Par. So I say; both of Galen and Paracelsus. Laf. Of all the learned and authentick fellows3, — Par. Right, so I say. Laf. That gave him out incurable, — Par. Why, there 'tis; so say I too. Laf. Not to be helped, Par. Right: as 'twere, a man assured of an Laf. Uncertain life, and sure death. 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 the brief and the tedious of it; and he is of a most facinorous spirit, that will not acknowledge it to be the Laf. Very hand of heaven. Par. Ay, so I say. 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. 3 authentick fellows,] The epithet authentick was in our author's time particularly applied to the learned. 6 Why, your dolphin is not lustier :] By dolphin is meant the dauphin, the heir apparent, and the hope of the crown of France. His title is so translated in all the old books. 7 facinorous spirit,] Facinorous is wicked. 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? Laf. 'Fore God, I think so. King. Go, call before me all the lords in court. — [Exit an Attendant. Sit, my preserver, by thy patient's side; And with this healthful hand, whose banish'd sense The confirmation of my promis'd gift, Which but attends thy naming. Enter several Lords. Fair maid, send forth thine eye: this youthful parcel O'er whom both sovereign power and father's voice? Thou hast power to choose, and they none to forsake. Hel. To each of you one fair and virtuous mistress Fall, when love please! - marry, to each, but one1! Laf. I'd give bay Curtal2, and his furniture, My mouth no more were broken3 than these boys', King. Peruse them well: Not one of those, but had a nobie father. Hel. Gentlemen, Heaven hath, through me, restor❜d the king to health. All. We understand it, and thank heaven for you. 8 pleasant. Lustick:] Lustigh is the Dutch word for lusty, chearful, 9 O'er whom both sovereign power and father's voice-] They were his wards as well as his subjects. HENLEY. 1 2 marry, to each, but one !] i. e. except one. 3 My mouth no more were broken-] A broken mouth is a mouth which has lost part of its teeth. JOHNSON. Hel. I am a simple maid; and therein wealthiest, King. Make choice; and, see, Who shuns thy love, shuns all his love in me. Hel. Thanks, sir; all the rest is mute." Laf. I had rather be in this choice, than throw amesace for my life. 6 Hel. The honour, sir, that flames in your fair eyes, Before I speak, too threateningly replies: Love make your fortunes twenty times above 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 should take; I'll never do you wrong for your own sake: your hand 4 Let the white death, &c.] The white death is the chlorosis. The pestilence that ravaged England in the reign of Edward III. was called "the black death." 5--- the rest is mute.] i. e. I have no more to say to you. 6 ames-ace-] i. e. the lowest chance of the dice. 7 Do all they deny her?] None of them have yet denied her, or deny her afterwards, but Bertram. The scene must be so regulated that Lafeu 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. JOHNSON. Blessing upon your vows! and in your bed 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, Into your guiding power. This is the man. King. Why then, young Bertram, take her, she's thy wife. Ber. My wife, my liege? I shall beseech your high ness, In such a business give me leave to use The help of mine own eyes. King. What she has done for me? Ber. 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 8 King. 'Tis only title thou disdain'st in her, the which I can build up. Strange is it, that our bloods, Of colour, weight, and heat, pour'd all together, Would quite confound distinction, yet stand off 8 'Tis only title] i.e. the want of title. In differences so mighty: If she be ; All that is virtuous, (save what thou dislik'st, Where dust, and damn'd oblivion, is the tomb I can create the rest: virtue, and she, 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. 9 Where great additions swell,] Additions are the titles and descriptions by which men are distinguished from each other. Is good, without a name; vileness is so :] The meaning is,― Good is good, independent on any worldly distinction or title: so vileness is vile, in whatever state it may appear. MALONE. 2 Honour's born,] is the child of honour. Born is here used, as bairn still is in the North. HENLEY. ↑ "Honours thrive." MALONE. |