Hel.

My mother greets me kindly, is she well?

Clo.

She is not well, but yet she has her health; she's very merry, but yet she is not well: but, thanks be given, she's very well, and wants nothing i'th' world; but yet she is not well.

Hel.

If she be very well, what does she ail, that she's not very well?

Clo.

Truly, she's very well, indeed, but for two things.

Hel.

What two things?

Clo.

One, that she's not in heav'n, whither God send her quickly; the other, that she's in earth, from whence God send her quickly!

Par.

Bless you, my fortunate lady!

Hel.

I hope, Sir, I have your good will to have mine own good fortune.

Par.

You had my prayers to lead them on; and to keep them on, have them still. O, my knave, how does my old lady?

Clo.

So that you had her wrinkles and I her mony, I would, she did, as you say.

Par.

Why, I say nothing.

Clo.

Marry, you are the wiser man; for many a man's tongue ^{5 note}speaks out his master's undoing: to say nothing, to do nothing, to know nothing, and to have nothing, is to be a great part of your title; which is within a very little of nothing.

Par.

Away, thou'rt a knave.

Clo.

You should have said, Sir, before a knave, th'art a knave; that's, before me th'art a knave: this had been truth, Sir.

Par.

Go to, thou art a witty fool, I have found thee.

Clo.

Did you find me in yourself, Sir? or were you taught to find me? the search, Sir, was profitable, and much fool may you find in you, even to the world's pleasure, and the encrease of laughter.

Par.
A good knave, i' faith, and well fed.
Madam, my Lord will go away to night,
A very serious business calls on him.
The great prerogative and rite of love,
Which, as your due, time claims, he does acknowledge;
But puts it off by a compell'd restraint:
Whose want and whose delay, is strew'd with sweets
Which they distil now in the curbed time,
To make the coming hour o'erflow with joy,
^{6 note}And pleasure drown the brim.

Hel.
What's his will else?

Par.
That you will take your instant leave o'th' King.
And make this haste as your own good proceeding;
Strengthen'd with what apology, you think,
May make it probable need.

Hel.
What more commands he?

Par.
That having this obtain'd, you presently
Attend his further pleasure.

Hel.
In every thing I wait upon his will.

Par.
I shall report it so. [Exit Parolles.

Hel.
I pray you.—Come, Sirrah. [To Clown. [Exeunt.

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