SCENE II.
Rousillon. The inner Court of the Countess's Palace.
Enter Clown and Parolles.
Par.
Good monsieur Lavatch4 note
, give my lord
Lafeu this letter: I have ere now, sir, been better
known to you, when I have held familiarity with
fresher clothes; but I am now, sir, muddied in fortune's
-- 467 --
mood, and smell somewhat strong of her
strong displeasure5 note
.
-- 468 --
Clo.
Truly, fortune's displeasure is but sluttish,
if it smell so strong as thou speakest of: I will henceforth
eat no fish of fortune's buttering. Pr'ythee,
allow the wind6 note.
Par.
Nay, you need not stop your nose, sir; I
spake but by a metaphor.
Clo.
Indeed, sir, if your metaphor stink, I will
stop my nose; or against any man's metaphor7 note
.
Pr'ythee, get thee further.
-- 469 --
Par.
Pray you, sir, deliver me this paper.
Clo.
Foh, pr'ythee, stand away; A paper from
fortune's close-stool to give to a nobleman! Look,
here he comes himself.
Enter Lafeu.
Here is a pur of fortune's, sir, or of fortune's
cat8 note, (but not a musk-cat,) that has fallen into the
-- 470 --
unclean fishpond of her displeasure, and, as he says,
is muddied withal: Pray you, sir, use the carp as
you may; for he looks like a poor, decayed, ingenious,
foolish, rascally knave. I do pity his distress
in my smiles of comfort9 note
, and leave him to your
lordship.
[Exit Clown.
Par.
My lord, I am a man whom fortune hath
cruelly scratched.
Laf.
And what would you have me to do? 'tis
too late to pare her nails now. Wherein have you
played the knave with fortune, that she should
scratch you, who of herself is a good lady, and
would not have knaves thrive long under her1 note?
There's a quart d'ecu for you: Let the justices
make you and fortune friends; I am for other business.
Par.
I beseech your honour, to hear me one
single word.
Laf.
You beg a single penny more: come, you
shall ha't; save your word2 note.
Par.
My name, my good lord, is Parolles.
Laf.
You beg more than one word then3 note.—Cox'
-- 471 --
my passion! give me your hand:—How does your
drum?
Par.
O my good lord, you were the first that
found me.
Laf.
Was I, in sooth? and I was the first that
lost thee.
Par.
It lies in you, my lord, to bring me in some
grace, for you did bring me out.
Laf.
Out upon thee, knave! dost thou put upon
me at once both the office of God and the devil?
one brings thee in grace, and the other brings thee
out. [Trumpets sound.] The king's coming, I
know by his trumpets.—Sirrah, inquire further
after me; I had talk of you last night: though
you are a fool and a knave, you shall eat4 note; go to,
follow.
Par.
I praise God for you.
[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].
