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.
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].
