diff --git "a/res/all's_well_that_ends_well.txt" "b/res/all's_well_that_ends_well.txt" new file mode 100644--- /dev/null +++ "b/res/all's_well_that_ends_well.txt" @@ -0,0 +1,4566 @@ +All's Well That Ends Well +by William Shakespeare + + +Characters in the Play +====================== +HELEN, a gentlewoman of Rossillion +BERTRAM, Count of Rossillion +COUNTESS of Rossillion, Bertram's mother +In the Countess's household: + STEWARD + FOOL + PAGE +PAROLLES, companion to Bertram +KING of France +LAFEW, a French lord +Later Captains in the army of the Duke of Florence: + FIRST LORD + SECOND LORD +Other LORDS in the court of the King of France +From the court of the King of France: + FIRST GENTLEMAN + SECOND GENTLEMAN + GENTLEMAN, a "gentle Astringer" +FIRST SOLDIER, interpreter +The DUKE of Florence +A WIDOW of Florence +DIANA, the Widow's daughter +MARIANA, the Widow's neighbor +Attendants, Soldiers, Citizens of Florence, Servants + + +ACT 1 +===== + +Scene 1 +======= +[Enter young Bertram Count of Rossillion, his mother +the Countess, and Helen, Lord Lafew, all in black.] + + +COUNTESS In delivering my son from me, I bury a second +husband. + +BERTRAM And I in going, madam, weep o'er my +father's death anew; but I must attend his Majesty's +command, to whom I am now in ward, evermore +in subjection. + +LAFEW You shall find of the King a husband, madam; +you, sir, a father. He that so generally is at all times +good must of necessity hold his virtue to you, +whose worthiness would stir it up where it wanted +rather than lack it where there is such abundance. + +COUNTESS What hope is there of his Majesty's +amendment? + +LAFEW He hath abandoned his physicians, madam, +under whose practices he hath persecuted time +with hope, and finds no other advantage in the +process but only the losing of hope by time. + +COUNTESS This young gentlewoman had a father--O, +that "had," how sad a passage 'tis!--whose skill +was almost as great as his honesty; had it stretched +so far, would have made nature immortal, and +death should have play for lack of work. Would for +the King's sake he were living! I think it would be +the death of the King's disease. + +LAFEW How called you the man you speak of, +madam? + +COUNTESS He was famous, sir, in his profession, and it +was his great right to be so: Gerard de Narbon. + +LAFEW He was excellent indeed, madam. The King +very lately spoke of him admiringly, and mourningly. +He was skillful enough to have lived still, if +knowledge could be set up against mortality. + +BERTRAM What is it, my good lord, the King languishes +of? + +LAFEW A fistula, my lord. + +BERTRAM I heard not of it before. + +LAFEW I would it were not notorious.--Was this gentlewoman +the daughter of Gerard de Narbon? + +COUNTESS His sole child, my lord, and bequeathed to +my overlooking. I have those hopes of her good +that her education promises. Her dispositions she +inherits, which makes fair gifts fairer; for where an +unclean mind carries virtuous qualities, there +commendations go with pity--they are virtues and +traitors too. In her they are the better for their simpleness. +She derives her honesty and achieves her +goodness. + +LAFEW Your commendations, madam, get from her +tears. + +COUNTESS 'Tis the best brine a maiden can season her +praise in. The remembrance of her father never +approaches her heart but the tyranny of her sorrows +takes all livelihood from her cheek.--No +more of this, Helena. Go to. No more, lest it be +rather thought you affect a sorrow than to have-- + +HELEN I do affect a sorrow indeed, but I have it too. + +LAFEW Moderate lamentation is the right of the dead, +excessive grief the enemy to the living. + +COUNTESS If the living be enemy to the grief, the +excess makes it soon mortal. + +BERTRAM Madam, I desire your holy wishes. + +LAFEW How understand we that? + +COUNTESS +Be thou blessed, Bertram, and succeed thy father +In manners as in shape. Thy blood and virtue +Contend for empire in thee, and thy goodness +Share with thy birthright. Love all, trust a few, +Do wrong to none. Be able for thine enemy +Rather in power than use, and keep thy friend +Under thy own life's key Be checked for silence, +But never taxed for speech. What heaven more will, +That thee may furnish and my prayers pluck down, +Fall on thy head. [To Lafew.] Farewell, my lord. +'Tis an unseasoned courtier. Good my lord, +Advise him. + +LAFEW He cannot want the best that shall +Attend his love. + +COUNTESS Heaven bless him.--Farewell, Bertram. + +BERTRAM The best wishes that can be forged in your +thoughts be servants to you. [Countess exits.] +[To Helen.] Be comfortable to my mother, your +mistress, and make much of her. + +LAFEW Farewell, pretty lady. You must hold the credit +of your father. [Bertram and Lafew exit.] + +HELEN +O, were that all! I think not on my father, +And these great tears grace his remembrance more +Than those I shed for him. What was he like? +I have forgot him. My imagination +Carries no favor in 't but Bertram's. +I am undone. There is no living, none, +If Bertram be away. 'Twere all one +That I should love a bright particular star +And think to wed it, he is so above me. +In his bright radiance and collateral light +Must I be comforted, not in his sphere. +Th' ambition in my love thus plagues itself: +The hind that would be mated by the lion +Must die for love. 'Twas pretty, though a plague, +To see him every hour, to sit and draw +His arched brows, his hawking eye, his curls +In our heart's table--heart too capable +Of every line and trick of his sweet favor. +But now he's gone, and my idolatrous fancy +Must sanctify his relics. Who comes here? + +[Enter Parolles.] + +One that goes with him. I love him for his sake, +And yet I know him a notorious liar, +Think him a great way fool, solely a coward. +Yet these fixed evils sit so fit in him +That they take place when virtue's steely bones +Looks bleak i' th' cold wind. Withal, full oft we see +Cold wisdom waiting on superfluous folly. + +PAROLLES Save you, fair queen. + +HELEN And you, monarch. + +PAROLLES No. + +HELEN And no. + +PAROLLES Are you meditating on virginity? + +HELEN Ay. You have some stain of soldier in you; let +me ask you a question. Man is enemy to virginity. +How may we barricado it against him? + +PAROLLES Keep him out. + +HELEN But he assails, and our virginity, though +valiant in the defense, yet is weak. Unfold to us +some warlike resistance. + +PAROLLES There is none. Man setting down before you +will undermine you and blow you up. + +HELEN Bless our poor virginity from underminers and +blowers-up! Is there no military policy how virgins +might blow up men? + +PAROLLES Virginity being blown down, man will +quicklier be blown up. Marry, in blowing him +down again, with the breach yourselves made you +lose your city. It is not politic in the commonwealth +of nature to preserve virginity. Loss of virginity +is rational increase, and there was never +virgin got till virginity was first lost. That you +were made of is metal to make virgins. Virginity by +being once lost may be ten times found; by being +ever kept, it is ever lost. 'Tis too cold a companion. +Away with 't. + +HELEN I will stand for 't a little, though therefore I +die a virgin. + +PAROLLES There's little can be said in 't. 'Tis against the +rule of nature. To speak on the part of virginity is +to accuse your mothers, which is most infallible +disobedience. He that hangs himself is a virgin; +virginity murders itself and should be buried in +highways out of all sanctified limit as a desperate +offendress against nature. Virginity breeds mites, +much like a cheese, consumes itself to the very +paring, and so dies with feeding his own stomach. +Besides, virginity is peevish, proud, idle, made of +self-love, which is the most inhibited sin in the +canon. Keep it not; you cannot choose but lose by +'t. Out with 't! Within ten year it will make itself +two, which is a goodly increase, and the principal +itself not much the worse. Away with 't! + +HELEN How might one do, sir, to lose it to her own +liking? + +PAROLLES Let me see. Marry, ill, to like him that ne'er +it likes. 'Tis a commodity will lose the gloss with +lying; the longer kept, the less worth. Off with 't +while 'tis vendible; answer the time of request. Virginity, +like an old courtier, wears her cap out of +fashion, richly suited but unsuitable, just like the +brooch and the toothpick, which wear not now. +Your date is better in your pie and your porridge +than in your cheek. And your virginity, your old +virginity, is like one of our French withered pears: +it looks ill, it eats dryly; marry, 'tis a withered pear. +It was formerly better, marry, yet 'tis a withered +pear. Will you anything with it? + +HELEN Not my virginity, yet-- +There shall your master have a thousand loves, +A mother, and a mistress, and a friend, +A phoenix, captain, and an enemy, +A guide, a goddess, and a sovereign, +A counselor, a traitress, and a dear; +His humble ambition, proud humility, +His jarring concord, and his discord dulcet, +His faith, his sweet disaster, with a world +Of pretty, fond adoptious christendoms +That blinking Cupid gossips. Now shall he-- +I know not what he shall. God send him well. +The court's a learning place, and he is one-- + +PAROLLES What one, i' faith? + +HELEN That I wish well. 'Tis pity-- + +PAROLLES What's pity? + +HELEN +That wishing well had not a body in 't +Which might be felt, that we, the poorer born, +Whose baser stars do shut us up in wishes, +Might with effects of them follow our friends +And show what we alone must think, which never +Returns us thanks. + +[Enter Page.] + + +PAGE Monsieur Parolles, my lord calls for you. + +PAROLLES Little Helen, farewell. If I can remember +thee, I will think of thee at court. + +HELEN Monsieur Parolles, you were born under a +charitable star. + +PAROLLES Under Mars, I. + +HELEN I especially think under Mars. + +PAROLLES Why under Mars? + +HELEN The wars hath so kept you under that you +must needs be born under Mars. + +PAROLLES When he was predominant. + +HELEN When he was retrograde, I think rather. + +PAROLLES Why think you so? + +HELEN You go so much backward when you fight. + +PAROLLES That's for advantage. + +HELEN So is running away, when fear proposes the +safety. But the composition that your valor and +fear makes in you is a virtue of a good wing, and I +like the wear well. + +PAROLLES I am so full of businesses I cannot answer +thee acutely. I will return perfect courtier, in the +which my instruction shall serve to naturalize +thee, so thou wilt be capable of a courtier's counsel +and understand what advice shall thrust upon +thee, else thou diest in thine unthankfulness, and +thine ignorance makes thee away. Farewell. When +thou hast leisure, say thy prayers; when thou hast +none, remember thy friends. Get thee a good husband, +and use him as he uses thee. So, farewell. +[Parolles and Page exit.] + +HELEN +Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie +Which we ascribe to heaven. The fated sky +Gives us free scope, only doth backward pull +Our slow designs when we ourselves are dull. +What power is it which mounts my love so high, +That makes me see, and cannot feed mine eye? +The mightiest space in fortune nature brings +To join like likes and kiss like native things. +Impossible be strange attempts to those +That weigh their pains in sense and do suppose +What hath been cannot be. Who ever strove +To show her merit that did miss her love? +The King's disease--my project may deceive me, +But my intents are fixed and will not leave me. +[She exits.] + +Scene 2 +======= +[Flourish cornets. Enter the King of France with letters, +two Lords, and divers Attendants.] + + +KING +The Florentines and Senoys are by th' ears, +Have fought with equal fortune, and continue +A braving war. + +FIRST LORD So 'tis reported, sir. + +KING +Nay, 'tis most credible. We here receive it +A certainty vouched from our cousin Austria, +With caution that the Florentine will move us +For speedy aid, wherein our dearest friend +Prejudicates the business and would seem +To have us make denial. + +FIRST LORD His love and wisdom, +Approved so to your Majesty, may plead +For amplest credence. + +KING He hath armed our answer, +And Florence is denied before he comes. +Yet for our gentlemen that mean to see +The Tuscan service, freely have they leave +To stand on either part. + +SECOND LORD It well may serve +A nursery to our gentry, who are sick +For breathing and exploit. + +[Enter Bertram, Lafew, and Parolles.] + + +KING What's he comes here? + +FIRST LORD +It is the Count Rossillion, my good lord, +Young Bertram. + +KING Youth, thou bear'st thy father's face. +Frank nature, rather curious than in haste, +Hath well composed thee. Thy father's moral parts +Mayst thou inherit too. Welcome to Paris. + +BERTRAM +My thanks and duty are your Majesty's. + +KING +I would I had that corporal soundness now +As when thy father and myself in friendship +First tried our soldiership. He did look far +Into the service of the time and was +Discipled of the bravest. He lasted long, +But on us both did haggish age steal on +And wore us out of act. It much repairs me +To talk of your good father. In his youth +He had the wit which I can well observe +Today in our young lords; but they may jest +Till their own scorn return to them unnoted +Ere they can hide their levity in honor. +So like a courtier, contempt nor bitterness +Were in his pride or sharpness; if they were, +His equal had awaked them, and his honor, +Clock to itself, knew the true minute when +Exception bid him speak, and at this time +His tongue obeyed his hand. Who were below him +He used as creatures of another place +And bowed his eminent top to their low ranks, +Making them proud of his humility, +In their poor praise he humbled. Such a man +Might be a copy to these younger times, +Which, followed well, would demonstrate them now +But goers backward. + +BERTRAM His good remembrance, sir, +Lies richer in your thoughts than on his tomb. +So in approof lives not his epitaph +As in your royal speech. + +KING +Would I were with him! He would always say-- +Methinks I hear him now; his plausive words +He scattered not in ears, but grafted them +To grow there and to bear. "Let me not live"-- +This his good melancholy oft began +On the catastrophe and heel of pastime, +When it was out--"Let me not live," quoth he, +"After my flame lacks oil, to be the snuff +Of younger spirits, whose apprehensive senses +All but new things disdain, whose judgments are +Mere fathers of their garments, whose constancies +Expire before their fashions." This he wished. +I, after him, do after him wish too, +Since I nor wax nor honey can bring home, +I quickly were dissolved from my hive +To give some laborers room. + +SECOND LORD You're loved, sir. +They that least lend it you shall lack you first. + +KING +I fill a place, I know 't.--How long is 't, count, +Since the physician at your father's died? +He was much famed. + +BERTRAM Some six months since, my lord. + +KING +If he were living, I would try him yet.-- +Lend me an arm.--The rest have worn me out +With several applications. Nature and sickness +Debate it at their leisure. Welcome, count. +My son's no dearer. + +BERTRAM Thank your Majesty. +[They exit. Flourish.] + +Scene 3 +======= +[Enter Countess, Steward, and Fool.] + + +COUNTESS I will now hear. What say you of this +gentlewoman? + +STEWARD Madam, the care I have had to even your +content I wish might be found in the calendar of +my past endeavors, for then we wound our modesty +and make foul the clearness of our deservings +when of ourselves we publish them. + +COUNTESS What does this knave here? [To Fool.] Get +you gone, sirrah. The complaints I have heard of +you I do not all believe. 'Tis my slowness that I do +not, for I know you lack not folly to commit them +and have ability enough to make such knaveries +yours. + +FOOL 'Tis not unknown to you, madam, I am a poor +fellow. + +COUNTESS Well, sir. + +FOOL No, madam, 'tis not so well that I am poor, +though many of the rich are damned. But if I may +have your Ladyship's good will to go to the world, +Isbel the woman and I will do as we may. + +COUNTESS Wilt thou needs be a beggar? + +FOOL I do beg your good will in this case. + +COUNTESS In what case? + +FOOL In Isbel's case and mine own. Service is no heritage, +and I think I shall never have the blessing of +God till I have issue o' my body, for they say bairns +are blessings. + +COUNTESS Tell me thy reason why thou wilt marry. + +FOOL My poor body, madam, requires it. I am driven +on by the flesh, and he must needs go that the devil +drives. + +COUNTESS Is this all your Worship's reason? + +FOOL Faith, madam, I have other holy reasons, such +as they are. + +COUNTESS May the world know them? + +FOOL I have been, madam, a wicked creature, as you +and all flesh and blood are, and indeed I do marry +that I may repent. + +COUNTESS Thy marriage sooner than thy wickedness. + +FOOL I am out o' friends, madam, and I hope to have +friends for my wife's sake. + +COUNTESS Such friends are thine enemies, knave. + +FOOL You're shallow, madam, in great friends, for the +knaves come to do that for me which I am aweary +of. He that ears my land spares my team and gives +me leave to in the crop; if I be his cuckold, he's my +drudge. He that comforts my wife is the cherisher +of my flesh and blood; he that cherishes my flesh +and blood loves my flesh and blood; he that loves +my flesh and blood is my friend. Ergo, he that +kisses my wife is my friend. If men could be contented +to be what they are, there were no fear in +marriage, for young Charbon the Puritan and old +Poysam the Papist, howsome'er their hearts are +severed in religion, their heads are both one; they +may jowl horns together like any deer i' th' herd. + +COUNTESS Wilt thou ever be a foul-mouthed and +calumnious knave? + +FOOL A prophet I, madam, and I speak the truth the +next way: +[Sings.] For I the ballad will repeat + Which men full true shall find: + Your marriage comes by destiny; + Your cuckoo sings by kind. + +COUNTESS Get you gone, sir. I'll talk with you more +anon. + +STEWARD May it please you, madam, that he bid Helen +come to you. Of her I am to speak. + +COUNTESS Sirrah, tell my gentlewoman I would speak +with her--Helen, I mean. + +FOOL [sings] + "Was this fair face the cause," quoth she, + "Why the Grecians sacked Troy? + Fond done, done fond. + Was this King Priam's joy?" + With that she sighed as she stood, + With that she sighed as she stood, + And gave this sentence then: + "Among nine bad if one be good, + Among nine bad if one be good, + There's yet one good in ten." + +COUNTESS What, one good in ten? You corrupt the +song, sirrah. + +FOOL One good woman in ten, madam, which is a +purifying o' th' song. Would God would serve the +world so all the year! We'd find no fault with the +tithe-woman if I were the parson. One in ten, +quoth he? An we might have a good woman born +but or every blazing star or at an earthquake, +'twould mend the lottery well. A man may draw his +heart out ere he pluck one. + +COUNTESS You'll be gone, sir knave, and do as I command +you! + +FOOL That man should be at woman's command, and +yet no hurt done! Though honesty be no Puritan, +yet it will do no hurt; it will wear the surplice of +humility over the black gown of a big heart. I am +going, forsooth. The business is for Helen to come +hither. [He exits.] + +COUNTESS Well, now. + +STEWARD I know, madam, you love your gentlewoman +entirely. + +COUNTESS Faith, I do. Her father bequeathed her to +me, and she herself, without other advantage, may +lawfully make title to as much love as she finds. +There is more owing her than is paid, and more +shall be paid her than she'll demand. + +STEWARD Madam, I was very late more near her than I +think she wished me. Alone she was and did communicate +to herself her own words to her own +ears; she thought, I dare vow for her, they touched +not any stranger sense. Her matter was she loved +your son. Fortune, she said, was no goddess, that +had put such difference betwixt their two estates; +Love no god, that would not extend his might only +where qualities were level; Dian no queen of virgins, +that would suffer her poor knight surprised +without rescue in the first assault or ransom afterward. +This she delivered in the most bitter touch +of sorrow that e'er I heard virgin exclaim in, which +I held my duty speedily to acquaint you withal, +sithence in the loss that may happen it concerns +you something to know it. + +COUNTESS You have discharged this honestly. Keep it +to yourself. Many likelihoods informed me of this +before, which hung so tott'ring in the balance that +I could neither believe nor misdoubt. Pray you +leave me. Stall this in your bosom, and I thank you +for your honest care. I will speak with you further +anon. [Steward exits.] + +[Enter Helen.] + +[Aside.] +Even so it was with me when I was young. + If ever we are nature's, these are ours. This thorn +Doth to our rose of youth rightly belong. + Our blood to us, this to our blood is born. +It is the show and seal of nature's truth, +Where love's strong passion is impressed in youth. +By our remembrances of days foregone, +Such were our faults, or then we thought them none. +Her eye is sick on 't, I observe her now. + +HELEN What is your pleasure, madam? + +COUNTESS +You know, Helen, I am a mother to you. + +HELEN +Mine honorable mistress. + +COUNTESS Nay, a mother. +Why not a mother? When I said "a mother," +Methought you saw a serpent. What's in "mother" +That you start at it? I say I am your mother +And put you in the catalogue of those +That were enwombed mine. 'Tis often seen +Adoption strives with nature, and choice breeds +A native slip to us from foreign seeds. +You ne'er oppressed me with a mother's groan, +Yet I express to you a mother's care. +God's mercy, maiden, does it curd thy blood +To say I am thy mother? What's the matter, +That this distempered messenger of wet, +The many-colored Iris, rounds thine eye? +Why? That you are my daughter? + +HELEN That I am not. + +COUNTESS +I say I am your mother. + +HELEN Pardon, madam. +The Count Rossillion cannot be my brother. +I am from humble, he from honored name; +No note upon my parents, his all noble. +My master, my dear lord he is, and I +His servant live and will his vassal die. +He must not be my brother. + +COUNTESS Nor I your mother? + +HELEN +You are my mother, madam. Would you were-- +So that my lord your son were not my brother-- +Indeed my mother! Or were you both our mothers, +I care no more for than I do for heaven, +So I were not his sister. Can 't no other +But, I your daughter, he must be my brother? + +COUNTESS +Yes, Helen, you might be my daughter-in-law. +God shield you mean it not! "Daughter" and "mother" +So strive upon your pulse. What, pale again? +My fear hath catched your fondness! Now I see +The mystery of your loneliness and find +Your salt tears' head. Now to all sense 'tis gross: +You love my son. Invention is ashamed +Against the proclamation of thy passion +To say thou dost not. Therefore tell me true, +But tell me then 'tis so, for, look, thy cheeks +Confess it th' one to th' other, and thine eyes +See it so grossly shown in thy behaviors +That in their kind they speak it. Only sin +And hellish obstinacy tie thy tongue +That truth should be suspected. Speak. Is 't so? +If it be so, you have wound a goodly clew; +If it be not, forswear 't; howe'er, I charge thee, +As heaven shall work in me for thine avail, +To tell me truly. + +HELEN Good madam, pardon me. + +COUNTESS +Do you love my son? + +HELEN Your pardon, noble mistress. + +COUNTESS +Love you my son? + +HELEN Do not you love him, madam? + +COUNTESS +Go not about. My love hath in 't a bond +Whereof the world takes note. Come, come, disclose +The state of your affection, for your passions +Have to the full appeached. + +HELEN, [kneeling] Then I confess +Here on my knee before high heaven and you +That before you and next unto high heaven +I love your son. +My friends were poor but honest; so 's my love. +Be not offended, for it hurts not him +That he is loved of me. I follow him not +By any token of presumptuous suit, +Nor would I have him till I do deserve him, +Yet never know how that desert should be. +I know I love in vain, strive against hope, +Yet in this captious and intenible sieve +I still pour in the waters of my love +And lack not to lose still. Thus, Indian-like, +Religious in mine error, I adore +The sun that looks upon his worshipper +But knows of him no more. My dearest madam, +Let not your hate encounter with my love +For loving where you do; but if yourself, +Whose aged honor cites a virtuous youth, +Did ever in so true a flame of liking +Wish chastely and love dearly, that your Dian +Was both herself and Love, O then give pity +To her whose state is such that cannot choose +But lend and give where she is sure to lose; +That seeks not to find that her search implies, +But riddle-like lives sweetly where she dies. + +COUNTESS +Had you not lately an intent--speak truly-- +To go to Paris? + +HELEN Madam, I had. + +COUNTESS Wherefore? +Tell true. + +HELEN, [standing] +I will tell truth, by grace itself I swear. +You know my father left me some prescriptions +Of rare and proved effects, such as his reading +And manifest experience had collected +For general sovereignty; and that he willed me +In heedfull'st reservation to bestow them +As notes whose faculties inclusive were +More than they were in note. Amongst the rest +There is a remedy, approved, set down, +To cure the desperate languishings whereof +The King is rendered lost. + +COUNTESS +This was your motive for Paris, was it? Speak. + +HELEN +My lord your son made me to think of this; +Else Paris, and the medicine, and the King +Had from the conversation of my thoughts +Haply been absent then. + +COUNTESS But think you, Helen, +If you should tender your supposed aid, +He would receive it? He and his physicians +Are of a mind: he that they cannot help him, +They that they cannot help. How shall they credit +A poor unlearned virgin, when the schools +Emboweled of their doctrine have left off +The danger to itself? + +HELEN There's something in 't +More than my father's skill, which was the great'st +Of his profession, that his good receipt +Shall for my legacy be sanctified +By th' luckiest stars in heaven; and would your +Honor +But give me leave to try success, I'd venture +The well-lost life of mine on his Grace's cure +By such a day, an hour. + +COUNTESS Dost thou believe 't? + +HELEN Ay, madam, knowingly. + +COUNTESS +Why, Helen, thou shalt have my leave and love, +Means and attendants, and my loving greetings +To those of mine in court. I'll stay at home +And pray God's blessing into thy attempt. +Be gone tomorrow, and be sure of this: +What I can help thee to thou shalt not miss. +[They exit.] + + +ACT 2 +===== + +Scene 1 +======= +[Flourish cornets. Enter the King, attended, with divers +young Lords, taking leave for the Florentine war; +Bertram Count Rossillion, and Parolles.] + + +KING +Farewell, young lords. These warlike principles +Do not throw from you.--And you, my lords, +farewell. +Share the advice betwixt you. If both gain all, +The gift doth stretch itself as 'tis received +And is enough for both. + +FIRST LORD 'Tis our hope, sir, +After well-entered soldiers, to return +And find your Grace in health. + +KING +No, no, it cannot be. And yet my heart +Will not confess he owes the malady +That doth my life besiege. Farewell, young lords. +Whether I live or die, be you the sons +Of worthy Frenchmen. Let higher Italy-- +Those bated that inherit but the fall +Of the last monarchy--see that you come +Not to woo honor but to wed it. When +The bravest questant shrinks, find what you seek, +That fame may cry you loud. I say farewell. + +FIRST LORD +Health at your bidding serve your Majesty! + +KING +Those girls of Italy, take heed of them. +They say our French lack language to deny +If they demand. Beware of being captives +Before you serve. + +LORDS Our hearts receive your warnings. + +KING Farewell.--Come hither to me. +[The King speaks to Attendants, while Bertram, +Parolles, and other Lords come forward.] + +FIRST LORD, [to Bertram] +O my sweet lord, that you will stay behind us! + +PAROLLES +'Tis not his fault, the spark. + +SECOND LORD O, 'tis brave wars. + +PAROLLES +Most admirable. I have seen those wars. + +BERTRAM +I am commanded here and kept a coil +With "Too young," and "The next year," and "'Tis +too early." + +PAROLLES +An thy mind stand to 't, boy, steal away bravely. + +BERTRAM +I shall stay here the forehorse to a smock, +Creaking my shoes on the plain masonry +Till honor be bought up, and no sword worn +But one to dance with. By heaven, I'll steal away! + +FIRST LORD +There's honor in the theft. + +PAROLLES Commit it, count. + +SECOND LORD +I am your accessory. And so, farewell. + +BERTRAM I grow to you, and our parting is a tortured +body. + +FIRST LORD Farewell, captain. + +SECOND LORD Sweet Monsieur Parolles. + +PAROLLES Noble heroes, my sword and yours are kin. +Good sparks and lustrous, a word, good metals. +You shall find in the regiment of the Spinii one +Captain Spurio with his cicatrice, an emblem of +war, here on his sinister cheek. It was this very +sword entrenched it. Say to him I live, and observe +his reports for me. + +FIRST LORD We shall, noble captain. + +PAROLLES Mars dote on you for his novices. +[Lords exit.] +[To Bertram.] What will you do? + +BERTRAM Stay the King. + +PAROLLES Use a more spacious ceremony to the noble +lords. You have restrained yourself within the list +of too cold an adieu. Be more expressive to them, +for they wear themselves in the cap of the time; +there do muster true gait; eat, speak, and move +under the influence of the most received star, and, +though the devil lead the measure, such are to be +followed. After them, and take a more dilated +farewell. + +BERTRAM And I will do so. + +PAROLLES Worthy fellows, and like to prove most +sinewy swordmen. [Bertram and Parolles exit.] + +[Enter Lafew, to the King.] + + +LAFEW, [kneeling] +Pardon, my lord, for me and for my tidings. + +KING I'll fee thee to stand up. + +LAFEW, [standing] +Then here's a man stands that has brought his +pardon. +I would you had kneeled, my lord, to ask me mercy, +And that at my bidding you could so stand up. + +KING +I would I had, so I had broke thy pate +And asked thee mercy for 't. + +LAFEW Good faith, across. +But, my good lord, 'tis thus: will you be cured +Of your infirmity? + +KING No. + +LAFEW O, will you eat +No grapes, my royal fox? Yes, but you will +My noble grapes, an if my royal fox +Could reach them. I have seen a medicine +That's able to breathe life into a stone, +Quicken a rock, and make you dance canary +With sprightly fire and motion, whose simple touch +Is powerful to araise King Pippen, nay, +To give great Charlemagne a pen in 's hand +And write to her a love line. + +KING What "her" is this? + +LAFEW +Why, Doctor She. My lord, there's one arrived, +If you will see her. Now, by my faith and honor, +If seriously I may convey my thoughts +In this my light deliverance, I have spoke +With one that in her sex, her years, profession, +Wisdom, and constancy hath amazed me more +Than I dare blame my weakness. Will you see her-- +For that is her demand--and know her business? +That done, laugh well at me. + +KING Now, good Lafew, +Bring in the admiration, that we with thee +May spend our wonder too, or take off thine +By wond'ring how thou took'st it. + +LAFEW Nay, I'll fit you, +And not be all day neither. +[He goes to bring in Helen.] + +KING +Thus he his special nothing ever prologues. + +[Enter Helen.] + + +LAFEW, [to Helen] Nay, come your ways. + +KING This haste hath wings indeed. + +LAFEW Nay, come your ways. +This is his Majesty. Say your mind to him. +A traitor you do look like, but such traitors +His Majesty seldom fears. I am Cressid's uncle +That dare leave two together. Fare you well. +[He exits.] + +KING +Now, fair one, does your business follow us? + +HELEN Ay, my good lord, +Gerard de Narbon was my father, +In what he did profess well found. + +KING I knew him. + +HELEN +The rather will I spare my praises towards him. +Knowing him is enough. On 's bed of death +Many receipts he gave me, chiefly one +Which, as the dearest issue of his practice, +And of his old experience th' only darling, +He bade me store up as a triple eye, +Safer than mine own two, more dear. I have so, +And hearing your high Majesty is touched +With that malignant cause wherein the honor +Of my dear father's gift stands chief in power, +I come to tender it and my appliance +With all bound humbleness. + +KING We thank you, maiden, +But may not be so credulous of cure, +When our most learned doctors leave us and +The congregated college have concluded +That laboring art can never ransom nature +From her inaidible estate. I say we must not +So stain our judgment or corrupt our hope +To prostitute our past-cure malady +To empirics, or to dissever so +Our great self and our credit to esteem +A senseless help when help past sense we deem. + +HELEN +My duty, then, shall pay me for my pains. +I will no more enforce mine office on you, +Humbly entreating from your royal thoughts +A modest one to bear me back again. + +KING +I cannot give thee less, to be called grateful. +Thou thought'st to help me, and such thanks I give +As one near death to those that wish him live. +But what at full I know, thou know'st no part, +I knowing all my peril, thou no art. + +HELEN +What I can do can do no hurt to try +Since you set up your rest 'gainst remedy. +He that of greatest works is finisher +Oft does them by the weakest minister. +So holy writ in babes hath judgment shown +When judges have been babes. Great floods have flown +From simple sources, and great seas have dried +When miracles have by the great'st been denied. +Oft expectation fails, and most oft there +Where most it promises, and oft it hits +Where hope is coldest and despair most shifts. + +KING +I must not hear thee. Fare thee well, kind maid. +Thy pains, not used, must by thyself be paid. +Proffers not took reap thanks for their reward. + +HELEN +Inspired merit so by breath is barred. +It is not so with Him that all things knows +As 'tis with us that square our guess by shows; +But most it is presumption in us when +The help of heaven we count the act of men. +Dear sir, to my endeavors give consent. +Of heaven, not me, make an experiment. +I am not an impostor that proclaim +Myself against the level of mine aim, +But know I think and think I know most sure +My art is not past power nor you past cure. + +KING +Art thou so confident? Within what space +Hop'st thou my cure? + +HELEN The greatest grace lending grace, +Ere twice the horses of the sun shall bring +Their fiery torcher his diurnal ring; +Ere twice in murk and occidental damp +Moist Hesperus hath quenched her sleepy lamp; +Or four and twenty times the pilot's glass +Hath told the thievish minutes, how they pass, +What is infirm from your sound parts shall fly, +Health shall live free, and sickness freely die. + +KING +Upon thy certainty and confidence +What dar'st thou venture? + +HELEN Tax of impudence, +A strumpet's boldness, a divulged shame; +Traduced by odious ballads, my maiden's name +Seared otherwise; nay, worse of worst, extended +With vilest torture let my life be ended. + +KING +Methinks in thee some blessed spirit doth speak +His powerful sound within an organ weak, +And what impossibility would slay +In common sense, sense saves another way. +Thy life is dear, for all that life can rate +Worth name of life in thee hath estimate: +Youth, beauty, wisdom, courage, all +That happiness and prime can happy call. +Thou this to hazard needs must intimate +Skill infinite or monstrous desperate. +Sweet practicer, thy physic I will try, +That ministers thine own death if I die. + +HELEN +If I break time or flinch in property +Of what I spoke, unpitied let me die, +And well deserved. Not helping, death's my fee. +But if I help, what do you promise me? + +KING +Make thy demand. + +HELEN But will you make it even? + +KING +Ay, by my scepter and my hopes of heaven. + +HELEN +Then shalt thou give me with thy kingly hand +What husband in thy power I will command. +Exempted be from me the arrogance +To choose from forth the royal blood of France, +My low and humble name to propagate +With any branch or image of thy state; +But such a one, thy vassal, whom I know +Is free for me to ask, thee to bestow. + +KING +Here is my hand. The premises observed, +Thy will by my performance shall be served. +So make the choice of thy own time, for I, +Thy resolved patient, on thee still rely. +More should I question thee, and more I must, +Though more to know could not be more to trust: +From whence thou cam'st, how tended on; but rest +Unquestioned welcome and undoubted blessed.-- +Give me some help here, ho!--If thou proceed +As high as word, my deed shall match thy deed. +[Flourish. They exit, the King assisted.] + +Scene 2 +======= +[Enter Countess and Fool.] + + +COUNTESS Come on, sir. I shall now put you to the +height of your breeding. + +FOOL I will show myself highly fed and lowly taught. I +know my business is but to the court. + +COUNTESS "To the court"? Why, what place make you +special when you put off that with such contempt? +"But to the court"? + +FOOL Truly, madam, if God have lent a man any manners, +he may easily put it off at court. He that cannot +make a leg, put off 's cap, kiss his hand, and +say nothing, has neither leg, hands, lip, nor cap; +and indeed such a fellow, to say precisely, were +not for the court. But, for me, I have an answer +will serve all men. + +COUNTESS Marry, that's a bountiful answer that fits all +questions. + +FOOL It is like a barber's chair that fits all buttocks: +the pin-buttock, the quatch-buttock, the brawn-buttock, +or any buttock. + +COUNTESS Will your answer serve fit to all questions? + +FOOL As fit as ten groats is for the hand of an attorney, +as your French crown for your taffety punk, as +Tib's rush for Tom's forefinger, as a pancake for +Shrove Tuesday, a morris for May Day, as the nail +to his hole, the cuckold to his horn, as a scolding +quean to a wrangling knave, as the nun's lip to the +friar's mouth, nay, as the pudding to his skin. + +COUNTESS Have you, I say, an answer of such fitness +for all questions? + +FOOL From below your duke to beneath your constable, +it will fit any question. + +COUNTESS It must be an answer of most monstrous +size that must fit all demands. + +FOOL But a trifle neither, in good faith, if the learned +should speak truth of it. Here it is, and all that +belongs to 't. Ask me if I am a courtier; it shall do +you no harm to learn. + +COUNTESS To be young again, if we could! I will be a +fool in question, hoping to be the wiser by your +answer. I pray you, sir, are you a courtier? + +FOOL O Lord, sir!--There's a simple putting off. More, +more, a hundred of them. + +COUNTESS Sir, I am a poor friend of yours that loves +you. + +FOOL O Lord, sir!--Thick, thick. Spare not me. + +COUNTESS I think, sir, you can eat none of this homely +meat. + +FOOL O Lord, sir!--Nay, put me to 't, I warrant you. + +COUNTESS You were lately whipped, sir, as I think. + +FOOL O Lord, sir!--Spare not me. + +COUNTESS Do you cry "O Lord, sir!" at your whipping, +and "spare not me"? Indeed your "O Lord, sir!" is +very sequent to your whipping. You would answer +very well to a whipping if you were but bound to 't. + +FOOL I ne'er had worse luck in my life in my "O Lord, +sir!" I see things may serve long but not serve ever. + +COUNTESS I play the noble huswife with the time to +entertain it so merrily with a fool. + +FOOL O Lord, sir!--Why, there 't serves well again. + +COUNTESS, [giving him a paper] +An end, sir. To your business. Give Helen this, +And urge her to a present answer back. +Commend me to my kinsmen and my son. +This is not much. + +FOOL Not much commendation to them? + +COUNTESS +Not much employment for you. You understand me. + +FOOL Most fruitfully. I am there before my legs. + +COUNTESS Haste you again. +[They exit.] + +Scene 3 +======= +[Enter Count Bertram, Lafew, and Parolles.] + + +LAFEW They say miracles are past, and we have our +philosophical persons to make modern and familiar +things supernatural and causeless. Hence is it +that we make trifles of terrors, ensconcing ourselves +into seeming knowledge when we should +submit ourselves to an unknown fear. + +PAROLLES Why, 'tis the rarest argument of wonder that +hath shot out in our latter times. + +BERTRAM And so 'tis. + +LAFEW To be relinquished of the artists-- + +PAROLLES So I say, both of Galen and Paracelsus. + +LAFEW Of all the learned and authentic fellows-- + +PAROLLES Right, so I say. + +LAFEW That gave him out incurable-- + +PAROLLES Why, there 'tis. So say I too. + +LAFEW Not to be helped. + +PAROLLES Right, as 'twere a man assured of a-- + +LAFEW Uncertain life and sure death. + +PAROLLES Just. You say well. So would I have said. + +LAFEW I may truly say it is a novelty to the world. + +PAROLLES It is indeed. If you will have it in showing, +you shall read it in what-do-you-call there. +[He points to a paper in Lafew's hand.] + +LAFEW [reads] A showing of a heavenly effect in an earthly +actor. + +PAROLLES That's it. I would have said the very same. + +LAFEW Why, your dolphin is not lustier. 'Fore me, I +speak in respect-- + +PAROLLES Nay, 'tis strange, 'tis very strange; that is the +brief and the tedious of it; and he's of a most facinorous +spirit that will not acknowledge it to be +the-- + +LAFEW Very hand of heaven. + +PAROLLES Ay, so I say. + +LAFEW In a most weak-- + +PAROLLES And debile minister. Great power, great +transcendence, which should indeed give us a further +use to be made than alone the recov'ry of the +King, as to be-- + +LAFEW Generally thankful. + +[Enter King, Helen, and Attendants.] + + +PAROLLES I would have said it. You say well. Here +comes the King. + +LAFEW Lustig, as the Dutchman says. I'll like a maid +the better whilst I have a tooth in my head. Why, +he's able to lead her a coranto. + +PAROLLES Mort du vinaigre! Is not this Helen? + +LAFEW 'Fore God, I think so. + +KING +Go, call before me all the lords in court. +[An Attendant exits.] +Sit, my preserver, by thy patient's side, +And with this healthful hand, whose banished sense +Thou hast repealed, a second time receive +The confirmation of my promised gift, +Which but attends thy naming. + +[Enter three or four Court Lords.] + +Fair maid, send forth thine eye. This youthful parcel +Of noble bachelors stand at my bestowing, +O'er whom both sovereign power and father's voice +I have to use. Thy frank election make. +Thou hast power to choose, and they none to forsake. + +HELEN +To each of you one fair and virtuous mistress +Fall when Love please! Marry, to each but one. + +LAFEW, [aside] +I'd give bay Curtal and his furniture +My mouth no more were broken than these boys' +And writ as little beard. + +KING Peruse them well. +Not one of those but had a noble father. + +HELEN Gentlemen, +Heaven hath through me restored the King to health. + +ALL +We understand it and thank heaven for you. + +HELEN +I am a simple maid, and therein wealthiest +That I protest I simply am a maid.-- +Please it your Majesty, I have done already. +The blushes in my cheeks thus whisper me: +"We blush that thou shouldst choose; but, be +refused, +Let the white death sit on thy cheek forever; +We'll ne'er come there again." + +KING Make choice and see. +Who shuns thy love shuns all his love in me. + +HELEN +Now, Dian, from thy altar do I fly, +And to imperial Love, that god most high, +Do my sighs stream. [She addresses her to a Lord.] +Sir, will you hear my suit? + +FIRST COURT LORD +And grant it. + +HELEN Thanks, sir. All the +rest is mute. + +LAFEW, [aside] I had rather be in this choice than +throw ambs-ace for my life. + +HELEN, [to another Lord] +The honor, sir, that flames in your fair eyes +Before I speak too threat'ningly replies. +Love make your fortunes twenty times above +Her that so wishes, and her humble love. + +SECOND COURT LORD +No better, if you please. + +HELEN My wish receive, +Which great Love grant, and so I take my leave. + +LAFEW, [aside] Do all they deny her? An they were sons +of mine, I'd have them whipped, or I would send +them to th' Turk to make eunuchs of. + +HELEN, [to another Lord] +Be not afraid that I your hand should take. +I'll never do you wrong, for your own sake. +Blessing upon your vows, and in your bed +Find fairer fortune if you ever wed. + +LAFEW, [aside] These boys are boys of ice; they'll none +have her. Sure they are bastards to the English; +the French ne'er got 'em. + +HELEN, [to another Lord] +You are too young, too happy, and too good +To make yourself a son out of my blood. + +FOURTH COURT LORD Fair one, I think not so. + +LAFEW, [aside] There's one grape yet. I am sure thy +father drunk wine. But if thou be'st not an ass, I +am a youth of fourteen; I have known thee already. + +HELEN, [to Bertram] +I dare not say I take you, but I give +Me and my service ever whilst I live +Into your guiding power.--This is the man. + +KING +Why then, young Bertram, take her. She's thy wife. + +BERTRAM +My wife, my liege? I shall beseech your Highness +In such a business give me leave to use +The help of mine own eyes. + +KING Know'st thou not, +Bertram, +What she has done for me? + +BERTRAM Yes, my good lord, +But never hope to know why I should marry her. + +KING +Thou know'st she has raised me from my sickly bed. + +BERTRAM +But follows it, my lord, to bring me down +Must answer for your raising? I know her well; +She had her breeding at my father's charge. +A poor physician's daughter my wife? Disdain +Rather corrupt me ever! + +KING +'Tis only title thou disdain'st in her, the which +I can build up. Strange is it that our bloods, +Of color, weight, and heat, poured all together, +Would quite confound distinction, yet stands off +In differences so mighty. If she be +All that is virtuous, save what thou dislik'st-- +"A poor physician's daughter"--thou dislik'st +Of virtue for the name. But do not so. +From lowest place whence virtuous things proceed, +The place is dignified by th' doer's deed. +Where great additions swell 's, and virtue none, +It is a dropsied honor. Good alone +Is good, without a name; vileness is so; +The property by what it is should go, +Not by the title. She is young, wise, fair; +In these to nature she's immediate heir, +And these breed honor. That is honor's scorn +Which challenges itself as honor's born +And is not like the sire. Honors thrive +When rather from our acts we them derive +Than our foregoers. The mere word's a slave +Debauched on every tomb, on every grave +A lying trophy, and as oft is dumb +Where dust and damned oblivion is the tomb +Of honored bones indeed. What should be said? +If thou canst like this creature as a maid, +I can create the rest. Virtue and she +Is her own dower, honor and wealth from me. + +BERTRAM +I cannot love her, nor will strive to do 't. + +KING +Thou wrong'st thyself if thou shouldst strive to +choose. + +HELEN +That you are well restored, my lord, I'm glad. +Let the rest go. + +KING +My honor's at the stake, which to defeat +I must produce my power.--Here, take her hand, +Proud, scornful boy, unworthy this good gift, +That dost in vile misprision shackle up +My love and her desert; that canst not dream +We, poising us in her defective scale, +Shall weigh thee to the beam; that wilt not know +It is in us to plant thine honor where +We please to have it grow. Check thy contempt; +Obey our will, which travails in thy good. +Believe not thy disdain, but presently +Do thine own fortunes that obedient right +Which both thy duty owes and our power claims, +Or I will throw thee from my care forever +Into the staggers and the careless lapse +Of youth and ignorance, both my revenge and hate +Loosing upon thee in the name of justice +Without all terms of pity. Speak. Thine answer. + +BERTRAM +Pardon, my gracious lord, for I submit +My fancy to your eyes. When I consider +What great creation and what dole of honor +Flies where you bid it, I find that she which late +Was in my nobler thoughts most base is now +The praised of the King, who, so ennobled, +Is as 'twere born so. + +KING Take her by the hand, +And tell her she is thine, to whom I promise +A counterpoise, if not to thy estate, +A balance more replete. + +BERTRAM I take her hand. + +KING +Good fortune and the favor of the King +Smile upon this contract, whose ceremony +Shall seem expedient on the now-born brief +And be performed tonight. The solemn feast +Shall more attend upon the coming space, +Expecting absent friends. As thou lov'st her +Thy love's to me religious; else, does err. +[They exit. Parolles and Lafew stay behind, +commenting of this wedding.] + +LAFEW Do you hear, monsieur? A word with you. + +PAROLLES Your pleasure, sir. + +LAFEW Your lord and master did well to make his +recantation. + +PAROLLES "Recantation"? My "lord"? My "master"? + +LAFEW Ay. Is it not a language I speak? + +PAROLLES A most harsh one, and not to be understood +without bloody succeeding. My "master"? + +LAFEW Are you companion to the Count Rossillion? + +PAROLLES To any count, to all counts, to what is man. + +LAFEW To what is count's man. Count's master is of +another style. + +PAROLLES You are too old, sir; let it satisfy you, you are +too old. + +LAFEW I must tell thee, sirrah, I write man, to which +title age cannot bring thee. + +PAROLLES What I dare too well do, I dare not do. + +LAFEW I did think thee, for two ordinaries, to be a +pretty wise fellow; thou didst make tolerable vent +of thy travel; it might pass. Yet the scarves and the +bannerets about thee did manifoldly dissuade me +from believing thee a vessel of too great a burden. +I have now found thee. When I lose thee again, I +care not. Yet art thou good for nothing but taking +up, and that thou 'rt scarce worth. + +PAROLLES Hadst thou not the privilege of antiquity +upon thee-- + +LAFEW Do not plunge thyself too far in anger lest thou +hasten thy trial, which if--Lord have mercy on +thee for a hen! So, my good window of lattice, fare +thee well; thy casement I need not open, for I look +through thee. Give me thy hand. + +PAROLLES My lord, you give me most egregious +indignity. + +LAFEW Ay, with all my heart, and thou art worthy of it. + +PAROLLES I have not, my lord, deserved it. + +LAFEW Yes, good faith, ev'ry dram of it, and I will not +bate thee a scruple. + +PAROLLES Well, I shall be wiser. + +LAFEW Ev'n as soon as thou canst, for thou hast to +pull at a smack o' th' contrary. If ever thou be'st +bound in thy scarf and beaten, thou shalt find +what it is to be proud of thy bondage. I have a +desire to hold my acquaintance with thee, or +rather my knowledge, that I may say in the default +"He is a man I know." + +PAROLLES My lord, you do me most insupportable +vexation. + +LAFEW I would it were hell pains for thy sake, and my +poor doing eternal; for doing I am past, as I will by +thee in what motion age will give me leave. +[He exits.] + +PAROLLES Well, thou hast a son shall take this disgrace +off me. Scurvy, old, filthy, scurvy 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. + +[Enter Lafew.] + + +LAFEW Sirrah, your lord and master's married. There's +news for you: you have a new mistress. + +PAROLLES I most unfeignedly beseech your Lordship +to make some reservation of your wrongs. He is +my good lord; whom I serve above is my master. + +LAFEW Who? God? + +PAROLLES Ay, sir. + +LAFEW The devil it is that's thy master. Why dost thou +garter up thy arms o' this fashion? Dost make hose +of thy sleeves? Do other servants so? Thou wert +best set thy lower part where thy nose stands. By +mine honor, if I were but two hours younger, I'd +beat thee. Methink'st thou art a general offense, +and every man should beat thee. I think thou wast +created for men to breathe themselves upon thee. + +PAROLLES This is hard and undeserved measure, my +lord. + +LAFEW Go to, sir. You were beaten in Italy for picking a +kernel out of a pomegranate. You are a vagabond, +and no true traveler. You are more saucy with +lords and honorable personages than the commission +of your birth and virtue gives you heraldry. +You are not worth another word; else I'd call you +knave. I leave you. [He exits.] + +PAROLLES Good, very good! It is so, then. Good, very +good. Let it be concealed awhile. + +[Enter Bertram Count Rossillion.] + + +BERTRAM +Undone, and forfeited to cares forever! + +PAROLLES What's the matter, sweetheart? + +BERTRAM +Although before the solemn priest I have sworn, +I will not bed her. + +PAROLLES What, what, sweetheart? + +BERTRAM +O my Parolles, they have married me! +I'll to the Tuscan wars and never bed her. + +PAROLLES France is a dog-hole, and it no more merits +the tread of a man's foot. To th' wars! + +BERTRAM There's letters from my mother. What th' +import is I know not yet. + +PAROLLES Ay, that would be known. To th' wars, my +boy, to th' wars! +He wears his honor in a box unseen +That hugs his kicky-wicky here at home, +Spending his manly marrow in her arms +Which should sustain the bound and high curvet +Of Mars's fiery steed. To other regions! +France is a stable, we that dwell in 't jades. +Therefore, to th' war! + +BERTRAM +It shall be so. I'll send her to my house, +Acquaint my mother with my hate to her +And wherefore I am fled, write to the King +That which I durst not speak. His present gift +Shall furnish me to those Italian fields +Where noble fellows strike. Wars is no strife +To the dark house and the detested wife. + +PAROLLES +Will this capriccio hold in thee? Art sure? + +BERTRAM +Go with me to my chamber, and advise me. +I'll send her straight away. Tomorrow +I'll to the wars, she to her single sorrow. + +PAROLLES +Why, these balls bound; there's noise in it. 'Tis hard. +A young man married is a man that's marred. +Therefore away, and leave her bravely. Go. +The King has done you wrong, but hush, 'tis so. +[They exit.] + +Scene 4 +======= +[Enter Helen with a paper, and Fool.] + + +HELEN My mother greets me kindly. Is she well? + +FOOL She is not well, but yet she has her health. She's +very merry, but yet she is not well. But, thanks be +given, she's very well and wants nothing i' th' world, +but yet she is not well. + +HELEN If she be very well, what does she ail that she's +not very well? + +FOOL Truly, she's very well indeed, but for two things. + +HELEN What two things? + +FOOL One, that she's not in heaven, whither God send +her quickly; the other, that she's in Earth, from +whence God send her quickly. + +[Enter Parolles.] + + +PAROLLES Bless you, my fortunate lady. + +HELEN I hope, sir, I have your good will to have mine +own good fortunes. + +PAROLLES You had my prayers to lead them on, and to +keep them on have them still.--O my knave, how +does my old lady? + +FOOL So that you had her wrinkles and I her money, I +would she did as you say. + +PAROLLES Why, I say nothing. + +FOOL Marry, you are the wiser man, for many a man's +tongue shakes out his master's undoing. To say +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. + +PAROLLES Away. Thou 'rt a knave. + +FOOL You should have said, sir, "Before a knave, +thou 'rt a knave"; that's "Before me, thou 'rt a +knave." This had been truth, sir. + +PAROLLES Go to. Thou art a witty fool. I have found +thee. + +FOOL Did you find me in yourself, sir, or were you +taught to find me? + +PAROLLES ... + +FOOL The search, sir, was profitable, and much fool +may you find in you, even to the world's pleasure +and the increase of laughter. + +PAROLLES A good knave, i' faith, and well fed. +Madam, my lord will go away tonight; +A very serious business calls on him. +The great prerogative and rite of love, +Which as your due time claims, he does acknowledge +But puts it off to a compelled restraint, +Whose want and whose delay is strewed with sweets, +Which they distill now in the curbed time +To make the coming hour o'erflow with joy +And pleasure drown the brim. + +HELEN What's his will else? + +PAROLLES +That you will take your instant leave o' th' King +And make this haste as your own good proceeding, +Strengthened with what apology you think +May make it probable need. + +HELEN What more commands he? + +PAROLLES +That, having this obtained, you presently +Attend his further pleasure. + +HELEN +In everything I wait upon his will. + +PAROLLES I shall report it so. [Parolles exits.] + +HELEN, [to Fool] I pray you, come, sirrah. +[They exit.] + +Scene 5 +======= +[Enter Lafew and Bertram.] + + +LAFEW But I hope your Lordship thinks not him a +soldier. + +BERTRAM Yes, my lord, and of very valiant approof. + +LAFEW You have it from his own deliverance. + +BERTRAM And by other warranted testimony. + +LAFEW Then my dial goes not true. I took this lark for +a bunting. + +BERTRAM I do assure you, my lord, he is very great in +knowledge and accordingly valiant. + +LAFEW I have then sinned against his experience and +transgressed against his valor, and my state that +way is dangerous since 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.] + + +PAROLLES, [to Bertram] These things shall be done, sir. + +LAFEW, [to Bertram] Pray you, sir, who's his tailor? + +PAROLLES Sir? + +LAFEW O, I know him well. Ay, sir, he, sir, 's a good +workman, a very good tailor. + +BERTRAM, [aside to Parolles] Is she gone to the King? + +PAROLLES She is. + +BERTRAM Will she away tonight? + +PAROLLES As you'll have her. + +BERTRAM +I have writ my letters, casketed my treasure, +Given order for our horses, and tonight, +When I should take possession of the bride, +End ere I do begin. + +LAFEW, [aside] A good traveler is something at the latter +end of a dinner, but one that lies three thirds, +and uses a known truth to pass a thousand nothings +with, should be once heard and thrice beaten.-- +God save you, captain. + +BERTRAM, [to Parolles] Is there any unkindness +between my lord and you, monsieur? + +PAROLLES I know not how I have deserved to run into +my lord's displeasure. + +LAFEW You have made shift to run into 't, boots and +spurs and all, like him that leapt into the custard; +and out of it you'll run again rather than suffer +question for your residence. + +BERTRAM It may be you have mistaken him, my lord. + +LAFEW And shall do so ever, though I took him at 's +prayers. Fare you well, my lord, and believe this of +me: there can be no kernel in this light nut. The +soul of this man is his clothes. Trust him not in +matter of heavy consequence. I have kept of them +tame and know their natures.--Farewell, monsieur. +I have spoken better of you than you have or +will to deserve at my hand, but we must do good +against evil. [He exits.] + +PAROLLES An idle lord, I swear. + +BERTRAM I think not so. + +PAROLLES Why, do you not know him? + +BERTRAM +Yes, I do know him well, and common speech +Gives him a worthy pass. + +[Enter Helen.] + +Here comes my clog. + +HELEN +I have, sir, as I was commanded from you, +Spoke with the King and have procured his leave +For present parting. Only he desires +Some private speech with you. + +BERTRAM I shall obey his will. +You must not marvel, Helen, at my course, +Which holds not color with the time, nor does +The ministration and required office +On my particular. Prepared I was not +For such a business; therefore am I found +So much unsettled. This drives me to entreat you +That presently you take your way for home, +And rather muse than ask why I entreat you; +For my respects are better than they seem, +And my appointments have in them a need +Greater than shows itself at the first view +To you that know them not. [Giving her a paper.] +This to my mother. +'Twill be two days ere I shall see you, so +I leave you to your wisdom. + +HELEN Sir, I can nothing say +But that I am your most obedient servant-- + +BERTRAM +Come, come, no more of that. + +HELEN And ever shall +With true observance seek to eke out that +Wherein toward me my homely stars have failed +To equal my great fortune. + +BERTRAM Let that go. +My haste is very great. Farewell. Hie home. + +HELEN +Pray, sir, your pardon. + +BERTRAM Well, what would you say? + +HELEN +I am not worthy of the wealth I owe, +Nor dare I say 'tis mine--and yet it is-- +But, like a timorous thief, most fain would steal +What law does vouch mine own. + +BERTRAM What would you have? + +HELEN +Something, and scarce so much; nothing, indeed. +I would not tell you what I would, my lord. Faith, +yes: +Strangers and foes do sunder and not kiss. + +BERTRAM +I pray you stay not, but in haste to horse. + +HELEN +I shall not break your bidding, good my lord.-- +Where are my other men?--Monsieur, farewell. +[She exits.] + +BERTRAM +Go thou toward home, where I will never come +Whilst I can shake my sword or hear the drum.-- +Away, and for our flight. + +PAROLLES Bravely, coraggio! +[They exit.] + + +ACT 3 +===== + +Scene 1 +======= +[Flourish. Enter the Duke of Florence, the two French +Lords, with a troop of Soldiers.] + + +DUKE +So that from point to point now have you heard +The fundamental reasons of this war, +Whose great decision hath much blood let forth +And more thirsts after. + +FIRST LORD Holy seems the quarrel +Upon your Grace's part, black and fearful +On the opposer. + +DUKE +Therefore we marvel much our cousin France +Would in so just a business shut his bosom +Against our borrowing prayers. + +SECOND LORD Good my lord, +The reasons of our state I cannot yield +But like a common and an outward man +That the great figure of a council frames +By self-unable motion; therefore dare not +Say what I think of it, since I have found +Myself in my incertain grounds to fail +As often as I guessed. + +DUKE Be it his pleasure. + +FIRST LORD +But I am sure the younger of our nation, +That surfeit on their ease, will day by day +Come here for physic. + +DUKE Welcome shall they be, +And all the honors that can fly from us +Shall on them settle. You know your places well. +When better fall, for your avails they fell. +Tomorrow to th' field. +[Flourish. They exit.] + +Scene 2 +======= +[Enter Countess, with a paper, and Fool.] + + +COUNTESS It hath happened all as I would have had it, +save that he comes not along with her. + +FOOL By my troth, I take my young lord to be a very +melancholy man. + +COUNTESS By what observance, I pray you? + +FOOL Why, he will look upon his boot and sing, mend +the ruff and sing, ask questions and sing, pick his +teeth and sing. I know a man that had this trick of +melancholy sold a goodly manor for a song. + +COUNTESS Let me see what he writes and when he +means to come. [She opens the letter.] + +FOOL I have no mind to Isbel since I was at court. Our +old lings and our Isbels o' th' country are nothing +like your old ling and your Isbels o' th' court. The +brains of my Cupid's knocked out, and I begin to +love as an old man loves money, with no stomach. + +COUNTESS What have we here? + +FOOL E'en that you have there. [He exits.] + +COUNTESS [reads.] I have sent you a daughter-in-law. +She hath recovered the King and undone me. I have +wedded her, not bedded her, and sworn to make the +"not" eternal. You shall 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 son, +Bertram. +This is not well, rash and unbridled boy: +To fly the favors of so good a king, +To pluck his indignation on thy head +By the misprizing of a maid too virtuous +For the contempt of empire. + +[Enter Fool.] + + +FOOL O madam, yonder is heavy news within, between +two soldiers and my young lady. + +COUNTESS What is the matter? + +FOOL Nay, there is some comfort in the news, some +comfort. Your son will not be killed so soon as I +thought he would. + +COUNTESS Why should he be killed? + +FOOL So say I, madam, if he run away, as I hear he +does. The danger is in standing to 't; that's the loss +of men, though it be the getting of children. Here +they come will tell you more. For my part, I only +hear your son was run away. [He exits.] + +[Enter Helen, with a paper, and two Gentlemen.] + + +FIRST GENTLEMAN, [to Countess] Save you, good +madam. + +HELEN +Madam, my lord is gone, forever gone. + +SECOND GENTLEMAN Do not say so. + +COUNTESS +Think upon patience, pray you.--Gentlemen, +I have felt so many quirks of joy and grief +That the first face of neither on the start +Can woman me unto 't. Where is my son, I pray you? + +SECOND GENTLEMAN +Madam, he's gone to serve the Duke of Florence. +We met him thitherward, for thence we came, +And, after some dispatch in hand at court, +Thither we bend again. + +HELEN +Look on his letter, madam; here's my passport. +[She reads.] When thou canst get the ring upon +my finger, which never shall come off, and show me +a child begotten of thy body that I am father to, then +call me husband. But in such a "then" I write a +"never." +This is a dreadful sentence. + +COUNTESS +Brought you this letter, gentlemen? + +SECOND GENTLEMAN Ay, madam, +And for the contents' sake are sorry for our pains. + +COUNTESS +I prithee, lady, have a better cheer. +If thou engrossest all the griefs are thine, +Thou robb'st me of a moiety. He was my son, +But I do wash his name out of my blood, +And thou art all my child.--Towards Florence is he? + +SECOND GENTLEMAN Ay, madam. + +COUNTESS And to be a soldier? + +SECOND GENTLEMAN +Such is his noble purpose, and, believe 't, +The Duke will lay upon him all the honor +That good convenience claims. + +COUNTESS Return you thither? + +FIRST GENTLEMAN +Ay, madam, with the swiftest wing of speed. + +HELEN [reads] +Till I have no wife I have nothing in France. +'Tis bitter. + +COUNTESS Find you that there? + +HELEN Ay, madam. + +FIRST GENTLEMAN +'Tis but the boldness of his hand, haply, +Which his heart was not consenting to. + +COUNTESS +Nothing in France until he have no wife! +There's nothing here that is too good for him +But only she, and she deserves a lord +That twenty such rude boys might tend upon +And call her hourly mistress. Who was with him? + +FIRST GENTLEMAN +A servant only, and a gentleman +Which I have sometime known. + +COUNTESS Parolles was it not? + +FIRST GENTLEMAN Ay, my good lady, he. + +COUNTESS +A very tainted fellow, and full of wickedness. +My son corrupts a well-derived nature +With his inducement. + +FIRST GENTLEMAN Indeed, good lady, +The fellow has a deal of that too much +Which holds him much to have. + +COUNTESS You're welcome, +gentlemen. +I will entreat you when you see my son +To tell him that his sword can never win +The honor that he loses. More I'll entreat you +Written to bear along. + +SECOND GENTLEMAN We serve you, madam, +In that and all your worthiest affairs. + +COUNTESS +Not so, but as we change our courtesies. +Will you draw near? +[She exits with the Gentlemen.] + +HELEN +"Till I have no wife I have nothing in France." +Nothing in France until he has no wife. +Thou shalt have none, Rossillion, none in France. +Then hast thou all again. Poor lord, is 't I +That chase thee from thy country and expose +Those tender limbs of thine to the event +Of the none-sparing war? And is it I +That drive thee from the sportive court, where thou +Wast shot at with fair eyes, to be the mark +Of smoky muskets? O you leaden messengers +That ride upon the violent speed of fire, +Fly with false aim; move the still-'pearing air +That sings with piercing; do not touch my lord. +Whoever shoots at him, I set him there; +Whoever charges on his forward breast, +I am the caitiff that do hold him to 't; +And though I kill him not, I am the cause +His death was so effected. Better 'twere +I met the ravin lion when he roared +With sharp constraint of hunger; better 'twere +That all the miseries which nature owes +Were mine at once. No, come thou home, Rossillion, +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. +[She exits.] + +Scene 3 +======= +[Flourish. Enter the Duke of Florence, Bertram Count +Rossillion, Drum and Trumpets, Soldiers, Parolles.] + + +DUKE, [to Bertram] +The general of our horse thou art, and we, +Great in our hope, lay our best love and credence +Upon thy promising fortune. + +BERTRAM Sir, it is +A charge too heavy for my strength, but yet +We'll strive to bear it for your worthy sake +To th' extreme edge of hazard. + +DUKE Then go thou forth, +And Fortune play upon thy prosperous helm +As thy auspicious mistress. + +BERTRAM 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. +[All exit.] + +Scene 4 +======= +[Enter Countess and Steward, with a paper.] + + +COUNTESS +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. + +STEWARD [reads the letter] + I am Saint Jaques' pilgrim, thither gone. + Ambitious love hath so in me offended + That barefoot 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, sent him forth + From courtly friends, with camping foes to live + Where death and danger dogs the heels of worth. + He is too good and fair for death and me, + Whom I myself embrace to set him free. + +COUNTESS +Ah, what sharp stings are in her mildest words! +Rinaldo, you did never lack advice so much +As letting her pass so. Had I spoke with her, +I could have well diverted her intents, +Which thus she hath prevented. + +STEWARD Pardon me, madam. +If I had given you this at overnight, +She might have been o'erta'en. And yet she writes +Pursuit would be but vain. + +COUNTESS 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. +Dispatch 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. +[They exit.] + +Scene 5 +======= +[A tucket afar off. Enter old Widow of Florence, her +daughter Diana, and Mariana, with other Citizens.] + + +WIDOW Nay, come, for if they do approach the city, we +shall lose all the sight. + +DIANA They say the French count has done most honorable +service. + +WIDOW It is reported that he has taken their great'st +commander, and that with his own hand he slew +the Duke's brother. [A trumpet sounds.] We have +lost our labor. They are gone a contrary way. Hark, +you may know by their trumpets. + +MARIANA Come, let's return again and suffice ourselves +with the report of it.--Well, Diana, take heed of +this French earl. The honor of a maid is her name, +and no legacy is so rich as honesty. + +WIDOW, [to Diana] I have told my neighbor how you +have been solicited by a gentleman, his +companion. + +MARIANA 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. +Many a maid hath been seduced by them; and +the misery is example that so terrible shows in the +wrack of maidenhood cannot for all that dissuade +succession, but that they are limed with the twigs +that threatens 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 modesty which is so lost. + +DIANA You shall not need to fear me. + +WIDOW I hope so. + +[Enter Helen as a pilgrim.] + +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 +bound? + +HELEN, [as pilgrim] To Saint Jaques le Grand. +Where do the palmers lodge, I do beseech you? + +WIDOW +At the Saint Francis here beside the port. + +HELEN, [as pilgrim] Is this the way? [A march afar.] + +WIDOW +Ay, marry, is 't.--Hark you, they come this way.-- +If you will tarry, holy pilgrim, +But till the troops come by, +I will conduct you where you shall be lodged, +The rather for I think I know your hostess +As ample as myself. + +HELEN, [as pilgrim] Is it yourself? + +WIDOW If you shall please so, pilgrim. + +HELEN, [as pilgrim] +I thank you, and will stay upon your leisure. + +WIDOW +You came I think from France? + +HELEN, [as pilgrim] I did so. + +WIDOW +Here you shall see a countryman of yours +That has done worthy service. + +HELEN, [as pilgrim] His name, I pray you? + +DIANA +The Count Rossillion. Know you such a one? + +HELEN, [as pilgrim] +But by the ear, that hears most nobly of him. +His face I know not. + +DIANA Whatsome'er he is, +He's bravely taken here. He stole from France, +As 'tis reported, for the King had married him +Against his liking. Think you it is so? + +HELEN, [as pilgrim] +Ay, surely, mere the truth. I know his lady. + +DIANA +There is a gentleman that serves the Count +Reports but coarsely of her. + +HELEN, [as pilgrim] What's his name? + +DIANA +Monsieur Parolles. + +HELEN, [as pilgrim] 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 examined. + +DIANA Alas, poor lady, +'Tis a hard bondage to become the wife +Of a detesting lord. + +WIDOW +I warrant, good creature, wheresoe'er she is, +Her heart weighs sadly. This young maid might do +her +A shrewd turn if she pleased. + +HELEN, [as pilgrim] How do you mean? +Maybe the amorous count solicits her +In the unlawful purpose? + +WIDOW He does indeed, +And brokes with all that can in such a suit +Corrupt the tender honor of a maid, +But she is armed for him and keeps her guard +In honestest defense. + +MARIANA +The gods forbid else! + +[Drum and Colors. Enter Bertram Count Rossillion, +Parolles, and the whole Army.] + + +WIDOW So, now they come. +That is Antonio, the Duke's eldest son; +That, Escalus. + +HELEN, [as pilgrim] Which is the Frenchman? + +DIANA He, +That with the plume. 'Tis a most gallant fellow. +I would he loved his wife. If he were honester, +He were much goodlier. Is 't not a handsome +gentleman? + +HELEN, [as pilgrim] I like him well. + +DIANA +'Tis pity he is not honest. Yond's that same knave +That leads him to these places. Were I his lady, +I would poison that vile rascal. + +HELEN, [as pilgrim] Which is he? + +DIANA +That jackanapes with scarves. Why is he melancholy? + +HELEN, [as pilgrim] Perchance he's hurt i' th' battle. + +PAROLLES Lose our drum? Well. + +MARIANA He's shrewdly vexed at something. Look, he +has spied us. + +WIDOW, [to Parolles] Marry, hang you. + +MARIANA, [to Parolles] And your courtesy, for a +ring-carrier. +[Bertram, Parolles, and the army exit.] + +WIDOW +The troop is passed. Come, pilgrim, I will bring you +Where you shall host. Of enjoined penitents +There's four or five, to Great Saint Jaques bound, +Already at my house. + +HELEN, [as pilgrim] I humbly thank you. +Please it this matron and this gentle maid +To eat with us tonight, the charge and thanking +Shall be for me. And to requite you further, +I will bestow some precepts of this virgin +Worthy the note. + +BOTH We'll take your offer kindly. +[They exit.] + +Scene 6 +======= +[Enter Bertram Count Rossillion and the French +Lords, as at first.] + + +FIRST LORD Nay, good my lord, put him to 't. Let him +have his way. + +SECOND LORD If your Lordship find him not a hilding, +hold me no more in your respect. + +FIRST LORD On my life, my lord, a bubble. + +BERTRAM Do you think I am so far deceived in him? + +FIRST LORD Believe it, my lord. In mine own direct +knowledge, without any malice, but to speak of +him as my kinsman, he's a most notable coward, +an infinite and endless liar, an hourly promise-breaker, +the owner of no one good quality worthy +your Lordship's entertainment. + +SECOND LORD It were fit you knew him, lest, reposing +too far in his virtue, which he hath not, he might +at some great and trusty business in a main danger +fail you. + +BERTRAM I would I knew in what particular action to +try him. + +SECOND LORD None better than to let him fetch off his +drum, which you hear him so confidently undertake +to do. + +FIRST LORD I, with a troop of Florentines, will suddenly +surprise him. Such I will have whom I am sure +he knows not from the enemy. We will bind and +hoodwink him so, that he shall suppose no other +but that he is carried into the leaguer of the adversary's +when we bring him to our own tents. Be but +your Lordship present at his examination. If he do +not for the promise of his life, and in the highest +compulsion of base fear, offer to betray you and +deliver all the intelligence in his power against +you, and that with the divine forfeit of his soul +upon oath, never trust my judgment in anything. + +SECOND LORD O, for the love of laughter, let him fetch +his drum. He says he has a stratagem for 't. When +your Lordship sees the bottom of his success in +'t, and to what metal this counterfeit lump of ore +will be melted, if you give him not John Drum's +entertainment, your inclining cannot be removed. +Here he comes. + +[Enter Parolles.] + + +FIRST LORD, [aside to Bertram] O, for the love of laughter, +hinder not the honor of his design. Let him +fetch off his drum in any hand. + +BERTRAM, [to Parolles] How now, monsieur? This +drum sticks sorely in your disposition. + +SECOND LORD A pox on 't! Let it go. 'Tis but a drum. + +PAROLLES But a drum! Is 't but a drum? A drum so +lost! There was excellent command, to charge in +with our horse upon our own wings and to rend +our own soldiers! + +SECOND LORD That was not to be blamed in the command +of the service. It was a disaster of war that +Caesar himself could not have prevented if he had +been there to command. + +BERTRAM Well, we cannot greatly condemn our success. +Some dishonor we had in the loss of that +drum, but it is not to be recovered. + +PAROLLES It might have been recovered. + +BERTRAM It might, but it is not now. + +PAROLLES It is to be recovered. But that the merit of +service is seldom attributed to the true and exact +performer, I would have that drum or another, or +hic jacet. + +BERTRAM Why, if you have a stomach, to 't, monsieur! +If you think your mystery in stratagem can bring +this instrument of honor again into his native +quarter, be magnanimous in the enterprise and go +on. I will grace the attempt for a worthy exploit. If +you speed well in it, the Duke shall both speak of it +and extend to you what further becomes his greatness, +even to the utmost syllable of your +worthiness. + +PAROLLES By the hand of a soldier, I will undertake it. + +BERTRAM But you must not now slumber in it. + +PAROLLES I'll about it this evening, and I will presently +pen down my dilemmas, encourage myself in my +certainty, put myself into my mortal preparation; +and by midnight look to hear further from me. + +BERTRAM May I be bold to acquaint his Grace you are +gone about it? + +PAROLLES I know not what the success will be, my +lord, but the attempt I vow. + +BERTRAM I know thou 'rt valiant, and to the possibility +of thy soldiership will subscribe for thee. Farewell. + +PAROLLES I love not many words. [He exits.] + +FIRST LORD No more than a fish loves water. Is not this +a strange fellow, my lord, that so confidently seems +to undertake this business which he knows is not +to be done, damns himself to do, and dares better +be damned than to do 't? + +SECOND LORD You do not know him, my lord, as we do. +Certain it is that he will steal himself into a man's +favor and for a week escape a great deal of discoveries, +but when you find him out, you have him +ever after. + +BERTRAM Why, do you think he will make no deed at +all of this that so seriously he does address himself +unto? + +FIRST LORD None in the world, but return with an +invention and clap upon you two or three probable +lies. But we have almost embossed him. You shall +see his fall tonight; for indeed he is not for your +Lordship's respect. + +SECOND LORD We'll make you some sport with the fox +ere we case him. He was first smoked by the old +Lord Lafew. When his disguise and he is parted, +tell me what a sprat you shall find him, which you +shall see this very night. + +FIRST LORD I must go look my twigs. He shall be +caught. + +BERTRAM Your brother he shall go along with me. + +FIRST LORD As 't please your Lordship. I'll leave you. +[He exits.] + +BERTRAM +Now will I lead you to the house and show you +The lass I spoke of. + +SECOND LORD But you say she's honest. + +BERTRAM +That's all the fault. I spoke with her but once +And found her wondrous cold. But I sent to her, +By this same coxcomb that we have i' th' wind, +Tokens and letters, which she did re-send. +And this is all I have done. She's a fair creature. +Will you go see her? + +SECOND LORD With all my heart, my lord. +[They exit.] + +Scene 7 +======= +[Enter Helen and Widow.] + + +HELEN +If you misdoubt me that I am not she, +I know not how I shall assure you further +But I shall lose the grounds I work upon. + +WIDOW +Though my estate be fall'n, I was well born, +Nothing acquainted with these businesses, +And would not put my reputation now +In any staining act. + +HELEN Nor would I wish you. +First give me trust the Count he is my husband, +And what to your sworn counsel I have spoken +Is so from word to word; and then you cannot, +By the good aid that I of you shall borrow, +Err in bestowing it. + +WIDOW I should believe you, +For you have showed me that which well approves +You're great in fortune. + +HELEN Take this purse of gold, +And let me buy your friendly help thus far, +Which I will overpay and pay again +When I have found it. The Count he woos your +daughter, +Lays down his wanton siege before her beauty, +Resolved to carry her. Let her in fine consent +As we'll direct her how 'tis best to bear it. +Now his important blood will naught deny +That she'll demand. A ring the County wears +That downward hath succeeded in his house +From son to son some four or five descents +Since the first father wore it. This ring he holds +In most rich choice. Yet, in his idle fire, +To buy his will it would not seem too dear, +Howe'er repented after. + +WIDOW +Now I see the bottom of your purpose. + +HELEN +You see it lawful, then. It is no more +But that your daughter, ere she seems as won, +Desires this ring, appoints him an encounter, +In fine, delivers me to fill the time, +Herself most chastely absent. After, +To marry her, I'll add three thousand crowns +To what is passed already. + +WIDOW I have yielded. +Instruct my daughter how she shall persever +That time and place with this deceit so lawful +May prove coherent. Every night he comes +With musics of all sorts and songs composed +To her unworthiness. It nothing steads us +To chide him from our eaves, for he persists +As if his life lay on 't. + +HELEN Why then tonight +Let us assay our plot, which, if it speed, +Is wicked meaning in a lawful deed, +And lawful meaning in a lawful act, +Where both not sin, and yet a sinful fact. +But let's about it. +[They exit.] + + +ACT 4 +===== + +Scene 1 +======= +[Enter one of the French Lords, with five or six other +Soldiers in ambush.] + + +LORD He can come no other way but by this hedge +corner. When you sally upon him, speak what terrible +language you will. Though you understand it +not yourselves, no matter. For we must not seem to +understand him, unless some one among us whom +we must produce for an interpreter. + +FIRST SOLDIER Good captain, let me be th' interpreter. + +LORD Art not acquainted with him? Knows he not thy +voice? + +FIRST SOLDIER No, sir, I warrant you. + +LORD But what linsey-woolsey hast thou to speak to +us again? + +FIRST SOLDIER E'en such as you speak to me. + +LORD He must think us some band of strangers i' th' +adversary's entertainment. Now, he hath a smack +of all neighboring languages. Therefore we must +every one be a man of his own fancy, not to know +what we speak one to another. So we seem to know +is to know straight our purpose: choughs' language, +gabble enough and good enough. As for +you, interpreter, you must seem very politic. But +couch, ho! Here he comes to beguile two hours in +a sleep and then to return and swear the lies he +forges. [They move aside.] + +[Enter Parolles.] + + +PAROLLES Ten o'clock. Within these three hours 'twill +be time enough to go home. What shall I say I have +done? It must be a very plausive invention that +carries it. They begin to smoke me, and disgraces +have of late knocked too often at my door. I find +my tongue is too foolhardy, but my heart hath the +fear of Mars before it, and of his creatures, not +daring the reports of my tongue. + +LORD, [aside] This is the first truth that e'er thine own +tongue was guilty of. + +PAROLLES What the devil should move me to undertake +the recovery of this drum, being not ignorant +of the impossibility and knowing I had no such +purpose? I must give myself some hurts and say I +got them in exploit. Yet slight ones will not carry it. +They will say "Came you off with so little?" And +great ones I dare not give. Wherefore? What's the +instance? Tongue, I must put you into a butter-woman's +mouth and buy myself another of +Bajazeth's mule if you prattle me into these perils. + +LORD, [aside] Is it possible he should know what he is, +and be that he is? + +PAROLLES I would the cutting of my garments would +serve the turn, or the breaking of my Spanish +sword. + +LORD, [aside] We cannot afford you so. + +PAROLLES Or the baring of my beard, and to say it was +in stratagem. + +LORD, [aside] 'Twould not do. + +PAROLLES Or to drown my clothes and say I was +stripped. + +LORD, [aside] Hardly serve. + +PAROLLES Though I swore I leapt from the window of +the citadel-- + +LORD, [aside] How deep? + +PAROLLES Thirty fathom. + +LORD, [aside] Three great oaths would scarce make +that be believed. + +PAROLLES I would I had any drum of the enemy's. I +would swear I recovered it. + +LORD, [aside] You shall hear one anon. + +PAROLLES A drum, now, of the enemy's-- +[Alarum within.] + +LORD, [advancing] Throca movousus, cargo, cargo, +cargo. + +ALL Cargo, cargo, cargo, villianda par corbo, cargo. +[They seize him.] + +PAROLLES O ransom, ransom! Do not hide mine eyes. +[They blindfold him.] + +FIRST SOLDIER Boskos thromuldo boskos. + +PAROLLES +I know you are the Muskos' regiment, +And I shall lose my life for want of language. +If there be here German or Dane, Low Dutch, +Italian, or French, let him speak to me. +I'll discover that which shall undo the Florentine. + +FIRST SOLDIER Boskos vauvado, I understand thee and +can speak thy tongue. Kerelybonto, sir, betake thee +to thy faith, for seventeen poniards are at thy +bosom. + +PAROLLES O! + +FIRST SOLDIER O, pray, pray, pray! Manka reuania +dulche. + +LORD Oscorbidulchos voliuorco. + +FIRST SOLDIER +The General is content to spare thee yet +And, hoodwinked as thou art, will lead thee on +To gather from thee. Haply thou mayst inform +Something to save thy life. + +PAROLLES O, let me live, +And all the secrets of our camp I'll show, +Their force, their purposes. Nay, I'll speak that +Which you will wonder at. + +FIRST SOLDIER But wilt thou faithfully? + +PAROLLES If I do not, damn me. + +FIRST SOLDIER Acordo linta. Come on, thou art +granted space. +[He exits with Parolles under guard.] +[A short alarum within.] + +LORD +Go tell the Count Rossillion and my brother +We have caught the woodcock and will keep him +muffled +Till we do hear from them. + +SECOND SOLDIER Captain, I will. + +LORD +He will betray us all unto ourselves. +Inform on that. + +SECOND SOLDIER So I will, sir. + +LORD +Till then I'll keep him dark and safely locked. +[They exit.] + +Scene 2 +======= +[Enter Bertram and the maid called Diana.] + + +BERTRAM +They told me that your name was Fontibell. + +DIANA +No, my good lord, Diana. + +BERTRAM Titled goddess, +And worth it, with addition. But, fair soul, +In your fine frame hath love no quality? +If the quick fire of youth light not your mind, +You are no maiden but a monument. +When you are dead, you should be such a one +As you are now, for you are cold and stern, +And now you should be as your mother was +When your sweet self was got. + +DIANA +She then was honest. + +BERTRAM So should you be. + +DIANA No. +My mother did but duty--such, my lord, +As you owe to your wife. + +BERTRAM No more o' that. +I prithee do not strive against my vows. +I was compelled to her, but I love thee +By love's own sweet constraint, and will forever +Do thee all rights of service. + +DIANA Ay, so you serve us +Till we serve you. But when you have our roses, +You barely leave our thorns to prick ourselves +And mock us with our bareness. + +BERTRAM How have I sworn! + +DIANA +'Tis not the many oaths that makes the truth, +But the plain single vow that is vowed true. +What is not holy, that we swear not by, +But take the high'st to witness. Then pray you, tell +me, +If I should swear by Jove's great attributes +I loved you dearly, would you believe my oaths +When I did love you ill? This has no holding +To swear by him whom I protest to love +That I will work against him. Therefore your oaths +Are words, and poor conditions but unsealed, +At least in my opinion. + +BERTRAM Change it, change it. +Be not so holy-cruel. Love is holy, +And my integrity ne'er knew the crafts +That you do charge men with. Stand no more off, +But give thyself unto my sick desires, +Who then recovers. Say thou art mine, and ever +My love as it begins shall so persever. + +DIANA +I see that men may rope 's in such a snare +That we'll forsake ourselves. Give me that ring. + +BERTRAM +I'll lend it thee, my dear, but have no power +To give it from me. + +DIANA Will you not, my lord? + +BERTRAM +It is an honor 'longing to our house, +Bequeathed down from many ancestors, +Which were the greatest obloquy i' th' world +In me to lose. + +DIANA Mine honor's such a ring. +My chastity's the jewel of our house, +Bequeathed down from many ancestors, +Which were the greatest obloquy i' th' world +In me to lose. Thus your own proper wisdom +Brings in the champion Honor on my part +Against your vain assault. + +BERTRAM Here, take my ring. +My house, mine honor, yea, my life be thine, +And I'll be bid by thee. + +DIANA +When midnight comes, knock at my chamber +window. +I'll order take my mother shall not hear. +Now will I charge you in the band of truth, +When you have conquered my yet maiden bed, +Remain there but an hour, nor speak to me. +My reasons are most strong, and you shall know them +When back again this ring shall be delivered. +And on your finger in the night I'll put +Another ring, that what in time proceeds +May token to the future our past deeds. +Adieu till then; then, fail not. You have won +A wife of me, though there my hope be done. + +BERTRAM +A heaven on Earth I have won by wooing thee. + +DIANA +For which live long to thank both heaven and me! +You may so in the end. [He exits.] +My mother told me just how he would woo +As if she sat in 's heart. She says all men +Have the like oaths. He had sworn to marry me +When his wife's dead. Therefore I'll lie with him +When I am buried. Since Frenchmen are so braid, +Marry that will, I live and die a maid. +Only, in this disguise I think 't no sin +To cozen him that would unjustly win. +[She exits.] + +Scene 3 +======= +[Enter the two French Lords and some two +or three Soldiers.] + + +FIRST LORD You have not given him his mother's +letter? + +SECOND LORD I have delivered it an hour since. There +is something in 't that stings his nature, for on the +reading it he changed almost into another man. + +FIRST LORD He has much worthy blame laid upon him +for shaking off so good a wife and so sweet a lady. + +SECOND LORD Especially he hath incurred the everlasting +displeasure of the King, who had even tuned +his bounty to sing happiness to him. I will tell you +a thing, but you shall let it dwell darkly with you. + +FIRST LORD When you have spoken it, 'tis dead, and I +am the grave of it. + +SECOND LORD He hath perverted a young gentlewoman +here in Florence of a most chaste renown, +and this night he fleshes his will in the spoil of her +honor. He hath given her his monumental ring and +thinks himself made in the unchaste composition. + +FIRST LORD Now God delay our rebellion! As we are +ourselves, what things are we! + +SECOND LORD Merely our own traitors. And, as in the +common course of all treasons we still see them +reveal themselves till they attain to their abhorred +ends, so he that in this action contrives against his +own nobility, in his proper stream o'erflows +himself. + +FIRST LORD Is it not meant damnable in us to be trumpeters +of our unlawful intents? We shall not, then, +have his company tonight? + +SECOND LORD Not till after midnight, for he is dieted to +his hour. + +FIRST LORD That approaches apace. I would gladly +have him see his company anatomized, that he +might take a measure of his own judgments +wherein so curiously he had set this counterfeit. + +SECOND LORD We will not meddle with him till he +come, for his presence must be the whip of the +other. + +FIRST LORD In the meantime, what hear you of these +wars? + +SECOND LORD I hear there is an overture of peace. + +FIRST LORD Nay, I assure you, a peace concluded. + +SECOND LORD What will Count Rossillion do then? +Will he travel higher or return again into France? + +FIRST LORD I perceive by this demand you are not altogether +of his counsel. + +SECOND LORD Let it be forbid, sir! So should I be a +great deal of his act. + +FIRST LORD Sir, his wife some two months since fled +from his house. Her pretense is a pilgrimage to +Saint Jaques le Grand, which holy undertaking +with most austere sanctimony she accomplished. +And, there residing, the tenderness of her nature +became as a prey to her grief; in fine, made a groan +of her last breath, and now she sings in heaven. + +SECOND LORD How is this justified? + +FIRST LORD The stronger part of it by her own letters, +which makes her story true even to the point of her +death. Her death itself, which could not be her +office to say is come, was faithfully confirmed by +the rector of the place. + +SECOND LORD Hath the Count all this intelligence? + +FIRST LORD Ay, and the particular confirmations, point +from point, to the full arming of the verity. + +SECOND LORD I am heartily sorry that he'll be glad of +this. + +FIRST LORD How mightily sometimes we make us +comforts of our losses. + +SECOND LORD And how mightily some other times we +drown our gain in tears. The great dignity that his +valor hath here acquired for him shall at home be +encountered with a shame as ample. + +FIRST LORD The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, +good and ill together. Our virtues would be proud +if our faults whipped them not, and our crimes +would despair if they were not cherished by our +virtues. + +[Enter a Servant.] + +How now? Where's your master? + +SERVANT He met the Duke in the street, sir, of whom +he hath taken a solemn leave. His Lordship will +next morning for France. The Duke hath offered +him letters of commendations to the King. + +SECOND LORD They shall be no more than needful +there, if they were more than they can commend. +They cannot be too sweet for the King's tartness. + +[Enter Bertram Count Rossillion.] + +Here's his Lordship now.--How now, my lord? Is 't +not after midnight? + +BERTRAM I have tonight dispatched sixteen businesses, +a month's length apiece. By an abstract of +success: I have congeed with the Duke, done my +adieu with his nearest, buried a wife, mourned for +her, writ to my lady mother I am returning, entertained +my convoy, and between these main parcels +of dispatch effected many nicer needs. The last +was the greatest, but that I have not ended yet. + +SECOND LORD If the business be of any difficulty, and +this morning your departure hence, it requires +haste of your Lordship. + +BERTRAM I mean the business is not ended as fearing +to hear of it hereafter. But shall we have this dialogue +between the Fool and the Soldier? Come, +bring forth this counterfeit module; has deceived +me like a double-meaning prophesier. + +SECOND LORD Bring him forth. Has sat i' th' stocks all +night, poor gallant knave. [Soldiers exit.] + +BERTRAM No matter. His heels have deserved it in +usurping his spurs so long. How does he carry +himself? + +SECOND LORD I have told your Lordship already: the +stocks carry him. But to answer you as you would +be understood: he weeps like a wench that had +shed her milk. He hath confessed himself to Morgan, +whom he supposes to be a friar, from the time +of his remembrance to this very instant disaster of +his setting i' th' stocks. And what think you he hath +confessed? + +BERTRAM Nothing of me, has he? + +SECOND LORD His confession is taken, and it shall be +read to his face. If your Lordship be in 't, as I +believe you are, you must have the patience to +hear it. + +[Enter Parolles, blindfolded, with his Interpreter, +the First Soldier.] + + +BERTRAM A plague upon him! Muffled! He can say +nothing of me. + +FIRST LORD, [aside to Bertram] Hush, hush. Hoodman +comes.--Portotartarossa. + +FIRST SOLDIER, [to Parolles] He calls for the tortures. +What will you say without 'em? + +PAROLLES I will confess what I know without constraint. +If you pinch me like a pasty, I can say no +more. + +FIRST SOLDIER Bosko Chimurcho. + +FIRST LORD Boblibindo chicurmurco. + +FIRST SOLDIER You are a merciful general.--Our general +bids you answer to what I shall ask you out of a +note. + +PAROLLES And truly, as I hope to live. + +FIRST SOLDIER, [as if reading a note] First, demand of +him how many horse the Duke is strong.--What say +you to that? + +PAROLLES Five or six thousand, but very weak and +unserviceable. The troops are all scattered, and the +commanders very poor rogues, upon my reputation +and credit, and as I hope to live. + +FIRST SOLDIER Shall I set down your answer so? + +PAROLLES Do. I'll take the Sacrament on 't, how and +which way you will. + +BERTRAM, [aside] All's one to him. What a past-saving +slave is this! + +FIRST LORD, [aside to Bertram] You're deceived, my +lord. This is Monsieur Parolles, the gallant +militarist--that was his own phrase--that had the +whole theoric of war in the knot of his scarf, and +the practice in the chape of his dagger. + +SECOND LORD, [aside] I will never trust a man again for +keeping his sword clean, nor believe he can have +everything in him by wearing his apparel neatly. + +FIRST SOLDIER, [to Parolles] Well, that's set down. + +PAROLLES "Five or six thousand horse," I said--I will +say true--"or thereabouts" set down, for I'll speak +truth. + +FIRST LORD, [aside] He's very near the truth in this. + +BERTRAM, [aside] But I con him no thanks for 't, in the +nature he delivers it. + +PAROLLES "Poor rogues," I pray you say. + +FIRST SOLDIER Well, that's set down. + +PAROLLES I humbly thank you, sir. A truth's a truth. +The rogues are marvelous poor. + +FIRST SOLDIER, [as if reading a note] Demand of him of +what strength they are o' foot.--What say you to +that? + +PAROLLES By my troth, sir, if I were to live but this +present hour, I will tell true. Let me see: Spurio a +hundred and fifty, Sebastian so many, Corambus +so many, Jaques so many; Guiltian, Cosmo, +Lodowick and Gratii, two hundred fifty each; mine +own company, Chitopher, Vaumond, Bentii, two +hundred fifty each; so that the muster-file, rotten +and sound, upon my life amounts not to fifteen +thousand poll, half of the which dare not shake the +snow from off their cassocks lest they shake themselves +to pieces. + +BERTRAM, [aside] What shall be done to him? + +FIRST LORD, [aside] Nothing but let him have thanks. +[(Aside to First Soldier.)] Demand of him my condition +and what credit I have with the Duke. + +FIRST SOLDIER, [to Parolles] Well, that's set down. [Pretending +to read:] You shall demand of him whether +one Captain Dumaine be i' th' camp, a Frenchman; +what his reputation is with the Duke, what his valor, +honesty, and expertness in wars; or whether he +thinks it were not possible with well-weighing sums +of gold to corrupt him to a revolt.--What say you to +this? What do you know of it? + +PAROLLES I beseech you let me answer to the particular +of the inter'gatories. Demand them singly. + +FIRST SOLDIER Do you know this Captain Dumaine? + +PAROLLES I know him. He was a botcher's prentice in +Paris, from whence he was whipped for getting the +shrieve's fool with child, a dumb innocent that +could not say him nay. + +BERTRAM, [aside to First Lord] Nay, by your leave, hold +your hands, though I know his brains are forfeit to +the next tile that falls. + +FIRST SOLDIER Well, is this captain in the Duke of +Florence's camp? + +PAROLLES Upon my knowledge he is, and lousy. + +FIRST LORD, [aside to Bertram] Nay, look not so upon +me. We shall hear of your Lordship anon. + +FIRST SOLDIER What is his reputation with the Duke? + +PAROLLES The Duke knows him for no other but a +poor officer of mine, and writ to me this other day +to turn him out o' th' band. I think I have his letter +in my pocket. + +FIRST SOLDIER Marry, we'll search. +[They search Parolles' pockets.] + +PAROLLES In good sadness, I do not know. Either it is +there, or it is upon a file with the Duke's other letters +in my tent. + +FIRST SOLDIER Here 'tis; here's a paper. Shall I read it to +you? + +PAROLLES I do not know if it be it or no. + +BERTRAM, [aside] Our interpreter does it well. + +FIRST LORD, [aside] Excellently. + +FIRST SOLDIER [reads] Dian, the Count's a fool and full +of gold-- + +PAROLLES That is not the Duke's letter, sir. That is an +advertisement to a proper maid in Florence, one +Diana, to take heed of the allurement of one Count +Rossillion, a foolish idle boy, but for all that very +ruttish. I pray you, sir, put it up again. + +FIRST SOLDIER Nay, I'll read it first, by your favor. + +PAROLLES My meaning in 't, I protest, was very honest +in the behalf of the maid, for I knew the young +count to be a dangerous and lascivious boy, who is +a whale to virginity and devours up all the fry it +finds. + +BERTRAM, [aside] Damnable both-sides rogue! + +FIRST SOLDIER [reads] + When he swears oaths, bid him drop gold, and +take it. + After he scores, he never pays the score. + Half won is match well made. Match, and well +make it. + He ne'er pays after-debts. Take it before. + And say a soldier, Dian, told thee this: + Men are to mell with; boys are not to kiss. + For count of this: the Count's a fool, I know it, + Who pays before, but not when he does owe it. + Thine, as he vowed to thee in thine ear, +Parolles. + +BERTRAM, [aside] He shall be whipped through the +army with this rhyme in 's forehead. + +SECOND LORD, [aside] This is your devoted friend, sir, +the manifold linguist and the armipotent soldier. + +BERTRAM, [aside] I could endure anything before but a +cat, and now he's a cat to me. + +FIRST SOLDIER, [to Parolles] I perceive, sir, by our +general's looks we shall be fain to hang you. + +PAROLLES My life, sir, in any case! Not that I am afraid +to die, but that, my offenses being many, I would +repent out the remainder of nature. Let me live, +sir, in a dungeon, i' th' stocks, or anywhere, so I +may live. + +FIRST SOLDIER We'll see what may be done, so you confess +freely. Therefore once more to this Captain +Dumaine: you have answered to his reputation +with the Duke, and to his valor. What is his +honesty? + +PAROLLES He will steal, sir, an egg out of a cloister. For +rapes and ravishments, he parallels Nessus. He +professes not keeping of oaths. In breaking 'em he +is stronger than Hercules. He will lie, sir, with such +volubility that you would think truth were a fool. +Drunkenness is his best virtue, for he will be +swine-drunk, and in his sleep he does little harm, +save to his bedclothes about him; but they know +his conditions and lay him in straw. I have but +little more to say, sir, of his honesty; he has everything +that an honest man should not have; what an +honest man should have, he has nothing. + +FIRST LORD, [aside] I begin to love him for this. + +BERTRAM, [aside] For this description of thine honesty? +A pox upon him! For me, he's more and more +a cat. + +FIRST SOLDIER What say you to his expertness in war? + +PAROLLES Faith, sir, has led the drum before the English +tragedians. To belie him I will not, and more +of his soldiership I know not, except in that country +he had the honor to be the officer at a place +there called Mile End, to instruct for the doubling +of files. I would do the man what honor I can, but +of this I am not certain. + +FIRST LORD, [aside] He hath out-villained villainy so +far that the rarity redeems him. + +BERTRAM, [aside] A pox on him! He's a cat still. + +FIRST SOLDIER His qualities being at this poor price, +I need not to ask you if gold will corrupt him to +revolt. + +PAROLLES Sir, for a cardecu he will sell the fee-simple +of his salvation, the inheritance of it, and cut th' +entail from all remainders, and a perpetual succession +for it perpetually. + +FIRST SOLDIER What's his brother, the other Captain +Dumaine? + +SECOND LORD, [aside] Why does he ask him of me? + +FIRST SOLDIER What's he? + +PAROLLES E'en a crow o' th' same nest: not altogether +so 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 lackey. Marry, in coming on +he has the cramp. + +FIRST SOLDIER If your life be saved, will you undertake +to betray the Florentine? + +PAROLLES Ay, and the captain of his horse, Count +Rossillion. + +FIRST SOLDIER I'll whisper with the General and know +his pleasure. + +PAROLLES, [aside] I'll no more drumming. A plague of +all drums! Only to seem to deserve well, and to +beguile the supposition of that lascivious young +boy the Count, have I run into this danger. Yet who +would have suspected an ambush where I was +taken? + +FIRST SOLDIER There is no remedy, sir, but you must +die. The General says you that have so traitorously +discovered the secrets of your army and made +such pestiferous reports of men very nobly held +can serve the world for no honest use. Therefore +you must die.--Come, headsman, off with his +head. + +PAROLLES O Lord, sir, let me live, or let me see my +death! + +FIRST SOLDIER That shall you, and take your leave of +all your friends. [He removes the blindfold.] So, +look about you. Know you any here? + +BERTRAM Good morrow, noble captain. + +SECOND LORD God bless you, Captain Parolles. + +FIRST LORD God save you, noble captain. + +SECOND LORD Captain, what greeting will you to my +Lord Lafew? I am for France. + +FIRST LORD Good captain, will you give me a copy of +the sonnet you writ to Diana in behalf of the Count +Rossillion? An I were not a very coward, I'd compel +it of you. But fare you well. +[Bertram and Lords exit.] + +FIRST SOLDIER You are undone, captain--all but your +scarf; that has a knot on 't yet. + +PAROLLES Who cannot be crushed with a plot? + +FIRST SOLDIER If you could find out a country where +but women were that had received so much +shame, you might begin an impudent nation. Fare +you well, sir. I am for France too. We shall speak of +you there. [He exits.] + +PAROLLES +Yet am I thankful. If my heart were great, +'Twould burst at this. Captain I'll be no more, +But I will eat and drink, and sleep as soft +As captain shall. Simply the thing I am +Shall make me live. Who knows himself a braggart, +Let him fear this, for it will come to pass +That every braggart shall be found an ass. +Rust, sword; cool, blushes; and Parolles live +Safest in shame. Being fooled, by fool'ry thrive. +There's place and means for every man alive. +I'll after them. [He exits.] + +Scene 4 +======= +[Enter Helen, Widow, and Diana.] + + +HELEN +That you may well perceive I have not wronged you, +One of the greatest in the Christian world +Shall be my surety, 'fore whose throne 'tis needful, +Ere I can perfect mine intents, to kneel. +Time was, I did him a desired office +Dear almost as his life, which gratitude +Through flinty Tartar's bosom would peep forth +And answer thanks. I duly am informed +His Grace is at Marseilles, to which place +We have convenient convoy. You must know +I am supposed dead. The army breaking, +My husband hies him home, where, heaven aiding +And by the leave of my good lord the King, +We'll be before our welcome. + +WIDOW Gentle madam, +You never had a servant to whose trust +Your business was more welcome. + +HELEN Nor you, mistress, +Ever a friend whose thoughts more truly labor +To recompense your love. Doubt not but heaven +Hath brought me up to be your daughter's dower, +As it hath fated her to be my motive +And helper to a husband. But O, strange men, +That can such sweet use make of what they hate +When saucy trusting of the cozened thoughts +Defiles the pitchy night! So lust doth play +With what it loathes for that which is away. +But more of this hereafter.--You, Diana, +Under my poor instructions yet must suffer +Something in my behalf. + +DIANA Let death and honesty +Go with your impositions, I am yours +Upon your will to suffer. + +HELEN Yet, I pray you-- +But with the word "The time will bring on summer," +When briers shall have leaves as well as thorns +And be as sweet as sharp. We must away. +Our wagon is prepared, and time revives us. +All's well that ends well. Still the fine's the crown. +Whate'er the course, the end is the renown. +[They exit.] + +Scene 5 +======= +[Enter Fool, Countess, and Lafew.] + + +LAFEW No, no, no, your son was misled with a +snipped-taffeta fellow there, whose villainous saffron +would have made all the unbaked and doughy +youth of a nation in his color. Your daughter-in-law +had been alive at this hour, and your son here +at home, more advanced by the King than by that +red-tailed humble-bee I speak of. + +COUNTESS I would I had not known him. It was the +death of the most virtuous gentlewoman that ever +nature had praise for creating. If she had partaken +of my flesh and cost me the dearest groans of a +mother, I could not have owed her a more rooted +love. + +LAFEW 'Twas a good lady, 'twas a good lady. We may +pick a thousand salads ere we light on such another +herb. + +FOOL Indeed, sir, she was the sweet marjoram of the +salad, or rather the herb of grace. + +LAFEW They are not herbs, you knave. They are +nose-herbs. + +FOOL I am no great Nebuchadnezzar, sir. I have not +much skill in grass. + +LAFEW Whether dost thou profess thyself, a knave or a +fool? + +FOOL A fool, sir, at a woman's service, and a knave at a +man's. + +LAFEW Your distinction? + +FOOL I would cozen the man of his wife and do his +service. + +LAFEW So you were a knave at his service indeed. + +FOOL And I would give his wife my bauble, sir, to do +her service. + +LAFEW I will subscribe for thee, thou art both knave +and fool. + +FOOL At your service. + +LAFEW No, no, no. + +FOOL Why, sir, if I cannot serve you, I can serve as +great a prince as you are. + +LAFEW Who's that, a Frenchman? + +FOOL Faith, sir, he has an English name, but his +phys'nomy is more hotter in France than there. + +LAFEW What prince is that? + +FOOL The black prince, sir, alias the prince of darkness, +alias the devil. + +LAFEW, [giving him money] Hold thee, there's my +purse. I give thee not this to suggest thee from thy +master thou talk'st of. Serve him still. + +FOOL I am a woodland fellow, sir, that always loved a +great fire, and the master I speak of ever keeps a +good fire. But sure he is the prince of the world; let +his Nobility remain in 's court. I am for the house +with the narrow gate, which I take to be too little +for pomp to enter. Some 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. + +LAFEW Go thy ways. I begin to be aweary of thee. And +I tell thee so before because I would not fall out +with thee. Go thy ways. Let my horses be well +looked to, without any tricks. + +FOOL If I put any tricks upon 'em, sir, they shall be +jades' tricks, which are their own right by the law +of nature. [He exits.] + +LAFEW A shrewd knave and an unhappy. + +COUNTESS So he is. My lord that's gone made himself +much sport out of him. By his authority he +remains here, which he thinks is a patent for his +sauciness, and indeed he has no pace, but runs +where he will. + +LAFEW I like him well. 'Tis not amiss. And I was about +to tell you, since I heard of the good lady's death +and that my lord your son was upon his return +home, I moved the King my master to speak in the +behalf of my daughter, which in the minority of +them both his Majesty out of a self-gracious +remembrance did first propose. His Highness hath +promised me to do it, and to stop up the displeasure +he hath conceived against your son there is +no fitter matter. How does your Ladyship like it? + +COUNTESS With very much content, my lord, and I +wish it happily effected. + +LAFEW His Highness comes post from Marseilles, of +as able body as when he numbered thirty. He will +be here tomorrow, or I am deceived by him that in +such intelligence hath seldom failed. + +COUNTESS It rejoices me that, I hope, I shall see him +ere I die. I have letters that my son will be here +tonight. I shall beseech your Lordship to remain +with me till they meet together. + +LAFEW Madam, I was thinking with what manners I +might safely be admitted. + +COUNTESS You need but plead your honorable +privilege. + +LAFEW Lady, of that I have made a bold charter. But I +thank my God it holds yet. + +[Enter Fool.] + + +FOOL O madam, yonder's my lord your son with a +patch of velvet on 's face. Whether there be a scar +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, but his right cheek is worn bare. + +LAFEW A scar nobly got, or a noble scar, is a good liv'ry +of honor. So belike is that. + +FOOL But it is your carbonadoed face. + +LAFEW Let us go see your son, I pray you. I long to talk +with the young noble soldier. + +FOOL 'Faith, there's a dozen of 'em, with delicate fine +hats, and most courteous feathers which bow the +head and nod at every man. +[They exit.] + + +ACT 5 +===== + +Scene 1 +======= +[Enter Helen, Widow, and Diana, with two Attendants.] + + +HELEN +But this exceeding posting day and night +Must wear your spirits low. We cannot help it. +But since you have made the days and nights as one +To wear your gentle limbs in my affairs, +Be bold you do so grow in my requital +As nothing can unroot you. + +[Enter a Gentleman, a gentle Astringer.] + +In happy time! +This man may help me to his Majesty's ear, +If he would spend his power.--God save you, sir. + +GENTLEMAN And you. + +HELEN +Sir, I have seen you in the court of France. + +GENTLEMAN I have been sometimes there. + +HELEN +I do presume, sir, that you are not fall'n +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 use of your own virtues, for the which +I shall continue thankful. + +GENTLEMAN What's your will? + +HELEN, [taking out a paper] 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. + +GENTLEMAN +The King's not here. + +HELEN Not here, sir? + +GENTLEMAN Not indeed. +He hence removed last night, and with more haste +Than is his use. + +WIDOW Lord, how we lose our pains! + +HELEN All's well that ends well yet, +Though time seem so adverse and means unfit.-- +I do beseech you, whither is he gone? + +GENTLEMAN +Marry, as I take it, to Rossillion, +Whither I am going. + +HELEN, [giving him the paper] I do beseech you, sir, +Since you are like to see the King before me, +Commend the paper to his gracious hand, +Which I presume shall 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. + +GENTLEMAN This I'll do for you. + +HELEN +And you shall find yourself to be well thanked +Whate'er falls more. We must to horse again.-- +Go, go, provide. +[They exit.] + +Scene 2 +======= +[Enter Fool and Parolles.] + + +PAROLLES, [holding out a paper] Good Monsieur +Lavatch, give my lord Lafew this letter. I have ere +now, sir, been better known to you, when I have +held familiarity with fresher clothes. But I am +now, sir, muddied in Fortune's mood, and smell +somewhat strong of her strong displeasure. + +FOOL Truly, Fortune's displeasure is but sluttish if it +smell so strongly as thou speak'st of. I will henceforth +eat no fish of Fortune's butt'ring. Prithee, +allow the wind. + +PAROLLES Nay, you need not to stop your nose, sir. I +spake but by a metaphor. + +FOOL Indeed, sir, if your metaphor stink I will stop my +nose, or against any man's metaphor. Prithee, get +thee further. + +PAROLLES Pray you, sir, deliver me this paper. + +FOOL Foh! Prithee, stand away. A paper from Fortune's +close-stool, to give to a nobleman! + +[Enter Lafew.] + +Look, here he comes himself.--Here is a purr of +Fortune's, sir, or of Fortune's cat--but not a +musk-cat--that has fall'n into the unclean fishpond +of her displeasure and, as he says, is muddied +withal. Pray you, sir, use the carp as you may, +for he looks like a poor, decayed, ingenious, foolish, +rascally knave. I do pity his distress in my +smiles of comfort, and leave him to your Lordship. +[He exits.] + +PAROLLES My lord, I am a man whom Fortune hath +cruelly scratched. + +LAFEW 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 cardecu for you. Let the justices make +you and Fortune friends. I am for other business. + +PAROLLES I beseech your Honor to hear me one single +word. + +LAFEW You beg a single penny more. Come, you shall +ha 't. Save your word. + +PAROLLES My name, my good lord, is Parolles. + +LAFEW You beg more than a word, then. Cock's my +passion; give me your hand. How does your drum? + +PAROLLES O my good lord, you were the first that +found me. + +LAFEW Was I, in sooth? And I was the first that lost +thee. + +PAROLLES It lies in you, my lord, to bring me in some +grace, for you did bring me out. + +LAFEW Out upon thee, knave! Dost thou put upon me +at once both the office of God and the devil? One +brings thee in grace, and the other brings thee out. +[Trumpets sound.] The King's coming. I know by +his trumpets. Sirrah, inquire further after me. I +had talk of you last night. Though you are a fool +and a knave, you shall eat. Go to, follow. + +PAROLLES I praise God for you. +[They exit.] + +Scene 3 +======= +[Flourish. Enter King, Countess, Lafew, the two French +Lords, with Attendants.] + + +KING +We lost a jewel of her, and our esteem +Was made much poorer by it. But your son, +As mad in folly, lacked the sense to know +Her estimation home. + +COUNTESS 'Tis past, my liege, +And I beseech your Majesty to make it +Natural rebellion done i' th' blade of youth, +When oil and fire, too strong for reason's force, +O'erbears it and burns on. + +KING My honored lady, +I have forgiven and forgotten all, +Though my revenges were high bent upon him +And watched the time to shoot. + +LAFEW This I must say-- +But first I beg my pardon: the young lord +Did to his Majesty, his mother, and his lady +Offense of mighty note, but to himself +The greatest wrong of all. He lost a wife +Whose beauty did astonish the survey +Of richest eyes, whose words all ears took captive, +Whose dear perfection hearts that scorned to serve +Humbly called mistress. + +KING Praising what is lost +Makes the remembrance dear. Well, call him hither. +We are reconciled, and the first view shall kill +All repetition. Let him not ask our pardon. +The nature of his great offense is dead, +And deeper than oblivion we do bury +Th' incensing relics of it. Let him approach +A stranger, no offender, and inform him +So 'tis our will he should. + +GENTLEMAN I shall, my liege. [He exits.] + +KING +What says he to your daughter? Have you spoke? + +LAFEW +All that he is hath reference to your Highness. + +KING +Then shall we have a match. I have letters sent me +That sets him high in fame. + +[Enter Count Bertram.] + + +LAFEW He looks well on 't. + +KING I am not a day of season, +For thou mayst see a sunshine and a hail +In me at once. But to the brightest beams +Distracted clouds give way. So stand thou forth. +The time is fair again. + +BERTRAM My high-repented blames, +Dear sovereign, pardon to me. + +KING All is whole. +Not one word more of the consumed time. +Let's take the instant by the forward top, +For we are old, and on our quick'st decrees +Th' inaudible and noiseless foot of time +Steals ere we can effect them. You remember +The daughter of this lord? + +BERTRAM Admiringly, my liege. At first +I stuck my choice upon her, ere my heart +Durst make too bold a herald of my tongue; +Where the impression of mine eye infixing, +Contempt his scornful perspective did lend me, +Which warped the line of every other favor, +Scorned a fair color or expressed it stol'n, +Extended or contracted all proportions +To a most hideous object. Thence it came +That she whom all men praised and whom myself, +Since I have lost, have loved, was in mine eye +The dust that did offend it. + +KING Well excused. +That thou didst love her strikes some scores away +From the great compt. But love that comes too late, +Like a remorseful pardon slowly carried, +To the great sender turns a sour offense, +Crying "That's good that's gone!" Our rash faults +Make trivial price of serious things we have, +Not knowing them until we know their grave. +Oft our displeasures, to ourselves unjust, +Destroy our friends and after weep their dust. +Our own love, waking, cries to see what's done, +While shameful hate sleeps out the afternoon. +Be this sweet Helen's knell, and now forget her. +Send forth your amorous token for fair Maudlin. +The main consents are had, and here we'll stay +To see our widower's second marriage day. + +COUNTESS +Which better than the first, O dear heaven, bless, +Or, ere they meet, in me, O nature, cesse! + +LAFEW +Come on, my son, in whom my house's name +Must be digested, give a favor from you +To sparkle in the spirits of my daughter, +That she may quickly come. +[Bertram gives him a ring.] +By my old beard +And ev'ry hair that's on 't, Helen that's dead +Was a sweet creature. Such a ring as this, +The last that e'er I took her leave at court, +I saw upon her finger. + +BERTRAM Hers it was not. + +KING +Now, pray you, let me see it, for mine eye, +While I was speaking, oft was fastened to 't. +[Lafew passes the ring to the King.] +This ring was mine, and when I gave it Helen, +I bade her if her fortunes ever stood +Necessitied to help, that by this token +I would relieve her. [To Bertram.] Had you that craft to +reave her +Of what should stead her most? + +BERTRAM My gracious +sovereign, +Howe'er it pleases you to take it so, +The ring was never hers. + +COUNTESS Son, on my life, +I have seen her wear it, and she reckoned it +At her life's rate. + +LAFEW I am sure I saw her wear it. + +BERTRAM +You are deceived, my lord. She never saw it. +In Florence was it from a casement thrown me, +Wrapped in a paper which contained the name +Of her that threw it. Noble she was, and thought +I stood ungaged, but when I had subscribed +To mine own fortune and informed her fully +I could not answer in that course of honor +As she had made the overture, she ceased +In heavy satisfaction and would never +Receive the ring again. + +KING Plutus himself, +That knows the tinct and multiplying med'cine, +Hath not in nature's mystery more science +Than I have in this ring. 'Twas mine, 'twas Helen's, +Whoever gave it you. Then if you know +That you are well acquainted with yourself, +Confess 'twas hers and by what rough enforcement +You got it from her. She called the saints to surety +That she would never put it from her finger +Unless she gave it to yourself in bed, +Where you have never come, or sent it us +Upon her great disaster. + +BERTRAM She never saw it. + +KING +Thou speak'st it falsely, as I love mine honor, +And mak'st conjectural fears to come into me +Which I would fain shut out. If it should prove +That thou art so inhuman--'twill not prove so, +And yet I know not. Thou didst hate her deadly, +And she is dead, which nothing but to close +Her eyes myself could win me to believe +More than to see this ring.--Take him away. +My forepast proofs, howe'er the matter fall, +Shall tax my fears of little vanity, +Having vainly feared too little. Away with him. +We'll sift this matter further. + +BERTRAM If you shall prove +This ring was ever hers, you shall as easy +Prove that I husbanded her bed in Florence, +Where yet she never was. [He exits, under guard.] + +KING +I am wrapped in dismal thinkings. + +[Enter a Gentleman.] + + +GENTLEMAN Gracious sovereign, +Whether I have been to blame or no, I know not. +[He gives the King a paper.] +Here's a petition from a Florentine +Who hath for four or five removes come short +To tender it herself. I undertook it, +Vanquished thereto by the fair grace and speech +Of the poor suppliant, who, by this, I know +Is here attending. Her business looks in her +With an importing visage, and she told me, +In a sweet verbal brief, it did concern +Your Highness with herself. + +KING [reads] Upon his many protestations to marry me +when his wife was dead, I blush to say it, he won +me. Now is the Count Rossillion a widower, his +vows are forfeited to me and my honor's paid to him. +He stole from Florence, taking no leave, and I follow +him to his country for justice. Grant it me, O king. +In you it best lies. Otherwise a seducer flourishes, +and a poor maid is undone. +Diana Capilet. + +LAFEW I will buy me a son-in-law in a fair, and toll for +this. I'll none of him. + +KING +The heavens have thought well on thee, Lafew, +To bring forth this discov'ry.--Seek these suitors. +Go speedily, and bring again the Count. +[Gentleman and Attendants exit.] +I am afeard the life of Helen, lady, +Was foully snatched. + +COUNTESS Now justice on the doers! + +[Enter Bertram under guard.] + + +KING +I wonder, sir, since wives are monsters to you +And that you fly them as you swear them lordship, +Yet you desire to marry. + +[Enter Widow and Diana.] + +What woman's that? + +DIANA +I am, my lord, a wretched Florentine, +Derived from the ancient Capilet. +My suit, as I do understand, you know +And therefore know how far I may be pitied. + +WIDOW +I am her mother, sir, whose age and honor +Both suffer under this complaint we bring, +And both shall cease without your remedy. + +KING +Come hither, count. Do you know these women? + +BERTRAM +My lord, I neither can nor will deny +But that I know them. Do they charge me further? + +DIANA +Why do you look so strange upon your wife? + +BERTRAM +She's none of mine, my lord. + +DIANA If you shall marry, +You give away this hand, and that is mine; +You give away heaven's vows, and those are mine; +You give away myself, which is known mine, +For I by vow am so embodied yours +That she which marries you must marry me, +Either both or none. + +LAFEW, [to Bertram] Your reputation comes too short +for my daughter. You are no husband for her. + +BERTRAM, [to the King] +My lord, this is a fond and desp'rate creature +Whom sometime I have laughed with. Let your +Highness +Lay a more noble thought upon mine honor +Than for to think that I would sink it here. + +KING +Sir, for my thoughts, you have them ill to friend +Till your deeds gain them. Fairer prove your honor +Than in my thought it lies. + +DIANA Good my lord, +Ask him upon his oath if he does think +He had not my virginity. + +KING +What sayst thou to her? + +BERTRAM She's impudent, my lord, +And was a common gamester to the camp. + +DIANA +He does me wrong, my lord. If I were so, +He might have bought me at a common price. +Do not believe him. O, behold this ring, +Whose high respect and rich validity +Did lack a parallel. Yet for all that +He gave it to a commoner o' th' camp, +If I be one. + +COUNTESS He blushes, and 'tis hit. +Of six preceding ancestors that gem, +Conferred by testament to th' sequent issue, +Hath it been owed and worn. This is his wife. +That ring's a thousand proofs. + +KING, [to Diana] Methought you said +You saw one here in court could witness it. + +DIANA +I did, my lord, but loath am to produce +So bad an instrument. His name's Parolles. + +LAFEW +I saw the man today, if man he be. + +KING +Find him, and bring him hither. [Attendant exits.] + +BERTRAM What of him? +He's quoted for a most perfidious slave, +With all the spots o' th' world taxed and debauched, +Whose nature sickens but to speak a truth. +Am I or that or this for what he'll utter, +That will speak anything? + +KING She hath that ring of yours. + +BERTRAM +I think she has. Certain it is I liked her +And boarded her i' th' wanton way of youth. +She knew her distance and did angle for me, +Madding my eagerness with her restraint, +As all impediments in fancy's course +Are motives of more fancy; and in fine +Her infinite cunning with her modern grace +Subdued me to her rate. She got the ring, +And I had that which any inferior might +At market price have bought. + +DIANA I must be patient. +You that have turned off a first so noble wife +May justly diet me. I pray you yet-- +Since you lack virtue, I will lose a husband-- +Send for your ring. I will return it home, +And give me mine again. + +BERTRAM I have it not. + +KING, [to Diana] What ring was yours, I pray you? + +DIANA +Sir, much like the same upon your finger. + +KING +Know you this ring? This ring was his of late. + +DIANA +And this was it I gave him, being abed. + +KING +The story, then, goes false you threw it him +Out of a casement? + +DIANA I have spoke the truth. + +[Enter Parolles.] + + +BERTRAM +My lord, I do confess the ring was hers. + +KING +You boggle shrewdly. Every feather starts you.-- +Is this the man you speak of? + +DIANA Ay, my lord. + +KING +Tell me, sirrah--but tell me true, I charge you, +Not fearing the displeasure of your master, +Which, on your just proceeding, I'll keep off-- +By him and by this woman here what know you? + +PAROLLES So please your Majesty, my master hath +been an honorable gentleman. Tricks he hath had +in him which gentlemen have. + +KING Come, come, to th' purpose. Did he love this +woman? + +PAROLLES Faith, sir, he did love her, but how? + +KING How, I pray you? + +PAROLLES He did love her, sir, as a gentleman loves a +woman. + +KING How is that? + +PAROLLES He loved her, sir, and loved her not. + +KING As thou art a knave and no knave. What an +equivocal companion is this! + +PAROLLES I am a poor man, and at your Majesty's +command. + +LAFEW He's a good drum, my lord, but a naughty +orator. + +DIANA Do you know he promised me marriage? + +PAROLLES Faith, I know more than I'll speak. + +KING But wilt thou not speak all thou know'st? + +PAROLLES Yes, so please your Majesty. I did go +between them, as I said; but more than that he +loved her, for indeed he was mad for her, and +talked of Satan and of limbo and of furies and I +know not what. Yet I was in that credit with them +at that time, that I knew of their going to bed and +of other motions, as promising her marriage, and +things which would derive me ill will to speak of. +Therefore I will not speak what I know. + +KING Thou hast spoken all already, unless thou canst +say they are married. But thou art too fine in thy +evidence. Therefore stand aside. +[To Diana.] +This ring you say was yours? + +DIANA Ay, my good lord. + +KING +Where did you buy it? Or who gave it you? + +DIANA +It was not given me, nor I did not buy it. + +KING +Who lent it you? + +DIANA It was not lent me neither. + +KING +Where did you find it then? + +DIANA I found it not. + +KING +If it were yours by none of all these ways, +How could you give it him? + +DIANA I never gave it him. + +LAFEW This woman's an easy glove, my lord; she goes +off and on at pleasure. + +KING +This ring was mine. I gave it his first wife. + +DIANA +It might be yours or hers for aught I know. + +KING, [to Attendants] +Take her away. I do not like her now. +To prison with her, and away with him.-- +Unless thou tell'st me where thou hadst this ring, +Thou diest within this hour. + +DIANA I'll never tell you. + +KING +Take her away. + +DIANA I'll put in bail, my liege. + +KING +I think thee now some common customer. + +DIANA, [to Bertram] +By Jove, if ever I knew man, 'twas you. + +KING +Wherefore hast thou accused him all this while? + +DIANA +Because he's guilty and he is not guilty. +He knows I am no maid, and he'll swear to 't. +I'll swear I am a maid, and he knows not. +Great king, I am no strumpet. By my life, +I am either maid or else this old man's wife. + +KING +She does abuse our ears. To prison with her. + +DIANA +Good mother, fetch my bail. [Widow exits.] Stay, +royal sir. +The jeweler that owes the ring is sent for, +And he shall surety me. But for this lord +Who hath abused me as he knows himself, +Though yet he never harmed me, here I quit him. +He knows himself my bed he hath defiled, +And at that time he got his wife with child. +Dead though she be, she feels her young one kick. +So there's my riddle: one that's dead is quick. +And now behold the meaning. + +[Enter Helen and Widow.] + + +KING Is there no exorcist +Beguiles the truer office of mine eyes? +Is 't real that I see? + +HELEN No, my good lord, +'Tis but the shadow of a wife you see, +The name and not the thing. + +BERTRAM Both, both. O, pardon! + +HELEN +O, my good lord, when I was like this maid, +I found you wondrous kind. There is your ring, +And, look you, here's your letter. [She takes out a +paper.] This it says: +When from my finger you can get this ring +And are by me with child, etc. This is done. +Will you be mine now you are doubly won? + +BERTRAM +If she, my liege, can make me know this clearly, +I'll love her dearly, ever, ever dearly. + +HELEN +If it appear not plain and prove untrue, +Deadly divorce step between me and you.-- +O my dear mother, do I see you living? + +LAFEW +Mine eyes smell onions. I shall weep anon.-- +[To Parolles.] Good Tom Drum, lend me a handkercher. +So, I thank thee. Wait on me home. +I'll make sport with thee. Let thy courtesies alone. +They are scurvy ones. + +KING +Let us from point to point this story know, +To make the even truth in pleasure flow. +[To Diana.] If thou be'st yet a fresh uncropped flower, +Choose thou thy husband, and I'll pay thy dower. +For I can guess that by thy honest aid +Thou kept'st a wife herself, thyself a maid. +Of that and all the progress more and less, +Resolvedly more leisure shall express. +All yet seems well, and if it end so meet, +The bitter past, more welcome is the sweet. +[Flourish.] + +EPILOGUE +======== + +The King's a beggar, now the play is done. +All is well ended if this suit be won, +That you express content, which we will pay, +With strift to please you, day exceeding day. +Ours be your patience, then, and yours our parts. +Your gentle hands lend us, and take our hearts. +[All exit.] \ No newline at end of file