rence betwixt their two estates; Love, no god, that would not extend his might, only where qualities were level; Diana, no queen of virgins, that would suffer her poor *knight to be surprised without rescue in the first affault, or ransom afterward: This fhe deliver'd in the most bitter touch of forrow, that e'er I heard a virgin exclaim in: which I held my duty, fpeedily to acquaint you withal; fithence, in the lofs that may happen, it concerns you fomething to know it. Count. You have discharg'd this honeftly; keep it to yourself: many likelihoods inform'd me of this before, which hung fo tottering in the balance, that I could neither believe, nor misdoubt: Pray you, leave me: 'stall this in your bofom, and I thank you for your honeft care: I will speak with you further anon. [Exit Steward. Enter Helena. Count. Even fo it was with me, when I was young: If we are nature's, thefe are ours; this thorn Doth to our rofe of youth rightly belong; Our blood to us, this to our blood is born; It is the fhew and feal of nature's truth, Where love's strong paffion is imprest in youth: Such were our faults, Oh! then we thought them none. Hel. What is your pleasure, madam? I am a mother to you. Hel. Mine honourable miftrefs. Count. Nay a mother; * knight]-votary, one of her train. yftall]-confine, conceal. thefe]-affections. By our remembrances]-According to our recollection. Why b Why not a mother? When I faid, a mother, Hel. That I am not. Count. I fay, I am your mother. Hel. Pardon, madam; The count Roufillon cannot be my brother: Count. Nor I your mother? Hel. You are my mother, madam; 'Would you were (So that my lord, your fon, were not my brother) Indeed, my mother!—or were you both our mothers, 'I'd care no more for't, than I do for heaven, d So I were not his fifter: Can't no other, But, I your daughter, he must be my brother? ↳ choice breeds a native flip to us from foreign feeds :]—choice rears and cherishes a foreign flip with the fame fondnefs, as though it were native, or fprung from ouríelves. I'd care no more for't, than I do]-I'd wish as much for it, as I do. -I care no more for. Can't no other, but,]-Can it be no otherwife, but if I be. Count. Count. Yes, Helen, you might be my daughter-in-law; God shield, you mean it not! daughter, and mother, So ftrive upon your pulfe: What, pale again? My fear hath catch'd your fondness: Now I fee The mystery of your Your falt tears' head. loneliness, and find Now to all fenfe 'tis grofs, To say, thou doft not: therefore tell me true; Hel. Good madam, pardon me! Hel. Your pardon, noble mistress! Count. Love you my fon? Hel. Do not you love him, madam ? Count. Go not about; my love hath in't a bond, Whereof the world takes note: come, come, disclose The state of your affection; for your paffions Have to the full appeach'd. Hel. Then, I confefs, Here on my knee, before high heaven and you, loveliness; lowlinefs-this depreffion of your spirits. ffhould be fufpected :]-fhould not appear. My My friends were poor, but honeft; fo's my love: Nor would I have him, 'till I do deferve him; I know I love in vain, ftrive against hope; g Yet, in this captious and intenible fieve, I still pour in the waters of my love, And lack not to lofe ftill: thus, Indian-like, The fun, that looks upon his worshipper, k But knows of him no more. My dearest madam, Count. Had you not lately an intent, speak truly, Hel. Madam, I had. Count. Wherefore? tell true. Hel. I will tell truth; by grace itself, I fwear. You know, my father left me fome prescriptions Of rare and prov'd effects, such as his reading, And manifeft experience, had collected & captious and intenible]-capable of receiving, but not of retaining. black not to lofe]-cease not to love. k your Dian]-Diana in your perfon. cites]-fhews, proves. For For general fovereignty; and that he will'd me As notes, whofe faculties inclufive were, Count. This was your motive For Paris, was it? fpeak. Hel. My lord your fon made me to think of this If Count. But think you, Helen, you should tender your fuppofed aid, He would receive it? He and his phyficians Are of a mind; he, that they cannot help him, They, that they cannot help: How fhall they credit Hel. There's fomething " hints, More than my father's fkill, which was the greatest your By the luckiest stars in heaven: and, would By fuch a day, and hour. Count. Doft thou believe't? honour As notes, &c.]-receipts, wherein more was contain'd than met the Emborwell'd of their doctrine,]-Having exhaufted their skill. hints,]-whispers, perfuades me. for my legacy,]-the credit of it. Cc 2 Hel. |