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.
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].
