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.
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].
