since: there is</LINE> 4770<LINE>something in't that stings his nature; for on the</LINE> 4771<LINE>reading it he changed almost into another man.</LINE> 4772</SPEECH> 4773 4774<SPEECH> 4775<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 4776<LINE>He has much worthy blame laid upon him for shaking</LINE> 4777<LINE>off so good a wife and so sweet a lady.</LINE> 4778</SPEECH> 4779 4780<SPEECH> 4781<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4782<LINE>Especially he hath incurred the everlasting</LINE> 4783<LINE>displeasure of the king, who had even tuned his</LINE> 4784<LINE>bounty to sing happiness to him. I will tell you a</LINE> 4785<LINE>thing, but you shall let it dwell darkly with you.</LINE> 4786</SPEECH> 4787 4788<SPEECH> 4789<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 4790<LINE>When you have spoken it, 'tis dead, and I am the</LINE> 4791<LINE>grave of it.</LINE> 4792</SPEECH> 4793 4794<SPEECH> 4795<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4796<LINE>He hath perverted a young gentlewoman here in</LINE> 4797<LINE>Florence, of a most chaste renown; and this night he</LINE> 4798<LINE>fleshes his will in the spoil of her honour: he hath</LINE> 4799<LINE>given her his monumental ring, and thinks himself</LINE> 4800<LINE>made in the unchaste composition.</LINE> 4801</SPEECH> 4802 4803<SPEECH> 4804<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 4805<LINE>Now, God delay our rebellion! as we are ourselves,</LINE> 4806<LINE>what things are we!</LINE> 4807</SPEECH> 4808 4809<SPEECH> 4810<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4811<LINE>Merely our own traitors. And as in the common course</LINE> 4812<LINE>of all treasons, we still see them reveal</LINE> 4813<LINE>themselves, till they attain to their abhorred ends,</LINE> 4814<LINE>so he that in this action contrives against his own</LINE> 4815<LINE>nobility, in his proper stream o'erflows himself.</LINE> 4816</SPEECH> 4817 4818<SPEECH> 4819<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 4820<LINE>Is it not meant damnable in us, to be trumpeters of</LINE> 4821<LINE>our unlawful intents? We shall not then have his</LINE> 4822<LINE>company to-night?</LINE> 4823</SPEECH> 4824 4825<SPEECH> 4826<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4827<LINE>Not till after midnight; for he is dieted to his hour.</LINE> 4828</SPEECH> 4829 4830<SPEECH> 4831<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 4832<LINE>That approaches apace; I would gladly have him see</LINE> 4833<LINE>his company anatomized, that he might take a measure</LINE> 4834<LINE>of his own judgments, wherein so curiously he had</LINE> 4835<LINE>set this counterfeit.</LINE> 4836</SPEECH> 4837 4838<SPEECH> 4839<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4840<LINE>We will not meddle with him till he come; for his</LINE> 4841<LINE>presence must be the whip of the other.</LINE> 4842</SPEECH> 4843 4844<SPEECH> 4845<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 4846<LINE>In the mean time, what hear you of these wars?</LINE> 4847</SPEECH> 4848 4849<SPEECH> 4850<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4851<LINE>I hear there is an overture of peace.</LINE> 4852</SPEECH> 4853 4854<SPEECH> 4855<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 4856<LINE>Nay, I assure you, a peace concluded.</LINE> 4857</SPEECH> 4858 4859<SPEECH> 4860<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4861<LINE>What will Count Rousillon do then? will he travel</LINE> 4862<LINE>higher, or return again into France?</LINE> 4863</SPEECH> 4864 4865<SPEECH> 4866<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 4867<LINE>I perceive, by this demand, you are not altogether</LINE> 4868<LINE>of his council.</LINE> 4869</SPEECH> 4870 4871<SPEECH> 4872<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4873<LINE>Let it be forbid, sir; so should I be a great deal</LINE> 4874<LINE>of his act.</LINE> 4875</SPEECH> 4876 4877<SPEECH> 4878<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 4879<LINE>Sir, his wife some two months since fled from his</LINE> 4880<LINE>house: her pretence is a pilgrimage to Saint Jaques</LINE> 4881<LINE>le Grand; which holy undertaking with most austere</LINE> 4882<LINE>sanctimony she accomplished; and, there residing the</LINE> 4883<LINE>tenderness of her nature became as a prey to her</LINE> 4884<LINE>grief; in fine, made a groan of her last breath, and</LINE> 4885<LINE>now she sings in heaven.</LINE> 4886</SPEECH> 4887 4888<SPEECH> 4889<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4890<LINE>How is this justified?</LINE> 4891</SPEECH> 4892 4893<SPEECH> 4894<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 4895<LINE>The stronger part of it by her own letters, which</LINE> 4896<LINE>makes her story true, even to the point of her</LINE> 4897<LINE>death: her death itself, which could not be her</LINE> 4898<LINE>office to say is come, was faithfully confirmed by</LINE> 4899<LINE>the rector of the place.</LINE> 4900</SPEECH> 4901 4902<SPEECH> 4903<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4904<LINE>Hath the count all this intelligence?</LINE> 4905</SPEECH> 4906 4907<SPEECH> 4908<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 4909<LINE>Ay, and the particular confirmations, point from</LINE> 4910<LINE>point, so to the full arming of the verity.</LINE> 4911</SPEECH> 4912 4913<SPEECH> 4914<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4915<LINE>I am heartily sorry that he'll be glad of this.</LINE> 4916</SPEECH> 4917 4918<SPEECH> 4919<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 4920<LINE>How mightily sometimes we make us comforts of our losses!</LINE> 4921</SPEECH> 4922 4923<SPEECH> 4924<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4925<LINE>And how mightily some other times we drown our gain</LINE> 4926<LINE>in tears! The great dignity that his valour hath</LINE> 4927<LINE>here acquired for him shall at home be encountered</LINE> 4928<LINE>with a shame as ample.</LINE> 4929</SPEECH> 4930 4931<SPEECH> 4932<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 4933<LINE>The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and</LINE> 4934<LINE>ill together: our virtues would be proud, if our</LINE> 4935<LINE>faults whipped them not; and our crimes would</LINE> 4936<LINE>despair, if they were not cherished by our virtues.</LINE> 4937<STAGEDIR>Enter a Messenger</STAGEDIR> 4938<LINE>How now! where's your master?</LINE> 4939</SPEECH> 4940 4941<SPEECH> 4942<SPEAKER>Servant</SPEAKER> 4943<LINE>He met the duke in the street, sir, of whom he hath</LINE> 4944<LINE>taken a solemn leave: his lordship will next</LINE> 4945<LINE>morning for France. The duke hath offered him</LINE> 4946<LINE>letters of commendations to the king.</LINE> 4947</SPEECH> 4948 4949<SPEECH> 4950<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4951<LINE>They shall be no more than needful there, if they</LINE> 4952<LINE>were more than they can commend.</LINE> 4953</SPEECH> 4954 4955<SPEECH> 4956<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 4957<LINE>They cannot be too sweet for the king's tartness.</LINE> 4958<LINE>Here's his lordship now.</LINE> 4959<STAGEDIR>Enter BERTRAM</STAGEDIR> 4960<LINE>How now, my lord! is't not after midnight?</LINE> 4961</SPEECH> 4962 4963<SPEECH> 4964<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4965<LINE>I have to-night dispatched sixteen businesses, a</LINE> 4966<LINE>month's length a-piece, by an abstract of success:</LINE> 4967<LINE>I have congied with the duke, done my adieu with his</LINE> 4968<LINE>nearest; buried a wife, mourned for her; writ to my</LINE> 4969<LINE>lady mother I am returning; entertained my convoy;</LINE> 4970<LINE>and between these main parcels of dispatch effected</LINE> 4971<LINE>many nicer needs; the last was the greatest, but</LINE> 4972<LINE>that I have not ended yet.</LINE> 4973</SPEECH> 4974 4975<SPEECH> 4976<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4977<LINE>If the business be of any difficulty, and this</LINE> 4978<LINE>morning your departure hence, it requires haste of</LINE> 4979<LINE>your lordship.</LINE> 4980</SPEECH> 4981 4982<SPEECH> 4983<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4984<LINE>I mean, the business is not ended, as fearing to</LINE> 4985<LINE>hear of it hereafter. But shall we have this</LINE> 4986<LINE>dialogue between the fool and the soldier? Come,</LINE> 4987<LINE>bring forth this counterfeit module, he has deceived</LINE> 4988<LINE>me, like a double-meaning prophesier.</LINE> 4989</SPEECH> 4990 4991<SPEECH> 4992<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 4993<LINE>Bring him forth: has sat i' the stocks all night,</LINE> 4994<LINE>poor gallant knave.</LINE> 4995</SPEECH> 4996 4997<SPEECH> 4998<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 4999<LINE>No matter: his heels have deserved it, in usurping</LINE> 5000<LINE>his spurs so long. How does he carry himself?</LINE> 5001</SPEECH> 5002 5003<SPEECH> 5004<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 5005<LINE>I have told your lordship already, the stocks carry</LINE> 5006<LINE>him. But to answer you as you would be understood;</LINE> 5007<LINE>he weeps like a wench that had shed her milk: he</LINE> 5008<LINE>hath confessed himself to Morgan, whom he supposes</LINE> 5009<LINE>to be a friar, from the time of his remembrance to</LINE> 5010<LINE>this very instant disaster of his setting i' the</LINE> 5011<LINE>stocks: and what think you he hath confessed?</LINE> 5012</SPEECH> 5013 5014<SPEECH> 5015<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 5016<LINE>Nothing of me, has a'?</LINE> 5017</SPEECH> 5018 5019<SPEECH> 5020<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 5021<LINE>His confession is taken, and it shall be read to his</LINE> 5022<LINE>face: if your lordship be in't, as I believe you</LINE> 5023<LINE>are, you must have the patience to hear it.</LINE> 5024</SPEECH> 5025 5026<STAGEDIR>Enter PAROLLES guarded, and First Soldier</STAGEDIR> 5027 5028<SPEECH> 5029<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 5030<LINE>A plague upon him! muffled! he can say nothing of</LINE> 5031<LINE>me: hush, hush!</LINE> 5032</SPEECH> 5033 5034<SPEECH> 5035<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 5036<LINE>Hoodman comes! Portotartarosa</LINE> 5037</SPEECH> 5038 5039<SPEECH> 5040<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5041<LINE>He calls for the tortures: what will you say</LINE> 5042<LINE>without 'em?</LINE> 5043</SPEECH> 5044 5045<SPEECH> 5046<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5047<LINE>I will confess what I know without constraint: if</LINE> 5048<LINE>ye pinch me like a pasty, I can say no more.</LINE> 5049</SPEECH> 5050 5051<SPEECH> 5052<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5053<LINE>Bosko chimurcho.</LINE> 5054</SPEECH> 5055 5056<SPEECH> 5057<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 5058<LINE>Boblibindo chicurmurco.</LINE> 5059</SPEECH> 5060 5061<SPEECH> 5062<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5063<LINE>You are a merciful general. Our general bids you</LINE> 5064<LINE>answer to what I shall ask you out of a note.</LINE> 5065</SPEECH> 5066 5067<SPEECH> 5068<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5069<LINE>And truly, as I hope to live.</LINE> 5070</SPEECH> 5071 5072<SPEECH> 5073<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5074<LINE><STAGEDIR>Reads</STAGEDIR> 'First demand of him how many horse the</LINE> 5075<LINE>duke is strong.' What say you to that?</LINE> 5076</SPEECH> 5077 5078<SPEECH> 5079<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5080<LINE>Five or six thousand; but very weak and</LINE> 5081<LINE>unserviceable: the troops are all scattered, and</LINE> 5082<LINE>the commanders very poor rogues, upon my reputation</LINE> 5083<LINE>and credit and as I hope to live.</LINE> 5084</SPEECH> 5085 5086<SPEECH> 5087<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5088<LINE>Shall I set down your answer so?</LINE> 5089</SPEECH> 5090 5091<SPEECH> 5092<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5093<LINE>Do: I'll take the sacrament on't, how and which way you will.</LINE> 5094</SPEECH> 5095 5096<SPEECH> 5097<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 5098<LINE>All's one to him. What a past-saving slave is this!</LINE> 5099</SPEECH> 5100 5101<SPEECH> 5102<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 5103<LINE>You're deceived, my lord: this is Monsieur</LINE> 5104<LINE>Parolles, the gallant militarist,--that was his own</LINE> 5105<LINE>phrase,--that had the whole theoric of war in the</LINE> 5106<LINE>knot of his scarf, and the practise in the chape of</LINE> 5107<LINE>his dagger.</LINE> 5108</SPEECH> 5109 5110<SPEECH> 5111<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 5112<LINE>I will never trust a man again for keeping his sword</LINE> 5113<LINE>clean. nor believe he can have every thing in him</LINE> 5114<LINE>by wearing his apparel neatly.</LINE> 5115</SPEECH> 5116 5117<SPEECH> 5118<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5119<LINE>Well, that's set down.</LINE> 5120</SPEECH> 5121 5122<SPEECH> 5123<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5124<LINE>Five or six thousand horse, I said,-- I will say</LINE> 5125<LINE>true,--or thereabouts, set down, for I'll speak truth.</LINE> 5126</SPEECH> 5127 5128<SPEECH> 5129<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 5130<LINE>He's very near the truth in this.</LINE> 5131</SPEECH> 5132 5133<SPEECH> 5134<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 5135<LINE>But I con him no thanks for't, in the nature he</LINE> 5136<LINE>delivers it.</LINE> 5137</SPEECH> 5138 5139<SPEECH> 5140<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5141<LINE>Poor rogues, I pray you, say.</LINE> 5142</SPEECH> 5143 5144<SPEECH> 5145<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5146<LINE>Well, that's set down.</LINE> 5147</SPEECH> 5148 5149<SPEECH> 5150<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5151<LINE>I humbly thank you, sir: a truth's a truth, the</LINE> 5152<LINE>rogues are marvellous poor.</LINE> 5153</SPEECH> 5154 5155<SPEECH> 5156<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5157<LINE><STAGEDIR>Reads</STAGEDIR> 'Demand of him, of what strength they are</LINE> 5158<LINE>a-foot.' What say you to that?</LINE> 5159</SPEECH> 5160 5161<SPEECH> 5162<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5163<LINE>By my troth, sir, if I were to live this present</LINE> 5164<LINE>hour, I will tell true. Let me see: Spurio, a</LINE> 5165<LINE>hundred and fifty; Sebastian, so many; Corambus, so</LINE> 5166<LINE>many; Jaques, so many; Guiltian, Cosmo, Lodowick,</LINE> 5167<LINE>and Gratii, two hundred and fifty each; mine own</LINE> 5168<LINE>company, Chitopher, Vaumond, Bentii, two hundred and</LINE> 5169<LINE>fifty each: so that the muster-file, rotten and</LINE> 5170<LINE>sound, upon my life, amounts not to fifteen thousand</LINE> 5171<LINE>poll; half of the which dare not shake snow from off</LINE> 5172<LINE>their cassocks, lest they shake themselves to pieces.</LINE> 5173</SPEECH> 5174 5175<SPEECH> 5176<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 5177<LINE>What shall be done to him?</LINE> 5178</SPEECH> 5179 5180<SPEECH> 5181<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 5182<LINE>Nothing, but let him have thanks. Demand of him my</LINE> 5183<LINE>condition, and what credit I have with the duke.</LINE> 5184</SPEECH> 5185 5186<SPEECH> 5187<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5188<LINE>Well, that's set down.</LINE> 5189<STAGEDIR>Reads</STAGEDIR> 5190<LINE>'You shall demand of him, whether one Captain Dumain</LINE> 5191<LINE>be i' the camp, a Frenchman; what his reputation is</LINE> 5192<LINE>with the duke; what his valour, honesty, and</LINE> 5193<LINE>expertness in wars; or whether he thinks it were not</LINE> 5194<LINE>possible, with well-weighing sums of gold, to</LINE> 5195<LINE>corrupt him to revolt.' What say you to this? what</LINE> 5196<LINE>do you know of it?</LINE> 5197</SPEECH> 5198 5199<SPEECH> 5200<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5201<LINE>I beseech you, let me answer to the particular of</LINE> 5202<LINE>the inter'gatories: demand them singly.</LINE> 5203</SPEECH> 5204 5205<SPEECH> 5206<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5207<LINE>Do you know this Captain Dumain?</LINE> 5208</SPEECH> 5209 5210<SPEECH> 5211<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5212<LINE>I know him: a' was a botcher's 'prentice in Paris,</LINE> 5213<LINE>from whence he was whipped for getting the shrieve's</LINE> 5214<LINE>fool with child,--a dumb innocent, that could not</LINE> 5215<LINE>say him nay.</LINE> 5216</SPEECH> 5217 5218<SPEECH> 5219<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 5220<LINE>Nay, by your leave, hold your hands; though I know</LINE> 5221<LINE>his brains are forfeit to the next tile that falls.</LINE> 5222</SPEECH> 5223 5224<SPEECH> 5225<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5226<LINE>Well, is this captain in the duke of Florence's camp?</LINE> 5227</SPEECH> 5228 5229<SPEECH> 5230<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5231<LINE>Upon my knowledge, he is, and lousy.</LINE> 5232</SPEECH> 5233 5234<SPEECH> 5235<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 5236<LINE>Nay look not so upon me; we shall hear of your</LINE> 5237<LINE>lordship anon.</LINE> 5238</SPEECH> 5239 5240<SPEECH> 5241<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5242<LINE>What is his reputation with the duke?</LINE> 5243</SPEECH> 5244 5245<SPEECH> 5246<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5247<LINE>The duke knows him for no other but a poor officer</LINE> 5248<LINE>of mine; and writ to me this other day to turn him</LINE> 5249<LINE>out o' the band: I think I have his letter in my pocket.</LINE> 5250</SPEECH> 5251 5252<SPEECH> 5253<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5254<LINE>Marry, we'll search.</LINE> 5255</SPEECH> 5256 5257<SPEECH> 5258<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5259<LINE>In good sadness, I do not know; either it is there,</LINE> 5260<LINE>or it is upon a file with the duke's other letters</LINE> 5261<LINE>in my tent.</LINE> 5262</SPEECH> 5263 5264<SPEECH> 5265<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5266<LINE>Here 'tis; here's a paper: shall I read it to you?</LINE> 5267</SPEECH> 5268 5269<SPEECH> 5270<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5271<LINE>I do not know if it be it or no.</LINE> 5272</SPEECH> 5273 5274<SPEECH> 5275<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 5276<LINE>Our interpreter does it well.</LINE> 5277</SPEECH> 5278 5279<SPEECH> 5280<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 5281<LINE>Excellently.</LINE> 5282</SPEECH> 5283 5284<SPEECH> 5285<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5286<LINE><STAGEDIR>Reads</STAGEDIR> 'Dian, the count's a fool, and full of gold,'--</LINE> 5287</SPEECH> 5288 5289<SPEECH> 5290<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5291<LINE>That is not the duke's letter, sir; that is an</LINE> 5292<LINE>advertisement to a proper maid in Florence, one</LINE> 5293<LINE>Diana, to take heed of the allurement of one Count</LINE> 5294<LINE>Rousillon, a foolish idle boy, but for all that very</LINE> 5295<LINE>ruttish: I pray you, sir, put it up again.</LINE> 5296</SPEECH> 5297 5298<SPEECH> 5299<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5300<LINE>Nay, I'll read it first, by your favour.</LINE> 5301</SPEECH> 5302 5303<SPEECH> 5304<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5305<LINE>My meaning in't, I protest, was very honest in the</LINE> 5306<LINE>behalf of the maid; for I knew the young count to be</LINE> 5307<LINE>a dangerous and lascivious boy, who is a whale to</LINE> 5308<LINE>virginity and devours up all the fry it finds.</LINE> 5309</SPEECH> 5310 5311<SPEECH> 5312<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 5313<LINE>Damnable both-sides rogue!</LINE> 5314</SPEECH> 5315 5316<SPEECH> 5317<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5318<LINE><STAGEDIR>Reads</STAGEDIR> 'When he swears oaths, bid him drop gold, and take it;</LINE> 5319<LINE>After he scores, he never pays the score:</LINE> 5320<LINE>Half won is match well made; match, and well make it;</LINE> 5321<LINE>He ne'er pays after-debts, take it before;</LINE> 5322<LINE>And say a soldier, Dian, told thee this,</LINE> 5323<LINE>Men are to mell with, boys are not to kiss:</LINE> 5324<LINE>For count of this, the count's a fool, I know it,</LINE> 5325<LINE>Who pays before, but not when he does owe it.</LINE> 5326<LINE>Thine, as he vowed to thee in thine ear,</LINE> 5327<LINE>PAROLLES.'</LINE> 5328</SPEECH> 5329 5330<SPEECH> 5331<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 5332<LINE>He shall be whipped through the army with this rhyme</LINE> 5333<LINE>in's forehead.</LINE> 5334</SPEECH> 5335 5336<SPEECH> 5337<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 5338<LINE>This is your devoted friend, sir, the manifold</LINE> 5339<LINE>linguist and the armipotent soldier.</LINE> 5340</SPEECH> 5341 5342<SPEECH> 5343<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 5344<LINE>I could endure any thing before but a cat, and now</LINE> 5345<LINE>he's a cat to me.</LINE> 5346</SPEECH> 5347 5348<SPEECH> 5349<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5350<LINE>I perceive, sir, by the general's looks, we shall be</LINE> 5351<LINE>fain to hang you.</LINE> 5352</SPEECH> 5353 5354<SPEECH> 5355<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5356<LINE>My life, sir, in any case: not that I am afraid to</LINE> 5357<LINE>die; but that, my offences being many, I would</LINE> 5358<LINE>repent out the remainder of nature: let me live,</LINE> 5359<LINE>sir, in a dungeon, i' the stocks, or any where, so I may live.</LINE> 5360</SPEECH> 5361 5362<SPEECH> 5363<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5364<LINE>We'll see what may be done, so you confess freely;</LINE> 5365<LINE>therefore, once more to this Captain Dumain: you</LINE> 5366<LINE>have answered to his reputation with the duke and to</LINE> 5367<LINE>his valour: what is his honesty?</LINE> 5368</SPEECH> 5369 5370<SPEECH> 5371<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5372<LINE>He will steal, sir, an egg out of a cloister: for</LINE> 5373<LINE>rapes and ravishments he parallels Nessus: he</LINE> 5374<LINE>professes not keeping of oaths; in breaking 'em he</LINE> 5375<LINE>is stronger than Hercules: he will lie, sir, with</LINE> 5376<LINE>such volubility, that you would think truth were a</LINE> 5377<LINE>fool: drunkenness is his best virtue, for he will</LINE> 5378<LINE>be swine-drunk; and in his sleep he does little</LINE> 5379<LINE>harm, save to his bed-clothes about him; but they</LINE> 5380<LINE>know his conditions and lay him in straw. I have but</LINE> 5381<LINE>little more to say, sir, of his honesty: he has</LINE> 5382<LINE>every thing that an honest man should not have; what</LINE> 5383<LINE>an honest man should have, he has nothing.</LINE> 5384</SPEECH> 5385 5386<SPEECH> 5387<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 5388<LINE>I begin to love him for this.</LINE> 5389</SPEECH> 5390 5391<SPEECH> 5392<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 5393<LINE>For this description of thine honesty? A pox upon</LINE> 5394<LINE>him for me, he's more and more a cat.</LINE> 5395</SPEECH> 5396 5397<SPEECH> 5398<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5399<LINE>What say you to his expertness in war?</LINE> 5400</SPEECH> 5401 5402<SPEECH> 5403<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5404<LINE>Faith, sir, he has led the drum before the English</LINE> 5405<LINE>tragedians; to belie him, I will not, and more of</LINE> 5406<LINE>his soldiership I know not; except, in that country</LINE> 5407<LINE>he had the honour to be the officer at a place there</LINE> 5408<LINE>called Mile-end, to instruct for the doubling of</LINE> 5409<LINE>files: I would do the man what honour I can, but of</LINE> 5410<LINE>this I am not certain.</LINE> 5411</SPEECH> 5412 5413<SPEECH> 5414<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 5415<LINE>He hath out-villained villany so far, that the</LINE> 5416<LINE>rarity redeems him.</LINE> 5417</SPEECH> 5418 5419<SPEECH> 5420<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 5421<LINE>A pox on him, he's a cat still.</LINE> 5422</SPEECH> 5423 5424<SPEECH> 5425<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5426<LINE>His qualities being at this poor price, I need not</LINE> 5427<LINE>to ask you if gold will corrupt him to revolt.</LINE> 5428</SPEECH> 5429 5430<SPEECH> 5431<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5432<LINE>Sir, for a quart d'ecu he will sell the fee-simple</LINE> 5433<LINE>of his salvation, the inheritance of it; and cut the</LINE> 5434<LINE>entail from all remainders, and a perpetual</LINE> 5435<LINE>succession for it perpetually.</LINE> 5436</SPEECH> 5437 5438<SPEECH> 5439<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5440<LINE>What's his brother, the other Captain Dumain?</LINE> 5441</SPEECH> 5442 5443<SPEECH> 5444<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 5445<LINE>Why does be ask him of me?</LINE> 5446</SPEECH> 5447 5448<SPEECH> 5449<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5450<LINE>What's he?</LINE> 5451</SPEECH> 5452 5453<SPEECH> 5454<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5455<LINE>E'en a crow o' the same nest; not altogether so</LINE> 5456<LINE>great as the first in goodness, but greater a great</LINE> 5457<LINE>deal in evil: he excels his brother for a coward,</LINE> 5458<LINE>yet his brother is reputed one of the best that is:</LINE> 5459<LINE>in a retreat he outruns any lackey; marry, in coming</LINE> 5460<LINE>on he has the cramp.</LINE> 5461</SPEECH> 5462 5463<SPEECH> 5464<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5465<LINE>If your life be saved, will you undertake to betray</LINE> 5466<LINE>the Florentine?</LINE> 5467</SPEECH> 5468 5469<SPEECH> 5470<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5471<LINE>Ay, and the captain of his horse, Count Rousillon.</LINE> 5472</SPEECH> 5473 5474<SPEECH> 5475<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5476<LINE>I'll whisper with the general, and know his pleasure.</LINE> 5477</SPEECH> 5478 5479<SPEECH> 5480<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5481<LINE><STAGEDIR>Aside</STAGEDIR> I'll no more drumming; a plague of all</LINE> 5482<LINE>drums! Only to seem to deserve well, and to</LINE> 5483<LINE>beguile the supposition of that lascivious young boy</LINE> 5484<LINE>the count, have I run into this danger. Yet who</LINE> 5485<LINE>would have suspected an ambush where I was taken?</LINE> 5486</SPEECH> 5487 5488<SPEECH> 5489<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5490<LINE>There is no remedy, sir, but you must die: the</LINE> 5491<LINE>general says, you that have so traitorously</LINE> 5492<LINE>discovered the secrets of your army and made such</LINE> 5493<LINE>pestiferous reports of men very nobly held, can</LINE> 5494<LINE>serve the world for no honest use; therefore you</LINE> 5495<LINE>must die. Come, headsman, off with his head.</LINE> 5496</SPEECH> 5497 5498<SPEECH> 5499<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5500<LINE>O Lord, sir, let me live, or let me see my death!</LINE> 5501</SPEECH> 5502 5503<SPEECH> 5504<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 5505<LINE>That shall you, and take your leave of all your friends.</LINE> 5506<STAGEDIR>Unblinding him</STAGEDIR> 5507<LINE>So, look about you: know you any here?</LINE> 5508</SPEECH> 5509 5510<SPEECH> 5511<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 5512<LINE>Good morrow, noble captain.</LINE> 5513</SPEECH> 5514 5515<SPEECH> 5516<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 5517<LINE>God bless you, Captain Parolles.</LINE> 5518</SPEECH> 5519 5520<SPEECH> 5521<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 5522<LINE>God save you, noble captain.</LINE> 5523</SPEECH> 5524 5525<SPEECH> 5526<SPEAKER>Second Lord</SPEAKER> 5527<LINE>Captain, what greeting will you to my Lord Lafeu?</LINE> 5528<LINE>I am for France.</LINE> 5529</SPEECH> 5530 5531<SPEECH> 5532<SPEAKER>First Lord</SPEAKER> 5533<LINE>Good captain, will you give me a copy of the sonnet</LINE> 5534<LINE>you writ to Diana in behalf of the Count Rousillon?</LINE> 5535<LINE>an I were not a very coward, I'ld compel it of you:</LINE> 5536<LINE>but fare you well.</LINE> 5537</SPEECH> 5538 5539<STAGEDIR>Exeunt BERTRAM and Lords</STAGEDIR> 5540 5541<SPEECH> 5542<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5543<LINE>You are undone, captain, all but your scarf; that</LINE> 5544<LINE>has a knot on't yet</LINE> 5545</SPEECH> 5546 5547<SPEECH> 5548<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5549<LINE>Who cannot be crushed with a plot?</LINE> 5550</SPEECH> 5551 5552<SPEECH> 5553<SPEAKER>First Soldier</SPEAKER> 5554<LINE>If you could find out a country where but women were</LINE> 5555<LINE>that had received so much shame, you might begin an</LINE> 5556<LINE>impudent nation. Fare ye well, sir; I am for France</LINE> 5557<LINE>too: we shall speak of you there.</LINE> 5558</SPEECH> 5559 5560<STAGEDIR>Exit with Soldiers</STAGEDIR> 5561 5562<SPEECH> 5563<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 5564<LINE>Yet am I thankful: if my heart were great,</LINE> 5565<LINE>'Twould burst at this. Captain I'll be no more;</LINE> 5566<LINE>But I will eat and drink, and sleep as soft</LINE> 5567<LINE>As captain shall: simply the thing I am</LINE> 5568<LINE>Shall make me live. Who knows himself a braggart,</LINE> 5569<LINE>Let him fear this, for it will come to pass</LINE> 5570<LINE>that every braggart shall be found an ass.</LINE> 5571<LINE>Rust, sword? cool, blushes! and, Parolles, live</LINE> 5572<LINE>Safest in shame! being fool'd, by foolery thrive!</LINE> 5573<LINE>There's place and means for every man alive.</LINE> 5574<LINE>I'll after them.</LINE> 5575</SPEECH> 5576 5577<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 5578</SCENE> 5579 5580<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE IV. Florence. The Widow's house.</TITLE> 5581<STAGEDIR>Enter HELENA, Widow, and DIANA</STAGEDIR> 5582 5583<SPEECH> 5584<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 5585<LINE>That you may well perceive I have not wrong'd you,</LINE> 5586<LINE>One of the greatest in the Christian world</LINE> 5587<LINE>Shall be my surety; 'fore whose throne 'tis needful,</LINE> 5588<LINE>Ere I can perfect mine intents, to kneel:</LINE> 5589<LINE>Time was, I did him a desired office,</LINE> 5590<LINE>Dear almost as his life; which gratitude</LINE> 5591<LINE>Through flinty Tartar's bosom would peep forth,</LINE> 5592<LINE>And answer, thanks: I duly am inform'd</LINE> 5593<LINE>His grace is at Marseilles; to which place</LINE> 5594<LINE>We have convenient convoy. You must know</LINE> 5595<LINE>I am supposed dead: the army breaking,</LINE> 5596<LINE>My husband hies him home; where, heaven aiding,</LINE> 5597<LINE>And by the leave of my good lord the king,</LINE> 5598<LINE>We'll be before our welcome.</LINE> 5599</SPEECH> 5600 5601<SPEECH> 5602<SPEAKER>Widow</SPEAKER> 5603<LINE>Gentle madam,</LINE> 5604<LINE>You never had a servant to whose trust</LINE> 5605<LINE>Your business was more welcome.</LINE> 5606</SPEECH> 5607 5608<SPEECH> 5609<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 5610<LINE>Nor you, mistress,</LINE> 5611<LINE>Ever a friend whose thoughts more truly labour</LINE> 5612<LINE>To recompense your love: doubt not but heaven</LINE> 5613<LINE>Hath brought me up to be your daughter's dower,</LINE> 5614<LINE>As it hath fated her to be my motive</LINE> 5615<LINE>And helper to a husband. But, O strange men!</LINE> 5616<LINE>That can such sweet use make of what they hate,</LINE> 5617<LINE>When saucy trusting of the cozen'd thoughts</LINE> 5618<LINE>Defiles the pitchy night: so lust doth play</LINE> 5619<LINE>With what it loathes for that which is away.</LINE> 5620<LINE>But more of this hereafter. You, Diana,</LINE> 5621<LINE>Under my poor instructions yet must suffer</LINE> 5622<LINE>Something in my behalf.</LINE> 5623</SPEECH> 5624 5625<SPEECH> 5626<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 5627<LINE>Let death and honesty</LINE> 5628<LINE>Go with your impositions, I am yours</LINE> 5629<LINE>Upon your will to suffer.</LINE> 5630</SPEECH> 5631 5632<SPEECH> 5633<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 5634<LINE>Yet, I pray you:</LINE> 5635<LINE>But with the word the time will bring on summer,</LINE> 5636<LINE>When briers shall have leaves as well as thorns,</LINE> 5637<LINE>And be as sweet as sharp. We must away;</LINE> 5638<LINE>Our wagon is prepared, and time revives us:</LINE> 5639<LINE>All's well that ends well; still the fine's the crown;</LINE> 5640<LINE>Whate'er the course, the end is the renown.</LINE> 5641</SPEECH> 5642 5643<STAGEDIR>Exeunt</STAGEDIR> 5644</SCENE> 5645 5646<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE V. Rousillon. The COUNT's palace.</TITLE> 5647<STAGEDIR>Enter COUNTESS, LAFEU, and Clown</STAGEDIR> 5648 5649<SPEECH> 5650<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 5651<LINE>No, no, no, your son was misled with a snipt-taffeta</LINE> 5652<LINE>fellow there, whose villanous saffron would have</LINE> 5653<LINE>made all the unbaked and doughy youth of a nation in</LINE> 5654<LINE>his colour: your daughter-in-law had been alive at</LINE> 5655<LINE>this hour, and your son here at home, more advanced</LINE> 5656<LINE>by the king than by that red-tailed humble-bee I speak of.</LINE> 5657</SPEECH> 5658 5659<SPEECH> 5660<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 5661<LINE>I would I had not known him; it was the death of the</LINE> 5662<LINE>most virtuous gentlewoman that ever nature had</LINE> 5663<LINE>praise for creating. If she had partaken of my</LINE> 5664<LINE>flesh, and cost me the dearest groans of a mother, I</LINE> 5665<LINE>could not have owed her a more rooted love.</LINE> 5666</SPEECH> 5667 5668<SPEECH> 5669<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 5670<LINE>'Twas a good lady, 'twas a good lady: we may pick a</LINE> 5671<LINE>thousand salads ere we light on such another herb.</LINE> 5672</SPEECH> 5673 5674<SPEECH> 5675<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 5676<LINE>Indeed, sir, she was the sweet marjoram of the</LINE> 5677<LINE>salad, or rather, the herb of grace.</LINE> 5678</SPEECH> 5679 5680<SPEECH> 5681<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 5682<LINE>They are not herbs, you knave; they are nose-herbs.</LINE> 5683</SPEECH> 5684 5685<SPEECH> 5686<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 5687<LINE>I am no great Nebuchadnezzar, sir; I have not much</LINE> 5688<LINE>skill in grass.</LINE> 5689</SPEECH> 5690 5691<SPEECH> 5692<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 5693<LINE>Whether dost thou profess thyself, a knave or a fool?</LINE> 5694</SPEECH> 5695 5696<SPEECH> 5697<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 5698<LINE>A fool, sir, at a woman's service, and a knave at a man's.</LINE> 5699</SPEECH> 5700 5701<SPEECH> 5702<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 5703<LINE>Your distinction?</LINE> 5704</SPEECH> 5705 5706<SPEECH> 5707<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 5708<LINE>I would cozen the man of his wife and do his service.</LINE> 5709</SPEECH> 5710 5711<SPEECH> 5712<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 5713<LINE>So you were a knave at his service, indeed.</LINE> 5714</SPEECH> 5715 5716<SPEECH> 5717<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 5718<LINE>And I would give his wife my bauble, sir, to do her service.</LINE> 5719</SPEECH> 5720 5721<SPEECH> 5722<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 5723<LINE>I will subscribe for thee, thou art both knave and fool.</LINE> 5724</SPEECH> 5725 5726<SPEECH> 5727<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 5728<LINE>At your service.</LINE> 5729</SPEECH> 5730 5731<SPEECH> 5732<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 5733<LINE>No, no, no.</LINE> 5734</SPEECH> 5735 5736<SPEECH> 5737<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 5738<LINE>Why, sir, if I cannot serve you, I can serve as</LINE> 5739<LINE>great a prince as you are.</LINE> 5740</SPEECH> 5741 5742<SPEECH> 5743<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 5744<LINE>Who's that? a Frenchman?</LINE> 5745</SPEECH> 5746 5747<SPEECH> 5748<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 5749<LINE>Faith, sir, a' has an English name; but his fisnomy</LINE> 5750<LINE>is more hotter in France than there.</LINE> 5751</SPEECH> 5752 5753<SPEECH> 5754<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 5755<LINE>What prince is that?</LINE> 5756</SPEECH> 5757 5758<SPEECH> 5759<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 5760<LINE>The black prince, sir; alias, the prince of</LINE> 5761<LINE>darkness; alias, the devil.</LINE> 5762</SPEECH> 5763 5764<SPEECH> 5765<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 5766<LINE>Hold thee, there's my purse: I give thee not this</LINE> 5767<LINE>to suggest thee from thy master thou talkest of;</LINE> 5768<LINE>serve him still.</LINE> 5769</SPEECH> 5770 5771<SPEECH> 5772<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 5773<LINE>I am a woodland fellow, sir, that always loved a</LINE> 5774<LINE>great fire; and the master I speak of ever keeps a</LINE> 5775<LINE>good fire. But, sure, he is the prince of the</LINE> 5776<LINE>world; let his nobility remain in's court. I am for</LINE> 5777<LINE>the house with the narrow gate, which I take to be</LINE> 5778<LINE>too little for pomp to enter: some that humble</LINE> 5779<LINE>themselves may; but the many will be too chill and</LINE> 5780<LINE>tender, and they'll be for the flowery way that</LINE> 5781<LINE>leads to the broad gate and the great fire.</LINE> 5782</SPEECH> 5783 5784<SPEECH> 5785<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 5786<LINE>Go thy ways, I begin to be aweary of thee; and I</LINE> 5787<LINE>tell thee so before, because I would not fall out</LINE> 5788<LINE>with thee. Go thy ways: let my horses be well</LINE> 5789<LINE>looked to, without any tricks.</LINE> 5790</SPEECH> 5791 5792<SPEECH> 5793<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 5794<LINE>If I put any tricks upon 'em, sir, they shall be</LINE> 5795<LINE>jades' tricks; which are their own right by the law of nature.</LINE> 5796</SPEECH> 5797 5798<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 5799 5800<SPEECH> 5801<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 5802<LINE>A shrewd knave and an unhappy.</LINE> 5803</SPEECH> 5804 5805<SPEECH> 5806<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 5807<LINE>So he is. My lord that's gone made himself much</LINE> 5808<LINE>sport out of him: by his authority he remains here,</LINE> 5809<LINE>which he thinks is a patent for his sauciness; and,</LINE> 5810<LINE>indeed, he has no pace, but runs where he will.</LINE> 5811</SPEECH> 5812 5813<SPEECH> 5814<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 5815<LINE>I like him well; 'tis not amiss. And I was about to</LINE> 5816<LINE>tell you, since I heard of the good lady's death and</LINE> 5817<LINE>that my lord your son was upon his return home, I</LINE> 5818<LINE>moved the king my master to speak in the behalf of</LINE> 5819<LINE>my daughter; which, in the minority of them both,</LINE> 5820<LINE>his majesty, out of a self-gracious remembrance, did</LINE> 5821<LINE>first propose: his highness hath promised me to do</LINE> 5822<LINE>it: and, to stop up the displeasure he hath</LINE> 5823<LINE>conceived against your son, there is no fitter</LINE> 5824<LINE>matter. How does your ladyship like it?</LINE> 5825</SPEECH> 5826 5827<SPEECH> 5828<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 5829<LINE>With very much content, my lord; and I wish it</LINE> 5830<LINE>happily effected.</LINE> 5831</SPEECH> 5832 5833<SPEECH> 5834<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 5835<LINE>His highness comes post from Marseilles, of as able</LINE> 5836<LINE>body as when he numbered thirty: he will be here</LINE> 5837<LINE>to-morrow, or I am deceived by him that in such</LINE> 5838<LINE>intelligence hath seldom failed.</LINE> 5839</SPEECH> 5840 5841<SPEECH> 5842<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 5843<LINE>It rejoices me, that I hope I shall see him ere I</LINE> 5844<LINE>die. I have letters that my son will be here</LINE> 5845<LINE>to-night: I shall beseech your lordship to remain</LINE> 5846<LINE>with me till they meet together.</LINE> 5847</SPEECH> 5848 5849<SPEECH> 5850<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 5851<LINE>Madam, I was thinking with what manners I might</LINE> 5852<LINE>safely be admitted.</LINE> 5853</SPEECH> 5854 5855<SPEECH> 5856<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 5857<LINE>You need but plead your honourable privilege.</LINE> 5858</SPEECH> 5859 5860<SPEECH> 5861<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 5862<LINE>Lady, of that I have made a bold charter; but I</LINE> 5863<LINE>thank my God it holds yet.</LINE> 5864</SPEECH> 5865 5866<STAGEDIR>Re-enter Clown</STAGEDIR> 5867 5868<SPEECH> 5869<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 5870<LINE>O madam, yonder's my lord your son with a patch of</LINE> 5871<LINE>velvet on's face: whether there be a scar under't</LINE> 5872<LINE>or no, the velvet knows; but 'tis a goodly patch of</LINE> 5873<LINE>velvet: his left cheek is a cheek of two pile and a</LINE> 5874<LINE>half, but his right cheek is worn bare.</LINE> 5875</SPEECH> 5876 5877<SPEECH> 5878<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 5879<LINE>A scar nobly got, or a noble scar, is a good livery</LINE> 5880<LINE>of honour; so belike is that.</LINE> 5881</SPEECH> 5882 5883<SPEECH> 5884<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 5885<LINE>But it is your carbonadoed face.</LINE> 5886</SPEECH> 5887 5888<SPEECH> 5889<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 5890<LINE>Let us go see your son, I pray you: I long to talk</LINE> 5891<LINE>with the young noble soldier.</LINE> 5892</SPEECH> 5893 5894<SPEECH> 5895<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 5896<LINE>Faith there's a dozen of 'em, with delicate fine</LINE> 5897<LINE>hats and most courteous feathers, which bow the head</LINE> 5898<LINE>and nod at every man.</LINE> 5899</SPEECH> 5900 5901<STAGEDIR>Exeunt</STAGEDIR> 5902</SCENE> 5903 5904</ACT> 5905 5906<ACT><TITLE>ACT V</TITLE> 5907 5908<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE I. Marseilles. A street.</TITLE> 5909<STAGEDIR>Enter HELENA, Widow, and DIANA, with two 5910Attendants</STAGEDIR> 5911 5912<SPEECH> 5913<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 5914<LINE>But this exceeding posting day and night</LINE> 5915<LINE>Must wear your spirits low; we cannot help it:</LINE> 5916<LINE>But since you have made the days and nights as one,</LINE> 5917<LINE>To wear your gentle limbs in my affairs,</LINE> 5918<LINE>Be bold you do so grow in my requital</LINE> 5919<LINE>As nothing can unroot you. In happy time;</LINE> 5920<STAGEDIR>Enter a Gentleman</STAGEDIR> 5921<LINE>This man may help me to his majesty's ear,</LINE> 5922<LINE>If he would spend his power. God save you, sir.</LINE> 5923</SPEECH> 5924 5925<SPEECH> 5926<SPEAKER>Gentleman</SPEAKER> 5927<LINE>And you.</LINE> 5928</SPEECH> 5929 5930<SPEECH> 5931<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 5932<LINE>Sir, I have seen you in the court of France.</LINE> 5933</SPEECH> 5934 5935<SPEECH> 5936<SPEAKER>Gentleman</SPEAKER> 5937<LINE>I have been sometimes there.</LINE> 5938</SPEECH> 5939 5940<SPEECH> 5941<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 5942<LINE>I do presume, sir, that you are not fallen</LINE> 5943<LINE>From the report that goes upon your goodness;</LINE> 5944<LINE>An therefore, goaded with most sharp occasions,</LINE> 5945<LINE>Which lay nice manners by, I put you to</LINE> 5946<LINE>The use of your own virtues, for the which</LINE> 5947<LINE>I shall continue thankful.</LINE> 5948</SPEECH> 5949 5950<SPEECH> 5951<SPEAKER>Gentleman</SPEAKER> 5952<LINE>What's your will?</LINE> 5953</SPEECH> 5954 5955<SPEECH> 5956<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 5957<LINE>That it will please you</LINE> 5958<LINE>To give this poor petition to the king,</LINE> 5959<LINE>And aid me with that store of power you have</LINE> 5960<LINE>To come into his presence.</LINE> 5961</SPEECH> 5962 5963<SPEECH> 5964<SPEAKER>Gentleman</SPEAKER> 5965<LINE>The king's not here.</LINE> 5966</SPEECH> 5967 5968<SPEECH> 5969<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 5970<LINE>Not here, sir!</LINE> 5971</SPEECH> 5972 5973<SPEECH> 5974<SPEAKER>Gentleman</SPEAKER> 5975<LINE>Not, indeed:</LINE> 5976<LINE>He hence removed last night and with more haste</LINE> 5977<LINE>Than is his use.</LINE> 5978</SPEECH> 5979 5980<SPEECH> 5981<SPEAKER>Widow</SPEAKER> 5982<LINE>Lord, how we lose our pains!</LINE> 5983</SPEECH> 5984 5985<SPEECH> 5986<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 5987<LINE>All's well that ends well yet,</LINE> 5988<LINE>Though time seem so adverse and means unfit.</LINE> 5989<LINE>I do beseech you, whither is he gone?</LINE> 5990</SPEECH> 5991 5992<SPEECH> 5993<SPEAKER>Gentleman</SPEAKER> 5994<LINE>Marry, as I take it, to Rousillon;</LINE> 5995<LINE>Whither I am going.</LINE> 5996</SPEECH> 5997 5998<SPEECH> 5999<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 6000<LINE>I do beseech you, sir,</LINE> 6001<LINE>Since you are like to see the king before me,</LINE> 6002<LINE>Commend the paper to his gracious hand,</LINE> 6003<LINE>Which I presume shall render you no blame</LINE> 6004<LINE>But rather make you thank your pains for it.</LINE> 6005<LINE>I will come after you with what good speed</LINE> 6006<LINE>Our means will make us means.</LINE> 6007</SPEECH> 6008 6009<SPEECH> 6010<SPEAKER>Gentleman</SPEAKER> 6011<LINE>This I'll do for you.</LINE> 6012</SPEECH> 6013 6014<SPEECH> 6015<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 6016<LINE>And you shall find yourself to be well thank'd,</LINE> 6017<LINE>Whate'er falls more. We must to horse again.</LINE> 6018<LINE>Go, go, provide.</LINE> 6019</SPEECH> 6020 6021<STAGEDIR>Exeunt</STAGEDIR> 6022</SCENE> 6023 6024<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE II. Rousillon. Before the COUNT's palace.</TITLE> 6025<STAGEDIR>Enter Clown, and PAROLLES, following</STAGEDIR> 6026 6027<SPEECH> 6028<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 6029<LINE>Good Monsieur Lavache, give my Lord Lafeu this</LINE> 6030<LINE>letter: I have ere now, sir, been better known to</LINE> 6031<LINE>you, when I have held familiarity with fresher</LINE> 6032<LINE>clothes; but I am now, sir, muddied in fortune's</LINE> 6033<LINE>mood, and smell somewhat strong of her strong</LINE> 6034<LINE>displeasure.</LINE> 6035</SPEECH> 6036 6037<SPEECH> 6038<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 6039<LINE>Truly, fortune's displeasure is but sluttish, if it</LINE> 6040<LINE>smell so strongly as thou speakest of: I will</LINE> 6041<LINE>henceforth eat no fish of fortune's buttering.</LINE> 6042<LINE>Prithee, allow the wind.</LINE> 6043</SPEECH> 6044 6045<SPEECH> 6046<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 6047<LINE>Nay, you need not to stop your nose, sir; I spake</LINE> 6048<LINE>but by a metaphor.</LINE> 6049</SPEECH> 6050 6051<SPEECH> 6052<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 6053<LINE>Indeed, sir, if your metaphor stink, I will stop my</LINE> 6054<LINE>nose; or against any man's metaphor. Prithee, get</LINE> 6055<LINE>thee further.</LINE> 6056</SPEECH> 6057 6058<SPEECH> 6059<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 6060<LINE>Pray you, sir, deliver me this paper.</LINE> 6061</SPEECH> 6062 6063<SPEECH> 6064<SPEAKER>Clown</SPEAKER> 6065<LINE>Foh! prithee, stand away: a paper from fortune's</LINE> 6066<LINE>close-stool to give to a nobleman! Look, here he</LINE> 6067<LINE>comes himself.</LINE> 6068<STAGEDIR>Enter LAFEU</STAGEDIR> 6069<LINE>Here is a purr of fortune's, sir, or of fortune's</LINE> 6070<LINE>cat,--but not a musk-cat,--that has fallen into the</LINE> 6071<LINE>unclean fishpond of her displeasure, and, as he</LINE> 6072<LINE>says, is muddied withal: pray you, sir, use the</LINE> 6073<LINE>carp as you may; for he looks like a poor, decayed,</LINE> 6074<LINE>ingenious, foolish, rascally knave. I do pity his</LINE> 6075<LINE>distress in my similes of comfort and leave him to</LINE> 6076<LINE>your lordship.</LINE> 6077</SPEECH> 6078 6079<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 6080 6081<SPEECH> 6082<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 6083<LINE>My lord, I am a man whom fortune hath cruelly</LINE> 6084<LINE>scratched.</LINE> 6085</SPEECH> 6086 6087<SPEECH> 6088<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 6089<LINE>And what would you have me to do? 'Tis too late to</LINE> 6090<LINE>pare her nails now. Wherein have you played the</LINE> 6091<LINE>knave with fortune, that she should scratch you, who</LINE> 6092<LINE>of herself is a good lady and would not have knaves</LINE> 6093<LINE>thrive long under her? There's a quart d'ecu for</LINE> 6094<LINE>you: let the justices make you and fortune friends:</LINE> 6095<LINE>I am for other business.</LINE> 6096</SPEECH> 6097 6098<SPEECH> 6099<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 6100<LINE>I beseech your honour to hear me one single word.</LINE> 6101</SPEECH> 6102 6103<SPEECH> 6104<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 6105<LINE>You beg a single penny more: come, you shall ha't;</LINE> 6106<LINE>save your word.</LINE> 6107</SPEECH> 6108 6109<SPEECH> 6110<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 6111<LINE>My name, my good lord, is Parolles.</LINE> 6112</SPEECH> 6113 6114<SPEECH> 6115<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 6116<LINE>You beg more than 'word,' then. Cox my passion!</LINE> 6117<LINE>give me your hand. How does your drum?</LINE> 6118</SPEECH> 6119 6120<SPEECH> 6121<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 6122<LINE>O my good lord, you were the first that found me!</LINE> 6123</SPEECH> 6124 6125<SPEECH> 6126<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 6127<LINE>Was I, in sooth? and I was the first that lost thee.</LINE> 6128</SPEECH> 6129 6130<SPEECH> 6131<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 6132<LINE>It lies in you, my lord, to bring me in some grace,</LINE> 6133<LINE>for you did bring me out.</LINE> 6134</SPEECH> 6135 6136<SPEECH> 6137<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 6138<LINE>Out upon thee, knave! dost thou put upon me at once</LINE> 6139<LINE>both the office of God and the devil? One brings</LINE> 6140<LINE>thee in grace and the other brings thee out.</LINE> 6141<STAGEDIR>Trumpets sound</STAGEDIR> 6142<LINE>The king's coming; I know by his trumpets. Sirrah,</LINE> 6143<LINE>inquire further after me; I had talk of you last</LINE> 6144<LINE>night: though you are a fool and a knave, you shall</LINE> 6145<LINE>eat; go to, follow.</LINE> 6146</SPEECH> 6147 6148<SPEECH> 6149<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 6150<LINE>I praise God for you.</LINE> 6151</SPEECH> 6152 6153<STAGEDIR>Exeunt</STAGEDIR> 6154</SCENE> 6155 6156<SCENE><TITLE>SCENE III. Rousillon. The COUNT's palace.</TITLE> 6157<STAGEDIR>Flourish. Enter KING, COUNTESS, LAFEU, the two 6158French Lords, with Attendants</STAGEDIR> 6159 6160<SPEECH> 6161<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6162<LINE>We lost a jewel of her; and our esteem</LINE> 6163<LINE>Was made much poorer by it: but your son,</LINE> 6164<LINE>As mad in folly, lack'd the sense to know</LINE> 6165<LINE>Her estimation home.</LINE> 6166</SPEECH> 6167 6168<SPEECH> 6169<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 6170<LINE>'Tis past, my liege;</LINE> 6171<LINE>And I beseech your majesty to make it</LINE> 6172<LINE>Natural rebellion, done i' the blaze of youth;</LINE> 6173<LINE>When oil and fire, too strong for reason's force,</LINE> 6174<LINE>O'erbears it and burns on.</LINE> 6175</SPEECH> 6176 6177<SPEECH> 6178<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6179<LINE>My honour'd lady,</LINE> 6180<LINE>I have forgiven and forgotten all;</LINE> 6181<LINE>Though my revenges were high bent upon him,</LINE> 6182<LINE>And watch'd the time to shoot.</LINE> 6183</SPEECH> 6184 6185<SPEECH> 6186<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 6187<LINE>This I must say,</LINE> 6188<LINE>But first I beg my pardon, the young lord</LINE> 6189<LINE>Did to his majesty, his mother and his lady</LINE> 6190<LINE>Offence of mighty note; but to himself</LINE> 6191<LINE>The greatest wrong of all. He lost a wife</LINE> 6192<LINE>Whose beauty did astonish the survey</LINE> 6193<LINE>Of richest eyes, whose words all ears took captive,</LINE> 6194<LINE>Whose dear perfection hearts that scorn'd to serve</LINE> 6195<LINE>Humbly call'd mistress.</LINE> 6196</SPEECH> 6197 6198<SPEECH> 6199<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6200<LINE>Praising what is lost</LINE> 6201<LINE>Makes the remembrance dear. Well, call him hither;</LINE> 6202<LINE>We are reconciled, and the first view shall kill</LINE> 6203<LINE>All repetition: let him not ask our pardon;</LINE> 6204<LINE>The nature of his great offence is dead,</LINE> 6205<LINE>And deeper than oblivion we do bury</LINE> 6206<LINE>The incensing relics of it: let him approach,</LINE> 6207<LINE>A stranger, no offender; and inform him</LINE> 6208<LINE>So 'tis our will he should.</LINE> 6209</SPEECH> 6210 6211<SPEECH> 6212<SPEAKER>Gentleman</SPEAKER> 6213<LINE>I shall, my liege.</LINE> 6214</SPEECH> 6215 6216<STAGEDIR>Exit</STAGEDIR> 6217 6218<SPEECH> 6219<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6220<LINE>What says he to your daughter? have you spoke?</LINE> 6221</SPEECH> 6222 6223<SPEECH> 6224<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 6225<LINE>All that he is hath reference to your highness.</LINE> 6226</SPEECH> 6227 6228<SPEECH> 6229<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6230<LINE>Then shall we have a match. I have letters sent me</LINE> 6231<LINE>That set him high in fame.</LINE> 6232</SPEECH> 6233 6234<STAGEDIR>Enter BERTRAM</STAGEDIR> 6235 6236<SPEECH> 6237<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 6238<LINE>He looks well on't.</LINE> 6239</SPEECH> 6240 6241<SPEECH> 6242<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6243<LINE>I am not a day of season,</LINE> 6244<LINE>For thou mayst see a sunshine and a hail</LINE> 6245<LINE>In me at once: but to the brightest beams</LINE> 6246<LINE>Distracted clouds give way; so stand thou forth;</LINE> 6247<LINE>The time is fair again.</LINE> 6248</SPEECH> 6249 6250<SPEECH> 6251<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 6252<LINE>My high-repented blames,</LINE> 6253<LINE>Dear sovereign, pardon to me.</LINE> 6254</SPEECH> 6255 6256<SPEECH> 6257<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6258<LINE>All is whole;</LINE> 6259<LINE>Not one word more of the consumed time.</LINE> 6260<LINE>Let's take the instant by the forward top;</LINE> 6261<LINE>For we are old, and on our quick'st decrees</LINE> 6262<LINE>The inaudible and noiseless foot of Time</LINE> 6263<LINE>Steals ere we can effect them. You remember</LINE> 6264<LINE>The daughter of this lord?</LINE> 6265</SPEECH> 6266 6267<SPEECH> 6268<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 6269<LINE>Admiringly, my liege, at first</LINE> 6270<LINE>I stuck my choice upon her, ere my heart</LINE> 6271<LINE>Durst make too bold a herald of my tongue</LINE> 6272<LINE>Where the impression of mine eye infixing,</LINE> 6273<LINE>Contempt his scornful perspective did lend me,</LINE> 6274<LINE>Which warp'd the line of every other favour;</LINE> 6275<LINE>Scorn'd a fair colour, or express'd it stolen;</LINE> 6276<LINE>Extended or contracted all proportions</LINE> 6277<LINE>To a most hideous object: thence it came</LINE> 6278<LINE>That she whom all men praised and whom myself,</LINE> 6279<LINE>Since I have lost, have loved, was in mine eye</LINE> 6280<LINE>The dust that did offend it.</LINE> 6281</SPEECH> 6282 6283<SPEECH> 6284<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6285<LINE>Well excused:</LINE> 6286<LINE>That thou didst love her, strikes some scores away</LINE> 6287<LINE>From the great compt: but love that comes too late,</LINE> 6288<LINE>Like a remorseful pardon slowly carried,</LINE> 6289<LINE>To the great sender turns a sour offence,</LINE> 6290<LINE>Crying, 'That's good that's gone.' Our rash faults</LINE> 6291<LINE>Make trivial price of serious things we have,</LINE> 6292<LINE>Not knowing them until we know their grave:</LINE> 6293<LINE>Oft our displeasures, to ourselves unjust,</LINE> 6294<LINE>Destroy our friends and after weep their dust</LINE> 6295<LINE>Our own love waking cries to see what's done,</LINE> 6296<LINE>While shame full late sleeps out the afternoon.</LINE> 6297<LINE>Be this sweet Helen's knell, and now forget her.</LINE> 6298<LINE>Send forth your amorous token for fair Maudlin:</LINE> 6299<LINE>The main consents are had; and here we'll stay</LINE> 6300<LINE>To see our widower's second marriage-day.</LINE> 6301</SPEECH> 6302 6303<SPEECH> 6304<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 6305<LINE>Which better than the first, O dear heaven, bless!</LINE> 6306<LINE>Or, ere they meet, in me, O nature, cesse!</LINE> 6307</SPEECH> 6308 6309<SPEECH> 6310<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 6311<LINE>Come on, my son, in whom my house's name</LINE> 6312<LINE>Must be digested, give a favour from you</LINE> 6313<LINE>To sparkle in the spirits of my daughter,</LINE> 6314<LINE>That she may quickly come.</LINE> 6315<STAGEDIR>BERTRAM gives a ring</STAGEDIR> 6316<LINE>By my old beard,</LINE> 6317<LINE>And every hair that's on't, Helen, that's dead,</LINE> 6318<LINE>Was a sweet creature: such a ring as this,</LINE> 6319<LINE>The last that e'er I took her at court,</LINE> 6320<LINE>I saw upon her finger.</LINE> 6321</SPEECH> 6322 6323<SPEECH> 6324<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 6325<LINE>Hers it was not.</LINE> 6326</SPEECH> 6327 6328<SPEECH> 6329<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6330<LINE>Now, pray you, let me see it; for mine eye,</LINE> 6331<LINE>While I was speaking, oft was fasten'd to't.</LINE> 6332<LINE>This ring was mine; and, when I gave it Helen,</LINE> 6333<LINE>I bade her, if her fortunes ever stood</LINE> 6334<LINE>Necessitied to help, that by this token</LINE> 6335<LINE>I would relieve her. Had you that craft, to reave</LINE> 6336<LINE>her</LINE> 6337<LINE>Of what should stead her most?</LINE> 6338</SPEECH> 6339 6340<SPEECH> 6341<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 6342<LINE>My gracious sovereign,</LINE> 6343<LINE>Howe'er it pleases you to take it so,</LINE> 6344<LINE>The ring was never hers.</LINE> 6345</SPEECH> 6346 6347<SPEECH> 6348<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 6349<LINE>Son, on my life,</LINE> 6350<LINE>I have seen her wear it; and she reckon'd it</LINE> 6351<LINE>At her life's rate.</LINE> 6352</SPEECH> 6353 6354<SPEECH> 6355<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 6356<LINE>I am sure I saw her wear it.</LINE> 6357</SPEECH> 6358 6359<SPEECH> 6360<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 6361<LINE>You are deceived, my lord; she never saw it:</LINE> 6362<LINE>In Florence was it from a casement thrown me,</LINE> 6363<LINE>Wrapp'd in a paper, which contain'd the name</LINE> 6364<LINE>Of her that threw it: noble she was, and thought</LINE> 6365<LINE>I stood engaged: but when I had subscribed</LINE> 6366<LINE>To mine own fortune and inform'd her fully</LINE> 6367<LINE>I could not answer in that course of honour</LINE> 6368<LINE>As she had made the overture, she ceased</LINE> 6369<LINE>In heavy satisfaction and would never</LINE> 6370<LINE>Receive the ring again.</LINE> 6371</SPEECH> 6372 6373<SPEECH> 6374<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6375<LINE>Plutus himself,</LINE> 6376<LINE>That knows the tinct and multiplying medicine,</LINE> 6377<LINE>Hath not in nature's mystery more science</LINE> 6378<LINE>Than I have in this ring: 'twas mine, 'twas Helen's,</LINE> 6379<LINE>Whoever gave it you. Then, if you know</LINE> 6380<LINE>That you are well acquainted with yourself,</LINE> 6381<LINE>Confess 'twas hers, and by what rough enforcement</LINE> 6382<LINE>You got it from her: she call'd the saints to surety</LINE> 6383<LINE>That she would never put it from her finger,</LINE> 6384<LINE>Unless she gave it to yourself in bed,</LINE> 6385<LINE>Where you have never come, or sent it us</LINE> 6386<LINE>Upon her great disaster.</LINE> 6387</SPEECH> 6388 6389<SPEECH> 6390<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 6391<LINE>She never saw it.</LINE> 6392</SPEECH> 6393 6394<SPEECH> 6395<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6396<LINE>Thou speak'st it falsely, as I love mine honour;</LINE> 6397<LINE>And makest conjectural fears to come into me</LINE> 6398<LINE>Which I would fain shut out. If it should prove</LINE> 6399<LINE>That thou art so inhuman,--'twill not prove so;--</LINE> 6400<LINE>And yet I know not: thou didst hate her deadly,</LINE> 6401<LINE>And she is dead; which nothing, but to close</LINE> 6402<LINE>Her eyes myself, could win me to believe,</LINE> 6403<LINE>More than to see this ring. Take him away.</LINE> 6404<STAGEDIR>Guards seize BERTRAM</STAGEDIR> 6405<LINE>My fore-past proofs, howe'er the matter fall,</LINE> 6406<LINE>Shall tax my fears of little vanity,</LINE> 6407<LINE>Having vainly fear'd too little. Away with him!</LINE> 6408<LINE>We'll sift this matter further.</LINE> 6409</SPEECH> 6410 6411<SPEECH> 6412<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 6413<LINE>If you shall prove</LINE> 6414<LINE>This ring was ever hers, you shall as easy</LINE> 6415<LINE>Prove that I husbanded her bed in Florence,</LINE> 6416<LINE>Where yet she never was.</LINE> 6417</SPEECH> 6418 6419<STAGEDIR>Exit, guarded</STAGEDIR> 6420 6421<SPEECH> 6422<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6423<LINE>I am wrapp'd in dismal thinkings.</LINE> 6424</SPEECH> 6425 6426<STAGEDIR>Enter a Gentleman</STAGEDIR> 6427 6428<SPEECH> 6429<SPEAKER>Gentleman</SPEAKER> 6430<LINE>Gracious sovereign,</LINE> 6431<LINE>Whether I have been to blame or no, I know not:</LINE> 6432<LINE>Here's a petition from a Florentine,</LINE> 6433<LINE>Who hath for four or five removes come short</LINE> 6434<LINE>To tender it herself. I undertook it,</LINE> 6435<LINE>Vanquish'd thereto by the fair grace and speech</LINE> 6436<LINE>Of the poor suppliant, who by this I know</LINE> 6437<LINE>Is here attending: her business looks in her</LINE> 6438<LINE>With an importing visage; and she told me,</LINE> 6439<LINE>In a sweet verbal brief, it did concern</LINE> 6440<LINE>Your highness with herself.</LINE> 6441</SPEECH> 6442 6443<SPEECH> 6444<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6445<LINE><STAGEDIR>Reads</STAGEDIR> Upon his many protestations to marry me</LINE> 6446<LINE>when his wife was dead, I blush to say it, he won</LINE> 6447<LINE>me. Now is the Count Rousillon a widower: his vows</LINE> 6448<LINE>are forfeited to me, and my honour's paid to him. He</LINE> 6449<LINE>stole from Florence, taking no leave, and I follow</LINE> 6450<LINE>him to his country for justice: grant it me, O</LINE> 6451<LINE>king! in you it best lies; otherwise a seducer</LINE> 6452<LINE>flourishes, and a poor maid is undone.</LINE> 6453<LINE>DIANA CAPILET.</LINE> 6454</SPEECH> 6455 6456<SPEECH> 6457<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 6458<LINE>I will buy me a son-in-law in a fair, and toll for</LINE> 6459<LINE>this: I'll none of him.</LINE> 6460</SPEECH> 6461 6462<SPEECH> 6463<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6464<LINE>The heavens have thought well on thee Lafeu,</LINE> 6465<LINE>To bring forth this discovery. Seek these suitors:</LINE> 6466<LINE>Go speedily and bring again the count.</LINE> 6467<LINE>I am afeard the life of Helen, lady,</LINE> 6468<LINE>Was foully snatch'd.</LINE> 6469</SPEECH> 6470 6471<SPEECH> 6472<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 6473<LINE>Now, justice on the doers!</LINE> 6474</SPEECH> 6475 6476<STAGEDIR>Re-enter BERTRAM, guarded</STAGEDIR> 6477 6478<SPEECH> 6479<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6480<LINE>I wonder, sir, sith wives are monsters to you,</LINE> 6481<LINE>And that you fly them as you swear them lordship,</LINE> 6482<LINE>Yet you desire to marry.</LINE> 6483<STAGEDIR>Enter Widow and DIANA</STAGEDIR> 6484<LINE>What woman's that?</LINE> 6485</SPEECH> 6486 6487<SPEECH> 6488<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 6489<LINE>I am, my lord, a wretched Florentine,</LINE> 6490<LINE>Derived from the ancient Capilet:</LINE> 6491<LINE>My suit, as I do understand, you know,</LINE> 6492<LINE>And therefore know how far I may be pitied.</LINE> 6493</SPEECH> 6494 6495<SPEECH> 6496<SPEAKER>Widow</SPEAKER> 6497<LINE>I am her mother, sir, whose age and honour</LINE> 6498<LINE>Both suffer under this complaint we bring,</LINE> 6499<LINE>And both shall cease, without your remedy.</LINE> 6500</SPEECH> 6501 6502<SPEECH> 6503<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6504<LINE>Come hither, count; do you know these women?</LINE> 6505</SPEECH> 6506 6507<SPEECH> 6508<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 6509<LINE>My lord, I neither can nor will deny</LINE> 6510<LINE>But that I know them: do they charge me further?</LINE> 6511</SPEECH> 6512 6513<SPEECH> 6514<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 6515<LINE>Why do you look so strange upon your wife?</LINE> 6516</SPEECH> 6517 6518<SPEECH> 6519<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 6520<LINE>She's none of mine, my lord.</LINE> 6521</SPEECH> 6522 6523<SPEECH> 6524<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 6525<LINE>If you shall marry,</LINE> 6526<LINE>You give away this hand, and that is mine;</LINE> 6527<LINE>You give away heaven's vows, and those are mine;</LINE> 6528<LINE>You give away myself, which is known mine;</LINE> 6529<LINE>For I by vow am so embodied yours,</LINE> 6530<LINE>That she which marries you must marry me,</LINE> 6531<LINE>Either both or none.</LINE> 6532</SPEECH> 6533 6534<SPEECH> 6535<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 6536<LINE>Your reputation comes too short for my daughter; you</LINE> 6537<LINE>are no husband for her.</LINE> 6538</SPEECH> 6539 6540<SPEECH> 6541<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 6542<LINE>My lord, this is a fond and desperate creature,</LINE> 6543<LINE>Whom sometime I have laugh'd with: let your highness</LINE> 6544<LINE>Lay a more noble thought upon mine honour</LINE> 6545<LINE>Than for to think that I would sink it here.</LINE> 6546</SPEECH> 6547 6548<SPEECH> 6549<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6550<LINE>Sir, for my thoughts, you have them ill to friend</LINE> 6551<LINE>Till your deeds gain them: fairer prove your honour</LINE> 6552<LINE>Than in my thought it lies.</LINE> 6553</SPEECH> 6554 6555<SPEECH> 6556<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 6557<LINE>Good my lord,</LINE> 6558<LINE>Ask him upon his oath, if he does think</LINE> 6559<LINE>He had not my virginity.</LINE> 6560</SPEECH> 6561 6562<SPEECH> 6563<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6564<LINE>What say'st thou to her?</LINE> 6565</SPEECH> 6566 6567<SPEECH> 6568<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 6569<LINE>She's impudent, my lord,</LINE> 6570<LINE>And was a common gamester to the camp.</LINE> 6571</SPEECH> 6572 6573<SPEECH> 6574<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 6575<LINE>He does me wrong, my lord; if I were so,</LINE> 6576<LINE>He might have bought me at a common price:</LINE> 6577<LINE>Do not believe him. O, behold this ring,</LINE> 6578<LINE>Whose high respect and rich validity</LINE> 6579<LINE>Did lack a parallel; yet for all that</LINE> 6580<LINE>He gave it to a commoner o' the camp,</LINE> 6581<LINE>If I be one.</LINE> 6582</SPEECH> 6583 6584<SPEECH> 6585<SPEAKER>COUNTESS</SPEAKER> 6586<LINE>He blushes, and 'tis it:</LINE> 6587<LINE>Of six preceding ancestors, that gem,</LINE> 6588<LINE>Conferr'd by testament to the sequent issue,</LINE> 6589<LINE>Hath it been owed and worn. This is his wife;</LINE> 6590<LINE>That ring's a thousand proofs.</LINE> 6591</SPEECH> 6592 6593<SPEECH> 6594<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6595<LINE>Methought you said</LINE> 6596<LINE>You saw one here in court could witness it.</LINE> 6597</SPEECH> 6598 6599<SPEECH> 6600<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 6601<LINE>I did, my lord, but loath am to produce</LINE> 6602<LINE>So bad an instrument: his name's Parolles.</LINE> 6603</SPEECH> 6604 6605<SPEECH> 6606<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 6607<LINE>I saw the man to-day, if man he be.</LINE> 6608</SPEECH> 6609 6610<SPEECH> 6611<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6612<LINE>Find him, and bring him hither.</LINE> 6613</SPEECH> 6614 6615<STAGEDIR>Exit an Attendant</STAGEDIR> 6616 6617<SPEECH> 6618<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 6619<LINE>What of him?</LINE> 6620<LINE>He's quoted for a most perfidious slave,</LINE> 6621<LINE>With all the spots o' the world tax'd and debosh'd;</LINE> 6622<LINE>Whose nature sickens but to speak a truth.</LINE> 6623<LINE>Am I or that or this for what he'll utter,</LINE> 6624<LINE>That will speak any thing?</LINE> 6625</SPEECH> 6626 6627<SPEECH> 6628<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6629<LINE>She hath that ring of yours.</LINE> 6630</SPEECH> 6631 6632<SPEECH> 6633<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 6634<LINE>I think she has: certain it is I liked her,</LINE> 6635<LINE>And boarded her i' the wanton way of youth:</LINE> 6636<LINE>She knew her distance and did angle for me,</LINE> 6637<LINE>Madding my eagerness with her restraint,</LINE> 6638<LINE>As all impediments in fancy's course</LINE> 6639<LINE>Are motives of more fancy; and, in fine,</LINE> 6640<LINE>Her infinite cunning, with her modern grace,</LINE> 6641<LINE>Subdued me to her rate: she got the ring;</LINE> 6642<LINE>And I had that which any inferior might</LINE> 6643<LINE>At market-price have bought.</LINE> 6644</SPEECH> 6645 6646<SPEECH> 6647<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 6648<LINE>I must be patient:</LINE> 6649<LINE>You, that have turn'd off a first so noble wife,</LINE> 6650<LINE>May justly diet me. I pray you yet;</LINE> 6651<LINE>Since you lack virtue, I will lose a husband;</LINE> 6652<LINE>Send for your ring, I will return it home,</LINE> 6653<LINE>And give me mine again.</LINE> 6654</SPEECH> 6655 6656<SPEECH> 6657<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 6658<LINE>I have it not.</LINE> 6659</SPEECH> 6660 6661<SPEECH> 6662<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6663<LINE>What ring was yours, I pray you?</LINE> 6664</SPEECH> 6665 6666<SPEECH> 6667<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 6668<LINE>Sir, much like</LINE> 6669<LINE>The same upon your finger.</LINE> 6670</SPEECH> 6671 6672<SPEECH> 6673<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6674<LINE>Know you this ring? this ring was his of late.</LINE> 6675</SPEECH> 6676 6677<SPEECH> 6678<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 6679<LINE>And this was it I gave him, being abed.</LINE> 6680</SPEECH> 6681 6682<SPEECH> 6683<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6684<LINE>The story then goes false, you threw it him</LINE> 6685<LINE>Out of a casement.</LINE> 6686</SPEECH> 6687 6688<SPEECH> 6689<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 6690<LINE>I have spoke the truth.</LINE> 6691</SPEECH> 6692 6693<STAGEDIR>Enter PAROLLES</STAGEDIR> 6694 6695<SPEECH> 6696<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 6697<LINE>My lord, I do confess the ring was hers.</LINE> 6698</SPEECH> 6699 6700<SPEECH> 6701<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6702<LINE>You boggle shrewdly, every feather stars you.</LINE> 6703<LINE>Is this the man you speak of?</LINE> 6704</SPEECH> 6705 6706<SPEECH> 6707<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 6708<LINE>Ay, my lord.</LINE> 6709</SPEECH> 6710 6711<SPEECH> 6712<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6713<LINE>Tell me, sirrah, but tell me true, I charge you,</LINE> 6714<LINE>Not fearing the displeasure of your master,</LINE> 6715<LINE>Which on your just proceeding I'll keep off,</LINE> 6716<LINE>By him and by this woman here what know you?</LINE> 6717</SPEECH> 6718 6719<SPEECH> 6720<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 6721<LINE>So please your majesty, my master hath been an</LINE> 6722<LINE>honourable gentleman: tricks he hath had in him,</LINE> 6723<LINE>which gentlemen have.</LINE> 6724</SPEECH> 6725 6726<SPEECH> 6727<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6728<LINE>Come, come, to the purpose: did he love this woman?</LINE> 6729</SPEECH> 6730 6731<SPEECH> 6732<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 6733<LINE>Faith, sir, he did love her; but how?</LINE> 6734</SPEECH> 6735 6736<SPEECH> 6737<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6738<LINE>How, I pray you?</LINE> 6739</SPEECH> 6740 6741<SPEECH> 6742<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 6743<LINE>He did love her, sir, as a gentleman loves a woman.</LINE> 6744</SPEECH> 6745 6746<SPEECH> 6747<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6748<LINE>How is that?</LINE> 6749</SPEECH> 6750 6751<SPEECH> 6752<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 6753<LINE>He loved her, sir, and loved her not.</LINE> 6754</SPEECH> 6755 6756<SPEECH> 6757<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6758<LINE>As thou art a knave, and no knave. What an</LINE> 6759<LINE>equivocal companion is this!</LINE> 6760</SPEECH> 6761 6762<SPEECH> 6763<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 6764<LINE>I am a poor man, and at your majesty's command.</LINE> 6765</SPEECH> 6766 6767<SPEECH> 6768<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 6769<LINE>He's a good drum, my lord, but a naughty orator.</LINE> 6770</SPEECH> 6771 6772<SPEECH> 6773<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 6774<LINE>Do you know he promised me marriage?</LINE> 6775</SPEECH> 6776 6777<SPEECH> 6778<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 6779<LINE>Faith, I know more than I'll speak.</LINE> 6780</SPEECH> 6781 6782<SPEECH> 6783<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6784<LINE>But wilt thou not speak all thou knowest?</LINE> 6785</SPEECH> 6786 6787<SPEECH> 6788<SPEAKER>PAROLLES</SPEAKER> 6789<LINE>Yes, so please your majesty. I did go between them,</LINE> 6790<LINE>as I said; but more than that, he loved her: for</LINE> 6791<LINE>indeed he was mad for her, and talked of Satan and</LINE> 6792<LINE>of Limbo and of Furies and I know not what: yet I</LINE> 6793<LINE>was in that credit with them at that time that I</LINE> 6794<LINE>knew of their going to bed, and of other motions,</LINE> 6795<LINE>as promising her marriage, and things which would</LINE> 6796<LINE>derive me ill will to speak of; therefore I will not</LINE> 6797<LINE>speak what I know.</LINE> 6798</SPEECH> 6799 6800<SPEECH> 6801<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6802<LINE>Thou hast spoken all already, unless thou canst say</LINE> 6803<LINE>they are married: but thou art too fine in thy</LINE> 6804<LINE>evidence; therefore stand aside.</LINE> 6805<LINE>This ring, you say, was yours?</LINE> 6806</SPEECH> 6807 6808<SPEECH> 6809<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 6810<LINE>Ay, my good lord.</LINE> 6811</SPEECH> 6812 6813<SPEECH> 6814<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6815<LINE>Where did you buy it? or who gave it you?</LINE> 6816</SPEECH> 6817 6818<SPEECH> 6819<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 6820<LINE>It was not given me, nor I did not buy it.</LINE> 6821</SPEECH> 6822 6823<SPEECH> 6824<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6825<LINE>Who lent it you?</LINE> 6826</SPEECH> 6827 6828<SPEECH> 6829<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 6830<LINE>It was not lent me neither.</LINE> 6831</SPEECH> 6832 6833<SPEECH> 6834<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6835<LINE>Where did you find it, then?</LINE> 6836</SPEECH> 6837 6838<SPEECH> 6839<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 6840<LINE>I found it not.</LINE> 6841</SPEECH> 6842 6843<SPEECH> 6844<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6845<LINE>If it were yours by none of all these ways,</LINE> 6846<LINE>How could you give it him?</LINE> 6847</SPEECH> 6848 6849<SPEECH> 6850<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 6851<LINE>I never gave it him.</LINE> 6852</SPEECH> 6853 6854<SPEECH> 6855<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 6856<LINE>This woman's an easy glove, my lord; she goes off</LINE> 6857<LINE>and on at pleasure.</LINE> 6858</SPEECH> 6859 6860<SPEECH> 6861<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6862<LINE>This ring was mine; I gave it his first wife.</LINE> 6863</SPEECH> 6864 6865<SPEECH> 6866<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 6867<LINE>It might be yours or hers, for aught I know.</LINE> 6868</SPEECH> 6869 6870<SPEECH> 6871<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6872<LINE>Take her away; I do not like her now;</LINE> 6873<LINE>To prison with her: and away with him.</LINE> 6874<LINE>Unless thou tell'st me where thou hadst this ring,</LINE> 6875<LINE>Thou diest within this hour.</LINE> 6876</SPEECH> 6877 6878<SPEECH> 6879<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 6880<LINE>I'll never tell you.</LINE> 6881</SPEECH> 6882 6883<SPEECH> 6884<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6885<LINE>Take her away.</LINE> 6886</SPEECH> 6887 6888<SPEECH> 6889<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 6890<LINE>I'll put in bail, my liege.</LINE> 6891</SPEECH> 6892 6893<SPEECH> 6894<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6895<LINE>I think thee now some common customer.</LINE> 6896</SPEECH> 6897 6898<SPEECH> 6899<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 6900<LINE>By Jove, if ever I knew man, 'twas you.</LINE> 6901</SPEECH> 6902 6903<SPEECH> 6904<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6905<LINE>Wherefore hast thou accused him all this while?</LINE> 6906</SPEECH> 6907 6908<SPEECH> 6909<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 6910<LINE>Because he's guilty, and he is not guilty:</LINE> 6911<LINE>He knows I am no maid, and he'll swear to't;</LINE> 6912<LINE>I'll swear I am a maid, and he knows not.</LINE> 6913<LINE>Great king, I am no strumpet, by my life;</LINE> 6914<LINE>I am either maid, or else this old man's wife.</LINE> 6915</SPEECH> 6916 6917<SPEECH> 6918<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6919<LINE>She does abuse our ears: to prison with her.</LINE> 6920</SPEECH> 6921 6922<SPEECH> 6923<SPEAKER>DIANA</SPEAKER> 6924<LINE>Good mother, fetch my bail. Stay, royal sir:</LINE> 6925<STAGEDIR>Exit Widow</STAGEDIR> 6926<LINE>The jeweller that owes the ring is sent for,</LINE> 6927<LINE>And he shall surety me. But for this lord,</LINE> 6928<LINE>Who hath abused me, as he knows himself,</LINE> 6929<LINE>Though yet he never harm'd me, here I quit him:</LINE> 6930<LINE>He knows himself my bed he hath defiled;</LINE> 6931<LINE>And at that time he got his wife with child:</LINE> 6932<LINE>Dead though she be, she feels her young one kick:</LINE> 6933<LINE>So there's my riddle: one that's dead is quick:</LINE> 6934<LINE>And now behold the meaning.</LINE> 6935</SPEECH> 6936 6937<STAGEDIR>Re-enter Widow, with HELENA</STAGEDIR> 6938 6939<SPEECH> 6940<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6941<LINE>Is there no exorcist</LINE> 6942<LINE>Beguiles the truer office of mine eyes?</LINE> 6943<LINE>Is't real that I see?</LINE> 6944</SPEECH> 6945 6946<SPEECH> 6947<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 6948<LINE>No, my good lord;</LINE> 6949<LINE>'Tis but the shadow of a wife you see,</LINE> 6950<LINE>The name and not the thing.</LINE> 6951</SPEECH> 6952 6953<SPEECH> 6954<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 6955<LINE>Both, both. O, pardon!</LINE> 6956</SPEECH> 6957 6958<SPEECH> 6959<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 6960<LINE>O my good lord, when I was like this maid,</LINE> 6961<LINE>I found you wondrous kind. There is your ring;</LINE> 6962<LINE>And, look you, here's your letter; this it says:</LINE> 6963<LINE>'When from my finger you can get this ring</LINE> 6964<LINE>And are by me with child,' &c. This is done:</LINE> 6965<LINE>Will you be mine, now you are doubly won?</LINE> 6966</SPEECH> 6967 6968<SPEECH> 6969<SPEAKER>BERTRAM</SPEAKER> 6970<LINE>If she, my liege, can make me know this clearly,</LINE> 6971<LINE>I'll love her dearly, ever, ever dearly.</LINE> 6972</SPEECH> 6973 6974<SPEECH> 6975<SPEAKER>HELENA</SPEAKER> 6976<LINE>If it appear not plain and prove untrue,</LINE> 6977<LINE>Deadly divorce step between me and you!</LINE> 6978<LINE>O my dear mother, do I see you living?</LINE> 6979</SPEECH> 6980 6981<SPEECH> 6982<SPEAKER>LAFEU</SPEAKER> 6983<LINE>Mine eyes smell onions; I shall weep anon:</LINE> 6984<STAGEDIR>To PAROLLES</STAGEDIR> 6985<LINE>Good Tom Drum, lend me a handkercher: so,</LINE> 6986<LINE>I thank thee: wait on me home, I'll make sport with thee:</LINE> 6987<LINE>Let thy courtesies alone, they are scurvy ones.</LINE> 6988</SPEECH> 6989 6990<SPEECH> 6991<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 6992<LINE>Let us from point to point this story know,</LINE> 6993<LINE>To make the even truth in pleasure flow.</LINE> 6994<STAGEDIR>To DIANA</STAGEDIR> 6995<LINE>If thou be'st yet a fresh uncropped flower,</LINE> 6996<LINE>Choose thou thy husband, and I'll pay thy dower;</LINE> 6997<LINE>For I can guess that by thy honest aid</LINE> 6998<LINE>Thou keep'st a wife herself, thyself a maid.</LINE> 6999<LINE>Of that and all the progress, more or less,</LINE> 7000<LINE>Resolvedly more leisure shall express:</LINE> 7001<LINE>All yet seems well; and if it end so meet,</LINE> 7002<LINE>The bitter past, more welcome is the sweet.</LINE> 7003</SPEECH> 7004<STAGEDIR>Flourish</STAGEDIR> 7005</SCENE> 7006 7007<EPILOGUE><TITLE>EPILOGUE</TITLE> 7008<SPEECH> 7009<SPEAKER>KING</SPEAKER> 7010<LINE>The king's a beggar, now the play is done:</LINE> 7011<LINE>All is well ended, if this suit be won,</LINE> 7012<LINE>That you express content; which we will pay,</LINE> 7013<LINE>With strife to please you, day exceeding day:</LINE> 7014<LINE>Ours be your patience then, and yours our parts;</LINE> 7015<LINE>Your gentle hands lend us, and take our hearts.</LINE> 7016</SPEECH> 7017 7018<STAGEDIR>Exeunt</STAGEDIR> 7019</EPILOGUE> 7020</ACT> 7021</PLAY> 7022