and to stop up the difpleasure he hath conceiv'd againft your fon, there is no fitter matter. How do's your Ladyship like it? Count. With very much content, my Lord, and E wifh it happily effected. Laf. His Highness comes poft from Marseilles, of as able a body as when he number'd thirty; he will be here to-morrow, or I am deceiv'd by him that in fuch intelligence hath feldom fail'd. Count. It rejoices me, that, I hope, I fhall fee him ere I die. I have letters, that my fon will be here tonight I fhall befeech your Lord fhip to remain with. me 'till they, meet together. Laf Madam, I was thinking with what manners L might fafely, be admitted. Count. You need but plead your honourable privi-. lege. Laf. Lady, of that I have made a bold charter; but, I thank my God, it holds yet. Enter Clown. Clo, O.Madam, yonder's my Lord your fon with a patch of velvet on's face; whether there be a fcar under't, or no, the velvet knows, but 'tis a goodly patch of velvet; his left cheek is a cheek of two pile and a half, but his right cheek is worn bare.. Count. A fcar nobly got, or a noble fcar, is a good livery of honour. So, belike, is that. Glo. But it is your carbonado'd' face. Laf. Let us go fee your fon, I pray you: long to talk with the young noble foldier. Clo. 'Faith, there's a dozen of 'em with delicate fine hats and meft courteous feathers, which bow the head, and nod at every man.. [Exeunt, ACT A CT V.. SCENE, the Court of France, at Marfeilles. Enter Helena, Widow, and Diana, with two Attendants.. B HELENA, OUT this exceeding pofting day and night Muft wear your fpirits low; we cannot help it.. But fince you've made the days and nights as one, To wear your gentle limbs in my affairs Be bold, you do fo grow in my requital, As nothing can unroot you, In happy time, Enter a Gentleman. This man may help me to his Majefty's ear, Hel. Sir, I have seen you in the court of France. Hel. I do prefume, Sir, that you are not fallen. Gent. What's your will? Hel. That it will please you To give this poor petition to the King, And aid me with that ftore of power you have, To come into his presence. Gent. The King's not here. Hel. Not here, Sir? Gent. Not, indeed.. He hence remov'd last night, and with more hafte Wid. Wid. Lord, how we lofe our pains! Hel. All's well, that ends well yet, Tho' time feems fo adverfe, and means unfit: Hel. I beseech you, Sir, Since you are like to fee the King before me, Gent. This I'll do for you. Hel. And you fhall find yourself to be well thank'd, What-e'er falls more. We must to horfe again. Go, go, provide. Par. G SCENE changes to Roufillon. Enter Clown, and Parolles. [Exeunt. OOD Mr. Levatch, give my Lord Lafeu this letter; I have ere now, Sir, been better known to you, when I have held familiarity with fresher cloaths; (36) but I am now, Sir,. muddied in fortune's moat, and smell somewhat ftrong of her strong difpleasure. Clo (36) But I am now, Sir, muddied in Fortune's mood, and smell some→ what frong of her firong difpicasure.] Fortune's mood is, without queftion, good fenfe, and very proper and yet I verily believe, the Poet wrote as I have reftor'd in the text; in Fortune's moat : because the clown in the very next fpeech replies, I will benchforth eat no fifh of Fortune's buttering, and again, when he comes to repeatParolles's petition to Lafeu, --that bath fall'n into the unclean fishpond of ber difpleafure, and, as be fays, is muddied withal. And again, Pray you, Sir, use the carp as you may, &c. In all which places, 'tis obvious, a moat, or pond, is the allufion. Befides, Parolles smelling Arong, as he fays, of Fortune's ftrong difpleasure, carries on the fame image For as the meats round old feats were always replenish'd with fith, to the Clown's joke of holding his nofe, we may prefume, pro ceeded Cla. Truly, Fortune's displeasure is but fluttish, if it fmell fo ftrongly as thou fpeak'ft of: I will henceforth eat no fifh of Fortune's butt'ring. Pr'ythee, allow the wind. Par. Nay, you need not to ftop your nofe, Sir; I fpake but by a metaphor. Clo. Indeed, Sir, if your metaphor ftink, I will flop my nofe against any man's metaphor. Pry'thee, get thee further. Par. Pray you, Sir, deliver me this paper. Clo. Foh! pr'ythee, ftand away; a paper from Fortune's close-ftool, to give to a nobleman! look, here he comes himself. Enter Lafeu. Here is a pur of Fortune's, Sir, or of Fortune's cat, (but not a mufk-cat ;) that hath fall'n into the unclean fishpond of her difpleasure, and as he fays, is muddied withal. Pray you, Sir, ufe the carp as you may; for he looks like a poor, decayed, ingenious, foolish, rafcally knave. (37) I do pity his diftrefs in my fimiles of comfort, and leave him to your Lordship. Par. My Lord, I am a man whom fortune hath cruelly fcratch'd. Laf. And what would you have me to do? 'tis too late to pare her nails now. Wherein have you play'd the knave with fortune, that the fhould fcratch you, who of herself is a good Lady, and would not have knaves thrive long under her? there's a Quart d'ecu for you: let the justices make you and fortune friends; I am for other business. ceeded from this becaufe la Chambre baffe was always over the moat and therefore the Clown humorously fays, when Parolies is preffing him to deliver his letter to Loid Lafeu. Fob! prythee, fand away: A paper from Fortune's clofeffool, to give to a nobleman! (37) I de pity bis dress in my fmiles of comfort, This very humorous paflage my friend Mr. Warburton rescued from nonfenfe moft happily, by the infertion of a fingle letter, in the manner I have reform'd the text. Thefe fimiles of comfort are ironically meant by the Clown; as much as to fay, you may perceive, how much I think he deferves comfort, by my calling him Fortune's Cat, Carp, roscally Knave, &c. Par. Par. I beseech your honour, to hear me one fingle word. Laf. You beg a fingle penny more: comé, you fhall. ha't, fave your word. Par. My name, my good Lord, is Parolles. Laf. You beg more than one word then.. Cox' my paffion! give me your hand: how does your drum ? Par. O my good Lord, you were the first that found me. Laf. Was I, infooth and I was the firft, that loft thee. Par. It lies in you, my Lord, to bring me in fome grace, for you did bring me out. Laf. Out upon thee, knave! doft thou put upon me at once both the office of God and the devil? one brings. thee in grace, and the other brings thee out. [Sound trumpets.] The King's coming, I know, by his trumpets. Sirrah, inquire further after me, I had talk of you last night; tho' you are a fool, and a knave, you fhall eat; go to, follow. Par. I praise God for you [Exeunt. Flourish. Enter King, Countefs, Lafeu, the two French King. We loft a jewel of her, (38) our efteem. (38) our esteem. Was made much poorer by it:] What's the meaning of the King's efteem being made poorer by the lofs of Helen? I think, it. can only be understood in one sense; and that sense won't carry water: i. e. We fuffer'd in our estimation by her lofs. But how fo? Did the King contribute to her misfortunes? Nothing like it. Or. did he not do all in his power to prevent them? Yes; he married-‹ Bertram to her. We must certainly read therefore ; We lost a Jewel of ber; our eftate Was made much poorer by it: That's the certain confequence of any one's lofing a jewel, for their eftate to be made proportionably poorer according to the value of the, lofs. Mr. Warburton. Count. |