Enter Countefs, and Steward.

Cou. Alas! and would you take the letter of her? Might you not know, fhe would do as she has done, By fending me a letter? Read it again.

Ste. I am faint Jacques' pilgrim, thither gone;
Ambitious love hath so in me offended,

That bare-foot plod I the cold ground upon,
With fainted vow my faults to have amended.
Write, write, that, from the bloody course of war,
My dearest mafter, your dear fon, may bye;
Blefs him at home in peace; whilft I, from far,
His name with zealous fervour fanétify :
His taken labours bid him me forgive;
I, his defpiteful Juno, fent 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 fet him free.

Cou. Ah, what fharp ftings are in her mildeft words! Rinaldo, you ne'er lack'd advice fo much,

As letting her pafs fo; had I fpoke with her,
I could have well diverted her intents,

Which thus the hath prevented.

Ste. Pardon me, madam :

If I had given you this at over-night,

She might have been o'er-ta'en; and yet she writes, Purfuit would be but vain,

Cou. What angel fhall

Blefs 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 juftice.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, fet down sharply.
Dispatch the most convenient meffenger:
When, haply, he shall hear that fhe is gone,
He will return; and hope I may, that she,
Hearing fo much, will speed her foot again,
Led hither by pure love: which of them both
Is dearest to me, I have no skill in fenfe
To make diftinction: -Provide this meffenger:
My heart is heavy, and mine age is weak;
Grief would have tears, and forrow bids me speak. [Ex.

SCENE V. Without the Walls of Florence.
Tucket afar off. Enter an old Widow of Florence,
DIANA her Daughter, MARIANA,

and other Citizens.

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

DIA. They fay, the French count has done most hohourable fervice.

Wid. It is reported, that he has taken their greateft commander; and that with his own hand he flew the duke's brother. [Tucket.] We have loft our labour; they are gone a contrary way: hark! you may know by their trumpets.

MAR. Come, let's return again, and fuffice ourselves with the report of it. Well, Diana, take heed of this French earl: the honour of a maid is her name; and no legacy is fo rich as honesty,

Wid, I have told my neighbour, how you have been

follicited by a gentleman his companion.

MAR. I know that knave; hang him! one Parolles : a filthy officer he is in those fuggeftions for the young earl. Beware of them, Diana; their promises, inticements, oaths, tokens, and all these engines of luft, are not the things they go under: many a maid hath been feduc'd by them; and the misery is, example, that fo terrible fhews in the wreck of maidenhood, cannot for all that diffuade fucceffion, but that they are limed with the twigs that threaten them. I hope, I need not to advise you further; but, I hope, your own grace will keep you where you are, though there were no further danger known, but the modefty which is fo loft.

DIA. You fhall not need to fear me.

Enter HELENA, habited like a Pilgrim.

Wid. I hope fo. Look, here comes a pilgrim: I know she will lye at my house: thither they send one another: I'll queftion her. —

God fave you, pilgrim! Whither are you

HEL. To faint Jaques le grand.

bound?

Where do the palmers lodge, I do befeech you?
Wid. At the faint Francis here befide the port.
HEL. Is this the way ?

Wid. Ay, marry, is it. Hark you!

[Tucket.

They come this way :-If you will tarry, pilgrim,
But 'till the troops come by,

I will conduct you where you fhall be lodg'd;
The rather, for, I think, I know your hoftefs
As ample as myself.

HEL. Is it yourself?

Wid. If you fhall please fo, pilgrim.

HEL. I thank you, and will stay upon your leisure.

10 threatens 25 tarrie holy Pilgrime

Wid. You came, I think, from France?

HEL. I did fo.

Wid. Here you fhall fee a countryman of yours, That has done worthy service.

HEL. His name, I pray you?

DIA. The count Rofillion; Know you fuch a one? HEL. But by the ear, that hears most nobly of him ; His face I know not.

DIA. Whatfoe'er he is,

He's bravely taken here. He ftole from France,
As 'tis reported, for the king had marry'd him
Against his liking: Think you, it is fo?

HEL. Ay, furely, meer the truth; I know his lady. DIA. There is a gentleman that serves the count, Reports but coarfely of her.

HEL. What's his name?

DIA. Monfieur Parolles.

HEL. O, I believe with him,

In argument of praise, or to the worth

Of the great count himself, she is too mean
To have her name repeated; all her deserving

Is a reserved honesty, and that

I have not heard examin'd.

DIA. Alas, poor lady!

'Tis a hard bondage, to become the wife

Of a detefting lord.

Wid. Ay, right:- Good creature! wherefoe'er fhe is, Her heart weighs fadly: this young maid might do her A fhrewd turn, if she pleas'd.

HEL. How do you mean?

May be, the amorous count follicits her
In the unlawful purpose.

Wid. He does, indeed;

And brokes with all that can in fuch a fuit
Corrupt the tender honour of a maid :

But fhe is arm'd for him, and keeps her guard
In honefteft defence.

MAR. The gods forbid elfe!

Enter, with Drum and Colours, marching, the Florentine Army, BERTRAM, and PAROLLES. Wid. So, now they come :

That is Antonio, the duke's eldest son;

DIA. He;

That,

with the plume: 'tis a moft gallant fellow; I would, he lov'd his wife: if he were honefter, He were much goodlier: Is't not a handsome gentleman ? HEL. I like him well?

[knave, DIA. 'Tis pity, he's not honeft: Yond's † that fame That leads him to these paces; were I his lady,

I'd poison that vile rascal.

HEL. Which is he?

[lancholy?

DIA. That jack-an-apes with fcarfs: Why is he meHEL. Perchance, he's hurt i'the battle.

PAR. Lose our drum! well.

[has fpy'd us.

MAR. He's fhrewdly vex'd at fomething: Look, he Wid. Marry, hang you! [Parolles bonus to them. MAR. and your courtesy, for a ring-carrier!

[Exeunt Army, BER. PAR. &c. Wid. The troop is paft: Come, pilgrim, I will bring Where you fhall hoft: of enjoin'd penitents

There's four, or five, to great faint Jaques bound,
Already at my house.

[you

19 places