Lafeu, all in black.
Countess.
1 note
In delivering my son from me, I bury a second
husband.
Ber.
And I in going, Madam, weep o'er my
father's death anew; but I must attend his Majesty's
command, to whom I am now 2 notein ward, evermore in
subjection.
-- 278 --
Laf.
You shall find of the King a husband, Madam;
you, Sir, a father. He, that so generally is at
all times good, must of necessity hold his virtue to
you; 3 notewhose worthiness would stir it up where it
wanted, rather than slack it where there is such abundance.
Count.
What hope is there of his Majesty's amendment?
Laf.
He hath abandon'd his physicians, Madam,
under whose practices he hath persecuted time with
hope; and finds no other advantage in the process,
but only the losing of hope by time.
Count.
4 note
This young gentlewoman had a father,
(O, that had! how sad a passage 'tis!) whose skill
was almost as great as his honesty; had it stretch'd so
far, it would have made nature immortal, and death
should have play'd for lack of work. 'Would, for
-- 279 --
the King's sake, he were living! I think, it would be
the death of the King's disease.
Laf.
How call'd you the man you speak of, Madam?
Count.
He was famous, Sir, in his profession, and
it was his great right to be so: Gerard de Narbon.
Laf.
He was excellent, indeed, Madam; the King
very lately spoke of him admiringly, and mourningly:
he was skilful enough to have liv'd still, if knowledge
could have been set up against mortality.
Ber.
What is it, my good lord, the King languishes
of?
Laf.
A fistula, my lord.
Ber.
I heard not of it before.
Laf.
I would, it were not notorious. Was this
gentlewoman the daughter of Gerard de Narbon?
Count.
His sole child, my lord, and bequeathed to
my overlooking. I have those hopes of her good,
that her education promises her; disposition she inherits,
which makes fair gifts fairer; for 5 note
where an unclean
-- 280 --
mind carries virtuous qualities, there commendations
go with pity, they are virtues and traitors too;
3in her they are the better for their simpleness; she
derives her honesty, and atchieves her goodness.
Laf.
Your commendations, Madam, get from her
tears.
Count.
'Tis the best brine a maiden can season her
praise in. The remembrance of her father never approaches
her heart, but the tyranny of her sorrows
takes all livelihood from her cheek. No more of this,
Helena, go to, no more; lest it be rather thought you
affect a sorrow, than to have it.
Hel.
I do affect a sorrow, indeed, but I have it too.
Laf.
Moderate lamentation is the right of the dead,
excessive grief the enemy to the living.
Count.
6 note
If the living be enemy to the grief, the
excess makes it soon mortal.
-- 281 --
Ber.
Madam, I desire your holy wishes.
Laf.
How understand we that?
Count.
Be thou blest, Bertram, and succeed thy father
In manners as in shape! thy blood and virtue
Contend for empire in thee, and thy goodness
Share with thy birth-right! Love all, trust a few,
Do wrong to none: be able for thine enemy
Rather in power, than use; and keep thy friend
Under thy own life's key: be check'd for silence,
But never tax'd for speech. What heav'n more will,
7 noteThat thee may furnish, and my prayers pluck down,
Fall on thy head! Farewel, my Lord;
'Tis an unseason'd courtier, good my Lord,
Advise him.
Laf.
He cannot want the best,
That shall attend his love.
Count.
Heav'n bless him! Farewel, Bertram.
[Exit Countess.
Ber. [To Helena.]
8 noteThe best wishes, that can be
forg'd in your thoughts, be servants to you! Be comfortable
to my mother, your mistress, and make much
of her.
Laf.
Farewel, pretty Lady, you must hold the credit
of your father.
[Exeunt Bertram and Lafeu.
-- 282 --
Samuel Johnson [1765], The plays of William Shakespeare, in eight volumes, with the corrections and illustrations of Various Commentators; To which are added notes by Sam. Johnson (Printed for J. and R. Tonson [and] C. Corbet [etc.], London) [word count] [S11001].
