SCENE V.
Rousillon.
Enter Countess, Lafeu, and Clown.
Laf.
No, no, no, your son was mis-led with a
-- 122 --
snipt-taffata fellow there; 3 note
whose villainous saffron
would have made all the unbak'd and doughy youth
-- 123 --
of a nation in his colour: your daughter-in-law had
been alive at this hour; and your son here at home,
more advanced by the king, than by that red-tail'd
humble-bee I speak of.
Count.
4 noteI would, I had not known him! 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 sallads, ere we light on such
another herb.
Clo.
Indeed, sir, she was the sweet-marjoram, of the
sallet, or, rather, the herb of grace.
Laf.
They are not sallet-herbs, you knave, they
are nose-herbs.
-- 124 --
Clo.
I am no great Nebuchadnezzar, sir, I have
not much skill in grass.
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.
Laf.
So you were a knave at his service, indeed.
Clo.
And I would give his wife my bauble, sir, to
do her service5 note
.
-- 125 --
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?
Clo.
Faith, sir, he has an English name6 note; but his
7 note
phisnomy is more hotter in France, than there.
Laf.
What prince is that?
Clo.
The black prince, sir, alias, the prince of
darkness; alias, the devil.
Laf.
Hold thee, there's my purse: I give thee not
this to suggest thee8 note
from thy master thou talk'st of;
serve him still.
Clo.
9 noteI am a woodland fellow, sir, that always lov'd
-- 126 --
a great fire; and the master I speak of, ever keeps a
good fire. But, sure, he is the prince of the world1 note,
let his nobility remain in his court. I am for the house
with the narrow gate, which I 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 fire.
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 look'd
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 2 note
unhappy.
Count.
So he is. 3 note
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 will.
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
-- 127 --
home, I mov'd 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 has promis'd
me to do it: and, to stop up the displeasure he
hath conceiv'd 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 a body as when he number'd thirty; he will
be here to-morrow, or I am deceiv'd by him that in
such intelligence hath seldom fail'd.
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't, 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.
Count.
A scar nobly got, or a noble scar, is a good
livery of honour: so, belike, is that.
Clo.
But it is your4 note
carbonado'd face.
-- 128 --
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 man.
[Exeunt.
Samuel Johnson [1778], The plays of William Shakspeare. In ten volumes. With the corrections and illustrations of various commentators; to which are added notes by Samuel Johnson and George Steevens. The second edition, Revised and Augmented (Printed for C. Bathurst [and] W. Strahan [etc.], London) [word count] [S10901].