Whence honor but of danger wins a scar,
As oft it loses all: I will be gone :

My being here it is, that holds thee hence :
Shall I stay here to do't? no, no; although
The air of paradise did fan the house,
And angels officed all: I will be gone;

That pitiful rumor may report my flight,

To consolate thine ear.

Come, night! end, day!

For, with the dark, poor thief, I'll steal away.

SCENE III.

[Exit.

Florence. Before the Duke's palace.

Florish. Enter DUKE Of florence, BERTRAM,
Lords, Officers, Soldiers, and others.

Duke. The general of our horse thou art; and

we,

Great in our hope, lay our best love and credence Upon thy promising fortune.

A charge too heavy for my strength; but yet
We'll strive to bear it for your worthy sake,

To the extreme edge of hazard.

Duke.

Then go thou forth;

And Fortune play upon thy prosperous helm,

As thy auspicious mistress!

Ber.

This very day,

Great Mars, I put myself into thy file.

Make me but like my thoughts; and I shall prove

A lover of thy drum, hater of love.

[Exeunt.

Rousillon.

SCENE IV.

A room in the Countess's palace.

Enter COUNTESS and STEward.

Count. Alas! and would you take the letter of

her?

Might you not know, she would do as she has done, By sending me a letter? Read it again.

Stew. I am Saint Jaques' pilgrim, thither gone: Ambitious love hath so in me offended, That bare-foot plod I the cold ground upon, With sainted vow my faults to have amended. Write, write, that, from the bloody course of war, My dearest master, your dear son, may hie: Bless him at home in peace, whilst I from far, His name with zealous fervor sanctify : His taken labors bid him me forgive;

I, his despiteful Juno,1 sent him forth

From courtly friends, with camping foes to live,
Where death and danger dog the heels of worth.
He is too good and fair for Death and me;
Whom I myself embrace, to set him free.'

Count. Ah, what sharp stings are in her mildest words!

Rinaldo, you did never lack advice 2 so much,
As letting her pass so: had I spoke with her,

1 In allusion to the labors of Hercules.

2 Discretion.

I could have well diverted her intents,

Which thus she hath prevented.

Stew.

Pardon me, madam:

If I had given you this at over-night,

She might have been o'erta'en; and yet she writes, Pursuit would be but vain.

Count.

What angel shall

Bless this unworthy husband? he cannot thrive,
Unless her prayers, whom Heaven delights to hear,
And loves to grant, reprieve him from the wrath
Of greatest justice. Write, write, Rinaldo,
To this unworthy husband of his wife;
Let every word weigh heavy of her worth,
That he does weigh too light: my greatest grief,
Though little he do feel it, set down sharply.
Despatch the most convenient messenger:-
When, haply, he shall hear that she is gone,
He will return; and hope I may, that she,
Hearing so much, will speed her foot again,
Led hither by pure love: which of them both
Is dearest to me, I have no skill in sense
To make distinction. Provide this messenger.
My heart is heavy, and mine age is weak:
Grief would have tears, and sorrow bids me speak.

[Exeunt.

SCENE V.

Without the walls of Florence.

A tucket1 afar off. Enter an old WIDOW of Florence, DIANA, VIOLENTA, MARIANA, and other Citizens.

Wi. Nay, come; for if they do approach the city, we shall lose all the sight.

Dia. They say, the French count has done most honorable service.

Wi. It is reported that he has taken their greatest commander; and that with his own hand he slew the duke's brother. We have lost our labor; they are gone a contrary way. Hark! you may know by their trumpets.

Mar. Come, let's return selves with the report of it.

again, and suffice our

Well, Diana, take heed

of this French earl: the honor of a maid is her name; and no legacy is so rich as honesty.

Wi. I have told my neighbor, how you have been solicited by a gentleman his companion.

Mar. I know that knave, hang him! one Parolles: a filthy officer he is in those suggestions for the young earl.-Beware of them, Diana; their promises, enticements, oaths, tokens, and all these engines of lust, are not the things they go under: 3 many a

1 A florish of instruments.

3 Not what their names express.

2 Temptations.

maid hath been seduced by them; and the misery is, example, that so terrible shows in the wreck of maidenhood, cannot for all that dissuade succession, but that they are limed with the twigs that threaten them. I hope, I need not to advise you farther; but, I hope, your own grace will keep you where you are, though there were no farther danger known, but the modesty which is so lost.

Dia. You shall not need to fear me.

Enter HELENA, in the dress of a pilgrim.

Wi. I hope so.- -Look, here comes a pilgrim: I know she will lie at my house: thither they send one another. I'll question her.

God save you, pilgrim! Whither are you bound? Hel. To Saint Jaques le grand.

Where do the palmers lodge, I do beseech you? Wi. At the Saint Francis here, beside the port. Hel. Is this the way?

Wi.

Ay, marry, is it.-Hark you! [a march afar off. They come this way. If you will tarry, holy pil

grim,

But till the troops come by,

I will conduct you where you shall be lodged;
The rather, for,1 I think, I know your hostess
As ample as myself.

Hel.

Is it yourself?

1 Because.