All that is virtuous (fave what thou dislik'st, ftrive to chufe, [glad; Hel. That you are well reftor'd, my lord, I'm Let the reft go. King. My honour's at the stake; which to de- I muft produce my power: Here, take her hand, My love, and her defert; that canst not dream, A balance more replete. Ber. I take her hand. King. Good fortune, and the favour of the king, Smile upon this contract; whofe ceremony Shall feem expedient on the new-born brief 3, And be perform'd to-night; the folemn feaft Shall more attend upon the coming space, Expecting abfent friends. As thou lov'ft her, Thy love's to me religious; elfe, does err. [Exeunt all but Parolles and Lafen. Laf. Do you hear, monfieur ? a word with you. Par. Your pleasure, fir? Laf. Your lord and mafter did well to make his recantation, Par. Recantation ?My lord? my master? Par. A moft harth one; and not to be under[ftood without bloody fucceeding. My mafter? Laf. Are you companion to the count Roufillon? Par. To any count; to all counts; to what is man. Laf. To what is count's man; count's mafter is of another ftile. Par. You are too old, fir; let it fatisfy you, you are too old. Laf. I must tell thee, firrah, I write man; to which title age cannot bring thee. Par. What I dare too well do, I dare not do. Laf. I did think thee, for two ordinaries 4, to be a pretty wife fellow; thou didit make tolerable vent of thy travel; it might país: yet the fcarfs, and the bannerets, about thee, did manifoldly diffuade me from believing thee a vellel of too great a burden. I have now found thee; when I lofe thee again, I care not: yet art thou good for no worth. Shall weigh thee to the beam; that wilt not know, thing but taking up 5; and that thou art fcarce Do thine own fortunes that obedient right, Ber. Pardon, my gracious lord; for I fubmit King. Take her by the hand, And tell her, fhe is thine: to whom I promise Par. Hadft thou not the privilege of antiquity upon thee, Laf. Do not plunge thyfelf too far in anger, left thou halten thy trial; which if-Lord have mercy on thee for a hen! So, my good window of lattice, fare thee well; thy cafement I need not open, for I look through thee. Give me thy hand. Par. My lord, you give me moít egregious indignity. Lf. Ay, with all my heart; and thou art worthy of it. Par. I have not, my lord, deferv'd it. Laf. Yes, good faith, every dram of it; and I will not bate thee a fcruple. Par. Well, I fhall be wifer. Laf. L'en as foon as thou canft, for thou haft to pull at a fmack o' the contrary. If ever thou be'it bound in thy fcarf, and beaten, thou thalt find what it is to be proud of thy bondage. I have a defire to hold my acquaintance with thee, or rather my I The French verb defaire (from whence our defeat) fignifies to free, to difembarrass, as well as to deftrey; and in this fenfe, we apprehend, defeat is here ufed. 2 Alluding to that fpecies of the flaggers, or the horses' apopexy, which makes the animal dah himself with deftructive violence agaraft pofts or walls. The brief is the contract of efpoufal, or the licence of the church. 4 Ordi nary here means dinner. s To take up means to contradict, to call to account, as well as to pick off the ground. knowledge; knowledge; that I may fay in the default, he is a Which should sustain the bound and high curvet man I know. Of Mars's fiery fteed: To other regions! Par. My lord, you do me most insupportable France is a stable; we that dwell in 't, jades ; Therefore, to the war! vexation. Laf. I would it were hell-pains for thy fake, and| my poor doing eternal: for doing 2, I am paft, as I will by thee, in what motion age will give me leave. [Exit. Par. Well, thou haft a fon fhall take this difgrace off me; fcurvy, old, filthy, fcurvy lord! Well, I must be patient; there is no fettering of authority. I'll beat him, by my life, if I can meet him with any convenience, an he were double and double a lord. I'll have no more pity of his age, than I would have of-I'll beat him, an if I could but meet him again. Re-enter Lafeu. Laf. Sirrah, your lord and master's marry'd, there's news for you; you have a new mistress. Par. I moft unfeignedly befeech your lordship to make some refervation of your wrongs: He is my good lord: whom I ferve above, is my mafter. Laf. Who? God? Par. Ay, fir. Ber. It fhall be fo; I'll fend her to my house, Acquaint my mother with my hate to her, And wherefore I am fled; write to the king That which I durft not speak: His prefent gift Shall furnish me to those Italian fields, Where noble fellows ftrike: War is no ftrife To the dark house 4, and the detested wife. Par. Will this capricio hold in thee, art fure? Ber. Go with me to my chamber, and advife me. I'll send her straight away: To-morrow I'll to the wars, she to her fingle forrow. Par. Why, these balls bound; there's noife in it.'Tis hard; A young man married, is a man that's marr'd: IV. SCENE Hel. My mother greets me kindly; Is she well? Clo. She is not well; but yet fhe has her health: Laf. The devil it is, that's thy mafter. Why he's very merry; but yet he's not well: but, doft thou garter up thy arms o' this fashion? doft thanks be given, the's very well, and wants nothing make hofe of thy fleeves? do other fervants fo?' the world; but yet the is not well. Clo. Truly, fhe's very well, indeed, but for two Thou wert beft fet thy lower part where thy note Hel. If the be very well, what does the ail, ftands. By mine honour, if I were but two hours that he's not very well? younger, I'd beat thee: methinks, thou art a general offence, and every man fhould beat thee. I things. think, thou waft created for men to breathe themfelves upon thee. Par. This is hard and undeserved measure, my lord. Laf. Go to, fir; you were beaten in Italy for picking a kernel out of a pomegranate; you are a vagabond, and no true traveller: you are more faucy with lords, and honourable perfonages, than the heraldry of your birth and virtue gives you commiffion. You are not worth another word, elfe I'd call you knave. I leave you. [Exit. Enter Bertram. Par. Good, very good; it is fo then.-Good, very good; let it be conceal'd a while. Ber. Undone, and forfeited to-cares for ever! Par. What is the matter, fweet-heart? Ber. Although before the folemn prieft I have I will not bed her. [fworn, Par. What? what, fweet-heart? Ber. O my Parolles, they have married me :→→ I'll to the Tufcan wars, and never bed her. Par. France is a dog-hole, and it no more merits The tread of a man's foot: to the wars! Ber. There's letters from my mother; what the I know not yet. [import is, Par. Ay, that would be known: To the wars, my boy, to the wars! He wears his honour in a box unfeen, Hel. What two things? Clo. One, that he's not in heaven, whither God fend her quickly! the other, that he's in earth,. from whence God fend her quickly! Enter Parolles. Par. Blefs you, my fortunate lady! Hel. I hope, fir, I have your good will to have mine own good fortunes. Par. You have my prayers to lead them on; and to keep them on, have them ftill.—0, my knave! how does my old lady? Clo. So that you had her wrinkles, and I her, money, I would she did as you fay. Par. Why, I fay nothing. Clo. Marry, you are the wifer man; for many a man's tongue thakes out his mafter's undoing: To fay nothing, to do nothing, to know nothing, and to have nothing, is to be a great part of your title; which is within a very little of nothing. Par. Away, thou'rt a knave. Clo. You fhould have faid, fir, before a knave, thou art a knave; that is, before me, thou art a knave; this had been truth, fir. Par. Go to, thou art a witty fool, I have found thee. Clo. Did you find me in yourself, fir? or were you taught to find me? The fearch, fir, was pro fitable; and much fool may you find in you, even to the world's pleasure, and the increase of laughter. I i, e. at a need. a Doing is here used oblacnely. 3 Sir T. Hanmer obferves, that kickfy-wickly is a made word in ridicule and difdain of a wife. 4 Probably meaning a mouky house. Par. Par. A good knave, i'faith, and well fed.Madam, my lord will go away to-night; A very ferious bufinefs calls on him. The great prerogative and right of love, Which, as your due, time claims, he does and you, monfieur ? Par. I know not how I have deferv'd to run into my lord's displeasure. [ledge; Laf. You have made shift to run into't, boots and acknow-fpurs and all, like him that leapt into the custard 2; But puts it off by a compell'd rettraint; [fweets, and out of it you'll run again, rather than fuffer Whose want, and whofe delay, is ftrew'd with question for your refidence. Which they diftil now in the curbed time, Hel. What's his will elfe? Par. That you will take your inftant leave o'the And make this hafte as your own good proceeding, Strengthen'd with what apology you think, May make it probable need 1. Hel. What more commands he? Ber. It may be, you have mistaken him, my lord. Laf. And fhall do fo ever, though I took him [king,at's prayers. Fare you well, my lord: and believe this of me, There can be no kernel in this light nut; the foul of this man is his clothes: truft him not in matter of heavy confequence; I have kept of them tame, and know their natures.-Farewell, monfieur: I have spoken better of you, than you have or will deferve at my hand: but we must do good against evil. Par. That, having this obtain'd, you presently Attend his further pleasure. Hel. In every thing I wait upon his will. SCENE V. Enter Lafeu and Bertram. [Exeunt. Laf. But, I hope your lordship thinks not him a foldier. Ber. Yes, my lord, and of very valiant approof. Laf. You have it from his own deliverance. Ber. And by other warranted testimony. Laf. Then my dial goes not true; I took this lark for a bunting. Ber. I do aflure you, my lord, he is very great in knowledge, and accordingly valiant. Laf. I have then finned against his experience, and tranfgrefs'd againit his valour; and my ftate that way is dangerous, fince I cannot yet find in my heart to repent: Here he comes; I pray you make us friends, I will pursue the amity. Enter Parolles. Par. These things fhall be done, fir. Laf. O, I know him well: Ay, fir; he, fir, is a good workman, a very good taylor. Ber. Is the gone to the king? [Afide to Parolles. Par. She is. Ber. Will the away to-night? Par. As you'll have her. Ber. I have writ my letters, cafketed my treaGiven order for our horfes; and to-night, [ture, When I should take poffeffion of the bride,— And, ere I do begin, Laf. A good traveller is fomething at the latter end of a dinner ; but one that lies three thirds, and ufes a known truth to pass a thousand nothings with, should be once heard and thrice beaten.God fave you, captain. Par. An idle lord, I fwear. Par. Why, do you not know him? [Exit. Ber. Yes, I know him well; and common speech Gives him a worthy pafs. Here comes my clog. Enter Helena. Hel. I have, fir, as I was commanded from you, Spoke with the king, and have procur'd his leave For prefent parting; only, he def:res Some private fpeech with you. Ber. I fhall obey his will. You must not marvel, Helen, at my courfe, This to my mother: [Giving a letter. "Twill be two days ere I fhall fee you! fo I leave you to your wifdom. Hel. Sir, I can nothing fay, With true obfervance feek to eke out that, Ber. Let that go: My hafte is very great: Farewel; hie home. Ber. Well, what would you say? Hel. I am not worthy of the wealth I owe 4; Nor dare I fay, 'tis mine; and yet it is; But, like a timorous thief, moft fain would steal Ber. Is there any unkindness between my lord What law does vouch mine own. I That is, a fpecious appearance of neceffity. 2 Theobald fays, that this odd allufion is not introduced without a view to fatire. It was a foolery practifed at city entertainments, whilft the jester or zany was in vogue, for him to jump into a large deep cuftard, fet for the purpose, to fet on 3 i. e. wonder. 4 i. e. I own. a quantity of barren Spellators to laugh, as our poet fays in his Hamlet. U Ber. SCENE I. The Duke's Court in Florence. Flourish. Enter the Duke of Florence, two French Duke. fing; pick his teeth, and fing: I know a man that had this trick of melancholy, fold a goodly manor for a fong. Count. Let me fee what he writes, and when he means to come. Clo. I have no mind to Ifbel, fince I was at O that, from point to point, now court: our old ling and our libels o'the country, The fundamental reafons of this war; I Lord. Holy feems the quarrel [France Duke. Therefore we marvel much, our coufin Would, in fo juft a business, shut his bofom Against our borrowing prayers. 2 Lord. Good my lord, The reafons of our ftate I cannot yield ', Duke. Be it his pleasure. [nature 3, 2 Lord. But I am fure, the younger of our Duke. Welcome fhall they be ; SCENE II. Roufillon, in France. Enter Countess and Cloren. [Exeunt. are nothing like your old ling and your Ifbels o'the Count. What have we here? [Exit. Count. [reads a letter.] "I have sent you a "daughter-in-law: the hath recovered the king, "and undone me. I have wedded her, not bed"ded her; and fworn to make the not eternal. "You fhall hear, I am run away; know it, before "the report come. If there be breadth enough in the world, I will hold a long distance. My duty " to you. "Your unfortunate fon, "BERTRAM." Re-enter Clown. Clo. O madam, yonder is heavy news within, between two foldiers and my young lady. Count. What is the matter? Clo. Nay, there is fome comfort in the news, fome comfort; your fon will not be kill'd fo foon as I thought he would. Count. Why fhould he be kill'd? Gle. So fay 1, madam, if he run away, as I hear he does: the danger is in ftanding to't; that's the Count. It hath happened all as I would have had it, lofs of men, though it be the getting of children. fave, that he comes not along with her. Here they come, will tell you more: for my part, Cl. By my troth, I take my young lord to be a I only hear, your fon was run away. very melancholy man. Count. By what obfervance, I pray you? Clo. Why, he will look upon his boot, and fing; mend the ruff, and fing; afk queftions, and Count. Think upon patience.-'Pray you, gen- I have felt fo many quirks of joy, and grief, We met him thitherward; for thence we came, [paffport. Of the none-fparing war; and is it I Hel. Look on this letter, madam; here's my That drive thee from the iportive court, where thou "When thou can't get the ring upon my Waft fhot at with fair eyes, to be the mark "finger, which never fhall come off, and fhew Of fmoky mufkets? O you leaden meffengers, "me a child begotten of thy body, that I am fa- That ride upon the violent speed of fire, "ther to, then call me huiband: but in fuch a Fly with falie aim; move the ftill-piecing air 3, "Then I write a Never." That fings with piercing, do not touch my lord! Whoever shoots at him, I fet him there; Whoever charges on his forward breaft: I am the caitiff, that do hold him to it; And, though I kill him not, I am the cause His death was fo effected: better 'twere, This is a dreadful fentence. Count. Brought you this letter, gentlemen? And, for the contents' fake, are forry for our pains. If thou engroffeft, all the griefs are thine, I met the ravin lion when he roar'd With fharp constraint of hunger; better 'twere, And thouart all my child.-Towards Florence is he? Were mine at once: No, come thou home, RoufilWhence honour but of danger wins a fear; [lon, As oft it lofes all; I will be gone : 2 Gen., madam. Count. And to be a foldier? 2 Gen. Such is his noble purpose: and, believe 't, My being here it is, that holds thee hence ; The duke will lay upon him all the honour That good convenience claims. Count. Return you thither? [fpeed. 1 Gen. Ay, madam, with the swifteft wing of Shall I ftay here to do't? no, no, although Hel. “'Till I have no wife, I have nothing in To confolate thine ear. Come, night; end, day! For, with the dark, poor thief, I'll steal away. [Exi 'Tis bitter. "France." Count. Find you that there? Hel. Ay, madam. [Reading. [which 1 Gen. "Tis but the boldnefs of his hand, haply, Flourish. His heart was not confenting to. Count. Nothing in France, until he have no wife! Count. Parolles, was't not? 1 Gen. Ay, my good lady, he. The Duke's Court in Florence. Enter the Duke of Florence, Bertram, Drum and Trumpets, Soldiers, c. Duke. The general of our horfe thouart; and we, Great in our hope, lay our best love and credence Upon thy promifing fortune. Ber. Sir, it is A charge too heavy for my strength; but yet Count. A very tainted fellow, and full of wick-And fortune play upon thy prosperous helm, 1 That is, when thou canft get the ring, which is on my finger, into thy possession. his vices ftand him in ftead. i. e. the air that clofes immediately. |