SCENE V.
Rousillon. A Room in the Countess's Palace.
Enter Countess, Lafeu, and Clown.
Laf.
No, no, no, your son was misled with a
snipt-taffata fellow there; whose villainous saffron
would have made all the unbaked and doughy youth
of a nation in his colour3 note
: your daughter-in-law
-- 458 --
had been alive at this hour; and your son here at
home, more advanced by the king, than by that
red-tailed humble-bee I speak of.
-- 459 --
Count.
I would, I had not known him4 note
! it was
the death of the most virtuous gentlewoman, that
ever nature had praise for creating: if she had partaken
of my flesh, and cost me the dearest groans
of a mother, I could not have owed her a more
rooted love.
Laf.
'Twas a good lady, 'twas a good lady: we
may pick a thousand salads, ere we light on such
another herb.
Clo.
Indeed, sir, she was the sweet-marjoram of
the salad, or, rather the herb of grace5 note.
Laf.
They are not salad-herbs, you knave, they
are nose-herbs.
Clo.
I am no great Nebuchadnezzar, sir, I have
not much skill in grass6 note.
Laf.
Whether dost thou profess thyself; a knave,
or a fool?
Clo.
A fool, sir, at a woman's service, and a
knave at a man's.
Laf.
Your distinction?
Clo.
I would cozen the man of his wife, and do
his service.
-- 460 --
Laf.
So you were a knave at his service, indeed.
Clo.
And I would give his wife my bauble, sir,
to do her service7 note
.
Laf.
I will subscribe for thee; thou art both
knave and fool.
Clo.
At your service.
Laf.
No, no, no.
Clo.
Why, sir, if I cannot serve you, I can serve
as great a prince as you are.
Laf.
Who's that? a Frenchman?
-- 461 --
Clo.
Faith, sir, he has an English name8 note
; but
his phisnomy is more hotter in France, than there9 note
.
Laf.
What prince is that?
Clo.
The black prince1 note, sir, alias, the prince of
darkness; alias, the devil.
Laf.
Hold thee, there's my purse: I give thee
not this to suggest thee from thy master2 note
thou
talkest of; serve him still.
Clo.
I am a woodland fellow, sir, that always
loved a great fire3 note; and the master I speak of, ever
keeps a good fire. But, sure, he is the prince of
the world4 note, let his nobility remain in his court. I
am for the house with the narrow gate, which I
-- 462 --
take to be too little for pomp to enter: some, that
humble themselves, may; but the many will be too
chill and tender; and they'll be for the flowery way,
that leads to the broad gate, and the great fire5 note.
Laf.
Go thy ways, I begin to be a-weary of
thee; and I tell thee so before, because I would not
fall out with thee. Go thy ways; let my horses be
well looked to, without any tricks.
Clo.
If I put any tricks upon 'em, sir, they shall
be jades tricks; which are their own right by the
law of nature.
[Exit.
Laf.
A shrewd knave, and an unhappy6 note
.
Count.
So he is. My lord, that's gone, made
himself much sport out of him: by his authority
he remains here, which he thinks is a patent for his
sauciness; and, indeed, he has no pace, but runs
where he will7 note
.
Laf.
I like him well; 'tis not amiss: and I was
about to tell you. Since I heard of the good lady's
death, and that my lord your son was upon his return
home, I moved the king my master, to speak
in the behalf of my daughter; which, in the minority
of them both, his majesty, out of a self-gracious
remembrance, did first propose: his highness
-- 463 --
hath promised me to do it: and, to stop up the
displeasure he hath conceived against your son,
there is no fitter matter. How does your ladyship
like it?
Count.
With very much content, my lord, and
I wish it happily effected.
Laf.
His highness comes post from Marseilles,
of as able body as when he numbered thirty; he
will be here to-morrow, or I am deceived by him
that in such intelligence hath seldom failed.
Count.
It rejoices me, that I hope I shall see him
ere I die. I have letters, that my son will be here
to-night: I shall beseech your lordship, to remain
with me till they meet together.
Laf.
Madam, I was thinking, with what manners
I might safely be admitted.
Count.
You need but plead your honourable
privilege.
Laf.
Lady, of that I have made a bold charter;
but, I thank my God, it holds yet.
Re-enter Clown.
Clo.
O madam, yonder's my lord your son with
a patch of velvet on's face: whether there be a
scar under it, or no, the velvet knows; but 'tis a
goodly patch of velvet: his left cheek is a cheek
of two pile and a half, but his right cheek is worn
bare.
Laf.
A scar nobly got, or a noble scar, is a good
livery of honour8 note
; so, belike, is that.
-- 464 --
Clo.
But it is your carbonadoed9 note
face.
Laf.
Let us go see your son, I pray you; I long
to talk with the young noble soldier.
Clo.
'Faith, there's a dozen of 'em, with delicate
fine hats, and most courteous feathers, which
bow the head, and nod at every man1 note
.
[Exeunt.
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].
