Hel. Ay, madam, knowingly.

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 upon thy attempt : Be gone to-morrow; and be sure of this, What I can help thee to, thou shalt not miss. [Exeunt.

А ст ІІ. SCENE I.

The Court of France.

Enter the King, with young lords taking leave for the
Florentine war. Bertram and Parolles.

Flourish cornets.
King. Farewel, young lord; these warlike principles
Do not throw from you :-and you, my lord, farewel :-
Share the advice betwixt you; if both gain all,
The gift doth stretch itself as 'tis receiv'd,
And is enough for both.

i 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
Will not confefs, he owes the malady
That does my life besiege. Farewel, young lords;
Whether I live or die, be you

the fons Of worthy Frenchmen: let higher Italy *(Those 'bated, that inherit but the fall

9

p into. my

beart will not confess, he owes the malady that does my life befrege.)—will not subscribe to the opinion that my disease is mortal; is whole under it.

' (Thaje 'bated, &c. ]-Those degenerate states, that were formed out of the ruins of the Roman empire.

Of

of the last monarchy) see, 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, farewel.

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. Farewel.--Come hither to me.

[The King retires to a couch. 1 Lord. Oh my sweet lord, that you will stay behind us! Par. 'Tis not his fault; the spark2 Lord. Oh, '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 it, boy, steal away bravely.

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

I Lord. There's honour in the theft.
Par. Commit it, count.
2 Lord. I am your accessary; and so farewel.
Ber. I grow to you, and our parting is * a tortur'd body.
i Lord. Farewel, captain.
2 Lord. Sweet monsieur Parolles !

queftant)-adventurer. you ferue]-you are soldiers.

commanded here, and kept a coil with;]-confined to the court, and made much ado with; and when I urge a wish to engage in the wars, I am told that I am too young, &c.

forehorse to a smock]-under petticoat government. * a tortur'd body.]-like tearing a limb from the body.

Par.

Сс 3

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, Y with his cicatrice, an emblem of war, here on his finifter cheek; it was this very sword ? entrench'd it ; say to him, I live; and observe his reports for me.

2 Lord. We shall, noble captain. Par. Mars doat on you for his novices! what will

you do?

Ber. Stay; the king

Par. Use a more spacious ceremony to the noble lords; you have restraind 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 receiv'd star; and though the devil lead the measure, such are to be follow'd: after them, and take a more dilated farewel.

Ber. And I will do so.

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

[Exeunt.

[Lafeu kneels.

Enter Lafeu.
Laf. Pardon, my lord, for me and for my tidings.
King. I'll fee thee to stand

up:
Laf. Then here's a man.
Stands, that has brought his pardon. I would, you
Had kneeld ny lord, to ask me mercy; and
That, at my bidding, you could so stand up.

a

y he's cicatriced with.

2 entrench'd it;]-made that wound. they wear themselves in the cap of the time, there do mufter true gait,]—are ever in the pink of the mode; they do master, &c.—they regulate their whole behaviour by the standard of the most prevailing fashion. brought his pardon.]—a fair apology for his intrusion-bought.

Will

King. I would I had : fo I had broke thy pate, And ask'd thee

mercy

for't. Laf. “Goodfaith, across :—but, my good lord, 'tis

thus;
you be cur'd of your infirmity ?
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 medecine
That's able to breathe life into a stone;
Quicken a rock, and make you dance canary
With sprightly fire and motion ; whose simple touch
Is powerful to araise king Pepin, nay,
To give great Charlemain a pen in his hand,
And write to her a love-line.

King. What her is this?

Laf. Why, doctor she: My lord, there's one arriv'd, 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, 5 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,

• Goodfaith, across:]-Agreed, though you had broken it across : or, you miss my meaning.

a medecine]—a female physician, a doctress.
canary)--a brisk dance.
profellion,]-declared design of her expedition.
and constancy,)-perseverance in that declaration.

blame my weakness :)—can impute to my own weakness; with to acknowledge the mere effect of my own credulity.

May

d

e

CC4

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 eyer prologues. Laf. [Returns.] Nay, come your ways.

[Bringing in Helena 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 uncle,
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 toward him; Knowing him, is enough. On his bed of death Many receipts he gave me ; chiefly one, Which, as the dearest issue of his practice, And of his old experience the only darling, He bad me store up, as a " triple eye, Safer than mine own two, more dear; I have fo: And, hearing your high majesty is touch'd With that malignant cause, wherein the power Of

my dear father's gift stands chief in honour,
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,