LAF. No, no, no.

Clo. Why, fir, if I cannot serve 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 phisnomy is more honour'd in France, than there. LAF. What prince is that?

Clo. The black prince, fir; alias, the prince of darknefs; alias, the devil.

LAF. Hold thee, there's my purfe: I give thee not this to fuggeft thee from thy mafter thou talk'ft of, ferve him ftill.

Clo. I am a wood-land fellow, fir, that always lov'd a great fire; and the mafter, I fpeak of, ever keeps a good fire. But, for he is the prince of the world, let his nobility remain in his court; I am for the house with the narrow gate, which I take to be too little for pomp to enter: fome, that humble themselves, may, but the many will be too chill and tender; and they'll be for the flow'ry way, that leads to the broad gate, and the great fire.

LAF. Go thy ways, I begin to be aweary of thee; and I tell thee fo before, because I would not fall out with thee. Go thy ways; let my horfes be well look'd to, without any tricks.

Clo. If I put any tricks upon 'em, fir, they fhall be jades' tricks; which are their own right by the law of [Exit Clown.

nature.

LAF. A fhrewd knave, and an unhappy. Cou. So he is. My lord, that's gone, made himself much fport out of him: by his authority he remains here, which he thinks is a patent for his fauciness; and,

5 English maine, more hotter in 15 but fure he

indeed, he has no pace, but runs where he will.

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 his return home, I moved the king, my mafter, to speak in the behalf of my daughter; which, in the minority of them both, his majefty, out of a felf-gracious remembrance, did firft propose: his highnefs hath promis'd me to do it; and, to ftop up the difpleasure he hath conceived against your son, there is no fitter matter. How does your ladyship like it?

Cou. With very much content, my lord; and I wish it happily effected.

LAF. His highness comes poft from Marseilles, of as able 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,

Cou. It rejoices me, that I hope I fhall fee him ere I dye. I have letters, that my fon will be here to-night: I fhall befeech your lordship, to remain with me 'till they meet together.

LAF. Madam, I was thinking, with what manners I might fafely be admitted.

Cou. You need but plead your honourable priviledge. LAF. Lady, of that I have made a bold charter; but, I thank my God, it holds yet.

Re-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, buț his right cheek is worn bare.

LAF. A fcar nobly got, or a noble scar, is a good livery of honour: fo, belike, is that.

Clo. But it is your carbinado'd face.

LAF. Let us go fee your fon, I pray you; I long to talk with the young noble foldier.

Clo. 'Faith, there's a dozen of 'em, with delicate fine hats, and moft courteous feathers, which bow the head, and nod at every man. [Exeunt.

ACT V.

SCENE I. Marfeilles. A Street,
Enter HELENA, Widow, and Diana,
with two Attendants.

HEL. But this exceeding pofting, day and night, Muft wear your fpirits low: we cannot help it; But, fince you have 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 majesty's ear,
If he would spend his power. - God fave you, fir.
Gen. And you.

HEL. Sir, I have feen you in the court of France.
Gen. I have been fometimes there.

HEL. I do presume, fir, that you are not fallen
From the report that goes upon your goodness;
And therefore, goaded with most sharp occasions,
Which lay nice manners by, I put you to
The ufe of your own virtues, for the which

I fhall continue thankful.

Gen. 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,
To come into his presence.

Gen. The king's not here.

HEL. Not here, fir?

Gen. Not, indeed:

He hence remov'd last night, and with more haste
Than is his ufe.

Wid. Lord, how we lose our pains!

HEL. All's well, that ends well, yet;
Though time seem so adverse, and means unfit. —
I do befeech you, whither is he gone?
Gen. Marry, as I take it, to Rofillion;
Whither I am going.

HEL. I do befeech you, fir,

Since you are like to fee the king before me,
Commend the paper to his gracious hand;
Which, I presume, fhall render you no blame,
But rather make you thank your pains for it :
I will come after you, with what good speed
Our means will make us means.

Gen. This I'll do for you.

HEL. And you fhall find yourself to be well thank'd, Whate'er falls more.— We must to horse again;

Go, go, provide.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II. Rofillion. Inner-Court of the Palace. Enter Clown, PAROLLES following.

PAR. Good Mr. Lavatch, give my lord Lafeu this let¬

ter: I have ere now, fir, been better known to you, when I have held familiarity with fresher cloaths; but I am now, fir, muddy'd in fortune's moat, and fmell fomewhat ftrong of her ftrong difpleasure.

Clo. Truly, fortune's difpleasure is but fluttish, if it fmell fo ftrongly as thou speak'ft of: I will henceforth eat no fish of fortune's buttering. Pr'ythee, allow the wind.

PAR. Nay, you need not to stop your nose, fir; I fpake but by a metaphor.

Clo. Indeed, fir, if your metaphor ftink, I will ftop my nose; or against any man's metaphor. Pr'ythee, get thee further.

PAR. Pray you, fir, deliver me this paper.

Clo. Foh! pr'ythee, stand away; A paper from fortune's close-ftool to give to a nobleman! Look, here Enter LAFEU.

he comes himself. Here is a pur of fortune's, fir, or of fortune's cat, (but not a mufk-cat) that has fallen into the unclean fish-pond of her difpleasure, and, as he fays, is muddy'd withal: Pray you, fir, use the carp as you may; for he looks like a poor, decay'd, ingenious, foolish, rafcally knave. I do pity his distress in my fimilies of comfort, and leave him to your lordship. [Exit Clown. PAR. My lord, I am a man whom fortune hath cruelly scratch'd.

LAF. And what would you have me to do? 'tis too late to pare her nails now. Wherein have you played the knave with fortune, that she should scratch you, who of herself is a good lady, and would not have knaves thrive long under her? There's a quart-d'ecu

3 fortunes mood, 2+ smiles of