SCENE III. The Florentine Camp. 1 Lord. The ftronger part of it by her own letters; which makes her story true, even to the Enter the two French Lords, and two or three Soldiers.point of her death: her death itself, which could 1 Lord. You have not given him his mother's not be her office to fay, is come, was faithfully confirm'd by the rector of the place. letter? 2 Lord. I have deliver'd it an hour fince: there is fomething in't that ftings his nature; for, on the reading it, he chang'd almost into another man. 1 Lord. He has much worthy blame laid upon) him, for fhaking off fo good a wife, and fo fweet a lady. 2 Lord. Especially he hath incurred the everlating displeasure of the king, who had even tun'd his bounty to fing happiness to him. I will tell you a thing, but you fhall let it dwell darkly with you. Lord. When you have fpoken it, 'tis dead, and I am the grave of it. 2 Lord. He hath perverted a young gentlewoman here in Florence, of a moft chafte renown; and this night he flethes his will in the fpoil of her honour: he hath given her his monumental ring, and thinks himself made in the unchafte compofition. I Lord. Now God delay our rebellion; as we are ourselves, what things are we! 2 Lord. Merely our own traitors. And as in the common courfe of all treafons, we ftill fee them reveal themfelves, tili they attain to their abhorr'd ends; fo he, that in this action contrives against his own nobility, in his proper ftream o'erflows himself. 1 Lord. Is it not meant damnable in us, to be trumpeters of our unlawful intents? We fhall not then have his company to-night? 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 forry, that he'll be glad of this. 1 Lord. How mightily, fometimes, we make us comforts of our loffes! 2 Lord. And how mightily, fome other times, we drown our gain in tears! the great dignity, home be encounter'd with a fhame as ample. that his valour hath here acquired for him, shall at 1 Lord. The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and ill together: our virtues would be proud, if our faults whipp'd them not; and our crimes would defpair, if they were not cherish'd by our virtues. Enter a Servant. Serv. He met the duke in the ftreet, fir, of whom he hath taken a folemn leave; his lordship will next morning for France. The duke hath offered him letters of commendations to the king. 2 Lord. They fhall be no more than needful there, if they were more than they can commend. Enter Bertram, 1 Lord. They cannot be too sweet for the king's tartnefs. Here's his lordship now. How now, my lord, is't not after midnight? Bert. I have to-night difpatch'd fixteen businesses, 2 Lord. Not till after midnight; for he is dieted a month's length a-piece, by an abstract of fucto his hour. 1 Lord. That approaches apace: I would gladly have him fee his company anatomized; that he might take a measure of his own judgment, wherein fo curioufly he had fet this counterfeit. 2 Lord. We will not meddle with him till he come; for his prefence must be the whip of the other. cefs: I have conge'd with the duke, done my adieu with his neareft; buried a wife, mourn'd for her writ to my lady mother, I am returning; enters tain'd my convoy; and, between thefe main parcels of difpatch, effected many nicer needs: the last was the greatest, but that I have not ended yet. 2 Lord. If the business be of any difficulty, and this morning your departure hence, it requires 1 Lord. In the mean time, what hear you of hafte of your lordship. thefe wars? 2 Lord. I hear, there is an overture of peace. 1 Lord. Nay, I affure you, a peace concluded. 2 Lord. What will count Roufillon do then? will he travel higher, or return again into France? 1 Lord. I perceive by this demand, you are not altogether of his counsel. 2 Lord. Let it be forbid, fir! fo fhould I be a great deal of his act. 1 Lord. Sir, his wife, fome two months fince, fled from his houfe; her pretence is a pilgrimage Ber. I mean, the business is not ended, as fearing to hear of it hereafter: But fhall we have this dialogue between the fool and the foldier? Come, bring forth this counterfeit module 2; he has deceiv'd me, like a double-meaning prophefier. 2 Lord. Bring him forth: he hath fat in the ftocks all night, poor gallant knave. Ber. No matter; his heels have deferv'd it, in ufurping his fpurs fo long. How does he carry himself? 1 Lord. I have told your lordship already; the to Saint Jaques le grand; which holy undertaking, ftocks carry him. But, to anfwer you as you with most auftere fanctimony, the accomplish'd:would be understood; he weeps, like a wench and, there refiding, the tendernefs of her nature that had thed her milk: he hath confefs'd himbecame as a prey to her grief; in fine, made a felf to Morgan, whom he supposes to be a friar, groan of her laft breath, and now the fings in from the time of his remembrance, to this very heaven. inftant difafter of his fetting i' the ftocks: And what, think you, he hath confeft? 2 Lord. How is this justified? Ber. Nothing of me, has he? 1 Lord. Nothing, but let him have thanks. De 2 Lord. His confeffion is taken, and it fhall be mand of him my conditions, and what credit I have read to his face: if your lordship be in't, as I he-with the duke. lieve you are, you must have the patience to hear it. Re-enter Soldiers with Paralles. Ber. A plague upon him! muffled! he can fay nothing of me; huh! huh! 1 Lord. Hoodman comes !--Parta tartuft. Inter. He calls for the tortures; What will you fay without 'em? Par. I will confefs what I know withont conftraint: if ye pinch me like a patty, I can fay no more. Inter. Boko chimurcho. 2 Lord. Bublibindo cbicurmurto, Inter. You are a merciful general:-Our general bids you answer to what I shall afk you out of a note. Par. And truly, as I hope to live. Inter. "First demand of him how many horfe "the duke is ftrong." What fay you to that? Inter. Well, that's fet down. "You shall de"mand of him, whether one captain Dumain be "i' the camp, a Frenchman; what his reputation "is with the duke, what his valour, honesty, and "expertnefs in wars; or whether he thinks, it were not poffible with well-weighing fums of "gold to corrupt him to a revolt." What fay you to this? what do you know of it? Par. 1 befcech you, let me anfwer to the particular of the interrogatories: Demand them fugly. Inter. Do you know this captain Dumain? Par. I know him: he was a botcher's 'prentice in Paris, from whence he was whipp'd for getting the theriff's fool with child; a dumb innocent, that could not fay him, nay. [Dumain lifts up his band in anger. Ber. Nay, by your leave, hold your hands; though I know,his brains are forfeit to the next tile that falls. Inter. Well, is this captain in the duke of Flo Par. Five or fix thoufand; but very weak and unferviceable: the troops are all fcatter'd, and the commanders very poor rogues; upon my reputa-rence's camp? tion and credit, and as I hope to live. Inter. Shall I fet down your anfwer fo? Par. Upon my knowledge, he is, and loufy. Par. Do; I'll take the facrament on't, how and hear of your lordthip anon. which way you will: all's one to him. Ber. What a paft-faving flave is this! 1 Lord. You are deceiv'd, my lord; this is monfieur Parolles, the gallant militarift, (that was his own phrafe) that had the whole theorique of war in the knot of his fearf, and the practice in the chape of his dagger. Inter. 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 the other day, to turn him out o' the band: I think, I have his letter in my pocket. Inter. Marry, we'll fearch. Par. In good fadnefs, I do not know; either is there, or it is upon a file, with the duke's other letters, in my tent. 2 Lord. I will never truft a man again, for keep-it ing his sword clean; nor believe he can have every thing in him, by wearing his apparel neatly. Inter. Well, that's fet down. Par. Five or fix thousand horfe, I faid,I will fay true, or thereabouts, fet down,-for I'll speak truth. 1 Lord. He's very near the truth in this. Inter. Here 'tis; here's a paper; Shall I read it to you? Par. I do not know, if it be it, or no. Inter." Dian. The count's a fool, and full of Ber. But I con him no thanks fort 2, in the "gold," nature he delivers it. Par. Poor rogues, I pray you, fay. Par. I humbly thank you, fir : a truth's a truth, Par. That is not the duke's letter, fir; that is an advertisement to a proper maid in Florence, one Diana, to take heed of the allurement of onc count Roufillon, a foolish idle boy, but, for all that, very ruttith: I pray you, fir, put it up again. Inter. Nay, I'll read it firft, by your favour. Pur. My meaning in't, I proteft, was very Par. By my troth, fir, if I were to live this honeft in the behalf of the maid: for I knew the prefent hour, I will tell true. Let me fee: Spurio young count to be a dangerous and lafcivious boy; a hundred and fifty, Sebaftian fo many, Corambus who is a whale to virginity, and devours up all fo many, Jaques fo many; Guiltian, Cofmo, Lodo-the fry it finds. wick, and Gratii, two hundred fifty each: mine own company, Chitopher, Vaumond, Bentii, two hundred and fifty each: fo that the mufter file," rotten and found, upon my life, amounts not to fifteen thousand poll; half of the which dare not. fhake the fnow from off their caflocks 3, left they" thake themfelves to pieces. Ber. What thall be done to him? Ber. Damnable, both fides rogue! Interpreter reads the letter. When he fwears oaths, bid him drop gold, and "take it ; "After he fcores, he never pays the fcore: Half won, is match well made; match, and well "make it; "He ne'er pays after-debts, take it before; The words" all's one to him" feem to belong to another speaker, and appear to be a proper remark of Bertram's upon Parolles' affertion. 2 i. e. I am not obliged to him for it. To com is to know. 3 Caffork fignifics a horfeman's loofe coat. "And 2 Lord. Why does he afk him of me? Par. E'en a crow of the fame neft; not altogether fo great as the first in goodness, but greater a great deal in evil. He excels his brother for a coward, yet his brother is reputed one of the best that is: In a retreat he outruns any lacquey; marry, in coming on he has the cramp. "And fay, a foldier, Dian, told thee this, Inter. If your life be faved, will you undertake to Par. Ay, and the captain of his horse, count Ber. I could endure any thing before but a cat, Roufillon. and now he's a cat to me. Inter. I perceive, fir, by our general's looks, we fhall be fain to hang you. Par. My life, fir, in any cafe: not that I am afraid to die; but that, my offences being many, I would repent out the remainder of nature: let me live, fir, in a dungeon, i' the ftocks, or any where, fo I may live. Inter. We'll fee what may be done, fo you confefs freely; therefore, once more to this captain Dumain: You have anfwer'd to his reputation with the duke, and to his valour; What is his honefty? Par. He will steal, fir, an egg out of a cloifter; for rapes and ravishments he parallels Netlus. He profeties no keeping of oaths; in breaking them, he is ftronger than Hercules. He will lie, fir, with fuch volubility, that you would think Truth were a fool: drunkenness is his beit virtue; for he will be fwine-drunk; and in his fleep he does little harm, fave to his bed-cloaths about him; but they know his conditions, and lay him in ftraw. I have but little more to fay, fir, of his honefty: he has every thing that an honest man fhould not have; what an honeft man fhould have, he has nothing. Inter, I'll whifper with the general, and know his pleature. 2. Par. I'll no more drumming; a plague of all drums! Only to feem to deserve well, and to beguile the fuppofition of that lafcivious young boy the count, have I run into this danger: Yet, who would have fufpected an ambush where I was taken? [Alde. Inte. There is no remedy, fir, but you muft die: So, look about you; Know you any here? 2 Lord. God bless you, captain Parolles. I Lord. Good captain, will you give me a copy of that fame fonnet you writ to Diana in behalf of the count Roufillon? an I were not a very cowAard, I'd compel it of you; but fare you well. [Exeunt. Inter. You are undone, captain; all but your fcart, that has a knot on't yet. 1 Lord. I begin to love him for this. Ber. For this defcription of thine honesty? pox upon him for me, he is more and more a cat. Inter. What fay you to his expertnefs in war? Par. Faith, fir, he has led the drum before the English tragedians,-to belie him, I will not,-andmore of his foldierfhip I know not; except, in that country, he had the honour to be the officer at a place there call'd Mile-end, to inftruct for the doubling of files: I would do the min what honour I can, but of this I am not certain. Par. Who cannot be cruth'd with a plot? Inter. If you could find out a country where but women were that had received fo much shame, you might begin an impudent nation. Fare you well, fir; I am for France too; we shall speak of you there. [Exit. Par. Yet am I thankful: if my heart were great, 1 Lord. He hath out-villain'd villainy fo far, that Twould burft at this: Captain I'll be no more; the rarity redeems him. Ber. A pox on him! he's a cat still. Inter. His qualities being at this poor price, I need not to ask you, if gold will corrupt him to revolt. Par. Sir, for a quart d'icu he will fell the feefimple of his falvation, the inheritance of it; and cut the intail from all remainders, and a perpetual fucceffion for it perpetually. Inter. What's his brother, the other captain Pumain? -} But I will eat and drink, and fleep as foft } [Exit. To mell, derived from the French word, meler, to mingle, 2 i. e. to deceive the opinion. SCENE SCENE IV. The Widow's House at Florente. Enter Helena, Widow, and Diana. Hel. That you may well perceive I have wrong'd you, One of the greatest in the christian world Jhome, more advanc'd by the king, than by that red-tail'd humble-bee I speak of. Count. I would, I had not known him! it was the death of the most virtuous gentlewoman, that not ever nature had praise for creating; if she had partaken of my flesh, and coft me the dearest groans of a mother, I could not have owed her a more rooted [ful, Laf. 'Twas a good lady, 'twas a good lady: we may pick a thousand fallads, ere we light on fuch another herb. Clo. Indeed, fir, fhe was the fweet-marjoram of the fallet, or, rather, the herb of grace. Shall be my furety; 'fore whole throne, 'tis need-love. Wid. Gentle madam, You never had a fervant, to whose truft Your business was more welcome. Hel. Nor you, mistress, Ever a friend, whofe thoughts more truly labour And helper to a husband. But O strange men! Dia. Let death and honesty Go with your impofitions, I am yours Hel. Yet, I pray you, But with the word 3, the times will bring on fummer, SCENE V. Laf. They are not fallet-herbs, you knave, they are nofe-herbs. Clo. I am no great Nebuchadnezzar, fir, I have not much skill in grafs. Laf. Whether doft thou profefs thyself; a knave, or a fool ? Glo. A fool, fir, at a woman's fervice, and a knave at a man's. Clo. At your fervice. Laf. No, no, no. Clo. Why, fir, if I cannot ferve you, I can ferve as great a prince as you are. Laf. Who's that? a Frenchman ? Clo. Faith, fir, he has an English name; but his phifnomy is more hotter in France, than there. Laf. What prince is that? Clo. The black prince, fir, alias, the prince of darkness; alias, the devil. Laf. Hold thee, there's my purse ; I give thee not this to fuggeft 7 thee from thy master thou talk'ft of; ferve him still. Clo. I am a woodland fellow, fir, that always lov'd a great fire; and the mafter I speak of, ever keeps a good fire. But, fure, he is the prince of the world, let his nobility remain in his court. I am for the houfe with the narrow gate, which I take to be too little for pomp to enter: fome, that humble themfelves, may; but the many will be too chill and tender; and they'll be for the flowery Laf. No, no, no, your fon was mif-led with way, that leads to the broad gate, and the great fire. fnipt-taffata fellow there; whofe villainous faffron Laf. Go thy ways, begin to be a-weary of would have made all the unbak'd and doughy youth thee; and I tell thee fo before, because I would of a nation in his colour: your daughter-in-law not fall out with thee. Go thy ways; let my had been alive at this hour; and your fon here at horfes be well look'd to, without any tricks. Enter Countefs, Lafeu, and Clown. a 5 1 Motive for affiant. 2 Saury may here imply luxurious, and by confequence lafcivious. 3 i. c. in an inftant of time. 4 i. e. roufes us. 5 Here fome particularities of fafhionable drefs are ridiculed. Snipt-taffata needs no explanation; but villainous faffron is more obfcure. This alludes to a fantaflick fashion, then much followed, of ling yellow ftarch for their bands and ruffs. 6 Sir John Hawkins gives the following explanation of this paffage: "Part of the furniture of a fool was a bauble, which, though it be generally taken to fignify any thing of fmall value, has a precife and determin able meaning. It is, in fhort, a kind of truncheon with a head carved on it, which the food an clearly carried in his hand." 7 i. e. future. Cl Cl. If I put any tricks upon 'em, fir, they fhall Count. It rejoices me, that I hope I fhall fee him be jades' tricks; which are their own right by the ere I die. I have letters, that my fon will be law of nature. [Exit. here to-night : I fhall beseech your lordship, tơ remain with me till they meet together. Laf. A threwd knave, and an unhappy 1. Count. So he is. My lord, that's gone, made himfelf much fport out of him: by his authority he remains here, which he thinks is a patent for his faucinefs; and, indeed, he has no pace, but runs where he will. Laf. Madam, I was thinking, with what manners I might fafely be admitted. Count. You need but plead your honourable privilege. Laf. Lady, of that I have made a bold charter; but, I thank my God, it holds yet. Re-enter Clown. Laf. I like him well; 'tis not amifs: and I was about to tell you, Since I heard of the good lady's death, and that my lord your fon was upon Clo. O madam, yonder's my lord your fon with his return home, I mov'd the king my mafter, to a patch of velvet on's face; whether there be a fpeak in the behalf of my daughter; which, in fcar under't, or no, the velvet knows; but 'tis a the minority of them both, his majesty, out of a goodly patch of velvet: his left check is a cheek felf-gracious remembrance, did first propose: his of two pile and a half, but his right cheek is worn highness has promis'd me to do it: and, to ftop up bare. the difpleasure he hath conceiv'd against your fon, there is no fitter matter. How does your ladyfhip like it? Count. With very much content, my lord, and I with it happily effected. Count. A fcar nobly got, or a noble scar, is a good livery of honour: fo, belike, is that.. Clo. But it is your carbonado'd face. Laf. Let us go fee your fon, I pray you; Ilong to talk with the young noble foldier. Laf. His highness comes poft from Marseilles, of as able a body as when he numbered thirty; he will be here to-morrow, or I am deceiv'd by the head, and nod at every man. him that in fuch intelligence hath seldom fail'd. Clo. 'Faith, there's a dozen of 'em, with delicate fine hats, and moft courteous feathers, which bow [Exeunt. ACT SCENE I. The Court of France at Marfeilles. Enter Helena, Widow, and Diana, with two Hel. BM Attendants. this exceeding pofting, day and night, Muft wear your spirits low: we cannot But, fince you have made the days and nights as one, This man may help me to his majesty's ear, Hel. Sir, I have feen you in the court of France. Gent. I have been fometimes there. Hel. I do prefume, fir, 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 store of power you have, V. ■ That is, unlucky. 2 Mr. Steevens fays, that a gentle oflringer means a gentleman falconer. |