King. Now, good Lafeu, Bring in the admiration; that we with thee Nay, I'll fit you, This haste hath wings indeed. Laf. Nay, come your ways: Hel. The rather will I spare my praises towards Knowing him, is enough. On his bed of death Safer than mine own two, more dear; I have so: King. 1 This word, which is taken from breaking a spear across in chivalric exercises, is used elsewhere by Shakspeare where a pass of wit miscarries. See As You Like It, Act iii. Sc. 4. 2 Medicine is here used by Lafeu ambiguously for a female physician. 3 It has been before observed that the canary was a kind of lively dance. 4 Malone thinks something has been omitted here: to complete the sense the line should read:- And cause him write to her a love line.' 5 By profession is meant her declaration of the object of her coming. 6 This is one of Shakspeare's perplexed expressions: -To acknowledge how much she has astonished me would be to acknowledge more weakness that I am willing to do.' 7 Steevens has inconsiderately stigmatized this with the title of vulgarism. Malone has justly defended it So stain our judgment, or corrupt our hope, Our great self and our credit, to esteem A senseless help, when help past sense we deem. King. I cannot give thee less, to be call'd grateful: Hel. What I can do, can do no hurt to try, From simple sources;13 and great seas have dried, Thy pains, not us'd, must by thyself be paid Hel. 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 extended, With vilest torture let my life be ended.'' King. Methinks in thee some blessed spirit doth His powerful sound within an organ weak: as the phraseology of the poet's age, and adduces a si 8 I am like Pandarus. See Troilus and Cressida. 9 Of known and acknowledged excellence. 10 A third eye. 11 i. e. Since you have determined or made up your mind that there is no remedy.' 12 An allusion to Daniel judging the two Elders. 16 i. e. the divine grace, lending me grace or power to 17 Let me be stigmatised as a strumpet, and, in addition (although that could not be worse, or a more ez Worth name of life, in thee hath estimate:' And well deserv'd: Not helping, death's my fee; But will you make it even? King. Ay, by my sceptre, and my hopes of heaven.4 Hel. Then shalt thou give me, with thy kingly What husband in thy power I will command: To choose from forth the royal blood of France; King. Here is my hand; the premises observ'd, rest Enquestion'd welcome, and undoubted blest.- 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 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-finger," 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. tended evil than what I have mentioned, the loss of my honour, which is the worst that could happen,) let me die with torture. Ne is nor. 1 Le. may be counted among the gifts enjoyed by thee. 2 Prime here signifies that sprightly vigour which nsually accompanies us in the prime of life; which old Montaigne calls, cet estat plein de verdeur et de feste, and which Florio translates, that state, full of lust, of prime, and mirth.' 3 Property seems to be used here for performance or achievement, singular as it may seem. 4 The old copy reads hopes of help. The emendation is Thirlby's. 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 Count. To be young again, if we could: I will be Clo. O Lord, sir,-Thick, thick, spare not me. Clo. O Lord, sir,--Nay, put me to't, I warrant you. Count. You were lately whipped, sir, as I think. Count. Do you cry, O Lord, sir, at your whip- Clo. I ne'er had worse luck in my life, in my-- 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 He- And urge her to a present answer back: Clo. Not much commendation to them. Clo. Most fruitfully; I am there before my legs. Laf. They say, miracles are past; and we have Par. Why, 'tis the rarest argument of wonder, that hath shot out in our latter times. Ber. And so 'tis. Laf. To be relinquish'd of the artists,- Laf. That gave him out incurable,- Par. Right: as 'twere, a man assured of an- 6 This is a common proverbial expression. sir! 8 A ridicule on this silly expletive of speech, then in 9 Properly follows. 5 The old copy reads image of thy state." War- 12 Fear means here an object of fear. 13 Authentic is allowed, approved; and seems to Laf. Generally thankful. Enter King, HELENA, and Attendants. Par. I would have said it; you say well: Here comes the king. 4 Laf. Lustick, as the Dutchman says: I'll like a maid the better, whilst I have a tooth in my head: Why, he's able to lead her a coranto. Par. Mort du Vinaigre! Is not this Helen? King. Go, call before me all the lords in court.— 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 : 1 The Dauphin was formerly so written, but it is doubtful whether Lafeu means to allude to the Prince or the fish. The old orthography is therefore continued. 2 Wicked. 3 Dr. Johnson thought this and some preceding speeches in the scene were erroneously given to Parolles instead of to Lafcu. This seems very probable, for the humour of the scene consists in Parolles's pretensions to knowledge and sentiments which he has not. 4 Lustigh is the Dutch for active, pleasant, playful, sportive. 5 They were wards as well as subjects. 6 i. e. except one, meaning Bertrain: but in the sense of be-out. 7 A curtal was the common phrase for a horse ; i, e. 'I'd give my bay horse, &c. that my age were not greater than these boys: a broken mouth is a mouth which has lost part of its teeth. 8My blushes (says Helen) thus whisper me-We 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 sots of mine, I'd have them whipped; or I would send them to the Turk, to make eunuchs of Hel. Be not afraid [To a Lord] that I your hand should take; I'll never do you wrong for your own sake: 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 yet,-I am sure thy father drank wine.-But if thou be'st not an ass, I am a youth of fourteen; I have known thee already. Hel. I dare not say, I take you; [To BERTRAM] but I give Me, and my service, ever whilst I live, King Why then, young Bertram, take her, she's thy wife. Ber. My wife, my liege? I shall beseech your highness, The help of mine own eyes. What she has done for me? Ber. But never hope to know why I should marry her. Yes, my good lord; King. Thou know'st she has raised me from my sickly bed. Ber. But follows it, my lord, to bring me down She had her breeding at my father's charge: Must answer for your rising? I know her well; A poor physician's daughter my wife!-disdain Rather corrupt me ever! I King. "Tis only title12 thou disdain'st in her, the which can build up. Strange is it that our bloods, Would quite confound disunction, yet stand of Of colour, weight, and heat, pour'd all together, In differences so mighty: If she be All that is virtuous (save what thou dislik'st, blush that thou shouldst have the nomination of thy buảband. However, choose him at thy peril, but if thos be refused, let thy cheeks be forever pale; we will never revisit them again. Be refused means the same as thou being refused,' or, 'be thou refused.' The white death is the paleness of death. 9 i. e. I have no more to say to you.' So Hamlet, 'the rest is silence, 10 The lowest chance of the dice. 11 The scene must he so regulated that Lafen and Parolles talk at a distance, where they may see what passes between Helena and the Lords, but not hear it, so that they know not by whom the refusal is made. 12 i, e. the want of title. 13 Titles. 14 Good is good, independent of any worldly distinetion: and so vileness would be ever vile, did not rank power, and fortune screen it from opprobrium, The property by what it is should go, And these breed honour; that is honour's scorn, Where dust and damn'd oblivion is the tomb Of honour'd bones indeed. What should be said? Is her own dower: honour and wealth from me. 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 defeat, My love, and her desert; that canst not dream, Shall weigh thee to the beam: that wilt not know, Of youth and ignorance; both my revenge and hate, I take her hand. A balance more replete. [Exeunt King, BERTRAM, HELENA, Lords, Laf. Do you hear, monsieur ? a word with you. recantation. Par. Recantation? My lord? my master? Laf. Ay; Is it not a language, I speak? 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 ordinaries, 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;8 8 and that thou art 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 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 dram 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 contrary. 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 leave. fo [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 au thority. 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. 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. Luf. Who? God? Par. Ay, sir. thou garter up thy arms o' this fashion? dost make Laf. The devil it is, that's thy master. Why dost 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, Pr. A most harsh one; and not to be under-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. stood without bloody succeeding. My master? Laf. Are you companion to the count Rousillon? Par. To any count; to all counts; to what is man. 1 i. e. the child of honour. sense of expeditiously: and brief in the sense of a short note or intimation concerning any business, and some 2 The first folio omits best; the second folio sup-times without the idea of writing. plies it. 3 The implication or clause of the sentence (as the grammarians say) here serves for the antecedent, which danger to defeat. 4 The commentators here kindly inform us that the staggers is a violent disease in horses; but the word in the text has no relation, even metaphorically to it. The reeling and unsteady course of a drunken or sick man is meant. 6 i. e. portion. 6 Shakspeare uses expedient and expediently in the 7 i. e. while I sate twice with thee at dinner. 8 To take up is to contradict, to call to account; as well as to pick off the ground. 9 i. e. at a need. 10 There is a poor conceit here hardly worth explaining, but that some of the commentators have misunderstood it :- Doing I am past,' says Lafeu, as I will by thee, in what motion age will give me leave; i. e. as I will pass by thee as fast as I am able:' and he immediately goes out 11 Exercise. 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 heraldry of your birth and virtue gives you commission. 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! sworn, I will not bed her. Par. What? what, sweet heart? Ber. O my Parolles, they have married me:- Ber. There's letters from my mother; what the I know not yet. Par. Why, I say nothing. man's tongue shakes out his master's undoing: To Clo. Marry, you are the wiser man; for many s say nothing, to do nothing, to know nothing, and to have nothing, is to be a great part of your title; which is within a very little of nothing. Par. Away, thou'rt a knave. Clo. You should have said, sir, before a knave thou art a knave; that is, before me thou art a knave: this had been truth, sir. Par. Go to, thou art a witty fool, I have found thee. Clo. Did you find me in yourself, sir? or were you taught to find me? The search, sir, was profitable; and much fool may you find in you, even to the world's pleasure, and the increase of laughter. Par. A good knave, i'faith, and well fed.- But puts it off by a compell'd restraint; Par. Ay, that would be known: To the wars, my Which they distil now in the curbed time, boy, to the wars! He wears his honour in a box unseen, That hugs his kicksy-wicksy' here at home; Which should sustain the bound and high curvet Ber. It shall be so; I'll send her to my house, Par. Will this capricio hold in thee, art sure? Par. Why, these balls bound; there's noise in A young man, married, is a man that's marr'd: SCENE IV. she's Hel. My mother greets me kindly; Is she well? Clo. She is not well; but yet she has her health; 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 fortunes. 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. 1 A cant term for a wife. 2 The dark house is a house made gloomy by dis content. 3 Perhaps the old saying, 'better fed than taught,' is alluded to here as in a preceding scene, where the clown says, 'I will show myself highly fed and lowly taught.' 4 The old copy reads to a compell'd restraint.' 5 The meaning appears to be, that the delay of the And make this haste as your own good proceeding, Hel. What more commands he? Hel. In every thing I wait upon his will. Hel. I pray you. Come, sirrah. [Exeunt. Laf. But, I hope, your lordship thinks not him a soldier. Ber. Yes, my lord, and of very valiant approof. 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; make us friends, I will pursue the amity. Ber. Will she away to-night? Laf. A good traveller is something at the latter end of a dinner; but one that lies three-thirds, and more delightful when they come. 6 A specious appearance of necessity 7 The bunting nearly resembles the sky-lark; but lark. has little or no song, which gives estimation to the sky |