Laf.

No, no, no, your son was misled with a snipt-taffeta fellow there, whose villanous saffron would have made all the unbaked and doughy youth of a nation in his colour: your daughter-in-law had been alive at this hour, and your son here at home, more advanced ^note by the king than by that ^note red-tailed humble-bee I speak of.

Count.

I would I had ^note 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 salads ^note ere we light on such another herb.

Clo.

Indeed, sir, she was the sweet-marjoram of the salad ^note, or rather, the herb of grace.

Laf.

They are not herbs ^note, you knave; they are nose-herbs.

Clo.

I am no great Nebuchadnezzar, sir; I have not much skill in grass ^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 ^note and do his service.

Laf.

So you were a knave at his service, indeed.

Clo.

And I would give his wife my bauble ^note, sir, to do her service.

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 ^note that? a Frenchman?

Clo.

Faith, sir, a' ^note has an English name ^note; but his fisnomy is more hotter ^note in France than there ^note.

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 ^note thee from thy master thou talkest of; serve him still.

Clo.

I am ^note a woodland fellow, sir, that always loved a great fire; and the master I speak of ever keeps a good fire. But, sure, he is the prince of the world ^note; let his ^note nobility remain But, sure, he is the prince of the world ^note; let his ^note nobility remain in's 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 aweary 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 ^note, they shall be jades' tricks; which are their own right by the law of nature.

Laf.

A shrewd knave and an unhappy.

Count.

So he ^note 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 ^note, but runs ^note 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 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 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 ^note, of as able body as when he ^note numbered thirty: he will be here tomorrow, or I am deceived by him that in such intelligence hath seldom failed.

Count.

It ^note rejoices me, that I hope I ^note 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.

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.

Laf. ^note

A scar nobly got, or a noble scar, is a good livery of honour; so belike is that ^note.

Clo.

But it is your carbonadoed ^note face.

Laf. ^note

Let us go see your son, I pray you: I long to talk with the young noble soldier ^note.

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.