King. Farewell, young lord, these warlike principles, Do not throw from you:-and you, my lord, fare- Share the advice betwixt you; if both gain all, 1 Lord. It is our hope, sir, King. No, no, it cannot be; and yet my heart 2 Lord. Health, at your bidding, serve your King. Those girls of Italy, take heed of them; Par. 'Tis not his fault; the spark- Ber. I shall stay here the forehorse to a smock, Commit it, count. 1 Lord. Farewell, captain. 2 Lord. Sweet monsieur Parolles ! 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, with his cicatrice, an emblem of war, here on his sinister cheek; it was this very (1) i. e. Those excepted who possess modern Italy, the remains of the Roman empire. (2) Seeker, inquirer. (3) Be not captives before you are soldiers. (4) With a noise, bustle. (5) In Shakspeare's time it was usual for gentlemen to dance with swords on. sword entrenched it: say to him, I live; and observe his reports for me. 2 Lord. We shall, noble captain. Par. Mars dote on you for his novices! [Exeunt Lords.] What will you do? Ber. Stay; the king- [Seeing him rise. Par. Use a more spacious ceremony to the noble of too cold an adieu: be more expressive to them; lords; you have restrained yourself within the list for they wear themselves in the cap of time, there, do muster true gait, eat, speak, and move under the influence of the most received star; and though the devil lead the measure, such are to be follow ed: after them, and take a more dilated farewell. Ber. And I will do so. Par. Worthy fellows; and like to prove most sinewy sword-men. [Exe. Bertram and Parolles. Enter Lafeu. Laf. Pardon, my lord, [Kneeling.] for me and King, I'll fee thee to stand up. King. I would I had; so I had broke thy pate, Laf. No. O, will you eat 12 If you will see her,-now, by my faith and honour, Laf. Nay, come your ways. This haste hath wings indeed (6) They are the foremost in the fashion. (10) A female physician. (11) A kind of dance. (12) By profession is meant her declaration of the object of her coming. A traitor you do look like; but such traitors Hel. The rather will I spare my praises towards Knowing him, is enough. On his bed of death King. We thank you, maiden To empirics; or to dissever so Our great self and our credit, to esteem King. I cannot give thee less, to be call'd Thou thought'st to help me; and such thanks I give, Hel. What I can do, can do no hurt to try, flown From simple sources; and great seas have dried, Thy pains, not us'd, must by thyself be paid: (1) I am like Pandarus. But know I think, and think I know most sure, The greatest grace lending grace, A strumpet's boldness, a divulged shame,- King. Methinks, in thee some blessed spirit His powerful sound, within an organ weak: In common sense, sense saves another way. Hel. If I break time, or flinch in property Hel. But will you make it even? King. Ay, by my sceptre, and my hopes of heaven. Hel. Then shalt thou give me, with thy kingly What husband in thy power I will command: King. Here is my hand; the premises observ'd, More should I question thee, and more I must; Unquestion'd welcome, and undoubted blest.- (7) i. e. Pretend to greater things than befits the (2) Of acknowledged excellence. (3) A third eye. (4) An allusion to Daniel judging the two Elders. (5) i. e. When Moses smote the rock in Horeb. (6) This must refer to the children of Israel passing the Red Sea, when miracles had been de- by thee. nied by Pharaoh. (9) i. e. May be counted among the gifts enjoyed (10) The spring or morning of life. Clo. I will show myself highly fed, and lowly Count. Haste you again. [Exeunt severally. 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! SCENE III.-Paris. A room in the King's Po lace. Enter Bertram, Lafeu, and Parolles. Laf. They say, miracles are past; and we have Clo. Truly, madam, if God have lent a man any our philosophical persons, to make modern2 and manners, he may easily put it off at court: he that familiar things, supernatural and causeless. Hence cannot make a leg, put off's cap, kiss his hand, and is it, that we make trifles of terrors; en coneing say nothing, has neither leg, hands, lip, nor cap; ourselves into seeming knowledge, when we should and, indeed, such a fellow, to say precisely, were submit ourselves to an unknown fear.3 not for the court; but, for me, I have an answer Par. Why, 'tis the rarest argument of wonder, will serve all men. that hath shot out in our latter times. Ber. And so 'tis. 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 to fit 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. 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. Laf. To be relinquished of the artists,- Laf. That gave him out incurable,- Par. Right: as 'twere, a man assured of an- Par. Just, you say well; so would I have said. Laf. I may truly say, it is a novelty to the world. Par. It is, indeed: if you will have it in showing, you shall read it in,What do you call there? Laf. A showing of a heavenly effect in an earthly actor. Par. That's it I would have said: the very same. Laf. Why, your dolphin is not lustier: 'fore me I speak in respect- Par. Nay, 'tis strange, 'tis very strange, that is Clo. But a trifle neither, in good faith, if the the brief and the tedious of it; and he is of a most learned should speak truth of it: here it is, and all facinorous spirit, that will not acknowledge it to that belongs to't: Ask me, if I am a courtier; it shall do you no harm to learn. be the Laf. Very hand of heaven. Laf. In a most weak Par. And debile minister, great power, great Count. To be young again, if we could: I will be a fool in question, hoping to be the wiser by your answer. I pray you, sir, are you a courtier? Clo. O Lord, sir,-There's a simple putting off;-transcendence: which should, indeed, give us a more, more, a hundred of them. further use to be made, than alone the recovery of Count. Sir, I am a poor friend of yours, that the king, as to be--loves you. Clo. O Lord, sir,-Thick, thick, spare not me. Count. I think, sir, you can eat none of this homely meat. Clo. O Lord, sir,-Nay, put me to't, I warrant you. Count. Do you cry, O Lord, sir, at your whipping, and spare not me? Indeed, your Ổ Lord, sir, is very sequent' to your whipping; you would answer very well to a whipping, if you were but hound to't. Laf. Generally thankful. Enter King, Helena, and attendants. Par. I would have said it; you say well: Here comes the king. 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.- Clo. I ne'er had worse luck in my life, in my-Sit, my preserver, by thy patient's side; O Lord, sir: I see, things may serve long, but not And with this healthful hand, whose banish'd sense Thou hast repeal'd, a second time receive The confirmation of my promis'd gift, Which but attends thy naming. 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. Helen this, And urge her to a present answer back: Give Laf. I'd give bay Curtal,' and his furniture, My mouth no more were broken than these boys', And writ as little beard. King. Peruse them well: Not one of those, but had a noble father. Hel. Gentlemen, Heaven hath, through me, restor'd the king to health. All. We understand it, and thank heaven for you. Let the white death sit on thy cheek for ever; be Make choice; and, see, Who shuns thy love, shuns all his love in me. Hel. Now, Dian, from thy altar do I fly; And to Imperial Love, that god most high, Do my sighs stream.-Sir, will you hear my suit? 1 Lord. And grant it. Hel. Thanks, sir; all the rest is mute. Laf. I had rather be in this choice, than throw ames-ace for my life. 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 sons 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.] Me, and my service, ever whilst I live, Ber. My wife, my liege? I shall beseech your highness, In such a business give me leave to use Know'st thou not, Bertram, Yes, my good lord; But never hope to know why I should marry her. King. Thou know'st, she has rais'd me from my sickly bed. Ber. But follows it, my lord, to bring me down, Must answer for your raising? I knew her well; She had her breeding at my father's charge: (1) A docked horse. (2) i. e. I have no more to say to you. (3) The lowest chance of the dice. A poor physician's daughter my wife !-Disdain Rather corrupt me ever! King. 'Tis only title thou disdain'st in her, the which I can build up. Strange is it, that our bloods, Is good, without a name; vileness is so : I can create the rest: virtue and she, 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, I must produce my power: Here, take her hand, Proud scornful boy, unworthy this good gift; That does in vile misprision shackle up My love, and her desert; that canst not dream, We, poising us in her defective seale, Shall weigh thee to the beam: that wilt not know, It is in us to plant thine honour, where We please to have it grow: Check thy contempt: Obey our will, which travails in thy good : Believe not thy disdain, but presently Do thine own fortunes that obedient right, Which both thy duty owes, and our power claims; Or I will throw thee from my care for ever, Into the staggers, and the careless lapse Of youth and ignorance; both my revenge and hate, Loosing upon thee in the name of justice, Without all terms of pity: Speak; thine answer. Ber. Pardon, my gracious lord; for I submit My fancy to your eyes: When I consider, What great creation, and what dole of honour, Flies where you bid it, I find that she, which late Was in my nobler thoughts most base, is now The praised of the king; who, so ennobled, Is, as 'twere, born so. King. Take her by the hand, And tell her, she is thine: to whom I promise A counterpoise; if not to thy estate, A balance more replete. Ber. I take her hand. King. Good fortune, and the favour of the king, Smile upon this contract; whose ceremony Shall secm expedient, on the now-born brief, (4) i. e. The want of title. (5) Titles. (6) Good is good independent of any worldly Idistinction, and so is vileness vile. Clo. I will show myself highly fed, and lowly Count. Haste you again. [Exeunt severally. 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! SCENE III.-Paris. A room in the King's Po lace. Enter Bertram, Lafeu, and Parolles. Laf. They say, miracles are past; and we have Clo. Truly, madam, if God have lent a man any our philosophical persons, to maké moders on manners, he may easily put it off at court: he that familiar things, supernatural and causcless. Hence cannot make a leg, put off's cap, kiss his hand, and is it, that we make trifles of terrors; en coneing say nothing, has neither leg, hands, lip, nor cap; ourselves into seeming knowledge, when we should and, indeed, such a fellow, to say precisely, were submit ourselves to an unknown fear. 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 to fit 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. 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. Par. Why, 'tis the rarest argument of wonder, Laf. To be relinquished of the artists,- Laf. That gave him out incurable,- Par. Right: as 'twere, a man assured of an- Par. Just, you say well; so would I have said. Laf. I may truly say, it is a novelty to the word. Par. It is, indeed: if you will have it in show. ing, you shall read it in,What do you cal there? Laf. A showing of a heavenly effect in an earthly actor. Par. That's it I would have said: the very same. Laf. Why, your dolphin' is not lustier: 'fore me I speak in respect- Par. Nay, 'tis strange, 'tis very strange, that is Clo. But a trifle neither, in good faith, if the the brief and the tedious of it; and he is of a nost learned should speak truth of it: here it is, and all facinorous spirit, that will not acknowledge it to that belongs to't: Ask me, if I am a courtier; it be the shall do you no harm to learn. ? Count. To be young again, if we could: I will be a fool in question, hoping to be the wiser by your answer. I pray you, sir, are you a courtier Clo. O Lord, sir,-There's a simple putting off; more, more, a hundred of them. Count. Sir, I am a poor friend of yours, that loves you. Clo. O Lord, sir,-Thick, thick, spare not me. Count. I think, sir, you can eat none of this homely meat. Clo. O Lord, sir,-Nay, put me to't, I warrant you. Count. Do you cry, O Lord, sir, at your whipping, and spare not me? Indeed, your O Lord, sir, is very sequent' to your whipping; you would answer very well to a whipping, if you were but hound to't. Laf. Very hand of heaven. Laf. In a most weak Par. And debile minister, great power, great transcendence: which should, indeed, give us a further use to be made, than alone the recovery of the king, as to be Laf. Generally thankful. Enter King, Helena, and attendants. Par. I would have said it; you say well: Here comes the king. 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.- Clo. I ne'er had worse luck in my life, in my-Sit, my preserver, by thy patient's side; O Lord, sir: I see, things may serve long, but not And with this healthful hand, whose banish'd sense |