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J. Payne Collier [1842–1844], The works of William Shakespeare. The text formed from an entirely new collation of the old editions: with the various readings, notes, a life of the poet, and a history of the Early English stage. By J. Payne Collier, Esq. F.S.A. In eight volumes (Whittaker & Co. [etc.], London) [word count] [S10101].

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ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL.

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Introductory matter ^note

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INTRODUCTION.

The most interesting question in connexion with “All's Well that Ends Well” is, whether it was originally called “Love's Labour's Won?” If it were, we may be sure that it was written before 1598; because in that year, and under the title of “Love Labours Wonne,” it is included by Francis Meres in the list of Shakespeare's plays introduced into his Palladis Tamia.

It was the opinion of Coleridge, an opinion which he first delivered in 1813, and again in 1818, though it is not found in his “Literary Remains,” that “All's Well that Ends Well,” as it has come down to us, was written at two different, and rather distant periods of the poet's life. He pointed out very clearly two distinct styles, not only of thought, but of expression; and Professor Tieck, at a later date, adopted and enforced the same belief. So far we are disposed to agree with Tieck; but when he adds, that some passages in “All's Well that Ends Well,” which it is difficult to understand and explain, are relics of the first draught of the play, we do not concur, because they are chiefly to be discovered in that portion of the drama which affords evidence of riper thought, and of a more involved and constrained mode of writing. Surely those parts which reminded Tieck, as he states, of “Venus and Adonis,” are to be placed among the earlier efforts of Shakespeare. There can be little doubt, however, that Coleridge and Tieck are right in their conclusion, that “All's Well that Ends Well,” which was printed for the first time in the folio of 1623, contains indications of the workings of Shakespeare's mind, and specimens of his composition at two separate dates of his career.

It has been a point recently controverted, whether the “Love Labours Won” of Meres were the same piece as “All's Well that Ends Well.” The supposition that they were identical was first promulgated by Dr. Farmer, in 1767, in his “Essay on the Learning of Shakespeare.” On the other hand, the Rev. Joseph Hunter, in his “Disquisition on the Tempest,” 8vo. 1839, has contended that by “Love Labours Won” Meres meant “The Tempest,” and that it originally bore “Love Labours Won” as its second title. I do not think that Mr. Hunter, with all his acuteness and learning, has made out his case satisfactorily; and in our Introduction to “The

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Tempest,” some reasons will be found for assigning that play to the year 1610, or 1611. Mr. Hunter argues that “The Tempest,” even more than “All's Well that Ends Well,” deserves the significant name of “Love Labours Won;” and he certainly is successful in showing, that “All's Well that Ends Well” bespoke its own title in two separate quotations¹ ^note

. They are from towards the close of the play; and here, perhaps, we meet with the strongest evidences that this portion was one of its author's later efforts.

My notion is (and the speculation deserves no stronger term) that “All's Well that Ends Well” was in the first instance, and prior to 1598, called “Love's Labour's Won,” and that it had a clear reference to “Love's Labour's Lost,” of which it might be considered the counterpart. It was then, perhaps, laid by for some years, and revived by its author, with alterations and additions, about 1605 or 1606, when the new title of “All's Well that Ends Well” was given to it. At this date, however, “Love's Labour's Lost” probably continued to be represented; and we learn from the Revels' Accounts that it was chosen for performance at court between Jan. 1 and Jan. 6, 1604–5. The entry runs in these terms:—

“Betwin Newers Day and Twelfe Day, a play of Loves Labours Lost.”

The name of the author, and of the company by whom the piece was acted, are not in this instance given. We have no information that “All's Well that Ends Well” met with the same distinction; and possibly Shakespeare altered its name, in order to give an appearance of greater novelty to the representation on its revival. This surmise, if well founded, would account for the difference in the titles, as we find them in Meres and in the folio of 1623.

Without here entering into the question, whether Shakespeare understood Italian, of which, we think, little doubt can be entertained, we need not suppose that he went to Boccaccio's Decameron for the story of “All's Well that Ends Well,” because he found it

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already translated to his hands, in “The Palace of Pleasure,” by William Painter, of which the first volume was published in 1566, and the second in 1567² ^note. It is the 9th novel of the third day of Boccaccio, and the 28th novel of the first volume of “The Palace of Pleasure.” In the Decameron it bears the following title, which is very literally translated by Painter:—“Giglietta di Nerbona guarisce il Re di Francia d'una fistola: domanda per marito Beltramo di Rossiglione; il quale contra sua voglia sposatala, a Firenze se ne va per isdegno; dove vagheggiando una giovane, in persona di lei Giglietta giacque con lui, e hebbene due figliuoli; perchè egli poi havutala cara per moglie la tiene.” The English version by Painter may be read in “Shakespeare's Library;” and hence it will appear, that the poet was only indebted to Boccaccio for the mere outline of his plot, as regards Helena, Bertram, the Widow, and Diana. All that belongs to the characters of the Countess, the Clown, and Parolles, and the comic business in which the last is engaged, were, as far as we now know, the invention of Shakespeare. The only names Boccaccio (and after him Painter) gives are Giglietta and Beltramo: the latter Shakespeare anglicised to Bertram, and he changed Giglietta to Helena, probably because he had already made Juliet the name of one of his heroines. Shakespeare much degrades the character of Bertram, towards the end of the drama, by the duplicity, and even falsehood, he makes him display: Coleridge (Lit. Rem. ii. 121) was offended by the fact, that in A. iii. sc. 5, Helena, “Shakespeare's loveliest character,” speaks that which is untrue under the appearance of necessity; but Bertram is convicted by the King of telling a deliberate untruth, and of persisting in it, in the face of the whole court of France. In Boccaccio the winding up of the story occurs at Rousillon, as in Shakespeare, but the King is no party to the scene.

The substitution of Helena for Diana (as in “Measure for Measure” we had that of Mariana for Isabella) was a common incident in Italian novels. One of these was inserted in “Narbonus: the Laberynth of Libertie,” by Austin Saker, 4to, 1580; a romance in which the scene is laid in Vienna, but the manners are those of London: there the object was to impose a wife upon her reluctant husband; but the resemblance to the same incident in “All's Well that Ends Well” is only general.

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1 ^note.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ King of France. Duke of Florence. BERTRAM, Count of Rousillon. LAFEU, an old Lord. PAROLLES, a Follower of Bertram. French Envoy, serving with Bertram. French Gentleman, also serving with Bertram. RINALDO [Steward], Steward to the Countess of Rousillon. Clown [Lavache], in her household. A Page. Countess of Rousillon, Mother to Bertram. HELENA, a Gentlewoman protected by the Countess. A Widow of Florence. DIANA, Daughter to the Widow. VIOLENTA, Neighbour and Friends to the Widow. MARIANA, Neighbour and Friends to the Widow. Lords, attending on the King; Officers, Soldiers, &c. French and Florentine. [Lord 1], [Lord 2], [Lord 4], [Soldier 1], [Soldier 2], [Servant], [Gentleman] SCENE, partly in France, and partly in Tuscany.

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ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL. ACT I. SCENE I. Rousillon. A Room in the Countess's Palace. Enter Bertram, the Countess of Rousillon, Helena, and Lafeu, all in black¹ ^note.

Count.

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 in ward² ^note, evermore in subjection.

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, whose worthiness would stir it up where it wanted, rather than lack it where there is such abundance.

Count.

What hope is there of his majesty's amendment?

Laf.

He hath abandoned 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.

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Count.

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 stretched so far, would have made nature immortal 11Q0396³ ^note, and death should have play for lack of work. Would, for the king's sake, he were living! I think it would be the death of the king's disease.

Laf.

How called 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 lived still, if knowledge could be set up against mortality.

Ber.

What is it, my good lord, the king languishes of?

Laf.

A fistula, my lord⁴ ^note.

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 dispositions she inherits, which make fair gifts fairer; for where an unclean mind carries virtuous qualities, there commendations go with pity; they are virtues and traitors too: in her they are the better for their simpleness; she derives her honesty, and achieves 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

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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.

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.

If the living be enemy to the grief, the excess makes it soon mortal.

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 heaven more will,
That thee may furnish, and my prayers pluck down,
Fall on thy head!—Farewell, my lord:
'Tis an unseason'd courtier: good my lord,
Advise him.

Laf.
He cannot want the best
That shall attend his love.

Count.
Heaven bless him!—
Farewell, Bertram. [Exit Countess.

Ber. [To Helena.]

The best wishes that can be forged in your thoughts be servants to you! Be comfortable to my mother, your mistress, and make much of her.

Laf.

Farewell, pretty lady: you must hold the credit of your father.

[Exeunt Bertram and Lafeu.

Hel.
O, were that all!—I think not on my father;
And these great tears grace his remembrance more

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Than those I shed for him⁵ ^note
. What was he like?
I have forgot him: my imagination
Carries no favour in't but Bertram's. 11Q0397
I am undone: there is no living, none,
If Bertram be away. It were all one,
That I should love a bright particular star,
And think to wed it, he is so above me:
In his bright radiance and collateral light
Must I be comforted, not in his sphere.
Th' ambition in my love thus plagues itself:
The hind that would be mated by the lion
Must die for love. 'Twas pretty, though a plague,
To see him every hour; to sit and draw
His arched brows, his hawking eye, his curls,
In our heart's table⁶ ^note; heart, too capable
Of every line and trick of his sweet favour:
But now he's gone, and my idolatrous fancy
Must sanctify his relics. Who comes here? Enter Parolles.
One that goes with him: I love him for his sake,
And yet I know him a notorious liar,
Think him a great way fool, solely a coward;
Yet these fix'd evils sit so fit in him,
That they take place, when virtue's steely bones
Look bleak in the cold wind: withal, full oft we see

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Cold wisdom waiting on superfluous folly.

Par.

Save you, fair queen.

Hel.

And you, monarch⁷ ^note.

Par.

No.

Hel.

And no.

Par.

Are you meditating on virginity?

Hel.

Ay. You have some stain of soldier⁸ ^note in you, let me ask you a question: man is enemy to virginity; how may we barricado it against him?

Par.

Keep him out.

Hel.

But he assails; and our virginity, though valiant in the defence, yet is weak. Unfold to us some warlike resistance.

Par.

There is none: man, sitting down before you, will undermine you, and blow you up.

Hel.

Bless our poor virginity from underminers, and blowers up!—Is there no military policy, how virgins might blow up men?

Par.

Virginity being blown down, man will quicklier be blown up: marry, in blowing him down again, with the breach yourselves made you lose your city. It is not politic in the commonwealth of nature to preserve virginity. Loss of virginity is rational increase; and there was never virgin got, till virginity was first lost. That you were made of is metal to make virgins. Virginity, by being once lost, may be ten times found: by being ever kept, it is ever lost. 'Tis too cold a companion: away with't.

Hel.

I will stand for't a little, though therefore I die a virgin.

Par.

There's little can be said in't: 'tis against the rule of nature. To speak on the part of virginity is to

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accuse your mothers, which is most infallible disobedience. He that hangs himself is a virgin: virginity murders itself, and should be buried in highways, out of all sanctified limit, as a desperate offendress against nature. Virginity breeds mites, much like a cheese; consumes itself to the very paring, and so dies with feeding his own stomach. Besides, virginity is peevish, proud, idle, made of self-love, which is the most inhibited sin⁹ ^note in the canon. Keep it not: you cannot choose but lose by't. Out with't: within ten years it will make itself ten 11Q0398¹⁰ ^note, which is a goodly increase, and the principal itself not much the worse. Away with't.

Hel.

How might one do, sir, to lose it to her own liking?

Par.

Let me see: marry, ill; to like him that ne'er it likes¹ ^note. 'Tis a commodity will lose the gloss with lying; the longer kept, the less worth: off with't, while 'tis vendible: answer the time of request. Virginity, like an old courtier, wears her cap out of fashion; richly suited, but unsuitable: just like the brooch and the tooth-pick, which wear not now. Your date is better in your pie and your porridge, than in your cheek: and your virginity, your old virginity, is like one of our French withered pears: it looks ill, it eats dryly; marry, 'tis a withered pear; it was formerly better; marry, yet, 'tis a withered pear. Will you any thing with it?

Hel.
Not my virginity yet² ^note.

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There shall your master have a thousand loves³ ^note,
A mother, and a mistress, and a friend,
A phœnix, captain, and an enemy,
A guide, a goddess, and a sovereign,
A counsellor, a traitress, and a dear;
His humble ambition, proud humility,
His jarring concord, and his discord dulcet,
His faith, his sweet disaster; with a world
Of pretty, fond, adoptions christendoms,
That blinking Cupid gossips. Now shall he—
I know not what he shall:—God send him well!—
The court's a learning-place;—and he is one—

Par.
What one, i'faith?

Hel.
That I wish well.—'Tis pity—

Par.
What's pity?

Hel.
That wishing well had not a body in't,
Which might be felt; that we, the poorer born,
Whose baser stars do shut us up in wishes,
Might with effects of them follow our friends,
And show what we alone must think; which never
Returns us thanks. Enter a Page.

Page.

Monsieur Parolles, my lord calls for you.

[Exit Page.

Par.

Little Helen, farewell: if I can remember thee, I will think of thee at court.

Hel.

Monsieur Parolles, you were born under a charitable star.

Par.

Under Mars, I.

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Hel.

I especially think, under Mars.

Par.

Why under Mars?

Hel.

The wars have so kept you under, that you must needs be born under Mars.

Par.

When he was predominant.

Hel.

When he was retrograde, I think, rather.

Par.

Why think you so?

Hel.

You go so much backward, when you fight.

Par.

That's for advantage.

Hel.

So is running away, when fear proposes the safety: but the composition that your valour and fear makes in you is a virtue of a good wing, and I like the wear well.

Par.

I am so full of businesses, I cannot answer thee acutely. I will return perfect courtier; in the which my instruction shall serve to naturalize thee, so thou wilt be capable of a courtier's counsel, and understand what advice shall thrust upon thee; else thou diest in thine unthankfulness, and thine ignorance makes thee away: farewell. When thou hast leisure, say thy prayers; when thou hast none, remember thy friends. Get thee a good husband, and use him as he uses thee: so farewell.

[Exit.

Hel.
Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie,
Which we ascribe to heaven: the fated sky
Gives us free scope; only, doth backward pull
Our slow designs, when we ourselves are dull.
What power is it which mounts my love so high;
That makes me see, and cannot feed mine eye?
The mightiest space in fortune nature brings
To join like likes, and kiss like native things. 11Q0399
Impossible be strange attempts to those
That weigh their pains in sense; and do suppose,
What hath been cannot be. Who ever strove
To show her merit, that did miss her love?
The king's disease—my project may deceive me.
But my intents are fix'd, and will not leave me. [Exit.

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SCENE II. Paris. A Room in the King's Palace. Flourish of cornets. Enter the King of France, with letters; Lords and others attending.

King.
The Florentines and Senoys⁴ ^note are by th' ears;
Have fought with equal fortune, and continue
A braving war.

1 Lord⁵ ^note.
So 'tis reported, sir.

King.
Nay, 'tis most credible: we here receive it
A certainty, vouch'd from our cousin Austria,
With caution, that the Florentine will move us
For speedy aid; wherein our dearest friend
Prejudicates the business, and would seem
To have us make denial.

1 Lord.
His love and wisdom,
Approv'd so to your majesty, may plead
For amplest credence.

King.
He hath arm'd our answer,
And Florence is denied before he comes:
Yet, for our gentlemen, that mean to see
The Tuscan service, freely have they leave
To stand on either part.

2 Lord.
It may well serve
A nursery to our gentry, who are sick
For breathing and exploit.

King.
What's he comes here? Enter Bertram, Lafeu, and Parolles.

1 Lord.
It is the count Rousillon, my good lord,
Young Bertram.

-- 216 --

King.
Youth, thou bear'st thy father's face;
Frank nature, rather curious than in haste,
Hath well compos'd thee. Thy father's moral parts
May'st thou inherit too! Welcome to Paris.

Ber.
My thanks and duty are your majesty's.

King.
I would I had that corporal soundness now,
As when thy father, and myself, in friendship
First tried our soldiership. He did look far
Into the service of the time, and was
Discipled of the bravest: he lasted long;
But on us both did haggish age steal on,
And wore us out of act. It much repairs me
To talk of your good father. In his youth
He had the wit, which I can well observe
To-day in our young lords; but they may jest,
Till their own scorn return to them unnoted,
Ere they can hide their levity in honour:
So like a courtier, contempt nor bitterness
Were in his pride, or sharpness; if they were,
His equal had awak'd them; and his honour,
Clock to itself, knew the true minute when
Exception bid him speak, and at this time
His tongue obey'd his hand: who were below him
He us'd as creatures of another place,
And bow'd his eminent top to their low ranks,
Making them proud of his humility,
In their poor praise he humbled. Such a man
Might be a copy to these younger times,
Which, follow'd well, would demonstrate them now
But goers backward.

Ber.
His good remembrance, sir,
Lies richer in your thoughts, than on his tomb:
So in approof lives not his epitaph⁶ ^note,
As in your royal speech.

-- 217 --

King.
'Would I were with him! He would always say,
(Methinks, I hear him now; his plausive words
He scatter'd not in ears, but grafted them,
To grow there, and to bear,)—“Let me not live,”—
This his good melancholy oft began,
On the catastrophe and heel of pastime,
When it was out, “let me not live,” quoth he,
“After my flame lacks oil, to be the snuff
Of younger spirits, whose apprehensive senses
All but new things disdain; whose judgments are
Mere fathers of their garments⁷ ^note; whose constancies
Expire before their fashions.”—This he wish'd:
I, after him, do after him wish too,
Since I nor wax, nor honey, can bring home,
I quickly were dissolved from my hive,
To give some labourers room.

2 Lord.
You are lov'd, sir;
They, that least lend it you, shall lack you first.

King.
I fill a place, I know't.—How long is't, count,
Since the physician at your father's died?
He was much fam'd.

Ber.
Some six months since, my lord.

King.
If he were living, I would try him yet:—
Lend me an arm:—the rest have worn me out
With several applications: nature and sickness
Debate it at their leisure. Welcome, count;
My son's no dearer.

Ber.
Thank your majesty. [Exeunt.

-- 218 --

SCENE III. Rousillon. A Room in the Countess's Palace. Enter Countess, Steward, and Clown.

Count.

I will now hear: what say you of this gentlewoman?

Stew.

Madam, the care I have had to even your content, I wish might be found in the calendar of my past endeavours; for then we wound our modesty, and make foul the clearness of our deservings, when of ourselves we publish them.

Count.

What does this knave here? Get you gone, sirrah: the complaints I have heard of you, I do not all believe: 'tis my slowness, that I do not; for I know you lack not folly to commit them, and have ability enough to make such knaveries yours⁸ ^note.

Clo.

'Tis not unknown to you, madam, I am a poor fellow.

Count.

Well, sir.

Clo.

No, madam; 'tis not so well, that I am poor, though many of the rich are damned. But, if I may have your ladyship's good-will to go to the world⁹ ^note, Isbel, the woman, and I will do as we may¹⁰ ^note.

Count.

Wilt thou needs be a beggar?

Clo.

I do beg your good-will in this case.

Count.

In what case?

Clo.

In Isbel's case, and mine own. Service is no

-- 219 --

heritage; and, I think, I shall never have the blessing of God, till I have issue of my body, for they say, bairns are blessings.

Count.

Tell me thy reason why thou wilt marry.

Clo.

My poor body, madam, requires it: I am driven on by the flesh, and he must needs go, that the devil drives.

Count.

Is this all your worship's reason?

Clo.

Faith, madam, I have other holy reasons, such as they are.

Count.

May the world know them?

Clo.

I have been, madam, a wicked creature, as you and all flesh and blood are; and, indeed, I do marry that I may repent.

Count.

Thy marriage, sooner than thy wickedness.

Clo.

I am out o' friends, madam; and I hope to have friends for my wife's sake.

Count.

Such friends are thine enemies, knave.

Clo.

You are shallow, madam; e'en great friends¹ ^note; for the knaves come to do that for me, which I am a-weary of. He, that ears my land, spares my team, and gives me leave to inn the crop: if I be his cuckold, he's my drudge. He that comforts my wife is the cherisher of my flesh and blood; he that cherishes my flesh and blood loves my flesh and blood; he that loves my flesh and blood is my friend: ergo he that kisses my wife is my friend. If men could be contented to be what they are, there were no fear in marriage; for young Charbon the puritan, and old Poysam the papist, howsome'er their hearts are severed² ^note in religion, their heads are both one; they may joll horns together, like any deer i' the herd.

-- 220 --

Count.

Wilt thou ever be a foul-mouthed and calumnious knave?

Clo.

A prophet I, madam; and I speak the truth the next way³ ^note:

For I the ballad will repeat,
Which men full true shall find;
Your marriage comes by destiny,
Your cuckoo sings by kind.

Count.

Get you gone, sir: I'll talk with you more anon.

Stew.

May it please you, madam, that he bid Helen come to you: of her I am to speak.

Count.

Sirrah, tell my gentlewoman, I would speak with her; Helen I mean.

Clo.
Was this fair face the cause, quoth she,
  Why the Grecians sacked Troy?
Fond done, done fond⁴ ^note,
  Was this king Priam's joy? 11Q0400
With that she sighed as she stood⁵ ^note
With that she sighed as she stood,
  And gave this sentence then;
Among nine bad if one be good,
Among nine bad if one be good,
  There's yet one good in ten.

Count.

What! one good in ten? you corrupt the song, sirrah.

-- 221 --

Clo.

One good woman in ten, madam, which is a purifying o' the song. Would God would serve the world so all the year! we'd find no fault with the tythe-woman, if I were the parson. One in ten, quoth a'! an we might have a good woman born but ere every blazing star⁶ ^note, or at an earthquake, 'twould mend the lottery well: a man may draw his heart out, ere he pluck one.

Count.

You'll be gone, sir knave, and do as I command you?

Clo.

That man should be at woman's command, and yet no hurt done!—Though honesty be no puritan, yet it will do no hurt; it will wear the surplice of humility over the black gown of a big heart 11Q0401⁷ ^note.—I am going, forsooth: the business is for Helen to come hither.

[Exit.

Count.

Well, now.

Stew.

I know, madam, you love your gentlewoman entirely.

Count.

Faith, I do: her father bequeathed her to me; and she herself, without other advantage, may lawfully make title to as much love as she finds: there is more owing her than is paid, and more shall be paid her than she'll demand.

Stew.

Madam, I was very late more near her than, I think, she wished me: alone she was, and did communicate to herself, her own words to her own ears; she thought, I dare vow for her, they touched not any

-- 222 --

stranger sense. Her matter was, she loved your son: fortune, she said, was no goddess, that had put such difference betwixt their two estates; love, no god, that would not extend his might, only where qualities were level; Diana, no queen of virgins 11Q0402⁸ ^note, that would suffer her poor knight to be surprised, without rescue, in the first assault, or ransom afterward. This she delivered in the most bitter touch of sorrow, that e'er I heard virgin exclaim in; which I held my duty speedily to acquaint you withal, sithence⁹ ^note in the loss that may happen it concerns you something to know it.

Count.

You have discharged this honestly: keep it to yourself. Many likelihoods informed me of this before, which hung so tottering in the balance, that I could neither believe, nor misdoubt. Pray you, leave me: stall this in your bosom, and I thank you for your honest care. I will speak with you farther anon.

[Exit Steward. Enter Helena.

Count.
Even so it was with me, when I was young:
If ever we are nature's, these are ours; this thorn
Doth to our rose of youth rightly belong;
Our blood to us, this to our blood is born:
It is the show and seal of nature's truth,
Where love's strong passion is impress'd in youth:
By our remembrances of days foregone,
Such were our faults; or then we thought them none. 11Q0403
Her eye is sick on't: I observe her now.

Hel.
What is your pleasure, madam?

Count.
You know, Helen,
I am a mother to you.

Hel.
Mine honourable mistress.

-- 223 --

Count.
Nay, a mother.
Why not a mother? When I said, a mother,
Methought you saw a serpent: what's in mother,
That you start at it? I say, I am your mother,
And put you in the catalogue of those
That were enwombed mine. 'Tis often seen,
Adoption strives with nature; and choice breeds
A native slip to us from foreign seeds:
You ne'er oppress'd me with a mother's groan,
Yet I express to you a mother's care.—
God's mercy, maiden! does it curd thy blood,
To say, I am thy mother? What's the matter,
That this distemper'd messenger of wet,
The many-colour'd Iris, rounds thine eye?—
Why, that you are my daughter¹ ^note?

Hel.
That I am not.

Count.
I say, I am your mother.

Hel.
Pardon, madam;
The count Rousillon cannot be my brother:
I am from humble, he from honour'd name;
No note upon my parents, his all noble:
My master, my dear lord he is; and I
His servant live, and will his vassal die.
He must not be my brother.

Count.
Nor I your mother?

Hel.
You are my mother, madam: would you were
(So that my lord, your son, were not my brother)
Indeed, my mother!—or were you both our mothers,
I care no more for, than I do for heaven,
So I were not his sister. Can't no other,
But, I your daughter, he must be my brother² ^note
?

-- 224 --

Count.
Yes, Helen, you might be my daughter-in-law.
God shield, you mean it not! daughter, and mother,
So strive upon your pulse. What, pale again?
My fear hath catch'd your fondness: Now I see
The mystery of your loneliness³ ^note, and find
Your salt tears' head. Now to all sense 'tis gross,
You love my son: invention is asham'd,
Against the proclamation of thy passion,
To say, thou dost not: therefore tell me true;
But tell me then, 'tis so:—for, look, thy cheeks
Confess it, th' one to the other; and thine eyes
See it so grossly shown in thy behaviours,
That in their kind they speak it: only sin,
And hellish obstinacy tie thy tongue,
That truth should be suspected. Speak, is't so?
If it be so, you have wound a goodly clue;
If it be not, forswear't: howe'er, I charge thee,
As heaven shall work in me for thine avail,
To tell me truly.

Hel.
Good madam, pardon me.

Count.
Do you love my son?

Hel.
Your pardon, noble mistress.

Count.
Love you my son?

Hel.
Do not you love him, madam?

Count.
Go not about: my love hath in't a bond,
Whereof the world takes note. Come, come, disclose
The state of your affection, for your passions
Have to the full appeach'd.

Hel.
Then, I confess,
Here on my knee, before high heaven and you,
That before you, and next unto high heaven,
I love your son.—
My friends were poor, but honest; so's my love:

-- 225 --

Be not offended, for it hurts not him,
That he is lov'd of me. I follow him not
By any token of presumptuous suit;
Nor would I have him, till I do deserve him,
Yet never know how that desert should be.
I know I love in vain, strive against hope;
Yet, in this captious and intenible sieve⁴ ^note,
I still pour in the waters of my love,
And lack not to lose still. Thus, Indian-like,
Religious in mine error, I adore
The sun, that looks upon his worshipper,
But knows of him no more. My dearest madam,
Let not your hate encounter with my love,
For loving where you do: but, if yourself,
Whose aged honour cites a virtuous youth,
Did ever, in so true a flame of liking,
Wish chastely, and love dearly, that your Dian
Was both herself and love, O! then, give pity
To her, whose state is such, that cannot choose
But lend and give where she is sure to lose;
That seeks not to find that her search implies,
But, riddle-like, lives sweetly where she dies.

Count.
Had you not lately an intent, speak truly,
To go to Paris?

Hel.
Madam, I had.

Count.
Wherefore? tell true.

Hel.
I will tell truth; by grace itself, I swear.
You know, my father left me some prescriptions
Of rare and prov'd effects, such as his reading
And manifest experience had collected 11Q0404
For general sovereignty; and that he will'd me

-- 226 --

In heedfull'st reservation to bestow them,
As notes, whose faculties inclusive were
More than they were in note⁵ ^note. Amongst the rest,
There is a remedy approv'd, set down
To cure the desperate languishings⁶ ^note whereof
The king is render'd lost.

Count.
This was your motive
For Paris, was it? speak.

Hel.
My lord, your son, made me to think of this;
Else Paris, and the medicine, and the king,
Had, from the conversation of my thoughts,
Haply been absent then.

Count.
But think you, Helen,
If you should tender your supposed aid,
He would receive it? He and his physicians
Are of a mind; he, that they cannot help him,
They, that they cannot help. How shall they credit
A poor unlearned virgin, when the schools,
Embowell'd of their doctrine, have left off
The danger to itself?

Hel.
There's something in't⁷ ^note,
More than my father's skill, which was the greatest
Of his profession, that his good receipt
Shall, for my legacy, be sanctified
By the luckiest stars in heaven: and, would your honour
But give me leave to try success, I'd venture
The well-lost life of mine on his grace's cure,
By such a day, and hour.

Count.
Dost thou believe't?

Hel.
Ay, madam, knowingly.

-- 227 --

Count.
Why, Helen, thou shalt have my leave, and love,
Means, and attendants, and my loving greetings
To those of mine in court. I'll stay at home,
And pray God's blessing into thy attempt.
Be gone to-morrow; and be sure of this,
What I can help thee to thou shalt not miss. [Exeunt. ACT II. SCENE I. Paris. A Room in the King's Palace. Flourish. Enter King, with young Lords taking leave for the Florentine war; Bertram⁸ ^note, Parolles, and Attendants.

King.
Farewell, young lords: these warlike principles
Do not throw from you:—and you, my lords, farewell⁹ ^note.—
Share the advice betwixt you; if both gain all,
The gift doth stretch itself as 'tis receiv'd,
And is enough for both.

1 Lord.
'Tis our hope, sir,
After well-enter'd soldiers, to return
And find your grace in health.

King.
No, no, it cannot be; and yet my heart

-- 228 --

Will not confess he owes the malady¹⁰ ^note
That doth my life besiege. Farewell, young lords;
Whether I live or die, be you the sons
Of worthy Frenchmen: let higher Italy
(Those 'bated, that inherit but the fall
Of the last monarchy,) see¹ ^note

, that you come
Not to woo honour, but to wed it: when
The bravest questant shrinks, find what you seek,
That fame may cry you loud. I say, farewell.

2 Lord.
Health, at your bidding, serve your majesty!

King.
Those girls of Italy, take heed of them.
They say, our French lack language to deny,
If they demand: beware of being captives,
Before you serve.

Both.
Our hearts receive your warnings.

King.
Farewell.—Come hither to me. [The King retires to a couch.

1 Lord.
O, my sweet lord, that you will stay behind us!

Par.
'Tis not his fault, the spark.

2 Lord.
O, 'tis brave wars!

Par.
Most admirable: I have seen those wars.

Ber.
I am commanded here, and kept a coil with;
“Too young,” and “the next year,” and “'tis too early.”

Par.
An thy mind stand to't, boy, steal away bravely.

-- 229 --

Ber.
I shall stay here the forehorse to a smock,
Creaking my shoes on the plain masonry,
Till honour be bought up, and no sword worn,
But one to dance with² ^note
. By heaven! I'll steal away.

1 Lord.
There's honour in the theft.

Par.
Commit it, count.

2 Lord.
I am your accessary; and so farewell.

Ber.

I grow to you, and our parting is a tortured body.

1 Lord.

Farewell, captain.

2 Lord.

Sweet monsieur Parolles!

Par.

Noble heroes, my sword and yours are kin. Good sparks, and lustrous, a word, good metals:—you shall find in the regiment of the Spinii, one captain Spurio, with his cicatrice³ ^note, an emblem of war, here on his sinister cheek: it was this very sword entrenched it: say to him, I live, and observe his reports for me.

2 Lord.

We shall, noble captain.

[Exeunt Lords.

Par.

Mars dote on you for his novices!—What will you do?

Ber.

Stay; the king⁴ ^note—

[Seeing him rise.

Par.

Use a more spacious ceremony to the noble lords: you have restrained yourself within the list of too cold an adieu: be more expressive to them; for they wear themselves in the cap of the time: there do muster true gait; eat, speak, and move under the influence of the most received star; 11Q0405and though the devil lead the measure, such are to be followed. After them, and take a more dilated farewell.

Ber.

And I will do so.

Par.

Worthy fellows, and like to prove most sinewy sword-men.

[Exeunt Bertram and Parolles.

-- 230 --

Enter Lafeu.

Laf.
Pardon, my Lord, [Kneeling.] for me and for my tidings.

King.
I'll see thee to stand up⁵ ^note.

Laf.
Then here's a man stands, that has brought his pardon.
I would, you had kneel'd, my lord, to ask me mercy,
And that, at my bidding, you could so stand up.

King.
I would I had; so I had broke thy pate,
And ask'd thee mercy for't.

Laf.
Goodfaith, across. But, my good lord, 'tis thus;
Will you be cur'd of your infirmity⁶ ^note

?

King.
No.

Laf.
O! will you eat no grapes, my royal fox?
Yes, but you will, my noble grapes, an if
My royal fox could reach them. I have seen
A medicine that's able to breathe life into a stone,
Quicken a rock, and make you dance canary⁷ ^note
With spritely fire and motion; whose simple touch
Is powerful to araise king Pepin, nay,
To give great Charlemaine a pen in's hand⁸ ^note,
And write to her a love-line. 11Q0406

King.
What her is this?

Laf.
Why, doctor she. My lord, there's one arriv'd,

-- 231 --

If you will see her:—now, by my faith and honour,
If seriously I may convey my thoughts
In this my light deliverance, I have spoke
With one, that in her sex, her years, profession,
Wisdom, and constancy, hath amaz'd me more
Than I dare blame my weakness. Will you see her,
(For that is her demand) and know her business?
That done, laugh well at me.

King.
Now, good Lafeu,
Bring in the admiration, that we with thee
May spend our wonder too, or take off thine,
By wond'ring how thou took'st it.

Laf.
Nay, I'll fit you,
And not be all day neither. [Exit Lafeu.

King.
Thus he his special nothing ever prologues. Re-enter Lafeu, with Helena.

Laf.
Nay, come your ways.

King.
This haste hath wings, indeed.

Laf.
Nay, come your ways.
This is his majesty, say your mind to him:
A traitor you do look like; but such traitors
His majesty seldom fears. I am Cressid's uncle⁹ ^note,
That dare leave two together. Fare you well. [Exit.

King.
Now, fair one, does your business follow us?

Hel.
Ay, my good lord. Gerard de Narbon was my father;
In what he did profess well found.

King.
I knew him.

Hel.
The rather will I spare my praises towards him;
Knowing him, is enough. On's bed of death
Many receipts he gave me; chiefly one,
Which, as the dearest issue of his practice,

-- 232 --

And of his old experience th' only darling,
He bad me store up as a triple eye,
Safer than mine own two, more dear. I have so;
And, hearing your high majesty is touch'd
With that malignant cause, wherein the honour
Of my dear father's gift stands chief in power,
I come to tender it, and my appliance,
With all bound humbleness.

King.
We thank you, maiden;
But may not be so credulous of cure:
When our most learned doctors leave us, and
The congregated college have concluded
That labouring art can never ransom nature
From her inaidable estate, I say, we must not
So stain our judgment, or corrupt our hope,
To prostitute our past-cure malady
To empirics; or to dissever so
Our great self and our credit, to esteem
A senseless help, when help past sense we deem.

Hel.
My duty, then, shall pay me for my pains:
I will no more enforce mine office on you;
Humbly entreating from your royal thoughts
A modest one, to bear me back again.

King.
I cannot give thee less, to be call'd grateful.
Thou thought'st to help me, and such thanks I give,
As one near death to those that wish him live;
But what at full I know thou know'st no part,
I knowing all my peril, thou no art.

Hel.
What I can do, can do no hurt to try,
Since you set up your rest 'gainst remedy.
He that of greatest works is finisher,
Oft does them by the weakest minister:
So holy writ in babes hath judgment shown,
When judges have been babes¹ ^note. Great floods have flown

-- 233 --

From simple sources; and great seas have dried,
When miracles have by the greatest been denied.
Oft expectation fails, and most oft there
Where most it promises; and oft it hits,
Where hope is coldest, and despair most fits 11Q0407² ^note.

King.
I must not hear thee: fare thee well, kind maid.
Thy pains, not us'd, must by thyself be paid:
Proffers, not took, reap thanks for their reward.

Hel.
Inspired merit so by breath is barr'd.
It is not so with him that all things knows,
As 'tis with us that square our guess by shows;
But most it is presumption in us, when
The help of heaven we count the act of men.
Dear sir, to my endeavours give consent;
Of heaven, not me, make an experiment.
I am not an impostor, that proclaim
Myself against the level of mine aim;
But know I think, and think I know most sure,
My art is not past power, nor you past cure.

King.
Art thou so confident? Within what space
Hop'st thou my cure?

Hel.
The greatest grace lending grace,
Ere twice the horses of the sun shall bring
Their fiery torcher his diurnal ring;
Ere twice in murk and occidental damp
Moist Hesperus hath quench'd his sleepy lamp;
Or four and twenty times the pilot's glass
Hath told the thievish minutes how they pass,
What is infirm from your sound parts shall fly,
Health shall live free, and sickness freely die.

King.
Upon thy certainty and confidence,

-- 234 --

What dar'st thou venture?

Hel.
Tax of impudence,
A strumpet's boldness, a divulged shame,
Traduc'd by odious ballads; my maiden's name
Sear'd otherwise; ne worse of worst extended³ ^note,
With vilest torture let my life be ended.

King.
Methinks, in thee some blessed spirit doth speak,
His powerful sound within an organ weak;
And what impossibility would slay
In common sense, sense saves another way.
Thy life is dear; for all, that life can rate
Worth name of life, in thee hath estimate;
Youth, beauty, wisdom, courage, all⁴ ^note
That happiness and prime⁵ ^note can happy call: 11Q0408
Thou this to hazard, needs must intimate
Skill infinite, or monstrous desperate.
Sweet practiser, thy physic I will try,
That ministers thine own death, if I die.

Hel.
If I break time, or flinch in property
Of what I spoke, unpitied let me die;
And well deserv'd. Not helping, death's my fee;
But, if I help, what do you promise me?

King.
Make thy demand.

Hel.
But will you make it even?

-- 235 --

King.
Ay, by my sceptre, and my hopes of heaven⁶ ^note.

Hel.
Then shalt thou give me with thy kingly hand
What husband in thy power I will command:
Exempted be from me the arrogance
To choose from forth the royal blood of France,
My low and humble name to propagate
With any branch or image of thy state;
But such a one, thy vassal, whom I know
Is free for me to ask, thee to bestow.

King.
Here is my hand; the premises observ'd,
Thy will by my performance shall be serv'd:
So make the choice of thy own time; for I,
Thy resolv'd patient, on thee still rely.
More should I question thee, and more I must,
Though more to know could not be more to trust,
From whence thou cam'st, how tended on; but rest
Unquestion'd welcome, and undoubted blest.—
Give me some help here, ho!—If thou proceed
As high as word, my deed shall match thy deed. [Flourish. Exeunt. SCENE II. Rousillon. A Room in the Countess's Palace. Enter Countess and Clown.

Count.

Come on, sir: I shall now put you to the height of your breeding.

Clo.

I will show myself highly fed, and lowly taught. I know my business is but to the court.

Count.

To the court! why, what place make you

-- 236 --

special, when you put off that with such contempt? But to the court!

Clo.

Truly, madam, if God have lent a man any manners, he may easily put it off at court: he that cannot make a leg, put off's cap, kiss his hand, and say nothing, has neither leg, hands, lip, nor cap; and, indeed, such a fellow, to say precisely, were not for the court. But, for me, I have an answer will serve all men.

Count.

Marry, that's a bountiful answer, that fits all questions.

Clo.

It is like a barber's chair, that fits all buttocks; the pin-buttock, the quatch-buttock, the brawn-buttock, or any buttock.

Count.

Will your answer serve fit to all questions?

Clo.

As fit as ten groats is for the hand of an attorney, as your French crown for your taffata punk, as Tib's rush for Tom's fore-finger⁷ ^note, as a pancake for Shrove-Tuesday, a morris for May-day, as the nail to his hole, the cuckold to his horn, as a scolding quean to a wrangling knave, as the nun's lip to the friar's mouth; nay, as the pudding to his skin.

Count.

Have you, I say, an answer of such fitness for all questions?

Clo.

From below your duke, to beneath your constable, it will fit any question.

Count.

It must be an answer of most monstrous size, that must fit all demands.

Clo.

But a trifle neither, in good faith, if the learned should speak truth of it. Here it is, and all that belongs to't: ask me, if I am a courtier; it shall do you no harm to learn.

Count.

To be young again, if we could. I will be a

-- 237 --

fool in question, hoping to be the wiser by your answer. I pray you, sir, are you a courtier?

Clo.

O Lord, sir!—there's a simple putting off.— More, more, a hundred of them.

Count.

Sir, I am a poor friend of yours, that loves you.

Clo.

O Lord, sir,!—Thick, thick, spare not me.

Count.

I think, sir, you can eat none of this homely meat.

Clo.

O Lord, sir!—Nay, put me to't, I warrant you.

Count.

You were lately whipped, sir, as I think.

Clo.

O Lord, sir!—Spare not me.

Count.

Do you cry, “O Lord, sir,” at your whipping, and “spare not me?” Indeed, your “O Lord, sir,” is very sequent to your whipping: you would answer very well to a whipping, if you were but bound to't.

Clo.

I ne'er had worse luck in my life, in my—“O Lord, sir.” I see, things may serve long, but not serve ever.

Count.

I play the noble housewife with the time, to entertain it so merrily with a fool.

Clo.
O Lord, sir!—why, there't serves well again.

Count.
An end, sir: to your business. Give Helen this⁸ ^note,
And urge her to a present answer back:
Commend me to my kinsmen, and my son.
This is not much.

Clo.

Not much commendation to them.

Count.

Not much employment for you: you understand me?

Clo.

Most fruitfully: I am there before my legs.

Count.

Haste you again.

[Exeunt severally.

-- 238 --

SCENE III. Paris. A Room in the King's Palace. Enter Bertram, Lafeu, and Parolles.

Laf.

They say, miracles are past; and we have our philosophical persons, to make modern and familiar things supernatural and causeless⁹ ^note. Hence is it, that we make trifles of terrors, ensconcing ourselves into seeming knowledge, when we should submit ourselves to an unknown fear.

Par.

Why, 'tis the rarest argument of wonder, that hath shot out in our latter times.

Ber.

And so 'tis.

Laf.

To be relinquished of the artists,—

Par.

So I say; both of Galen and Paracelsus.

Laf.

Of all the learned and authentic fellows,—

Par.

Right; so I say.

Laf.

That gave him out incurable.—

Par.

Why, there 'tis; so say I too.

Laf.

Not to be helped,—

Par.

Right; as 'twere a man assured of an—

Laf.

Uncertain life, and sure death.

Par.

Just, you say well; so would I have said.

Laf.

I may truly say, it is a novelty to the world.

Par.

It is, indeed: if you will have it in showing, you shall read it in,—what do you call there?—

Laf.

A showing of a heavenly effect in an earthly actor.

Par.

That's it I would have said; the very same.

-- 239 --

Laf.

Why, your dolphin is not lustier: 'fore me, I speak in respect—

Par.

Nay, 'tis strange; 'tis very strange, that is the brief and the tedious of it; and he is of a most facinorous spirit, that will not acknowledge it to be the—

Laf.

Very hand of heaven.

Par.

Ay, so I say.

Laf.

In a most weak—

Par.

And debile minister, great power, great transcendence; which should, indeed, give us a further use to be made, than alone the recovery of the king, as to be—

Laf.

Generally thankful.

Enter King, Helena, and Attendants.

Par.

I would have said it; you say well. Here comes the king.

Laf.

Lustick, as the Dutchman says¹⁰ ^note

: I'll like a maid the better, whilst I have a tooth in my head. Why, he's able to lead her a coranto¹ ^note.

Par.
Mort du vinaigre² ^note! Is not this Helen?

Laf.
'Fore God, I think so.

King.
Go, call before me all the lords in court.— [Exit an Attendant.
Sit, my preserver, by thy patient's side;
And with this healthful hand, whose banish'd sense
Thou hast repeal'd, a second time receive

-- 240 --

The confirmation of my promis'd gift,
Which but attends thy naming. Enter several Lords.
Fair maid, send forth thine eye: this youthful parcel
Of noble bachelors stand at my bestowing,
O'er whom both sovereign power and father's voice
I have to use: 11Q0409 thy frank election make.
Thou hast power to choose, and they none to forsake.

Hel.
To each of you one fair and virtuous mistress
Fall, when love please!—marry, to each, but one³ ^note.

Laf.
I'd give bay curtal⁴ ^note, and his furniture,
My mouth no more were broken⁵ ^note than these boys',
And writ as little beard.

King.
Peruse them well:
Not one of those but had a noble father.

Hel.
Gentlemen,
Heaven hath through me restor'd the king to health.

All.
We understand it, and thank heaven for you.

Hel.
I am a simple maid; and therein wealthiest,
That, I protest, I simply am a maid.—
Please it your majesty, I have done already:
The blushes in my cheeks thus whisper me,
“We blush, that thou should'st choose; but, be refus'd,
Let the white death sit on thy cheek for ever:
We'll ne'er come there again.”

King.
Make choice; and, see,
Who shuns thy love, shuns all his love in me.

Hel.
Now, Dian, from thy altar do I fly,
And to imperial Love⁶ ^note, that god most high,

-- 241 --

Do my sighs stream.—Sir, will you hear my suit?

1 Lord.
And grant it.

Hel.
Thanks, sir: all the rest is mute⁷ ^note.

Laf.

I had rather be in this choice, than throw ames-ace for my life⁸ ^note.

Hel.
The honour, sir, that flames in your fair eyes,
Before I speak, too threateningly replies:
Love make your fortunes twenty times above
Her that so wishes, and her humble love!

2 Lord.
No better, if you please.

Hel.
My wish receive,
Which great Love grant! and so I take my leave.

Laf.

Do all they deny her? An they were sons of mine, I'd have them whipped, or I would send them to the Turk to make eunuchs of.

Hel. [To 3 Lord.]
Be not afraid that I your hand should take;
I'll never do you wrong for your own sake:
Blessing upon your vows! and in your bed
Find fairer fortune, if you ever wed!

Laf.

These boys are boys of ice, they'll none have her: sure, they are bastards to the English; the French ne'er got them.

Hel.
You are too young, too happy, and too good,
To make yourself a son out of my blood.

4 Lord.
Fair one, I think not so.

Laf.

There's one grape yet⁹ ^note,—I am sure, thy father

-- 242 --

drank wine.—But if thou be'st not an ass, I am a youth of fourteen: I have known thee already.

Hel. [To Bertram.]
I dare not say, I take you; but I give
Me, and my service, ever whilst I live,
Into your guiding power.—This is the man. 11Q0410

King.
Why then, young Bertram, take her; she's thy wife.

Ber.
My wife, my liege? I shall beseech your highness,
In such a business give me leave to use
The help of mine own eyes.

King.
Know'st thou not, Bertram,
What she has done for me?

Ber.
Yes, my good lord;
But never hope to know why I should marry her.

King.
Thou know'st, she has rais'd me from my sickly bed.

Ber.
But follows it, my lord, to bring me down
Must answer for your raising? I know her well:
She had her breeding at my father's charge.
A poor physician's daughter my wife?—Disdain
Rather corrupt me ever!

King.
'Tis only title thou disdain'st in her, the which
I can build up. Strange is it, that our bloods,
Of colour, weight, and heat, pour'd all together,
Would quite confound distinction, yet stand off
In differences so mighty. If she be
All that is virtuous, (save what thou dislik'st,
A poor physician's daughter) thou dislik'st
Of virtue for the name; but do not so:
From lowest place when virtuous things proceed¹ ^note,
The place is dignified by the doer's deed:
Where great additions swell's, and virtue none² ^note,

-- 243 --

It is a dropsied honour: good alone
Is good, without a name; vileness is so³ ^note
:
The property by what it is should go,
Not by the title. She is young, wise, fair;
In these to nature she's immediate heir,
And these breed honour: that is honour's scorn,
Which challenges itself as honour's born,
And is not like the sire: honours thrive⁴ ^note,
When rather from our acts we them derive,
Than our foregoers. The mere word's a slave,
Debauch'd on every tomb⁵ ^note; on every grave,
A lying trophy, and as oft is dumb,
Where dust, and damn'd oblivion, is the tomb
Of honour'd bones indeed. What should be said?
If thou canst like this creature as a maid,
I can create the rest: virtue, and she
Is her own dower; honour, and wealth from me.

Ber.
I cannot love her, nor will strive to do't.

King.
Thou wrong'st thyself, if thou should'st strive to choose.

Hel.
That you are well restor'd, my lord, I am glad.
Let the rest go.

King.
My honour's at the stake, which to defeat⁶ ^note,
I must produce my power. 11Q0411 Here, take her hand,
Proud scornful boy, unworthy this good gift,
That dost in vile misprision shackle up
My love, and her desert; that canst not dream,

-- 244 --

We, poising us in her defective scale,
Shall weigh thee to the beam; that wilt not know,
It is in us to plant thine honour, where
We please to have it grow. Check thy contempt:
Obey our will, which travails in thy good:
Believe not thy disdain, but presently
Do thine own fortunes that obedient right,
Which both thy duty owes, and our power claims,
Or I will throw thee from my care for ever
Into the staggers, and the careless lapse
Of youth and ignorance; both my revenge and hate,
Loosing upon thee in the name of justice,
Without all terms of pity. Speak: thine answer.

Ber.
Pardon, my gracious lord, for I submit
My fancy to your eyes. When I consider
What great creation, and what dole of honour,
Flies where you bid it, I find that she, which late
Was in my nobler thoughts most base, is now
The praised of the king; who, so ennobled,
Is, as 'twere, born so.

King.
Take her by the hand,
And tell her, she is thine: to whom I promise
A counterpoise, if not to thy estate,
A balance more replete.

Ber.
I take her hand.

King.
Good fortune, and the favour of the king,
Smile upon this contract; whose ceremony
Shall seem expedient on the now borne brief⁷ ^note
,
And be perform'd to-night: the solemn feast
Shall more attend upon the coming space,

-- 245 --

Expecting absent friends. As thou lov'st her,
Thy love's to me religious, else, does err. [Exeunt King, Bertram, Helena, Lords, and Attendants⁸ ^note.

Laf.

Do you hear, monsieur? a word with you.

Par.

Your pleasure, sir?

Laf.

Your lord and master did well to make his recantation.

Par.

Recantation?—My lord? my master?

Laf.

Ay; is it not a language, I speak?

Par.

A most harsh one, and not to be understood without bloody succeeding. My master?

Laf.

Are you companion to the count Rousillon?

Par.

To any count; to all counts; to what is man.

Laf.

To what is count's man: count's master is of another style.

Par.

You are too old, sir: let it satisfy you, you are too old.

Laf.

I must tell thee, sirrah, I write man; to which title age cannot bring thee.

Par.

What I dare too well do, I dare not do.

Laf.

I did think thee, for two ordinaries⁹ ^note, to be a pretty wise fellow: thou didst make tolerable vent of thy travel: it might pass; yet the scarfs, and the bannerets about thee, did manifoldly dissuade me from believing thee a vessel of too great a burden. I have now found thee: when I lose thee again, I care not; yet art thou good for nothing but taking up, and that thou'rt scarce worth.

Par.

Hadst thou not the privilege of antiquity upon thee,—

Laf.

Do not plunge thyself too far in anger, lest thou hasten thy trial; which if—Lord have mercy on thee for a hen! So, my good window of lattice, fare

-- 246 --

thee well: thy casement I need not open, for I look through thee. Give me thy hand.

Par.

My lord, you give me most egregious indignity.

Laf.

Ay, with all my heart; and thou art worthy of it.

Par.

I have not, my lord, deserved it.

Laf.

Yes, good faith, every drachm of it; and I will not bate thee a scruple.

Par.

Well, I shall be wiser.

Laf.

E'en as soon as thou canst, for thou hast to pull at a smack o' the contrary¹⁰ ^note. If ever thou be'st bound in thy scarf, and beaten, thou shalt find what it is to be proud of thy bondage. I have a desire to hold my acquaintance with thee, or rather my knowledge, that I may say in the default he is a man I know.

Par.

My lord, you do me most insupportable vexation.

Laf.

I would it were hell-pains for thy sake, and my poor doing eternal: for doing I am past, as I will by thee, in what motion age will give me leave¹ ^note.

[Exit.

Par.

Well, thou hast a son shall take this disgrace off me, scurvy, old, filthy, scurvy lord!—Well, I must be patient; there is no fettering of authority. I'll beat him, by my life, if I can meet him with any convenience, an he were double and double a lord. I'll have no more pity of his age, than I would have of—I'll beat him: an if I could but meet him again!

Re-enter Lafeu.

Laf.

Sirrah, your lord and master's married: there's news for you; you have a new mistress.

-- 247 --

Par.

I most unfeignedly beseech your lordship to make some reservation of your wrongs: he is my good lord; whom I serve above is my master.

Laf.

Who? God?

Par.

Ay, sir.

Laf.

The devil it is, that's thy master. Why dost thou garter up thy arms o' this fashion? dost make hose of thy sleeves? do other servants so? Thou wert best set thy lower part where thy nose stands. By mine honour, if I were but two hours younger I'd beat thee: methinks, thou art a general offence, and every man should beat thee. I think, thou wast created for men to breathe themselves upon thee.

Par.

This is hard and undeserved measure, my lord.

Laf.

Go to, sir; you were beaten in Italy for picking a kernel out of a pomegranate: you are a vagabond, and no true traveller. You are more saucy with lords and honourable personages, than the commission of your birth and virtue gives you heraldry 11Q0412² ^note. You are not worth another word, else I'd call you knave. I leave you.

[Exit. Enter Bertram.

Par.

Good, very good; it is so then:—good, very good. Let it be concealed a while.

Ber.
Undone, and forfeited to cares for ever!

Par.
What is the matter, sweet heart?

Ber.
Although before the solemn priest I have sworn,
I will not bed her.

Par.
What? what, sweet heart?

Ber.
O, my Parolles, they have married me!—
I'll to the Tuscan wars, and never bed her.

-- 248 --

Par.
France is a dog-hole, and it no more merits
The tread of a man's foot. To the wars!

Ber.
There's letters from my mother: what the import is,
I know not yet.

Par.
Ay, that would be known. To the wars, my boy! to the wars!
He wears his honour in a box, unseen,
That hugs his kicky-wicky here at home³ ^note,
Spending his manly marrow in her arms,
Which should sustain the bound and high curvet
Of Mars's fiery steed. To other regions!
France is a stable; we, that dwell in't, jades;
Therefore, to the war!

Ber.
It shall be so: I'll send her to my house,
Acquaint my mother with my hate to her,
And wherefore I am fled; write to the king
That which I durst not speak. His present gift
Shall furnish me to those Italian fields,
Where noble fellows strike. War is no strife
To the dark house, and the detested wife 11Q0413⁴ ^note.

Par.
Will this capriccio hold in thee, art sure?

Ber.
Go with me to my chamber, and advise me.
I'll send her straight away: to-morrow
I'll to the wars, she to her single sorrow.

Par.
Why, these balls bound; there's noise in it; 'tis hard.
A young man married is a man that's marr'd:

-- 249 --

Therefore away, and leave her: bravely go;
The king has done you wrong; but, hush! 'tis so. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. The Same. Another Room in the Same. Enter Helena and Clown.

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' the 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 heaven, whither God send her quickly! the other, that she's in earth, from whence God send her quickly!

Enter Parolles.

Par.

Bless you, my fortunate lady!

Hel.

I hope, sir, I have your good will to have mine own good fortunes⁵ ^note.

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 money, 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 shakes out his master's undoing. To say

-- 250 --

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 thou'rt a knave; that is, before me thou'rt 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; 11Q0414 and much fool may you find in you, even to the world's pleasure, and the increase of laughter⁶ ^note.

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 to a compell'd restraint⁷ ^note;
Whose want, and whose delay, is strewed with sweets,
Which they distil now in the curbed time⁸ ^note
To make the coming hour o'erflow with joy,
And pleasure drown the brim.

Hel.
What's his will else?

Par.
That you will take your instant leave o' the king,
And make this haste as your own good proceeding,
Strengthen'd with what apology you think
May make it probable need⁹ ^note.

-- 251 --

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.

Hel.
I pray you.—Come, sirrah. [Exeunt. SCENE V. Another Room in the Same. Enter Lafeu and Bertram.

Laf.

But, I hope, your lordship thinks not him a soldier.

Ber.

Yes, my lord, and of very valiant approof.

Laf.

You have it from his own deliverance.

Ber.

And by other warranted testimony.

Laf.

Then my dial goes not true. I took this lark for a bunting.

Ber.

I do assure you, my lord, he is very great in knowledge, and accordingly valiant.

Laf.

I have then sinned against his experience, and transgressed against his valour; and my state that way is dangerous, since I cannot yet find in my heart to repent. Here he comes. I pray you, make us friends: I will pursue the amity.

Enter Parolles.

Par. [To Bertram.]

These things shall be done, sir.

Laf.

Pray you, sir, who's his tailor?

Par.

Sir?

Laf.

O! I know him well. Ay, sir; he, sir, is a good workman, a very good tailor.

Ber. [Aside to Parolles.]

Is she gone to the king?

Par.

She is.

-- 252 --

Ber.

Will she away to-night?

Par.

As you'll have her.

Ber.
I have writ my letters, casketed my treasure,
Given order for our horses; and to-night,
When I should take possession of the bride,
End, ere I do begin 11Q0415¹ ^note.

Laf.

A good traveller is something at the latter end of a dinner; but one that lies three-thirds, and uses a known truth to pass a thousand nothings with, should be once heard, and thrice beaten.—God save you, captain.

Ber.

Is there any unkindness between my lord and you, monsieur?

Par.

I know not how I have deserved to run into my lord's displeasure.

Laf.

You have made shift to run into't, boots and spurs and all, like him that leaped into the custard² ^note

; and out of it you'll run again, rather than suffer question for your residence.

Ber.

It may be, you have mistaken him, my lord.

Laf.

And shall do so ever, though I took him at his prayers. Fare you well, my lord; and believe this of me, there can be no kernel in this light nut; the soul of this man is his clothes: trust him not in matter of heavy consequence; I have kept of them tame, and know their natures.—Farewell, monsieur: I have

-- 253 --

spoken better of you, than you have or will deserve at my hand³ ^note; but we must do good against evil.

[Exit.

Par.

An idle lord, I swear.

Ber.

I think so.

Par.

Why, do you not know him?

Ber.
Yes, I do know him well; and common speech
Gives him a worthy pass. Here comes my clog. Enter Helena.

Hel.
I have, sir, as I was commanded from you,
Spoke with the king, and have procur'd his leave
For present parting; only he desires
Some private speech with you.

Ber.
I shall obey his will.
You must not marvel, Helen, at my course,
Which holds not colour with the time, nor does
The ministration and required office
On my particular: prepar'd I was not
For such a business; therefore am I found
So much unsettled. This drives me to entreat you,
That presently you take your way for home;
And rather muse than ask why I entreat you,
For my respects are better than they seem;
And my appointments have in them a need,
Greater than shows itself, at the first view,
To you that know them not. This to my mother. [Giving a letter.
'Twill be two days ere I shall see you: so,
I leave you to your wisdom.

Hel.
Sir, I can nothing say,
But that I am your most obedient servant.

Ber.
Come, come, no more of that.

Hel.
And ever shall
With true observance seek to eke out that,

-- 254 --

Wherein toward me my homely stars have fail'd
To equal my great fortune.

Ber.
Let that go:
My haste is very great. Farewell: hie home.

Hel.
Pray, sir, your pardon.

Ber.
Well, what would you say?

Hel.
I am not worthy of the wealth I owe⁴ ^note;
Nor dare I say, 'tis mine, and yet it is,
But, like a timorous thief, most fain would steal
What law does vouch mine own.

Ber.
What would you have?

Hel.
Something, and scarce so much:—nothing, indeed.—
I would not tell you what I would, my lord—'faith, yes;—
Strangers and foes do sunder, and not kiss.

Ber.
I pray you, stay not, but in haste to horse.

Hel.
I shall not break your bidding, good my lord.
Where are my other men? monsieur, farewell⁵ ^note
. [Exit.

Ber.
Go thou toward home; where I will never come,
Whilst I can shake my sword, or hear the drum.—
Away! and for our flight.

Par.
Bravely, coragio! [Exeunt.

-- 255 --

ACT III. SCENE I. Florence. A Room in the Duke's Palace. Flourish. Enter the Duke of Florence, attended; two Frenchmen, and Soldiers.

Duke.
So that, from point to point, now have you heard
The fundamental reasons of this war,
Whose great decision hath much blood let forth,
And more thirsts after.

1 Lord.
Holy seems the quarrel⁶ ^note
Upon your grace's part; black and fearful
On the opposer.

Duke.
Therefore we marvel much our cousin France
Would, in so just a business, shut his bosom
Against our borrowing prayers.

Fr. Env.
Good my lord,
The reasons of our state I cannot yield,
But like a common and an outward man,
That the great figure of a council frames
By self-unable motion: therefore, dare not
Say what I think of it, since I have found
Myself in my uncertain grounds to fail
As often as I guess'd.

Duke.
Be it his pleasure.

Fr. Gent.
But I am sure, the younger of our nature,

-- 256 --

That surfeit on their ease, will day by day
Come here for physic.

Duke.
Welcome shall they be,
And all the honours that can fly from us
Shall on them settle. You know your places well;
When better fall, for your avails they fell.
To-morrow to the field. [Flourish. Exeunt. SCENE II. Rousillon. A Room in the Countess's Palace. Enter Countess and Clown.

Count.

It hath happened all as I would have had it, save that he comes not along with her.

Clo.

By my troth, I take my young lord to be a very melancholy man.

Count.

By what observance, I pray you?

Clo.

Why, he will look upon his boot, and sing; mend the ruff, and sing⁷ ^note; ask questions, and sing; pick his teeth, and sing. I know a man, that had this trick of melancholy, sold a goodly manor for a song⁸ ^note.

Count.

Let me see what he writes, and when he means to come.

[Opening a letter.

Clo.

I have no mind to Isbel, since I was at court. Our old ling and our Isbels o' the country are nothing like your old ling and your Isbels o' the court: the brains

-- 257 --

of my Cupid's knocked out, and I begin to love, as an old man loves money, with no stomach.

Count.

What have we here?

Clo.

E'en that you have there.

[Exit.

Count. [Reads.]

“I have sent you a daughter-in-law: she hath recovered the king, and undone me. I have wedded her, not bedded her; and sworn to make the not eternal. You shall hear, I am run away: know it before the report come. If there be breadth enough in the world, I will hold a long distance. My duty to you.

“Your unfortunate son,

“Bertram.”

This is not well: rash and unbridled boy,
To fly the favours of so good a king!
To pluck his indignation on thy head,
By the misprizing of a maid, too virtuous
For the contempt of empire! Re-enter Clown.

Clo.

O madam! yonder is heavy news within, between two soldiers and my young lady.

Count.

What is the matter?

Clo.

Nay, there is some comfort in the news, some comfort: your son will not be killed so soon as I thought he would.

Count.

Why should he be kill'd?

Clo.

So say I, madam, if he run away, as I hear he does: the danger is in standing to 't; that's the loss of men, though it be the getting of children. Here they come will tell you more; for my part, I only hear your son was run away.

[Exit Clown. Enter Helena and two French Gentlemen⁹ ^note.

Fr. Env.
Save you, good madam.

-- 258 --

Hel.
Madam, my lord is gone; for ever gone.

Fr. Gen.
Do not say so.

Count.
Think upon patience.—'Pray you, gentlemen,—
I have felt so many quirks of joy and grief,
That the first face of neither, on the start,
Can woman me¹⁰ ^note unto't:—where is my son, I pray you?

Fr. Gen.
Madam, he's gone to serve the duke of Florence:
We met him thitherward; for thence we came¹¹ ^note,
And, after some despatch in hand at court,
Thither we bend again.

Hel.
Look on his letter, madam: here's my passport. [Reads.]

“When thou canst get the ring upon my finger¹ ^note, which never shall come off, and show me a child begotten of thy body, that I am father to, then call me husband: but in such a then I write a never.”

This is a dreadful sentence.

Count.
Brought you this letter, gentlemen?

Fr. Env.
Ay, madam;
And, for the contents' sake, are sorry for our pains.

Count.
I pr'ythee, lady, have a better cheer;
If thou engrossest all the griefs are thine,
Thou robb'st me of a moiety. 11Q0416 He was my son,
But I do wash his name out of my blood,
And thou art all my child.—Towards Florence is he?

Fr. Gen.
Ay, madam.

Count.
And to be a soldier?

-- 259 --

Fr. Gen.
Such is his noble purpose; and, believe't,
The duke will lay upon him all the honour
That good convenience claims.

Count.
Return you thither?

Fr. Env.
Ay, madam, with the swiftest wing of speed.

Hel. [Reads.]
“Till I have no wife, I have nothing in France.”
'Tis bitter.

Count.
Find you that there?

Hel.
Ay, madam.

Fr. Env.
'Tis but the boldness of his hand, haply,
Which his heart was not consenting to.

Count.
Nothing in France, until he have no wife!
There's nothing here that is too good for him,
But only she; and she deserves a lord,
That twenty such rude boys might tend upon,
And call her hourly mistress. Who was with him?

Fr. Env.
A servant only, and a gentleman
Which I have some time known.

Count.
Parolles, was it not?

Fr. Env.
Ay, my good lady, he.

Count.
A very tainted fellow, and full of wickedness.
My son corrupts a well-derived nature
With his inducement.

Fr. Env.
Indeed, good lady,
The fellow has a deal of that too much,
Which holds him much to have 11Q0417² ^note.

Count.
Y' are welcome, gentlemen.
I will entreat you, when you see my son,
To tell him, that his sword can never win

-- 260 --

The honour that he loses: more I'll entreat you
Written to bear along.

Fr. Gen.
We serve you, madam,
In that and all your worthiest affairs.

Count.
Not so, but as we change our courtesies.
Will you draw near? [Exeunt Countess and French Gentlemen.

Hel.
“Till I have no wife, I have nothing in France.”
Nothing in France, until he has no wife!
Thou shalt have none, Rousillon, none in France;
Then hast thou all again. Poor lord! is't I
That chase thee from thy country, and expose
Those tender limbs of thine to the event
Of the none-sparing war? and is it I
That drive thee from the sportive court, where thou
Wast shot at with fair eyes, to be the mark
Of smoky muskets? O! you leaden messengers,
That ride upon the violent speed of fire,
Fly with false aim; move the still-peering air,
That sings with piercing³ ^note
, do not touch my lord! 11Q0418
Whoever shoots at him, I set him there;
Whoever charges on his forward breast,
I am the caitiff that do hold him to it;
And, though I kill him not, I am the cause
His death was so effected. Better 'twere,
I met the ravin lion when he roar'd
With sharp constraint of hunger; better 'twere
That all the miseries which nature owes
Were mine at once. No, come thou home, Rousillon,
Whence honour but of danger wins a scar,

-- 261 --

As oft it loses all: I will be gone.
My being here it is that holds thee hence:
Shall I stay here to do't? no, no, although
The air of paradise did fan the house,
And angels offic'd all: I will be gone,
That pitiful rumour may report my flight,
To consolate thine ear. Come, night; end, day;
For with the dark poor thief, I'll steal away. [Exit. SCENE III. Florence. Before the Duke's Palace. Flourish. Enter the Duke of Florence, Bertram, Parolles⁴ ^note, Lords, Officers, Soldiers, and others.

Duke.
The general of our horse thou art; and we,
Great in our hope, lay our best love and credence
Upon thy promising fortune.

Ber.
Sir, it is
A charge too heavy for my strength; but yet
We'll strive to bear it for your worthy sake,
To th' extreme edge of hazard⁵ ^note

.

Duke.
Then go thou forth,
And fortune play upon thy prosperous helm,
As thy auspicious mistress!

Ber.
This very day,
Great Mars, I put myself into thy file:
Make me but like my thoughts, and I shall prove
A lover of thy drum, hater of love. [Exeunt.

-- 262 --

SCENE IV. Rousillon. A Room in the Countess's Palace. Enter Countess, and her Steward.

Count.
Alas! and would you take the letter of her?
Might you not know, she would do as she has done,
By sending me a letter? Read it again.

Stew. [Reads.]
“I am Saint Jaques' pilgrim, thither gone⁶ ^note.
  Ambitious love hath so in me offended,
That bare-foot plod I the cold ground upon,
  With sainted vow⁷ ^note my faults to have amended.
Write, write, that, from the bloody course of war,
  My dearest master, your dear son, may hie:
Bless him at home in peace, whilst I from far
  His name with zealous fervour sanctify.
His taken labours bid him me forgive:
  I, his despiteful Juno, sent him forth
From courtly friends, with camping foes to live,
  Where death and danger dog the heels of worth:
He is too good and fair for death and me,
Whom I myself embrace, to set him free.”

Count.
Ah, what sharp stings are in her mildest words!—
Rinaldo, you did never lack advice so much,
As letting her pass so: had I spoke with her,
I could have well diverted her intents,
Which thus she hath prevented.

Stew.
Pardon me, madam:
If I had given you this at over-night,

-- 263 --

She might have been o'erta'en; and yet she writes,
Pursuit would be but vain.

Count.
What angel shall
Bless this unworthy husband? he cannot thrive,
Unless her prayers, whom heaven delights to hear,
And loves to grant, reprieve him from the wrath
Of greatest justice.—Write, write, Rinaldo,
To this unworthy husband of his wife:
Let every word weigh heavy of her worth,
That he does weigh too light: my greatest grief,
Though little he do feel it, set down sharply.
Despatch the most convenient messenger.—
When, haply, he shall hear that she is gone,
He will return; and hope I may, that she,
Hearing so much, will speed her foot again,
Led hither by pure love. Which of them both
Is dearest to me, I have no skill in sense
To make distinction. 11Q0419—Provide this messenger.—
My heart is heavy, and mine age is weak;
Grief would have tears, and sorrow bids me speak. [Exeunt. SCENE V. Without the Walls of Florence. A tucket afar off⁸ ^note. Enter an old Widow of Florence, Diana⁹ ^note, Violenta, Mariana, and other Citizens.

Wid.

Nay, come; for if they do approach the city, we shall lose all the sight.

Dia.

They say, the French count has done most honourable service.

Wid.

It is reported that he has taken their greatest

-- 264 --

commander, and that with his own hand he slew the duke's brother. We have lost our labour; they are gone a contrary way: hark! you may know by their trumpets.

Mar.

Come; let's return again, and suffice ourselves with the report of it. Well, Diana, take heed of this French earl: the honour of a maid is her name, and no legacy is so rich as honesty.

Wid.

I have told my neighbour, how you have been solicited by a gentleman his companion.

Mar.

I know that knave; hang him! one Parolles: a filthy officer he is in those suggestions for the young earl¹⁰ ^note:—Beware of them, Diana; their promises, enticements, oaths, tokens, and all these engines of lust, are not the things they go under¹¹ ^note: many a maid hath been seduced by them; and the misery is, example, that so terrible shows in the wreck of maidenhood, cannot for all that dissuade succession, but that they are limed with the twigs that threaten them. I hope, I need not to advise you further; but, I hope, your own grace will keep you where you are, though there were no farther danger known, but the modesty which is so lost.

Dia.

You shall not need to fear me.

Enter Helena, in the dress of a Pilgrim.

Wid.

I hope so.—Look, here comes a pilgrim: I know she will lie at my house; thither they send one another.

I'll question her.—God save you, pilgrim!
Whither are you bound?

Hel.
To Saint Jaques le grand.
Where do the palmers lodge, I do beseech you?

Wid.
At the Saint Francis here, beside the port.

Hel.
Is this the way?

-- 265 --

Wid.
Ay, marry, is't.—Hark you! [A march afar off.
They come this way.—
If you will tarry, holy pilgrim¹² ^note
,
But till the troops come by,
I will conduct you where you shall be lodg'd;
The rather, for I think I know your hostess
As ample as myself.

Hel.
Is it yourself?

Wid.
If you shall please so, pilgrim.

Hel.
I thank you, and will stay upon your leisure.

Wid.
You came, I think, from France?

Hel.
I did so.

Wid.
Here you shall see a countryman of yours,
That has done worthy service.

Hel.
His name, I pray you.

Dia.
The count Rousillon: know you such a one?

Hel.
But by the ear, that hears most nobly of him:
His face I know not¹ ^note.

Dia.
Whatsoe'er he is,
He's bravely taken here. He stole from France,
As 'tis reported, for the king had married him
Against his liking. Think you it is so?

Hel.
Ay, surely, mere the truth: I know his lady.

Dia.
There is a gentleman, that serves the count,
Reports but coarsely of her.

Hel.
What's his name?

Dia.
Monsieur Parolles.

Hel.
O! I believe with him,

-- 266 --

In argument of praise, or to the worth
Of the great count himself, she is too mean
To have her name repeated: all her deserving
Is a reserved honesty, and that
I have not heard examin'd.

Dia.
Alas, poor lady!
'Tis a hard bondage, to become the wife
Of a detesting lord.

Wid.
I write good creature² ^note: wheresoe'er she is,
Her heart weighs sadly. This young maid might do her
A shrewd turn, if she pleas'd.

Hel.
How do you mean?
May be, the amorous count solicits her
In the unlawful purpose.

Wid.
He does, indeed;
And brokes with all that can in such a suit
Corrupt the tender honour of a maid:
But she is arm'd for him, and keeps her guard
In honestest defence. Enter with drum and colours, a party of the Florentine army³ ^note, Bertram, and Parolles.

Mar.
The gods forbid else!

Wid.
So, now they come.—
That is Antonio, the duke's eldest son;
That, Escalus.

Hel.
Which is the Frenchman?

Dia.
He;
That with the plume: 'tis a most gallant fellow;

-- 267 --

I would he lov'd his wife. If he were honester,
He were much goodlier: is't not a handsome gentleman?

Hel.
I like him well.

Dia.
'Tis pity, he is not honest. Yond's that same knave,
That leads him to these places: were I his lady,
I would poison that vile rascal.

Hel.
Which is he?

Dia.

That jackanapes with scarfs. Why is he melancholy?

Hel.

Perchance he's hurt i' the battle.

Par.

Lose our drum! well.

Mar.

He's shrewdly vexed at something. Look, he has spied us.

Wid.

Marry, hang you!

Mar.

And your courtesy, for a ring-carrier!

[Exeunt Bertram, Parolles, Officers, and Soldiers.

Wid.
The troop is past. Come, pilgrim, I will bring you
Where you shall host: of enjoin'd penitents
There's four or five, to great Saint Jaques bound,
Already at my house.

Hel.
I humbly thank you.
Please it this matron, and this gentle maid,
To eat with us to-night, the charge and thanking
Shall be for me; and, to requite you farther,
I will bestow some precepts of this virgin,
Worthy the note⁴ ^note
.

Both.
We'll take your offer kindly. [Exeunt.

-- 268 --

SCENE VI. Camp before Florence. Enter Bertram, and the two Frenchmen⁵ ^note.

Fr. Env.

Nay, good my lord, put him to't: let him have his way.

Fr. Gent.

If your lordship find him not a hilding⁶ ^note, hold me no more in your respect.

Fr. Env.

On my life, my lord, a bubble.

Ber.

Do you think I am so far deceived in him?

Fr. Env.

Believe it, my lord: in mine own direct knowledge, without any malice, but to speak of him as my kinsman, he's a most notable coward, an infinite and endless liar, an hourly promise-breaker, the owner of no one good quality worthy your lordship's entertainment.

Fr. Gent.

It were fit you knew him, lest reposing too far in his virtue which he hath not, he might, at some great and trusty business in a main danger, fail you.

Ber.

I would I knew in what particular action to try him.

Fr. Gent.

None better than to let him fetch off his drum, which you hear him so confidently undertake to do.

Fr. Env.

I, with a troop of Florentines, will suddenly surprise him: such I will have, whom, I am sure, he knows not from the enemy. We will bind

-- 269 --

and hoodwink him so, that he shall suppose no other but that he is carried into the leaguer of the adversaries⁷ ^note, when we bring him to our own tents. Be but your lordship present at his examination, if he do not, for the promise of his life, and in the highest compulsion of base fear, offer to betray you, and deliver all the intelligence in his power against you, and that with the divine forfeit of his soul upon oath, never trust my judgment in any thing.

Fr. Gent.

O! for the love of laughter, let him fetch his drum 11Q0420: he says he has a stratagem for't. When your lordship sees the bottom of his success in't⁸ ^note, and to what metal this counterfeit lump of ore⁹ ^note will be melted, if you give him not John Drum's entertainment¹⁰ ^note, your inclining cannot be removed. Here he comes.

Enter Parolles.

Fr. Env.

O! for the love of laughter, hinder not the honour of his design¹ ^note: let him fetch off his drum in any hand.

Ber.

How now, monsieur? this drum sticks sorely in your disposition.

-- 270 --

Fr. Gent.

A pox on't! let it go: 'tis but a drum.

Par.

But a drum! Is't but a drum? A drum so lost!—There was an excellent command, to charge in with our horse upon our own wings, and to rend our own soldiers!

Fr. Gent.

That was not to be blamed in the command of the service: it was a disaster of war that Cæsar himself could not have prevented, if he had been there to command.

Ber.

Well, we cannot greatly condemn our success: some dishonour we had in the loss of that drum; but it is not to be recovered.

Par.

It might have been recovered.

Ber.

It might; but it is not now.

Par.

It is to be recovered. But that the merit of service is seldom attributed to the true and exact performer, I would have that drum or another, or hic jacet—

Ber.

Why, if you have a stomach to't, monsieur, if you think your mystery in stratagem can bring this instrument of honour again into his native quarter, be magnanimous in the enterprise, and go on; I will grace the attempt for a worthy exploit: if you speed well in it, the duke shall both speak of it, and extend to you what farther becomes his greatness, even to the utmost syllable of your worthiness.

Par.

By the hand of a soldier, I will undertake it.

Ber.

But you must not now slumber in it.

Par.

I'll about it this evening: and I will presently pen down my dilemmas, encourage myself in my certainty, put myself into my mortal preparation, and by midnight look to hear farther from me.

Ber.

May I be bold to acquaint his grace you are gone about it?

Par.

I know not what the success will be, my lord; but the attempt I vow.

-- 271 --

Ber.

I know thou art valiant, and to the possibility of thy soldiership will subscribe for thee. Farewell.

Par.

I love not many words.

[Exit.

Fr. Env.

No more than a fish loves water.—Is not this a strange fellow, my lord, that so confidently seems to undertake this business, which he knows is not to be done, damns himself to do, and dares better be damned than to do't² ^note?

Fr. Gent.

You do not know him, my lord, as we do: certain it is, that he will steal himself into a man's favour, and for a week escape a great deal of discoveries; but when you find him out, you have him ever after.

Ber.

Why, do you think, he will make no deed at all of this, that so seriously he does address himself unto?

Fr. Env.

None in the world; but return with an invention, and clap upon you two or three probable lies. But we have almost embossed him³ ^note

, you shall see his fall to-night; for, indeed, he is not for your lordship's respect.

Fr. Gent.

We'll make you some sport with the fox, ere we case him⁴ ^note ^note. He was first smoked by the old lord Lafeu: when his disguise and he is parted, tell me what a sprat you shall find him, which you shall see this very night.

Fr. Env.

I must go look my twigs: he shall be caught.

Ber.

Your brother, he shall go along with me.

-- 272 --

Fr. Gent.

As't please your lordship.

Fr. Env.

I'll leave you⁵ ^note.

[Exit.

Ber.
Now will I lead you to the house, and show you
The lass I spoke of.

Fr. Gent.
But, you say, she's honest.

Ber.
That's all the fault. I spoke with her but once,
And found her wondrous cold; but I sent to her,
By this same coxcomb that we have i' the wind,
Tokens and letters which she did re-send;
And this is all I have done. She's a fair creature:
Will you go see her?

Fr. Gent.
With all my heart, my lord. [Exeunt. SCENE VII. Florence. A Room in the Widow's House. Enter Helena and Widow.

Hel.
If you misdoubt me that I am not she,
I know not how I shall assure you farther,
But I shall lose the grounds I work upon.

Wid.
Though my estate be fall'n, I was well born,
Nothing acquainted with these businesses,
And would not put my reputation now
In any staining act.

Hel.
Nor would I wish you.
First, give me trust, the count he is my husband,
And what to your sworn counsel I have spoken,
Is so, from word to word; and then you cannot,
By the good aid that I of you shall borrow,
Err in bestowing it.

-- 273 --

Wid.
I should believe you;
For you have show'd me that, which well approves
You are great in fortune.

Hel.
Take this purse of gold,
And let me buy your friendly help thus far,
Which I will over-pay, and pay again,
When I have found it. The count he woos your daughter,
Lays down his wanton siege before her beauty,
Resolved to carry her⁶ ^note: let her, in fine, consent,
As we'll direct her how 'tis best to bear it.
Now, his important blood⁷ ^note will nought deny
That she'll demand: a ring the county wears,
That downward hath succeeded in his house
From son to son, some four or five descents
Since the first father wore it: this ring he holds
In most rich choice; yet, in his idle fire
To buy his will, it would not seem too dear,
Howe'er repented after.

Wid.
Now I see
The bottom of your purpose.

Hel.
You see it lawful then. It is no more,
But that your daughter, ere she seems as won,
Desires this ring; appoints him an encounter;
In fine, delivers me to fill the time,
Herself most chastely absent. After this⁸ ^note,
To marry her, I'll add three thousand crowns
To what is past already.

Wid.
I have yielded.

-- 274 --

Instruct my daughter how she shall persever,
That time and place, with this deceit so lawful,
May prove coherent. Every night he comes
With musics of all sorts, and songs compos'd
To her unworthiness: it nothing steads us,
To chide him from our eaves, for he persists,
As if his life lay on't.

Hel.
Why then, to-night
Let us assay our plot; which, if it speed,
Is wicked meaning in a lawful deed,
And lawful meaning in a lawful act;
Where both not sin, and yet a sinful fact⁹ ^note.
But let's about it. [Exeunt. ACT IV. SCENE I. Without the Florentine Camp. Enter French Envoy¹ ^note, with five or six Soldiers in ambush.

Fr. Env.

He can come no other way but by this hedge corner. When you sally upon him, speak what terrible language you will: though you understand it not yourselves, no matter; for we must not seem to understand him, unless some one among us, whom we must produce for an interpreter.

1 Sold.

Good captain, let me be the interpreter.

-- 275 --

Fr. Env.

Art not acquainted with him? knows he not thy voice?

1 Sold.

No, sir, I warrant you.

Fr. Env.

But what linsy-woolsy hast thou to speak to us again?

1 Sold.

Even such as you speak to me.

Fr. Env.

He must think us some band of strangers i' the adversary's entertainment. Now, he hath a smack of all neighbouring languages; therefore, we must every one be a man of his own fancy, not to know what we speak one to another; so we seem to know is to know straight our purpose: chough's language, gabble enough, and good enough. As for you, interpreter, you must seem very politic. But couch, ho! here he comes, to beguile two hours in a sleep, and then to return and swear the lies he forges.

Enter Parolles.

Par.

Ten o'clock: within these three hours 'twill be time enough to go home. What shall I say I have done? It must be a very plausive invention that carries it. They begin to smoke me, and disgraces have of late knocked too often at my door. I find, my tongue is too foolhardy; but my heart hath the fear of Mars before it, and of his creatures, not daring the reports of my tongue.

Fr. Env. [Aside.]

This is the first truth that e'er thine own tongue was guilty of.

Par.

What the devil should move me to undertake the recovery of this drum, being not ignorant of the impossibility, and knowing I had no such purpose? I must give myself some hurts, and say, I got them in exploit. Yet slight ones will not carry it: they will say, “Came you off with so little?” and great ones I dare not give. Wherefore? what's the instance² ^note? Tongue,

-- 276 --

I must put you into a butter-woman's mouth, and buy myself another of Bajazet's mule³ ^note

, if you prattle me into these perils.

Fr. Env. [Aside.]

Is it possible, he should know what he is, and be that he is?

Par.

I would the cutting of my garments would serve the turn; or the breaking of my Spanish sword.

Fr. Env. [Aside.]

We cannot afford you so.

Par.

Or the baring of my beard⁴ ^note; and to say, it was in stratagem.

Fr. Env. [Aside.]

'Twould not do.

Par.

Or to drown my clothes, and say I was stripped.

Fr. Env. [Aside.]

Hardly serve.

Par.

Though I swore I leaped from the window of the citadel—

Fr. Env. [Aside.]

How deep?

Par.

Thirty fathom.

Fr. Env. [Aside.]

Three great oaths would scarce make that be believed.

-- 277 --

Par.

I would I had any drum of the enemy's: I would swear I recovered it.

Fr. Env. [Aside.]

You shall hear one anon.

Par.

A drum, now, of the enemy's!

[Alarum within.

Fr. Env.
Throca movousus, cargo, cargo, cargo.

All.
Cargo, cargo, villianda par corbo, cargo.

Par.
O! ransom, ransom!—Do not hide mine eyes. [They seize and blindfold him.

1 Sold.
Boskos thromuldo boskos.

Par.
I know you are the Muskos' regiment;
And I shall lose my life for want of language.
If there be here German, or Dane, low Dutch,
Italian, or French, let him speak to me:
I will discover that which shall undo
The Florentine.

1 Sold.
Boskos vauvado:—
I understand thee, and can speak thy tongue⁵ ^note:—
Kerelybonto:—Sir,
Betake thee to thy faith, for seventeen poniards
Are at thy bosom.

Par.
O!

1 Sold.
O! pray, pray, pray.—
Manka revania dulche.

Fr. Env.
Oscorbidulchos volivorco.

1 Sold.
The general is content to spare thee yet,
And, hoodwink'd as thou art, will lead thee on
To gather from thee: haply, thou may'st inform
Something to save thy life.

Par.
O! let me live,
And all the secrets of our camp I'll show,
Their force, their purposes; nay, I'll speak that
Which you will wonder at.

1 Sold.
But wilt thou faithfully?

Par.
If I do not, damn me.

-- 278 --

1 Sold.
Acordo linta.—
Come on; thou art granted space. [Exit, with Parolles guarded⁶ ^note.

Fr. Env.
Go, tell the count Rousillon, and my brother,
We have caught the woodcock, and will keep him muffled,
Till we do hear from them.

2 Sold.
Captain, I will.

Fr. Env.
A' will betray us all unto ourselves:
Inform on that⁷ ^note.

2 Sold.
So I will, sir.

Fr. Env.
Till then, I'll keep him dark, and safely lock'd. [Exeunt. SCENE II. Florence. A Room in the Widow's House. Enter Bertram and Diana.

Ber.
They told me, that your name was Fontibell.

Dia.
No, my good lord, Diana.

Ber.
Titled goddess,
And worth it, with addition! But, fair soul,
In your fine frame hath love no quality?
If the quick fire of youth light not your mind,
You are no maiden, but a monument:
When you are dead, you should be such a one
As you are now, for you are cold and stern; 11Q0421
And now you should be as your mother was,
When your sweet self was got.

Dia.
She then was honest.

Ber.
So should you be.

-- 279 --

Dia.
No:
My mother did but duty; such, my lord,
As you owe to your wife.

Ber.
No more o' that:
I pr'ythee, do not strive against my vows⁸ ^note.
I was compell'd to her; but I love thee
By love's own sweet constraint, and will for ever
Do thee all rights of service.

Dia.
Ay, so you serve us,
Till we serve you; but when you have our roses,
You barely leave our thorns to prick ourselves,
And mock us with our bareness.

Ber.
How have I sworn?

Dia.
'Tis not the many oaths that make the truth,
But the plain single vow, that is vow'd true.
What is not holy, that we swear not by,
But take the Highest to witness: then, pray you, tell me,
If I should swear by Jove's great attributes⁹ ^note,
I lov'd you dearly, would you believe my oaths,
When I did love you ill¹ ^note? this has no holding,
To swear by him, whom I protest to love,
That I will work against him 11Q0422² ^note

. Therefore, your oaths
Are words, and poor conditions, but unseal'd,
At least, in my opinion.

Ber.
Change it, change it.

-- 280 --

Be not so holy-cruel: love is holy,
And my integrity ne'er knew the crafts,
That you do charge men with. Stand no more off,
But give thyself unto my sick desires,
Who then recover: say, thou art mine, and ever
My love, as it begins, shall so persever.

Dia.
I see, that men make ropes in such a scarre,
That we'll forsake ourselves 11Q0423³ ^note
. Give me that ring.

Ber.
I'll lend it thee, my dear; but have no power
To give it from me.

Dia.
Will you not, my lord?

Ber.
It is an honour 'longing to our house,
Bequeathed down from many ancestors,
Which were the greatest obloquy i' the world
In me to lose.

Dia.
Mine honour's such a ring:
My chastity's the jewel of our house,
Bequeathed down from many ancestors,
Which were the greatest obloquy i' the world
In me to lose. Thus, your own proper wisdom
Brings in the champion, honour, on my part
Against your vain assault.

Ber.
Here, take my ring:
My house, mine honour, yea, my life be thine,
And I'll be bid by thee.

Dia.
When midnight comes, knock at my chamber window:

-- 281 --

I'll order take my mother shall not hear.
Now will I charge you in the band of truth,
When you have conquer'd my yet maiden bed,
Remain there but an hour, nor speak to me.
My reasons are most strong; and you shall know them,
When back again this ring shall be deliver'd:
And on your finger, in the night, I'll put
Another ring; that what in time proceeds
May token to the future our past deeds.
Adieu, till then; then, fail not. You have won
A wife of me, though there my hope be done. 11Q0424

Ber.
A heaven on earth I have won by wooing thee. [Exit.

Dia.
For which live long to thank both heaven and me!
You may so in the end,—
My mother told me just how he would woo,
As if she sat in's heart: she says, all men
Have the like oaths. He had sworn to marry me,
When his wife's dead; therefore I'll lie with him,
When I am buried. Since Frenchmen are so braid⁴ ^note,
Marry that will, I live and die a maid⁵ ^note:
Only, in this disguise, I think't no sin
To cozen him, that would unjustly win. [Exit.

-- 282 --

SCENE III. The Florentine Camp. Enter the two Frenchmen, and two or three Soldiers.

Fr. Gent.

You have not given him his mother's letter.

Fr. Env.

I have delivered it an hour since: there is something in't that stings his nature, for on the reading it he changed almost into another man.

Fr. Gent.

He has much worthy blame laid upon him, for shaking off so good a wife, and so sweet a lady.

Fr. Env.

Especially he hath incurred the everlasting displeasure of the king, who had even tuned his bounty to sing happiness to him. I will tell you a thing, but you shall let it dwell darkly within you.

Fr. Gent.

When you have spoken it, 'tis dead, and I am the grave of it.

Fr. Env.

He hath perverted a young gentlewoman, here in Florence, of a most chaste renown, and this night he fleshes his will in the spoil of her honour: he hath given her his monumental ring, and thinks himself made in the unchaste composition.

Fr. Gent.

Now, God delay our rebellion: as we are ourselves, what things are we!

Fr. Env.

Merely our own traitors: and as in the common course of all treasons, we still see them reveal themselves, till they attain to their abhorred ends, so he that in this action contrives against his own nobility, in his proper stream o'erflows himself.

Fr. Gent.

Is it not meant damnable in us, to be trumpeters of our unlawful intents? 11Q0425 We shall not then have his company to-night.

Fr. Env.

Not till after midnight, for he is dieted to his hour.

Fr. Gent.

That approaches apace: I would gladly

-- 283 --

have him see his company⁶ ^note anatomized, that he might take a measure of his own judgments, wherein so curiously he had set this counterfeit.

Fr. Env.

We will not meddle with him till he come, for his presence must be the whip of the other.

Fr. Gent.

In the mean time, what hear you of these wars?

Fr. Env.

I hear there is an overture of peace.

Fr. Gent.

Nay, I assure you, a peace concluded.

Fr. Env.

What will count Rousillon do then? will he travel higher, or return again into France?

Fr. Gent.

I perceive by this demand you are not altogether of his council.

Fr. Env.

Let it be forbid, sir; so should I be a great deal of his act.

Fr. Gent.

Sir, his wife some two months since fled from his house: her pretence is a pilgrimage to Saint Jaques le grand, which holy undertaking with most austere sanctimony she accomplished; and, there residing, the tenderness of her nature became as a prey to her grief; in fine, made a groan of her last breath, and now she sings in heaven.

Fr. Env.

How is this justified?

Fr. Gent.

The stronger part of it by her own letters; which make her story true, even to the point of her death: her death itself, which could not be her office to say, is come,—was faithfully confirmed by the rector of the place. 11Q0426

Fr. Env.

Hath the count all this intelligence?

Fr. Gent.

Ay, and the particular confirmations, point from point, to the full arming of the verity.

Fr. Env.

I am heartily sorry that he'll be glad of this.

Fr. Gent.

How mightily, sometimes, we make us comforts of our losses.

Fr. Env.

And how mightily, some other times, we drown our gain in tears. The great dignity, that his

-- 284 --

valour hath here acquired for him, shall at home be encountered with a shame as ample.

Fr. Gent.

The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and ill together: our virtues would be proud, if our faults whipped them not; and our crimes would despair, if they were not cherished by our virtues.

Enter a Servant.
How now? where's your master?

Serv.

He met the duke in the street, sir, of whom he hath taken a solemn leave: his lordship will next morning for France. The duke hath offered him letters of commendations to the king.

Fr. Env.

They shall be no more than needful there, if they were more than they can commend.

Enter Bertram.

Fr. Gent.

They cannot be too sweet for the king's tartness. Here's his lordship now.—How, now, my lord! is't not after midnight?

Ber.

I have to-night despatched sixteen businesses, a month's length a-piece, by an abstract of success: I have congé'd with the duke, done my adieu with his nearest, buried a wife, mourned for her, writ to my lady mother I am returning, entertained my convoy; and between these main parcels of despatch effected many nicer needs: the last was the greatest, but that I have not ended yet.

Fr. Env.

If the business be of any difficulty, and this morning your departure hence, it requires haste of your lordship.

Ber.

I mean the business is not ended, as fearing to hear of it hereafter. But shall we have this dialogue between the fool and the soldier⁷ ^note? Come, bring forth

-- 285 --

this counterfeit model⁸ ^note: he has deceived me, like a double-meaning prophesier.

Fr. Env.

Bring him forth. [Exeunt Soldiers.] He has sat i' the stocks all night, poor gallant knave.

Ber.

No matter; his heels have deserved it, in usurping his spurs so long. How does he carry himself?

Fr. Env.

I have told your lordship already; the stocks carry him. But, to answer you as you would be understood, he weeps, like a wench that had shed her milk. He hath confessed himself to Morgan, whom he supposes to be a friar, from the time of his remembrance, to this very instant disaster of his setting i' the stocks, and what think you he hath confessed?

Ber.

Nothing of me, has he?

Fr. Env.

His confession is taken, and it shall be read to his face: if your lordship be in't, as I believe you are, you must have the patience to hear it.

Re-enter Soldiers, with Parolles.

Ber.

A plague upon him! muffled? he can say nothing of me: hush! hush!

Fr. Gent.

Hoodman comes!—Portotartarossa.

1 Sold.

He calls for the tortures: what will you say without 'em?

Par.

I will confess what I know without constraint: if ye pinch me like a pasty, I can say no more.

1 Sold.

Bosko chimurcho.

Fr. Gent.

Boblibindo chicurmurco.

1 Sold.

You are a merciful general.—Our general bids you answer to what I shall ask you out of a note.

Par.

And truly, as I hope to live.

-- 286 --

1 Sold.

“First, demand of him how many horse the duke is strong.” What say you to that?

Par.

Five or six thousand; but very weak and unserviceable: the troops are all scattered, and the commanders very poor rogues, upon my reputation and credit, and as I hope to live.

1 Sold.

Shall I set down your answer so?

Par.

Do: I'll take the sacrament on't, how and which way you will.

Ber.

All's one to him 11Q0427⁹ ^note. What a past-saving slave is this!

Fr. Gent.

Y' are deceived, my lord: this is monsieur Parolles, the gallant militarist, (that was his own phrase) that had the whole theorick¹ ^note of war in the knot of his scarf, and the practice in the chape of his dagger² ^note ^note

Fr. Env.

I will never trust a man again for keeping his sword clean; nor believe he can have every thing in him by wearing his apparel neatly.

1 Sold.

Well, that's set down.

Par.

Five or six thousand horse, I said,—I will say true,—or thereabouts, set down,—for I'll speak truth.

Fr. Gent.

He's very near the truth in this.

Ber.

But I con him no thanks for't³ ^note, in the nature he delivers it.

Par.

Poor rogues, I pray you, say.

1 Sold.

Well, that's set down.

Par.

I humbly thank you, sir. A truth's a truth: the rogues are marvellous poor.

-- 287 --

1 Sold.

“Demand of him, of what strength they are a-foot.” What say you to that?

Par.

By my troth, sir, if I were to live this present hour⁴ ^note, I will tell true. Let me see: Spurio a hundred and fifty, Sebastian so many, Corambus so many, Jaques so many; Guiltian, Cosmo, Lodowick, and Gratii, two hundred fifty each; mine own company, Chitopher, Vaumond, Bentii, two hundred fifty each: so that the muster-file, rotten and sound, upon my life, amounts not to fifteen thousand poll; half of the which dare not shake the snow from off their cassocks⁵ ^note, lest they shake themselves to pieces.

Ber.

What shall be done to him?

Fr. Gent.

Nothing, but let him have thanks.— Demand of him my condition, and what credit I have with the duke.

1 Sold.

Well, that's set down. “You shall demand of him, whether one Captain Dumaine be i' the camp, a Frenchman; what his reputation is with the duke, what his valour, honesty, and expertness in wars; or whether he thinks, it were not possible with well-weighing sums of gold to corrupt him to a revolt.” What say you to this? what do you know of it?

Par.

I beseech you, let me answer to the particular of the intergatories: demand them singly.

1 Sold.

Do you know this captain Dumaine?

Par.

I know him: he was a botcher's 'prentice in Paris, from whence he was whipped for getting the sheriff's fool with child; a dumb innocent, that could not say him, nay⁶ ^note.

[Dumaine lifts up his hand in anger.

-- 288 --

Ber.

Nay, by your leave, hold your hands; though, I know, his brains are forfeit to the next tile that falls.

1 Sold.

Well, is this captain in the duke of Florence's camp?

Par.

Upon my knowledge he is, and lousy.

Fr. Gent.

Nay, look not so upon me; we shall hear of your lordship anon.

1 Sold.

What is his reputation with the duke?

Par.

The duke knows him for no other but a poor officer of mine, and writ to me this other day to turn him out o' the band: I think, I have his letter in my pocket.

1 Sold.

Marry, we'll search.

Par.

In good sadness, I do not know: either it is there, or it is upon a file, with the duke's other letters, in my tent.

1 Sold.

Here 'tis: here's a paper; shall I read it to you?

Par.

I do not know if it be it, or no.

Ber.

Our interpreter does it well.

Fr. Gent.

Excellently.

1 Sold. [Reads.]

“Dian, the count's a fool, and full of gold,”—

Par.

That is not the duke's letter, sir: that is an advertisement to a proper maid in Florence, one Diana, to take heed of the allurement of one count Rousillon, a foolish idle boy, but, for all that, very ruttish. I pray you, sir, put it up again.

1 Sold.

Nay, I'll read it first, by your favour.

Par.

My meaning in't, I protest, was very honest in the behalf of the maid; for I knew the young count to be a dangerous and lascivious boy, who is a whale to virginity, and devours up all the fry it finds.

Ber.

Damnable, both-sides rogue!

1 Sold. [Reads.]
“When he swears oaths, bid him drop gold, and take it;
After he scores, he never pays the score:

-- 289 --

Half won is match well made; match, and well make it:
He ne'er pays after debts; take it before,
And say, a soldier, Dian, told thee this.
Men are to mell with⁷ ^note, boys are not to kiss:
For count of this, the count's a fool, I know it,
Who pays before, but not when he does owe it.
“Thine, as he vow'd to thee in thine ear,
“Parolles.”

Ber.

He shall be whipped through the army, with this rhyme in's forehead.

Fr. Env.

This is your devoted friend, sir; the manifold linguist, and the armipotent soldier.

Ber.

I could endure any thing before but a cat⁸ ^note, and now he's a cat to me.

1 Sold.

I perceive, sir, by our general's looks⁹ ^note, we shall be fain to hang you.

Par.

My life, sir, in any case! not that I am afraid to die; but that, my offences being many, I would repent out the remainder of nature. Let me live, sir, in a dungeon, i' the stocks, or any where, so I may live.

1 Sold.

We'll see what may be done, so you confess freely: therefore, once more to this captain Dumaine. You have answered to his reputation with the duke, and to his valour: what is his honesty?

Par.

He will steal, sir, an egg out of a cloister: for rapes and ravishments he parallels Nessus. He professes not keeping of oaths; in breaking them he is stronger than Hercules. He will lie, sir, with such

-- 290 --

volubility, that you would think truth were a fool: drunkenness is his best virtue; for he will be swine-drunk, and in his sleep he does little harm, save to his bed-clothes about him; but they know his conditions, and lay him in straw. I have but little more to say, sir, of his honesty: he has every thing that an honest man should not have; what an honest man should have, he has nothing.

Fr. Gent.

I begin to love him for this.

Ber.

For this description of thine honesty? A pox upon him! for me he is more and more a cat.

1 Sold.

What say you to his expertness in war?

Par.

Faith, sir, he has led the drum before the English tragedians¹⁰ ^note,—to belie him, I will not,—and more of his soldiership I know not; except, in that country, he had the honour to be the officer at a place there called Mile-end¹¹ ^note, to instruct for the doubling of files: I would do the man what honour I can, but of this I am not certain.

Fr. Gent.

He hath out-villained villany so far, that the rarity redeems him.

Ber.

A pox on him! he's a cat still.

1 Sold.

His qualities being at this poor price, I need not ask you, if gold will corrupt him to revolt.

Par.

Sir, for a quart d'ecu¹² ^note he will sell the fee-simple of his salvation, the inheritance of it; and cut the entail from all remainders, and a perpetual succession for it perpetually.

-- 291 --

1 Sold.

What's his brother, the other captain Dumaine?

Fr. Env.

Why does he ask him of me?

1 Sold.

What's he?

Par.

E'en a crow o' the same nest; not altogether so great as the first in goodness, but greater a great deal in evil. He excels his brother for a coward, yet his brother is reputed one of the best that is. In a retreat he out-runs any lackey; marry, in coming on he has the cramp.

1 Sold.

If your life be saved, will you undertake to betray the Florentine?

Par.

Ay, and the captain of his horse, count Rousillon.

1 Sold.

I'll whisper with the general, and know his pleasure.

Par. [Aside.]

I'll no more drumming; a plague of all drums! Only to seem to deserve well, and to beguile the supposition of that lascivious young boy the count, have I run into this danger. Yet who would have suspected an ambush, where I was taken?

1 Sold.

There is no remedy, sir, but you must die. The general says, you, that have so traitorously discovered the secrets of your army, and made such pestiferous reports of men very nobly held, can serve the world for no honest use; therefore you must die. Come, headsman, off with his head.

Par.

O Lord, sir; let me live, or let me see my death!

1 Sold.

That shall you; and take your leave of all your friends.

[Unmuffling him.

So, look about you: know you any here?

Ber.

Good morrow, noble captain.

Fr. Env.

God bless you, captain Parolles.

Fr. Gent.

God save you, noble captain.

Fr. Env.

Captain, what greeting will you to my lord Lafeu? I am for France.

Fr. Gent.

Good captain, will you give me a copy of

-- 292 --

the sonnet you writ to Diana in behalf of the count Rousillon? an I were not a very coward, I'd compel it of you; but fare you well.

[Exeunt Bertram, Frenchmen, &c.

1 Sold.

You are undone, captain; all but your scarf, that has a knot on't yet.

Par.

Who cannot be crushed with a plot?

1 Sold.

If you could find out a country where but women were, that had received so much shame, you might begin an impudent nation. Fare you well, sir; I am for France too: we shall speak of you there.

[Exit.

Par.
Yet am I thankful: if my heart were great,
'Twould burst at this. Captain I'll be no more;
But I will eat, and drink, and sleep as soft
As captain shall: simply the thing I am
Shall make me live. Who knows himself a braggart,
Let him fear this; for it will come to pass,
That every braggart shall be found an ass.
Rust, sword! cool, blushes! and Parolles, live
Safest in shame! being fool'd, by foolery thrive!
There's place, and means for every man alive.
I'll after them. [Exit. SCENE IV. Florence. A Room in the Widow's House. Enter Helena, Widow, and Diana.

Hel.
That you may well perceive I have not wrong'd you,
One of the greatest in the Christian world
Shall be my surety; 'fore whose throne, 'tis needful,
Ere I can perfect mine intents, to kneel.
Time was I did him a desired office,
Dear almost as his life; which gratitude

-- 293 --

Through flinty Tartar's bosom would peep forth,
And answer, thanks. I duly am inform'd,
His grace is at Marseilles, to which place¹ ^note
We have convenient convoy. You must know,
I am supposed dead: the army breaking,
My husband hies him home; where, heaven aiding,
And by the leave of my good lord the king,
We'll be before our welcome.

Wid.
Gentle madam,
You never had a servant, to whose trust
Your business was more welcome.

Hel.
Nor you, mistress² ^note,
Ever a friend, whose thoughts more truly labour
To recompense your love: doubt not, but heaven
Hath brought me up to be your daughter's dower,
As it hath fated her to be my motive,
And helper to a husband. But O, strange men!
That can such sweet use make of what they hate,
When saucy trusting of the cozen'd thoughts
Defiles the pitchy night! so lust doth play
With what it loathes, for that which is away.
But more of this hereafter. 11Q0428—You, Diana,
Under my poor instructions, yet must suffer
Something in my behalf.

Dia.
Let death and honesty
Go with your impositions, I am yours
Upon your will to suffer.

Hel.
Yet, I pray you:
But with the word³ ^note
, the time will bring on summer,

-- 294 --

When briars shall have leaves as well as thorns,
And be as sweet as sharp. We must away;
Our waggon is prepar'd, and time revives us: 11Q0429
“All's well that ends well:” still the fine's the crown;
Whate'er the course, the end is the renown. [Exeunt. SCENE V. Rousillon. A Room in the Countess's Palace. Enter Countess, Lafeu, and Clown.

Laf.

No, no, no; your son was misled with a snipt-taffata fellow there, whose villanous saffron⁴ ^note 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 by the king, than by that red-tailed humble-bee I speak of⁵ ^note.

Count.

I 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 salads, ere we light on such another herb.

-- 295 --

Clo.

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

Laf.

They are not salad-herbs 11Q0430⁶ ^note, you knave; they are nose-herbs.

Clo.

I am no great Nebuchadnezzar, sir, I have not much skill in grass⁷ ^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, and do his service.

Laf.

So you were a knave at his service, indeed.

Clo.

And I would give his wife my bauble, sir⁸ ^note, 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 that? a Frenchman?

Clo.

Faith, sir, a' has an English name⁹ ^note; but his phisnomy is more hotter in France, than there.

-- 296 --

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 thee from thy master¹ ^note thou talkest of: serve him still.

Clo.

I am 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, let his 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 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 looked 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 unhappy² ^note.

Count.

So a' 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, but runs where he will. 11Q0431

Laf.

I like him well; 'tis not amiss. And I was

-- 297 --

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, of as able body as when he numbered thirty: a' will be here to-morrow, or I am deceived by him that in such intelligence hath seldom failed.

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 it, or no, the velvet knows; but 'tis a goodly patch of velvet. His left cheek is a cheek of two pile and a half³ ^note, but his right cheek is worn bare.

Laf.

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

Clo.

But it is your carbonadoed face.

-- 298 --

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. ACT V. SCENE I. Marseilles. A Street. Enter Helena, Widow, and Diana, with two Attendants.

Hel.
But this exceeding posting, day and night,
Must wear your spirits low: we cannot help it;
But, since you have made the days and nights as one,
To wear your gentle limbs in my affairs,
Be hold, you do so grow in my requital,
As nothing can unroot you. In happy time, Enter a gentle Astringer 11Q0432⁴ ^note.
This man may help me to his majesty's ear,
If he would spend his power.—God save you, sir.

Gent.
And you.

Hel.
Sir, I have seen you in the court of France.

Gent.
I have been sometimes there.

Hel.
I do presume, sir, that you are not fallen
From the report that goes upon your goodness;
And therefore, goaded with most sharp occasions
Which lay nice manners by, I put you to
The use of your own virtues, for the which
I shall continue thankful.

-- 299 --

Gent.
What's your will?

Hel.
That it will please you
To give this poor petition to the king,
And aid me with that store of power you have,
To come into his presence.

Gent.
The king's not here.

Hel.
Not here, sir?

Gent.
Not, indeed:
He hence remov'd last night, and with more haste
Than is his use.

Wid.
Lord, how we lose our pains!

Hel.
All's well that ends well yet,
Though time seem so adverse, and means unfit.—
I do beseech you, whither is he gone?

Gent.
Marry, as I take it, to Rousillon;
Whither I am going.

Hel.
I do beseech you, sir,
Since you are like to see the king before me,
Commend the paper to his gracious hand;
Which, I presume, shall render you no blame,
But rather make you thank your pains for it.
I will come after you, with what good speed
Our means will make us means.

Gent.
This I'll do for you.

Hel.
And you shall find yourself to be well thank'd,
Whate'er falls more.—We must to horse again:—
Go, go, provide. [Exeunt. SCENE II. Rousillon. The inner Court of the Countess's Palace. Enter Clown and Parolles. 11Q0433

Par.

Good monsieur Lavatch, give my lord Lafeu this letter. I have ere now, sir, been better known to you, when I have held familiarity with fresher clothes;

-- 300 --

but I am now, sir, muddied in fortune's mood⁵ ^note, and smell somewhat strong of her strong displeasure.

Clo.

Truly, fortune's displeasure is but sluttish, if it smell so strongly 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 to 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 metaphor. Pr'ythee, get thee farther.

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 cat, (but not a musk-cat) that has fallen into the 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 comfort, 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 her⁷ ^note? There's a quart d'ecu for you. Let the justices make you and fortune friends; I am for other business.

-- 301 --

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 word.

Par.

My name, my good lord, is Parolles.

Laf.

You beg more than a word, then⁸ ^note.—Cox' 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 farther after me: I had talk of you last night. Though you are a fool and a knave, you shall eat: go to, follow.

Par.

I praise God for you.

[Exeunt. SCENE III. The Same. A Room in the Countess's Palace. Flourish. Enter King, Countess, Lafeu, Lords, Gentlemen, Guards, &c.

King.
We lost a jewel of her, and our esteem
Was made much poorer by it; but your son,
As mad in folly, lack'd the sense to know

-- 302 --

Her estimation home.

Count.
'Tis past, my liege;
And I beseech your majesty to make it
Natural rebellion, done i' the blade of youth 11Q0434⁹ ^note;
When oil and fire, too strong for reason's force,
O'erbears it, and burns on.

King.
My honour'd lady,
I have forgiven and forgotten all,
Though my revenges were high bent upon him,
And watch'd the time to shoot.

Laf.
This I must say,—
But first I beg my pardon,—the young lord
Did to his majesty, his mother, and his lady,
Offence of mighty note, but to himself
The greatest wrong of all: he lost a wife,
Whose beauty did astonish the survey
Of richest eyes; whose words all ears took captive;
Whose dear perfection, hearts that scorn'd to serve
Humbly call'd mistress.

King.
Praising what is lost
Makes the remembrance dear.—Well, call him hither.
We are reconcil'd, and the first view shall kill
All repetition.—Let him not ask our pardon:
The nature of his great offence is dead,
And deeper than oblivion we do bury
The incensing relics of it: let him approach,
A stranger, no offender; and inform him,
So 'tis our will he should.

Gent.
I shall, my liege. [Exit Gentleman.

King.
What says he to your daughter? have you spoke?

Laf.
All that he is hath reference to your highness.

-- 303 --

King.
Then shall we have a match. I have letters sent me,
That set him high in fame. Enter Bertram.

Laf.
He looks well on't.

King.
I am not a day of season¹⁰ ^note,
For thou may'st see a sunshine and a hail
In me at once; but to the brightest beams
Distracted clouds give way: so stand thou forth;
The time is fair again.

Ber.
My high repented blames,
Dear sovereign, pardon to me.

King.
All is whole;
Not one word more of the consumed time.
Let's take the instant by the forward top,
For we are old, and on our quick'st decrees
Th' inaudible and noiseless foot of time
Steals, ere we can effect them. You remember
The daughter of this lord?

Ber.
Admiringly¹ ^note.
My liege, at first
I stuck my choice upon her, ere my heart
Durst make too bold a herald of my tongue:
Where the impression of mine eye infixing,
Contempt his scornful perspective did lend me,
Which warp'd the line of every other favour,
Scorn'd a fair colour, or express'd it stolen,
Extended or contracted all proportions,
To a most hideous object. Thence it came,
That she, whom all men prais'd, and whom myself,
Since I have lost, have lov'd, was in mine eye

-- 304 --

The dust that did offend it.

King.
Well excus'd:
That thou didst love her strikes some scores away
From the great compt. But love, that comes too late,
Like a remorseful pardon slowly carried,
To the great sender turns a sour offence,
Crying, that's good that's gone. Our rash faults
Make trivial price of serious things we have,
Not knowing them, until we know their grave:
Oft our displeasures, to ourselves unjust,
Destroy our friends, and after weep their dust:
Our own love, waking² ^note, cries to see what's done,
While shameful hate sleeps out the afternoon. 11Q0435
Be this sweet Helen's knell, and now forget her.
Send forth your amorous token for fair Maudlin:
The main consents are had; and here we'll stay
To see our widower's second marriage-day.

Count.
Which better than the first, O, dear heaven, bless!
Or, ere they meet, in me, O nature, cease³ ^note
!

Laf.
Come on, my son, in whom my house's name
Must be digested, give a favour from you,
To sparkle in the spirits of my daughter,
That she may quickly come.—By my old beard,
And every hair that's on't, Helen, that's dead,
Was a sweet creature; such a ring as this,
The last that, ere I took her leave at court⁴ ^note,

-- 305 --

I saw upon her finger.

Ber.
Hers it was not.

King.
Now, pray you, let me see it; for mine eye,
While I was speaking, oft was fasten'd to't.—
This ring was mine; and, when I gave it Helen,
I bade her, if her fortunes ever stood
Necessitied to help, that by this token
I would relieve her. Had you that craft to reave her
Of what should stead her most?

Ber.
My gracious sovereign,
Howe'er it pleases you to take it so,
The ring was never hers.

Count.
Son, on my life,
I have seen her wear it; and she reckon'd it
At her life's rate.

Laf.
I am sure I saw her wear it.

Ber.
You are deceiv'd: my lord, she never saw it.
In Florence was it from a casement thrown me,
Wrapp'd in a paper, which contain'd the name
Of her that threw it. Noble she was, and thought
I stood engag'd⁵ ^note; but when I had subscrib'd
To mine own fortune, and inform'd her fully
I could not answer in that course of honour
As she had made the overture, she ceas'd,
In heavy satisfaction, and would never
Receive the ring again.

King.
Plutus himself,
That knows the tinct and multiplying medicine,
Hath not in nature's mystery more science,
Than I have in this ring: 'twas mine, 'twas Helen's,
Whoever gave it you. Then, if you know
That you are well acquainted with yourself,
Confess 'twas hers, and by what rough enforcement
You got it from her. She call'd the saints to surety,
That she would never put it from her finger,

-- 306 --

Unless she gave it to yourself in bed,
Where you have never come, or sent it us
Upon her great disaster.

Ber.
She never saw it.

King.
Thou speak'st it falsely, as I love mine honour,
And mak'st conjectural fears to come into me,
Which I would fain shut out. If it should prove
That thou art so inhuman,—'twill not prove so;—
And yet I know not:—thou didst hate her deadly,
And she is dead; which nothing, but to close
Her eyes myself, could win me to believe,
More than to see this ring.—Take him away.— [Guards seize Bertram.
My fore-past proofs, howe'er the matter fall,
Shall tax my fears of little vanity,
Having vainly fear'd too little.—Away with him!
We'll sift this matter farther.

Ber.
If you shall prove
This ring was ever hers, you shall as easy
Prove that I husbanded her bed in Florence,
Where yet she never was. [Exit Bertram, guarded. Enter a Gentleman⁶ ^note.

King.
I am wrapp'd in dismal thinkings.

Gent.
Gracious sovereign,
Whether I have been to blame, or no, I know not:
Here's a petition from a Florentine,
Who hath, for four or five removes, come short
To tender it herself. I undertook it,
Vanquish'd thereto by the fair grace and speech
Of the poor suppliant, who by this, I know,
Is here attending: her business looks in her
With an importing visage⁷ ^note; and she told me,
In a sweet verbal brief, it did concern

-- 307 --

Your highness with herself.

King. [Reads.]

“Upon his many protestations to marry me, when his wife was dead, I blush to say it, he won me. Now is the count Rousillon a widower: his vows are forfeited to me, and my honour's paid to him. He stole from Florence, taking no leave, and I follow him to his country for justice. Grant it me, O king! in you it best lies; otherwise a seducer flourishes, and a poor maid is undone.

“Diana Capilet.”

Laf.

I will buy me a son-in-law in a fair, and toll: for this, I'll none of him 11Q0436⁸ ^note.

King.
The heavens have thought well on thee, Lafeu,
To bring forth this discovery.—Seek these suitors:—
Go speedily, and bring again the count. [Exeunt Gentleman, and some Attendants.
I am afeard, the life of Helen, lady,
Was foully snatch'd.

Count.
Now, justice on the doers! Re-enter Bertram, guarded.

King.
I wonder, sir, for wives are monsters to you⁹ ^note
,
And that you fly them as you swear them lordship,
Yet you desire to marry.—What woman's that? Re-enter Gentleman, with Widow, and Diana.

Dia.
I am, my lord, a wretched Florentine,
Derived from the ancient Capilet:

-- 308 --

My suit, as I do understand, you know,
And therefore know how far I may be pitied.

Wid.
I am her mother, sir, whose age and honour
Both suffer under this complaint we bring,
And both shall cease, without your remedy.

King.
Come hither, count. Do you know these women? 11Q0437

Ber.
My lord, I neither can, nor will deny
But that I know them. Do they charge me farther?

Dia.
Why do you look so strange upon your wife?

Ber.
She's none of mine, my lord.

Dia.
If you shall marry,
You give away this hand, and that is mine;
You give away heaven's vows, and those are mine;
You give away myself, which is known mine;
For I by vow am so embodied yours,
That she which marries you must marry me;
Either both, or none.

Laf. [To Bertram.]

Your reputation comes too short for my daughter: you are no husband for her.

Ber.
My lord, this is a fond and desperate creature,
Whom sometime I have laugh'd with. Let your highness
Lay a more noble thought upon mine honour,
Than for to think that I would sink it here.

King.
Sir, for my thoughts, you have them ill to friend,
Till your deeds gain them: fairer prove your honour,
Than in my thought it lies.

Dia.
Good my lord,
Ask him upon his oath, if he does think
He had not my virginity.

King.
What say'st thou to her?

Ber.
She's impudent, my lord;
And was a common gamester to the camp.

Dia.
He does me wrong, my lord: if I were so,
He might have bought me at a common price:

-- 309 --

Do not believe him. O! behold this ring,
Whose high respect, and rich validity,
Did lack a parallel; yet, for all that,
He gave it to a commoner o' the camp,
If I be one.

Count.
He blushes, and 'tis his¹⁰ ^note:
Of six preceding ancestors, that gem
Conferr'd by testament to the sequent issue,
Hath it been ow'd and worn. This is his wife:
That ring's a thousand proofs.

King.
Methought, you said,
You saw one here in court could witness it.

Dia.
I did, my lord, but loth am to produce
So bad an instrument: his name's Parolles.

Laf.
I saw the man to-day, if man he be.

King.
Find him, and bring him hither.

Ber.
What of him?
He's quoted for a most perfidious slave,
With all the spots o' the world tax'd and debauch'd,
Whose nature sickens but to speak a truth.
Am I or that, or this, for what he'll utter,
That will speak any thing?

King.
She hath that ring of yours.

Ber.
I think, she has: certain it is, I lik'd her,
And boarded her i' the wanton way of youth.
She knew her distance, and did angle for me,
Madding my eagerness with her restraint,
As all impediments in fancy's course
Are motives of more fancy; and, in fine,
Her insuit coming with her modern grace 11Q0438¹ ^note,
Subdued me to her rate: she got the ring,

-- 310 --

And I had that, which any inferior might² ^note

At market-price have bought.

Dia.
I must be patient:
You, that have turn'd off a first so noble wife, 11Q0439
May justly diet me³ ^note. I pray you yet,
(Since you lack virtue, I will lose a husband,)
Send for your ring; I will return it home,
And give me mine again.

Ber.
I have it not.

King.
What ring was yours, I pray you?

Dia.
Sir, much like
The same upon your finger.

King.
Know you this ring? this ring was his of late.

Dia.
And this was it I gave him, being a-bed.

King.
The story then goes false, you threw it him
Out of a casement.

Dia.
I have spoke the truth. Enter Parolles⁴ ^note.

Ber.
My lord, I do confess, the ring was hers.

King.
You boggle shrewdly, every feather starts you.—
Is this the man you speak of?

Dia.
Ay, my lord.

-- 311 --

King.
Tell me, sirrah, but tell me true, I charge you,
Not fearing the displeasure of your master,
(Which, on your just proceeding, I'll keep off,)
By him, and by this woman here, what know you?

Par.

So please your majesty, my master hath been an honourable gentleman: tricks he hath had in him, which gentlemen have.

King.

Come, come; to the purpose. Did he love this woman?

Par.

'Faith, sir, he did love her; but how?

King.

How, I pray you?

Par.

He did love her, sir, as a gentleman loves a woman.

King.
How is that?

Par.
He loved her, sir, and loved her not.

King.
As thou art a knave, and no knave.—
What an equivocal companion is this!

Par.

I am a poor man, and at your majesty's command.

Laf.

He's a good drum, my lord, but a naughty orator.

Dia.

Do you know, he promised me marriage?

Par.

'Faith, I know more than I'll speak.

King.

But wilt thou not speak all thou know'st?

Par.

Yes, so please your majesty. I did go between them, as I said; but more than that, he loved her,— for, indeed, he was mad for her, and talked of Satan, and of limbo, and of furies, and I know not what: yet I was in that credit with them at that time, that I knew of their going to bed, and of other motions, as promising her marriage, and things that would derive me ill will to speak of: therefore, I will not speak what I know.

King.
Thou hast spoken all already, unless thou canst
Say they are married. But thou art too fine

-- 312 --

In thy evidence⁵ ^note; therefore, stand aside.—
This ring, you say, was yours⁶ ^note?

Dia.
Ay, my good lord.

King.
Where did you buy it? or who gave it you?

Dia.
It was not given me, nor I did not buy it.

King.
Who lent it you?

Dia.
It was not lent me neither.

King.
Where did you find it then?

Dia.
I found it not.

King.
If it were yours by none of all these ways,
How could you give it him?

Dia.
I never gave it him.

Laf.

This woman's an easy glove, my lord: she goes off and on at pleasure.

King.
This ring was mine: I gave it his first wife.

Dia.
It might be yours, or hers, for aught I know.

King.
Take her away: I do not like her now.
To prison with her; and away with him.—
Unless thou tell'st me where thou had'st this ring,
Thou diest within this hour.

Dia.
I'll never tell you.

King.
Take her away.

Dia.
I'll put in bail, my liege.

King.
I think thee now some common customer.

Dia.
By Jove, if ever I knew man, 'twas you.

King.
Wherefore hast thou accus'd him all this while?

Dia.
Because he's guilty, and he is not guilty.
He knows I am no maid, and he'll swear to't:
I'll swear I am a maid, and he knows not.
Great king, I am no strumpet, by my life!
I am either maid, or else this old man's wife. [Pointing to Lafeu.

-- 313 --

King.
She does abuse our ears. To prison with her!

Dia.
Good mother, fetch my bail.—[Exit Widow.] Stay, royal sir:
The jeweller that owes the ring is sent for,
And he shall surety me. But for this lord,
Who hath abus'd me, as he knows himself,
Though yet he never harm'd me, here I 'quit him.
He knows himself my bed he hath defil'd,
And at that time he got his wife with child:
Dead though she be, she feels her young one kick:
So there's my riddle, one that's dead is quick;
And now behold the meaning. Re-enter Widow, with Helena.

King.
Is there no exorcist
Beguiles the truer office of mine eyes?
Is't real, that I see?

Hel.
No, my good lord:
'Tis but the shadow of a wife you see;
The name, and not the thing.

Ber.
Both, both! O, pardon! 11Q0440

Hel.
O! my good lord, when I was like this maid,
I found you wondrous kind. There is your ring;
And, look you, here's your letter: this it says:
“When from my finger you can get this ring,
And are by me with child⁷ ^note,” &c.—This is done:
Will you be mine, now you are doubly won?

Ber.
If she, my liege, can make me know this clearly,
I'll love her dearly, ever, ever dearly.

Hel.
If it appear not plain, and prove untrue⁸ ^note,

-- 314 --

Deadly divorce step between me and you!—
O! my dear mother, do I see you living?

Laf.

Mine eyes smell onions, I shall weep anon.— Good Tom Drum, [To Parolles.] lend me a handkerchief: so, I thank thee. Wait on me home, I'll make sport with thee: let thy courtesies alone, they are scurvy ones.

King.

Let us from point to point this story know,
To make the even truth in pleasure flow.— [To Diana.]
If thou be'st yet a fresh uncropped flower,
Choose thou thy husband, and I'll pay thy dower;
For I can guess, that by thy honest aid
Thou kept'st a wife herself, thyself a maid.—
Of that, and all the progress, more and less,
Resolvedly more leisure shall express:
All yet seems well; and if it end so meet,
The bitter past, more welcome is the sweet. [Flourish.

The king's a beggar, now the play is done.
All is well ended, if this suit be won,
That you express content; which we will pay,
With strife to please you, day exceeding day:
Ours be your patience then, and yours our parts;
Your gentle hands lend us, and take our hearts. [Exeunt omnes.

-- 315 --

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