I'd poison that vile rascal.
Tel.

Which is he?

Dia. That Jackanapes with scarfs: Why is he melancholy?

Hel. Perchance he's hurt i' the battle.

Par. Lose our drum! well.

the humour of his design; let him fetch off his drum in any hand.

Ber. How now, monsieur? this drum sticks sorely in your disposition.

2 Lord. A pox on't, let it go; 'tis but a drum. Par. But a drum! Is't but a drum? A drum so

Mar. He's shrewdly vex'd at something: Look, lost?-There was an excellent command! to he has spied us.

Wid. Marry, hang you!

Mar. And your courtesy, for a ring-carrier!
[Exeunt Bertram, Parolles, officers, and
soldiers.

Wid. The troop is past: Come, pilgrim, I will
bring you

Where you shall host: of enjoin'd penitents
There's four or five, to great Saint Jaques bound,
Already at my house.

Hel.
I humbly thank you:
Please it this matron, and this gentle maid,
To eat with us to-night, the charge, and thanking,
Shall be for me; and, to requite you further,
I will bestow some precepts on this virgin,
Worthy the note.

Both. We'll take your offer kindly.
SCENE VI.-Camp before Florence.

charge in with our horse upon our own wings, and to rend our own soldiers.

2 Lord. That was not to be blamed in the command of the service; it was a disaster of war that Cæsar himself could not have prevented, if he had been there to command.

Ber. Well, we cannot greatly condemn our success: some dishonour we had in the loss of that drum; but it is not to be recovered.

Par. It might have been recovered.
Ber. It might, but it is not now.

Par. It is to be recovered: but that the merit of service is seldom attributed to the true and exact performer, I would have that drum or another, or hic jacet.

Ber. Why, if you have a stomach to't, monsieur [Exe. if you think your mystery in stratagem can bring this instrument of honour again into his native Enter quarter, be magnanimous in the enterprize, and go I will grace the attempt for a worthy exploit: if you speed well in it, the duke shall both speak of it, and extend to you what further becomes his greatness, even to the utmost syllable of your wor

Bertram, and the two French Lords. 1 Lord. Nay, good my lord, put him to't; him have his way.

let

2 Lord. If your lordship find him not a hilding, hold me no more in your respect.

on;

thiness.

1 Lord. On my life, my lord, a bubble. Pur. By the hand of a soldier, I will undertake it. Ber. Do you think I am so far deceived in him? Ber. But you must not now slumber in it. I Lord. Believe it, my lord, in mine own direct Par. I'll about it this evening: and I will pre knowledge, without any malice, but to speak of him sently pen down my dilemmas, encourage myself as my kinsman, he's a most notable coward, an in- in my certainty, put myself into my mortal preparafinite and endless liar, an hourly promise-breaker, the owner of no one good quality worthy your lordship's entertainment.

2 Lord. It were fit you knew him ; lest, reposing too far in his virtue, which he hath not, he might, at some great and trusty business, in a main danger, fail you.

Ber. I would I knew in what particular action to try him.

2 Lord. None better than to let him fetch off his drum, which you hear him so confidently undertake

tion, and, by midnight, look to hear further from me. Ber. May I be bold to acquaint his grace, you are gone about it?

Par. I know not what the success will be, my lord; but the attempt I vow.

Ber. I know thou art valiant; and, to the possi bility of thy soldiership, will subscribe for thee. Farewell.

Par. I love not many words.

[Exit.

1 Lord. No more than a fish loves water.-Is not this a strange fellow, my lord? that so confidently seems to undertake this business, which he knows 1 Lord. I, with a troop of Florentines, will sud-is not to be done; damns himself to do, and dares denly surprise him; such I will have, whom, I am better be damned than to do't.

to do.

sure, he knows not from the enemy: we will bind 2 Lord. You do not know him, my lord, as we and hood-wink him so, that he shall suppose no do: certain it is, that he will steal himself into a other but that he is carried into the leaguer of the man's favour, and, for a week, escape a great deal adversaries, when we bring him to our tents: Be of discoveries; but when you find him out, you but your lordship present at his examination; if he have him ever after.

do not, for the promise of his life, and in the high- Ber. Why, do you think he will make no deed est compulsion of base fear, offer to betray you, at all of this, that so seriously he does address himand deliver all the intelligence in his power against self unto?

you, and that with the divine forfeit of his soul upon 1 Lord. None in the world; but return with an oath, never trust my judgment in any thing. invention, and clap upon you two or three proba.

2 Lord. O, for the love of laughter, let him fetch ble lies. but we have almost embossed him, you his drum; he says he has a stratagem for't: when shall see his fall to-night; for, indeed, he is not for your lordship sees the bottom of his success in't, your lordship's respect.

and to what metal this counterfeit lump of ore will 2 Lord. We'll make you some sport with the fox, be melted, if you give him not John Drum's enter-ere we case him. He was first smoked by the old tainment, your inclining cannot be removed. Here lord Lafeu: when his disguise and he is parted, tell me what a sprat you shall find him; which you shall see this very night.

he comes.

Enter Parolles.

1 Lord. O, for the love of laughter, hinder not

1 Lord. I must go look my twigs; he shall be caught.

(4) I will pen down my plans, and the probable

(1) A paltry fellow, a coward. (2) The camp. (3) I would recover the lost drum or another, or obstructions. die in the attempt,

(5) Hunted him down. (6) Strip him naked,

Ber. Your brother, he shall go along with me. Let us assay our plot; which, if it speed,
1 Lord. As't please your lordship: I'll leave you. Is wicked meaning in a lawful deed,
[Exit. And lawful meaning in a lawful act;

Ber. Now will I lead you to the house, and show Where both not sin, and yet a sinful fact:

you The lass I spoke of. 2 Lord. But, you say, she's honest. Ber. That's all the fault: I spoke with her but

Lays down his wanton siege before her beauty,
Resolves to carry her; let her, in fine, consent,
As we'll direct her how 'tis best to bear it,
Now his important2 blood will nought deny
That she'll demand: A ring the county' wears,
That downward hath succeeded in his house,
From son to son, some four or five descents
Since the first father wore it: this ring he holds
In most rich choice; yet, in his idle fire,
To buy his will, it would not seem too dear,
Howe'er repented after.

Wid.

Now I see

The bottom of your purpose.

Hel. You see it lawful then: It is no more, But that your daughter, ere she seems as won, Desires this ring; appoints him an encounter; In fine, delivers me to fill the time,

Herself most chastely absent: after this,

To marry her, I'll add three thousand crowns
To what is past already.

Wid.

I have yielded :
Instruct my daughter how she shall perséver,
That time and place, with this deceit so lawful,
May prove coherent. Every night he comes
With musics of all sorts, and songs compos'd
To her unworthiness: It nothing steads us,
To chide him from our eaves; for he persists,
As if his life lay on't.
Hel.

Why then, to-night

(1) i. e. By discovering herself to the count, (2) Importunate. (3) i, e. Count.

From under our windows,

But let's about it.

ACT IV.

SCENE I.-Without the Florentine camp. En ter first Lord, with five or six Soldiers in ambush.

1 Lord. He can come no other way but by this hedge's corner: When you sally upon him, speak what terrible language you will; though you understand it not yourselves, no matter: for we must not seem to understand him; unless some one among us, whom we must produce for an interpreter.

1 Sold. Good captain, let me be the interpreter. 1 Lord. Art not acquainted with him? knows he not thy voice?

1 Sold. No, sir, I warrant you.

1 Lord. But what linsy-woolsy hast thou to speak to us again?

1 Sold. Even such as you speak to me.

1 Lord. He must think us some band of stran gers i' the adversary's entertainment. Now he hath a smack of all neighbouring languages; therefore we must every one be a man of his own fancy, not to know what we speak one to another; so we seem to know, is to know straight our purpose: chough's language, gabble enough, and good enough. As for you, interpreter, you must scem very politic. But couch, ho! here he comes; to beguile two hours in a sleep, and then to return and swear the lies he forges.

Enter Parolles.

Par. Ten o'clock: within these three hours 'twill be time enough to go home. What shall I say! have done? It must be a very plausive invention that carries it: They begin to smoke me; and disgraces have of late knocked too often at my door. I find my tongue is too fool-hardy; but my heart hath the fear of Mars before it, and of his creatures, not daring the reports of my tongue.

1 Lord. This is the first truth that e'er thine own tongue was guilty of.

[Aside.

Par. What the devil should move me to undertake the recovery of this drum; being not ignorant of the impossibility, and knowing I had no such purpose? I must give myself some hurts, and say, I got them in exploit: Yet slight ones will not carry it: They will say, Came you off with so little? and great ones I dare not give. Wherefore? what's the instance?" Tongue, I must put you into a butter-woman's mouth, and buy another of Bajazet's mule, if you prattle me into these perils.

1 Lord. Is it possible he should know what he is, and be that he is? [Aside. Par. I would the cutting of my garments would serve the turn; or the breaking of my Spanish sword.

1 Lord. We cannot afford you so. [Aside. Par. Or the baring of my beard; and to say, it was in stratagem.

[Aside.

1 Lord. 'Twould not do.
Par. Or to drown my clothes, and say I was

stripped.

Lord, Hardly serve.

[Aside,

(5) i. e. Foreign troops in the enemy's pay.
(6) A bird like a jack-daw, (7) The proof

Par. Though I swore I leaped from the window

of the citadel

1 Lord. How deep? Par. Thirty fathom.

Ber.
Dia.

So should you be.

No.

No more of that!

[Aside. My mother did but duty; such, my lord,
As you owe to your wife.
Ber.

1 Lord. Three great oaths would scarce make

that be believed.

[Aside. I pr'ythee, do not strive against my vows: Par. I would I had any drum of the enemy's; I was compell'd to her: but I love thee

I would swear I recovered it.

1 Lord. You shall hear one anon. Par. A drum now of the enemy's!

[Aside. [Alarum within. 1 Lord. Throca movousus, cargo, cargo, cargo. All. Cargo, cargo, villianda par carbo, cargo. Par. O! ransome, ransome:-Do not hide mine eyes. [They seize him and blindfold him. 1 Sold. Boskos thromuldo boskos.

Par. I know you are the Muskos' regiment,
And I shall lose my life for want of language:
If there be here German, or Dane, low Dutch,
Italian, or French, let him speak to me,

I will discover that which shall undo
The Florentine.

1 Sold.

Boskos vauvado :

I understand thee, and can speak thy tongue :-
Kerelybonto:- -Sir,

Betake thee to thy faith, for seventeen poniards
Are at thy bosom.

Par.

1 Sold.

Oh!

Manka revania dulche.

1 Lord.

O, pray, pray, pray.
Oscorbi dulchos volivorca.
1 Sold. The general is content to spare thee yet;
And, hood-wink'd as thou art, will lead thee on
To gather from thee: haply, thou may'st inform
Something to save thy life.

Par.
O, let me live,
And all the secrets of our camp I'll show,
Their force, their purposes: nay, I'll speak that
Which you will wonder at.

1 Sold.

But wilt thou faithfully?

Par. If I do not, damn me. 1 Sold.

Come on, thou art granted space.

By love's own sweet constraint, and will for ever
Do thee all rights of service.
Dia.
Ay, so you serve us,
Till we serve you: but when you have our roses,
You barely leave our thorns to prick ourselves,
And mock us with our bareness.
Ber.
How have I sworn?
Dia. 'Tis not the many oaths that make the
truth;

But the plain single vow, that is vow'd true.
What is not holy, that we swear not by,

But take the Highest to witness:2 Then, pray you,
tell me,

If I should swear by Jove's great attributes,

I lov'd you dearly, would you believe my oaths,
When I did love you ill? this has no holding,
To swear by him whom I protest to love,
That I will work against him: Therefore, your oaths
Are words, and poor conditions; but unseal'd;
At least, in my opinion.

Ber.

Change it, change it;
Be not so holy-crucl: love is holy;
And my integrity ne'er knew the crafts,
That you do charge men with: Stand no more off,
But give thyself unto my sick desires,
Who then recover: Say, thou art mine, and ever
My love, as it begins, shall so perséver.

Dia. I see that men make hopes in such affairs,
That we'll forsake ourselves. Give me that ring.
Ber. I'll lend it thee, my dear, but have no power
To give it from me.

Dia.
Will you not, my lord?
Ber. It is an honour 'longing to our house,
Bequeathed down from many ancestors;
Acordo linta.-Which were the greatest obloquy i' the world
In me to lose.
Dia.
Mine honour's such a ring:
My chastity's the jewel of our house,
Bequeathed down from many ancestors;
Which were the greatest obloquy i' the world
In me to lose: Thus your own proper wisdom
Brings in the champion honour on my part,
Against your vain assault.

[Exit, with Parolles guarded. 1 Lord. Go, tell the count Rousillon, and my brother, We have caught the woodcock, and will keep him muffled,

Till we do hear from them.

2 Sold.

Captain, I will.

1 Lord. He will betray us all unto ourselves;Inform 'em that.

Ber.
Here, take my ring:
My house, mine honour, yea, my life be thine,
And I'll be bid by thee.

Dia. When midnight comes, knock at my cham-
ber window;

I'll order take, my mother shall not hear.

SCENE II.-Florence. A room in the Widow's Now will I charge you in the band of truth,

house. Enter Bertram and Diana.

When you have conquer'd my yet maiden bed,

Ber. They told me, that your name was Fon-Remain there but an hour, nor speak to me: tibell.

Dia. No, my good lord, Diana.
Ber.

Titled goddess;
And worth it, with addition! But, fair soul,
In your fine frame hath love no quality?
If the quick fire of youth light not your mind,
You are no maiden, but a monument:
When you are dead, you should be such a one
As you are now, for you are cold and stern;
And now you should be as your mother was,
When your sweet self was got.

Dia. She then was honest.

(1) i. e. Against his determined resolution never to cohabit with Helena,

244

You may so in the end.

My mother told me just how he would woo,
As if she sat in his heart; she says, all men
Have the like oaths: he had sworn to marry me,
When his wife's dead; therefore I'll lie with him,
When I am buried. Since Frenchmen are so
braid,'

Marry that will, I'll live and die a maid:
Only, in this disguise, I think't no sin
To cozen him, that would unjustly win.

[Exit.

SCENE III.-The Florentine camp. Enter the
two French Lords, and two or three Soldiers.
1 Lord. You have not given him his mother's
letter?

2 Lord. I have delivered it an hour since: there
is something in't that stings his nature; for, on the
reading it, he changed almost into another man.
1 Lord. He has much worthy blame laid upon
nim, for shaking off so good a wife, and so sweet
a lady.

2 Lord. Especially he hath incurred the everlasting displeasure of the king, who had evenf tuned his bounty to sing happiness to him. I will tell you a thing, but you shall let it dwell darkly with you.

1 Lord. When you have spoken it, 'tis dead, and I am the grave of it.

of her last breath, and now she sings in heaven.
2 Lord. How is this justified?

1 Lord. The stronger part of it by her own let ters; which makes her story true, even to the point of her death: her death itself, which could not be her office to say, is come, was faithfully confirmed by the rector of the place.

2 Lord. Hath the count all this intelligence? 1 Lord. Ay, and the particular confirmations, point from point, to the full arming of the verity. 2 Lord. I am heartily sorry, that he'll be glad of this.

1 Lord. How mightily, sometimes, we make us comforts of our losses!

2 Lord. And how mightly, some other times, we drown our gain in tears! The great dignity, that his valour hath here acquired for him, shall at home be encountered with a shame as ample.

1 Lord. The web of our life is of a mingled

yarn, good and ill together; our virtues would be proud, if our faults whipped them not; and our crimes would despair, if they were not cherish'd by our virtues.

Enter a Servant.

How now? where's your master?

Serv. He met the duke in the street, sir, of whom he hath taken a solemn leave; his lordship 2 Lord. He hath perverted a young gentlewo-will next morning for France. The duke hath of man here in Florence, of a most chaste renown; fered him letters of commendations to the king. 2 Lord. They shall be no more than needful and this night he fleshes his will in the spoil of her honour: he hath given her his monumental ring, there, if they were more than they can commend. and thinks himself made in the unchaste composi tion.

1 Lord. Now, God delay our rebellion; as we are ourselves, what things are we!

Enter Bertram.

1 Lord. They cannot be too sweet for the king's tartness. Here's his lordship now. How now, my 2 Lord. Merely our own traitors. And as in the lord, is't not after midnight? Ber. I have to-night despatched sixteen busi common course of all treasons, we still see them) reveal themselves, till they attain to their abhorred nesses, a month's length a piece, by an abstract of ends; so he, that in this action contrives against success: I have conge'd with the duke, done my his own nobility, in his proper stream o'erflows adieu with his nearest; buried a wife, mourned for her; writ to my lady mother, I am returning; enhimself.2

1 Lord. Is it not meant damnable in us, to be tertained my convoy; and, between these main trumpeters of our unlawful intents? We shall not parcels of despatch, effected many nicer needs; the last was the greatest, but that I have not then have his company to-night?

2 Lord. Not till after midnight; for he is dicted ended yet.

to his hour.

haste of your lordship.

2 Lord. If the business be of any difficulty, and . Lord. That approaches apace: I would gladly this morning your departure hence, it requires nave him see his company anatomized; that he might take a measure of his own judgments, wherein so curiously he had set this counterfeit.

2 Lord. We will not meddle with him till he come; for his presence must be the whip of the other.

1 Lord. In the mean time, what hear you of these wars?

2 Lord. I hear, there is an overture of peace. 1 Lord. Nay, I assure you, a peace concluded. 2 Lord. What will count Rousillon do then? will he travel higher, or return again into France? 1 Lord. I perceive, by this demand, you are not altogether of his council.

2 Lord. Let it be forbid, sir! so should I be a great deal of his act.

1 Lord. Sir, his wife, some two months since, fled from his house: her pretence is a pilgrimage to Saint Jaques le grand; which holy undertaking, with most austere sanctimony, she accomplished": and, there residing, the tenderness of her nature became as a prey to her grief; in fine, made a groan

(1) Crafty, deceitful.

i, e. Betrays his own secrets in his own talk.
Here, as elsewhere, used adverbially,

Ber. I mean, the business is not ended, as fearing to hear of it hereafter: But shall we have this dialogue between the fool and the soldier?— Come, bring forth this counterfeit module; he has dereived me, like a double-meaning prophesier.

2 Lord. Bring him forth: [Exeunt Soldiers.] he has sat in the stocks all night, poor gallant knave. Ber. No matter; his heels have deserv'd it, in usurping his spurs so long. How does he carry himself?

1 Lord. I have told your lordship already: the stocks carry him. But, to answer you as you would be understood; he weeps, like a wench that had shed her milk: he hath confessed himself to Morgan, whom he supposes to be a friar, from the time of his remembrance, to this very instant disaster of his setting i' the stocks: And what think you he hath confessed?

Ber. Nothing of me, has he?

2 Lord. His confession is taken, and it shall be read to his face: if your lordship be in't, as, I be

(4) For companion. (5) Model, pattern. (6) An allusion to the degradation of a knight by hacking off his spurs,

lieve you are, you must have the patience to not possible, with well-weighing sums of gold, to

bear it.

Re-enter Soldiers, with Parolles.

corrupt him to a revolt. What say you to this? what do you know of it?

Par. I beseech you, let me answer to the parti

Ber. A plague upon him! muffled! he can say cular of the intergatorics: Demand them singly. nothing of me; hush! hush!

1 Lord. Hoodman comes!-Porto tartarossa.

1 Sold. He calls for the tortures; What will you say without 'em?

Par. I will confess what I know without constraint; if ye pinch me like a pasty, I can say no

more.

1 Sold. Bosko chimurcho.

2 Lord. Boblibindo chicurmurco.

1 Sold. Do you know this captain Dumain? Par. I know him: he was a botcher's 'prentice the sheriff's fool with child; a dumb innocent, in Paris, from whence he was whipped for getting that could not say him, nay.

[Dumain lifts up his hand in anger. Ber. Nay, by your leave, hold your hands: though I know, his brains are forfeit to the next title that falls.

1 Sold. Well, is this captain in the duke of Flo

1 Sold. You are a merciful general:-Our general] bids you answer to what I shall ask you out of a rence's camp?

note.

Par. An truly, as I hope to live.

1 Sold. First demand of him how many horse the duke is strong. What say you to that?

Par. Five or six thousand; but very weak and unserviceable: the troops are all scattered, and the commanders very poor rogues, upon my reputation and credit, and as I hope to live.

1 Sold, Shall I set down your answer so? Par. Do; I'll take the sacrament on't, how and which way you will.

Ber. All's one to him. What a past-saving slave

is this!

1 Lord. You are deceived, my lord; this is monsieur Parolles, the gallant militarist, (that was his own phrase,) that had the whole theoric' of war in the knot of his scarf, and the practice in the chape of his dagger.

2 Lord. I will never trust a man again, for keeping his sword clean; nor believe he can have every hing in him, by wearing his apparel neatly.

1 Sold. Well, that's set down.

Par. Five or six thousand horse, I said,-I will say true, or thereabouts, set down,-for I'll speak

truth.

Par. Upon my knowledge, he is, and lousy. 1 Lord. Nay, look not so upon me; we shall hear of your lordship anon.

1 Sold. What is his reputation with the duke? Par. The duke knows him for no other but a poor officer of mine; and writ to me this other day, to turn him out o' the band: I think, I have his letter in my pocket.

1 Sold. Marry, we'll search.

Par. In good sadness, I do not know; either it is there, or it is upon a file, with the duke's other letters, in my tent.

it

1 Sold. Here 'tis; here's a paper? Shall I read
to you?

Par. I do not know, if it be it, or no.
Ber. Our interpreter does it well.
1 Lord. Excellently.

1 Sold. Dian.

gold,

The count's a fool, and full of

advertisement to a proper maid in Florence, one Par. That is not the duke's letter, sir; that is an Diana, to take heed of the allurement of one count Rousillon, a foolish idle boy, but, for all that, very ruttish; I pray you, sir, put it up again.

1 Sold. Nay, I'll read it first, by your favour.

Par. My meaning in't, I protest, was very na-honest in the behalf of the maid: for I knew the young count to be a dangerous and lascivious boy who is a whale to virginity, and devours up all the fry it finds.

Par. I humbly thank you, sir: a truth's a truth, the rogues are marvellous poor.

1 Sold. Demand of him, of what strength they are afoot. What say you to that.

Ber. Dainable, both sides rogue!

1 Sold. When he swears oaths, bid him drop gold, and take it;

After he scores, he never pays the score: Half won, is match well made; match, and well make it;

Par. By my troth, sir, if I were to live this present hour, I will tell true. Let me see: Spurio a hundred and fifty, Sebastian so many, Corabus He ne'er pays after-debts, take it before; so many, Jaques so many; Guiltian, Cosmo, Lodo-nd say, a soldier, Dian, told thee this, wick, and Gratii, two hundred fifty cach: mine Men are to mell with, boys are not to kiss: own company, Chitopher, Vaumond, Bentii, two For count of this, the count's a fool, I know it, hundred and fifty cach: so that the muster-file, Who pays before, but not when he does owe it. rotten and sound, upon my life, amounts not to fifThine, as he vow'd to thee in thine ear, teen thousand poll; half of which dare not shake PAROLLES. the snow from off their cassocks,' lest they shake Ber. He shall be whipped through the army, wita themselves to pieces. this rhyme in his forehead.

Ber. What shall be done to him.

1 Lord. Nothing, but let him have thanks. Demand of him my conditions, and what credit I have with the duke,

2 Lord. This is your devoted friend, sir, the manifold linguist, and the armipotent soldier."

Ber. I could endure any thing before but a cat, and now he's a cat to me.

1 Sold. Well, that's set down. You shall demand of kim, whether one captain Dumain be iwe shall be fain to hang you. the camp, a Frenchman; what his reputation is

1 Sold. I perceive, sir, by the general's looks,

Par. My life, sir, in any case: not that I am with the duke, what his valour, honesty, and ex-afraid to die; but that, my offences being many, I pertness in wars; or whether he thinks, it were would repent out the remainder of nature: let me

() Theory. (2) The point of the scabbard.
(3) Cassock then signified a horseman's loose coat.
4) Disposition and character.

(5) For interrogatories. (6) A natural fool. (7) i. e. A match well made is half won; make your match therefore, but make it well.