SCENE IV.
The same. Another Room in the same.
Enter Helena and Clown.
Hel.
My mother greets me kindly: Is she well?
Clo.
She is not well; but yet she has her health:
she's very merry; but yet she is not well: but
thanks be given, she's very well, and wants nothing
i' the world; but yet she is not well.
Hel.
If she be very well, what does she ail, that
she's not very well?
Clo.
Truly, she's very well, indeed, but for two
things.
Hel.
What two things?
Clo.
One, that she's not in heaven, whither God
send her quickly! the other, that she's in earth,
from whence God send her quickly!
Enter Parolles.
Par.
Bless you, my fortunate lady!
Hel.
I hope, sir, I have your good will to have
mine own good fortunes1 note.
Par.
You had my prayers to lead them on; and
to keep them on, have them still.—O, my knave!
How does my old lady?
Clo.
So that you had her wrinkles, and I her
money, I would she did as you say.
Par.
Why, I say nothing.
Clo.
Marry, you are the wiser man; for many a
man's tongue shakes out his master's undoing: To
say nothing, to do nothing, to know nothing, and
to have nothing, is to be a great part of your title;
which is within a very little of nothing.
-- 393 --
Par.
Away, thou'rt a knave.
Clo.
You should have said, sir, before a knave
thou art a knave; that is, before me thou art a
knave: this had been truth, sir.
Par.
Go to, thou art a witty fool, I have found
thee.
Clo.
Did you find me in yourself, sir? or were
you taught to find me? The search, sir, was profitable;
and much fool may you find in you, even to
the world's pleasure, and the increase of laughter.
Par.
A good knave, i' faith, and well fed2 note.—
Madam, my lord will go away to-night;
A very serious business calls on him.
The great prerogative and rite of love,
Which, as your due, time claims, he does acknowledge;
But puts it off to a compell'd restraint3 note
;
Whose want, and whose delay, is strewed with sweets,
Which they distil now in the curbed time4 note
,
To make the coming hour o'erflow with joy,
And pleasure drown the brim.
-- 394 --
Hel.
What's his will else?
Par.
That you will take your instant leave o' the king,
And make this haste as your own good proceeding,
Strengthen'd with what apology you think
May make it probable need5 note.
Hel.
What more commands he?
Par.
That, having this obtain'd, you presently
Attend his further pleasure.
Hel.
In every thing I wait upon his will.
Par.
I shall report it so.
Hel.
I pray you.—Come, sirrah.
[Exeunt.
-- 395 --
James Boswell [1821], The plays and poems of William Shakspeare, with the corrections and illustrations of various commentators: comprehending A Life of the Poet, and an enlarged history of the stage, by the late Edmond Malone. With a new glossarial index (J. Deighton and Sons, Cambridge) [word count] [S10201].
